An entire morning was spent choosing elective courses and getting to know a whole group of lively girls in class.
At noon, Wang Lan and Jiang Xinyu made their way to the canteen, accompanied by Lan Qi, the sophomore they had t before.
"Xinyu, Senior Lan."
"I’ve got your lunch," Jiang Xinyu said coldly. "Today we selected self-study courses. What did you choose?"
"I selected all three subjects recomnded by Senior Jade, plus one on energy studies."
"Didn’t you choose battlefield dical care?" Lan Qi asked curiously. "I heard from Xinyu that you were assigned to the Auxiliary Departnt because you have talent as a dical Attribute Star Martial Warrior, so it’s strange."
"I do have dical Attribute Star Martial Skills, and they’re quite good, so there’s no need to learn battlefield dical care. This afternoon, I need to report to the various elective teachers for registration. College learning is very different from high school; it’s taking so ti to adjust."
"You’re Jiang Xinyu, right?" Just then, a gentle voice sounded by Wang Lan’s table. All three at the table looked up to see an exceptionally handso senior standing by, his eyes fixed on Jiang Xinyu.
Wang Lan frowned. He wasn’t so petty as to reject every male who approached, but the way this person was staring unwaveringly at Jiang Xinyu, as if seeing no one else but her, irritated him. This was, after all, their first eting.
"Let introduce myself. I’m Duanmu Yi, from Modu City’s Duanmu Family, a Senior in the Close Combat Departnt. Each year, as new students enroll, various school clubs look to recruit outstanding freshn. I founded the Star Martial Skill Club to research and develop technology products suitable for Star Martial Warriors’ combat. Having heard that Jiang Xinyu’s family manufactures Star Martial Art equipnt, I believe we may have shared interests and topics for discussion. I sincerely invite Jiang Xinyu to join the Star Martial Skill Club..."
"Not interested!" Jiang Xinyu lowered her head slightly and said coldly.
"Don’t be so quick to reject. The Star Martial Skill Club won’t take up much of your ti. Most of the ti, we hire Muggles from other schools to help with our research. If the research yields successful and applicable results, we can send it to the relevant departnts for evaluation and then decide on mass production. So, we only provide the platform and the final approval; no hands-on research is required. If you’re willing, Jiang Xinyu, you can just hold a nominal position..."
"Are you done?" Jiang Xinyu’s tone grew colder in an instant.
"Xinyu, let it be. The food in the canteen isn’t that great anyway. Let’s go out to eat."
The two of them stood up in tacit understanding and left with their trays. Wang Lan took a step, then stopped, looking back at Lan Qi. "Senior Lan? Aren’t you coming?"
"Oh, yes—of course!" Lan Qi quickly stood up, trotting over to Wang Lan.
Duanmu Yi was left standing there, slightly astonished. He had never experienced such a cold reception before. Was it because I didn’t ntion my full reputation just now? No, I introduced my na and even ntioned the Duanmu Family. In this world, is there anyone who does not know of my Duanmu Family? The Duanmu Family, one of the four great dragon-protecting families... It’s inconceivable that they wouldn’t know. As he mused, his expression gradually turned grim.
"Where are we going?" Lan Qi asked, linking arms with Jiang Xinyu.
Jiang Xinyu glanced at Wang Lan. "Ask him. He’s treating."
"To Phoenix Plaza," Wang Lan said nonchalantly as the three of them hailed a car at the entrance and headed out.
The managent of Modu City’s Star Martial Academy was quite lax, especially for soone like Wang Lan, who had permission to go out. Strict managent in schools is supposed to ensure student safety. But for Modu City’s Star Martial Academy, ensuring student safety... heh, the students of the Star Martial Academy would say, who needs you to be responsible? They were all top Star Martial Warriors from across the country; was there really a need to worry about their safety?
Arriving at Phoenix Plaza, the trio entered the massive comrcial center. Like other comrcial centers, the restaurants were located on the top two floors. Riding the escalators, the group slowly ascended.
"Xinyu, you didn’t give Duanmu Yi any face today... Are you sure that’s alright?" Lan Qi asked with so concern.
"Duanmu Yi? Who is that?" Wang Lan frowned and asked in a low voice.
"Oh? So you don’t know? I thought you were aware... This could be troubleso. At the school, Duanmu Yi has a lot of influence, including the student council, and even so teachers have close ties with the Duanmu Family. You don’t know Duanmu Yi, but you should at least know the Duanmu Family, right? One of the four great dragon-protecting families?"
"No idea! But... Senior Lan, what era are we in that we still worry about so family or so individual? It’s an era of rule of law, after all," Wang Lan said casually, though he was starting to take it more seriously. The caution wasn’t out of fear, but necessity.
"The Duanmu Family is one of the four great dragon-protecting families, the guardians of the Jade Country’s royal family. When the Benevolent Emperor announced his abdication and the end of the royal dynasty, he had already begun to transform the royal family’s power structure before stepping down. Although they surrendered their powers, their influence remained. After more than a century of wars, the original factions were completely dismantled, but the Duanmu Family survived through it all. The Duanmu Family is one of the top Star Martial Warrior families in Jade Country. Their influence spans across various fields: comrce, finance, military industry, the ard forces, and the Pioneer Legion. In Modu City, no one can ignore the existence of the Duanmu Family. And Duanmu Yi is the only son of Lord Duanmu, as well as the future young patriarch. Duanmu Yi has a talent for winning people over. Since his freshman year, he has been active in the college’s social circles, establishing a vast network of connections and relationships for himself. At school, opinions about Duanmu Yi are polarized. Those not affiliated with Duanmu’s faction despise him for being petty and vengeful, and for his penchant for womanizing. But those close to Duanmu sing his praises, saying he is generous and values loyalty. They interpret his vindictiveness as a way of protecting his own people. You really slighted him today; be careful, he might retaliate."
"Dare he?" Jiang Xinyu let out a disdainful chuckle.
"Hey, isn’t that Lan Xiao Xiao’s place? It’s an Internet-famous restaurant. Let’s eat there?" Lan Qi suddenly pointed to a sign not far away.
"Lan Xiao Xiao’s dishes focus too much on appearance and neglect flavor. Although they’ve spent a lot of effort promoting on short video platforms, they’re still consistently losing money. Currently, they haven’t made any improvents and might have to relocate in a few months," Wang Lan said calmly.
"Has Wang Lan been in Modu City before?"
"Occasionally."
Lan Qi glanced at Wang Lan’s back, her mouth unconsciously flattening. It’s not because he finds it too expensive and is reluctant to spend, is it?
"How about this one then, the Taste of Victory?"
"A Victory Restaurant opened by a Northeasterner? Do you think it will be authentic?"
"You know that too?" Lan Qi beca even more convinced that Wang Lan was bluffing. Do you even know where the owner is from? Do you think this is your ho?
"Forget this restaurant. I know the details of all 1,500 businesses in Phoenix Plaza."
Lan Qi was speechless. "..."
"Phoenix Plaza is Wang Lan’s property. Shops opened in Phoenix Plaza have to pay rent to Wang Lan," Jiang Xinyu chid in aptly.
"Wow, Wang Lan, you’re also rich."
"Actually, it’s alright. I’m not as rich as Xinyu’s family. I just need to understand the operational status of every shop. Every year, we eliminate so poorly managed shops. Although they don’t owe rent, they are, after all, using the Phoenix Plaza brand, so I have to be responsible for my brand’s reputation. See? This Fisher’s Evening Boat has been in Phoenix Plaza for five years. Its reputation and service are top-notch. Let’s eat here."
Upon entering the restaurant and settling down, just as they finished ordering, a middle-aged man strode out from the back. "Mr. Lan, your presence brings honor to my humble establishnt!"
"Mr. Dong, may your business continue to prosper!" Wang Lan replied.
"With Mr. Lan patronizing my small restaurant, it’s bound to prosper! Did Mr. Lan get into a university in Modu City? Then you must co and support my business more often! I’ll give you a 50% discount," the owner said.
"Sure."
"Well, I won’t disturb Mr. Lan’s al any longer. I’ll go to the kitchen and hurry them up," the owner said, leaving with a cheerful laugh.
The dishes arrived quickly. They were fragrant and tempting, with delicate plating that was no less impressive than those at high-profile restaurants.
"Huh?" Suddenly, Jiang Xinyu, who was browsing on her phone, let out a surprised shout. "Mrs. Wang is in the news."
"My aunt? Let see."
Taking Jiang Xinyu’s phone, Wang Lan saw it was a Penguin News alert. Mrs. Wang had presented a paper at a technology forum on a genetic encoding technique that reshaped human biology. This created a sensation across the global biological community. Mrs. Wang had made the biological molecular coding formula public, allowing scientists worldwide to study it. As a result, the news hailed her as a great scientist who was changing the world. This significant formula would beco the cornerstone of biology, pushing humanity’s biological genetic technology into a new and unknown realm. Although the formula was still awaiting validation, this didn’t stop the world from firmly believing in its potential. Thanks to this molecular formula, Jiayi Biotech Company had developed Life Potion No. 1, overcoming 90% of cancers.
Although only half a year had passed, Wang Lan knew that his aunt’s company’s assets had soared more than tenfold. One could never imagine the desperation of those on the edge of despair for life. A vial of Life Potion cost only tens of thousands of yuan, but many wealthy individuals who had been cured of terminal illnesses casually gave hundreds of thousands or even tens of millions in gratitude. If Jiayi Biotech had not been listed, its market valuation would have skyrocketed to a terrifying degree upon going public.
"Dr. Wang Qi... I saw related reports yesterday. But... Although science has no borders, is it really okay to make such an important formula public? Shouldn’t it be regarded as a core technology under Jade Country’s control?" Lan Qi asked curiously, stirring her drink.
"It’s different. Just like E=MC², which has been around for over a hundred years, yet countless people are still researching it. The sa goes for the genetic encoding formula. It’s a vast equation that requires the world to work together to apply it. Just knowing the formula isn’t enough. Applying it requires a wealth of technical reserves. And I believe that Jade Country will continue to lead the world. Moreover, in today’s world, we humans are a single community. If we can plant another biological genetics technology tree alongside energy science, then the strength of humanity could double."
"Okay, I’ve seen that the online reaction to Ms. Wang Qi’s move is all positive. Even the old professors at the National Academy of Sciences didn’t say that Ms. Wang Qi shouldn’t have made the formula public. It seems my view was too narrow," Lan Qi quickly admitted her mistake.
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