Chapter 4: Signing the Contract (1)

Translator:

Exodus Tales

Editor:

Exodus Tales

Chen Yu walked into the kitchen and sat on his seat. He ate his dinner silently, appearing to be absent-minded.

Noticing that Chen Yu was acting weirdly, Chen Sanke pondered with her head tilted. She then took the drumstick that she had taken a bite from and placed it in Chen Yu’s bowl.

“Ah?” Dumbfounded, Chen Yu looked up at Chen Sanke.

“Brother… Big Brother wants to have meat.” Chen Sanke waved her oily hands.

Looking down, Chen Yu took a glance at the drumstick in his bowl and then the dinner on the table.

Today’s dinner did not consist of any meat except for the drumstick in his bowl. Not a single slice of meat could be seen on his parents’, Chen Yike’s, or Chen Erke’s plate.

Chen Yu felt bad instantly. He picked up the drumstick and placed it back in Chen Sanke’s bowl. “You can have it. I do not like drumsticks.”

“Do not like drumsticks…?” Chen Sanke repeated dazedly. She turned to Chen Erke on her side, who had her eyes glued onto the drumstick while licking her lips. “Second Sis, you… can have it!”

“I don’t want what you have taken a bite of.” Chen Erke frowned.

“Nobody likes to eat…. But I like to eat,” Chen Sanke mumbled and took a bite of the drumstick, munching on it happily.

Mrs. Chen watched the whole scene, not feeling any emotion.

This was her family. She was long used to, or rather, numbed to leading a non-affluent life.

After taking a few mouthfuls of her food and a sip of her vegetable soup, Mrs. Chen muttered, “Breadwinner, we need to pay the rental bills next month, on the first.”

“So soon?” Mr. Chen asked, slightly startled.

“We have always paid the rent every three months.” Mrs. Chen wiped the oil stain off the corner of her mouth clean with her hands. “Second Eldest’s mental abacus lesson’s fees are due next month too. School’s going to start soon, so we also need money for the children’s books and new clothes for the changing season.”

Mr. Chen placed his chopsticks down.

“I also heard that heating supplies will come in early this year too. It’s not cheap, we need to prepare it early.” Mrs. Chen went on. “Earlier on, you said that your classmates are going to pay you a visit. It’s going to be another expenditure. Try to cancel it…”

Not wanting to hear more about his family’s trivial problems, Chen Yu finished his bowl of rice in a hurry and stood up to leave the dining room.

“You’re not having another bowl?” Mrs. Chen furrowed her brows.

“Mm, nope. I’m not hungry.”

Waving his hands, Chen Yu left the kitchen for his room. He sprawled out all across his bed, staring at the dry paint flakes scattered across the ceiling. He shut his eyes, allowing his brain to take a break.

Creak…

The door to his room opened up slowly, bringing along a creaking noise that gave him goosebumps.

Chen Yu looked up to see Chen Sanke walking into his room, holding onto the half-eaten drumstick. “Brother! Have meat!”

Chen Yu: “…”

“Eat!” Chen Sanke said and took a small bite of the drumstick and passed it to Chen Yu unwillingly while munching the meat.

“I said that I don’t want it.” Chen Yu pointed to the door. “Get out.”

“You’re not going to have it?”

“Out.”

“Uh…”

“Out.”

Chen Sanke stood on the spot. She blinked her eyes and left the room.

Bang!

She banged the door shut, causing a piece of flaky paint to fall to the floor.

“Hah…”

Chen Yu sighed and sat up. He pulled out his mobile phone and opened up WeChat, typing on his screen furiously.

[Chen Yu: “Are you there?”]

[Transdimensional Marketing: “Yes! Have you made up your mind, Mr. Chen?”]

[Chen Yu: “Yes. I am willing to work with you.”]

[Transdimensional Marketing: “That’s great! Please sign using a black pen on the second page of the document.”]

[Chen Yu: “But I do have a small request.”]

[Transdimensional Marketing: “Please.”]

[Chen Yu: “I need your help to keep my identity hidden during the advertising process. Is that possible?”]

[Transdimensional Marketing: “Certainly. Some content creators from other spacetimes have a similar request too. But let me remind you that revealing your identity will boost your societal status and popularity and also helps you to advertise better. Are you sure you wish to conceal your identity?”]

“Nonsense. What’s the use of having such a high status and popularity if I’m just a puppet?” Chen Yu curled his mouth. He stared at the screen, typing quickly.

[Chen Yu: “I’m sure. I do not want to get my private life involved in this.”]

[Transdimensional Marketing: “Okay, I’ll rewrite a contract for you.”]

[Chen Yu: “Okay.”]

As soon as he sent the message over, a white spiraling hole formed in the middle of his room instantly. A white folder dropped out of the hole.

Thud.

The folder touched the ground. In the quiet room, the thud was particularly clear.

After being in a daze for two seconds, Chen Yu immediately sent his inquiry over.

[Chen Yu: “Did you send another document over?”]

[Transdimensional Marketing: “Yes.”]

[Chen Yu: “But you said you’re going to make a new one! How could it be that fast?”]

[Transdimensional Marketing: “Yes, we spent three hours doing so. However, I’m able to send it to any time in your spacetime according to my preference, which is a second after our conversation.”]

It suddenly dawned on Chen Yu.

[Chen Yu: “I see, transdimensional travel truly is magical. But it took you a while when you sent the first set of documents over though.”]

[Transdimensional Marketing: “I was unclear on your location the first time, so to play it safe, it took me a few minutes more.”]

[Chen Yu: “I get it. I’ll take a look at the contract first. If it’s all fine, I’ll sign.”]

[Transdimensional Marketing: “Okay, Mr. Chen! Feel free to consult me if you have any queries.”]

Chen Yu jumped off his bed to pick up the folder. He opened it, took out the contract, and started reading thoroughly.

When he came across a condition on page 7 that had him re-reading for a number of times, Chen Yu pulled out his phone and contacted “Transdimensional Marketing.”

[Chen Yu: “Page 7, clause four; what do you mean by ‘all profits made will be donated to charity anonymously if the other party chooses to not reveal his or her identity?'”]

[Transdimensional Marketing: “Exactly what it looks like. Since you want to remain anonymous, your bank account cannot be bound to any of your accounts on the different platforms. So, the views, shares, and donations, and other profits earned for your videos would be unrelated to you. We will donate it to a charity in your spacetime.”]

[Chen Yu: “Can’t you just transfer the profits to me if I choose to be anonymous? I bet it’s easy for you guys to do that.”]

[Transdimensional Marketing: “We could, Mr. Chen, but we won’t.”]

[Chen Yu: “Why?”]

[Transdimensional Marketing: “Because it would be illegal to do so. We would be going against the Earth Alliance’s criminal law of Article 127 on money laundering. Thus, you will have to give up all the profit if you choose to remain anonymous.”]

Chen Yu held his phone tightly. He turned around, scanning the document before sending over a reply.

[Chen Yu: “You’re trying to make me reveal my identity, right?”]

[Transdimensional Marketing: “Mr. Chen, revealing your identity would help you advertise better. It’s for your own good.”]

[Chen Yu: “To boost your sales?”]

[Transdimensional Marketing: “It doesn’t clash with your interests.”]

[Chen Yu: “Okay.”]

[Transdimensional Marketing: “So you have changed your mind?!”]

[Chen Yu: “I’m even more certain of my decision now.”]

[Transdimensional Marketing: “…”]

[Chen Yu: “I will keep my identity a secret! A total secret!”]

[Transdimensional Marketing: “…”]