Ye Chen jotted down the number and called it.
The call connected and a woman's voice came through.
"Hello, who's this?"
"I'm here to apply for the tutoring job."
On the other end, the woman's voice was very gentle.
"How should I address you?"
"My name is Ye Chen."
"Teacher Ye, I'll send you a location. Come to our place for an interview at eight this Sunday evening; if it goes well you can start right away."
"Alright, no problem."
He hung up and exhaled in relief.
Glancing at the bitcoin price, it had already risen by more than ten yuan.
Delightful.
Ye Chen knew this was only the appetizer—bitcoin's surge would soon hit the fast lane.
Shower and bed; on Sunday he still had to tour shopfronts with Li Sitong.
After all, opening a Hot Pot Restaurant sounds simple, but doing it is complicated.
Sunday happened to keep everyone busy.
Dean Zheng and Yingluo handled sourcing ingredients and suppliers, and finding a head chef.
Ye Chen and Li Sitong were in charge of locating a storefront and recipes.
Early morning, Li Sitong dragged Ye Chen excitedly around the commercial street.
But the two soon felt dejected.
Though shops lined the street, all were prime locations; no one was willing to transfer.
Li Sitong looked crestfallen.
She'd dreamed of opening a store and experiencing life as a proprietress.
Yet right at the start the storefront issue stumped them.
"Should we try somewhere off the beaten path? Good food draws crowds even in an alley," she suggested.
Ye Chen shook his head. "No, it has to be downtown."
"Why? Cheaper rent elsewhere means lower costs," she asked, puzzled.
Ye Chen replied, "Only downtown has the foot traffic to bring in more customers."
In truth, he had his own little scheme.
Downtown rents were sky-high, letting him fleece the system for every penny.
While they worried, a familiar voice rang out behind them.
"Ye Chen, Si Tong, what are you two doing here?"
They turned—it was Li Li.
Seeing her Dad, Li Sitong's face flushed red.
She'd told him she was heading to the library, yet here she was strolling—no, scouting stores—with her Boyfriend.
Li Li frowned. "Si Tong, didn't you say you were going to the library to research with classmates?"
"I…"
Li Sitong's cheeks burned.
Ye Chen sensed the awkwardness and knew Li Li had misunderstood.
"Uncle, it's not what you think. We're not shopping—we're looking for a storefront to open a Hot Pot Restaurant."
"Open a hot-pot place?" Li Li was stunned.
"You're still Senior Year of High School students—why open a restaurant? Studying is what matters. Do you know how to run a business? Do you know how to make money?"
Li Sitong bristled at her father's words.
"Who says high-schoolers can't earn money? Ye Chen traded stocks for me and made over a million in a week—can you do that?"
"What?"
"Stocks, more than a million?"
Li Li stared at Ye Chen in shock.
Ye Chen spoke calmly, "Uncle, what's the purpose of studying? We'll enter University soon. Starting a business while at University isn't a bad thing. Besides, I ranked first in the last Mock Exam and Si Tong third—our grades haven't slipped, so I see nothing wrong with us starting a venture."
"Well…" Li Li's tone softened.
He realized he'd been hasty.
Li Sitong had expected her father to explode.
Instead, to her amazement, Dad wasn't angry and even began chatting with Ye Chen.
"You want to open a hot-pot place—why didn't that girl Si Tong tell me?"
Ye Chen smiled. "She probably didn't want you to worry."
Li Li said, "But there are already tons of Hot Pot places, and many brands are established. Breaking in won't be easy."
"True, but we're confident we can become a brand too."
Ye Chen's confidence gave Li Li pause.
"Do you have the funds?"
"Funding isn't the issue; our problem is finding a storefront."
"A storefront?"
Li Li rubbed his chin.
"Hold on, I think I know someone selling a shop. Let me ask."
After all, Li Li's father was well connected in the Shopping Mall scene.
Li Sitong looked at her father in surprise.
"Dad, you're not against us opening a restaurant?"
She'd thought he'd blow up at the idea of her skipping National Higher Education Entrance Examination prep.
Yet instead of anger, he was helping them find a shop.
Li Li chuckled, "Silly girl, why would I oppose such a big plan? Ye Chen's right—you'll be University students soon; some real-world experience is good."
Had it been anyone but Ye Chen, Li Li would have objected.
But Ye Chen was the exception.
Li Li always sensed this kid was extraordinary.
And Ye Chen was correct: as long as grades weren't affected, starting a business wasn't bad.
Li Li even planned to hand his own business to Si Tong someday.
Cultivating her management skills now wasn't a bad idea.
Li Li took out his phone and dialed.
With his back to them, he muttered a few words.
Ye Chen's system-enhanced hearing was sharp.
"What—someone already reserved it? No, hold it for me."
"Alright, Old Zhang, decades of friendship—give me a discount when the time comes."
…Ye Chen: "…"
Old Li was too unkind—what discount? How could he fleece the system now?
Still, Ye Chen was touched by Li Li's fatherly love.
After hanging up, Li Li acted as if nothing had happened.
"Good news—it hasn't been rented out. The owner's inside; I'll take you to see it."
"Thanks, Dad!" Li Sitong hugged his arm happily.
Li Li smiled and nodded.
He had zero confidence in the kids' hot-pot plan.
A bunch of children opening a restaurant? Pure nonsense—they'd surely lose money.
But letting his daughter experience the harsh realities of business early wasn't a bad thing.
Losing a few million meant nothing to him.
The unit Li Li mentioned sat beneath a Shopping Mall, right on the commercial street's busiest stretch.
An excellent spot.
Inside, a chubby middle-aged man greeted them, looking resigned.
Li Li introduced, "This is my friend, surnamed Zhang."
"Hello, Uncle Zhang!"
"Hello." Uncle Zhang eyed Li Li in confusion.
He hadn't expected Li Li's clients to be two High School students.
"Old Li, don't tell me these kids are the ones opening the hot-pot place."
Ye Chen nodded. "That's right, Uncle Zhang—it's us opening the Hot Pot Restaurant."