“I’ll ask you one last time. You’re sure you haven’t got it wrong, right? You’ll give me ten yuan per employee per day?”
“So, over thirty days, you can give me three hundred yuan for each person?”
“That kind of money isn’t even enough to pay my employees’ salaries. If I hire people, do I still have to work to support them?”
A young man with slightly yellow hair and side-swept bangs covering most of his face sat shamelessly on the steps in front of the dormitory, looking utterly dejected as he spoke to the air.
Gu Chuan had been an overworked wage slave who’d only recently started his job. Once, after a manager forced him to work overtime for three straight nights on a project, he suddenly died from exhaustion.
When he opened his eyes again, he found himself in this world. It seemed to be something like a Parallel Timeline, but not quite the same.
The technology here was very backward, roughly on par with Blue Star in the early 2000s.
According to his memories, Baidu had just gone public on Nasdaq last month, and its stock price had surged 354% on its first day.
Although he had no memories of this era, he’d studied internet technology and knew all about the major events that had shaped the internet’s development.
He already knew what year he’d been reborn in.
2005!
In his original world, Gu Chuan had only just been born at this point. But in this world, he was already in college.
And still a senior!
The timeline was a little different, but everything else here had developed just as it had on Blue Star in the early 2000s.
His cheat System had arrived right along with him!
Just as he’d thought he could use the System to take off in this other world and enjoy the fruits of success without lifting a finger, he discovered its infuriating terms.
Ten yuan per person per day?
Gu Chuan looked up slightly at the light screen in front of him, visible only to him. On it appeared a cartoon robot with a square body and limbs made up of nothing but a few lines.
The robot rested its line-drawn hands on its hips, and an electronic voice sounded in Gu Chuan’s mind.
【Host, please note: this System is an “Entrepreneurship and Wealth System,” not a way for you to sit back and enjoy the rewards. Any employees you recruit must perform real work or make a genuine contribution, or they won’t count as employees. If you don’t work hard to build your business, you won’t get anything!】
Gu Chuan curled his lip. “That’s rich, coming from you. What have I gotten so far? You think I care about your ten yuan? Why don’t you find another Host? Ten yuan per person per day? Not even a dog would do it!”
【The System will provide the Host with 500,000 yuan in startup capital（Note: these funds may only be used for business purposes）Does the Host wish to unlink from the System? This System uses voluntary binding.】
Gu Chuan sprang to his feet. “I’m in! Who said I wasn’t? If a dog won’t do it, I will! I’m starting a business! I have to! If I ever get another job in this life, I’m a dog!”
“If you fall in the internet business, you have to get back up in the internet business. I’m staying in the internet business this time, too! If I ever run into that same bastard company from my last life, I’ll destroy them!”
When Gu Chuan looked up, he saw all the students passing by stop and stare at him with exactly the same look people gave to someone who’d lost their mind.
A flock of crows flew over Gu Chuan’s head. Before he even had time to feel embarrassed, he staggered and covered his eyes with one hand.
He immediately asked the System in his mind, “System, what are all those things above people’s heads? There’s a sea of white and green. It’s making my eyes go dizzy.”
【This is the Talent Identification function provided by the System. It helps the Host quickly screen candidates by assigning them talent levels.】
Gu Chuan glanced at the System’s explanation. Different talent levels were displayed in different colors: white was the most ordinary, Level 1; green was Level 2; and blue was Level 3. The highest level he could see at the moment was Level 3.
“System, what’s the highest talent level?”
【Please explore for yourself, Host!】
Gu Chuan rolled his eyes and issued a command in his mind to hide all the white panels.
When he looked again, things were much clearer. At least half of them were gone.
Just then, the crowd began to disperse. Gu Chuan stared closely at a green panel above someone’s head.
【Name: Chen Bin】
【Talent level: Level 2】
It was a simple panel with no further information, just the talent level.
His gaze shifted to a blue panel in the distance.
【Name: Wang Hao】
【Talent level: Level 3】
A Level 3 talent was extremely rare at a university. Of all the people who’d stopped to watch just now, this was the only one.
Gu Chuan was about to approach when a flash of purple light caught his eye. He instinctively looked over.
Not far away, a male student dressed very inconspicuously, and with a somewhat reserved air, was about to enter the dormitory.
And above his head was a purple panel.
Purple. Level 4!
Gu Chuan recognized him without even looking at the panel.
Ye Xuchen!
In his memories, Ye Xuchen had won a scholarship every year and was always chosen as an outstanding student representative at school events. Most importantly, he majored in computer science and technology.
His major was a perfect match for the business Gu Chuan wanted to start!
Gu Chuan took several quick strides and grabbed Ye Xuchen by the arm just as he was about to enter the dormitory.
Ye Xuchen was about to enter the dormitory when someone suddenly darted out and grabbed his arm.
His breath caught in fright. When he turned around, he came face-to-face with Gu Chuan’s feverish, almost crazed expression—and his nonconformist look.
Various nonconformist and “shamate” styles hadn’t yet become widespread, but university campuses were always at the forefront of fashion, and these styles were already starting to appear.
“Hey, are you looking for a job? Do you want to start a business? Do you want to get rich overnight? Come work with me!”
Ye Xuchen: “???”
Had a pyramid scheme made its way onto campus?
Looking at the other guy, Ye Xuchen felt a little uneasy, but he still answered politely:
“Um… I’m not looking for a job, and I’m not starting a business. Thanks!”
After saying that, he tried to pull free and head back to his dorm. The other guy didn’t look sane.
But Gu Chuan held on tight and wouldn’t let him go.
Seeing how eager Ye Xuchen was to leave, Gu Chuan realized he’d overreacted and scared him. Ye Xuchen might even think he was running a pyramid scheme.
Gu Chuan calmed down before speaking. “Ye Xuchen, you’ve got it wrong. I’m a student at Jin University too, and we’re in the same year.
I want to start my own business, but I’m short on people. Seeing you got me so excited that I lost my cool. Here’s my student ID!”
To prove he meant no harm, Gu Chuan quickly handed over his student ID and scratched his head sheepishly.
Ye Xuchen took it and looked it over. Gu Chuan really was a student at Jin University, which eased his suspicions somewhat. Still a little doubtful, he asked:
“Do you know me?”
Gu Chuan gave him a bright smile. “You win a scholarship every year and often speak as an outstanding student representative. Who at Jin University doesn’t know you?
I want to develop a website, and I need someone with your technical skills! What do you think? Interested? I’ll make sure the salary satisfies you!”