Chapter 3: World 1 [3]

The prize redemption process wasn’t long. First, her identity was verified, then a photo was taken together, and Shang Siyu smoothly received a cheque for eleven million yuan.

Originally, the prize after deducting personal income tax was twelve million. However, under the enthusiastic suggestion of the staff, Shang Siyu donated one million yuan to charity.

Walking out with the cheque, Shang Siyu felt like she was treading on clouds. Her whole body felt light, as if her feet weren’t touching solid ground.

Luckily, this feeling didn’t last too long. The cheque hadn’t even warmed her hands before Shang Siyu converted it into a balance in her bank account.

After paying for a belated lunch with her bank card and filling her stomach, Shang Siyu finally dared to truly believe that she was indeed rich.

Even if the laboratory couldn’t attract new investors, it didn’t matter. Ten million yuan was enough to keep the lab running until the day they produced concrete results.

【Now, are you willing to trust me?】 Jing Ke’s voice timely appeared.

“Yes, thank you.” Shang Siyu’s tone was quite sincere. “The lab’s current funding problem is solved. Is there anything I can do to help you?”

【You’re welcome. If you want to help me, bring this project to success sooner.】

【The topic you’re researching is very interesting. If there’s a breakthrough, it can play a significant role and allow you to accumulate more fortune.】

After a brief silence, Shang Siyu took the initiative to ask, “So you only need me to seriously focus on my current project? You don’t need me to do anything extra for you?”

【Yes. But what you need to do isn’t just continue the research; you also have to be wary of Xue Fan making a move against you.】

【He’s very fixated on his pride and said those things to you yesterday. He will keep forcing you to bow your head.】

“But we have no grudge against each other. Why is he targeting me?” Shang Siyu genuinely couldn’t understand Xue Fan’s thinking. “Just because I rejected him in high school?”

In Shang Siyu’s memory, Xue Fan wasn’t a particularly special existence. He was just an ordinary neighbor, an ordinary classmate who happened to be in the same class for two years in high school.

As for the confession, many people liked her in high school. Shang Siyu had gotten so experienced at rejecting them. Xue Fan was just one of those she rejected.

If she had to say there was any special memory, it was that she had heard quite a few things about Xue Fan’s parents.

Xue Fan’s father especially loved drinking. Due to this hobby, when Xue Fan was ten, his father made a mistake while drunk and was laid off, never recovering after that.

Xue Fan’s mother had been a housewife. Only after Xue Fan’s father lost his job did she start working in an elementary school cafeteria, introduced by Shang Siyu’s mother. Her monthly salary was moderate, barely enough to support a family of three.

【Perhaps there are other reasons.】 Jing Ke spoke thoughtfully. 【People differ greatly. I can’t guarantee I can predict Xue Fan’s thoughts.】

【I can only deduce that Xue Fan feels hostile towards you. He believes you know many of his painful past events and once trampled on his dignity from a lofty position?】 Towards the end, Jing Ke’s voice carried a hint of uncertainty.

Human thought patterns were inherently uncontrollable. Everyone had different ideas. Jing Ke could only extrapolate using existing data.

“I understand. Thank you,” Shang Siyu thanked her again.

Regardless of whether Jing Ke’s purpose for binding her was for her future fortune, at least the help she provided now was tangible, preventing Shang Siyu from being controlled by others due to a lack of research funds.

As for why Xue Fan was targeting her, Shang Siyu still couldn’t understand.

Was a family misfortune considered a painful past event? None of that was even caused by Xue Fan.

Did rejecting Xue Fan’s advances in high school to focus on studying equate to trampling on his self-esteem? She hadn’t said anything harsh back then either.

Could these things really make Xue Fan hold a grudge for eight years? To the point of causing trouble for her now, eight years later?

Shang Siyu couldn’t understand it, so she gave up trying to understand and chose to focus on herself.

—

Shang Siyu didn’t publicize her lottery win. But the next morning, she went to the Hospital to visit her advisor, who was still recuperating there.

“I heard about the project funding situation from Little Mei. You don’t need to worry too much. If it really doesn’t work out, your Teacher here still has some savings.” Professor Lin comforted her student, gently patting Shang Siyu’s shoulder. “The innocent will be cleared. Once this storm passes, everything will get better.”

Professor Lin herself could be considered a young achiever. She finished her doctorate and stayed at the university at twenty-seven, only forty years old now, already a professor and a graduate advisor.

Unfortunately, Professor Lin came from a purely grassroots background. She hadn’t formed any cliques and had no influential parents in academic circles, so her foundation was relatively weak.

After Professor Lin was falsely accused of academic fraud by paid trolls, only a few colleagues from her same academic lineage stepped forward to clarify things for her. In the end, their voices were weak. Only after the news spread widely did Professor Lin regain her innocence within a small circle.

“I believe in you, Teacher.” Shang Siyu nodded, then revealed a faint smile that softened her features considerably.

Shang Siyu: “But I also have a piece of good news to tell you, Teacher.”

Professor Lin showed an interested expression. “What’s the good news? Did your research have a breakthrough?”

Shang Siyu shook her head, showing a rare childish side as she teased, “Guess again, Teacher.”

Professor Lin pondered for a moment. “If not a research breakthrough, could it be that new funding has come in?”

“You could say that.” A clear smile blossomed on Shang Siyu’s face. “Day before yesterday, I bought a lottery ticket, and then I won.”

“If the lab lacks funds, I can become a new Investor.” Shang Siyu said with a beaming smile. “So Teacher, you don’t need to worry about funding anymore. Just focus on recovering well and aim to be discharged early to guide us in the lab.”

Professor Lin was stunned for a moment upon hearing this. What appeared on her face wasn’t happiness that the funding problem was solved, but a grave, serious expression.

“Little Yu, I’m very happy you have this intention. However, the experimental project has never been your responsibility alone. You have no obligation to take this upon yourself.”

“Securing investment isn’t just your task. Don’t put pressure on yourself because of any nonsense you’ve heard.”

Professor Lin spoke sternly. “I am your Teacher and the project leader. How can I allow you, a student, to contribute funds?”

“Teacher, I understand what you mean. But I’ve also poured nearly two years of hard work into this project. I believe we can succeed. This is a decision I made after careful consideration.” Shang Siyu spoke earnestly, her tone sincere.

“If the research succeeds, as an Investor, I can also profit. This isn’t a decision I made on a whim.” Shang Siyu continued. “And Teacher, I received a total prize of eleven million yuan. Even if I invest ten million, I’ll still have one million left.”

“How much?” Professor Lin was stunned again. She had initially thought her student had won a few hundred thousand or maybe a million. But what did she just hear?

“I won the first prize. A total of fifteen million. Three million went to personal income tax, one million was donated, leaving eleven million.” A smile tugged at the corner of Shang Siyu’s mouth.

“Teacher, if I invest ten million, wouldn’t I be the lab’s biggest Financial Backer?” Shang Siyu said, suddenly feeling inexplicably proud.

A question mark practically appeared above Professor Lin’s head. She coughed lightly. “Not ‘Financial Backer’—the largest Investor.”

Shang Siyu obediently acknowledged, “Yes, Teacher. If our research yields results, we should be able to profit from the patents, right?”

Professor Lin’s expression was somewhat dazed. “If the project succeeds, it should be quickly applicable to some prosthetic limbs, which is good news for certain people with disabilities. The lab can contribute the patented technology in exchange for shares in the corresponding company, thus generating revenue.”

The impact of ten million yuan was still quite significant for Professor Lin. After all, the development of her current project until now had cost less than ten million.

“In that case, my investment is reasonable. If the research and development succeed, as an Investor, I’ll have priority usage rights for the patents. And I’m one of the researchers, so my share of the future profits and dividends would be substantial.”

Shang Siyu looked earnestly at her Teacher. “Teacher, I’m not investing blindly. I’m very familiar with our research project. I believe we can succeed.”

Professor Lin met her student’s gaze. Seeing no reluctance or joking in Shang Siyu’s eyes, only determination and stubbornness, she sighed softly.

“If we still haven’t secured investment by this month’s end, then you can contribute funds.” Professor Lin said meaningfully. “But we won’t need ten million. Five million… no, three million will suffice. If research and development go smoothly, I will fight for you to own half of the patent rights.”

“Okay, Teacher. Thank you, Teacher.” Shang Siyu quickly agreed, smiling. “Then Teacher needs to rest well. I’m still waiting for you to be discharged to help me with the research.”

A hint of helplessness appeared in Professor Lin’s eyes, but she was still quite happy deep down.

Having a student who trusted her so much, even supporting her unconditionally, made all her efforts as a Teacher worthwhile.

—

Back at the laboratory, it was already past 2 PM.

After changing, Shang Siyu greeted her Senior Sisters and prepared to continue the experiments at hand.

“Little Yu, did you get your personal matters sorted out?” Senior Sister Mei asked with concern when she saw Shang Siyu return.

“Mhm, all taken care of.” Shang Siyu smiled. “Senior Sister, I also have some good news to…”

Before Shang Siyu could finish her sentence, the laboratory door was knocked. A somewhat familiar person walked in.

“Dean Liu, what brings you here?” Senior Sister Mei’s attention was drawn to the newcomer, and she went to greet him with a smile.

“I’m here this time just to notify you all: your account balance is running low. Starting tomorrow, we probably won’t be able to provide your routine experimental consumables,” Dean Liu stated in a gentle tone.

But the words he spoke felt like a bucket of ice-cold water to the lab members, wiping the smiles off their faces.

“As for the venue and equipment, if President Xue is unwilling to inject funds, please vacate this space within seven days and give it to a team that needs it more,” Dean Liu added unhurriedly.

“Seven days?” Senior Sister Mei was stunned. Her voice involuntarily sharpened with urgency. “Dean Liu, wasn’t the previous deadline the end of the month? Today is only the twelfth.”

Seven days from the twelfth was the nineteenth. That was a full eleven days earlier.

“Before was before. Yesterday, President Xue invested three million in a team researching a similar topic to yours. After a comprehensive assessment, the university made this decision.”

Dean Liu spoke with the air of an experienced person offering comfort. “Don’t worry too much. The team that got the investment is planning to recruit new members. If you all still want to do research, I can connect you.”

Hearing Dean Liu’s obvious attempt to poach them, Senior Sister Mei’s expression darkened. “Dean Liu, our project hasn’t been disbanded yet. Don’t you think it’s inappropriate to say that now?”

Dean Liu just smiled, not taking Senior Sister Mei’s words to heart. He continued, “I’m merely offering a friendly suggestion. I’ve said all I needed to say. If no new funds come in, you can’t apply for basic consumables starting tomorrow, and everyone must vacate the laboratory before the nineteenth.”

“Of course, if you can secure President Xue’s investment within these seven days, the current venue will be kept, and the consumables provided will be of the best quality.” As Dean Liu spoke, his gaze fell on Shang Siyu.

Dean Liu said seemingly casually, “Doing experiments and working on projects is indeed very important, but everything has its priorities. If the project itself is gone, there won’t be a place to do experiments anymore.”

Most people in the lab could hear the hidden meaning within this seemingly pensive remark.

Especially Shang Siyu, who was most able to detect the deeper intent hidden in every word and phrase Dean Liu uttered.

President Xue, President Xue. Wasn’t this a blatant hint for her to proactively contact Xue Fan and bow her head to him?

Shang Siyu stepped forward, patted her Senior Sister’s shoulder, and faced Dean Liu’s malicious gaze.

“Honestly, my memory isn’t too good. It seems I forgot to tell Dean Liu something.” Shang Siyu said with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

Shang Siyu’s features were naturally cool and aloof. When she kept a straight face, she possessed a strong sense of distance and looked extremely unapproachable.

“What news?” Dean Liu frowned, displeased with Shang Siyu’s attitude.

In his view, Shang Siyu should be acting more compliant now, allowing him to achieve his goal so he could peaceably accept that one hundred thousand yuan.

“Our project has received new investment. The funds will arrive tomorrow,” Shang Siyu stated.

A hint of amusement appeared in her eyes. “So, I must trouble Dean Liu to prepare the highest quality experimental consumables for us and maintain our lab space properly.”

Dean Liu’s frown deepened. “If it’s just one or two hundred thousand, that will only stretch your project for another month or so. It’s just a drop in the bucket for your project.”

“Sorry, Dean Liu guessed wrong.” Shang Siyu curved her eyes, and although her expression was smiling, her words lacked warmth.

“We have an investment of five million yuan, enough to keep the lab running for another two years.” Shang Siyu articulated every word clearly.

Seeing Dean Liu’s expression change at the sum, Shang Siyu slightly raised the corner of her mouth. “Dean Liu, you can retract your previous notification now.”

Dean Liu managed to steady his facial expression, forcing a fake smile. “You got investment? That’s… very good.”

As Dean Liu was about to leave, Shang Siyu added one more thing. “Oh, and please pass a message to President Xue. Thank him for his trouble, but we no longer need his investment.”

Shang Siyu was not someone without a temper. If Xue Fan targeted her for some bizarre personal reasons, so be it. She could just pretend not to see or hear anything.

But if Xue Fan deliberately sabotaged her entire experimental team because of her alone, Shang Siyu couldn’t swallow her anger and stay silent.