For the first few seconds, I was stunned .
And then the joy kicked in .
After hanging up the call, I jumped off the bed, unable to remain calm .
I looked at the time . 6 AM .
Work started at 9 AM but I couldn't wait .
I took the quickest shower in my life, got dressed, and dashed out of my apartment like my a.s.s was on fire .
I grabbed two buns and a soy milk on the way to the shop .
All kinds of thoughts popped into my head . "How am I going to spend 70,000?"
I never had the opportunity of earning this kind of money so it all felt surreal to me .
I decided on some donkey burgers since I was getting sick of the buns here .
You can't blame me for not having greater aspirations . This came all too sudden .
I was feeling thankful and lucky that I had not given up the night before . If I had given up, I really would have nothing left .
I arrived at the shop and found Teacher sitting by himself .
He was looking at the computer screen .
I reached my thumb out to clock in out of habit and paused . I was going to be taking home 70,000, do I really need the basic salary of 900 dollars?
Yet, after a few beats, I clocked in anyway .
Ding Dong~ Gou Dan is starting work .
Teacher turned to me and smiled .
I returned it with an awkward smile .
"Come . I've accepted your order from the web at 65,000 . "
"Really?" I walked over to him .
"Yes, at 1 AM this morning . I checked it thrice before confirming the order . Probably someone who wants another surname for his child but has no money . It's a good thing for you . "
"Is there anything I need to do? Sign a contract or provide my thumbprint? Leave all the errands to me, it's not a problem!"
"It's a . . . it's a little strange . The buyer is from Beijing and he said he'll take an afternoon flight to get here . He asked for your number and he said he will message you personally . "
"You gave it?" I asked .
"Yeah," he answered .
I took my phone out and noticed 23 unread messages . One of the messages contained a hotel address, room number, and a note saying that he was going to touch down at three and that I could head over to the hotel to wait .
"This . . . do you think there will be any problem? He gave me his hotel address and said he'll land at three," I told Teacher, handing him the phone .
"I think maybe he wants to cut the middleman and talk to you directly about the price and method . "
"But you're the only one who knows the method! And isn't my price low enough already?Though, to be honest, I'll be happy with just 30,000 . Oh my gosh, could he be a cop?" I worried .
"While this industry is threading the fine line between what's legal and not, I haven't heard of the police arresting people like us . I figured that he's just not that wealthy and wants to cut unnecessary costs . I'll be taking a 5% commission after all and also a 10,000 operation fee," he explained .
"So you won't be earning anything? Why did you agree?" I asked, puzzled .
"I thought about declining at first . Whenever buyers make this sort of requests from your seniors, I always reject them without hesitation . But it's you . I don't want you to miss this rare opportunity so this gamble must be taken," he answered .
"Thank you," I told him, my voice cracking .
"Go . Call me if you have any questions," he urged .
I nodded and turned around to exit the shop .
Before I reached the door, he called out, "Wait . If he makes an unreasonable demand or keeps trying to bargain, do not readily agree . Think it through . I set the price at 65,000 so whatever price you two agree on, I'll still take 5% from 65,000 . That's 3,200 so be careful not to lose out . "
"Alright . Thanks, Teacher . "
The shop wasn't far from the hotel so I decided to just walk .
However, before even five minutes pa.s.sed, I flagged down a taxi .
It was something I never would've imagined myself doing before since cabbing was a luxury I couldn't really afford .
I felt somewhat skeptical about the client's request to meet me directly . Of course, it made sense that he wanted to save on the procedure fee, but could he settle the processes on his own? Or did he think that I would able to help him with those?
I decided to clarify that with him upon our meeting . At worst, I'll keep 55,000 and just seek Teacher's help with the remaining 10,000 .
I reached the hotel and I immediately went to the receptionist .
"Checking in, sir?" a service staff greeted .
"Yes, A418," I replied .
The staff pressed a few keys on his phone . "Your room is ready . Are you Mr . Li DanFC?"
I shook my head .
"Then you're his guest, Mister Gou Dan?"
I nodded .
"I'll bring you up . You have a really unique name by the way . It seems that Mr . Li DanFC is a rich man . He's booked our presidential suite for you," the staff informed me with a smile .
Gooseb.u.mps rose when I heard his words . "Presidential suite? How much is it?"
A chill ran down my spine as I thought about how Teacher had expected him to be a poor man .
I was wondering if I have been pranked .
"12,000 a day and he's already paid a week's deposit . Looks like you're a very important guest of his," the staff continued .
A week? A huge rock dropped in my stomach . What is going on?
We arrived at A418 and the staff unlocked the door by swiping a card on the panel beside it . "This is your card, sir . You can enter and exit as you like, but the master bedroom is prohibited . "
I took it and looked it over .
The card was made from a gla.s.s-like material and had a layer of sh.e.l.l-like metal covering it .
'Guest Room' was engraved on the card . It looked extremely cla.s.sy .
I entered the suite and the sight that immediately greeted me was of a huge hall .
Never in my life had I seen such stylish interior decoration .
"I'll leave you to rest, sir . We are on duty 24/7 so feel free to give our reception a call if you have a problem . Your expenses will be charged to the deposit . Have a great stay," the staff said before exiting and closing the door behind him .
"Is this guy rich?" I wondered aloud, scratching my head . Perhaps he had a unique taste and was fond of my surname? If that was the case, 65,000 would be too good a deal for him, wouldn't it?
I explored the suite and, indeed, the card given to me could unlock every door except the one to the master bedroom .
I entered the guest room and plopped down on the big bed . I have never been in such a comfortable bed like this before . It felt as though I was lying on clouds .
Of course, I don't literally know what it feels like to be on clouds, but I would think it was similar to lying on this fluffy bed .
Because I had been awoken by Teacher's call early in the morning, I was tired and I was finding it impossible to get up from this bed . Instead, I fell asleep shortly after settling down .
When I opened my eyes, I saw a couple standing at the foot of the bed .
I scrambled to sit up . "Who are you guys?"
"You're Gou Dan, right?" the man asked, smiling .
I looked them over and figured that they were a married couple .
Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of a big man in a suit standing outside the door .
"Sorry! I hope we haven't startled you! You're Gou Dan, right?" he repeated .
"And you're Li DanFC? You want my surname?" I asked nervously .
For the first few seconds, I was stunned . And then the joy kicked in . After hanging up the call, I jumped off the bed, unable to remain calm . I looked at the time . 6 AM . Work started at 9 AM but I couldn 39 t wait . I took the quickest shower in my life, got dressed, and dashed out of my apartment like my a.s.s was on fire . I grabbed two buns and a soy milk on the way to the shop . All kinds of thoughts popped into my head . How am I going to spend 70,000 I never had the opportunity of earning this kind of money so it all felt surreal to me . I decided on some donkey burgers since I was getting sick of the buns here . You can 39 t blame me for not having greater aspirations . This came all too sudden . I was feeling thankful and lucky that I had not given up the night before . If I had given up, I really would have nothing left . I arrived at the shop and found Teacher sitting by himself . He was looking at the computer screen . I reached my thumb out to clock in out of habit and paused . I was going to be taking home 70,000, do I really need the basic salary of 900 dollars Yet, after a few beats, I clocked in anyway . Ding Dong Gou Dan is starting work . Teacher turned to me and smiled . I returned it with an awkward smile . Come . I 39 ve accepted your order from the web at 65,000 . Really I walked over to him . Yes, at 1 AM this morning . I checked it thrice before confirming the order . Probably someone who wants another surname for his child but has no money . It 39 s a good thing for you . Is there anything I need to do Sign a contract or provide my thumbprint Leave all the errands to me, it 39 s not a problem It 39 s a . . . it 39 s a little strange . The buyer is from Beijing and he said he 39 ll take an afternoon flight to get here . He asked for your number and he said he will message you personally . You gave it I asked . Yeah, he answered . I took my phone out and noticed 23 unread messages . One of the messages contained a hotel address, room number, and a note saying that he was going to touch down at three and that I could head over to the hotel to wait . This . . . do you think there will be any problem He gave me his hotel address and said he 39 ll land at three, I told Teacher, handing him the phone . I think maybe he wants to cut the middleman and talk to you directly about the price and method . But you 39 re the only one who knows the method And isn 39 t my price low enough already Though, to be honest, I 39 ll be happy with just 30,000 . Oh my gosh, could he be a cop I worried . While this industry is threading the fine line between what 39 s legal and not, I haven 39 t heard of the police arresting people like us . I figured that he 39 s just not that wealthy and wants to cut unnecessary costs . I 39 ll be taking a 5 commission after all and also a 10,000 operation fee, he explained . So you won 39 t be earning anything Why did you agree I asked, puzzled . I thought about declining at first . Whenever buyers make this sort of requests from your seniors, I always reject them without hesitation . But it 39 s you . I don 39 t want you to miss this rare opportunity so this gamble must be taken, he answered . Thank you, I told him, my voice cracking . Go . Call me if you have any questions, he urged . I nodded and turned around to exit the shop . Before I reached the door, he called out, Wait . If he makes an unreasonable demand or keeps trying to bargain, do not readily agree . Think it through . I set the price at 65,000 so whatever price you two agree on, I 39 ll still take 5 from 65,000 . That 39 s 3,200 so be careful not to lose out . Alright . Thanks, Teacher . The shop wasn 39 t far from the hotel so I decided to just walk . However, before even five minutes pa.s.sed, I flagged down a taxi . It was something I never would 39 ve imagined myself doing before since cabbing was a luxury I couldn 39 t really afford . I felt somewhat skeptical about the client 39 s request to meet me directly . Of course, it made sense that he wanted to save on the procedure fee, but could he settle the processes on his own Or did he think that I would able to help him with those I decided to clarify that with him upon our meeting . At worst, I 39 ll keep 55,000 and just seek Teacher 39 s help with the remaining 10,000 . I reached the hotel and I immediately went to the receptionist . Checking in, sir a service staff greeted . Yes, A418, I replied . The staff pressed a few keys on his phone . Your room is ready . Are you Mr . Li DanFC I shook my head . Then you 39 re his guest, Mister Gou Dan I nodded . I 39 ll bring you up . You have a really unique name by the way . It seems that Mr . Li DanFC is a rich man . He 39 s booked our presidential suite for you, the staff informed me with a smile . Gooseb.u.mps rose when I heard his words . Presidential suite How much is it A chill ran down my spine as I thought about how Teacher had expected him to be a poor man . I was wondering if I have been pranked . 12,000 a day and he 39 s already paid a week 39 s deposit . Looks like you 39 re a very important guest of his, the staff continued . A week A huge rock dropped in my stomach . What is going on We arrived at A418 and the staff unlocked the door by swiping a card on the panel beside it . This is your card, sir . You can enter and exit as you like, but the master bedroom is prohibited . I took it and looked it over . The card was made from a gla.s.s like material and had a layer of sh.e.l.l like metal covering it . 39 Guest Room 39 was engraved on the card . It looked extremely cla.s.sy . I entered the suite and the sight that immediately greeted me was of a huge hall . Never in my life had I seen such stylish interior decoration . I 39 ll leave you to rest, sir . We are on duty 24 7 so feel free to give our reception a call if you have a problem . Your expenses will be charged to the deposit . Have a great stay, the staff said before exiting and closing the door behind him . Is this guy rich I wondered aloud, scratching my head . Perhaps he had a unique taste and was fond of my surname If that was the case, 65,000 would be too good a deal for him, wouldn 39 t it I explored the suite and, indeed, the card given to me could unlock every door except the one to the master bedroom . I entered the guest room and plopped down on the big bed . I have never been in such a comfortable bed like this before . It felt as though I was lying on clouds . Of course, I don 39 t literally know what it feels like to be on clouds, but I would think it was similar to lying on this fluffy bed . Because I had been awoken by Teacher 39 s call early in the morning, I was tired and I was finding it impossible to get up from this bed . Instead, I fell asleep shortly after settling down . When I opened my eyes, I saw a couple standing at the foot of the bed . I scrambled to sit up . Who are you guys You 39 re Gou Dan, right the man asked, smiling . I looked them over and figured that they were a married couple . Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of a big man in a suit standing outside the door . Sorry I hope we haven 39 t startled you You 39 re Gou Dan, right he repeated . And you 39 re Li DanFC You want my surname I asked nervously .