LPL didn't want me? I joined SKT instead!

Without further hesitation, Xiao Yan pulled out his exquisitely crafted Montblanc pen and signed his name in a flowing, elegant style on the last page of the contract.

The scratching sound of the pen nib across the paper was particularly clear in the quiet presidential suite.

As the last stroke was made, Kim Sun-joong's taut shoulders finally collapsed completely. He let out a long breath, as if expelling all the anxiety and fear that had been building up in his chest over the past few days.

"It's been a pleasure working with you, Xiao Yan." Kim Sun-joong stood up, his fatigue vanishing, replaced by a relieved elation and barely concealed excitement. He gripped Xiao Yan's hand tightly, shaking it vigorously. "Believe me, this is absolutely the best decision you've ever made in your career. SKT will usher in an unprecedented era because of your staying!"

Coach Cui, standing nearby, was also moved to tears, bowing repeatedly: "That's wonderful, truly wonderful! Xiao Yan, next year's tactical system will be entirely built around you and Xiang He; you definitely won't be disappointed!"

Xiao Yan smiled and withdrew his hand, his tone remaining calm and composed: "It's been a pleasure working with you, General Manager Jin, Coach Cui. I'm also looking forward to our performance in the new season."

Kim Sun-joong looked at the excessively young yet frighteningly composed Chinese youth before him, his admiration overflowing. He sat back down on the sofa, leaning slightly forward, and lowered his voice, speaking in a tone of familiarity as if addressing a close relative:

"Xiao Yan, now that the contract is signed, we're truly family. As an elder and the general manager of SKT, I have some personal things I'd like to discuss with you."

Kim Sun-joong paused, a shrewd businessman's glint in his eyes: "Your current popularity and online traffic are top-tier in all of Asia. While esports is lucrative, it's ultimately a young person's game. Have you considered using your current fame to invest in other industries in South Korea?"

"Oh? What does General Manager Jin mean?" Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow, revealing a hint of interest.

"For example, the entertainment industry." Kim Sun-joong smiled. "With your looks and current popularity, if you were willing to make a cameo appearance in a few big-budget Korean dramas or participate in a few top-tier national variety shows, the earnings would be absolutely astonishing. SK Group has the largest entertainment agency and cinema resources in Korea. As long as you nod your head, I can personally help you make connections and guarantee you the best resources."

"Take real estate for example," Kim Sun-joong continued enticingly. "Land in Gangnam District, Seoul, is incredibly valuable. If you're interested, I can introduce you to some insider investment circles. The returns on projects those chaebol heirs invest in are far beyond what bank interest rates can offer. With the SK Group backing you, you'll be unstoppable in the Korean business world."

Listening to Kim Seon-jung's grand vision, Xiao Yan maintained a polite smile throughout, nodding in agreement from time to time.

"General Manager Kim's suggestion is very..." "I will consider it seriously. If needed, I will definitely consult you," Xiao Yan replied politely.

Seeing Xiao Yan nod, Kim Sun-jung smiled with satisfaction.

The reason he extended these olive branches was not only to please Xiao Yan, but also to completely bind Xiao Yan to the SK Group's war machine.

As long as Xiao Yan's interests are deeply intertwined with the South Korean conglomerate circle, he will never be able to leave SKT again.

However, what Kim Sun-jung didn't know was that while Xiao Yan was nodding on the surface, he was inwardly scoffing at these suggestions.

Go to South Korea to develop your career in the entertainment industry? Or speculate in real estate in Seoul?

What a joke.

Xiao Yan understood the true nature of Korean society all too well.

It was a distorted society completely monopolized by a few major conglomerates, with class stratification reaching its extreme.

In South Korea, whether it's the entertainment industry, real estate, or even the daily lives of ordinary people, everything is subject to the control of giants like Samsung, SK, LG, and Hyundai.

He's a Chinese man with no connections. Even with the halo of a world champion, if he were to actually plunge into the South Korean business world with a large sum of money, he would be like a lamb entering a tiger's den.

Those tycoon capitalists who appear outwardly dressed in suits and ties, and who act like brothers, have a thousand legal and compliant ways to suck him dry.

In South Korea, outsiders are always just tools; they can never become the true masters.

However, although Kim Seonjung's words failed to fool Xiao Yan, they were like a lightning bolt, suddenly cleaving through the fog in Xiao Yan's mind and giving him an extremely important reminder!

He possesses a clear memory and vision of the future that are nearly a decade ahead of his time. He can't get involved in South Korea's industries, which are monopolized by conglomerates, but he can in the domestic market!

It's the end of 2017!

What a crazy, golden age full of opportunities this was!

Countless colossal entities that would completely change the world order in the next few years flashed through Xiao Yan's mind.

The short video field!

ByteDance is just beginning to emerge, and Douyin is still in the accumulation phase. If you can find a way to get even a tiny bit of original shares through top investment institutions now, the returns will be hundreds or thousands of times in the future!

In the new energy sector, domestic car manufacturers are just getting started, and CATL's battery empire is still in its early stages of expansion.

And then there's the cryptocurrency market, which will experience countless crazy booms and busts in the next few years, creating countless myths!

At the end of 2017, Bitcoin was just before it was about to usher in its first epic bull market!

Not to mention the esports industry itself.

The LPL is about to be franchising and adopt a home-and-away system, and the slot fees for each team will rise sharply in the next few years, increasing tenfold or more.

If he can use his current funds and future high salary to make early investments in esports youth training and MCN agencies in China, and even buy an LPL team and become its owner in the future...

Thinking of this, Xiao Yan's heart couldn't help but beat faster.

He suddenly realized that the astronomical contract he held was not only a symbol of his status in the e-sports world, but also the initial leverage he would use to build a vast future business empire!

"General Manager Jin, I appreciate your kindness. However, I'm a rather straightforward person, and for now, I want to focus all my energy on the competition. As for the investment, we can discuss it another time." Xiao Yan skillfully glossed over the topic.

Kim Sun-joong didn't take it seriously. He knew that these things couldn't be rushed. As long as Xiao Yan was still in SKT, there would be plenty of opportunities to infiltrate slowly in the future.

"Okay, okay! It's good to focus on the game! Then we won't disturb your rest any longer." Kim Sun-joong stood up and carefully put the signed contract into the safe, as if it contained the imperial seal of SKT.

"By the way, Xiao Yan." As they reached the door, Jin Shanzhong suddenly stopped and turned back, saying, "To stabilize morale and to cut off any other clubs' hopes, I plan to officially announce your contract renewal this afternoon through the club's official channels. Is that alright?"

"Of course, you can do whatever you want." Xiao Yan nodded.

Explore the game novel genres; there's bound to be one that suits your taste.