Chapter 388

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Protagonist:

Chen Yi

Professor Zhou Houyuan changed his expression, smiled, and said: "I accept supervision; legal documents won't be necessary. I guarantee it with my character."

Chen Yi couldn't question someone's character, but he didn't trust a stranger's character either, so he stood up and said: "You mean you don't agree? What a pity."

Before he reached the laboratory door, Zhou Houyuan grabbed him and said with hearty laughter: "I agree, I agree. Then... shall we start today?"

Wu Fangyu thought: Before signing, he can steal the goods first. Old Zhou really dares — this is the Chen family's grandson.

Chen Yi's Listening Scroll was still active; hearing this, he felt admiration. If Wu Fangyu didn't understand the ins and outs, he might really have fallen for the trick.

"After the legal documents are signed, I'll give it to you." Chen Yi didn't leave the slightest opening.

China has many foolish, naive township entrepreneurs or young students who often bring their hard-won inventions to expert professors for correction. Although most inventions lack research or commercial value, some are extremely valuable. Under poor supervision, how professors skilled at modification and plagiarism handle such windfalls is truly a fascinating story.

Zhou Houyuan didn't take it to heart and smiled: "We'll do it as fast as possible, as fast as possible."

His face showed neither the embarrassment of rejection nor the embarrassment of being distrusted — truly a shameless person.

Wu Fangyu left the laboratory with Chen Yi, unable to hold back from sizing him up, and said: "So young, yet you're too sharp."

Chen Yi shrugged and said modestly: "I wouldn't dare. That's why I'm your boss."

The proud scholar Wu Fangyu shook his head but ultimately yielded to the Chen family's power and didn't refute him.

The next day, the group's lawyers, representing Chen Yi, signed a contract with Professor Zhou Houyuan and his laboratory, then delivered the strain.

Although it was a very promising strain, its value was mainly economic. Therefore, a legally rigorous document plus Chen Yi's background was the safest guarantee possible — safer than keeping it in a home safe.

Zhou Houyuan welcomed the Divine Box to his lab bench as if serving an ancestor, rubbing his hands, momentarily unsure whether to turn on the microscope first or grab his lab notebook.

"You few, hurry up and set up the cameras." He ignored Chen Yi entirely, already posturing to begin.

Getting this strain wasn't easy. Who knows when Chen Yi would end the cooperation? By then, even regretting not working hard would be useless — your intestines could turn green with regret and it wouldn't help.

An expert professor who reached Zhou Houyuan's level — never mind his character — certainly wasn't lacking in intelligence or drive. As a member of academia, research results and papers were his political achievements. With this thing, he could go to the ends of the earth without fear. So he dared to take the huge risk of deceiving Chen Yi — at least keeping a backdoor for deception.

For the same reason, once the strain was in hand, all his energy focused on it. Even if research papers couldn't be published openly and would be supervised, if this strain truly surpassed existing bacterial metallurgy levels, his reputation would rise enormously worldwide.

Just like the discovery of penicillin.

Zhou Houyuan's face showed a devout smile; he practically wanted to bow to the strain on the lab bench.

If you swapped the lab bench for an altar, he'd be a fanatical believer. Chen Yi strongly suspected that if a god really sat on Zhou Houyuan's lab bench, he'd excitedly dissect it.

Wu Fangyu, like a Shaanbei old farmer, walked with hands behind his back, circling Zhou Houyuan's lab once, twice, three times in envy, jealousy, and hate, then reluctantly said: "Looks like you're preparing to shift research focus? That's a huge change. Are you ready?"

"Of course I'm ready."

"You should consider more carefully." Wu Fangyu spoke as if persuading.

Zhou Houyuan smiled like a back-alley rat: "No need to consider. Decided long ago."

Chen Yi glared at Wu Fangyu.

Wu Fangyu knew Chen Yi would be unhappy, but he couldn't help it. In this day and age, finding a rare species isn't rare at all. Besides, the camel beast wasn't even a species he discovered, and even cloning it couldn't lead to public papers. Zhou Houyuan's experiment was different — if this strain worked, it would inevitably be put into practice, and then Zhou Houyuan's fame would rise.

His current lab was approved for state subsidies under the name Environmental Bacteria Testing Laboratory; it would surely change in the future.

A blessing in disguise — Wu Fangyu could only comfort himself thus, and added: "You owe me a favor. Honestly, if Mr. Chen hadn't hidden the strain's contents from me, I would've been the most suitable person to take this work."

"Just go do your cloning." Zhou Houyuan laughed triumphantly. Though not from the same university, both were famous biologists in Jiangning — half friends, half rivals.

Chen Yi watched coldly from the side. Once they'd said enough, he said: "Hope the strain research yields results soon. I'm leaving two people in the lab. If there are issues later, contact them."

He left two Archive Research Room trainees, Ren Qiyun and Liu Wenyu. Under Liu Xinyu's training, they could already handle basic intelligence officer work — different from spies or agents, more focused on security, confidentiality, and document transfer. With them present, Zhou Houyuan would find it very hard to remove the strain and data from the lab.

Zhou Houyuan didn't know the situation and agreed indifferently, greeting Ren Qiyun and Liu Wenyu. The smile brought on by Wu Fangyu's envy faded, especially thinking of Chen Yi's harsh contract terms — his facial muscles grew increasingly stiff.

Leaving the gloomy, terrifying biology lab, bright sunlight prompted Chen Yi to return to school.

This time, naturally, not to continue classes — ever since obtaining the high-level Intelligence Scroll, Chen Yi attended classes rarely. With "Knowledge Solvent," even Professor Lei Gongpo's courses were saved. Video courses were more efficient, and if questions arose, a phone call was a mutually acceptable method for a student like him — Chen Yi needed to appear humble and modest at school.

University students are a group both boring and interesting. They despise all powerful figures because they believe they'll become future elites, yet they admire the powerful because it lets them experience their desired atmosphere and life earlier. Girls hope for a flock of Prince Charmings to pick and choose; boys hope to romance wealthy young ladies who'd weep for them... Reality is, if the school has a celebrity, no matter what they say, they're curious inside.

Unlike West River universities, Jiangning University had many rich kids but few officials' children. National-level leaders' direct descendants numbered only Chen Yi. With Quan Cong's help, he did nothing, yet people naturally probed and helped publicize him well at Jiangning University.

Next, in the name of his mother's foundation, Chen Yi found Student Union Vice Chairman Yun Hangsheng and requested several events at Jiangning University, mainly to recruit volunteers...

Fang Manyi's foundation indeed needed volunteers. Holding such events at school was perfectly justified, so things went even more simply and effectively than Chen Zhongguo's birthday celebration.

Chen Yi stood beneath sparkling red hearts, using a humble, modest smile and actions to say to every student who came to sign up: "Hello, may I help you with anything?"

Humble, modest faith surged upward, surged upward!

And people really said: "The Chen family's direct grandson? Truly..."

Compared to the rich in the parking lot, students' hearts were truly sensitive and fragile, so the faith heat gained was many times higher — at least four times normal humble, modest speech.

Representing three charity foundations, Chen Yi conducted ten consecutive days of humble, modest recruitment events, receiving over seven thousand students from Jiangning University and nearby colleges — equivalent to 30,000 normal humble, modest interactions. Faith once rose to the level where "Bestowal" required only 5% blood. For Chen Yi, not from a Family Knight background, this was an achievement unimaginable to Western Continent masters. Even in the Saint Qiao Kingdom with more mature Holy Knight training, only knights over 40 reached this level. If he humbly met 10 people a day, 30,000 times would take ten years, risking youthful indiscretions that weren't so humble, costing three to five more years. Chen Yi's grinding method didn't have that problem — short time, concentrated spirit, saved trouble and gained time.

When the final recruitment event ended, Chen Yi treated all staff and part-timers to a feast, then went to the old residence.

He wanted to use the peak faith power for another "Bestowal," lest future improper behavior raise the "Bestowal" cost.

The third time using "Bestowal," he spent 15% of his body's blood. Even a Holy Knight couldn't lose blood like that — 5% each time is actually a good metabolism method.

The plane trees outside the old residence gate were bald like Black rock singers, showing winter's desolate loneliness. If not for various sedans parked beneath, the Chen Family Old Residence would be as boringly withered as the nearby villas.

This time seeing the old master required advance appointment again.

The old housekeeper specially checked the schedule and returned, whispering to Chen Yi: "He's receiving an old subordinate. Only free after lunch."

"The old master isn't napping?"

"Not sleeping. He says his spirit is very good... Should I have the kitchen prepare a few dishes? It's practically lunch break time."

"Fine." Chen Yi touched his head. Just a few dozen minutes' wait, and he'd cut in line ahead of others. If he hadn't come personally, the old housekeeper couldn't have arranged it — anyone who can visit the old master is no easy person.

The old housekeeper hurriedly led the way, settling him in a spacious, bright dining room. It resembled a couple's small restaurant, with six table sets, at least half occupied.

Those who could stay at the Lao Zhai for meals were mostly relatives and brothers of the Chen Family. If these people had business, they mostly used the form of a collective audience to see the Old Master.

"I'll just find a seat myself." Chen Yi was very familiar with the Small Restaurant, and sent the old Housekeeper away.

His voice immediately startled a few people; Fang Yu was the first to stand up and come out, pointing at the opposite side and saying quickly: "Left here, sit here."

……(Unfinished. If you like this work, welcome to come to Qidian (qidian. com) to cast Recommendation Tickets, Monthly Tickets; your support is my Maximum Motivation.)