Sheng Tianjun stared at the tutoring contract on the table, completely dumbfounded.
A long silence followed.
Finally, he said, "This is not where I thought this was going."
Song Xinya looked at him with an amused glint in her eyes. "What did you think it was going to be?"
Sheng Tianjun had assumed that the conversation they'd just had was her flirting with him.
He never expected that the next second, she'd slap a business contract down on the table.
All she had on her mind was business.
Sheng Tianjun felt like he'd just been doused with a bucket of ice water. He said, grumpily, "Miss Song, the mood was so good just now—why did you have to bring up business all of a sudden?"
Song Xinya: "I work a nine-to-five during the day, then rush over to your place in the evening to tutor you. Did you think I was doing this out of the goodness of my heart? No way. This is all for the money."
Sheng Tianjun: "So I'm not more attractive than money?"
Song Xinya: "Of course not."
Compared to money, he was nothing!
Sheng Tianjun: "Miss Song, you're way too blunt. That actually kind of hurt my feelings."
Song Xinya: "Young people need to get a taste of the real world. All those naive, childish, and dirty little thoughts of yours need to be shattered, so you can learn what reality actually is."
She looked at him and smiled. "You need to suffer early, lose early, experience deception, betrayal, and pain early—go through all the bad stuff. That's the best thing for you."
Sheng Tianjun: "..."
He said, "I don't have any dirty thoughts. I'm a very pure-hearted person."
Song Xinya: "Ha."
Sheng Tianjun blinked, giving her his softest, most innocent look, like a wounded puppy. "Miss Song... do you not like me?"
"Like" wasn't even the word. The moment Song Xinya laid eyes on him, she wanted to slap him across the face.
"I'm the tutor, you're the student. I teach you, you learn from me. We have a mutually beneficial relationship—let's not talk about silly things like 'liking' or not."
Sheng Tianjun could tell: this Miss Song was unshakeable. Neither the soft approach nor the hard approach was working on her.
For a moment, he felt genuinely lost.
"Miss Song, what do I have to do to get you to look at me even once more?"
Song Xinya tapped the contract with her finger. "Sign it!"
Sheng Tianjun picked up the pen and started writing.
Song Xinya's eyes were locked on the tip of his pen.
His hand moved across the signature line, writing out Sheng and Tian in swift strokes.
Just as he was about to write the character Jun, he suddenly stopped the pen mid-stroke.
He set the pen down.
"Miss Song, if I sign this contract, what's to stop you from running away later?"
Song Xinya: "The earth isn't that big. Where would I run to?"
Sheng Tianjun: "Into my heart."
Gag. Song Xinya nearly threw up her dinner from last night.
She had no interest in talking about love and romance with some little brat. In Song Xinya's eyes, Sheng Tianjun was just an unfinished product—barely even a man, more like something to be filed under monkeys and gorillas.
She steered the conversation back to business: "You still have one character left. Are you signing this contract or not?"
Sheng Tianjun crossed his arms, looking down at her with an air of superiority, as if he held all the cards. "Not signing."
Song Xinya smiled slightly. "Fine, don't sign then..."
"I've tutored you for three days, two hours each session. I'm an A-tier instructor; my rate is 200 yuan per minute. Three days, six hours, 360 minutes. That means you owe me 72,000 yuan."
She held out her hand. "Pay up!"
If he wouldn't sign the contract, fine. But she wasn't letting a single cent slip through her fingers!
"What, thinking of not paying? That's a violation of labor law, kid. If you dare stiff me, I'll call the cops."
She had genuinely taught him, and taught him well—he'd learned a lot from her.
And even if Sheng Tianjun tried to weasel out of it, if she really called the police, they'd show up and he'd still have to pay anyway.
Sheng Tianjun pulled out his phone and transferred 72,000 yuan to Song Xinya.
She accepted the payment, slipped the contract back into her briefcase, turned around briskly, and started walking out.
Sheng Tianjun watched her curvaceous silhouette and said, "Miss Song, can I offer you one small, immature suggestion?"
Song Xinya: "If it's immature, don't bother."
Damn, he wouldn't even sign the contract, and now he wanted to offer her advice? Who did he think he was?
Sheng Tianjun glanced at the long sleeves and long pants she was wearing—fully covered, nice figure, but not a single inch of skin visible. A flicker of dissatisfaction crossed his face.
"Miss Song, next time you come see me, dress a little sexier."
Song Xinya let out a cold laugh. "Don't worry. You're never going to see me again."
Sheng Tianjun watched the woman walking away, confused. What did she mean by that? She was never coming back to tutor him again?
He was paying top dollar for tutoring. He was a fat piece of prey—would she really just give up before even getting a bite?
A confident smile spread across Sheng Tianjun's face. She couldn't let go of this. She'd be back tomorrow.
The next day, Song Xinya didn't show up.
The third day, Song Xinya still didn't show up.
The fourth day, Song Xinya still didn't show up.
The fifth day, Sheng Tianjun started to panic.
He proactively called her: "Miss Song, why haven't you come to tutor me these past few days?"
Song Xinya: "Did you sign a contract with me? Why would I come tutor you?"
Sheng Tianjun was left speechless.
After a moment, he said, "Like before, no contract—you tutor me for two hours a day, and I pay you for two hours."
Song Xinya: "Paying one session at a time costs me way less than a contracted rate would. Do you think I'm an idiot? That deal only benefits you and loses money for me. I'm not doing it."
Sheng Tianjun was speechless again.
Song Xinya: "If you have something to say, say it. Otherwise, I'm busy."
Sheng Tianjun: "Busy with what?"
Song Xinya: "Busy tutoring the next high school senior boy."
Sheng Tianjun's face showed panic. He suddenly couldn't sit still.
He tried to say something else, but Song Xinya hung up with a sharp click.
"Miss Song, who were you on the phone with?"
Chen Siyan slid his chair over, stomping his feet to stop abruptly.
Song Xinya: "Sheng Tianjun."
Chen Siyan: "It's been twenty days. Why are you still chasing after this client?"
Song Xinya: "Because we haven't closed the deal yet."
Hasty footsteps sounded as a delivery guy walked into the office: "Delivery here. Sixty cups of coffee."
Dong Dongdong quickly stood up: "That's mine. I ordered them."
Some coworkers shouted in jest: "It's only been a few days, and Teacher Dong is buying us coffee again? Did he win three hundred million in the lottery?"
"Nah, winning three hundred million only happens in dreams. The real story is that Teacher Dong landed another deal."
"I can't close one deal in a whole month, but Teacher Dong closed two in six days. Damn, Dong, you're a legend."
"With that kind of performance, Director Dong's already number two in the whole company. If he closes one more deal, he might just snatch Manager Chen's top sales spot."
Chen Siyan: "Take it, take it, hurry up and take the top sales title away from me. It's been sitting on my neck for five years, giving me a cervical spine problem. Whoever has the skills, hurry up and take it—I'd be happy to be free of the burden."
Dong Dongdong walked over with two cups of coffee and placed one in Chen Siyan's hand: "Iced shaken oat milk latte."
Chen Siyan's favorite coffee.
Dong Dongdong: "Manager Chen, don't listen to those people talking nonsense. Your business skills are like Sun Wukong in Journey to the West, and I'm just the Black Bear Spirit—you could knock me out with one strike. How could I ever compare to you? That top sales title of yours, I don't have the ability to take it from you."
He turned around, faced Song Xinya, and handed her the other cup of coffee: "Iced shaken osmanthus latte."
Song Xinya's favorite coffee.
Dong Dongdong: "Teacher Song, thank you for letting me have this one."
He spoke and acted without a single leak, showing off to the whole company that he'd closed a deal while also taking care of the feelings of his competitors, Chen Siyan and Song Xinya, leaving no room for anyone to find fault.
In fact, there was no fault in what he did either.
There was only one spot for the gold medal instructor title, and everyone wanted to be the one to get it.
The chance for a promotion and a raise was right in front of them, and everyone wanted it.
His desire to win was no different from Song Xinya's.
In the past, being the third in performance, Dong Dongdong felt like he was just a backdrop to Song Xinya and Chen Siyan.
But now it was different—he was the company's second in performance, surpassing Song Xinya. Dong Dongdong was full of ambition, feeling that he could now compete with Song Xinya and Chen Siyan. Maybe, in the end, the one who got the gold medal instructor title would really be him.
Thinking about all this, Dong Dongdong became even happier and more expectant.
He carried a cup of coffee and walked into Zhao Yinian's office: "President Zhao, I brought you a caramel macchiato."
Zhao Yinian smiled happily: "Teacher Dong has such a good memory, remembering that I like caramel macchiato."
"Teacher Dong's performance has been rising very quickly lately. Keep it up, I'm very optimistic about you."
Dong Dongdong: "Thank you for your approval, President Zhao. It's all thanks to your great leadership."
Zhao Yinian's smile grew even wider upon hearing this.
Dong Dongdong walked back toward the main hall, and Zhao Yinian followed him out.
As Dong Dongdong passed by Song Xinya, Zhao Yinian said: "Regarding the gold medal instructor selection, it's like a motorcycle race—no one knows who the winner is until the last second."
"For example, Teacher Song, you've been firmly holding the second-place spot in performance, but who knew that Teacher Dong would build up his strength and suddenly close two big deals, becoming the company's second in performance?"
"Teacher Song, you should work harder. Don't keep running outside doing nothing all day."
Song Xinya did go out a lot, but it was also for work and performance. Zhao Yinian's casual remark wiped away all of Song Xinya's efforts, making it seem like she was just sneaking out to play every day.
Song Xinya wasn't a mute who kept her mouth shut. Of course, she wouldn't let anyone sling mud at her like that, even if it was a company leader. You couldn't just let them insult you.
Everyone had the right to defend their own dignity.
Song Xinya argued back: "President Zhao, every time I go out during work hours, it's to meet clients. I kept detailed records of names, times, and locations. If you don't believe me, you can call the clients to verify."
Zhao Yinian: "You've gone out that many times. Calling every single client to verify? I don't have that kind of time."
Song Xinya: "So you haven't even verified anything, yet you still say I'm not doing my job?"
Zhao Yinian's mouth twitched.
Chen Siyan: "Exactly. President Zhao, I know you have a straight tongue, but you don't have to let it run out of your mouth like that."
Zhao Yinian, already embarrassed from Song Xinya's counterattack, turned her anger toward Chen Siyan: "Why are you meddling so much? Is it that every time a manure truck passes by your house, you have to grab a spoon and taste it?"
Chen Siyan: "Hey, how did you know?"
Zhao Yinian: "..."
Chen Siyan: "You seem to know so much about it. Looks like you're a manure lover, just like me."
Zhao Yinian: "...You're insane!"
Chen Siyan: "You really are just like me, raised on manure, since you even know I'm insane."
Zhao Yinian's stomach was starting to ache from his chaotic stream of attacks.
"I heard AI face-swapping is popular lately. Chen Siyan, how about swapping your mouth out for mute mode?"
Chen Siyan: "That won't work. If I became mute, there'd be no one in the company to argue with you, and you'd die of loneliness."
Zhao Yinian: "As if I'd miss that cheap mouth of yours?"
Chen Siyan: "Well, I do miss that cheap mouth of yours. I finally found a fellow manure lover, so I'll cherish you while we're together."
Zhao Yinian's stomach churned, and she ran to the bathroom, hugging the toilet and heaving.
After she finished, she held her stomach and walked out, passing by Song Xinya, and said: "The gold medal instructor selection is still about real ability. If your performance is bad, it's hard to convince people. No matter how sharp your tongue is, you won't get the gold medal instructor title."
At the company entrance, Dong Dongdong was walking out with a backpack on.
Zhao Yinian asked loudly and enthusiastically: "Teacher Dong, where are you going?"
Dong Dongdong: "To meet a client."
Zhao Yinian turned to look at Song Xinya and said with a smile: "Looks like Teacher Dong is about to close another deal."
Song Xinya calmly looked at her: "You're not the one getting the commission, so why are you so happy?"
Zhao Yinian: "I'm happy for Teacher Dong."
As long as someone defeated Song Xinya, she was happy.
Just as she walked into her office, Chen Siyan shouted: "President Zhao, be careful! The weather forecast said it's going to hail in some areas today, and it's aimed right at big-headed ghosts like you."
Zhao Yinian slammed the door shut: "Get lost, I'm sick of you."
Chen Siyan turned his gaze back to Song Xinya: "Teacher Song, I'm really worried about you right now. Dong Dongdong's momentum is way too strong. If you don't close a deal soon, you really won't get the gold medal instructor title."
"Take my advice, stop trying to land Sheng Tianjun as a client. That guy's been lying dormant in the VIP client list for five or six years. You can imagine how difficult he is."
"Sure, he pays a high tutoring fee, but the time and energy you'd spend closing him as one client could close three or four others. When you add it all up, it's not worth it."
"Right now, it's a crucial moment for the gold medal instructor competition. Set other things aside for now. First, close the two easier clients that Brother Yan gave you."
His words were earnest and from the heart.
Song Xinya listened carefully and then replied: "Brother Yan, I feel like I can close the deal with Sheng Tianjun."
Chen Siyan: "Why are you so stubborn, kid? You're like a little mule."
Song Xinya: "It's not stubbornness. I really do believe I can close the deal with Sheng Tianjun."
Chen Siyan: "Fine, fine, fine. You can close the deal with Sheng Tianjun. By the time you do, the gold medal instructor selection will already be over."
Song Xinya: "Brother Yan, what I mean is, I can close the deal with Sheng Tianjun today."
Chen Siyan: "Kid, you've got a fever. You're starting to talk nonsense."
"Is Teacher Song in?"
A young male voice came from the company entrance.
Chen Siyan looked up at the newcomer: "Who are you?"
Someone arrived: "I'm Sheng Tianjun, here to discuss the tutoring contract with Teacher Song Xinya."
Chen Siyan was stunned: "Holy crap!!!!!"
