Chapter 48: A Bastard Child?
"Oh? Ms. Su is implying?"
Li Mo Shang calmly spoke, his eyes narrowing at Su Zhen Zhen. Although he had suspicions regarding the two as their personalities were similar, the contrasting appearance and natural physical traits had dispelled any thoughts of them being a direct family. Although both possessed an absolute beauty, the contrasts in skin tone, and Su Zhen Zhen's phoenix eyes and foxy charm combined with her tempting temperament was a stark contrast to Su Yuan'er.
"Oh! I'm not trying to dissuade Mr. Li from contacting my little sister, but…she indeed has some troublesome aspects that concerns me, her elder sibling."
Leaning closer, Su Zhen Zhen's lips lightly brushed Li Mo Shang's ear before abruptly withdrawing as she blushed a healthy shade of red. With a light cough, she adopted a bashful expression as she softly spoke, her delicate voice complementing with her beauty to tug at the male students' heartstrings from a distance.
"As her elder sister, I shouldn't be saying this…but Yuan'er was born as an illegitimate child, so her temperament and personality changes in and out of public. She's been seen with several other men in the night one time...I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said such a thing!"
Watching Li Mo Shang's expression darken, Su Zhen Zhen adopted a guilty expression akin to someone having committed a mistake, her soft red lips pursed in concern. However, when she heard no response from Li Mo Shang for several minutes, she looked up to see that he was conversing with Wan Xue alongside of Li Zhen Yue.
When she approached to eavesdrop, she noticed that they were asking about the founding of Nan Qing.
"Professor Wan, during the lecture, you stated that the Nalan Clan was only able to establish Nan Qing as an empire only due to the influence of the Su Family. However, how was it that the Su Family was willing to become subservient to the Nalan Clan, wasn't the Su Family Head also someone aiming for the political throne?"
Hearing Li Zhen Yue's question, Wan Xue directed an approving look towards the girl. Many people were unaware of Nan Qing's founding history, only assuming that the Nalan Imperial Family had overcome physical and political challenges to achieve a steadfast victory.
"The Su Family was indeed much stronger than the Nalan Clan in politics and military ability. In fact, the Nalan Clan was a subsidiary branch of the Su Family where they cast away their illegitimate children. It was just that the Su Family possessed far too much influence in Blue Flame World at that time, causing the Su Patriarch to make the decision of pronouncing the Nalan Clan as an imperial family."
As she spoke, Wan Xue withdrew a stack of papers before displaying them to Li Mo Shang and Li Zhen Yue. The Su Family had initially diminished their image to present themselves as a crippled family to hide from their political enemies.
However, merely seventy years later, one of the descendants of the Su Family had engaged themselves in an incest scandal, causing civil strife to erupt and completely destroy the Su Family's legacy. Since then, the family had lost all hope of recovering political authority.
Glancing at the pages, Li Mo Shang couldn't help but start in surprise, for a description of the flaws and controversies surrounding the Nalan Imperial Family was on the top page. Glancing at Wan Xue, he continued to leaf through the stack while asking a question.
"Professor Wan, this knowledge should be a taboo in Nan Qing, no? How is Blue Rose University able to escape the Imperial Family's wrath?"
"Why, the institution merely needed to become a globally reputed entity, for then the imperial family would be completely powerless."
Wan Xue giggled, admiration present in her face as she earnestly described the Blue Rose University's founder. Previously a freelance investigator without any inhibition on his ambition, the founder had amassed an extensive and comprehensive collection of contraband information of an enormous number of Imperial Families in Blue Flame World.
After establishing the Blue Rose University as a globally recognized institution of research and knowledge, he had made no attempt to hide his collection, actively disseminating such information via lectures as a taunt against these Royal Families.
Completely uninterested by the banter between professor and student, Su Zhen Zhen stalked away. As she expected, university was indeed dull after an exciting auction!
-
Su Yuan'er finished inputting data into the onboard terminal, stretching her tired waist and sighing from exhaustion. The research group she was allowed to intern in was commencing active research in improving energy sources via mass-energy conversion. As such, each day would introduce a long session of running countless experiments, and for Su Yuan'er, scurrying all over the lab to record and transfer data from terminals, reading on newly published information to present to the researchers, and providing them refreshments if needed.
Forget being an intern, she felt like a maid! Rubbing her bleary eyes, she resigned herself to another round of observing an experiment.
Other than being exhausted each day, Su Yuan'er enjoyed studying within the laboratory alongside of the researchers. The researchers were very kind in explaining unknown concepts to her, even allowing her to read their drafts and primary manuscripts for their papers. Of course, someone like Senior Tie was an exception.
Rushing towards the first testing hall with a clipboard in hand, Su Yuan'er weaved through the complex maze-like hallways with ease, her movements swift and familiar. Soon, she had stepped within a large underground facility.
Plain white walls with countless holographic displays recording measurements in air pressure, humidity, temperature, electromagnetic impulses, and other statistics greeted her eyes. As she quickly descended the railing, the researchers scurrying around paused and greeted her with excited smiles.
"Little junior, hurry! The experiment's starting soon, and Boss is confident that it'll succeed!"
As she neared the researchers, she handed over the clipboard before leaning against the wall, panting for breath. In the center of the laboratory was a large cylindrical chamber of bluesteel, with numerous tubes extending into the walls.
As tranquility was gradually restored in the laboratory, a researcher stood before the rest, speaking into a megaphone as he attempted to restrain his excitement.
"Attention, everyone! The forty-third experiment for validating this blasted research thesis will begin soon. If this actually works, then we'll secure a massive victory, but if it doesn't then Little Fatty, beware that this Father doesn't slam a pike on your head for making us lose four trillion RMB!"
The nearby researchers burst into laughter, some even patting a stubby fat male on his back, others offering gloating looks. The lights dimmed as electricity was redirected towards the cylindrical chamber, and an automated voice rang out.
"Socketing one kilogram of iron essence, seventy percent purity and twenty percent deficit in lithium, carbon, and manganese deposits. Initializing acceleration process."
As the mechanical voice concluded, the cylindrical chamber began to shake, a pitched whine accumulating from within. Wearing the dimmed glasses distributed to the researchers, Su Yuan'er saw a soldered terminal on the side activate, a hologram of the interior displayed before her.
"Acceleration of photons has reached critical velocity. Initializing heat induction, raising to three thousand degrees kelvin."
From the hologram, Su Yuan'er could observe a linear stream of light tunneling through a series of prisms within the tubing towards the chamber. Gradually, the prisms changed their angle by minimal increments, causing the beam to curve around the socketed bar of iron essence.
With another tremor, the iron essence was quickly heated into a plasmic state, the impurities having been burnt away.
"Rotating iron essence, initializing convergence and collision."
The platform of which the iron essence was socketed began to rotate, increasing in speed until all that was visible in the hologram was an indistinct blur. The plasmic iron essence was distributed towards the fringes of the socket, creating a small cavity from the high-speed rotation.
Angling the socket towards the beam of light, the accelerated photons directly collided with the cavity before expanding. Permeating into the plasmic iron essence, the collision emitted a strong flash of light, causing static form in the hologram.
"Atomic disassembly of socketed iron confirmed. Thirty percent residue, released energy approximated as ninety million joules."
No sooner had the mechanical voice concluded did the researchers release a loud roar, jumping in euphoria. Although the theory required additional polishing and revising to achieve perfection, the proof of concept had been established as a plausible reference.
A kilogram of seventy-percent purity iron essence producing ninety million joules, that far surpassed currently operating energy producers! If this discovery were to be actualized, Blue Flame World would experience a revolutionary change.
"Little Fatty, you've made your Fathers proud! This annual competition, victory is sure to be ours!"
In their joy, the researchers unreservedly promoted Su Yuan'er into an official member of the research group, freeing her from the exhaustive duty of an intern. With a heavy feeling of satisfaction coursing through her body, Su Yuan'er skipped out of the laboratory, only to have stop, her mood doused in ice-cold water.
Standing just before her was Su Zhen Zhen.
Noticing her presence, Su Zhen Zhen gazed at Su Yuan'er, a gentle smile gracing her face. Approaching her, Su Zhen Zhen gently smiled, before it suddenly morphed into a smirk.
"My dear little sister, where are you running off to? Were those researchers excellent 'entertainment', for you to be so tired and satisfied?"
"…Why are you even here? Shouldn't you be working at the Treasure Pavilion as an auctioneer, exposing your body to those fantastic customers of yours?"
Su Yuan'er grunted. Her originally elated mood experienced a nosedive into depression, for this elder sister was far too distasteful. Visualizing Su Zhen Zhen perishing by a multitude of methods, Su Yuan'er pasted an indifferent expression, imitating Li Mo Shang's customary appearance. Currently, she wished for nothing more than to leave and sleep.
"Hm…the Treasure Pavilion is indeed interesting, and Ah Xing treats me very well. You remember Ah Xing, right? Wasn't he your former fiancé, you still didn't tell me why he annulled the engagement!"
"…"
"Ah, that's right. Just a few days ago, I saw your boyfriend at the Treasure Pavilion! He was selling something interesting, an object that obtained a sky-high price, and then he spent that money buying a Yin Restoration Pill! Hey, hey, did he give it to you?"
Ignoring Su Yuan'er lack of reply, Su Zhen Zhen continued to merrily describe her initial encounter with Li Mo Shang, not forgetting to embellish certain portions of the story. Li Mo Shang's complete indifference to her appearance had been warped to an instant infatuation, and Su Zhen Zhen even brazenly stated that after appreciating her beauty, Li Mo Shang had presented her a special gift.
"Su Zhen Zhen, what exactly are you after this time? You wouldn't be here solely to taunt me for no reason, right?"
Su Yuan'er felt as if her mind had been immersed in lead, unable to give much consideration or thought to Su Zhen Zhen. As she attempted to leave, Su Zhen Zhen whipped around, blocking her path and standing directly before her. A vicious expression on her face, Su Zhen Zhen leaned forward before fiercely whispering.
"Su Yuan'er, little bastard child, you better keep your hands off of that Li Young Master. Such a divine perch is only suitable for a phoenix, not a withered swallow. Don't you dare overstep your bounds as an illegitimate child picked up from the middle of nowhere!"
"Su Zhen Zhen, so Feng Xing isn't enough for you? You wish to rope in the Li Family as well?"
Su Yuan'er thinly smiled before pushing Su Zhen Zhen away. As she began to walk away, she suddenly turned to face Su Zhen Zhen, before revealing a small smirk. Slowly extending her index finger, she gently wagged it from side to side, slowly speaking.
"Don't think that your little trick with that poison pill will go hidden for so long."
Rage bubbled in Su Zhen Zhen's heart as she directed a cold stare at Su Yuan'er, boring holes into her thin figure with her eyes. Suddenly, her vicious expression vanished, replaced with a teary appearance, even wiping away tears as she adopted a wronged expression.
In face of Su Yuan'er's confusion, Su Zhen Zhen even loudly wailed, "Little sister, you mustn't get angry at elder sister! Elder sister was only trying to help you!"
Befuddled, Su Yuan'er surveyed the area, attempting to find the cause of Su Zhen Zhen's sudden change in expression and behavior. Turning to her left, her gaze landed onto a graceful, elegant male student approaching them from afar.
Crimson hair tied in a knot and looped around his shoulder, sporting alluring multicolored eyes, the charming and handsome male caused Su Yuan'er's heart to constrict, fury coursing through her blood.
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