Dr. Liu's voice cracked, sounding like a duck being strangled by the neck.
"Cell activity increased by 200%? Antioxidant capacity is three times that of the original rhodiola rosea formula? And side effects... are almost zero?"
"This isn't scientific... this is f*cking unscientific!"
The entire laboratory fell into a dead silence.
Everyone crowded around, staring at the report that could only be described as a "miracle." Raw materials worth a few dozen yuan had produced results costing thousands, or even better?
If this were mass-produced and brought to market, it wouldn't just solve the supply chain crisis; it would compress costs to the extreme, and profit margins would simply explode!
Mu Qingxue looked at the report, her legs going weak, nearly collapsing onto the floor.
It worked. It actually worked.
That mysterious person... hadn't lied to her.
"Quick!"
Mu Qingxue grabbed Dr. Liu's arm, her voice incoherent with excitement: "Uncle Liu, can we mass-produce this? How soon is the earliest?"
Dr. Liu was still immersed in shock, muttering to himself: "A genius... the person who came up with this formula is simply a genius. Turning the mundane into the miraculous—this is the true essence of traditional medicine!"
"We can, of course we can! The process is even simpler than before!"
"That's good... that's good..."
Mu Qingxue breathed a sigh of relief, and her tears finally fell uncontrollably.
She wiped her face, took out her phone, and with trembling hands, dialed that number.
She had to thank him.
No matter what the other party wanted—even if it was shares or money—she would give it. This was the savior of Yunlan!
"We're sorry, the number you have dialed is no longer in service..."
A cold, mechanical female voice came from the receiver.
No longer in service? Mu Qingxue was stunned.
Refusing to give up, she dialed several more times and even sent a WeChat voice message, only to find that the other party had blocked her!
That mysterious [.] was like a ghost, appearing at Yunlan International's most desperate moment, throwing down a life-saving straw, and then vanishing without a trace with a flick of his sleeve.
"Who on earth is he..."
Mu Qingxue gripped her phone tightly, the raspy, voice-modulated sound echoing in her mind.
It wasn't for money, nor for fame.
Could it be... someone who had a crush on her? Or a mortal enemy of the Qin Family?
Regardless of who it was, Mu Qingxue knew she owed this mysterious person a massive favor.
Collecting her thoughts, she turned around and looked at the night outside. A raging fire re-ignited in her eyes—a sense of vengeful pleasure... Meanwhile.
Inside the rental unit in Xingfuli Residential Area.
"Achoo!"
Fang Ming sneezed violently and rubbed his nose.
"Which beauty is thinking about me? Could it be that woman Mu Qingxue, cursing me for blocking her??"
Fang Ming sat at his computer with his legs crossed, holding a can of ice-cold Coke. On the screen was the completion screen for Black Myth.
Blocking Mu Qingxue was the result of careful consideration.
He didn't have much use for money right now anyway; asking Mu Qingxue for a billion or so would be meaningless. Besides, with the Chat Group at his back, he wouldn't lack money in the future.
As for her offering herself to him? Even if Fang Ming wanted that, she wouldn't agree. Plus, doing that would make him no different from Qin Xiao. It would simply damage his image as a master.
So, he just deleted and blocked her to avoid wasting time.
Ding-dong.
The phone on the desk vibrated. Fang Ming glanced at it; it was a WeChat pop-up.
[Chu Yao]: "Um... are you asleep?"
Seeing this cautious opening, a smile tugged at the corner of Fang Ming's mouth.
This girl must have been put through the wringer today, otherwise she wouldn't have reached out to him of her own accord.
[.]: "Not yet. What's up? Did the trial shift not go well today?"
[Chu Yao]: "Mhm... I wouldn't say it didn't go well, exactly."
Meanwhile, in the girls' dormitory.
Chu Yao lay on her stomach on the bed, her slender legs swinging in the air, wearing a loose pair of pajamas.
She stared at her phone screen, hesitating for a long time before typing out a line of text.
[Chu Yao]: "It's just that I found it quite exhausting. The restaurant manager is so mean, always nitpicking. He even made me stand in the lobby for five hours; my legs are all swollen..."
Actually, she wasn't telling the whole truth.
It wasn't just exhaustion; that manager was practically a pervert. He specifically made her clean the toilets and deliberately scolded her loudly in front of customers for being clumsy.
There were even two rough-looking customers who tried to get handsy with her. If she hadn't run fast, something bad might have happened again.
But she didn't want to complain too much to this mysterious person.
Because she knew this mysterious person was her brother's friend. If she said she was being bullied and he told her brother, what if her brother impulsively rushed back?
[.]: "Hang in there. There's plenty more hardship waiting for you."
Fang Ming's reply was very direct.
[Chu Yao]: "Waaaaah, is this how you comfort people?"
Looking at her reply, Fang Ming smiled slightly.
[.]: "I believe you're strong. But if anyone bullies you, remember to tell me."
When this message was sent, Chu Yao, in her dormitory, looked at the words on the screen and felt a warmth in her heart.
Ever since her brother went missing, she had been like a weed, having to weather every storm on her own.
But now, even though it was over the internet, this mysterious [.] was like a great mountain standing in front of her.
This feeling of being protected and having someone to lean on was truly wonderful.
[Chu Yao]: "Thank you... By the way, we've been chatting for so many days, and I still don't know how to address you?"
[Chu Yao]: "I can't just keep calling you 'hey,' right?"
Fang Ming raised an eyebrow.
An address?
That was indeed an issue.
He certainly couldn't use 'Fang Ming'; it would be trouble if Qin Xiao found out. Calling him 'benefactor' was too mushy, and 'Big Brother' would mess up the seniority with the Soldier King.
[.]: "A name is just a label. It's not important."
[Chu Yao]: "But... there has to be some way to call you, otherwise it seems very impolite."
[Chu Yao]: "How about... I call you Uncle?"
"Pfft!"
Fang Ming spat a mouthful of Coke all over his keyboard.
Uncle?
I'm only twenty-four, in the prime of my youth. How did I become an uncle?
Did these Gen Z girls think that anyone who could casually pull out fifty thousand yuan and speak in such a worldly tone was a greasy middle-aged uncle?
[.]: "Shut up. If you dare call me Uncle, I'll block you."
[Chu Yao]: "Ah? Then... then what should I call you? (aggrieved.jpg)"
Fang Ming wiped the liquid off his keyboard and thought about it.
Since he wanted to maintain an air of mystery and a bit of class, while also fitting the dynamic of their relationship...
He typed two words on the keyboard.
[.]: "Call me Mr. Ming."
[Chu Yao]: "Mr. Ming? It sounds a bit strange... like a name from a Republic-era drama."
[Chu Yao]: "But... it sounds very safe. Then I'll call you Mr. Ming!"
[.]: "Go to sleep early. Tomorrow is a new day. Remember, if you see me outside, pretend you don't know me."
[Chu Yao]: "Mhm mhm!~ I'll remember. Goodnight, Mr. Ming! (cute.jpg)"