Chapter Fifteen: Do You Need Me to Apologize to You?

Qian Shanming’s decisiveness and ruthlessness exceeded Li Daoze’s expectations. He had thought to reason with him a little longer, but Qian Shanming had already made up his mind. Then, with a smile, Qian Shanming turned to Lin Qingyun.

“This is a pill recipe my father developed in his private research. So, I’ll be collaborating in my personal capacity. Over the past year, I’ve been searching for my parents and haven’t attended school or entered any university. Here’s what I’ll do: Zhao Chao is currently enrolled at Haicheng University. I’ll sign a full authorization, allowing him to represent me in collaborating with Professor Qian and Haicheng University.”

Though Qian Shanming recognized only profit and not people, he made a wise and swift choice, and Lin Qingyun was equally straightforward.

With someone like this, you talk only about interests—simple and direct.

In Lin Qingyun’s view, there was nothing wrong with this.

“In fact, with this project, if you want to enroll at Haicheng University, I can help you apply…” As soon as Qian Shanming heard Lin Qingyun say he wasn’t a student there, he was instantly interested.

“No need!” Lin Qingyun declined with a smile. “I can learn alchemy from Master Chifeng. As for the rest, I’m not interested. I’d rather stay at home as a rich heir and spend my days figuring out how to spend money.”

At that moment, Chao Ge could barely contain himself, almost bursting out laughing.

He looked provocatively and triumphantly at Li Daoze and the others who had just belittled Lin Qingyun for not making it into university. Now look—the esteemed Professor Qian himself had offered, and Lin Qingyun had turned him down. Yet, they had wanted to shame their club president for this? What a slap in the face.

“Well, in that case, let’s stay in touch,” said Qian Shanming. Though Lin Qingyun declined, Qian didn’t mind and didn’t spare a glance for Li Daoze. He ended the call immediately.

At a time like this, Li Daoze and his supporters’ shock contrasted sharply with Professor Qian’s calm, clear-eyed weighing of interests. It felt like children acting out before adults—children cared for appearances, adults for profit. Who would give up millions for the sake of face, as long as the law wasn’t broken?

Li Daoze’s legs were trembling. Losing the chance to become Qian Shanming’s disciple was nothing; the failed collaboration was the real disaster. His family had invested tens of millions just to qualify for this partnership. If it fell through, their foundational business would be affected. He couldn’t imagine facing his family when they learned he was responsible.

Those who had spoken up for Li Daoze and joined him in attacking Lin Qingyun now lowered their heads, shrinking back as Lin Qingyun’s gaze swept over them, afraid he would remember and retaliate.

For the first time, these people understood the terrifying power of capital. It was one thing to sit behind a screen and comment on these great families and forces, but if you drew their true attention, you might not even know how you died.

They had just insisted that they were all adults now, no longer high school students—now they realized how devastating it could be to play by adult rules.

Remembering Lin Qingyun’s recent appearance at the auction, they’d laughed at him then for confronting his uncle, reckless and spoiled. Only now did they understand that the ability to make billion-yuan decisions on a whim was true power.

If someone like that really chose to act against them, or used family resources to do so, the thought alone was terrifying.

“This is already mild. If you’re still not satisfied, we can continue. Come, let me ask you again—do you want me to apologize to you?” But their worries were unnecessary; Lin Qingyun didn’t spare them a glance. He looked only at the trembling Li Daoze.

Li Daoze clenched his fists, head bowed, silent. His body shook, fury burning in his chest, but he dared not speak further.

He was truly afraid now—afraid this wasn’t the worst outcome, afraid Lin Qingyun might do even more, even now.

After all, this was the same person who had sent Zhang Baole flying at the auction. There had been media analysis: Zhang Baole might be a wastrel, but he had been at the Heart of the Qin Realm for years, propped up by pills, and yet Lin Qingyun had dealt with him so easily. That was no small feat.

Li Daoze cast a furtive glance at Zheng Haoyue, only to find she wasn’t looking his way at all, her gaze studying Lin Qingyun instead.

What Li Daoze thought no longer mattered to Lin Qingyun. Seeing that Li Daoze dared not utter another word and the crowd was silent, he lost all interest in them. He had no plans to waste time at university, and thus would have little further contact with them.

“Let’s go,” Lin Qingyun said, staring at Li Daoze for half a minute. When he saw Li wouldn’t look at him or speak again, he called Chao Ge to board the returning flyer.

“Wait for me…” Chu Qing, just recovering from her shock, bit her lip and hurried after them.

Chu Qing had been among the most proactive in contacting Lin Qingyun, and she’d just spoken up for him—though it hadn’t helped, at least she hadn’t joined the others in attacking him.

Now, as she caught up to them, Lin Qingyun didn’t refuse. He nodded and let her board the flyer as well, and they left together.

As Lin Qingyun departed, the gathering fell apart. The organizer, Li Daoze, had lost all interest in continuing.

In a spacious office atop the Floating Island Grand Hotel, Li Daoze, who had come up alone with Zheng Haoyue, suddenly collapsed to his knees before her.

“President, save my family—only you can help us now. Lin Qingyun is relying on his power to bully us—he’s trying to cut off our family’s future…”

He clutched his communicator, which was ringing with his father’s calls. He dared not answer, hoping only for Zheng Haoyue’s intervention.

Zheng Haoyue sat lazily in the large executive chair, one hand propping up her face, her gaze deep and unreadable as she watched Li Daoze’s performance.

She let him talk until, finally, he fell silent, weeping softly.

“Finished performing? Why didn’t you tell me before you made trouble? Why didn’t you consult me before trying to use my influence to suppress Lin Qingyun?”

“President, I… I didn’t mean to make trouble. Maybe I wanted to show off a little, but I never intended for it to go this far. Lin Qingyun attacked me as soon as he arrived—I was forced…”

“‘Forced?’ Bang…”

A cold glint flashed in Zheng Haoyue’s eyes. She lazily lifted her leg. Though Li Daoze was still a meter or two away, an invisible force shot out, tinged with heat and fire, sending him flying. He crashed into a chair more than ten meters away, coughing up blood.

“President… I didn’t…” Li Daoze was stunned and terrified as he struggled up, looking at her. Though they were the same age, he knew her ruthlessness from their adventures over the past year.

For a moment, he thought she might kill him. Seeing the cold light in her eyes, he dared not protest further.

“Only fools think everyone else is an idiot. Why didn’t I help you? Because your actions and attitude were wrong. You brought this on yourself. If you won’t speak honestly, get out—now.” Zheng Haoyue had no patience for people who fancied themselves clever.

“I…” Li Daoze was drowning in regret. If there hadn’t been a reason, he wouldn’t have been so confrontational. He’d intended to have someone else handle things during the meal, while he only nudged things along.

He hadn’t expected things to spiral out of control, nor that he’d end up in such a disastrous situation.

Now, with the truth exposed, he had no choice but to confess.

“In fact… it was Zhang Baole from the Lin family who contacted me. Although he’d been beaten by Lin Qingyun, he’s Lin Kunshan’s brother-in-law, Zhang Xueyi’s younger brother. He has considerable resources. He wanted to work with me, just asking that I embarrass Lin Qingyun a little at the reunion. I thought it was nothing… so I agreed.”

Before things blew up, he hadn’t thought it a big deal. The potential benefits of cooperating with Zhang Baole far outweighed the risks.

He’d used to be close to Lin Qingyun, but since following Zheng Haoyue and taking Lin’s former place, and after helping his family connect with the master alchemist Qian Shanming, his future looked bright.

He’d made enemies and heard gossip—he’d overturned everything Lin Qingyun once had, and said plenty of things against him.

Zhao Chao had often clashed with him over this. Li Daoze had hoped to use this chance to reassert himself, but instead, he’d fallen disastrously.

“Hmph!”

Zheng Haoyue had already guessed as much and snorted dismissively. “So clever, aren’t you? Even after Zhang Baole’s beating, it didn’t escalate. Lin Qingyun’s high-priced purchase of the Foundation Establishment Pill formula quietly faded away. You dared get involved in a multi-billion corporate struggle over inheritance? You have no idea what you’re playing with.”

There’s a saying: the dust of history, when it falls on ordinary people, is a mountain that can crush them. For a corporation worth hundreds of billions, fighting over succession is no different from the struggles for the throne in ancient kingdoms. Ordinary people get involved and never know how they end.

“I… I didn’t mean to get involved—just…” Li Daoze wanted to say he’d only meant to help Zhang Baole vent his anger and show off a little. Zhang hadn’t forced him. Who could have predicted things would turn out like this?

“Involved? The moment you cooperated with Zhang Baole, you were involved. Lin Qingyun may not have noticed, or perhaps he has and is biding his time. But don’t think this matter is over. Think carefully about your next steps.” Zheng Haoyue thought him still too naive.

“Ah…” In terror, Li Daoze looked at her. “President, you… you must save me. I truly want to follow you wholeheartedly, and my family will do as you say. And I know—Zhang Baole hinted this was actually at the instigation of his sister and brother-in-law…”

“So the internal strife at Lin Pharmaceuticals has begun… Now, that is interesting…” Zheng Haoyue, previously disinterested in Li Daoze, now stroked her chin and spoke to herself.