Chapter 26: A $1 Million Endorsement Deal Without a Second Glance

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In a cozy coffee shop, Zhong Yuan arrived twenty minutes earlier than scheduled.

Partly, it was to show sincerity. The other reason was to calm his nerves. After all, today was essentially a negotiation. In such cases, composure is crucial—sometimes, a single misstep could lead to either a major payout or total failure.

He had already braced himself for Wang Song possibly bringing an agent along.

It wasn't uncommon for a player with the potential of a first-round pick to have a professional team managing their affairs. Bringing an agent to bargain for the best offer was entirely expected.

This thought led Zhong Yuan to reconsider the initial offer. Perhaps it was worth increasing the starting figure to demonstrate New Fox Sports' genuine interest.

Having received full authorization from the investors to oversee the endorsement negotiations, including setting the financial terms, Zhong Yuan was confident. With a solid budget at his disposal, he felt optimistic about striking a deal today.

However, it was his first time negotiating a six-figure endorsement contract with an athlete. No matter how prepared he was, he couldn't shake a tinge of nervousness.

"Alright, deep breath," Zhong Yuan murmured to himself, trying to steady his thoughts as he saw Wang Song approaching.

Standing up, he greeted him warmly, "Wang Song, did you come alone?"

"Hm?" Wang Song tilted his head slightly, puzzled. He didn't recall mentioning anyone else would join him.

"Is there someone else?"

"No, no! I just assumed you might bring your agent," Zhong Yuan replied, offering a light chuckle to ease the tension.

Despite Wang Song's polite demeanor, his towering stature exuded a subtle yet undeniable pressure.

After some casual pleasantries, Zhong Yuan got straight to the point, presenting the proposed collaboration details.

"Our offer is **1 million yuan per year**, for a minimum of three years—or longer, depending on your preference. Payment can be made in full upon signing."

From his briefcase, Zhong Yuan pulled out a prepared contract and slid it across the table.

But before the document reached him, Wang Song placed his hand on it, stopping it in its tracks.

"Apologies, Mr. Zhong, but three years is a bit too long for my liking."

Wang Song had done some research on New Fox Sports before coming. It seemed to be the first domestic company with broadcasting rights to NCAA games, indicating a certain level of strength.

The lump-sum payment was tempting, too. However, three years was too much of a commitment.

In Wang Song's view, his career was on a meteoric rise. Within six months, with the NBA Draft looming, his domestic fame would skyrocket just by entering the league.

Tying himself to a long-term deal with a smaller company during this pivotal period wasn't ideal.

Still, Wang Song wasn't one to aimlessly haggle. The proposed amount was within his acceptable range as long as the contract duration was adjusted.

To his surprise, Zhong Yuan misinterpreted his refusal.

Zhong Yuan thought: *There must be an experienced team advising him, given how decisively he turned down the first offer.*

He retrieved the rejected contract with a wry smile and produced a second one from his seemingly bottomless briefcase.

This time, the proposed amount remained unchanged. The only alteration was the currency—it now read **$100,000 USD** instead of **1 million RMB.**

Wang Song: "???"

At first glance, he thought the sequence of contracts was mixed up. Why would the offer suddenly decrease?

Only after closer inspection did he realize the currency change made the offer quadruple the original value.

Swallowing his surprise, Wang Song thought: *So a single rejection just quadrupled my worth?*

"Interesting. It's still a buyer's market, after all," Wang Song muttered under his breath, suppressing a grin.

On the other side of the table, Zhong Yuan, noticing Wang Song's slight expression shift, felt the tides turn in his favor.

With growing confidence, he reached for a pen and seal from his briefcase, ready to finalize the deal.

However, Wang Song once again pushed the contract back across the table.

This time, Zhong Yuan was visibly taken aback.

*Still not enough?*

Surely, $300,000 paid upfront was a generous figure—equivalent to the rookie max salary in the NBA, but without the contractual hoops.

Seeing Zhong Yuan's furrowed brows, Wang Song explained, "Mr. Zhong, there's no issue with the amount. It's just the contract length—still too long."

He elaborated, "One year. That way, it's less of a financial burden for you and serves as a trial period for both parties. It's a win-win situation."

Zhong Yuan's initial instinct was to dismiss the idea, but upon further thought, Wang Song's suggestion made sense.

New Fox Sports was venturing into a blue ocean market. With NCAA broadcast rights and Wang Song's growing fame, they could potentially establish dominance.

Shortening the contract duration would free up cash flow for broader market expansion. The gamble was on Wang Song becoming a household name within the year.

After a brief call with the investors to confirm, Zhong Yuan returned with a smile.

"Alright, Wang Song. You're wise beyond your years. The investors have agreed to your terms—**one-year contract it is.**"

However, he added, "But there's one condition: should another domestic sports site approach you with a similar offer, New Fox Sports gets first refusal at the same amount."

Wang Song's sharp eyes glimmered briefly.

"No problem."

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**(End of Chapter)**