A fan?!
What the hell?
Staring at the guy in front of him, Cloud Hao couldn't remember where he had seen him before despite pondering about it for a long time.
Fortunately, Lin Jun didn't beat about the bush. He sent saliva flying as he began pouring everything out, "You may not know this, but yesterday was the darkest day of my life! Thanks to your speech, it made me pull myself together again!"
"Uh… Did you get dumped?"
"No!" Lin Jun shook his head. With an earnest expression, he looked at Cloud Hao and continued, "But my advisor, classmates, and roommates… No one understands me, and they even advised me to change my profession!"
Uh, maybe you should seriously take their opinions into account?
Cloud Hao composed himself and asked, "Is it okay to ask you what you're studying?"
"Bachelor of Business Administration! Master of Finance! From River Town University!"
From River Town University?
Ah, my schoolmate!
Sss…
But something's amiss.
Cloud Hao reconfirmed the contents of the light blue dialog box above his head. There, [Investment Wizard] was clearly written, and his hidden potential stat was not low. It was already at 6, which was as good as two Yellows.
In other words, according to the system's determination based on that karmic tree diagram or whatnot, if this guy was to go down his original life path, it wouldn't be a problem for him to somehow, even by mistake, obtain an achievement of extraordinary-level and above before retirement.
Moreover, unlike Liang Ziyuan, who was not only tone-deaf but also insisted on singing despite studying software engineering, this guy's major was in investment. Not only was he not switching to a job that he was not trained for, but he was also groomed in a remarkable place.
If this was a martial arts novel, this guy would be regarded as a brilliant protégé of a famous orthodox sect at the start of the book. So, by rights, he shouldn't be faring this badly?
With a tinge of skepticism, Cloud Hao nodded and continued, "And then?"
"Then, under their coercion, I came here to look for a job. To be honest, I was really at a loss at that time. I felt like a walking corpse." Lin Jun looked humiliated when he talked about this, but he quickly pulled himself together and said, "But after listening to your lecture, I totally figured it out!"
"What did you figure out…"
"If I don't chase my dreams when I'm young and end up regretting my past when I'm old, how am I different from a bum? I don't want to aimlessly wander my entire life like this." Lin Jun clenched his fists. "Since all of you look down on me, I shall prove it to you!
"I want to start a business!
"I'll take control of my future with my own hands!"
If it weren't for the sentence "I want to start a business", Cloud Hao would still be somewhat pleased with his actions yesterday. At least, he had managed to motivate a promising young man.
Yet now, all he wanted to say was 'What sin have I committed'!
Needless to say, this guy had gone from one extreme to the other extreme.
For a long time, Cloud Hao stared at him with wide eyes and an open mouth. Before he could even utter something, a slightly shrill voice came through from the opened door.
"We-well said!"
Cloud Hao instinctively looked up and saw a girl with two slightly old-fashioned braids and round-framed glasses resting on the bridge of her nose, clapping excitedly.
To be honest, if one looked carefully, this girl was quite pretty. After all, her extensive bosom was there for all to see. The only fly in the ointment was that she was a bit short and her dressing style was a bit "subdued".
Perhaps…
It's related to an introverted personality?
Just when he was thinking that, a light blue dialog box popped up.
[Talent: Genius Talent Manager]
[Hidden Potential Stat: 6]
Cloud Hao was speechless.
When a stranger fixed his gaze on her, the young girl timidly took a step back. However, she still mustered up the courage to remain standing there instead of exiting the door.
Withdrawing his eyes from the system's pop-up window, Cloud Hao composed himself. He looked at her and asked, "You are?"
"M-my name is Sun Xiaoteng… from the Department of Psychology at Xiazhong University of Science and Technology," the girl said and bowed nervously. She stammered, "Y-you can just call me Tengteng."
"Okay…" Cloud Hao nodded after hearing her self-introduction. Then, elation filled his heart, and he quickly asked, "Are you here to apply for a job?"
Looking at the suddenly enthusiastic Cloud Hao, Tengteng was obviously a little nervous. She furiously shook her head, and even her voice changed as she said, "N-no, I… came especially to thank you!"
When he heard this unexpected response, Cloud Hao was stunned and pointed to himself.
"Thank me?"
"Yes!"
As if she had suddenly become another person, Sun Xiaoteng looked at Cloud Hao and continued, "I've been suffering from severe depression and social anxiety disorder. No matter what I did, I couldn't get it cured. As a result, I didn't even finish my fourth year in university. Yesterday, after my mum scolded me for being dramatic and saying that I've never suffered a beating from society, she chased me out to find a job. I was very sad at that time. Initially, I thought about finding a place that would not cause others trouble to end my life, but in the end…"
What the f*ck?
W-what is she planning to do?
Cloud Hao said nervously, "I-in the end?"
"In the end, I was afraid of heights and pain, so I came down…" Without saying where she got down from, Sun Xiaoteng blushed and continued in a soft voice, "After that, I took a cab to the talent center, thinking about finding a corner to sit in until night to report back. Then, I heard your speech."
"I don't know why but I just felt a ray of light shining into my heart." She grabbed her chest with her right hand and closed her eyes. Slightly intoxicated, she continued, "It was like I found the meaning of life once again and also found the dream that I had thrown away. My life is just beginning; how can I end it in such a place so easily?"
Applause rang out from the side.
Wiping the corner of his eye, Lin Jun said emotionally, "Miss Sun, congratulations!"
"Thank you." Sun Xiaoteng, who had also lifted her index finger to wipe away the tears from the corner of her eyes, looked up and smiled at him. Then, she turned to Cloud Hao with a brightly-lit face and took a deep bow while saying, "Thank you, Master! It was you who helped me find my dream and the meaning of life once again."
What the f*ck…
My speech could even cure depression?
After listening to her, Cloud Hao was dumbfounded.
But at the end of the day, I did something good.
With a light cough, he reluctantly plastered a calm and collected smile onto his face.
"Uh, you're welcome… In that case, do you have any plans for the future?"
Sun Xiaoteng said resolutely, "I want to become a talent manager!"
Luckily, it's not a psychiatrist…
Cloud Hao heaved a sigh of relief. At least, the hidden potential of this girl coincided with the path she chose. Even if her field of study didn't match up, it was not a huge problem. She could develop it through training—Uh, no, grooming.
"Talent manager, that's a good job… Why don't you work for me for two years to gain some experience?"
Sun Xiaoteng was slightly taken aback.
"Eh? Isn't Cloud Dream Corporation… a game company?"
Oh yeah.
But what can I do?
If I don't gather three pawns with a hidden potential stat greater than 5, I won't be able to complete the mission that Master System assigned to me. Even if it's just to make up the numbers, I still have to find a way to keep her.
"Although that's true… In actuality, we're also in the business of talent management."
Sun Xiaoteng glanced at him suspiciously. "May I ask, which artist has your company signed on?"
Out of reflex, Cloud Hao replied to her, "Somewhere Deep in the Clouds…"
If worse came to worst, he could just add a line of description under his Yinke account later on—Cloud Dream Corporation Signed Artist.
"Somewhere Deep in the Clouds??" When she heard this name, Sun Xiaoteng looked at Cloud Hao in surprise. "The composer of "The Fleeting Fireworks"?"
When confronted with her fervent gaze, Cloud Hao subtly shifted his eyes away.
"Uh, somewhat, I guess… In short, he's an artist under our company."
F*ck!
This lie is getting bigger and bigger!
How do I cover it up later on?
Cloud Hao grew a little anxious, thinking about finding an opportunity to come clean. However, when he thought about this secret snowballing and possibly spread to Liang Ziyuan… How would his roommate look at him then?
Ultimately, setting up a side account and pretending not to know him while privately chatting with him was not something to be proud of…
"In that case, sign me up!" Sun Xiaoteng didn't doubt Cloud Hao's words. She was so stirred up that she became slightly incoherent, but she didn't seem like she had social anxiety at all. "I, I, I really like the lyrics he wrote! Especially during my hardest days… Can you help me get his signature?"
You're not a music student. Why are you so interested in the composer and lyricist?
Caught between laughter and tears, Cloud Hao nodded and took out an employment contract.
"You can look through the contract… If there are no issues, you can sign it."
To be honest, he really didn't have the heart to continue duping her.
Better hurry up and skip these processes.
As he looked at Sun Xiaoteng, who had found the meaning of life again, a "how nice" smile appeared on Lin Jun's face.
Lin Jun then faced Cloud Hao, politely bowed his head, and said, "Today, I am here mainly to thank you. Since the two of you still have work to discuss, I won't disturb you any longer. Ms. Tengteng, I hope that you'll find a career you're passionate about."
"Thank you!"
Sun Xiaoteng was about to see off Lin Jun. However, before Mr. Lin could take two steps, Cloud Hao pulled him back.
"Wait a minute. Where are you going?"
Looking at Cloud Hao, who was staring at the space half an inch above his head, Lin Jun was momentarily stunned. After which, he said nervously, "Of course… I'm going to go start a business."
When he heard this, Cloud Hao suddenly became anxious.
"Have you thought about how to start a business?"
Lin Jun scratched the back of his head, feeling a little troubled.
"…Uh, there's no hurry. I still have more than half a year till I graduate. I can find a way in while studying."
Cloud Hao said, "That's right! You're not in a hurry now, are you? Why don't you find a job and gain experience first?"
Lin Jun's brows knitted together as he pondered aloud, "That's true. In that case, I shall go to the River Town Investment Bank next door later on to try my luck—"
"There's no need for that! I don't mind that you haven't graduated. You can use Cloud Dream Corporation as the starting point of your career! How about this, you can join my company directly, and I'll arrange work for you to ensure that you can accumulate experience and… Uh, broaden your horizons!"
Without further ado, Cloud Hao shoved the employment contract into Lin Jun's hand. He recklessly threw out all these empty promises, stuffing everything this guy wanted to say back into his throat.
Lin Jun stared at him blankly, then glanced at the contract in his hand. Finally, he reminded Cloud Hao in a small voice, "But Great Master… Yours is a game company."
"What's wrong with a game company? Recently, video games are the sunrise industry!" Cloud Hao said confidently. "Besides, don't think we're just a game company now. Which firm doesn't start from scratch before eventually making it into the global top 500?"
Lin Jun didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He said, "But the problem is… I'm studying finance!"
My major doesn't fit your company. It's useless for you to hire me!
Just then, a sloppy-looking man, who seemed honest and sincere, came to the door of this temporary office.
Li Zongzheng was looking up at the two "Beware of Fraud'' posters pasted on the wall and at the door when he heard the raucous in the room. He froze for two to three seconds before hesitantly walking in.
Touching the back of his head, he muttered awkwardly, "Uh, did I come to the wrong place?"
Before the last syllable left his mouth, a loud shout resounded in the office.
"You didn't go to the wrong place! This is it!"
[Talent: Game Designer]
[Hidden Potential Stat: 6]
My God!
Staring at the top of the tall man's head, Cloud Hao nearly burst into tears from excitement.
Finally! Someone who can do the job is here!