Several billion...

With such a great cost, given the Ke Family's business nature, I believe the profit behind it could perhaps exceed ten billion.

However, the Ke Family didn't live to see the return on their investment before they kicked the bucket.

Now, hearing Han Dongxu explain Professor Sun's situation, Xu Fan felt tempted, yet also helpless.

In his early years, Professor Sun wasn't successful and was entirely supported by the Ke Family before he could hope to do research.

For a researcher like him, this was a grace of rebirth.

Given his relationship with the Ke Family, even though the Ke Family has collapsed, Professor Sun likely wouldn't choose to collaborate with me.

"It's fine, Boss, we don't need to focus on this, just let others rack their brains about it."

"Professor Sun isn't easy to deal with, and it's not guaranteed that others can manage him either."

The Ke Family had numerous assets, and Ke Bancheng didn't live to manage the family's enterprises before he took off without a trace.

Now, just the other assets alone are enough to fill our bellies, Han Dongxu felt it's better not to be too greedy.

Rather than compete with the big families of Shanghai for a bite to eat, it's better to avoid them and pick up the leftovers.

"Professor Sun is difficult to get along with? What do you mean?"

However, Xu Fan seemed still interested and looked at Han Dongxu with curiosity as he posed the question.

Han Dongxu gave a wry smile, saying, "Professor Sun is an oddball."

"Boss, he doesn't like women at all."

"What?"

Xu Fan frowned upon hearing this.

Could it be that this professor's sexual orientation is quite progressive?

"Not only that, if a woman is very beautiful, he doesn't just dislike her, he detests her intensely."

I once accompanied Ke Longxiang to visit Professor Sun, and Ke Longxiang, in an attempt to ingratiate himself, thought about sending him a beautiful woman, but that guy outright showed a sour face and kicked Ke Longxiang out, regardless of the Ke Family's deep debt of gratitude to him.

Hearing Han Dongxu talking about it now, Xu Fan frowned.

Given that attitude towards Ke Longxiang, was Professor Sun really that close with the Ke Family?

"No, we must get Professor Sun on our side," Xu Fan said seriously to Han Dongxu. The scraps from the Ke Family were not enough to sustain my large group.

Han Dongxu shivered with fright.

"Just kill me, Boss!"

"I... I won't betray my ass!"

Han Dongxu now covered his rear and said with a tense face.

"..."

A few black lines appeared on Xu Fan's forehead. Did this guy really think I would have him enact a honey trap on Professor Sun?

"Han Dongxu, take a good look at yourself in the mirror first."

With his fierce appearance, he's definitely not anyone's type.

Moreover, disliking women doesn't necessarily mean one's gay, and for someone like Professor Sun who is engrossed in scholarly pursuits, even more so.

The reason he hates women so much must be because of some deep wounds inflicted by a woman. There must be a story behind Professor Sun.

"Before his birthday, have everyone mobilize and thoroughly investigate his background for me."

"Even if it's the color of his underwear, I want to know it all clearly."

No matter what, I cannot allow the lucrative piece of new energy to slip through my fingers to others.

"Ok, I'll have someone handle it right away, making sure to get all the details for you."

When he heard that he was not being coerced into any under-the-table deals, Han Dongxu breathed a sigh of relief and immediately agreed.

He had previous contact with Professor Sun, so looking up his information wasn't going to be too difficult.

...

Soon enough, the day of the birthday banquet arrived.

In the days leading up to the event, Han Dongxu did not disappoint himself, delivering all of Professor Sun's information to him.

Indeed, it gave Xu Fan some useful information. With everything ready, he drove to the venue of the banquet.

After a short while, he arrived at the hotel where Professor Sun's birthday banquet was being held.

Professor Sun, who usually immersed himself in new energy research, didn't have many friends. Almost everyone coming to the hotel was a businessman eager for a chance to cooperate with Professor Sun.

Xu Fan squinted his eyes, watching these people, as a slow, crooked smile formed at the corner of his mouth.

"Ultimately, to whom will the prize fall?"

Carrying the gift he had prepared earlier, Xu Fan walked straight ahead.

Professor Sun's birthday banquet was taking place in the eighteenth-floor hall of the hotel. Xu Fan took the elevator, and it wasn't long before he arrived at his destination.

Many people had already arrived at the scene. Xu Fan looked around and saw that nearly everyone there was a businessman interested in the contract, including old acquaintances he recognized.

Zhou Zidong.

As far as he knew, the Zhou Family was only involved in the jewelry industry.

Having no expertise in new energy, their appearance here, simply to join the buzz, showed just how tempting the profits behind this were.

Watching Zhou Zidong chat and laugh with ease, Xu Fan couldn't help but squint his eyes, wondering if this guy actually had the brains to close the deal.

Not just the Zhou Family, but those formerly close to the Ke Family had also arrived.

Now that the Ke Family's empire had collapsed, even deep friendships were like passing clouds to them.

All they knew was if they were late to the party, they wouldn't get a slice of the readily available fat meat!

At this point, Professor Sun had yet to make an appearance. Inside the hall, these people were holding glasses of red wine, chatting with those around them.

Some were sharing information about Professor Sun and others were inquiring about each other's recent plans, looking for potential cooperation opportunities.

Xu Fan didn't care for such small talk. He was here solely to establish cooperation with Professor Sun.

There was no need for pleasantries with everyone, so Xu Fan stood aside, eating and observing the situation.

Just because Xu Fan didn't want to interact with others didn't mean they didn't want to interact with him.

In such a large hall, it was inevitable that Zhou Zidong would notice Xu Fan.

Surprised by Xu Fan's presence at the banquet, Zhou Zidong exchanged a few words with those around him before walking over to Xu Fan.

"Xu Fan, I didn't expect to see you here," Zhou Zidong said with some amusement.

The appearance of Xu Fan was indeed a cause for amusement for Zhou Zidong.

Everyone in the know was aware that the Ke Family fell because of him.

Compared to the others seated here, he was already lacking a card of favor, and because of this relationship, it was impossible for Professor Sun to choose to cooperate with him.

His presence here, wasn't it just to make a fool of himself?

"Honestly, I never expected you'd have the capability to bring down the Ke Family," Zhou Zidong said with a light smile, swirling the red wine in his glass. "But you know, we're quite grateful to you."

Considering both emotional and strength relations, moving against the Ke Family was unwise.

Toppling the Ke Family could mean serious injury to oneself, not a lucrative deal at all.

But now, someone had already done what they most wanted to do, so how could they not be grateful?

"Xu Fan, doing the hard work is akin to showing you respect, but let's not concern yourself with dividing up the Ke Family's fat meat from now on," Zhou Zidong continued.

"You might as well leave now."

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