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

Xiao Yan ignored Xiao Huasheng's shock. He spoke calmly and directly into his phone:

"General Manager Kim, I'm bothering you so late because there's something I'd like to discuss with you about the roster for next season."

"Oh? About the lineup?" Kim Sun-joong's tone became serious on the other end of the phone. "Go ahead, I'm listening."

Xiao Yan raised his eyelids, looked directly at the little peanut in front of him, and said into the phone, word by word:

"I'm with Peanut now. Regarding his contract for next year, I hope the club can renew it. The jungle needs him next season."

Upon hearing this, the air on the balcony seemed to freeze instantly.

Peanut felt his heart skip a beat, and an indescribable shock and ecstasy surged into his heart, making his breathing rapid.

He never expected that Xiao Yan's promise to "protect him" was not just an empty promise, nor was it something to be dealt with slowly after returning to South Korea. Instead, Xiao Yan spoke directly to the general manager, who held the power of life and death, right in front of him on this night of celebration after winning the championship!

However, Kim Sun-jung on the other end of the phone did not immediately respond to Xiao Yan's sudden request.

An eerie silence lasting more than ten seconds fell over the receiver, with only a faint static noise audible.

At this very moment, Kim Sun-joong, in another luxurious suite in the hotel, sat on the sofa with a furrowed brow, his brain working like a high-speed computer, frantically calculating gains and losses.

As a shrewd professional manager, Kim Sun-joong always considers issues from the perspective of maximizing profits.

He was well aware of Xiao Yan's current importance.

In the exorbitant contract renewal signed this afternoon, Xiao Yan requested the privilege of having personnel decision-making power for the "auxiliary" position.

However, it was Xiao Yan who took the initiative to propose it. Originally, he intended to give Xiao Yan the power to make personnel decisions.

According to Kim Sun-joong and Director Choi's original plan, the high-paid Peanuts were definitely going to be purged.

They have even contacted several blue-collar junglers in the LCK league known for their map control and vision control, and are preparing to conduct tryouts as soon as the transfer window opens.

But now, Xiao Yan is offering to protect Xiao Huasheng.

But if we keep the peanuts, where will the money come from?

Kim Sun-joong's fingers tapped rapidly on the sofa armrest as he visualized SKT's current salary structure.

Faker's contract is the league's maximum salary, and that's set in stone.

Xiao Yan's newly signed contract also occupies a significant portion of the club's salary cap.

If we also factor in the renewal fees for the top laner and support, SKT's budget for next year is already very tight.

Peanut joined SKT at the end of S6 with the halo of "world's best jungler" and an extremely high price tag. If he had renewed his contract according to last year's standards, SKT's financial statements would definitely be in trouble.

"Xiao Yan..."

After a long silence, Kim Sun-joong finally spoke. His tone was no longer as enthusiastic as before, but rather carried a hint of the shrewdness and caution typical of business negotiations.

"I understand your thinking. As the core of the team, it's understandable that you want to keep familiar teammates. But..."

Kim Sun-joong paused, seemingly choosing his words carefully: "As you know, the club's operations are subject to budget constraints. Your contract with Sang-hyeok already takes up most of our salary cap space. Wang Hao's salary last year wasn't low..."

The plot is heating up: Update! Come check out Cola Novels!

Xiao Yan remained calm. He glanced at Xiao Huasheng and said into the phone, "General Manager Jin, I understand your difficulties. I'm not asking the club to renew his contract according to last year's standards."

"Oh?" Kim Sun-joong raised an eyebrow. "So what you mean is?"

"What I mean is, give him a 'betting contract'." Xiao Yan's lips curled into a smile as he uttered a word that surprised both Kim Sun-jung and Peanut.

"A performance-based agreement?" Kim Sun-joong became interested.

"That's right," Xiao Yan said clearly. "The base salary can be lowered, even to the bottom of the league average. However, we can add high performance bonuses to the contract, such as how much bonus he gets for winning the Spring Split, the MSI, and the World Championship. We can even break it down to his MVP awards, jungle control rate, and other statistical indicators in the regular season."

Xiao Yan's voice was exceptionally clear in the night wind: "If he plays well, the club will pay more money, and at the same time, the club will gain championships and honors. This deal is a sure win. If he doesn't play well, the club only needs to pay a very low base salary and can substitute him at any time without taking up too much salary space."

On the other end of the phone, Kim Sun-joong's eyes suddenly lit up.

Wonderful!

This would both appease Xiao Yan's emotions and retain Peanut, this former genius, while also minimizing the club's financial risks.

Kim Sun-joong was even somewhat surprised by Xiao Yan's business acumen. This Chinese boy, who had just turned eighteen, was not only a monster in the game, but also so experienced at the negotiating table.

"Wang Hao, what do you think?" Xiao Yan didn't wait for Jin Shanzhong's answer, but turned to look at Xiao Huasheng directly.

Little Peanut suddenly raised his head, his eyes red-rimmed, but burning with a fierce fire in them.

Base salary? He doesn't care about base salary at all now!

What he needs most right now is an opportunity to stay with SKT, to stay by Xiao Yan's and Faker's side, and to prove himself!

"I'm willing!" Peanut practically screamed through gritted teeth into Xiao Yan's phone. "General Manager Jin, I accept this contract! I don't care about the base salary, as long as I can stay with SKT, as long as I can play, I'll agree to any condition!"

Hearing Peanut's spirited roar, Kim Sun-joong on the other end of the phone finally smiled with satisfaction.

"Alright!" Jin Shanzhong slapped his thigh and readily agreed. "Since Xiao Yan has personally vouched for you, and Wang Hao is determined, then it's settled! After returning to China tomorrow, I'll have the legal department draft a brand new performance contract. Wang Hao, I hope you won't let Xiao Yan down next year!"

"Thank you, General Manager! Thank you!" Little Peanut bowed repeatedly, even though Kim Sun-joong couldn't see him.

"That's all for now, General Manager Jin. Get some rest." Xiao Yan said calmly and hung up the phone.

With a "beep," the balcony fell silent once more.

Xiao Huasheng stood there, looking at Xiao Yan, his lips trembling slightly, a thousand words stuck in his throat, but he couldn't say a word.

"Alright, stop looking at me like that. I'm not gay." Xiao Yan put his phone back in his pocket, half-jokingly breaking the dull atmosphere.

He walked up to Peanut, his smile vanishing, his eyes sharpening: "I've secured this opportunity for you. You've heard the contract terms. How much you get depends on your performance."

"Understood!" Little Peanut straightened his back abruptly and answered loudly like a soldier receiving a military order.

"Go to sleep." Xiao Yan waved his hand.