Chapter 8: A New Hustle
Nathan sat in the back of the classroom, arms crossed, deep in thought.
With the school banning all food sales, his snack business was effectively dead.
Jordan had won this round.
But Nathan wasn't about to roll over and accept defeat.
If I can't sell snacks, I'll just have to sell something else.
Adapting to the Market
Nathan thought back to why his business had been so successful in the first place.
It wasn't just about selling snacks—it was about solving problems.
The problem before: students wanted snacks, but the cafeteria was overpriced and vending machines were unreliable.
Now, the new problem was: students still had needs, but the school had cut off their options.
That's when it hit him.
If I can't sell food, I'll sell something else that students need.
Nathan pulled out his phone and started making a list.
Study guides & homework help
Custom phone wallpapers & lock screens
Shoelace swaps & accessories
Game currency trading for mobile games
By lunchtime, he had his next business idea.
The Digital Marketplace
Instead of selling physical products, Nathan shifted to digital services and small, high-demand items.
He started with homework assistance.
Instead of doing people's homework (which was too risky), he provided "study guides"—summarized notes and key points to help students understand their assignments faster.
Each guide cost $5 per subject.
His first customer? A desperate junior struggling with a history essay.
By the end of the day, he had sold four study guides, earning him $20 without carrying a single item.
Nathan smirked.
Jordan can't shut me down if there's nothing to confiscate.
Jordan Notices
It didn't take long for Jordan to figure out that Nathan was back in business.
Nathan was in the hallway when Jordan approached, arms crossed.
"Still at it, huh?" Jordan said, shaking his head. "Thought you'd give up after the school shut you down."
Nathan smirked. "Thought you'd realize by now that you can't stop me."
Jordan narrowed his eyes. "Fine. If you want to play, let's play. But don't think I won't find a way to shut you down again."
Nathan shrugged. "Good luck with that."
Jordan wasn't just a rich kid playing business games. He was genuinely smart—and that meant he wasn't going to stop coming after Nathan.
But that was fine.
Nathan wasn't stopping either.
And this time, he was thinking bigger.