Li Shishi's Ambition

A Living Dead?

The Resident Evil film series instantly surfaced in Li Yao's mind, followed by Dawn of the Dead, Shaun of the Dead, World War Z, and more... Incidentally, Li Yao was half a zombie-genre enthusiast himself. When he had first entered university, he had even started writing a zombie-apocalypse novel. He did finish it, but it did not make much money, so he gave up on the idea of making a living from writing.

This line of work was miserable.

Now Lin Xiaowei was suddenly telling him that cancer cells that absorbed Vitality Potion might erode a patient into a "Living Dead"? Li Yao pursed his lips, slightly excited. "Wouldn't that be a magical version of Resident Evil? Could it spread? How contagious would it be?"

Lin Xiaowei rolled her eyes. She knew exactly what Li Yao was thinking, so she said, "Of course it could. Maybe Earth will end up being destroyed by you, Mr. Great Demon King?"

All right.

So a magical version of Resident Evil was out of the question.

Lin Xiaowei added, "But if the cancer cells mutate, they might become contagious. The odds are low, but we still have to guard against it."

She had to remind him.

Otherwise, with Li Yao's thick nerves, he might really create a zombie apocalypse. She still had to return to Earth! If zombies were running rampant, what kind of scene would she find when she returned to Earth two hundred years later? Those zombies might fucking develop a civilization by then! Just thinking about it was exciting! Li Yao nodded.

Though he was a little excited, he could still tell right from wrong. He would not leave corpses strewn for miles just to satisfy his own hobby.

After discussing every possibility with Lin Xiaowei and making contingency plans, they had basically settled Chen Xi's treatment plan. Of course, thirty million was out of the question. If he failed to cure her and might even turn her into a monster, no one could accept a price of thirty million... One million for a dose was not excessive, right? If it was too expensive, they could negotiate... Li Yao felt he was quite reasonable.

Next came the preparation of a weakened version of the Vitality Potion.

Li Yao discussed some of the questions he had accumulated with Lin Xiaowei. Once he confirmed that the weakened Vitality Potion had no side effects, he felt much more at ease.

When it came to knowledge of the mysterious side, he was still a newbie.

Having an expert vouch for it made things much safer.

The next day, Li Yao contacted Li Shishi and arranged to meet in her office.

Li Yao brought the newly prepared potion and headed to Li Shishi's company.

The moment he entered the company, Li Yao felt numerous hostile gazes upon him. Those looks seemed to say: Beast, draw your blade! Li Yao smiled, utterly unconcerned.

After all, none of them were better-looking than him.

And they could not beat him either! Li Yao walked into Li Shishi's office. She was bent over her documents, but when she heard him enter, she looked up and smiled sweetly. "You're here."

Li Yao nodded and sat across from Li Shishi. "Are the test results out?"

Li Shishi put down her pen. "They are. It is indeed effective, but the composite polymer chains inside are an unknown component. Our R&D lab cannot analyze them, so you may need to provide some information on that. Otherwise, there is no way to sell it publicly."

That was a bit troublesome.

Those composite polymer chains were probably substances produced by the refining process that could gather spiritual energy. How was he supposed to explain that? Tell them it was technology from another world? No one would believe that! And if they did believe him, it would be even more troublesome.

Li Yao thought for a moment and said, "The common ingredients are easy enough. As for the unknown ones, you can name them yourselves. I think we can market this as a beauty and nutritional Oral Liquid. That should make things easier with the Food and Drug Administration. Okay?"

Li Shishi considered it. "That would not be a problem. So how do you intend to cooperate?"

Li Yao took out the proposal he had prepared long ago. "Here's the plan. I'll acquire some factories soon to produce this nutritional liquid... And it will not be the kind you drank before. That one was too potent and too expensive to produce, so I made several weakened versions. As for the price, we can discuss it later."

After hearing him out, Li Shishi twirled her fountain pen. After a while, she smiled. "What do you think of this?"

"I'll give you twenty-five percent of the company's shares, plus thirty-five percent of this nutritional liquid's total profits. In return, I want the full formula for it."

Li Yao was somewhat surprised. "A full buyout?"

Li Shishi nodded. "Yes, a full buyout!"

Li Yao smiled. "You should know that I'd be taking a huge loss this way."

Li Yao's plan had been to control the production and sales of this nutritional liquid himself. Once he opened up the market through Li Shishi, he could supply it to other major brands. That was also why he only produced Original Liquid.

The giants of the beauty and cosmetics industry now made fifty-five billion in net profit every year, and that was with numerous competitors dividing the market. It showed just how absurdly profitable an industry supported by countless crazy women could be. And Li Yao possessed exclusive production resources, which meant the global cosmetics industry would have to bow its head to him.

How enormous would those profits be?

Li Yao laid all this out, then looked at Li Shishi with interest to see what she would say.

Li Shishi bit her lip. Of course she knew how much profit was involved!

Otherwise, why would she go through all this trouble to bring it up?! Suddenly, she steeled herself. "How about you take advantage of me?"

That would make it perfectly reasonable!

Li Yao was stunned on the spot. "You actually want both the money and the man!" Wouldn't I be losing out terribly!?

Li Shishi: "..."

Right.

The junior across from her was good-looking too.

Damn it.

What was so great about being handsome?!

And he had money too! Li Shishi still remembered the five hundred thousand Alipay transfer from last time... So annoying! Li Shishi sighed. "Actually, Junior, think about it. Becoming an Original Liquid supplier would certainly be great and profitable, but as long as we control the exclusive production resources, the entire world will be our dumping ground. We would still make just as much money. Besides... your senior is pretty! I'm understanding, considerate, gentle, caring, and respectful toward my in-laws..."

Li Yao stared blankly at the dazzling woman across from him.

Are you selling yourself? Why not say you're good in bed and not clingy? It was lucky Mom had not come along to discuss business, or how could she have withstood such a beauty trap? She would have already grabbed Li Yao's head and slammed it against the table until he agreed.

Just thinking about it was terrifying! Li Yao shuddered, his face full of lingering fear.

Li Shishi's face immediately darkened. I'm this adorable, yet I still can't catch your eye?! Did I really scare you badly enough to make you shudder?!

When Li Yao saw the resentful expression on Li Shishi's face, he knew she had misunderstood. He hurriedly said, "It has nothing to do with you, so stop looking at me like that!" He cleared his throat and said solemnly, "Forget about your company shares. I want seventy-five percent of the profits generated from the Original Liquid, and I'll provide the formula and raw materials. But the raw materials need to be cultivated separately, and there is no purchasing channel. Once I teach your people the production techniques, I won't handle anything else."

He would just sit back and wait for the money to roll in!

Li Shishi stared resentfully at Li Yao.

"You're way too ruthless!"

Three updates tonight. I'll get them done before midnight. My word is my bond—Teemo never goes back on his word! Let's do this!