Going home for the Chinese New Year with a year-end bonus of 100 million

"Manager Wang," Yang Fan stopped and turned to the agent, "What is the exact rent? What are the landlord's requirements?"

Wang Lei perked up, realizing they were getting to the heart of the matter:

"Mr. Yang, the landlord's asking price is 35 yuan per square meter per month. Based on 2,700 square meters, the monthly rent is 94500 yuan."

"A 5% discount is available for annual payments, with a three-month deposit and three months' rent in advance. If you sign a long-term lease of three years or more, the price is negotiable."

He paused, then added, "The landlord said the place has been empty for more than half a year, and he's anxious about it too."

"If it's a legitimate business and you have the resources, the price is negotiable."

More than 90,000 a month... Yang Fan calculated it again in his mind.

Although the investment is a bit high, it's still acceptable.

Zhou Yao, listening nearby, was speechless. She couldn't help but tug at Yang Fan's sleeve and lower her voice:

"Brother...this...this investment is too big."

"How about we consider the first two options instead? This one is too risky..."

The real estate agent, Wang Lei, was also looking at Yang Fan.

Although he tried his best to promote it, he was actually a little apprehensive about Yang Fan's young age—did this young man really have the ability to take on such a big project?

Yang Fan remained silent for a few minutes.

The open space was quiet, with only the faint sounds of street noise coming from outside the window.

He weighed the pros and cons in his mind.

The first location: low investment and low risk, but remote location and limited development potential.

It might be a lukewarm business, making a little money, but it's hard to scale up.

The second location: good location, good price, but the lack of an elevator is a major drawback. This alone could cost them at least 30% of potential customers.

The third location: excellent location, huge scale, and good facilities. However, it requires a huge investment and carries significant risks.

If it succeeds, it could become a benchmark for esports hotels in the university town and even the entire city; but if it fails, the losses will be staggering.

And Yang Fan, the one thing he has no shortage of right now is money.

With 100 million yuan in system funds lying in his account, an investment of over 10 million yuan was really nothing to him.

Even if we lose everything, it won't damage the fundamentals.

More importantly, he did this project not just to make money, but also to put down roots in the city and build his own career and influence.

If you're going to do it, do it the best, do it the biggest!

Thinking of this, Yang Fan raised his head, looked at the real estate agent Wang Lei, and said in a calm but firm tone:

"This place will do. Please contact the landlord; we can sign a three-year contract."

"Regarding the rent, I'd like to negotiate down to 30 yuan per square meter, payable annually. If we can reach that agreement, we can sign a letter of intent today."

"W-what?" Wang Lei was stunned, hardly believing his ears. "Mr. Yang, you mean...it's settled? Right here?"

Even Zhou Yao was stunned, staring wide-eyed at Yang Fan: "Big brother! You...you really want to rent this place? This...this investment is too huge! You need to think this through!"

Yang Fan looked at Zhou Yao and smiled: "Zhou Yao, I have a few questions for you. Answer me honestly."

"Huh? Okay...okay, big brother, ask away." Zhou Yao hadn't recovered from the shock yet.

"First, if I were to open the best-equipped and most luxurious e-sports hotel in the city here, how do you think the business would be?"

Zhou Yao instinctively replied, "It'll definitely be packed! With this location and this size, as long as the computers don't lag, the environment isn't bad, and the service is decent, students will be scrambling to get in! Weekends will be absolutely impossible to find a room!"

"Secondly," Yang Fan continued, "how much do you think students these days are willing to spend for a good e-sports environment? Would they consider a room costing 200 yuan a night expensive?"

"Not expensive at all!" Zhou Yao blurted out. "These days, a decent internet cafe overnight costs seventy or eighty yuan, and it's noisy too. If you can stay in such a nice e-sports hotel, and just lie down on the bed to sleep when you're tired, two hundred yuan is definitely worth it! If it's a couple's room or a group room, people will book it for over three hundred!"

"Third," Yang Fan looked into her eyes, "if I succeed, will you bring your friends? Will you come regularly?"

"Of course!" Zhou Yao nodded vigorously. "Not only will I come myself, I can bring the entire e-sports club! We have activities every week, and we're just worried about not having a place!"

Yang Fan smiled and turned to Wang Lei, the real estate agent who was still in a daze:

"Manager Wang, you heard that. This is the market. So, I've decided to do it."

Wang Lei then realized what was happening, his face flushed with excitement: "Mr. Yang! You're so decisive! I... I'll call the landlord right now! I'll do my best to negotiate the price of thirty yuan! Please wait a moment! Please wait a moment!"

He frantically pulled out his phone and went to the side to make a call.

Zhou Yao pulled Yang Fan aside, her voice urgent, "Brother! I know you're rich, driving a Mercedes and living in a luxury house. But... this is an investment of over ten million! It's no joke!"

"What if... what if business isn't as good as we've hoped?"

"With so many rooms, how much would the utilities and property management fees alone cost per month?"

"And then there's the staff. With such a large place, how many people would you need for reception, cleaning, network administrators, maintenance...?"

She was genuinely worried about Yang Fan. Although they hadn't known each other for long, she thought Yang Fan was a good and honest person and didn't want to see him take a risk and make a mistake.

Yang Fan felt a warmth in his heart when he saw Zhou Yao's anxious expression.

This girl truly cares about him.

"Zhou Yao," he said gently but earnestly.

"Thank you for your concern. But this wasn't an impulsive decision. I've considered this for a long time."

He looked around at the vast space: "If we're going to do it, we'll do it the best."

"This location, this scale, once established, will become a brand, a benchmark."

"In the next five to ten years, the number of students in the university town will only increase, and the e-sports market will only grow larger. Now is the perfect time to enter the market."

He paused, then continued, "As for the investment... if I dare to invest, I'm confident. If I lose, I accept it. But I don't think I'll lose."

Looking at Yang Fan's confident and composed gaze, Zhou Yao suddenly didn't know what to say.

She felt that this usually gentle and easy-going "Brother Fan" was now displaying a decisiveness and determination that she had never seen before.

At this moment, the real estate agent, Wang Lei, ran back with a beaming smile:

"Mr. Yang! It's settled! The landlord has agreed! It's thirty yuan per square meter, payable annually, with a three-month deposit and three months' rent in advance! If you can sign the letter of intent and pay the deposit today, you can get an additional month's rent waived as a renovation period!"

He said excitedly, "The landlord said he likes working with ambitious young people! I really hope you can make this place a success and revitalize this area!"

Yang Fan nodded: "Okay. Then please prepare the contract. We'll sign it today."

"Big brother!" Zhou Yao wanted to persuade her further, "How about... we sign a one-year contract first and see? Just in case..."

"No need," Yang Fan shook his head. "A three-year contract is pointless with such a large investment in equipment and renovations. If we're going to do it, we should do it long-term."

He looked at Zhou Yao and smiled, "Besides, didn't you say you'd bring friends to support me? With you as my 'unofficial propaganda minister,' what do I have to be afraid of?"

Zhou Yao was both amused and exasperated by his words, but seeing that Yang Fan was determined, she knew she couldn't persuade him otherwise, and could only sigh.

"Alright... if you've made up your mind, I'll definitely give it my full support! From now on, all the esports club activities will be handled by you!"

"That's more like it," Yang Fan said with a smile.

The contract was left to the intermediary to prepare, and Yang Fan and Zhou Yao left the venue and returned to their car.

"Brother, the venue is booked. Next, we need to do the renovations and buy the equipment."

Zhou Yao fastened her seatbelt and regained her usual liveliness.

Yang Fan started the car: "Speaking of this, I really need to ask you for advice. I know a little about computers, but I'm not an expert. How do I choose the configurations for a hundred gaming PCs, and how do I control the price? Do you have any recommendations?"

Zhou Yao's eyes lit up, and she slapped her thigh: "Big brother! You've come to the right person! I may not be able to do it, but my brother can!"

"Your brother?" Yang Fan asked curiously.

"That's right! My own brother, Zhou Hao!" Zhou Yao said proudly.

"He's a junior at our school, majoring in computer science! Most importantly—he's the president of our school's esports club! I'm the vice president, hehe, I'm got his back!"

Yang Fan laughed: "So, you got in as vice president through connections?"

"Oh, big brother, don't say that!" Zhou Yao said, a little embarrassed.

"My skills aren't bad either, okay? But seriously, my brother has been a computer enthusiast since he was a kid. He's an expert at assembling computers, overclocking, and tuning systems! He knows the prices and performance of every graphics card, CPU, and memory stick on the market! You can't go wrong with him!"

She got more and more excited as she spoke: "And my brother has a wide network of connections; he knows several computer wholesalers, so he's sure to get the lowest prices!"

"How about... we go back now? My brother's probably playing video games at home! I'll introduce you to him!"

Yang Fan thought for a moment and nodded: "Okay. Let's go back to find your brother now."