"A beauty drops from the sky!"
"No," Chen Siyan's brain short-circuited from the shock, and he corrected himself: "A big pie drops from the sky!"
Just as he was saying that Song Xinya couldn't get Sheng Tianjun to sign, Sheng Tianjun showed up to sign the contract with Song Xinya. The face-slap came faster than a tornado.
However, even though Chen Siyan's face was slapped, he felt it was a good slap! A very good one!
Because this was good news for Song Xinya—it meant she had closed the deal.
Congratulations were in order.
Chen Siyan suddenly stood up from his chair and waved at Sheng Tianjun: "Come over here, Big Pie."
Sheng Tianjun: "My name isn't Big Pie. I'm Sheng Tianjun."
Chen Siyan: "Come over here, Sheng Big Pie."
Sheng Tianjun couldn't correct him, so he gave up and walked over to Song Xinya.
Chen Siyan shoved his own chair right under Sheng Tianjun's backside: "Sheng Big Pie, have a seat, have a seat."
In stark contrast to Chen Siyan's shock and sheer elation, Song Xinya's expression was calm as still water.
She didn't even glance at Sheng Tianjun. She idly toyed with the pen in her hand, waiting for Sheng Tianjun to speak first.
This was a silent battle of wills.
Sheng Tianjun cracked first. He spoke in a slightly hesitant tone: "Teacher Song, didn't you say we were signing the contract?"
Song Xinya acted as if she'd just remembered. She said slowly, deliberately: "Oh, that. I said that five days ago."
Sheng Tianjun's tone grew even more nervous: "Can't we sign today?"
Song Xinya: "Today? Sorry, you're too late. Another high school boy insisted that I be his private tutor. My schedule is completely full, I can't fit you in."
Standing to the side, Chen Siyan's eyes went wide. What other high school boy?
Song Xinya had only met one client recently—Sheng Tianjun. There were no other clients.
When a client comes knocking, shouldn't you treat them like royalty and get the contract signed immediately?
What was Teacher Song playing at?
Chen Siyan had a big question mark hovering over his head, but he pressed his lips together and dared not speak.
Sheng Tianjun asked in a slightly aggrieved tone: "Teacher Song, you approached me first. How could you turn around and become a tutor for another male student?"
Song Xinya: "I did approach you. But you wouldn't sign with me then."
Sheng Tianjun: "..."
Song Xinya: "I can't just hang myself from a crooked tree like you, can I? Of course I had to find other clients."
Sheng Tianjun: "..."
Song Xinya was completely different from every woman Sheng Tianjun had ever met.
Other women would be a bit tactful, a bit subtle. Not Song Xinya. She spoke directly, like a knife, leaving him no face to save, stabbing straight at his heart.
But strangely enough, Sheng Tianjun was into exactly that.
The harder something was to get, the more he wanted it. He'd climb over the wall just to get closer.
It was, well, a bit pathetic.
Sheng Tianjun refused to give up: "Teacher Song, does this new male student client of yours pay more than I do?"
Song Xinya: "He pays way more than you. Twice as much."
"Fine," Sheng Tianjun gritted his teeth and said: "I'll pay five times the price. Don't sign with him, sign with me."
Song Xinya smiled faintly. The fish had taken the bait.
No point in being a fool and turning down money.
Five times the price. If she signed this deal, she'd be back to number two in company sales.
Though she was secretly delighted, Song Xinya's face showed nothing—still calm and indifferent.
"I only promised that other person an hour ago, and now I'd have to say no? That doesn't look good."
Sheng Tianjun: "I'll pay ten times!"
Song Xinya nodded her chin toward the desk: "The contract is on the table. Flip it open and sign your name."
Sheng Tianjun felt as if he'd been granted a great favor. He scrambled to the desk, found the contract, flipped it open in a flash, and scribbled his name without a second's hesitation.
After signing, he handed the contract to Song Xinya with both hands, sitting up straight as a board: "Teacher Song, I've signed."
Song Xinya: "Just leave it there."
Sheng Tianjun still held the contract up: "Teacher Song, you should sign it too. A contract only takes effect if both parties sign."
Song Xinya said flatly: "Mm."
She signed her name, looking as if she was doing so with great reluctance.
Sheng Tianjun watched her clearly reluctant expression and thought to himself, Teacher Song was still unhappy, still angry with him.
The young man was deeply regretful. Sigh, this contract was way too hard to get. If only he hadn't been so difficult five days ago.
Song Xinya signed her name, closed the contract, and tossed it back on the desk.
Sheng Tianjun snatched the contract up, flipped it open, and checked it. Only after he saw Song Xinya's signature did he breathe a sigh of relief.
"Teacher Song, so can you start tutoring me now?"
Song Xinya: "Go home and wait. Six o'clock tonight is your tutoring time."
Sheng Tianjun slung his backpack over his shoulder and obediently replied: "Okay."
Chen Siyan was stunned speechless.
After watching Sheng Tianjun leave, he turned to look at Song Xinya, raised both thumbs, and said: "Teacher Song, you really outdo everyone—this one contract equals ten of theirs. Incredible!"
"Scarcity marketing, right? Genius."
Song Xinya: "Don't get hung up on me. I'm just a legend."
Chen Siyan flipped open the contract and glanced at the amount. Holy crap, this was a real big deal—ten times the market rate!
Even if Dong Dongdong signed eight more deals, he wouldn't make as much money as Song Xinya just made with this one.
Chen Siyan was genuinely envious.
"Teacher Song, how about I call you Master from now on? Teach me your ways."
Song Xinya: "I wouldn't dare. A number two on the sales list giving lessons to number one? That's a bit like showing off with an axe in front of Lu Ban."
Chen Siyan: "You're too modest."
Song Xinya: "Likewise."
In the afternoon, Dong Dongdong came back from his meeting.
Chen Siyan: "Teacher Dong, how did the client meeting go? Did you close the deal?"
Dong Dongdong was brimming with confidence. He pulled a contract from his briefcase: "Another one signed!"
The other colleagues all congratulated him.
"Impressive, impressive."
"Awesome, awesome."
"Excellent, excellent."
Dong Dongdong looked at Song Xinya, his eyes filled with sympathy.
Her second-place spot had been taken by him. She must be really upset right now.
The workplace is a battlefield. It's either you or me.
Competition is a cruel business, and there can only be one winner.
Now that the opportunity was right in front of him, of course he would go all out.
As for Song Xinya's feelings of disappointment after losing to him—as an adult, she'd have to sort that out herself.
Three big contracts in six days. Dong Dongdong was feeling bold and ambitious.
At this rate, overtaking Chen Siyan was within reach!
Dong Dongdong was riding high on success, and his mindset was shifting too.
He used to think the gold-level instructor title was out of his reach, that he was just running alongside Song Xinya and Chen Siyan.
But now his numbers had surpassed Song Xinya's, and beating Chen Siyan was possible too. Winning the gold-level instructor award was no longer an impossible dream.
Since there was a chance, he'd damn well seize it.
So, Dong Dongdong, carrying the pastries he had specially bought for Zhao Yinian, and holding the contract, walked into Zhao Yinian's office.
On the one hand, he wanted to show off to Zhao Yinian that he had closed another deal; on the other hand, he was currying favor with his boss, Zhao Yinian.
Zhao Yinian was one of the judges for the Golden Lecturer award. If he built a good relationship with her, when the judges scored, Zhao Yinian would give him high marks.
Dong Dongdong placed the exquisitely packaged pastries on Zhao Yinian's desk: "Ms. Zhao, on my way back from visiting a client, I passed by Daoxiangcun and bought you a box of date flower crisps."
Zhao Yinian knew that the client Dong Dongdong had gone to see wasn't anywhere near Daoxiangcun.
She could tell it was just an excuse; in reality, Dong Dongdong was deliberately trying to please her.
Zhao Yinian had intended to win him over anyway, and now that he was making the first move, she certainly wasn't going to call him out on it.
"Thank you for your kindness, Teacher Dong. Not only are you handsome and distinguished-looking, but your personality is also especially gentle and considerate. No wonder you got married young—what man wouldn't want to marry such a good catch?"
Dong Dongdong: "You flatter me, Ms. Zhao. A woman as beautiful and capable as you is truly outstanding. The reason you're still single is precisely because you're too excellent. Men like us, who don't have a hundred million in the bank, feel so inferior in front of you that we don't dare to pursue you."
Zhao Yinian was delighted by the flattery.
Dong Dongdong took out the signed contract and placed it in front of Zhao Yinian: "Ms. Zhao, I signed another deal this afternoon."
Zhao Yinian beamed with joy.
Recently, Song Xinya hadn't signed a single deal, but Dong Dongdong had signed three in a row. Someone was outshining Song Xinya—this was fantastic.
At this rate of Dong Dongdong's deal-closing, neither Song Xinya nor Chen Siyan would win the Golden Lecturer award.
Just thinking about the image of Song Xinya and Chen Siyan both feeling heartbroken filled Zhao Yinian with satisfaction.
The company's weekly meeting was originally scheduled for an hour later, but Zhao Yinian gathered all three contracts Dong Dongdong had signed, held them in her hand, and strode impatiently into the main hall.
"Everyone, come to the conference room for a meeting now."
Song Xinya and Chen Siyan exchanged a glance, guessing what Zhao Yinian was about to do next.
The two of them knew Zhao Yinian all too well by now—if she wiggled her butt, they knew exactly what kind of mess was coming.
When they arrived at the conference room, sure enough, Zhao Yinian started praising Dong Dongdong.
Her voice was so loud that it could travel two miles without the help of drums or gongs.
Chen Siyan, sitting in the seat right next to Zhao Yinian, almost had his eardrums shattered.
"Ms. Zhao, are you calling out to cattle? Keep it down. There's nothing wrong with our ears; there's no need to strain your hoarse voice and keep yelling. We can hear you just fine."
Zhao Yinian: "What's the matter? Are you jealous because I'm praising Dong Dongdong?"
Chen Siyan: "Who would be jealous of someone less capable than themselves? As the company's top salesperson, do I need to be jealous of a third-place finisher?"
Zhao Yinian laughed, and said with a mocking tone: "For someone who calls himself a teacher, you can't even do basic math. Teacher Dong's contracts added together exceed Song Xinya's. Teacher Dong is no longer third place—he's second."
Wham—Zhao Yinian slapped the three contracts Dong Dongdong had signed down hard in front of Chen Siyan: "See for yourself!"
Chen Siyan picked up the contract Song Xinya had just signed, and with a similar wham, slapped it down in front of Zhao Yinian: "See for yourself!"
Zhao Yinian: "What am I supposed to look at?"
Chen Siyan: "What am I supposed to look at?"
Zhao Yinian: "I'm telling you to look at the amount of Dong Dongdong's deals."
Chen Siyan: "I'm telling you to look at the amount of Song Xinya's deal."
Zhao Yinian sneered: "It's just one contract, what's there to look at? Teacher Dong signed three."
Chen Siyan: "A mountain doesn't need to be tall to be famous; water doesn't need to be deep to have a dragon. It's not about how many contracts there are—it's about how big the amounts are."
Zhao Yinian said disdainfully: "You're always hopping around like a grasshopper, all bark and no bite."
Chen Siyan: "I've already thrown the contract in front of you, and I've told you the words. Isn't it worth just opening it up and taking a look?"
Zhao Yinian leaned back in her chair: "Trying to bluff me, are you? That old man I saw yesterday who faked being hit by my car was less dramatic than you. I don't need to look—I know Song Xinya lost."
Chen Siyan laughed: "These days, people actually think with their feet? Oh, and that's exactly you, Ms. Zhao."
Dong Dongdong, seeing how confident and serious Chen Siyan looked, not like he was joking at all, and seeing Song Xinya's calm and composed demeanor, felt a chill of crisis crawling up his spine.
The company's contracts all had identical covers, so you couldn't tell from the outside whose contract it was.
He pointed at the contract Chen Siyan had slapped over and asked: "Manager Chen, whose contract is this?"
Chen Siyan: "Who else could it be? My goddess, Teacher Song."
Dong Dongdong: "Hasn't Teacher Song not signed any deals lately?"
Chen Siyan: "You went out for one morning, came back with a deal. Why, can't Teacher Song sign a deal in that one morning?"
Dong Dongdong's sense of crisis grew stronger.
But seeing that Song Xinya had only signed one contract while he had signed three, he comforted himself saying, 'It's fine. How big can the amount of one contract be? Song Xinya definitely hasn't surpassed me. I'm still in second place.'
But why were his hands shaking as he picked up the contract?
Dong Dongdong opened the contract, and the moment he saw the amount, his eyes first went wide. Then, he squeezed his eyes shut tightly, opened them again, and they widened once more.
Impossible!
How could the amount be this big!
He'd been working for over a decade and had never seen such a huge amount on a single contract!
It was truly astonishing!
Without belief, Dong Dongdong looked at Song Xinya: "How did you do it?"
Song Xinya said casually, as if it were nothing: "As easy as eating and drinking. I just did it."
Chen Siyan let out a "tsk"—that phrase, hearing it, felt really, really satisfying!
The moment Dong Dongdong put the contract down, he knew he had lost.
Not just at this stage, but in the competition for the Golden Lecturer award in the future as well.
Song Xinya had signed, without even breaking a sweat, one deal that outweighed ten of his.
Only after seeing the amount of Song Xinya's contract did he truly understand what a big deal meant.
Thinking back to his own smugness and arrogance moments earlier, Dong Dongdong felt like a fool.
How ridiculous.
He put the contract down, and like a deflated balloon, slumped down heavily in his chair.
Seeing Dong Dongdong's dejected and lifeless look, Zhao Yinian's expression, which had been full of confidence, began to crack. She asked anxiously: "Teacher Dong, what's wrong with you?"
Dong Dongdong: "Ms. Zhao, I'm not in second place. Teacher Song is in second place."
Zhao Yinian's instinctive reaction: "That can't be!"
Chen Siyan: "What's impossible? Li Ning said it—anything is possible."
Zhao Yinian grabbed the contract, flipped to the page with the amount, and was struck as if by lightning!
It wasn't just that Dong Dongdong had never seen such a large contract amount—she, as a general manager of the company who had seen countless contracts, had never seen an amount this large either!
Chen Siyan pointed at the amount on the contract, all smug: "Do you admit defeat now? Do you—admit—defeat?"
