Bang.
As the door closed, only Zhou Chechen and Lan Ling remained in the office.
Lan Ling continued lifting his dumbbells while speaking, "President, that Zhang Yu seems a bit too greedy."
Zhou Chechen, lounging on the sofa, chuckled lightly, "Well, he's just a poor kid who suddenly got a taste of success. It's normal for him to act a bit arrogant."
"If I had improved my score by 70 points in a month like he did, I'd be just as cocky."
"Let's give him another month to think it over."
Lan Ling's gaze turned cold, "President, are you really going to increase his contract benefits?"
Zhou Chechen replied indifferently, "Lan Ling, you haven't seen enough poor people to understand them."
"Due to their upbringing, experiences, and living conditions, poor people often have a very narrow perspective."
"In situations like the one just now, nine out of ten would sign the contract on the spot."
"But Zhang Yu held his ground and said he needed time to think it over. That actually makes me respect him more."
"If he can improve his scores even further in next month's exam, what's the harm in giving him a better deal?"
Lan Ling frowned, "I'm just worried that people like him are insatiable."
Zhou Chechen laughed, "Alright, Lan, be more generous. Don't compete with those beneath you."
"Zhang Yu isn't on the same path as us. He won't be competing with us for positions. We're not rivals."
"In fact, the better he does and the more he improves, the more we stand to gain. He's worth investing in…"
As he spoke, Zhou Chechen placed a spirit interface mask over his head.
"I'll be in the spirit realm catching up on some lessons this afternoon. Don't bother me unless it's important."
In the cafeteria.
As soon as Zhang Yu left the student council office, he rushed over to Bai Zhenzhen.
Seeing her calmly eating, Zhang Yu said urgently, "Zhenzhen, you better have a good reason for this."
"Do you know how hard it was for me to resist signing that contract?"
"You have no idea how much they appreciate my talent…"
Bai Zhenzhen replied calmly, "Did he rush over to shake your hand as soon as you walked in, even forgetting to put on his shoes?"
Zhang Yu was momentarily stunned and stopped talking.
Bai Zhenzhen continued, "It's the same every time Zhou Chechen tries to get someone to sign a contract. That's just how he greets people."
"What?" Zhang Yu was surprised.
So he was just putting on a show, huh?
Zhang Yu added, "But he also cleared my debts."
Bai Zhenzhen snorted, "Did he really clear them?"
"More likely, he just became your new creditor, right?"
"Did he also tell you not to worry about interest and that you could pay him back slowly after you graduate and find a job?"
Zhang Yu was shocked again, "Did he say the same thing to you?"
Bai Zhenzhen nodded, "He probably says that to everyone he wants to sign."
"But don't think for a second that it's a good thing."
"Not having to pay him back is just lip service."
"If you stop paying, once the debt is overdue, the power is entirely in his hands."
"If he really doesn't care, then nothing will happen."
"But if he decides to enforce the contract, the money in your account will be taken immediately to pay off the debt."
"And if that's not enough, they'll start seizing your assets."
"Think about it—what's your most valuable asset?"
Zhang Yu's eyes flickered.
He didn't really have any assets.
If they enforced the contract, he'd probably just end up as a deadbeat.
Bai Zhenzhen, however, sneered, "Your most valuable asset is your cultivation, your tempered flesh and blood, and your diligently cultivated dantian."
Zhang Yu's expression hardened, "Are you saying they would…?"
Bai Zhenzhen nodded, "Enforcement means paying with money if you have it. If not, they'll auction off your assets. Once your external possessions are gone, they'll start selling your organs, your flesh, your dantian…"
Although Zhang Yu had long since stopped expecting much from Kunxu, hearing Bai Zhenzhen's words still made his heart sink.
Bai Zhenzhen continued, "And don't think about running away. This contract isn't just a piece of paper."
"Remember the Law Department among the Eight Divine Ministries?"
"When you sign the contract, the student council uses talismans to summon the Heavenly Contract Deity from the Law Department to witness it. Enforcement is carried out by the Eight Divine Ministries."
Damn, Zhou Chechen, you're really something, Zhang Yu thought, his heart sinking further.
I thought we were being genuine, but you're just playing games, huh? Trying to trap me?
Bai Zhenzhen went on, "However, if you fully comply with the contract and your performance meets their expectations, they might not do anything to you."
"But there's another crucial part of the contract—the section about university applications, including which universities and majors you can choose, and the penalties for violating those terms."
"In other words, once you sign the contract, they decide which university and major you'll apply to."
"And there are countless other clauses. Violating any of them will result in sky-high penalties…"
Seeing Zhang Yu's blank expression, Bai Zhenzhen said impatiently, "Did you even read that part of the contract?"
Zhang Yu replied confidently, "The benefits at the beginning were so tempting I almost couldn't resist. I was afraid if I kept reading, I'd sign it on the spot. That's why I turned Zhou Chechen down and rushed here to find you."
Bai Zhenzhen nodded, "Alright, I'll give you credit for having strong willpower."
Then she changed the subject, "Zhang Yu, have you noticed how the rich kids at our school rarely clash with us poor students?"
"They always seem polite and well-mannered, rarely throwing their weight around, right?"
Zhang Yu thought for a moment and nodded, "Yeah, that's true."
Bai Zhenzhen explained, "That's because the rich and the poor aren't competing in the same arena. They don't see us as competitors, which is why they seem so 'civilized.'"
Zhang Yu frowned slightly.
Everyone takes the same college entrance exam.
How are we not competing in the same arena? Do they get into university through cheerleading or something?
Bai Zhenzhen continued, "Because poor students aim for regular universities, while the rich are targeting the top ten elite universities."
"For them, getting into a regular university is easy with their resources. They don't see us as competition."
"Only the top ten universities are worth their effort, and even then, they're competing against other rich kids."
Zhang Yu couldn't help but ask, "Can't poor students aim for the top ten universities?"
Bai Zhenzhen shook her head, "The admission slots for the top ten universities are limited, and even fewer are allocated to each city."
"For example, in Songyang City, the top ten universities combined only admit a few dozen students each year."
"These slots are already monopolized by the rich through various means."
"Contracts like the one Zhou Chechen offered are one such method. They sign talented, high-achieving poor students and dictate which universities they can apply to."
"Of course, if you sign the contract, you can't apply to the top ten, but you become their investment. They'll still treat you politely and be your 'good classmates.'"
"But if you don't sign the contract and show any intention of aiming for the top ten, you become their real competitor."
"Then you'll face brutal competition and see their true, ruthless nature. Pressure will come at you from all sides."
"The admission slots for the top ten universities are fiercely guarded by their circle. They won't allow any poor student to take a spot."
"In this regard, even the student councils of all the top high schools are united. They rise and fall together."
"Don't expect the school to intervene much either. When the parents' social influence far outweighs the school's, even the principal can't control the student council."
Listening to Bai Zhenzhen's explanation, Zhang Yu finally understood.
It's the rich kids of Songyang banding together to keep the poor out.
At that moment, he felt as if an invisible net had been cast over all the students, suffocating and inescapable.
Zhang Yu couldn't help but sigh, "Is the gap between the top ten universities and regular ones really that big? Why are they so afraid?"
Bai Zhenzhen rolled her eyes, "Of course it is."
"The top ten sects are something people can't escape from birth to death. They're the forces that shape Kunxu."
"And only by entering the top ten universities can you have a chance to join the top ten sects."
"As for graduates from regular universities? The top ten sects won't take them as disciples. At best, they might become employees of some subsidiary under the sects."
Zhang Yu sighed inwardly.
Even after graduating, you can't escape the discrimination.
Graduating from a regular university means you're destined to be an outsourced disciple for life.
Bai Zhenzhen added, "And there's one more crucial point—only the top ten sects… can lead to immortality."
Her tone carried a hint of longing.
Immortality—the ultimate goal of countless cultivators.
Every cultivator who sets foot on the path of immortality dreams of it.
Zhang Yu also remembered that immortals only exist within the top ten sects.
Bai Zhenzhen concluded, "So, that's the situation."
"If you want to aim for the top ten universities, you'll face overwhelming opposition."
"Zhang Yu, now that you know all this… what are you going to do?"
Under Bai Zhenzhen's gaze, Zhang Yu looked deeply conflicted.
"Should I sign the contract? If I do, I can study and take exams safely. With the contract, even if I only get into a regular university and work for a sect-affiliated company, I could still do pretty well, right?"
"But… the top ten sects…"
At that moment, Zhang Yu thought of the immortal roots only available to disciples of major sects, the top-tier cultivation techniques only they could use, and the fact that only they could achieve immortality…
The differences between the top ten universities and regular ones were vast, filled with countless chasms he knew of and many more he didn't.
Just as Zhang Yu was hesitating, a chill ran through him.
A countdown appeared in his mind, reminding him of something.
"Ha… study hard, get into university, join a major sect, and then earn enough to buy all the antiques in my shopping cart."
"To join a major sect, I have to get into the top ten…"
"Damn it… I guess I never really had a choice."
Seeing Zhang Yu's conflicted expression, Bai Zhenzhen patted his shoulder, "Take your time. This isn't an easy decision to make."
"They probably gave you a month to think it over, right?"
As Bai Zhenzhen stood up to leave, Zhang Yu suddenly asked, "What about you, Zhenzhen? What are you going to do?"
Bai Zhenzhen paused for a moment, then replied with unwavering determination, "I won't sign."
"I'm aiming for the top ten."
Feeling the chill in his body slowly dissipate, Zhang Yu seemed to see his own choice clearly.
He smiled, "Then let's do it together."
(End of Chapter)