Zhao Longfei was feeling rather depressed.
In private, he had already asked Zhang Kuang, Hao Liang, Chang Tianxiang, Chang Tianxiong, and Lu Daoxing whether they wanted to join the board of directors and stay at South Glory University.
Their answers were all about the same, ["Forget it, that's not something we can decide yet."]
Today he asked Wu Yu again, and the reply was even more straightforward, ["That's up to Li Tianming."]
Zhao Longfei's teeth hurt, "That Professor Li's little research team sure is tight."
"Of course," Qin Siyang replied, after making sure Hu Chan and the other frail-looking man were both unconscious. Turning around, he picked up the thread of the conversation, "Old Li's the kind of man you can't fault, capable and loyal."
"I've heard about Professor Wu and Old Li from other professors too. The two of them knew each other before the apocalypse. At first, after earning his PhD, Wu went to a nearby university as a lowly lecturer. No research group wanted to take him in. It was Old Li who appreciated him, gave him a project, allocated funds, and helped him get on his feet."
"Principal Zhao, if you want to poach Professor Wu, you'd have to wait until he turns into an ingrate. But then again, if he were an ingrate, you wouldn't want to poach him."
Qin Siyang spread his hands, "I think this can be called the 'Zhao Longfei Poaching Paradox.'"
"You brat, quit the snide remarks."
Being mocked by Qin Siyang felt deeply humiliating to Zhao Longfei, so he quickly shut up.
He glanced at the two people lying on the bed and, after confirming they were unconscious, said, "Little Qin, introduce these two to me. Since you used my name to protect them, I deserve an explanation."
Qin Siyang was just about to open his mouth and perform his signature skill, bullshitting, but Zhao Longfei added, "Take out that bird of yours and turn it on."
"This… Principal Zhao, you think I'd lie to you?"
"You're the same kind of guy as me, don't think I don't know you."
"Principal Zhao, that's—"
"Hurry up. I'm not in a good mood right now. Don't give me a reason to beat you."
Helpless, Qin Siyang had no choice but to turn on the bird-shaped lie detector.
"Alright. Talk."
Qin Siyang hesitated for a moment, wondering if he should cover for Hu Chan.
But Hu Chan had come to South Glory seeking refuge. Either way, he'd have to get past Zhao Longfei.
South Glory University was Zhao Longfei's territory. Whether the Holy Son of the Zephyr Church would be protected or not was entirely up to him. Qin Siyang couldn't make that call.
"If I'm not mistaken, the honest-looking man on the left is Hu Chan, the Holy Son of the Zephyr Church."
["Truth."]
"What? The Holy Son of the Zephyr Church?", Zhao Longfei sucked in a sharp breath, stunned.
He stared hard at the plain-looking middle-aged man's face, then looked at Qin Siyang in disbelief.
"Principal Zhao, you can look at him all you want, but why are you staring at me?"
Zhao Longfei frowned, clicking his tongue, "Little Qin, Little Qin… I knew your ways were wild, but I didn't expect this wild. Even a stray dog looking for shit isn't as wild as you."
Qin Siyang said coldly, "Principal Zhao, your insults are getting nastier by the day."
"I wouldn't call it an insult, just genuine surprise."
Zhao Longfei turned around and sat down on the sofa, his gaze distant, eyes wandering vaguely over the middle-aged man.
"I had guessed he was using a disguise, but I didn't expect this identity."
"I thought he was someone from your old safe zone, or maybe a little lover you didn't want Wen Shu to find out about."
Qin Siyang immediately protested, "What little lover? What do you mean Wen Shu can't know? Principal Zhao, watch what you say!"
Zhao Longfei ignored him and went on, "Never thought he'd turn out to be the Holy Son of the Zephyr Church! The Holy Son coming to you for help… Tsk! Tsk! Since when did you start cozying up to him?"
Qin Siyang recalled the time he had snatched the Heart of Vines from Hu Chan and said, "Let's say we're old acquaintances. I knew him before I met you."
["Truth."]
"No wonder he came to you for help. Who's the other one?"
"I don't know. But since he was being hunted down together with Hu Chan, he's probably one of his trusted men."
["Truth."]
"Alright."
After hearing this, Zhao Longfei stopped asking questions and began rubbing his fingers together, lowering his gaze in deep thought.
After a while, he still hadn't said anything. Qin Siyang got restless, "Principal Zhao, are you going to protect Hu Chan or not? If you don't, he's definitely going to die."
Zhao Longfei looked up at him, "You want to protect him?"
"Of course. If I didn't, I wouldn't have saved him."
Leaning back on the sofa, Zhao Longfei's eyes darkened, "Anyone capable of hunting down the Holy Son of the Zephyr Church is most likely from another Church, or from within Zephyr itself."
"If it's another Church's people, he should have gone to his own guardians for help, not you. So, the ones trying to kill him are probably his own people, or those very same guardians, am I right?"
"You've analyzed it perfectly."
Zhao Longfei had hit the nail on the head. Qin Siyang knew there was no point hiding it, so he just admitted it outright.
["Truth."]
"The Zephyr Church is the kind that plays all sides yet never gets caught in the middle. It's not a good look for outsiders to meddle in their internal affairs."
The implication was clear, Zhao Longfei didn't really want to get involved in Hu Chan's matter.
But Qin Siyang didn't want to lose this treasure detector of a man.
With Hu Chan's help, his efficiency in hunting gods outside the safe zone had skyrocketed, saving both time and effort.
"Principal Zhao, do you know why I want to protect him?"
"You're as slippery as a mudfish. Isn't it just because having one more friend means one more path?"
"When we team up outside the safe zone, we're unbeatable."
["Truth."]
The word "unbeatable" sounded a bit too absolute. Normally, Qin Siyang wouldn't use such language in front of the lie detector.
But the fact that it was deemed true meant it came straight from his heart.
Qin Siyang was a diehard treasure hunter. Add Hu Chan with his precise sense for treasure, and getting rare materials became almost effortless.
"I was doing well enough on my own before. With Hu Chan's help, things will only go smoother in the future."
["Truth."]
"Principal Zhao, I've always been a person who remembers my debts, something you've verified many times. If I can acquire more rare materials, both South Glory University and the Zhao Chamber of Commerce will shine even brighter."
Zhao Longfei chuckled, "Actually, Hu Chan was supposed to study here at South Glory University in the first place. So he's technically one of our students."
"Protecting the safety of our own students, who could possibly fault South Glory for that?"
Qin Siyang knew that once he revealed Hu Chan's usefulness, Zhao Longfei would agree to help.
He was about to thank him, but Zhao Longfei gestured for him not to celebrate just yet.
"If it were just Hu Chan, I could indeed protect him based on what you've said."
"But, he didn't come to you alone."
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