After returning from the battery lab to his office, Xu Yifan had just sat down and turned on his computer when he received a call from Lu Jingping.
Lu Jingping's steady voice came through the phone.
"Boss, we've thought it over carefully. Although eight million is incredibly tempting—it might be more than we could earn in several years—
with our abilities, we really can't overcome this obstacle."
Xu Yifan was stunned. The system had clearly confirmed that the cash boost had taken effect, so how could this still happen?
Could his system be fake?
His thoughts in disarray, Xu Yifan didn't answer right away. Fake? It was all fake! The system? His transmigration?
Then Lu Jingping's voice came through again.
"So we came up with a solution: bring in outside help.
I'd like to use five million from the eight-million reward to enlist the Xiamen University lab and overcome this obstacle.
However, I can't be sure that the professors and senior students at the lab will be able to crack the problem in a short time. I wanted to get your approval first.
If you agree, we'll head back to the university right away to find our doctoral supervisor, the professors, and the senior students, then rent a lab and tackle this critical technical challenge."
Lu Jingping's unhurried voice pulled Xu Yifan's thoughts back from the brink of doubt.
That pause nearly shook his faith to its core!
So that's how the system's cash boost works? I thought everyone would get a sudden surge in brainpower after the boost, see everything clearly, and solve any problem in minutes.
After calming himself down, Xu Yifan finally replied.
"Sure. As long as you can overcome the technical challenge as soon as possible. Is there anything else you need?"
Lu Jingping paused before answering. "No, as long as you approve. In that case, we'll gather the experimental data and materials, then head out shortly to find help at the university and rent a lab."
"Fine. I'll drive you to the airport—it'll be faster. Pack what you need, and I'll bring the car to the lab entrance."
"Thank you, boss." Lu Jingping was deeply moved.
With a boss like this, how could their business fail? A man would give his life for someone who understood him!
He would have to work even harder and finish the research project as soon as possible!
After his brief conversation with the boss, Lu Jingping turned to the colleagues waiting beside him.
"The boss has agreed. He's coming to the lab entrance to drive us to the airport.
"Now, who wants to go back to the university? Four of us should be enough. Bringing more people won't help. The rest can stay here and continue the research.
"For those going back, I'd like people who have good relationships with our supervisor and the senior students."
"I'll go. I know Senior Sister Zhu pretty well, so I should be able to help."
"Senior Sister Zhu? If she steps in, we'll have a good chance of solving the project's technical problems."
"Good, then it's settled. The four of us going back to ask for help will be me, Liu Mincai, Qiu Haowei, and Jiang Han."
Two doctoral students and two master's students who had good relationships with their doctoral supervisor and the senior students.
After packing up, they gathered the important experimental data and materials and walked out of the battery lab.
Right then, they saw a sleek, imposing black Mercedes-Benz G parked at the entrance.
Since he was picking them up, the two-door, four-seat Porsche 911 would have been a bit cramped.
As a super-rich second-generation heir who had always loved cars, Xu Yifan naturally owned more than one.
His considerate father had given him one of his favorite cars as a birthday present every year since he turned thirteen.
He had even gone so far as to build a driving course in the suburbs so that Xu Yifan, who didn't have a license, could drive!
This Mercedes-Benz G was a gift from his father four years ago. But Xu Yifan had been studying abroad and rarely had the chance to drive it; whenever he was back, he usually took a sports car.
Now that he had his own factory, it made sense to have a few fancier cars on hand to make a good impression, so he'd had someone bring several over.
What kind of super-rich second-generation heir didn't have a garage full of luxury cars ready to drive? Absurd!
He usually drove his Porsche 911 to and from work. For business receptions and the like, he could also take the Mercedes-Benz G, an Audi A6L, a Land Rover Range Rover, and so on.
The only drawback was that they were all joint-venture or imported brands. Not one of them was made in China.
At the time, even if he'd wanted to support domestic brands, it was hard to find anything worth supporting.
One day, I'll be driving a luxury car made by my own factory!
Xu Yifan got out, and together with the researchers, loaded their belongings into the trunk.
Then he got behind the wheel and drove toward the provincial capital's airport.
Since they already knew one another fairly well, and were all around the same age, conversation soon flowed freely in the car.
The researchers talked about the project and how complicated the obstacle they'd run into was. They'd nearly torn their hair out, and their daily discussions hadn't helped.
They hoped they could find a big shot at the university to solve the problem. No, there had to be a way to solve it!
Xu Yifan talked with everyone about the bright future of new energy vehicles and how important their current project was.
He also dangled a few carrots: if they worked hard, there'd be plenty more chances in the future to get a cash boost like this one.
If the university had other skilled researchers willing to join them, Jiuzhou Automobile Factory would welcome them too.
As long as they did the research, they'd have cars, money, and girls. Give it a few years, and it would all be theirs.
Everyone chatted happily along the way!
The Mercedes-Benz G drove right at the speed limit, and it took nearly four hours to reach Shuangliu Airport in the provincial capital.
He bought tickets for the next available flight with the researchers. After watching them enter the terminal, Xu Yifan returned to the parking lot and got back in the car.
Instead of heading straight back to the factory, he turned around and drove into the city to find a hotel, get some rest, and enjoy a massage!
"Damn it. Once I have the money, I'm building an airport next to the factory and buying my own private plane!"
"Four hours on the highway. Even in a luxury car, it's exhausting."
"I should hire a driver, too. There'll probably be more trips like this in the future."
Xu Yifan rubbed his lower back and sighed.
"Forget it. Better save the money. I don't need a driver that often yet, and these trips help me get closer to the researchers..."
The plane took off and shot into the sky.
Lu Jingping and the others had embarked on their journey.
A few hours later, they returned to the city where they had once studied.
Even though it was already nearing evening, they didn't waste much time and headed straight for Xiamen University.
It was late, but they could still make some preparations.
They could invite the senior students they used to spend time with in the lab out for a meal—and, if possible, bring their boss along too.
First, they'd smooth things over with the people involved. After that, they could deal with the university about renting a lab.
Before you continue