Chapter 46: Negotiations and C-tier Contracts (Request Follows)

Chongming Martial Arts Academy, one of the three top-tier branches in Tianhai City.

The building’s overall design is streamlined, resembling a blue warship about to set sail.

The central office floor features an elegant environment, entirely decorated in blue, as if stepping into the ocean.

The spacious ground floor is divided into dozens of office zones.

In the central area, over a dozen employees in blue-and-white uniforms are constantly busy.

Dozens of projection screens float in the air, streams of data flowing continuously.

“Cheng Minghui from Tianhai No. 3 High School has been reviewed as a C-tier genius; send someone to negotiate a contract with him tomorrow!”

“Tianhai No. 8 High School, Zou Jun, D-tier contract.”

Deputy Contract Department Head Ding Liang reviewed the materials submitted by his subordinates and reached a final decision.

“Lin Qi, C-tier contract, with B-tier potential?”

“Huh?”

Ding Liang frowned as he studied the projected data.

“Xiao Jiang!”

The youthful man at a nearby desk heard the call and hurried over.

“Did you review this file?” Deputy Director Ding asked, frowning.

“Yes, Director.”

“I’ve carefully analyzed Lin Qi’s records—he’s progressing rapidly and has excellent talent.”

“Don’t be fooled by his 288th place in Tianhai’s monthly exam; his Red List ranking is 50th—he’s got serious potential. I think we should take a chance and offer him a B-tier contract,” Xiao Jiang said earnestly.

Deputy Director Ding said nothing, instead studying the file intently.

Every martial arts academy collects extremely detailed data on students.

After reviewing it, his fifteen years of experience told him: this Lin Qi was a genius.

“Good!”

“Worth the gamble—he has B-tier potential. I’ll go see Director Gu now,” Ding Liang said.

At Chongming Martial Arts Academy, he lacked the authority to approve B-tier or higher contracts directly.

Director’s office: a luxurious room with a background simulating a sunny beach.

On the sand, a woman with refined makeup leaned back in her ergonomic chair, relaxed. Seeing Ding Liang, she spoke slowly:

“Deputy Director Ding, what is it?”

“Director Gu, I need you to review a file—I’ve already emailed it.”

“This is a genius worthy of a B-tier contract. His name is Lin Qi...”

As Ding Liang spoke at length, Director Gu projected the file, sipped her coffee calmly, and began reading.

When Ding Liang finished, he looked at her expectantly.

Director Gu spoke calmly:

“I’ve reviewed the data, but I don’t think Lin Qi deserves a B-tier contract.”

Ding Liang’s heart sank at once.

“Why?”

“My uncle said: Red Realm competition records can be referenced, but not trusted entirely.”

“The key is school assessments—they’re the most reliable data. Lin Qi has decent talent, but a C-tier contract is sufficient.”

“B-tier? He’s not qualified yet,” Director Gu said dismissively.

“Anything else?”

Ding Liang had wanted to argue, but seeing Director Gu’s expression, he sighed: “No.”

He turned and left. Outside the office, he thought:

“If I were the director, I’d definitely give Lin Qi a B-tier contract—but I’m not.”

“My old position was taken by this outsider, Director Gu.”

“Sigh~” Ding Liang sighed and returned to work.

Inside the office, Director Gu shook her head muttering: “Old Ding’s gone senile. Lin Qi’s progress seems impressive only because he started so low—he had room to grow.”

“That creates a false impression. A C-tier contract is more than enough.”

“If I give him a B-tier and he fails, the blame falls on me. I won’t take that risk.”

“Better to do nothing than risk failure. Why work hard when the director’s job is this easy?”

…

Chiqiong Martial Arts Academy, Office Floor

“Director Sun, progress is going well. We’ve secured one A-tier genius, nine others have agreed to B-tier contracts, and a few are still deciding.”

Director Sun nodded as his subordinate reported excitedly:

“Good. Keep pushing!”

“Next, focus on C and D-tier geniuses. Scrutinize every file carefully—especially those who’ve advanced to Star Rank. Don’t miss a single one.”

“Director, I have three geniuses I can’t decide on—I need your judgment.”

The subordinate projected three files, representing three geniuses.

Director Sun quickly scanned all three files and made his decision immediately:

“Give these two C-tier contracts. The last one—Lin Qi—I need to consult the Deputy Director. I’m unsure.”

“The Deputy Director returns in a few days. I’ll ask his opinion.”

“Understood!” The subordinate nodded.

…

Heiyao Martial Arts Academy’s Contract Department Head was a middle-aged man with a beer belly.

He glanced at the file sent by his subordinate and quickly made his judgment.

“Lin Qi... C-tier contract. Another one of these geniuses—so annoying. Every year, a few pop up.”

!

“These geniuses always show sudden, massive progress during a certain period in their final year of high school.”

“They create the illusion of talent, while most others remain mediocre.”

“Nine out of ten are fakes. Only one is real—but I’ve stopped betting.”

“Heiyao has been burned too many times. Two years ago, three; last year, four. I always lose bonuses.”

“Hmph. These ‘geniuses’ are con artists—designed to scam contracts.”

“Let Chiqiong and Chongming deal with him this time. Heiyao won’t get involved,” the director muttered.

…

That day, Tianhai No. 2 High School

“Ding!”

Lin Qi, Jiang Tao, and Chen Zichuan’s phones rang almost simultaneously as they stepped out of the office.

【Your ending-in-xxx ICBC card has received 800,000 Xia Nation currency!】

Lin Qi looked at the 800,000 Xia Nation currency credited to his phone and smiled.

Though he hadn’t secured the Top-tier Genius Loan, he was already satisfied.

He now had over one million Xia Nation currency.

“Haha, two million more! I’m not in a rush to sign the martial arts academy contract,” Jiang Tao also smiled.

Chen Zichuan beside him was equally delighted.

…

At lunch, Lin Qi ate while operating his phone, transferring 300,000 Xia Nation currency to his mother Fang Huiyi via WeChat.

For her to use toward repaying loans.

Fang Huiyi replied that she, his father, and his uncle Fang Zhe had discussed it.

She would use Lin Qi’s money to pay off the family loan first; his father Lin Zhen’s earnings would go toward his own debts.

First clear the family debt, then slowly repay his uncle’s, without affecting Lin Qi’s cultivation.

“Huh~”

Lin Qi drank a sip of soup, relieved—his family’s life was finally on track.

It would only get better from here.

“Vibrating!!”

His phone buzzed—someone added him as a WeChat friend. The note read: 【Chongming Martial Arts Academy】·Dongfang Qi

Chongming Martial Arts Academy? Are they contacting me about the contract?

Lin Qi accepted the request and began chatting with Dongfang Qi.

As he suspected, she indeed represented Chongming Martial Arts Academy to discuss the contract.

Ten minutes later

Outside Tianhai No. 2 High School, in a private booth of a café.

A beautiful woman in a black women’s blazer, with a curvaceous figure, smiled and greeted:

“Hello, Lin Qi.”

She took a document from her bag to verify her identity.

Lin Qi opened his phone, entered the official website, found Dongfang Qi’s profile, confirmed the person was not a fraud, then nodded and began speaking.

“Lin Qi, after evaluation, our Chongming Martial Arts Gym has great confidence in you and wishes to sign a contract and invest in you,” Dongfang Qi said bluntly.

……

(End of Chapter)