Chapter 212: Your Voice Was a Bit Loud

Lilith left the New Era with a face full of rebuff, full of anger. Yet, just one day later, the CEO of Pandora reappeared on New Era's territory in another, more formal, and far harder-to-refuse manner.

Through official channels, she submitted a technical exchange application to the New Era Science Council, seeking non-classified discussions on the "potential applications" of the "Ground Pulse Resonance Harmonic Analysis Array" in Deep Sea resource exploration. The application's wording was precise, cited authoritative sources, and even included recommendation letters from several Dragon Country Academicians who collaborated with New Era—her posture was extremely humble, fully conforming to academic exchange norms.

After evaluation, the Science Council deemed such a limited, application-focused discussion, backed by multiple partners, impossible to outright reject on both moral and logical grounds. Ultimately, the application was approved, and a small-scale closed-door technical exchange meeting was arranged.

On the day of the meeting, Lilith arrived punctually. She wore a sophisticated dark blue suit skirt, framed by rimless glasses, her hair neatly pinned up—exactly the image of an elite female scholar. Throughout the exchange, she displayed exceptional professionalism and restraint; her questions stayed strictly within the established framework, expressing keen interest and appropriately measured admiration for New Era's strictly sanitized data and analytical results, without a single overstep.

Even Smith Professor, who had originally been wary of her, privately remarked to his Assistant after the meeting: "Ms. Lilith possesses genuine insight in her field—quite different from the rumors."

The exchange concluded in a peaceful atmosphere. According to schedule, Su Wenqian, representing the Council, would accompany Lilith and her party to the designated external restaurant for lunch.

The group walked along the internal corridor leading to the parking lot. Lilith walked shoulder to shoulder with Su Wenqian, followed by staff from both sides. The corridor was wide and bright, flanked by promotional walls displaying New Era's developmental history and select non-core scientific achievements.

As they neared the corridor's end, about to part ways, Lilith's professional mask slightly loosened; she subtly slowed her pace by half a step, creating a small distance between herself and those behind.

She turned her head, her voice low but clear enough for Su Wenqian beside her to hear distinctly, her tone returning to its usual, slightly languid, husky timbre:

"Assistant Su, yesterday's proposal… though the location wasn't ideal, my sincerity still stands." Her violet eyes glanced sidelong at Su Wenqian, laden with implication. "At Pandora, what you can gain goes far beyond position and money. It's a true platform where you can unleash all your talent and ambition—not forever living under someone else's shadow, merely a… nameless executor."

Her voice was perfectly controlled, like a friend's whisper, yet each word carried hooks of provocation and temptation.

"Think about it—your abilities deserve to shine brilliantly. Why remain forever in the rear, needing others to grant you even the most basic decision-making authority? Can Qin Feng give you these? He probably can't even bring himself to… "

"Ms. Lilith."

Su Wenqian suddenly stopped walking, cutting off Lilith's words.

Her voice was not loud, yet exceptionally clear—echoing slightly in the empty corridor, causing the staff several steps behind to instinctively turn their heads.

Su Wenqian turned to face Lilith directly, her expression still calm and unreadable, but her gaze sharp as a blade.

She did not raise her voice; instead, she stated it as if declaring the most ordinary fact, each word clearly reaching every ear:

"Your voice just now was a bit loud."

Lilith's smile froze instantly, her pupils shrinking slightly.

"Also," Su Wenqian continued as if oblivious to Lilith's reaction, her tone still level and unchanging, yet her gaze piercing like an ice pick, "I need to correct you on two points."

"First, at New Era, no one lives under anyone's shadow. We follow the Master because we share a common ideal—to witness and participate in creating a great future. This cause grants us honor and meaning far beyond worldly power and profit."

"Second," her tone grew firmer, carrying undeniable conviction, "how the Master treats us is not something you, an outsider, have the right to speculate or comment on. Your provocation is crude and meaningless—it only reveals how low your and Pandora's standards are."

The corridor fell into dead silence.

New Era's staff straightened their backs, faces glowing with pride. Lilith's attendants, however, all wore expressions of embarrassment, eyes darting away, unable to meet Su Wenqian's gaze.

Lilith stood frozen, her complexion draining pale. Her carefully maintained mask of intellectual elegance shattered completely, leaving only the ashen hue of a dignity publicly exposed and humiliated. Her chest heaved violently, violet eyes churning with disbelief, fury, and shame.

How dare she?! How dare she retaliate so bluntly, so mercilessly, in public?!

Su Wenqian no longer looked at her, as if she had merely completed a necessary clarification. She turned to one of her own staff, her tone returning to normal: "Arrange a vehicle to take Ms. Lilith to the restaurant."

"Yes, Assistant Su!"

Su Wenqian gave Lilith a slight, polite nod—courteous, yet cold as ice: "Ms. Lilith, please enjoy your meal. I have official duties—I must take my leave."

With that, she did not linger. She turned and walked away with steady, resolute steps, leaving Lilith—face dark with rage—and her silent, trembling attendants behind.

That back view: upright, proud, inviolable.

Lilith stared fixedly at the direction Su Wenqian had vanished, her fingernails digging deep into her palm.

A bit loud?

Low standards?

Good! Very good!

Su Wenqian, you've successfully angered me.

Our game has only just truly begun.

She would make this woman pay the most agonizing price for today's arrogance and contempt!