Third update,

...

"So, you came to me because..."

Qin Fang had indirectly admitted to the truth of the matter, so there was no need to hide it anymore. He asked directly.

"Heh heh, as you know, I'm a businessman, and if there's a worthwhile investment, I certainly won't let it slip by so easily... By the way, how well has this technology been perfected? Is it ready to leave the lab?"

Since the technology was in Qin Fang's hands, if Chen Jiangnan hemmed and hawed, it would clearly be improbable for him to obtain it from Qin Fang, especially since the matter also involved the daughter of Secretary Tang, who was also Qin Fang's girlfriend. Even if he had the guts, he wouldn't dare to go too far.

Of course, Chen Jiangnan was quite ethical in doing business, and he wasn't into deceiving or swindling. He conducted legitimate business, even though the company he owned looked like a shell company no matter how one viewed it.

"The technology has already..."

Qin Fang was just about to say that the technology was perfected and that it only needed a few more tests on different battery models to be sure that there were no problems at all.

But oddly enough, Chen Jiangnan's mention of a lab made Qin Fang's heart skip a beat.

"The technology should be considered quite mature. In fact, I've already tried some experiments a long time ago, but unfortunately, as you know, due to my limited conditions, I've never been able to expand the radius of the radiation. If there was a lab to help, organizing more technical support to tackle the problem, I think everything could be completed in no more than half a month..."

"A lab..."

Upon hearing Qin Fang's request, Chen Jiangnan fell silent.

Setting up a lab is not difficult with enough money; it's easy enough, but establishing a temporary lab is worthwhile only if the project can be commercialized to create business value. Otherwise, it all amounts to nothing, incurring considerable financial loss.

He had come to partner with Qin Fang, who despite having some money, had already invested in the technology. It was impossible for Qin Fang to invest more unless he was offered a very large share of equity. However, if that were the case, there was no need for Qin Fang to cooperate with him, as there were plenty of moneyed investors without good investment projects.

Chen Jiangnan knew that living in the same dorm as Qin Fang was a wealthy guy who had joint ventured the noodle shop with Qin Fang. It was not excluded that Qin Fang might again collaborate with Xiao Nan on this battery venture.

The reason Chen Jiangnan approached Qin Fang so early was only because Qin Fang's technology wasn't yet fully mature, seeking to get ahead of the game.

"If it's too much trouble, then forget it. I'm not in a hurry anyway, we can take it slow..."

Qin Fang also knew that his request was a bit too much, yet the investment prospect of the project was quite good. Furthermore, with more and better improvement plans in the pipeline, which he couldn't possibly complete on his own, having a lab would totally allow him to throw the proposals at the research staff to work on, saving him a lot of time.

"No, no, definitely not... How about this, I'll try to make some contacts first to see if we can find someone..."

The project had such great prospects that if Chen Jiangnan weren't interested, he wouldn't have approached Qin Fang so proactively. Letting such a lucrative opportunity slip by would be tantamount to wasting his years in business.

But now that Qin Fang had made such a request, Chen Jiangnan was determined to give it a try, regardless of whether the deal would go through. His business had reached a bottleneck; his company was mainly involved in finance, but the financial industry had been sluggish lately, compelling him to look for better projects.

As the two chatted, time flew by, and soon they were about to enter the city center. Qin Fang glanced behind and sure enough, Pi San and his group were still following them, looking for an opportunity.

Qin Fang felt relatively relaxed. At least he was certain of one thing: even if Pi San and his gang were going to kill him, they definitely wouldn't pull out guns. Otherwise, they would've shot him on sight, leaving Qin Fang no chance to dodge.

"As long as there are no guns, I won't be afraid of you!"

He was quite confident about that. Unless someone stabbed him directly in the heart causing it to stop instantly, or hit another instantaneously fatal area.

If it were any other part of the body, even if it was a pierced liver with heavy bleeding, or a severed artery, Qin Fang's Props Box contained 99 baozi that should temporarily stabilize his injury until an ambulance could arrive.

And in such a moment, Qin Fang wouldn't mind shooting Pi San and the others, although he had never killed anyone before.

"Sister Ning, we've arrived. Where are you?"

Chen Jiangnan's car stopped in the parking lot outside Confucius Temple, then he and Qin Fang walked into the pedestrian street. Qin Fang was on the phone with Ning Yumo, while keeping an eye on Pi San and the others who didn't hurry to follow but stopped on the opposite side of the road, staring at Qin Fang's direction.

"I'm at Fengxiang Jewelry. Which antique shop are you going to? I'll come straight over..." Ning Yumo's reply came from the phone.

"To Yunzhuzhai…" Qin Fang immediately asked Chen Jiangnan for confirmation and, upon getting the answer, replied back before hanging up the phone.

"Who was that? Another beauty? You're not using my car to have a one-night stand, are you?"

Chen Jiangnan asked with a cheeky grin, well aware that Qin Fang had the company of beauties Tang Feifei and Xiao Muxue. Clearly, the woman on the phone was neither of them, so he couldn't resist making a joke.

"If you want to die, I certainly won't stop you! It's Brother Qiang's sister…" Qin Fang rolled his eyes in response and casually revealed the other party's identity.

Pfft~~~

Chen Jiangnan, who was drinking water because he was thirsty, spat it out upon hearing this, coughing uncontrollably, "You little punk, you're really bad. If this mother tiger hears what you said, would I still be alive?"

And who is this Brother Qiang Qin Fang mentioned?

Naturally, he is Ning Weiqiang, one of Ninghai's well-known young elites. And his sister, needless to say, is the famously fiery beauty Ning Yumo of Ninghai, who is also a virago on the police force. It is said her fighting strength is exceptional. She once broke seven ribs and three legs of a fool who tried to take liberties with her...

Before Chen Jiangnan became acquainted with the Tang and Ning families, though he wasn't part of that social circle, he had heard of the incident. Respecting such a lady was one thing, but he wouldn't dare to show any disrespect, fearing he might become the next unfortunate one...

Take for instance the joke he just made about Qin Fang. If Ning Yumo were to hear it, it's quite possible his third leg would be in jeopardy of a crippling kick.

"What are you afraid of? Go handle your business. I still have to take Sister Ning to gamble on stones later," Qin Fang said with a laugh, not too concerned, as he gave Chen Jiangnan a push and headed towards Yunzhuzhai.

Yunzhuzhai is an established antique shop at Confucius Temple. In the early years, it mainly sold antique calligraphy and paintings, but now it has expanded to include porcelain, jade, and various other items.

Chen Jiangnan is a regular customer here. Due to business, he would occasionally buy calligraphy and antiques as gifts. Over time, he became quite familiar with the owner, who usually offers him a fair price.

Familiarity aside, and fairness in pricing accounted for, the authenticity of the antiques and calligraphy is another matter. After all, there are only so many authentic pieces, and it's impossible for all antiques in a shop to be genuine, otherwise, they couldn't make so much money.

The antique shop business is often slow, but there is a saying that it "doesn't need to open for three years, but when it does, it thrives for three years," hinting at the massive profits involved.

"Ah, Director Chen, you finally showed up. If you were any later, I would really have to leave…"

Indeed, as soon as Qin Fang and Chen Jiangnan entered, they saw a man around fifty, dressed in a short blue cloth robe, holding a sword, as if ready to leave. He saw Chen Jiangnan and immediately said so.

"You, old Zhao, are in better shape than I am, yet you love taking that sword of yours to the square to show off. Could it be you've got your eyes on some granny?"

Chen Jiangnan seemed to be really close to the owner, though the two differed in age by perhaps twenty years. They interacted like good friends, immediately starting to joke around.

"You little brat, you have no respect for your elders. I've been friends with your dad for so many years, and here you are, daring to joke with me like that. Believe it or not, I could skewer you with one stab…"

Boss Zhao seemed pretty easy-going, joking back with Chen Jiangnan, claiming he would "stab him to death," but in reality, he had already carefully placed the sword back.

"Who's talking about killing someone?"

But just as his words fell, a very cold voice came from outside the door, startling everyone a bit.

"Sister Ning, you're here!"

Qin Fang stood up naturally to greet her, "Don't take it seriously! Boss Zhao and Brother Jiangnan were just joking…"

"Oh, then it's nothing!"

Ning Yumo was on high alert, and as soon as she arrived at the door, she overheard words about "stabbing you to death," which prompted her to quickly come in to check. It was all just a misunderstanding.

"Eh, there are quite a few antique paintings and calligraphy here. Qin Fang, come over. I heard you know a bit about this. Help me take a look. Secretary Tang's birthday is approaching, and he really loves paintings and calligraphy. It'd be perfect to pick one out for him…"

Luckily, Ning Yumo didn't make anything of it, but instead noticed the antique paintings and calligraphy in the shop and immediately pulled Qin Fang over to help choose a suitable gift.

The auction event that happened that night was now under a gag order, but the genuine piece of calligraphy had long since safely made its way to Beijing, rendering the gag order meaningless. Ning Yumo, Tang Feifei, and the others were vaguely aware of some aspects. (To be continued, if you wish to learn what happens next, please visit www.qidian.com. More chapters are available, and you can support the author and genuine reading!)

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