Chapter Sixteen: Playing the Good Cop

“Hahaha, that was satisfying, truly satisfying! You should’ve seen the looks on those little lapdogs’ faces, and that Li Daoze. You have no idea how arrogant he’s been this past year—just looking at him makes my blood boil. And today he even wanted you to apologize! Well, this was the perfect payback.”

“I was originally thinking we’d team up and give him a good beating, but seeing him like that now—this is even more satisfying than a fight…”

After getting in the aircar, Chao was so delighted she could hardly contain herself—she felt satisfied from the bottom of her heart.

That was simply her nature—straightforward, open, without much malice, decisive in her actions, never dragging her feet.

“Li Daoze certainly let a little success go to his head. We were classmates, and now everyone’s gone their separate ways, yet he’s still like this at a reunion…” Chu Qing shook her head helplessly, sighing.

Lin Qingyun only smiled faintly, making no comment.

He hardly remembered Li Daoze at all, let alone knew what became of him later, but today’s behavior was still odd.

“We won’t be having that grand meal at the Floating Island Hotel, but I’ll take you both somewhere else.” After Chao vented her satisfaction, the aircar had already reached another distinctive restaurant in the city.

This place was less than ten miles from the Floating Island Hotel, with stunning sea views, veiled by clouds and enchantments, resembling a celestial palace—private and secluded.

The Lin family was a top-tier presence in Seaside City. Lin Qingyun had already notified them through his smart steward, so as soon as they arrived, someone came to lead them into a private courtyard with an excellent sea view.

“Come on, let’s order a lot! Now our buddy here is a big shot who can drop hundreds of millions without blinking. This, this, and this! By the way, that Qian Shanming guy is pretty shameless, isn’t he? He doesn’t even try to hide it. Are you sure it’s safe to work with him? I’m just a student, I don’t want to be taken advantage of. And, how much can we actually make from this partnership?”

Chao’s manner was as brisk as ever—quickly rattling off her order, then letting Chu Qing pick the rest while she munched on the complimentary snacks, looking to Lin Qingyun for answers.

“That project is already quite mature. If Seaside University takes it on, it’ll show results within a month or so. They have their own channels and capabilities, and in some aspects, they’re not inferior to the most elite pharmaceutical groups. So there shouldn’t be much of a problem working with them.”

“As for Qian Shanming, he only cares about money, but to his credit, he’s very professional about it. Did you see his reaction? Any other professor or senior alchemist wouldn’t have made a decision that quickly.”

“He won’t cheat you—he’s obsessed with money but has a certain integrity. But if he tries to branch out or develop spinoff products, you need to discuss it with me. Keep a close eye, don’t let him take advantage.”

“As for profits…” Lin Qingyun did a quick calculation. “After it’s up and running, we should be looking at twenty to thirty million a year. We’re cutting prices and aiming to help underprivileged students, so margins will drop, but we’ll take a bigger market share. Local low-end pill manufacturers like the Li family will be hit hard.”

“The actual number depends on whether we launch more affordable products and how far we can expand—lots of variables. But don’t worry, that money-obsessed guy will push harder than we will.”

Chao’s family was only moderately well-off—her parents together made maybe five or six hundred thousand a year—so hearing this figure, she was astounded.

“Whoa, you’re kidding… I thought you said ‘affordable’ meant barely any profit!”

Lin Qingyun smiled slightly. “I’ll give you a 20% stake in my share. Also, you’ll have an official role on the project, so Seaside University will pay you a salary. And you can try to get another stipend from Qian Shanming, since you’ll be helping with further research.”

“I’m fine with a salary, whether from the university or that money-grubber, but keep the shares—I’m not doing much, and besides, you’re the one really behind this…”

The dishes arrived quickly—hundreds, even thousands at a time. Many were made from spiritual beast meats, or rare medicinal ingredients. Chao chatted with Lin Qingyun as she started eating.

While they ate and talked, Chu Qing, who had been nibbling quietly, finally found a chance to speak.

“I actually think Professor Qian made a good point. Now that you have a project with Seaside University and he’s willing to guarantee your graduation, even if you don’t attend classes regularly, you’ll still get your degree. Even if you don’t need the diploma, when you take over the family business, you’ll need it for both outside contacts and internal affairs.”

She tucked her hair behind her ear. “Besides, Seaside University is the best. Chao and I still want to be your classmates.”

After she spoke, Chu Qing kept her head down, but watched Lin Qingyun from the corner of her eye.

She sat right next to Chao, who hadn’t paid it any mind at first, but seeing Chu Qing’s earnestness, her eyes sparkled and she shot Lin Qingyun a meaningful look.

The class beauty had never spoken to anyone else like this. For her to urge Lin Qingyun to go to university—her intentions were clear.

“Not really interested—doesn’t seem meaningful,” Lin Qingyun replied casually, eating as if he hadn’t noticed Chu Qing’s oddness or Chao’s mischievous grin.

Chu Qing’s eyelids flickered—a subtle reaction. He said he wasn’t interested, but he hadn’t refused outright…

“I just think, since you don’t have to go like a regular student, having a Seaside University diploma can only help, for your family and the company. And besides…” Chu Qing began nervously, but soon her words flowed smoothly, almost like reciting a prepared speech.

Noticing Lin Qingyun pause as if considering her words, Chu Qing grew more confident. She spoke of the company’s needs, family expectations, parental hopes, and the bonds of friendship—hinting that she herself wished Lin Qingyun would go to Seaside University.

Chao just listened, entertained, occasionally shooting Lin Qingyun a knowing look. In her eyes, their class beauty clearly liked her best friend and wanted him to continue with them in college—why else be so persistent?

And, after listening to Chu Qing’s analysis, Chao found it quite reasonable…

“Chu Qing, who put you up to persuading me to go to university?” As Chao was about to dig in, all the dishes on the table and the servers withdrew, and in that moment Lin Qingyun suddenly unleashed his power—his voice exploding like thunder.

The thunderous sound startled Chao so much her hand shook, chopsticks and food clattering onto the table.

But for Chu Qing, who was earnestly trying to persuade him, it was more than thunder. Her yet-unformed soul was struck as if by divine interrogation, and her mind went blank.

Lin Qingyun had used a secret technique, a sonic spell to question her abruptly. Chu Qing, who hadn’t even established a proper foundation, was completely unprepared.

A muffled groan escaped her lips, her eyes went white, and she answered instinctively, almost like a sleepwalker: “Zhang… Zhang Baole…”

“You nearly scared me to death—what are you doing… ah…” Chao had been startled, ready to explode, but then she stared at Chu Qing in shock.

Seeing Chu Qing’s state, and hearing those three words, Chao suddenly understood.

“So that’s why she was so eager for you to go to university—there’s a story here…”

Chao was astonished but worried, glancing at Chu Qing. “She’s not hurt, is she? Chu Qing isn’t a bad person.”

“She’ll be fine, just needs to recover. Let’s see what she says. I’ve felt something was off during this reunion—Li Daoze’s reaction, and Chu Qing’s too. Now it’s clear—one plays the villain, the other the friend, all to get me to go to university.”

Lin Qingyun tapped his finger on the table. “Zhang Baole… His style is to have people plot against me, set traps, ruin me. The law is strict these days, but that’s not like him.”

“Oh, you don’t need to ask—it’s obviously your second uncle and aunt behind it…” Chao knew about Lin Qingyun’s family situation. She’d just asked him about what happened after he’d hit Zhang Baole, and knew about the power struggle in his prominent family.

Lin Qingyun nodded. “Yes, that fits my second uncle’s style.”

At that moment, Chu Qing, who had been stunned by Lin Qingyun’s outburst, finally recovered. Her face was pale as she looked at him and Chao, her expression one of utter panic, as if she’d been caught in her first act of theft.

“Let’s talk. What did Zhang Baole say? Did he threaten you, or offer you something?” Lin Qingyun’s voice was calm and cold.

“I…” Chu Qing wanted to deny it, but when she met Lin Qingyun’s gaze, she couldn’t lie. After all, the name Zhang Baole had just burst from her lips under his compulsion.

She was, after all, just a recent high school graduate, and couldn’t hold out under such pressure; tears welled in her eyes.

“I’m sorry, President. My father is a ninth-rank hunter and has been gathering resources for me to become an alchemist, hoping to break through himself. Not long ago, he went to the dangerous Ruins No. 21. A demon beast bit off his left arm, and his foundation was damaged.”

“Zhang Baole came to me yesterday—he said if I could convince you to go to university, just that, nothing more, he’d give me a pill to restore my father’s foundation.”

“You know… my father is our family’s pillar. If he can’t recover, it’s over for him. My mother has been crying every day. I just… I just…”