After an afternoon nap, Tony Snow and Clara Quinn arrived at the library together.
Tony brought his laptop again, but this time he wasn't here to write a thesis. His main goal was to fill out the lab equipment application form and research student startup loan policies. Once that was complete, he could approach President Sharp.
The application form didn't take long; Tony already knew what the experiment needed, so he finished it quickly.
But researching startup loans was more time-consuming. Tony read through various national and regional policies from the Federation Ministry of Finance and Tax Administration, as well as guidelines from the Midwestern Province's Innovation Bureau.
He found that most startup incentives targeted recent graduates. For currently enrolled students, benefits were limited, as the focus was presumed to be on academics. However, graduates with a bachelor's degree, a registered company, and a physical office could apply for a $15,000 interest-free loan, repayable in two years. Further applications required hiring at least five employees.
In addition, student entrepreneurs were eligible for a three-year tax relief program post-graduation. Even current students could apply for a "Certificate of Independent Student Entrepreneurship," which came with support options despite not qualifying for the tax benefit yet.
To take advantage of this, Tony needed to first register a company.
Luckily, with his recent accomplishments and support from Dean Howard Quinn and President Sharp, that wouldn't be a problem. Successful student entrepreneurship would be a major achievement for the university as well.
Outside the university, Tony also had valuable contacts. One such person was Martin Cain, the father of one of his tutoring students. With decades of future biology, mathematics, and computer science knowledge at his disposal, Tony was confident he could pitch a compelling vision that was not just persuasive but truly groundbreaking.
In the afternoon, Tony finalized the equipment request and immersed himself in policy documents. After several hours of staring at his screen, he closed the laptop and rubbed his eyes.
He turned to see Clara still deeply focused on her book.
Not wanting to disturb her, Tony stepped out for a walk to stretch and rest his eyes.
After half a year of regular workouts, Tony's appearance had transformed. The once quiet and withdrawn student now radiated confidence and vitality—the scholarly charm of a thinker mixed with the strength of a doer.
When Tony returned, Clara looked up.
"I just went out to rest my eyes for a bit," he explained casually.
She nodded, not having intended to question him, but his explanation brought a small smile to her face.
They returned to their quiet routine. Clara continued taking notes, while Tony opened a new book.
Later, Tony sent the completed application to Dr. Quinn. The response came quickly:
"You need quite a lot of instruments. Can you manage this on your own? Should I assign a few graduate assistants to help you?"
Tony replied without hesitation. "That would be great. Thank you, Dr. Quinn."
"Do you have class Monday afternoon?"
"Yes, molecular biology lab."
"Perfect. I'll bring two graduate students to meet you. You can exchange contact info and coordinate directly."
"Understood. Thanks again!"
Tony ended the chat with a grateful emoji.
He couldn't help but feel excited. He was still an undergrad, and already he was getting graduate assistants.
...
The weekend arrived, which meant tutoring sessions.
Tony planned to speak with Martin Cain about his business registration and entrepreneurship plans. However, during his visit, Martin was nowhere to be found.
On Sunday afternoon, Tony asked his student, Melissa Cain, about her father, but she wasn't sure about his schedule.
Still, tutoring went well. Melissa had completed all her assignments from the previous week. On Saturday, Tony reviewed her mistakes and clarified her doubts. On Sunday, he gave her similar problems with small twists, designed to test her adaptability.
She solved them all.
Tony returned to the university that evening. Unlike previous weekends, Martin Cain didn't meet him at the station. But shortly after arriving in his dorm, Tony received a $120 digital transfer and an apologetic message:
"Work was hectic today. I just got home. Totally forgot to send payment earlier. Sorry about that."
Tony replied promptly: "No worries at all, Mr. Cain. You could've done it tomorrow too."
Afterward, he thought about how to use the money.
First, he transferred $50 to his mother. Then he considered spending some of the remaining $70 on a gift for Clara.
But this time, he wouldn't surprise her. He decided to ask her opinion during class on Monday.