By the window outside the cafeteria.
"Brother Yi, what are they doing?" A few kids stretched their necks to look into the cafeteria. Seeing Su Ang staring at Qian Qi, they couldn’t help but ask.
Kid Yi looked for a while, "Could they be dating?"
The candy in Kid Bing’s hand fell to the ground with a "plop," and he exclaimed, "Wha-what?"
Qian Qi and Su Dagu dating?
"Wouldn’t that be like a flower planted in cow dung..."
Even though this piece of dung is made of gold, it’s still hard to bless it!
"Su Dagu..." Kid Bing burst into tears, "will be bullied to death by Qian Qi!"
Kid Yi nodded silently, hard not to agree that the flower-like beautiful Su Ang would end up being bullied to tears by the rascal Qian Qi.
"What should we do, Brother Yi?" Kid Bing sobbed sadly, "If Su Dagu gets beaten so badly he can’t go to war to protect the world, wouldn’t people curse Qian Qi to death..."
So who exactly are you feeling sorry for?
"If they fight, who would you help?" Kid Yi asked.
Kid Bing pursed his lips, thought seriously for a moment, then shook his head, "I don’t dare step in; I’m afraid I’ll be the one getting beaten."
Qian Qi, who heard everything by the window: ...
Su Ang, who also heard it all clearly: ...
Qian Qi stood up and shooed away the kids, "Can you keep it down when you’re whispering? You think we can’t hear?"
Kid Bing looked up at Qian Qi in surprise, obviously not expecting that they could hear it, and quickly pulled the other kids away.
Kid Yi looked at Qian Qi’s face, then at Su Ang’s face, and left with a complicated expression.
Qian Qi "thud" locked the window, "Done measuring?"
"Mm." Su Ang didn’t mind what the kids said. Seeing Qian Qi was upset, he spoke up, "You don’t..."
"Those little brats dared to compare me to cow dung! I’m going to make a bitter gourd feast tonight so they’ll learn the hard way that trouble comes from the mouth!" Qian Qi was furious, his messy hair standing on end.
Su Ang wisely kept his mouth shut.
"If there’s nothing else, just go." Qian Qi, having signed the contract, coldly dismissed, "Tonight’s food is no good, so you won’t be staying the night."
"Hmm..." Su Ang, holding the contract, walked a few steps and then turned back to ask, "That friend request..."
Qian Qi turned his head and glared viciously at Su Ang, "What do you want to say? My pretty little flower?"
Su Ang: ..."Nothing, just remember to send the Defense Fruit cultivation method to Dean Li."
Having said that, Su Ang drove off in his hovercar. As soon as he left the cafeteria door, Qian Qi couldn’t wait to open the Light Brain and sent a message to Li Hongsheng.
[I am your uncle]: Dean Li, how have you been?
[I am your uncle]: After working day and night, the students finally lived up to expectations and researched the cultivation method for Defense Fruit!
[I am your uncle]: Considering our past connection, you can unlock the first half of the report for just two million...
Qian Qi turned to poke at the system panel, only to see that unlocking the [Cultivation Method] module cost 3.08 million... Huh? 3.08 million?
Qian Qi pointed to the swill bucket in front of the cafeteria, grinning without warmth, "Do you believe I’ll throw you in?"
Reluctantly, the system changed the price back to three million.
Meanwhile, Li Hongsheng also replied.
[For the Rise of Magic Plants]: You figured it out?! That’s amazing! No time to lose, wait... what do you mean unlock the first half?
[I am your uncle]: To unlock the second half, it’ll cost another three million~
[For the Rise of Magic Plants]: ??? Why not just say five million straight? Why separate them!
[I am your uncle]: That’s for you to worry about ¯\_(ツ)_/¯.
On the other side, Li Hongsheng dejectedly flipped through the research institute’s funds. Although they had earned some money from the Blood Stopping Magic Potion and the simplified version of the Defense Fruit, and received a fair amount of funding, five million being swiped away so quickly still left him heartbroken for a moment.
But thinking of the greater profits from the enhanced Defense Fruit, Li Hongsheng gritted his teeth and transferred the five million.
Li Hongsheng was straightforward, and so was Qian Qi, immediately sending over the cultivation method.
[I am your uncle]: The usual arrangement?
[For the Rise of Magic Plants] You mean, this stays between you, me, and the universe...?
[I am your uncle]: The dean is wise; say it again, if others find out, it doesn’t benefit you.
Li Hongsheng really couldn’t understand why it wouldn’t benefit him if others found out. Was it that someone might come to the Magic Plant Research Institute to steal the secret formula?
That seems illogical?
A few minutes later, Su Ang sent a video greeting: "Dean Li, I asked Qian Qi to send you the cultivation method for Defense Fruit, make sure to check it."
Li Hongsheng was puzzled, "Huh? You asked her to give it?"
"I made a deal with her, granting the Magic Plant Research Institute the rights to produce and sell the Blood Stopping Magic Potion and Defense Fruit."
Su Ang briefly explained, "I’m forgoing profit sharing, and the formula can be authorized to the plant producers under your institute. My only request is that your institute can lower the price of the Blood Stopping Magic Potion and Defense Fruit."
Li Hongsheng was silent for a while, "Profit... sharing?"
Li Hongsheng was shocked, "You paid for the formula?"
Usually, only investors who pay money would request profit sharing, so did Su Ang pay for the formula?
Su Ang: "Yes, is there a problem?"
More than a problem, it’s a huge problem! This formula was clearly bought with his own money! How did it become something Su Ang bought now?
Remembering Qian Qi’s repeated warnings, Li Hongsheng thought something was wrong and immediately video-called the principal.
As soon as the video connected, Li Hongsheng urgently asked, "Principal Zheng, be honest, did Qian Qi claim she gave you the formula for free and ask for something in return?"
Principal Zheng: "Huh?"
Principal Zheng thought about it, sensing something off, he cautiously tested, "Did Qian Qi ask you guys for something using the formula?"
"She asked me for three pieces of D-level Defense Armor, and one piece of C-level Defense Armor!" Li Hongsheng lamented bitterly, "I begged for some Blood Stopping Magic Potion, and my friend finally sent it to me!"
"And you?" Principal Zheng couldn’t help but ask Su Ang.
He wasn’t saying it because he promised Qian Qi, but because he felt embarrassed.
It’s the first time in his life he got scammed this badly.
Su Ang’s silence was proof enough that he got conned too; the principal sighed before saying, "She made me set a precedent for dual degrees and exempted her from all tuition fees..."
No wonder she mentioned in the contract it must be authorized to the Magic Plant Research Institute; turns out that’s where the trap was laid!
Conducting a transaction thrice, no one else but her!
The three of them pieced together the timeline and found out Qian Qi went to Su Ang first, then Li Hongsheng, then Principal Zheng, one after the other, leaving no room for defense.
"No wonder she didn’t ask for money initially." Li Hongsheng had an epiphany, "I thought she’d changed, but turns out someone else had already paid."
And the things she asked for from Li Hongsheng and Principal Zheng, if they were valuable, weren’t too valuable; even if exposed later, it wouldn’t be enough to make them track her down in fury.
Just feeling a bit stifled, indeed, knowing too much didn’t benefit them!