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Gu Chen said, "Senior Zhou is a good person. She started a work-study department at school and often helps us find part-time jobs."

"Tch!" The female employee curled her lip dismissively. "I know Zhou Xiaoting often helps students find internship placements. But she's never introduced interns to a sales office before. You two must have a pretty unusual relationship."

"I'm a freshman and haven't known Senior Zhou for long. But I'm good at basketball, and Senior Zhou wanted me to join the basketball club. This internship offer was the condition of the exchange." Gu Chen continued explaining, appearing earnest and straightforward.

Unexpectedly, the female employee's eyes lit up at his words, as though she had heard some incredible gossip. "So you and Zhou Xiaoting see each other at the basketball club every evening?"

Gu Chen nodded. "But we aren't that familiar. I teach the team members how to shoot, while Senior Zhou usually trains the freshmen."

"Doesn't that still mean you're together every day? You may not be close now, but you'll get familiar sooner or later." Someone else chimed in with a grin.

"Alright!" Seeing that they had gotten enough out of him, Liao Chunhua clapped her hands. "Stop chatting. Time to work."

Although it was a presale for a new development, the average price of one hundred thousand per square meter meant there were nowhere near as many prospective buyers as Gu Chen had imagined. Only a dozen or so people came by over the course of the morning, and eight deals were signed in total. Liao Chunhua closed five of them.

It had to be said that the sales champion truly deserved the title. After shadowing Liao Chunhua all morning, Gu Chen had also learned a great deal.

During the lunch break, Gu Chen ordered boxed lunches for everyone in their group. When he returned to the employee break room with the delivery, Liao Chunhua immediately stuffed the prepared meal money into his hand.

Gu Chen shook his head. "I'm new here, and everyone has been looking after me. I should be the one treating everyone to this meal."

"Don't give me that." Liao Chunhua impatiently shoved the money into Gu Chen's pocket. "You just started university, and your monthly living expenses still come from your parents. Where would you get the money to play the big shot? If you really want to treat us, wait until you close a deal and then buy us something nice."

"Exactly!" The other female employees laughed and echoed her. "Don't try to play the big shot with Sister Liao, little brat. Sister Liao signed five deals today. She made over a hundred thousand in commission alone, so of course she should be the one treating us. Why would she need to squeeze meal money out of a child laborer like you?"

"That's right." Liao Chunhua snapped her fingers, then said to Gu Chen, "Don't rush. Watch and learn at my side for a few more days, help me out a little. Once you've learned enough, I'll find you an easygoing client and let you get some practice. I closed five deals today and earned one hundred twenty-five thousand in commission. The month has only just started. If we work together, when we get paid next month, I'll set aside one-tenth of my commission and give you a red envelope."

Hearing that, Gu Chen quickly refused. "No need. I haven't really helped much."

"You do need it, you do." Liao Chunhua smiled as she praised Gu Chen to everyone. "You have no idea, but Gu Chen's brain is something else. He can calculate all those little figures—deed tax, personal income tax, fees, even the best way to pay mortgage interest. He explains every contract clause so clearly to the clients. The moment I've settled their intention to sign, he takes them to handle the contract paperwork and data entry. He's saved me a lot of trouble. Otherwise, there's no way I could have signed five deals in one morning."

Liao Chunhua's praise was completely sincere. Having Gu Chen help with the calculations had indeed saved her a lot of work. More importantly, there was something about the way Gu Chen explained terms to clients that she could not quite put into words. In any case, he was very convincing.

"A born sales talent." Liao Chunhua summed up. "The kid has a bright future ahead of him."

All in all, although Liao Chunhua had stepped in to help Gu Chen on an impulse and incidentally taken on an apprentice, the overall result had left her quite satisfied. Especially their seamless teamwork that morning—it had been a truly unexpected delight.

Liao Chunhua was satisfied with her apprentice, and Gu Chen was quite satisfied with his teacher as well. But he had no intention of accepting Liao Chunhua's red envelope. "...You're teaching me sales experience, so it's only right that I help you out."

"There's no such thing as 'only right' in this world." Liao Chunhua waved a hand, cutting him off. "Just remember this: there's no such thing as a free lunch. You have to take the money. Once you take it, I'll be at ease. Then I can order you around without feeling guilty. If you insist on refusing, don't tell me you think I'm giving you too little?"

"Of course not." Gu Chen shook his head.

"Then take it." Liao Chunhua made the final decision. "Alright, stop fussing. This matter is settled. And don't call me Master anymore. Just call me Sister Liao or Sister Chunhua, like everyone else. Every time you call me Master, I feel like you're making me sound old."

Everyone burst into laughter. Gu Chen laughed along with them and immediately changed how he addressed her. "Sister Chunhua."

After lunch, the female employees all wanted to lie down in the break room for a while and rest their feet. After all, standing in high heels all morning was rather tiring.

Using a walk to digest his food as an excuse, Gu Chen thoughtfully left the break room. He had originally planned to buy milk tea from a nearby cold drink shop for everyone, when he saw Cao Yan receiving guests in the sales office lobby.

The moment Gu Chen recognized one of the visitors, his eyes lit up with excitement. He immediately hurried over.

"Mr. Zhong, what kind of layout are you looking for? We have—"

"Mr. Zhongli!" Gu Chen walked up beside Zhongli Sui. When Zhongli Sui turned to look at him, he smiled at once. "It really is you. I thought I was seeing things."

Zhongli Sui was somewhat surprised. "You know me?"

"Zhongli Sui, founder of Tiansui Capital." Gu Chen smiled. "I've studied every investment case Tiansui Capital has handled. They're especially impressive."

Zhongli Sui looked a little puzzled. "You are...?"

"My name is Gu Chen—the Chen from silence. I'm a first-year student in Economics and Financial Management at A University School of Economics and Management, and I'm interning here at the sales office." After introducing himself, Gu Chen held back for a moment, but ultimately could not resist asking, "Could you give me an autograph?"

Zhongli Sui had never heard such a strange request before and fell silent. "..."

Cao Yan glared at Gu Chen and said impatiently, "Stop fooling around. Do you think this is some game at school? An autograph? Can't you see we're discussing serious business?"