Gu Xiuyuan was quite dissatisfied.
Four hundred? That was all?
A single dish he casually ordered would cost more than four hundred yuan.
But seeing He Xiang carefully wrap the thin stack of bills in a handkerchief and tuck it into his pocket, and recalling Ji Nian's earlier comments, he decided not to say anything more.
In the end, Gu Xiuyuan went the extra mile and dropped He Xiang off at the hospital where his grandmother was staying.
As He Xiang got out of the car, he turned his head to look at Gu Xiuyuan, his dark, pearl-like eyes fixed intently on him.
"Can you not tell her about me coming to the hospital?"
He didn’t want to see pity in Ji Nian’s eyes when she looked at him.
Gu Xiuyuan thought to himself that he had already mentioned it.
"Sure," he replied, averting his gaze and feeling a rare pang of guilt.
He Xiang nodded and thanked him before struggling to get out of the car.
Since He Xiang was Gu Xiuyuan’s classmate, the driver even helped carry him out, reminding him to take it slow.
The kindness He Xiang received today far exceeded what he had experienced in the entire time since he had come to this city to study.
"Thank you, uncle," he said.
Watching the sleek, massive vehicle merge into the traffic and disappear into the neon-lit horizon, He Xiang turned away. He bought a steamed bun from a nearby stall as his dinner and stepped forward, heading toward his own fate.
...
Ji Nian was picked up by Wei Yang and brought home.
Wei Yang had just connected a video call with Ji Tingzhou and was about to call Ji Nian over.
But the little one had already dashed off.
She entered a room she rarely visited, one filled with gifts that had accumulated over the years.
The left side of the room had cabinets displaying jewelry and gemstones, while the right side was filled with dresses and clothes.
There were also various toys, unopened electronic gadgets, and all sorts of miscellaneous items, making the place look like a mini mall.
After scanning the room, she shrugged.
"No... these are all gifts. Selling them wouldn’t be right."
A new plan began to form in her mind. Just as she stepped out, she ran into Wei Yang, who was holding a phone and following her.
"Ji Nian, say hello to the family head!"
Knowing the video call was on, Ji Nian thought it was perfect timing.
"Dad," she said, taking the phone and looking at the screen.
Ji Tingzhou was sitting on a wooden chair with a bamboo grove behind him. His phone was propped up on a stand, so he didn’t even need to hold it.
"What are you doing, running off as soon as you get back?"
This was quite unusual.
When Ji Nian was younger, she would often come here to see what new and interesting gifts had arrived. But as the items piled up, she lost interest, and now she rarely visited the room.
"Dad, I need your help with something," she said.
"Did you make the Gu Family kid cry, or are you constipated?"
He added, "If it’s constipation, I’ll have a doctor check on you."
Ji Nian: "...Neither."
She explained He Xiang’s situation and asked Ji Tingzhou if he could discuss a program with the school principal to help students in need.
She would cover the expenses.
This was such a small matter that Ji Tingzhou didn’t even need to get involved personally. He simply handed it over to Zuo Yi to handle.
"Is your allowance enough?" he asked.
Ji Nian shook her head. "I won’t use my allowance."
"Dad, could you cover the costs for now? I’ll pay you back once I’ve earned the money."
Hearing Ji Nian say she wanted to earn money herself, Ji Tingzhou raised an eyebrow.
"You’re going to earn it yourself?"
He could already sense something was up.
Sensing the shift in the atmosphere, Wei Yang quietly slipped out of the room.
Ji Nian went to Ji Tingzhou’s study, unlocked the door, and sat down in his chair.
Without hesitation, she laid out her plan.
She wanted to sell antidotes.
The type she planned to sell was the same one that had cured Chen Mo, but this targeted antidote wouldn’t be the main focus. It would just be a side product. The main item she wanted to sell was a universal antidote she had developed.
"I plan to collaborate with Uncle Chen Mo on this project, Dad."
The Ji Family also had related businesses, which was why Bruce had received Ji Tingzhou’s support.
But Ji Nian still chose Chen Mo.
Ji Tingzhou thought for a moment and quickly understood her intentions.
This kid really wanted to make money, but at the same time, she was also trying to help her uncle use the antidote to lure out the real culprit behind the poisoning.
Knowing that Chen Mo not only survived but was also getting better, the perpetrator must be racking their brains trying to figure out how he discovered the poisoning and recovered.
By having Chen Mo sell the antidote for that slow-acting poison, Ji Nian was essentially telling the culprit: "Hey, I know what you did, you little scumbag."
No wealthy person was fearless when it came to death. The existence of a long-term, hidden toxin would easily cause panic. Even those who weren’t poisoned would rush to buy the antidote as a precaution.
With someone out there wielding such an invisible poison, everyone would want to uncover their identity.
And then... things would get interesting.
Realizing the intricacies of her plan, Ji Tingzhou looked at Ji Nian with a mix of emotions.
"I’ll return tomorrow. Zuo Yi will take you to familiarize yourself with the company’s operations."
Ji Nian: ???
[Princess, are you crazy? I’m only seven, and you’re already making me take over the company????]
Ji Tingzhou tapped the side of a carved wooden cup and continued, "How do you plan to price the universal antidote?"
Ji Nian gave a shy smile.
"One thousand yuan per bottle."
Ji Tingzhou: ?
Charity work?
His expression seemed to say just that.
It was too cheap...
Even the most basic antidotes on the market cost more than that. If Ji Nian sold hers at this price, it might cause some issues.
Ji Nian propped up the phone, shifted into a more comfortable position, and said, "Dad, listen to me."
"I plan to have several tiers."
"The universal antidote can be diluted."
"At one thousand yuan, its effects are limited."
The stronger the functionality, the better the effects, and of course, the higher the price.
"Besides that, I also plan to create collector’s editions, limited editions, and color variations—things you can’t find on the market. These will have purer effects and look more appealing."
"Of course, if I can do collaborations, that would be even better. Buy an antidote and get a limited-edition character merchandise. But... antidotes aren’t exactly like milk tea, so that might not work."
This idea came from watching Shen Qingtang buy collectibles every day.
Ji Tingzhou: "..."
This kid really has the makings of a shrewd businessperson.
"Not a bad idea... If you’re working with Chen Mo, draft a detailed proposal for me to review first."
Hearing this, Ji Nian’s metaphorical ears perked up.
A proposal?
Wasn’t this her personal project? Why did it sound like it was being treated as a Ji Family initiative now?
Then, the seasoned businessman—her father—smiled faintly.
"Zuo Yi’s salary comes from me."
He had perfectly guessed Ji Nian’s plan to borrow Zuo Yi for her project.
Ji Nian: "..." She had underestimated him.
While the plan sounded simple, the execution couldn’t rely solely on Chen Mo. Ji Nian still had school, and if problems arose, she wouldn’t be able to respond immediately.
So she needed manpower.
Fine, if it was under the Ji Family’s name, so be it. It was their family business, after all.
She had initially thought Ji Tingzhou wouldn’t want to collaborate with the Chen Family, but now it seemed...
Well, money still took precedence over Chen Mo.
"Alright, Dad... We can split it 50-50," she said, trying to appeal to his conscience by calling him "Dad."
Unfortunately, she had underestimated Ji Tingzhou.
The "prince" raised an eyebrow. "Why split it with me? It’s your project."
"It’s all yours."
After all, he was counting on Ji Nian to take over so he could retire by thirty.
Completely unaware of her father’s ulterior motives, Ji Nian felt a bit touched, thinking she was the priority when it came to money.
System: Who remembers that this whole conversation started because of He Xiang?
The more it thought about it, the more something felt off.
Ji Nian usually helped people to a certain extent and then stopped. Why was she so enthusiastic this time?
Then it felt a chill run down its spine.
Could it be...
That this was all a setup from the beginning to pave the way for what was to come?
It still remembered Ji Nian’s interest in the poison and her desire to meet the person behind it.
