Trillionaire's Slice of Life

Si Ji Ge Private Club was located near The Bund, by the Huangpu River. Standing at the window of the private room and looking down, one could gaze upon a breathtakingly brilliant nightscape.

Under the hazy night sky, the rippling waters of the river and the bustling crowd on the banks of The Bund also became a stunning scene before one's eyes.

The spacious and elegant private room was adorned with an exquisite ornamental incense in the corner; its slender wisp of smoke rose straight up, making it seem as though one were in a fairyland.

In one corner of the room, in front of a screen embroidered with peonies, a beautiful woman with her hair coiled up high behind her head played the zither, her slender fingers gently vibrating the strings while the lovely notes reverberated continuously around the room.

At the dining table, filled with various delicacies, a young woman in a cheongsam bowed her head in readiness, waiting to serve at a moment's notice.

At this time, an elderly man wearing a Sun Yat-sen suit named Lu pointed to the large assortment of dishes in front of him and spoke in a displeased tone,

"Xiao Wu, I know you rich folks always cry poor the more money you have. Not to mention anything else, but this meal alone must cost at least several hundred thousand, right? That money would be enough to add two new pieces of equipment to my lab."

This year, Lu Benqiang was sixty-eight years old, a mentor at the Hua National Academy of Sciences, and currently the dean of the Futan University Life Sciences Institute—a true top-tier authority.

Sun Shangwu was forty-four this year. More than twenty years ago, he had been a student of Dean Lu.

Naturally, "once a teacher, always a teacher." Coupled with Dean Lu's past favor towards Sun Shangwu, even now, Sun Shangwu held the utmost respect for the elder before him.

More attentive than the nearby waitstaff, Sun Shangwu alternately served the elder dishes and filled his soup bowl, and even when chided by the elder, he simply nodded and accepted the lesson, showing not the slightest disrespect.

Chu Mo, witnessing all this, set down his utensils, and Tao Yun beside him naturally picked up a napkin to wipe the corners of his mouth as if reading his mind.

Looking at the sweet smile of the girl by his side, Chu Mo, with a sense of contentment in his heart, said softly,

"How is it? Are you getting used to it?"

Upon hearing this, the girl who leaned in a little closer toward him, as if confiding a small secret, gently approached his ear and said in a voice as delicate as orchid's breath,

"I feel a bit restrained, but I'll try my best to get accustomed to it."

Chu Mo smiled and nodded. After she sat up straight again, he too leaned in close to her ear. Looking at the girl's delicate and fair skin, a slight ripple of emotion in his heart, he whispered,

"Actually, I don't like it very much either, having to eat slowly and meticulously. Next time, I'll take you to dine alone; just the two of us, and you can eat however you want."

The girl, perhaps thinking of something, blushed, her moist eyes brimming with a myriad of amorous feelings.

At this moment, Sun Shangwu, sitting across the dining table, also set down his bowl and chopsticks. This billionaire with a rough and unrestrained voice said,

"Teacher Lu, could you give us an idea how much more research funding you will need?"

The old man named Lu Benqiang hesitated slightly. Scientific research was filled with uncertainties.

Even as a leading figure in his field, he still couldn't provide a precise figure. However, after hesitating for a while, the elder finally mustered up the courage to speak softly,

"The project I'm overseeing is a study on biodiversity and evolutionary biology, exploring life phenomena and fundamental principles from both macro and micro-biological perspectives. Our focus includes genetic diversity and biosecurity…

Those involved in this study include myself, two postdoctoral fellows, one Ph.D. in biology, six masters students, and one graduate student I mentor. We've been working on this study for four years, and it falls under the type of research that shows slow progress and requires ongoing investment.

The support we've been receiving from higher-ups has indeed been considerable. Yet, over the past year, we've been stuck at a bottleneck with no significant breakthroughs.

Therefore, even I am hesitant to unabashedly ask for more funds. However, a new piece of equipment has recently been developed in America. After studying it, we believe acquiring this device would be critical to our research."

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However, considering America's nature, such equipment would definitely come with an astronomical price tag... Conservatively estimated, the equipment importation would require at least a hundred million, and with subsequent research expenses... there would be at least a gap of two to three hundred million."

The old man's dispassionate words fell, and Sun Shangwu, with a serious expression, suddenly clapped his hands. In an instant, the sound of the piano in the room ceased, and then, everyone unrelated, including the cheongsam-clad woman and several waitstaff, left the private room.

At this moment, their gazes invariably converged on Chu Mo.

Three hundred million was merely the price of a Villa No. 8.

To Chu Mo, who didn't even blink at the thirty billion worth of Bafang International Hotel, this sum of money was naturally no obstacle.

However, having money is one thing, but it certainly doesn't mean one should be taken for a fool once parted with it, so haggling, when necessary, was only proper.

Gently adjusting the golden glasses on the bridge of his nose, Chu Mo spoke indifferently:

"Money is not an issue, but how can I ensure that my investment will yield corresponding returns?

Three hundred million is not a trifling sum, not too much to talk about, but not too little either."

Seeing Chu Mo's indifferent demeanor, the old man, who exuded a scholarly aura, slightly furrowed his brows. Just as he was about to retort something, Sun Shangwu interjected promptly:

"Chu, brother, the fact that Mr. Lu is sitting here is the highest assurance. Three to five hundred million, neither you nor I would take to heart.

I'm also only reaching out to you because of some tightness in my finances recently, otherwise, I wouldn't have approached you. How about this, I guarantee you, if you suffer a loss in the end, or do not achieve corresponding benefits, I'll make up for whatever sum you invested."

After speaking, Sun Shangwu once again turned toward the old man, saying with deep earnestness:

"Mr. Lu, you can't blame Chu for his caution; after all, nobody's money comes from the wind. An investment of several hundred million is not a small sum for me either.

Besides, although the project was initially funded by the higher-ups, if the results do turn out well, there may still be unforeseen issues. I know you are a man of integrity, but not everyone might be as straightforward.

Chu is someone I personally brought into this. I cannot stand by and watch him suffer a loss. As they say, 'A gentleman won't stand beneath a collapsing wall,' I think it's best we outline all the terms beforehand.

That way, you, Mr. Lu, can spend the money with peace of mind, and Chu can invest with confidence."

The old man, who was initially somewhat displeased, visibly relaxed at these words. When he looked back at the young man facing him, the deeply serious old man nodded and said:

"Mr. Chu, it is our first time dealing with each other, and you may not know much about me. I am someone who is dedicated to research, and I don't beat around the bush.

The department indeed spent quite a lot of money on this project in the early stage, but several years have passed without any results, and the higher-ups are essentially in a state of semi-abandonment. Now, getting additional funds is basically impossible. However, this project is the fruit of our group's four to five years of effort, and no one wants to give up on it so easily.

If you, Mr. Chu, are willing to invest, once there are results, I will negotiate with the higher-ups, and you will not be shortchanged.

If there is anyone who wants to swoop in and take the credit, even if it means sacrificing my old face, I will not let them succeed. That's as much as I can say. As for what to do specifically, it depends on your consideration, Mr. Chu."

A National Academy of Sciences scholar receiving Hua Country's stipend personally assures it, plus Sun Shangwu as a secondary guarantor, Chu Mo basically need not worry about others taking the credit.

Even if, by any chance, the project yields no results or encounters setbacks halfway, the investment of three hundred million wouldn't be a concern for Chu Mo, even if it went down the drain.

Moreover, if he could befriend a respected scholar and gain his favor, the investment of three hundred million would not be wasted.

Turning his gaze to Tao Yun, who was beside him with sparkling anticipation in her eyes, and after noting the longing in the eyes of the young woman, Chu Mo nodded slightly, lifted the red wine before him, and said sincerely:

"To science, let us raise our glasses together."

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