"That's fantastic, our company is willing to invest 1,000 gold coins to fully support your research, Professor Yan!"

In the office, hearing this from Shang Lingyi, the slightly impatient Yan Yi couldn't help but sit up straight: "One thousand gold coins? No other conditions?"

"One thousand gold coins, no other conditions!" Shang Lingyi said firmly, "Professor Yan Yi, your research is truly magnificent. I am extremely honored to contribute a bit to the promising field of wireless radio. If there's anything else you need, please feel free to ask! I will try my best to meet your needs on behalf of the company!"

Yan Yi's eyes lit up: "Then... I think we still need some meteorite dust minerals to make some sample radio communication tools for testing..."

"Our company still has eight grams of meteorite dust minerals. I can allocate four grams and send them over immediately!"

"I also need to prepare pure metal, and the necessary solutions and minerals aren't cheap..."

"List everything you need, and I'll do my utmost to fulfill your requirements!"

"I also need to manufacture conductors with the same resistance. Oh, you might not know what resistance is; it means..."

"I don't need to know that much!" Shang Lingyi waved her hand and said, "Those academic matters, Professor Yan, are for you to handle. I'll just solve the issues for you!"

If it were ten minutes ago, Shang Lingyi's 'I don't listen' attitude would have drawn Yan Yi to secretly ridicule her as an 'ignorant rich girl'.

But now, Yan Yi could only see Shang Lingyi's carefree and unrestrained waving and hear her bold and vigorous words!

Yan Yi couldn't help but hold Shang Lingyi's hand, emotionally saying, "Shang... may I call you Sister Lingyi?"

"Professor Yan, you're too kind." Shang Lingyi modestly said, "I'm just a mere merchant, not worthy of being your sister..."

"No, whoever dares call you a greedy merchant, I'll be the first to beat them up for you!"

The person who spoke wasn't Yan Yi.

It was Lou Yinhai standing beside her.

He stood up indignantly behind Shang Lingyi, looking at Yan Yi: "Miss Shang is truly a paragon of patriotic business exemplified by the National Relief Association, a rare patriotic merchant in Radiance. I, Lou Yinhai, will never allow anyone to tarnish Miss Shang's reputation!"

Yet the one who mocked Shang Lingyi the most just now was you!

Yan Yi couldn't utter her ingratiating words, but she dared not offend Lou Yinhai, so she continued speaking to Shang Lingyi: "Sister Lingyi, is there anything else you'd like to know... By the way, weren't you interested in the Twin Hearts? You can take that Twin Hearts from the lab!"

"No need, I've fully understood it already." Shang Lingyi smiled, "Also, I have no use for the Twin Hearts, it will serve better purpose staying in the lab, in your hands."

Where in the world could you find such an understanding wealthy person?

Lou Yinhai further said, "Miss Shang, would you be interested in visiting my lab? It's quite spacious and has a lot of fascinating things. I'm also good at brewing red tea, maybe you could come by my lab for a detailed chat..."

"I'm indeed interested in your lab, Professor Lou, but unfortunately," Shang Lingyi shook her head, "it's getting late, and I need to head back."

"Would you like to stay for dinner!?" Lou Yinhai and Yan Yi said in unison, with Yan Yi even standing to hold Shang Lingyi's shoulder, adding, "Principal Cha Huan, upon hearing of your generosity, would surely be happy to dine with you!"

Shang Lingyi smiled, "No, I must return to inform the elders of today's decision, and formalities are required to secure the thousand gold coins and meteorite dust minerals."

Hearing she needed to go back for the money, the two professors couldn't persuade her to stay, instead saying, "Then we'll see you out!"

"No need, let me leave on my own." Shang Lingyi suddenly blushed slightly, smiled, and said, "Actually... I'm developing a relationship with a junior, and since classes are about to end, I'd like to surprise him..."

Lou Yinhai and Yan Yi nodded immediately, but Lou Yinhai suddenly frowned: "Wait, Miss Shang, you've graduated for three years now..."

Snap!

Yan Yi directly stomped on Lou Yinhai's shoe, completely disregarding the prestige of the Imperial Academy's martial pillar. However, Lou Yinhai didn't have any thoughts of getting angry; he obediently kept quiet and showed a kind smile: "Truly a match made in heaven, an ideal couple. The saying goes, an older woman is treasure, a young man is..."

"Then we won't disturb you!" Yan Yi instantly raised her voice, "Sister Lingyi, come visit again next time!"

"I will, see you next time."

Shang Lingyi smiled and left the office on the fourth floor. Not far away, she heard Yan Yi's roar: "The gold coins are mine, the meteorite dust minerals are also mine, Lou Yinhai, don't even think about it, if you have guts, go ask the principal for them—"

She smiled slightly, walking briskly away from the Tianhui teaching building, down the main road towards the campus gate.

As she walked to a shortcut path, she saw Niruo standing in the middle of the road with a long saber on his back, paying no attention to passersby. She slowly stopped, saying, "It's still broad daylight out."

"That's why I put construction signs at both ends of the road."

Le Yin appeared behind Shang Lingyi, saying, "However, once the students finish class, there will always be some who insist on using the construction route, so... could you come with us to the nearby small woods?"

"This kind of invitation is overly dangerous and quite impolite for a lady," Shang Lingyi laughed, "Besides, what if I refuse?"

"There are still a few minutes before classes end," Le Yin snapped his fingers, "which is plenty of time for the two of us men to finish a battle."

Niruo drew out his cherry blade and lifted his chin: "More than enough."

"This is why I can't stand you men..." Shang Lingyi shrugged and smiled, "Alright, alright, let's go to the small woods then. Are the two of you all that's here?"

Le Yin arched an eyebrow: "Why, are you expecting more people?"

"I'm merely curious about how I was exposed. If it's only the two of you, it means one of you noticed my slip on the fourth floor. In terms of lurking ability, Niruo can be disregarded, which means..."

Shang Lingyi stepped into the trees, turned and looked at Le Yin, her brows full of curiosity: "Where... were you hiding just now?"

"Guess?"

"I guess..." Shang Lingyi's nose slightly twitched, and a surprised expression appeared on her face: "You were hiding in the embrace of a woman? Hmm, it's the latest perfume from Wulian Trading Co., 'Forbidden Lover', and there's another blend... wait, this scent is exactly the same as Yan Yi's..."

"Qin Le Yin, you..." She looked at Le Yin with a strange expression.

Niruo, who had no interest in gossip, also gazed curiously at Le Yin.

Le Yin remained expressionless, feeling a little embarrassed inside.

The fragrance from Yan Yi transferred to Ning Xinyuan, who then absorbed it while being in the locker with Le Yin. Le Yin didn't expect that even with an intermediary taking their share, Shang Lingyi could still smell Yan Yi's scent on him!

Oh no, now everyone knows I'm sullied.

...

...

Ding-dong—

As the class bell rang, Ming Chaoyan let out a big yawn, rubbing her eyes, stretched and got up, which her surrounding classmates had already gotten used to—someone once asked her why she didn't just sleep in the dormitory, to which she replied she slept better with teachers lecturing.

In Radiant Celestial Maiden, Ming Chaoyan was perhaps the least noticed one; she had no imperial ambitions, disliked socializing, hardly had any friends, and spent her days sleeping, so naturally no one would think about following her. She left the classroom alone after class but enjoyed such solitary freedom, humming a tune as she walked to the dining hall.

"Hello, Teacher Ning!"

"Teacher Ning, you look so beautiful today!"

"Hello, Teacher Ning..."

Ming Chaoyan blinked, seeing Ning Xinyuan walking towards her, lazily said, "Hello, Teacher Ning."

Ning Xinyuan smiled and nodded, brushing past her. At the moment they passed, a metal badge fell from Ming Chaoyan's sleeve at a speed imperceptible to others, handing it to Ning Xinyuan.

No one saw their tacit understanding; they only saw that they greeted each other before going their separate ways. Ming Chaoyan walked away with a yawn, covering her mouth with her hand, whispered to the metallic badge in her palm: "Qin Le Yin was looking for you just now."

"Mm, thanks, I might trouble you again during the day in the future."

"No trouble at all; this is the only way I can assist Sister Ning. I'm no help in anything else, I might even drag you down..."

"You're not dragging anyone down, Chaoyan, you're the best Sword Master in my heart."

"Is that so? Then if Professor Yan and I were to fall into the water, who would you save first?"

"I'd kick Qin Le Yin in first."

"Ah? Why?"

"Because he's definitely the one who pushed you both in."

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