Chapter 234: Xian Lin'er: Stop It, I'll Reward You Tonight…
When Qian Duoduo heard her words, all his enthusiasm was instantly doused like cold water poured over a flame.
The fleeting joy that had bloomed in his heart from Xian Lin'er's radiant beauty vanished before it could take root, leaving only emptiness and desolation.
The ingratiating smile froze on his lips, the light in his eyes dimming rapidly. His tall frame suddenly seemed smaller, like a deflated balloon.
Although Xian Lin'er had rejected his invitations countless times before, for some reason, this time felt different… as if he had lost something truly important.
But since Xian Lin'er had refused, she must really be busy. If he pressed her again, she might get angry.
"...I see… then… Lin'er, don't overwork yourself, take care of your health…"
He said these concerned words instinctively, though even he realized afterward how unnecessary they sounded.
Xian Lin'er responded with a faint "Mm," and without giving him any room to continue, she quickly said, "Got it. I'm busy now, don't disturb me."
With that, she shut the door—without even allowing Qian Duoduo the chance to step into the lab.
"Lin'er…"
Qian Duoduo opened his mouth, but no words came out.
An unspeakable heaviness filled his chest.
He could feel the distance—like a thousand miles—between him and the woman behind that cold, metallic door.
All his caring words felt weak and meaningless.
A wave of disappointment washed over him, drowning his spirit.
The frustration from his tiring trip, the fatigue from the journey, the awe and love he felt upon seeing Xian Lin'er, and now this crushing rejection—all these emotions tangled within him, making his heart ache.
"Forget it, maybe it's just that time of the month… bad timing," he sighed helplessly.
As for the research she mentioned—after knowing Xian Lin'er for so many years, he could tell she was just brushing him off.
Still, at least she was brushing him off. That meant she cared, right?
Encouraged by this thought, Qian Duoduo's mood began to lift.
If not today, then tomorrow. If not tomorrow, then sometime this month!
He refused to believe her "situation" could last an entire month.
Thinking that there might still be a chance for dinner with Xian Lin'er soon brought a small smile back to his face.
He gave the lab one last reluctant look before turning away.
…
…
"Phew~ That guy finally left."
Xian Lin'er let out a deep sigh of relief after sensing Qian Duoduo's departure.
She was truly regretting marrying him—it was almost impossible to shake him off.
At the same time, she couldn't tell anyone their marriage was fake. If that ever came to light, it would be a scandal of enormous proportions.
Not only she and Qian Duoduo would be ridiculed—her mother's reputation would also be ruined.
"Teacher, Dean Qian's gone, right?"
Ye Chen walked up behind Xian Lin'er, naturally sliding an arm around her slender waist and resting his chin on her shoulder, breathing in the faint fragrance by her ear.
"Hmph, you better behave. It's fine to fool around in the lab, but outside? Don't you dare."
Xian Lin'er warned him seriously.
Clearly, she was worried Ye Chen might get addicted—or careless—and show affection outside where Qian Duoduo might see.
"Relax, I'm not a kid," Ye Chen said with a grin as his hand began to wander…
Xian Lin'er: …
Slap!
Xian Lin'er lightly smacked his hand away, scolding, "Stop that! We just did it in the bathroom…"
She sighed helplessly.
It wasn't that she disliked his touch; in truth, she enjoyed it and was even growing addicted.
But as a Super Douluo, and as Ye Chen's teacher, she needed to keep her composure and self-control—she couldn't let him go too far.
"Alright, alright," Ye Chen laughed sheepishly, realizing he'd pushed his luck.
But how could he resist? Xian Lin'er was too irresistible—gentle, intelligent, and obedient…
"Enough, I need to focus on my soul tool research," Xian Lin'er said, cheeks slightly pink. "You've also neglected your studies lately. Take some time to focus. If you do well…"
Her voice softened into a whisper. "I'll reward you properly tonight."
"Deal~"
Ye Chen's eyes narrowed with anticipation, already imagining the evening's "reward."
Xian Lin'er gently slipped from his embrace and walked over to her work table.
After consuming the celestial herb, her mind felt sharper, her senses keener, her energy nearly overflowing.
This was the perfect state for researching soul tools.
If she got a sudden flash of inspiration, she might even create a genuine Grade-9 Soul Tool.
Seeing her fully focused, Ye Chen didn't disturb her further. Instead, he left the lab to grab some food.
After the physical exertion of the last night and morning, he needed to replenish nutrients and energy.
His body was strong, but not self-sustaining—energy spent had to be replaced, though his efficiency in absorbing nourishment was incredibly high.
…
…
Ye Chen ended up staying with Xian Lin'er for over half a month.
After thoroughly satisfying Xian Lin'er, he finally decided to leave.
Of course, it wasn't all fooling around during this time.
They also engaged in deep academic discussions and collaborated on soul tool development.
The first step was establishing the production chain.
Ye Chen provided Xian Lin'er with advanced designs for high-grade soul tools—ranging from Grade 6 to Grade 8.
He didn't share the Grade-9 designs; she wouldn't be able to build them yet anyway.
Even within Shrek Academy, those capable of crafting Grade-8 tools were scarce.
And even if they managed to produce them, sales were another problem altogether.
The wealthy didn't buy them.
The ones who wanted them couldn't afford them.
So for now, they focused on Grade-6 tools, which were also the market standard.
Xian Lin'er positioned her products as high-end luxury items, while the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan focused on mass-market, affordable ones.
Both had great potential—their profits would depend purely on their distribution channels.
This way, there was no conflict between their operations.
Each had its own market niche, coexisting profitably without competition.
From the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan also came good news—Ye Chen's soul tools had gained immense popularity.
Even in the early stages of production, orders were already overwhelming.
Some had even come from the Sun-Moon Empire.
Clearly, these new and advanced soul tools had caught their attention.
Though their levels weren't extremely high, their design was completely innovative—something even the Sun-Moon Empire didn't possess.
If they could reroute these to sell within the empire, the profits would be astronomical.
Through collaboration with the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan and Xian Lin'er, Ye Chen fully leveraged the power of the "Ten Thousand Phenomena Compendium," earning staggering wealth.
Of course, making that much money, he couldn't spend it all himself.
He decided to pour those earnings into the Tang Sect's development.
First and foremost, improving the training conditions of Tang Sect disciples.
Now that funds were plentiful, he couldn't let his own people struggle.
Ye Chen planned to upgrade the academy's entire nutrition program—ensuring top-quality meals for Jiang Nannan, Tang Ya, Wang Dong, Xiao Xiao, Ma Xiaotao, Ling Luochen, and Zhang Lexuan.
Not a single person left behind.
(END CHAPTER)
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