True and False Daughters 14
In Jin Li’s mind, the male lead, Shang Xi, was the fattest fish in her fish pond—even before he had fully grown up.
If he ever transformed into a dragon, just reaping the rewards from Shang Xi alone would be enough for her to lie back and win for the rest of her life, fully justified.
She had to admit, the male lead deserved his title. Even when he hadn’t reached his full potential, using multiple skill cards could, at most, manipulate or distort Shang Xi’s preferences and emotions for a short period.
But as soon as he left for a while, the effect of the skill cards would wear off.
Since the atmosphere at the dining table was still good, Jin Li didn’t need to stay on such high alert to keep a low profile. “See? The male lead and female lead both started believing in love again, thanks to the female lead’s adoptive father’s matchmaking!”
The center-of-attention system purposefully brought up an uncomfortable subject. “Even the male lead’s good friend Ji Chun has a negative favorability score towards you.”
Jin Li’s tone was dripping with mockery. “When my skill cards were active, Ji Chun was leading the charge to suppress the female lead and He Chunxi.”
The system grew serious as well. “That was then, this is now. Did you really think a few skill cards would be enough to crush the female lead and win over the male lead? If you can’t make the male lead utterly devoted to you, you won’t survive past thirty! You’re already twenty-five, you know.”
Once again, the system managed to convince Jin Li.
Recently, with her uncanny talent for seizing opportunities, and after personally feeling her increase in charm, she was already showing signs of becoming an irresistibly attractive star. Since her survival pressure was no longer as dire, she was much less proactive about completing missions than when she first transmigrated. She was also growing impatient with the fish in her pond—except for the few she preferred.
Jin Li glanced cautiously at Professor He. “Shang Xi has Qin Jingzhou’s protection, and I can’t do anything to Qin Jingzhou. I need to keep pretending to take the obvious route while secretly looking for opportunities in Du Jiaying and He Chunxi.”
Qin Jingzhou couldn’t hear people’s thoughts, so naturally he also had no idea about this conversation between the system and Jin Li. But he did witness Jin Li seamlessly switch from defeat to determination, and how, after the center-of-attention system’s flickering presence faded, another bit of Jin Li’s lifespan mysteriously disappeared.
Thinking about how, whether it was the system automatically unbinding or after Jin Li’s spirit scattered and the system took her place, his own system could, by the rules, devour the center-of-attention system, he couldn’t help but remark, “So you systems never lose out.”
The system was rather pleased. “That’s right. After all, it’s rare to get such a legitimate opportunity for one system to devour another, and it’s even fatter prey like the center-of-attention system.”
Qin Jingzhou stayed for another fifteen minutes. Since he hadn’t seen the center-of-attention system use its abilities, he grew a little bored and announced he had other business, then led the children away.
There was no way Du Jizheng could insist on keeping him, so he politely saw Qin Jingzhou to the door.
Qin Jingzhou noticed the blissful Du Jiahui and the restrainedly smiling Jin Li holding hands a few steps behind and “kindly” reminded Du Jizheng, “Good luck never comes out of nowhere.”
Jin Li wasn’t interested in this uncle of hers, even though the man himself was still charismatic—no, elegant. In any case, the number of precious skill cards she could buy was limited; she used one on Du Jiahui out of necessity, but using one on Uncle Du Jizheng… would be a waste.
So, Du Jizheng was barely affected by Jin Li’s charm, and his mind remained relatively clear throughout.
After watching Qin Jingzhou and his party drive away, he looked at Du Jiaying, who had walked up to him. “Do you feel any better?”
Du Jiaying pointed at Du Jiahui and Jin Li, who were still holding hands. “Dad, I want some time to myself.”
Du Jizheng could sense Professor He was not too fond of Du Jiaying. After considering that he hadn’t spoken up for this daughter when she confessed—and that his silence equaled tacit approval of Du Jiahui and Jin Li dating—he reminded himself that, as a businessman, you should always “leave room for retreat.” “Alright. Even if you’re not my biological daughter, I will always have your back.”
So insincere!
Du Jiaying tipped back her head, forcing herself not to cry. She made a faint sound in reply, refused to say goodbye, retrieved her handbag, and left without looking back.
Her retreating figure seemed both dejected and embarrassed. Jin Li certainly didn’t pity her; she just discussed with the system, “Since I’m Du Jiaying’s rival in love, there’s no way she’ll just do as I say, right?”
The system responded, “She’ll probably resent her biological father, but her favorability toward you is also negative.”
“I know. I’m going to play on her jealousy. Imagine, the biological daughter isn’t even good enough, in her father’s eyes, to carry the shoes for this imposter. I doubt she can swallow that.”
The center-of-attention system immediately started recommending skill cards related to this line of attack.
Meanwhile, Qin Jingzhou sat in his private car, listening to Gao Wen in the front seat recount how he had just negotiated with Du Jiaying. At the boss’s request, Gao Wen was perfectly candid in front of both He Chunxi and Shang Xi.
He Chunxi would never comment on herself in front of her father, unless he specifically asked.
Shang Xi, on the other hand, wasn’t as restrained. “So she’s finally come to her senses?”
Qin Jingzhou smiled. “It’s never that simple.”
Du Jiaying, his biological daughter, had an IQ of over 11, about the same as Ji Chun at 12… which meant both she and Ji Chun were easily influenced by Jin Li’s system skills.
He continued, “Xiao Xi’s last job starts filming this December, right? It’s a well-reviewed travel reality show if I recall. I expect that’s when the real showdown will happen.”
Shang Xi squeezed Xiao Xi’s hand. “Uncle He, I’ll be sure to prepare beforehand.”
The boss clearly had his own plans. Gao Wen pushed up his glasses.
Over the next while, Qin Jingzhou’s life followed a strict three-point routine: lab, hospital, home.
The standard intelligence potion could only produce a thousand bottles a year at most. This stuff would circulate only in elite circles—it truly was too little for too many people, so they didn’t even need proper clinical trials.
However, the awakening potion and the mass-market intelligence potion that he had submitted the second time were clearly aimed at ordinary people, so they needed to follow all regulations and procedures.
A month and a half later, the Secret Phase 1 Clinical Trial for the awakening potion was rapidly completed.
With the finalized report in hand, the research director, Academician Qin, and Senior Brother Qin showed up together to see him again.
Senior Brother Qin shook his head, thoroughly impressed. “In your paper, you wrote ‘the awakening potion has a certain restorative effect on brain cells’… But I think your definition of ‘certain’ isn’t the same as ours.”
On Qin Jingzhou’s advice, several well-known professors in the clinical field selected patients who had suffered severe brain trauma due to external factors—for example, aphasia, amnesia, hemiplegia—to participate in the clinical trial.
Patients were divided into mild, moderate, and severe cases. For a month, thirty patients took the awakening potion while receiving other supportive treatments. Afterwards, except for two patients who had suffered such catastrophic injuries that part of their facial features and brain tissue were gone and still needed additional therapy, all the other patients could be discharged. Most of the mild and moderate patients even met the criteria for “clinical cure” and could recuperate at home. If nothing unexpected happened, they would soon be able to live like normal people.
Senior Brother Qin described the events animatedly. “You have no idea how many patients and their families were so grateful, they almost knelt to the medical staff…”
Qin Jingzhou mused, “Try specifically selecting patients whose injuries happened a long time ago and who are a bit older. See what happens if you combine it with my mass-market intelligence potion.”
When he first submitted the report, he categorized the mass-market intelligence potion as a health supplement.
This report went straight to the elders’ desks. After reading his conclusions and recommendations, they didn’t know whether to laugh or cry: those who had taken the intelligence potion knew full well how powerful Qin Jingzhou was. They agreed with his opinion that the intelligence potion should eventually benefit the public, but this version was just too inclusive—it didn’t even count as real medication.
Meeting the gazes of the elders and the Qin family father and son, Qin Jingzhou was perfectly calm. “These are the results of my two years being bedridden and unable to move. The awakening potion is life-saving, so by old rules, I want a one-yuan patent royalty per bottle. Since I’ve already considered just about everyone, I suppose it’s time for me to look out for myself, too—make more money, improve our lives, spoil my daughter a little, and also fund the grand plans I want to achieve.” He added deliberately with a grin, “Wouldn’t it be better for everyone to make money together?”
The elders and Academician Qin exchanged smiles.
Academician Qin shook his head and pointed at his proud student. “You…”
This was practically an open invitation to partner with central enterprises, produce the mass-market intelligence potion in bulk, and split the profits.
Thanks to the miraculous intelligence potion, Qin Jingzhou had won complete trust from the officials. The awakening potion was now taking over in full stride, so the mass-market intelligence potion was obviously going to go his way as well.
By November, the awakening potion had entered Phase 2 Clinical Trials, and the mass-market intelligence potion had—despite being made from gold ginseng extract leftovers and a bunch of luxurious ingredients (the recipe practically screamed “IQ tax”)—been fast-tracked for special approval and got all necessary documents and permits within a week. The authorized Huaguo Pharma Group also began production step by step as supervised.
Before Qin Jingzhou went to visit the pharma group's factory in the outskirts of the Capital, Gao Wen told him that in December, he would be awarded the Hua Country Science & Technology Prize…
As the name suggests, this is a major honor. Academician Qin had won the Hua Country Science & Technology Prize as well, and its influence was top-tier—it could reach the highest authorities and gave absolute credibility and prestige.
Receiving it, while the personal clout was still limited, instantly put his status on par with Academician Qin for all practical purposes.
Even Qin Jingzhou had to marvel, “That’s pretty impressive.”
He Chunxi had been buried in her studies lately, and when she suddenly heard the good news, she hugged her father and his medicine in front of a crowd—right in front of all her senior brothers, sisters, and Gao Wen—and spun around in place, beaming with joy.
Qin Jingzhou finally coaxed his daughter to calm down. “Are you dizzy?”
He Chunxi leaned on her father’s shoulder. “A little.” Then she couldn’t stop giggling.
Qin Jingzhou finished his cigarette, drank a pot of tea, and his daughter’s smile still wouldn’t go away. He asked, “If your ears weren’t in the way, would your grin reach the back of your head?” He put his arm around her shoulders. “Been working non-stop for half a year. I want to rest over the New Year. Aren’t you filming next month? Your dad will come along and keep you company, okay?”
He Chunxi was overjoyed. “Yes, yes!”
The system piped up. “Brother Zhou, you really have it all calculated!”
Qin Jingzhou admitted without hesitation, “I’m planning to hand out some intelligence potions and mass-market intelligence potions. The boys’ fathers ought to start seeing things clearly.”
System: …let’s light a candle for Jin Li in advance.