12. The Complete Cycle of Exploiting Perks (Please Vote for Me!)

As for what to do… Chen Ling thought it through in an instant! He couldn’t quite explain it, but ever since his life restarted, whenever he thought of schemes to deal with people, his mind seemed unusually agile.

Stepping out from the alley, Chen Ling continued toward the business hall. When he was twenty meters from the entrance, he quietly stopped…

Liu Xinyue stood right at the door, holding a pink sunshade and scanning the surroundings. When she spotted Chen Ling, she bounded over joyfully.

“Hello there~ Mr. Borrow-a-Light!” Today, Liu Xinyue wore her hair in a bun, and paired with her doll-like face, the effect was quite striking.

Chen Ling gave an awkward laugh, “What brings you here?”

“I’m being a good person to the end—I came to help cover for your lie!” Liu Xinyue pursed her lips, took a deep breath, and naturally linked her arm through Chen Ling’s.

From the feel at his elbow, he judged—at least a D…

“Luckily, Manager Li called me yesterday. If he’d called my dad, I’d have been finished. You were pretty cunning, making up that story about team practice. Good thing I reacted fast enough not to blow your cover.”

Liu Xinyue chatted away, while Chen Ling dutifully took her sunshade. The two leaned close together, like a couple in the throes of new love.

“As expected…” Chen Ling sighed inwardly, “My premonition was right—it’s not that I want to keep several girls, it’s that the system matched this template for me!”

Having found his excuse, Chen Ling smiled, his mood soaring.

They walked into the business hall just as Li Mingjiang arrived for work.

“Hello, you two~” He approached, feeling somewhat satisfied and reassured. Though he’d helped Chen Ling yesterday, he regretted acting so hastily afterward, so he’d checked Liu Xinyue’s number and called her, subtly confirming Chen Ling’s identity.

Now, seeing the pair so close, he had no further doubts.

“Did Xiao Lian cooperate with you two well?” Li Mingjiang asked with concern.

Chen Ling nodded, “Brother Lian worked hard to help me. But, Manager Li, there’s something else I’d like to discuss with you today.”

Then he turned to Liu Xinyue, “Xinyue, wait here for me. I need to talk with Manager Li.”

“Alright,” Liu Xinyue agreed sweetly, then pulled out a box of yogurt and a sandwich from her bag, handed them to Chen Ling, and whispered, “No refusing, you know—if we’re acting, we go all the way!”

“I promise I’ll finish them!” Chen Ling felt a surge of warmth, and smiled.

Liu Xinyue watched his smile, feeling her heart melt…

Love, sometimes, is just this unreasonable and exquisitely wonderful.

……

Li Mingjiang led Chen Ling into the office and laughed, “Chen, what’s so secret that it has to be discussed alone?”

“Manager Li,” Chen Ling pondered, then asked, “Yesterday, besides me, did anyone else ask you for help with topping up phone credit?”

“Hm?” Li Mingjiang became serious. “Why do you ask?”

Immediately, he caught on, “Someone’s competing with you?”

“Yes.” Chen Ling nodded gravely. “So…”

“I can guarantee it’s not from my side.” Li Mingjiang said earnestly. “You know, Linjiang City is huge, so many business halls…”

Chen Ling replied quickly, “It’s probably a hall in Binhu District, likely somewhere nearby.”

“That makes things easier, hold on.” Li Mingjiang gave him a reassuring look, turned on his computer, made a few calls, then said, “Found it—it’s the Gutang Road business hall.”

Chen Ling said nothing, just kept his gaze on Li Mingjiang, his expression still grave.

Li Mingjiang was quick on the uptake. He knew that, since there was a competitor, Chen Ling would surely want to go up against them, so he smiled, “We don’t have a direct affiliation with the Gutang Road hall, but their manager used to work here—he’s my former subordinate. One thing though, he takes five points…”

The meaning was clear: “I’ll help you handle it, but you have to pay up.” So Chen Ling immediately smiled, “Five points is no problem. Thank you, Manager Li!”

“And one more thing…” he continued, “Manager Li, the supermarket cards you give away—are they purchased centrally by headquarters?”

Li Mingjiang laughed, “Haha, what a coincidence! I’m the one coordinating with the supermarket, I’m the person in charge.”

“The full amount?” Chen Ling raised an eyebrow, a little excited.

Li Mingjiang shook his head, “Ninety-eight point five.”

“Then maybe we can streamline things a bit~” Chen Ling said slyly, “Ninety-seven, fifteen back, how about it?”

“……” Li Mingjiang said nothing, staring at Chen Ling in shock.

From appearances, Chen Ling seemed like a simple, honest university student—not even one of the outstanding ones, just ordinary.

But after just two brief encounters, he seemed nothing like a student at all—more like a seasoned businessman. Yet he really was a university student… No wonder he’d managed to win over someone like Liu Xinyue, a child of privilege.

Li Mingjiang began to think that, aside from Liu Xuefeng, Chen Ling’s connection might also be worth cultivating.

With that in mind, he nodded, “Alright, it’s settled.”

Chen Ling felt greatly reassured! This was an unexpected windfall today—a few words and he’d found a new cash-out channel. Not only that, he’d raised the price by one point!

The business hall bought supermarket cards at a 98.5% rate for promotional activities. These cards were then taken away by Chen Ling as phone credit proxies, then resold to the business hall at a 97% rate for further promotions…

After this cycle, the supermarket cards didn’t even have to leave the premises—they simply returned to the business hall, and the 1.5% difference found its way into Li Mingjiang’s pocket.

Chen Ling knew well—there’s no such thing as a free lunch. He had to make sure Li Mingjiang profited, or else he wouldn’t truly help him.

Everything that needed discussing had been settled. They agreed that, besides the Education Road business hall, two more staff would be added at Gutang Road to help Chen Ling with phone credit, so he wouldn’t have to run back and forth. He’d just deliver the cash once a day.

A perfect closed loop for squeezing profits!

After their talk, Li Mingjiang personally escorted Chen Ling downstairs—he was now a major client, so deserved extra courtesy.

Just before leaving, a final remark from Chen Ling left Li Mingjiang stunned again…

“Manager Li, I’ll do my best to help with the matter you asked Bureau Chief Liu to handle.”

“You…” Li Mingjiang felt his mouth go dry!

He knew that making a little extra from the company was just petty gains, to make life a bit more comfortable. But if things worked out with Liu Xuefeng, it would be a turning point in life!

“You know about this?” he finally asked.

Chen Ling nodded, “I know a bit. It’s for that director of the development office, right?”

“Exactly!” Li Mingjiang was elated, inwardly grateful he’d helped Chen Ling.

This investment’s return was richer than he’d ever imagined!

Chen Ling thought a moment, then said slowly, “Help me settle the immediate matters first…”

“Of course!” Li Mingjiang slapped his chest, solemnly promising.

Seeing his attitude, Chen Ling knew he could rely on him.

“Jin Youde? Heh~ Let’s see what other tricks you have left!”