Without Mercy

In a luxurious villa, Cecil's face was livid while Bellam complained beside him.

"Young Master Cecil, you have to save me."

"Dean Sanders is about to speak with Bruce Li. They're definitely going to discuss my situation."

"I've heard that even Vice Chancellor Caldwell is paying attention to him now. What am I supposed to do?"

Bellam's whining grated on Cecil's nerves. He roared, "Enough! Stop going on and on and let me have some peace."

"That damn yellow monkey. I never thought he'd get so lucky. He must have struck some under-the-table deal with Planck."

"Trash. Just die!"

Even Cecil himself didn't believe what he was saying. He was simply jealous of Li Qiwei's talent, and it had twisted his mind.

In his family, Cecil was synonymous with a spoiled wastrel and a good-for-nothing.

His older brothers and sisters were all prominent figures in their respective fields. He was the only one who did nothing all day, muddling through a degree at Cambridge University.

So when someone he considered a backward native achieved such great things, his first reaction was fury.

Endless fury!

He wanted to find someone to simply take Li Qiwei out and be done with it.

But Raymond's warning echoed in his ears again. After the bar incident that night, Raymond had told him, "Whatever you do, don't use force against Bruce Li."

Cecil didn't know why Raymond was so afraid of him, but he wasn't a fool. There had to be something going on.

Gradually calming down, he told Bellam, "Don't worry. I'll protect you. Nothing will happen to you."

"I don't believe Sanders would fire you for the sake of some Qing man."

"Let that yellow monkey strut around a little longer. Sooner or later, I'll make him regret it for the rest of his life."

At this, Bellam finally relaxed.

He thought that even if Li Qiwei had published some important paper, he'd at most receive a little reward. It wouldn't have much impact.

Little did he know, the vice chancellor had already made the final decision. Not even Cecil could change it, let alone his Prime Minister Grandfather.

In scientific research and education, funding was the real granddaddy.

Cecil watched Bellam leave, a sneer appearing on his face. He muttered, "Idiot."

Meanwhile, in Sanders's office at Cambridge University,

Li Qiwei was visiting the dean's office for the first time. It was simply furnished, with some documents strewn across the desk.

There weren't even four large calligraphy characters on the wall proclaiming "Heaven rewards diligence." The place looked far from impressive, nothing like a leader's office.

Sanders was also sizing Li Qiwei up. The latter seemed to be judging the office's decor.

The last time they met, just two days ago, Li Qiwei had been merely a student, albeit a somewhat famous one.

Now, they were meeting again, and Li Qiwei had become a physicist whose name could be known around the world.

The twists and turns of life were truly impossible to predict.

Even as the dean of Cambridge University, Sanders couldn't put on airs in front of Li Qiwei.

It was a matter of respect for knowledge.

So Sanders spoke first. "Bruce, please sit. You probably know why I asked you here."

"The feud between you and Cecil isn't some deep-seated hatred, when you get down to it. How about I mediate and the two of you make peace?"

"As for Bellam and Miles, I'll give them a stern talking-to and make sure it never happens again. What do you think?"

"After all, they've already apologized to you."

Li Qiwei didn't answer right away. He took the seat opposite Sanders and met his gaze without flinching.

"Dean Sanders, we have an old saying in Huaxia: 'If virtue repays hatred, what will repay virtue?'"

"During my three years studying at Cambridge University, I've faced countless taunts and discrimination, all because of who I am."

"In your eyes, I'm a Qing man, an inferior, a foolish and backward native."

"But I've never let that bring me down, and I would never deny who I am."

"A nation's nobility shouldn't be judged by whether it's powerful, but by how it treats the weak when it is powerful."

"I know that we Huaxia people are among the cleverest peoples in the world. I don't need anyone else to tell me who I am."

"And we Huaxia people have never been arrogant or looked down on other races."

"But if anyone thinks I can be bullied at will, they're gravely mistaken. I'll make them pay what they owe."

"One more thing: Bellam and Miles never apologized to me."

His words struck like a hammer, and that final sentence left Sanders utterly ashamed.

At that moment, he wanted nothing more than to slap those two fools to death.

At the same time, he saw a certain quality in Li Qiwei: humble and courteous, yet utterly unforgiving when wronged!

He was like a blend of gentleman and street thug, impossible to underestimate—and strangely captivating.

"So what are your terms?" Sanders asked, his voice uncertain.

Li Qiwei answered directly, "Fire Bellam and Miles. As long as I'm at Cambridge, they must not be hired again."

Simple, forceful, and merciless. That was what Li Qiwei wanted.

Thomson had already told him where the vice chancellor stood, so he was confident.

As long as Sanders wasn't a fool, he would agree.

After all, one side meant a steady flow of funding and enormous prestige; the other was just two insignificant administrators.

Even a fool knew which mattered more.

Sure enough, Sanders seemed to have expended his last bit of strength, then let out a breath of relief.

Though he'd known this was how things would end, when it finally happened, he felt all the lighter.

He had done all he could for Bellam. He simply couldn't change the outcome.

Sanders looked at Li Qiwei, his eyes full of complicated emotions.

"Bruce, a tree that grows too straight is easily broken. Won't you reconsider?"

Li Qiwei sneered. "It's only broken because it isn't straight enough. I won't change my decision."

Sanders sighed. "All right. I'll handle this as soon as possible. You can rest assured."

Li Qiwei stood up to leave, then said, "Dean Sanders, I believe you'll be glad you made this choice today."

Sanders froze, then watched Li Qiwei's back and shook his head. Just as the rumors said, the man was extremely confident.

Afterward, he sent someone to summon Bellam and Miles and lay out the decision.

When the two heard the news, they immediately burst into tears and pleaded desperately with Sanders.

In the end, their pleas were futile. They left the office with hearts full of resentment.

Bellam now hated not only Li Qiwei, but Cecil too. Cecil's promises had been no better than a fart—completely useless.

Early the next morning, Bellam and Miles left Cambridge University.

Li Qiwei had just finished his exam when Sanders informed him of the result.

At last, he felt that he'd seized his fate in his own hands, if only by a thread.

But that was nowhere near enough. He would put Cecil—and even all of Britain—beneath his feet.

So he had to keep working hard and publishing even more earth-shattering discoveries.

Li Qiwei was gradually sorting out his plans for what came next.

The first step was the Photoelectric Effect. Once he explained the phenomenon, he could prove the validity of the concept of the quantum.

After that, he would follow Thomson and take part in research on atomic structure, advancing the theory of Quantum Mechanics.

The Atom and its inner structure were the true battleground of Quantum Mechanics.

The second step was the Theory of Relativity. He had only parted the clouds over the second mystery; the first still hung over physics.

Li Qiwei thought of Einstein.

No matter what, he had to meet him again that summer, offer God of Love some guidance, and, while he was at it, snag a coauthor credit.

Once the two theories had fully taken shape, his influence should be great enough to launch the Spark Plan.

At that moment, Li Qiwei felt a surge of heroic spirit in his chest, ready to soar beyond the clouds.

History had changed from that point on. Where he himself would ultimately end up—all of that could only be left to time.

Thanks to [Wait for a Primordial One] for the monthly ticket, and thanks to [Heaven and Earth Walk the Way], [Immortal's Hand on Your Crown], and [North Latitude 311111] for the continued recommendation votes, dear longtime readers.