Chapter 142: “I’ll Add Another 1 Billion”
Chapter 142: "I'll Add Another 1 Billion"
"But we just finished the competition. If I bring it up again, she probably won't agree!"
Sheng Tian felt that what Fu Li said made sense, but guessed that Yun Zijin would never be foolish enough to agree to another challenge so soon.
"We'll think of a solution in a few days."
Fu Li also didn't want Sheng Tian's cruise ship to end up with Yun Zijin. After all, she was still planning to borrow it from Sheng Tian for a grand birthday party. If Sheng Tian lost the ship, Fu Li's celebration plans would be ruined.
Sheng Tian felt that what Fu Li said was reasonable, so she stopped agonizing over it for now and looked much brighter.
Yun Zijin knew nothing of the pair's scheme. After entering the main house, she finally escaped the swarms of mosquitoes.
Taking a seat on the living-room sofa, Zijin noticed Lu Yunque join her, but he maintained a polite distance of about twenty centimeters.
"By the way," Zijin began, recalling yesterday's phone call, "you mentioned giving back to our school. May I ask what exact project you're working on?"
Spending money every day was now part of her routine—if there was a constructive project she could invest in, she'd be glad to join.
"It's no secret. Lu is planning to build a comprehensive experimental building for Teikyo University."
"A lab building, huh?" Zijin mused. "Then does Lu also cover the lab machines and instruments?"
Constructing just the building wasn't enough. For a well-equipped lab, the cost of various instruments would be massive—even for a powerhouse like the Lu Group.
"Of course. Otherwise, it wouldn't be a true laboratory building."
Teikyo University's older equipment needed an upgrade. This move by the Lu Group felt like timely support for the school.
"Will the investment be enough? Let me join—I can help."
Yun Zijin saw it as another perfect outlet for her daily consumption tasks. The only lingering doubt was whether Lu would accept the incremental way she transferred millions every day.
"Sister Zijin, do you even know how much the Lu Group will invest?"
Li Yuecheng teased, suspecting Zijin was oversimplifying matters.
"Hmm…two billion?"
Twenty million was too small, two hundred million felt lacking, but two billion seemed plausible.
"Well done, Sister Zijin—spot on!"
Li Yuecheng flashed a thumbs-up.
"All right, so if Lu's putting in two billion, I'll add another one billion."
Zijin stated it matter-of-factly, as though one billion was pocket change.
Sheng Tian snapped her gaze at Zijin in disbelief. As a so-called "orphan" from an orphanage, how could she casually offer a billion?
Hearing the figure, Li Yuecheng nearly choked. "This…"
Sheng Tian was also speechless. She was already twenty-one, and it was unthinkable she'd even scrape together a hundred million in personal funds.
"If you really want to invest, I'd be delighted," Lu Yunque responded calmly.
They had budgeted around two billion for the labs, which might still run short. If Zijin offered an additional one billion, the entire project would be more comfortably funded.
"Then it's settled," Zijin said. "Just have someone draft the contract and send it to Meilin."
As always, Meilin handled such practical details. One billion was just a fraction of Zijin's ten-billion-plus savings.
"You two…" Li Yuecheng sighed. "It makes the rest of us feel pretty small."
"It's simple," Zijin said, smiling lightly. "If you don't want to feel small, pitch in too."
Li Yuecheng and the others stayed silent. Compared to Zijin and Lu Yunque, the funds they could free up paled in comparison. Even one billion was beyond them right now.
"Brother Yunque, I want to donate too!"
Sheng Tian, unwilling to let Zijin look more generous, tried to jump in.
"No, three billion is sufficient."
Lu Yunque declined on the spot.
Sheng Tian's face darkened again.
Meanwhile, Fu Li glanced between Sheng Tian and Zijin, then chose to keep her thoughts to herself.
Fu Ze returned just then.
"It'll be about twenty more minutes until dinner's ready. Then a waiter will bring everything over."
"Brother Fu Ze, I'm on a diet these days, so be sure you've got some good vegetarian options~"
Sheng Tian sweetened her tone, batting her eyes.
Fu Ze gave a stiff chuckle. "Hah… I took that into account. Don't worry, plenty of veggies in the order."
Fu Li, too, frequently complained about weight, so Fu Ze had formed a habit of ordering more vegetarian dishes.
Yun Zijin was about to ask more about the dinner menu when her phone buzzed. Seeing it was from Qin Sitong, she answered immediately:
"Hey…"
"Zijin, I'm not bothering you, am I?"
It sounded like Qin Sitong was juggling some internal battle.
"No trouble. Dinner here hasn't started yet, and I'm just waiting."
"I've made up my mind about opening a store…"
As Qin Sitong spoke, Zijin straightened in her seat.
"Sure, go on."
Qin Sitong eventually said, "I want to try! Let's do the shop you mentioned."
Hearing that, Zijin broke into a grin.
"Great! Then come to Emerald Lake tonight. I'll show you how to make the new milk tea. I'll ask Aunt Wang to prep the ingredients first…"
They continued discussing, oblivious to dinner's arrival. By the time they wrapped up the call, the food had long been set out. Yet Zijin, eager to teach Qin Sitong the recipe, soon excused herself.
Because she had personal bodyguards, Lu Yunque couldn't insist on seeing her home. He merely walked her to the gate, quietly watching her drive off.
"Don't stare—the car's already gone," teased Li Yuecheng, elbowing Lu Yunque. "So…who was she talking to on the phone? Care to share?"
Since Zijin was gone, curiosity got the best of them. They all suspected something might be developing.
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