Chapter 130
Chapter 130: I’m Charging for All Humanity!
Contribute?
Of course she would contribute.
If she wasn’t going to, why invite them in? Just to toy with them?
Qian Qi coughed twice, hand to her lips, and began, “About that question—”
Two people walked in.
They paused in the doorway, startled by the crowd. “Wow,” one of them said. “This many people?”
Qian Qi turned and lit up.
Uncle Li and Grandpa Sun.
Perfect timing.
She slid off the bed in one smooth motion and trotted over, grinning. “You didn’t have to bring gifts!”
The reporters turned slowly to stare.
A minute ago, she’d been a fragile, dying heroine.
Now she was basically jogging.
Uncle Li and Grandpa Sun each carried a bag—one of oranges, one of apples. Seeing Qian Qi standing upright, they finally relaxed.
“Taking interviews, Little Qian?” Grandpa Sun asked.
“Yep!”
Qian Qi took the fruit, then spun back toward the reporters and started handing out oranges like party favors. “You’ve been talking forever. You must be thirsty. Have some oranges! I’ll chat with my grandpas for a minute, then we’ll continue!”
The reporters, half-dazed and oddly flattered, peeled their oranges and took big bites.
A second later, several of them squatted like they’d been sucker-punched, sour juice dripping as their faces twisted.
“Holy—why are these so sour—”
Uncle Li raised an eyebrow.
Grandpa Sun’s lips twitched. He’d seen this stunt before.
He leaned closer and asked, amused, “What were they interviewing you about?”
“They wanted to know why I’m so strong,” Qian Qi murmured. “I told them I took berserk powder. My newest magic potion.”
Uncle Li’s eyes widened. “You actually made it?”
“Close enough,” Qian Qi said, thinking. “I’m planning to contribute it.”
“Contribute?” Grandpa Sun chuckled. “Paid contribution, right?”
Qian Qi grinned. “Obviously.”
Free was not on the menu.
She’d already done the math. The Magic Plant Research Institute was basically broke thanks to her. Principal Zheng was too busy running the school. Su Ang had earned himself a permanent spot on her blacklist.
So the ones with real money were the Awakeners Association and the Dungeon Association.
Other forces could afford it too, sure—but they weren’t her priority.
Originally, she’d planned to finish the powder first, then figure out how to get the associations’ attention. But with reporters here, she could let the media spread the news and wait for the fish to swim over on their own.
Grandpa Sun studied her. “Aren’t you afraid you’ll become too high-profile? That you’ll draw danger?”
“Everyone gets a share,” Qian Qi said, expression flat as she peeled another orange. “Who’s going to touch me?”
Even if someone wanted to, they’d have to think about who else would allow it.
If she died, the Magic Plant class, Li Hong Sheng, and Si Kong Wang wouldn’t just shrug and move on. Their interests were tied to hers. They’d hunt whoever did it.
Qian Qi wasn’t afraid of dying.
She was afraid of dying with no one left to avenge her.
If she went down, she’d make sure the person who pushed her suffered too.
Grandpa Sun smiled. “Fair.”
Uncle Li nodded. “Anyone who touches you has to ask our grandpas first.”
“Please.” Qian Qi snorted. “You’re both ancient. If you throw out your backs, I’ll feel guilty.”
They laughed quietly.
Then the door opened again.
“Qian Qi!”
A group of students squeezed in. Zhang Feng led the charge, relief all over his face. He dropped a pile of supplements on the table and hurried closer. “Why are you out of bed? Are you rested? Why are there so many people in here? It’s so loud—doesn’t it bother you?”
Students from Magic Plant 101 kept pouring in. Word had spread fast, and plenty had traveled a long way to visit.
“I’m doing interviews,” Qian Qi said, cheerfully accepting the gifts. “Sit wherever.”
The ward became a human puzzle. Some classmates grabbed chairs, others perched on the bedframe, and a few truly shameless ones sat on the bedside cabinet like it was a bench.
The reporters got shoved outward, craning their necks.
“Classmate Qian Qi!” one reporter called, fighting for space. “Are you going to contribute the berserk powder formula or not?”
Qian Qi climbed back onto the bed and instantly softened into weak-patient mode.
She leaned on Liang Yu Ting’s shoulder, her eyes going unfocused like she might faint at any second. “Contribute? Contribute to who?”
The reporter hesitated. The others exchanged looks, then one offered, “The Magic Plant Research Institute? If they have the formula, they can produce it.”
Qian Qi shook her head. “No. They’re too poor. They can’t afford my formula.”
That snapped the reporters awake.
“So you’re selling it?” someone blurted. “Not contributing it for free?”
“Free?” Qian Qi stared at them like they’d suggested she donate her organs on live television. “Are you serious? I went bankrupt researching this formula. How could it be free?”
A reporter tried to sound noble. “But this is for all humanity. Don’t you have to consider that?”
“Exactly because it’s for all humanity,” Qian Qi shot back, “I’m charging!”
She pointed at her classmates. “To research this magic potion, we’ve all paid too much. We’ve sacrificed too much!”
“Are we asking for money out of selfishness?” she demanded.
A familiar voice cut in—sharp, disdainful.
“Aren’t you?” said the reporter who’d brought the first gifts earlier. “You do research for fame and profit. Once you get results, you want to cash out.”
Qian Qi’s eyes flicked to the logo on his microphone.
Will Media.
Oh. So that was the angle.
A cold smile flashed through her mind. On the outside, her eyes filled instantly, tears spilling like she’d been stabbed in the heart.
“You’re wrong!” she said, voice trembling with righteous fury. “We need funds because we need to research more magic potions—to make more contributions for humanity!”
“If we don’t have money, our research stops. Who takes responsibility then? You? Are you going to invest in us?”
“We’re just students,” Qian Qi said, pointing at herself like she was personally offended by the concept of capitalism. “Do you want us to kneel in the street and beg for funding?!”
“Don’t chill the hearts of students!” she snapped. “If even students get exploited, what future does this country have?”
The other reporters blinked, caught off guard by the sheer force of her argument.
She wasn’t wrong. Research wasn’t free. People didn’t eat air.
Qian Qi elbowed Liang Yu Ting discreetly.
Liang Yu Ting understood instantly and jumped in. “The Magic Plant Department is full of kids from poor families. We do this for ideals, but reality is cruel. Without money, you can’t take a single step.”
“Yeah,” another student added, glaring at the Will Media reporter. “We need support. If we don’t have money, what are we supposed to research with—your mouth?”
More voices piled on, contempt thick in the air.
“What kind of question is that?”
“Seriously, use your brain.”
“Stop acting like everyone’s as nasty as you.”
Qian Qi wiped her tears like she was wiping away betrayal itself. “Also, berserk powder is still in trial use. We need more time and funding to perfect it. But in two months, we’ll present the formula in its best form.”
She lifted her chin, solemn with determination. “At that time, we’ll hold an auction on campus. We welcome all forces to support Awakeners University’s magic plant work!”
The reporters stared at one another, visibly confused.
This was supposed to be a hero interview.
How had it turned into a business launch?
The Will Media reporter wasn’t satisfied. He leaned forward, voice cutting. “They say you only acted five minutes after the magic beast tide broke out. If you had berserk powder, why didn’t you kill the magic beasts right away? Why wait five minutes and let more people die?”
Zhang Feng’s face darkened.
“What the hell are you implying?” he snapped.