Chapter 20: Is It Difficult?

The cost of using the Shenji Blessing — Never Get Sick — was more obvious than Qin Feng had anticipated. Not only did all system skills enter a lengthy Cooling Period, but the deduction of 5% of Life Energy left him exhausted for days, drained of energy and unable to maintain focus for long periods.

He had to reduce high-intensity work and social engagements, delegating more daily tasks to Sun Zhe and Su Wenqian.

After her daughter miraculously recovered, Su Wenqian returned to work the next day. She asked no questions, but her eyes overflowed with gratitude and near-devout loyalty. She threw herself into her work with renewed passion and meticulous care, voluntarily taking on greater pressure and becoming Qin Feng's most reliable Barrier during this "weak phase."

That day, Qin Feng was leaning back in his office chair, eyes closed, trying to ease the lingering fatigue, when Su Wenqian knocked and entered, her face grave.

"Boss, sorry to disturb your rest. Boss Sun has news — the tech projects we were pursuing have encountered some resistance."

Qin Feng opened his eyes and rubbed his temples: "Be specific."

"The one we're focusing on — Deep Blue Power, the company researching ocean thermal energy conversion — their chief scientist and core patent holder, Professor Li Mingbo, has suddenly become evasive," Su Wenqian reported calmly. "Boss Sun has met with him several times. While he acknowledges our financial strength, he seems doubtful about our resolve and whether we can sustain long-term support for such high-risk, long-cycle frontier research."

"Doubt?" Qin Feng raised an eyebrow. He had offered the most generous investment terms in the industry — nearly costless support for R&D.

"Yes," Su Wenqian nodded. "Professor Li is a typical academic. He instinctively distrusts capital, fearing we're merely chasing trends and will withdraw funding if we don't see short-term returns, or interfere excessively in his research direction. He privately said he'd prefer investment from a state-backed research fund — even if the money is less, it's more 'stable.'"

Qin Feng understood. This was a trust issue — and a philosophical one. He sat upright, weary but eyes still sharp: "What about the other two? The quantum communication protocol firm — Dimension Tech — and the new perovskite photovoltaic materials company — Light-Year Materials?"

"Similar situation," Su Wenqian sighed. "Dimension Tech's team fears our commercial DNA will destroy their pure research environment. Light-Year Materials thinks their tech is too ahead of its time — even many professional investment firms don't understand it. They worry we can't grasp its true value and are just blindly following trends."

Qin Feng fell silent. He understood these scientists' concerns. Capital seeks profit — that's natural. Yet true disruptive innovation always comes with immense uncertainty and long waiting periods. Though he had spent heavily before, it was mostly on business acquisitions and charity. In the top-tier hard-tech investment circle, he and his Starlight Capital still lacked a convincing "calling card."

"What they need isn't just money," Qin Feng said slowly. "It's a true partner — someone who understands them, and has the patience and courage to walk with them."

"Yes, Boss," Su Wenqian agreed. "But building that trust takes time. And our target projects have competitors circling — especially Deep Blue Power. That state-backed fund has already engaged deeply with Professor Li."

Time… that was what Qin Feng needed most. Whether waiting for the system's Cooling Period to end, or slowly building trust in the research community, it all required time. But he had a hunch — Super Technology's unlock was imminent. He had to rapidly build the corresponding platform and team.

Can't wait!

He took a deep breath, forcibly dispelling his physical fatigue, his eyes reigniting that familiar, barrier-piercing light Su Wenqian knew so well.

"Arrange it," Qin Feng's voice regained its usual calm strength. "Tomorrow, I'll meet Professor Li Mingbo in person. Not in a conference room — at his lab."

"Boss, your health…" Su Wenqian worried.

"It's fine," Qin Feng waved a hand. "Tell Sun Zhe to prepare the R&D budget plan for Deep Blue Power for the next ten years — no, twenty years. Use the highest standard. Also, have Chen Yongming's legal team draft the most lenient intellectual property protection agreement and the most autonomous R&D management charter. The core rule is one: guarantee Professor Li Mingbo's team absolute research autonomy. We provide only funding, resources, and market access — no interference."

"Twenty-year budget… absolute autonomy…" Su Wenqian inwardly gasped. This scale was enormous! It was almost buying a "non-standard" partner identity with massive funds — pure passion-driven investment?

"Think the cost is too high? The risk too great?" Qin Feng looked at Su Wenqian, as if seeing through her thoughts.

Su Wenqian nodded honestly: "Boss, this exceeds conventional venture capital boundaries. Twenty years — too many variables."

Qin Feng stood, walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, and gazed at the endless stream of cars below. His tone was calm, yet carried unshakable confidence:

"Sister Su, for a company that could open a new era of ocean energy, for a technology that could reshape the world's energy landscape — investing twenty years of funding and infinite patience…"

He turned, his gaze burning into Su Wenqian's:

"Is it difficult?"

Su Wenqian froze. Looking at Qin Feng's eyes — weary yet blazing with boundless ambition and absolute confidence — she understood instantly.

The Boss never pursued conventional investment returns. He was using capital to pave the way for future Super Technology, laying out a grand chessboard beyond ordinary imagination. On this board, money was the most insignificant chip.

"I understand, Boss," Su Wenqian bowed her head, sincerely convinced. "I'll arrange it immediately."

The next day, Qin Feng drove hundreds of kilometers to Deep Blue Power's lab in a coastal city. The lab was modest, but the equipment and the researchers' eyes radiated focus and fervor.

Professor Li Mingbo was an elderly man with gray hair and unkempt appearance. He showed no particular enthusiasm for the arrival of this "famous" Shenhou — even a hint of scrutiny.

Qin Feng cut straight to the point. In the lab, thick with sea salt and machine hum, he placed the thick stack of documents — detailing a twenty-year R&D budget and guaranteeing absolute research autonomy — directly before Professor Li.

"Professor Li, this is my sincerity," Qin Feng's voice was quiet but clear to every ear. "Starlight Capital — or rather, I myself — am investing in you and your team's future. Money? Unlimited. Direction? Yours. Time? We have plenty. My only request: when the technology matures and enters the market, prioritize us to build the application ecosystem."

Professor Li put on his reading glasses and carefully reviewed the documents. The more he read, the more his hands trembled. This wasn't investment — it was an unconditional "research sponsorship contract"! Especially the clause on "absolute research autonomy" — it moved him deeply.

He looked up at the unnaturally young man with eyes of unwavering resolve. After a long silence, his voice, hoarse, finally came: "Mr. Qin… do you truly understand what we're doing? This may yield no commercial return for decades — and may ultimately fail."

Qin Feng smiled, clean and pure: "Professor Li, I believe what can change the world is worth waiting for. As for failure…"

He paused, his tone as casual as discussing breakfast:

"If it fails, we invest in another Deep Blue Power. Is it difficult?"

Professor Li froze. The other researchers froze too. Then, the old professor's eyes grew moist. He reached out his calloused hand and gripped Qin Feng's tightly.

"Deal, Mr. Qin!"

The news returned to the company. Sun Zhe and Chen Yongming were stunned by Qin Feng's "crazy" investment style. But remembering their Boss's usual pattern and his bottomless funds, they could only fully execute.

Immediately after, Qin Feng used the same approach and grandeur to personally visit Dimension Tech and Light-Year Materials. With impeccable sincerity and almost "indulgent" support terms, he completely dispelled the top-tier teams' doubts and brought them all under his wing.

Massive funds began flowing like blood into these three R&D institutions representing the future. After completing this series of moves, Qin Feng felt his physical fatigue ease slightly.

He looked at the system interface, where the progress bar, without any direct prompt, had quietly shifted:

【Super Technology】 Unlock Progress: 85% → 92%!

【Wealth Prediction】 Unlock Progress: 68% → 75%!

Indeed — investing in the future, laying out cutting-edge foundations — was the key to unlocking the system!

Qin Feng leaned back in his chair and exhaled slowly. So what if the skills were in Cooling Period? So what if his body felt slightly weak?

If money could smash open the door to future technology…

"Is it difficult?" he murmured to himself, a smirk of total control curling on his lips.