Future Pet Shop-Chapter 56: Sell! Why Wouldn’t I
"Yeah, streamer, hurry up and ask the owner if he’s selling! You’re in Yunzhong City, right? The second the owner agrees to sell, I’m booking a flight!" That one comment was a wake-up call for everyone. Watching the stream was thrilling, but how could that compare to the joy of buying Cheeky and having him sing for you at home every day?
"Damn it, why the hell did I have to come to Hawaii for vacation at a time like this? Is it too late to fly back now? Streamer, send me your bank account number. If the owner agrees to sell, buy him for me first. I’ll make it worth your while," the tycoon who had requested the MJ song earlier said anxiously, making the streamer a promise.
"Whatever he offers, I’ll double it! Just help me get this parrot, streamer!" The number of viewers had now surpassed 1.5 million, and with them came more and more tycoons. None of them were short on cash. Who would be willing to just sit back and watch such an incredible parrot get snatched away by someone else? They immediately started a bidding war in the bullet comments.
"Hold on, I’ll go in and ask." The streamer was tempted, too. In just the last few moments, he’d already received over one hundred thousand in donations. ’If Master Cheeky’s price isn’t higher than that, I want to buy him and take him home myself. The tycoons’ donations are nice, but they’re all one-time deals. If I can buy Cheeky and stream with him every day, I’ll probably become the most popular streamer on any platform in no time, right? I’ll be making over a hundred million a year, marrying a beautiful, wealthy girl, and walking the road to success... The thought alone is thrilling!’
"Do we have any employees in Yunzhong City? Get them to that pet store immediately. We have to get that parrot, no matter the cost! As long as we get him, we’re guaranteed to become the number one streaming platform online. Funding, going public, ringing the bell on Wall Street—it’ll all be a sure thing." Countless streaming platform owners grew determined. In the internet age, what was most important? Traffic, of course. With Cheeky, would they ever have to worry about traffic again?
And so, whether by car, plane, or by dispatching the employees closest to Yunzhong City, wave after wave of people descended upon the city at top speed. In their eyes, Cheeky was no longer an ordinary parrot, but a God of Wealth forged from diamonds.
"You must be the owner of this pet store, right?" By now, the struggling streamer Wu Qingchen had made it to the front of the line and received permission to enter the shop to see Hah’Er. But he didn’t even spare Hah’Er a glance. He rushed straight toward Shen Yibin, suppressed his overwhelming excitement, and asked with a deferential bow.
"Yes, I am. Are you looking to buy a pet?" ’He came into the store and rushed straight for me without even looking at Hah’Er. What reason could there be other than buying a pet? Hmm, don’t tell me he wants to buy Cheeky? No other pet would make him this excited.’
"Hello, sir. Excuse me for asking, but... is that parrot outside for sale?" Wu Qingchen asked, his voice trembling. The fans watching his stream held their breath, quietly awaiting Shen Yibin’s answer.
’Please say he’s for sale, please say he’s for sale.’ In the virtual chat rooms, the tycoons and the streaming platform owners were all praying. Of course, even if Shen Yibin refused to sell, they would exhaust every option to get him. Still, avoiding complications was always for the best.
"He’s for sale! As long as the conditions are right, he’s for sale!" Shen Yibin’s feelings were a little complicated. On one hand, he wanted to sell Cheeky as soon as possible in exchange for his own peace and safety. On the other, after spending so many days together, he had grown used to Cheeky’s constant chatter. He’d actually be quite reluctant to part with him so suddenly.
GULP. Wu Qingchen swallowed hard. His heart, along with those of his fans and the various platform owners, began to race. Spurred on by the bullet comments, Wu Qingchen asked timidly, "Um, so... how much are you selling the parrot for?" After hearing Shen Yibin’s words, almost everyone assumed that the so-called "right conditions" were simply a matter of money.
"Where’s finance? I need to know how much liquid capital we can free up right now!" The owners of the major streaming platforms sprang into action. They were resolved; even if they had to take out a high-interest loan, they were going to get Cheeky for their company.
’How much money do I have on my card right now?’ The tycoons hurriedly opened their online banking apps to check their balances. The most anxious among them immediately called their private financial advisors to start liquidating assets. Missing out on a parrot like this would be a lifetime regret.
However, Shen Yibin’s answer left them all stunned. "The price is easy. Just thirty-eight thousand, three hundred and eighty-four yuan and thirty-eight cents will do." ’Sigh, why do I feel so embarrassed every time I quote this price?’ "But, it’s not just a matter of money if you want to buy this parrot. You also need..."
Thirty-eight thousand, three hundred and eighty-four yuan and thirty-eight cents! The moment this figure was announced, the live stream exploded. Absolutely no one was paying attention to what Shen Yibin said next.
"Holy crap! I thought he’d cost at least a million! Who knew he’d be so cheap? Streamer, buy him for me! I’ll give you a one hundred thousand yuan finder’s fee!" Cheeky’s price had stunned the entire audience. Of course, they weren’t shocked because it was too high, but because it was far, far too low. Getting such an incredible parrot for less than forty thousand was simply unbelievable.
"I’ll give you two hundred thousand, and I can wire it right now." Someone immediately raised the offer.
’To hell with two hundred or five hundred thousand! As long as I can get my hands on Master Cheeky, I can earn ten or even a hundred times that amount back!’ Wu Qingchen cast aside the tycoons’ tempting offers and asked eagerly, "Can we complete the transaction right now? Do you take cash, or can I use a mobile payment app?"
’The kid’s planning to buy it for himself!’ The bosses of the major streaming platforms were all shrewd operators. They instantly deduced Wu Qingchen’s intentions from his expression and tone and reacted at once. "Look up his contract! We need to poach him for our platform!"
"Sir, Mr. Wu Qingchen’s past performance has been... less than ideal. He hasn’t shown much financial potential, so... so the contract we signed with him isn’t very restrictive. The penalty for breach of contract is extremely low..." The legal director at Wu Qingchen’s current streaming platform had already pulled up the contract, explaining with a dry mouth. Who could have ever imagined that a nobody like Wu Qingchen would one day make such a huge comeback?
"Excellent! As long as Wu Qingchen is willing to join our platform, we’ll cover his contract termination fee! The signing bonus will start at five million! As long as we can confirm the parrot is healthy, we can sign the deal immediately!" Other streaming platforms quickly received this information through their own channels and erupted in cheers.
However, Shen Yibin’s next words left them stunned once again. "It’s not just about the money. We also have to see if you’re even qualified to purchase him."
