Chapter Twenty-Seven: Partners in Collaboration

The conversation with Yan Yizhen flowed effortlessly. Yan Yizhen was interested in this line of business and was willing to take over the work that Chen Hua used to handle. Qin Jing, eager to expand his operations, found their interests perfectly aligned, and the two quickly ironed out the details of their collaboration.

For instance, Yan Yizhen would receive a 1% rebate of the recycling price on every item she sourced for Qin Jing, and a 1.5% rebate on every item she sold through her own channels. Additionally, they agreed on incentive clauses—every month, for every block of one hundred transactions completed, Qin Jing would pay Yan Yizhen a bonus for each block exceeded.

Though it sounded like an employment arrangement, in reality, it was a legitimate partnership. Yan Yizhen cared little for titles; what mattered was the tangible benefit. After all, earning rebates—and even bonuses if she performed well—without leaving campus was a comfortable setup.

Now that Qin Jing was flush with cash, he didn’t fuss over modest rewards. In this partnership, he was willing to part with most of his profits to fuel Yan Yizhen’s enthusiasm. As long as the volume of transactions was high enough, g-point gains would follow, and that was what truly mattered to him.

What pleased Qin Jing even more was Yan Yizhen’s demeanor. Despite her reputation as a campus beauty, she displayed none of the airs associated with the title. After their agreement, she stayed through the afternoon to help him greet customers in the shop and even introduced several contacts from the Lenghai Academy of Arts.

Thanks to her efforts, Qin Jing’s afternoon business outpaced the morning. In just a few hours, he closed over thirty deals, money flowing freely, and his g-point count rising steadily.

Had Qin Jing still been the man he once was, he might have found himself falling for Yan Yizhen after just a single day. Here was a campus beauty who cared nothing for empty fame, collaborated with him earnestly, demonstrated social finesse, was gentle and polite, and steadfastly adhered to her principles—a rare and excellent choice for a wife.

Even now, Qin Jing found himself curious about her.

That evening, he invited Yan Yizhen to dinner, and she accepted without hesitation.

During the meal, Qin Jing asked, “You’re the most admired girl on campus. What made you decide to get into the recycling business?”

Smiling, Yan Yizhen pointed at him. “Qin, you really sell yourself short. Clearly you’re in the business of luxury goods resale, but when you talk about it, it becomes scavenging for scrap. You’re too modest.”

Qin Jing smiled calmly. “There’s no helping it. Back in school, people used to insult me that way. I grew tired of explaining, so now I just tell people I collect junk. It’s all empty reputation anyway. As for those old classmates, I don’t care about their opinions.”

Yan Yizhen fell silent for a moment. She knew a bit about his background—a poor boy, maligned by others at school, who had endured untold hardships to come this far.

Of course, this only proved his capabilities. Otherwise, Yan Yizhen wouldn’t have so quickly chosen to work with him after consulting Cheng Yu.

“I actually thought of this business before, back when you were just getting started…” Yan Yizhen shared some of her own experiences, then looked at Qin Jing with undisguised admiration. “Qin, I really do admire you. What’s a little hardship for a man? Success is what truly commands respect.”

Qin Jing chuckled and replied, “Then shouldn’t I admire you even more? To spot my potential in a sea of students and hitch a ride just as I’m about to succeed—now that’s impressive. To achieve success without hardship, that’s what most people envy.”

Yan Yizhen was momentarily taken aback. For once, she realized Qin Jing was no ordinary man. The other boys at school would get carried away with a few words of praise, their pride soaring, utterly losing their heads. But Qin Jing remained composed, and even managed to return the compliment.

She had to admit, his words were skillfully delivered—honest, and therefore all the more pleasing.

He was truly adept at flattery, the kind that made one feel comfortable deep down, she thought.

Had Qin Jing known her thoughts, he surely would have replied: mutual flattery is the most satisfying for everyone.

Two clever people, both careful with their words, found themselves appreciating each other after just a day’s acquaintance.

Of course, this was appreciation as business partners. Yan Yizhen’s admiration for Qin Jing was purely professional; Qin Jing could tell she came from a good family and had high standards.

Dinner lasted over an hour, and with no after-meal entertainment planned, Yan Yizhen announced she was heading back. Qin Jing offered to call her a car, but she produced her own keys instead. With a “beep-beep,” a red BMW Mini parked at the mouth of the lane lit up.

Though the car cost just over two hundred thousand, it suited Yan Yizhen’s temperament perfectly. Seeing it, Qin Jing couldn’t help but consider buying one for himself. A car is a modern work of art, a man’s second wife. Now that circumstances allowed, perhaps it was time to think about it.

After Yan Yizhen left, Qin Jing turned to enter the lane—but just then, another set of “beep-beep” sounds rang out. He watched as a group of people stepped out of a vehicle parked nearby.

“Are they here for me?”

Qin Jing frowned, sensing danger. Instinctively, he opened his recycling space and summoned an alchemical golem.

Without a sound, a towering figure nearly two meters tall appeared behind him in the darkness. The golem, male in form, was a stereotypical blond-haired, blue-eyed foreigner. Yet its face was stiff, skin ashen, almost corpse-like.

This was the aftereffect of the golem losing its “spark of life.” Even though Qin Jing had long since embedded a magic stone within it, allowing it to obey his commands at any time, its outward appearance was more machine than man.

“Mr. Qin?”

A woman’s voice, laced with a heavy foreign accent, sounded. She stepped into the light.

She was the very picture of a stunning mixed-blood beauty. Qin Jing was momentarily struck by her appearance: high nose bridge with Western features, delicate skin with Eastern finesse, long black hair cascading over her shoulders, a tall figure nearly 1.8 meters, and a bold, commanding presence that instantly drew every eye.

What caught Qin Jing’s attention even more was the aura she carried—strikingly similar to that of Jessica-Tio. Jessica-Tio had once left him deeply impressed with her breathtaking, ferocious beauty. Though this woman’s aura was somewhat less intense, the resemblance was uncanny.

“Who are you?”

At that moment, Qin Jing felt grateful for his encounter with Jessica. Without having experienced her presence before, he might well have been overawed by this woman’s aura, perhaps unable to utter a word.

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