CHAPTER 65: CHAPTER 65: I LIKE EATING CHECKS

Qian Qi didn’t feel anything.

Standing behind Mo Yinqiu with a bewildered expression, she said, "Dean, you don’t need me to think, you just need to think for yourself."

She knew full well that Li Hongsheng was probing her Blood Stopping Magic Potion and Defense Fruit, especially since she was the first person to research magic potions, serving as the most convincing "evidence" of magic plants’ benefits to humans.

Her rebuttal was the most persuasive approach.

But unfortunately, Qian Qi shrugged her shoulders, feigning innocence, "I’m just a student, how could I know the answer to such profound questions you’re asking?"

Rather than truly being clueless, she planned to feign ignorance. After all, Li Hongsheng hadn’t shared the magic potion and Defense Fruit with these people, so what reason did she, Qian Qi, a mere student, have to divulge it?

She had no desire to be the target of attention.

"Dean, what’s the point in asking him? What could he possibly know?" Wei Zhen sneered, glancing at Qian Qi with disdain, "The Benefit Department is no longer necessary. If we’d dissolved the Benefit Department earlier, we wouldn’t be in such dire straits now."

Researching the impact of magic plants on magic beasts already consumes enough time and energy; attempting to study something intangible is nothing short of squandering one’s life.

Wei Zhen activated the Light Brain and showcased his latest research achievements, "Last year, I successfully cultivated the Chai Yin Fruit. There is ample data to support it, proving it can enhance the ability of magic beasts to absorb elemental power and unleash more formidable attacks."

Confidently, he declared, "This type of magic plant fruit is suitable for all existing E-level contracted beasts. Long-term consumption will certainly enhance the beasts’ strength, offering more benefit value than the Fire Qilin Fruit, and absolutely capable of rescuing our Magic Plant Research Institute’s reputation and funding!"

Benefit value?

Qian Qi’s ears perked up, her radar triggered.

She glanced at the report on the light screen and discovered that the Chai Yin Fruit was a D-level magic plant fruit known as "Chai Yin," about the size of an apricot, named for its silver foil-like color and two streaks resembling firewood.

"This thing’s not bad~" Qian Qi felt an itch inside, she looked at Li Hongsheng and quietly asked, "Dean, can I take a look at the actual Chai Yin Fruit?"

She had to face the actual magic plant to use the Decoding Technique; just pictures wouldn’t suffice for her skills.

Li Hongsheng glanced at Qian Qi and instructed Wei Zhen, "Wei Zhen, bring over a Chai Yin Fruit."

Wei Zhen frowned as he looked at Qian Qi. He didn’t mind his experimental results being revealed because the Chai Yin Fruit would eventually be sold and its patent would be under his name.

He simply couldn’t stand Qian Qi, finding her an annoying little pretty boy, who wasn’t that good-looking but still hung around Researcher Mo like a boneless leech, genuinely irritating.

Unabashedly disdainful, he said, "Dean, what can a student possibly understand? Showing him it is utterly a waste of time!"

"You’re not thinking I’m going to add his name to my report, are you?" Realizing something, Wei Zhen cast a wary look towards Qian Qi, "Though Researcher Mo contributed a lot to our institute, I don’t want my hard-won research results just to be easily claimed by a pretty boy."

"You’re overthinking." Li Hongsheng folded his arms across his mouth, softly murmuring, "Just afraid you’ll be begging her to add your name later."

"What?" Wei Zhen didn’t hear clearly.

"Ahem, nothing, anyway under my management, nothing like that will happen." Li Hongsheng instructed, "Bring over that Chai Yin Fruit, let me take a look too, hurry up."

Wei Zhen clicked his tongue, but eventually went out to bring the Chai Yin Fruit.

"Don’t touch it, it’s quite valuable." He placed the Chai Yin Fruit on the conference table and snorted at Qian Qi, "If you break it, you can’t afford it."

Qian Qi ignored Wei Zhen and activated the Decoding Technique on the Chai Yin Fruit, then touched her chin thoughtfully.

"How is it?" Li Hongsheng studied Qian Qi’s expression, curious how she discovered those magic planting methods.

"Chai Yin" was their recently discovered magic plant from last year, and back then, Qian Qi had just started learning magic plant knowledge. If she knew a more effective way to cultivate Chai Yin...

Li Hongsheng would have to reevaluate Qian Qi seriously.

Li Hongsheng stared at Qian Qi, and other researchers followed suit, eager for the advice from this student brought by the dean.

"I think..."

Under the intense gaze of everyone, Qian Qi pondered for two seconds, "This fruit is prettier than in the photo."

Li Hongsheng: ???

Wei Zhen: ???

Researchers: ???

I’ve perked my ears up for this??

"I want to see the data report again." Qian Qi pointed at the light screen, "Are there detailed data on magic beast elemental power reactions and physical responses after consuming the Chai Yin Fruit?"

Li Hongsheng turned to Wei Zhen, who, despite his dissatisfaction, clicked his tongue again, muttering "What use is it to show him," while displaying the experimental data report.

The report was about thirty pages long, demonstrating Wei Zhen’s long-term, repeated experiments, meticulous in content and data.

Qian Qi, though adopting a serious pose with chin in hand, was actually chatting with the system in her mind.

Qian Qi: What are we having for lunch today? I fear Dean Li won’t provide a meal.

System: You can eat whatever, I only want to eat money.

Qian Qi: Then do you want to eat paper currency or coins?

System: I like eating checks.

Qian Qi clicked her tongue, which immediately garnered attention from Wei Zhen and the researchers.

Qian Qi remained composed, continuing the mental chat: Little system, you know? You’ve successfully piqued my interest.

System: ...Thanks, man and system, never meant to be.

Finished reviewing the data, Qian Qi looked at Li Hongsheng.

Li Hongsheng instinctively straightened his back, eagerly asking, "How is it?"

Qian Qi inquired, "Dean, do you provide meals at noon?"

The ever-restrained Wei Zhen finally exploded, roaring angrily, "Dean! Is he out of his mind?! After all this time of looking, he’s gotten nowhere, just thinking of food?"

Then what good was reading the report just now? A waste of everyone’s time?!

Li Hongsheng waved his hand for calm and, understanding Qian Qi instantly from past experiences, assured, "Don’t worry, we’ll absolutely provide a meal at noon. I’ll have Researcher Mo personally cook for you."

Mo Yinqiu, who had remained silently invisible: ???

Qian Qi cheered up, pointing at the Chai Yin Fruit, smiling, "This Chai Yin Fruit does enhance the strength of contracted beasts, but, unfortunately, it has side effects."

"Impossible!" Wei Zhen slammed the table and barked, "My experiment has run for a year without a single magic beast showing side effects! You just scanned the data briefly, how can you be so sure?"

"Chai Yin Fruit contains toxins that can impair magic beasts’ vision. Although harmless to humans, it poses a risk of blindness to beasts." Qian Qi hinted just enough, even a lunch prepared by Teacher Mo could only cover this much insight.

This was already more than expected.

For more guidance, well, that required another price.

Wei Zhen, seeing Qian Qi’s indifference, grew increasingly enraged.

As a meticulous researcher dedicated to the magic plant cause since graduating from Awakener University, Wei Zhen had never uttered a complaint or cried fatigue. The Chai Yin Fruit he painstakingly cultivated was on the verge of transforming the Magic Plant Research Institute’s fortunes...

Yet Qian Qi’s offhand remark eradicated all his efforts!

Possible blindness? His research over the year had never yielded a magic beast going blind!

"Dean! What on earth do you mean? Are you truly buying into his nonsense?" Wei Zhen trembled with anger, hands clenched under the meeting table, and Qian Qi wondered if he was about to flip the table.

Hmm... A surprising desire to win arose; should she attempt to flip the table first?

Qian Qi considered for a moment and decided against it, given the number of people present; flipping the table and injuring someone would be terrible.

Sigh, she was genuinely kind, destined to be bullied by bad guys~

Qian Qi resignedly shook her head. She pointed outside the meeting room, asking, "Dean, may I tour other magic plants?"

She still had two more chances to use the Decoding Technique today~ She couldn’t waste the trip~