Free Web NovelChapter 358: Chapter 297: Fortuitous Encounter: Madman Hospital Director
Not a research institute, but a scientific research center?
Although "research" and "scientific research" might seem similar, their meanings were different. Their focus was not the same.
A scientific research center...
’Isn’t this a place for manufacturing weapons?’
Gao Neng harbored this doubt as he walked into the security checkpoint.
"BEEP! Security check passed."
Without much fuss, Gao Neng and the others were led by the man in black through the main gates of Federation Research Center 001.
The first thing Gao Neng saw was a massive missile model.
It was cut open in a cross-section.
All sorts of components were visible inside.
Then, two people in lab coats appeared before Gao Neng and his group—a man who looked to be in his fifties and a woman in her thirties.
"Dean Lan, hello," the man in black said respectfully upon seeing the man.
"Yes. Leave the people here and get out." The man called Dean Lan nodded, then unceremoniously waved the man in black away.
"Get out?" The man in black’s brow furrowed slightly.
"What? Can you help if you stay here?" Dean Lan asked again.
"With you here, Dean Lan, a layman like myself naturally has no place to interfere. However, if possible, I’d like to observe and learn," the man in black continued.
"No need. You don’t have the aptitude for it," Dean Lan said with a wave of his hand.
"..." The man in black fell silent.
"Or perhaps you’d like to give Speaker Wu a call?" Dean Lan’s tone grew cold when he saw the man in black still had no intention of leaving.
"Haha, you jest, Dean Lan. It’s just that, the data this time... If you could just, perhaps..."
"Not a chance!" Dean Lan cut him off.
"Alright. In that case, I’ll leave it in your capable hands, Dean Lan." The man in black’s eyes narrowed slightly, but he still nodded and turned to leave.
This all happened right out in the open.
Gao Neng and the others saw it all clearly.
However, what Gao Neng was most curious about now was why this dean’s surname was Lan. Logically speaking, the surname Lan... wasn’t that common, was it?
"Dean Lan." After the man in black left, Shen Ning’Er also greeted Dean Lan respectfully.
"Haha, Ning’Er, no need for such formalities." Dean Lan’s expression clearly changed when he looked at Shen Ning’Er, his tone softening considerably. He then turned his gaze to Gao Neng. "You must be Gao Neng. I’ve heard my younger sister mention you often. Hmm, you’re quite a fine-looking young man."
’His... sister?’ Gao Neng’s heart skipped a beat.
In an instant, a pair of eyes appeared in his mind—eyes that could see through every part of a person’s body. An inexplicable chill ran down his spine.
"Yes. My sister met you in the Forgotten Land and praised you highly." Dean Lan nodded, his gaze beginning to scrutinize Gao Neng.
From head to toe.
It was utterly brazen.
A completely naked gaze.
"..." Gao Neng was speechless.
’He was finally sure.’
’This guy was Dr. Lan’s older brother.’
’What was that old saying?’
’Birds of a feather flock together!’
’Damn it...’
’I kind of want to run for it!’
"Don’t be nervous, Gao Neng. I’m merely interested in your body, that’s all. I have no other intentions," Dean Lan said comfortingly when he noticed Gao Neng’s odd expression.
’Interested in my body?’ Gao Neng was speechless. ’Isn’t that the most dangerous part? I actually wouldn’t have been nervous if you hadn’t said that.’
"Come, Gao Neng, let me introduce you. This is my daughter, Lan Xiaobing. She’s also my assistant," Dean Lan began the introductions.
"Hello, my name is Lan Xiaobing. Gao Neng, it’s a pleasure to meet you." Lan Xiaobing smiled faintly and extended her hand toward Gao Neng.
"Hello, Sister Xiaobing." Gao Neng obediently extended his own hand.
Their hands clasped lightly.
Then, Gao Neng tried to pull his hand back.
But he found...
...he couldn’t.
Lan Xiaobing was gripping his hand tightly. She then used her other hand to adjust the glasses on her nose, her eyes filled with an appraising look.
"Fourth Human Limit breakthrough... impressive indeed. The muscles are so smooth, and the elasticity is top-notch. Excellent, excellent. Come on... take off your clothes. Let me have another feel."
"..." Gao Neng was speechless.
’Is she a psycho?’
’I’m supposed to take my clothes off here?’
’Can’t you see Shen Ning’Er and Fang Tangtang are right here?’
"Xiaobing, you can’t take your clothes off here," Dean Lan said, immediately chiding her with a serious expression.
"Oh..." Lan Xiaobing seemed to have a sudden realization.
"Wait until you get him into a room, then have him take them off," Dean Lan added.
"..." Gao Neng was speechless.
’Mom, I want to go home!’
’If it were possible, he absolutely would not hand himself over to this family. They were genuine psychos, the whole lot of them.’
’Does reaching the pinnacle of research turn everyone into a lunatic?’
Gao Neng truly wanted to run.
But he couldn’t get away.
Because Lan Xiaobing was still gripping his hand, desperately dragging him deeper into the research center, shouting as she went.
"Gao Neng, come with me! Get in the room!"
"Wait a minute. Are you only testing Gao Neng? What about us?" Yi Qinglian watched all this, her pride taking another heavy blow.
’What is this?’
’She was the next Saintess of the Bright Sect!’
’When it came to hidden talents, wasn’t she the most special existence in the Federation?’
’But what was the result?’
’She’d come to the research center, and not only did Dean Lan not spare her a glance, but even his assistant hadn’t looked at her twice.’
"And you are?" Lan Xiaobing stopped.
"Yi Qinglian, the next Saintess of the Bright Sect." Seeing that Lan Xiaobing was finally looking at her, Yi Qinglian immediately lifted her chin again.
"Oh, so your name is Yi Qinglian. Dad, what’s this Yi Qinglian here for?" Lan Xiaobing pondered for a moment, then looked at Dean Lan.
"To make up the numbers," Dean Lan replied casually.
"Oh, so she’s just here to make up the numbers. In that case, just wait over there. Other researchers will come test you. Gao Neng, let’s hurry into the room! I can’t wait any longer!" Lan Xiaobing had another flash of understanding. Then, without sparing Yi Qinglian another glance, she immediately started dragging Gao Neng inside again.
"!!!!" Yi Qinglian exploded.
’What in the world was going on?’
’Wasn’t she specially selected for individual testing because of her extraordinary talent? She had walked up here under the envious and jealous gazes of everyone else!’
’Why was she suddenly just here to make up the numbers?!’
’She, the grand and dignified next Saintess of the Bright Sect...’
’...was just someone to make up the numbers in these two people’s eyes?!’
’This was beyond intolerable!’
Yi Qinglian was furious.
A raging fire burned in her chest. Her face was flushed red, and her very skin seemed to have been set alight by the fury within.
She was on the verge of erupting.
And just then, she heard Gao Neng’s "miserable" cry.
"I don’t want to take my clothes off! I just want a quiet hidden talent test! Why don’t you just treat me like Yi Qinglian and say I’m here to make up the numbers?! Stop dragging me!"
"How could you be the same as her? Ten of her wouldn’t be a match for you! No... a hundred of her wouldn’t be a match for you! Hurry, hurry, let’s not bother with someone who’s just here to make up the numbers." Lan Xiaobing dragged him with all her might.
"No, I want to make up the numbers!"
"No, you can’t make up the numbers!"
"I insist on making up the numbers!"
"No!"
"I insist!"
"Absolutely not!"
"..."
CRACK!
A decorative vase next to Yi Qinglian shattered.
She couldn’t take it anymore!
She was the precious daughter of the West Alliance’s Yi Family, of the direct bloodline. Moreover, she possessed an extremely special hidden talent and had been designated as the next Saintess of the Bright Sect from birth.
Growing up, she had been doted on by her father, cherished by her mother, and cared for by her brother...
And she had not failed to live up to their expectations.
Her brother, Yi Qingge, had entered the Dragon List at thirty-fifth place when he was twenty and was even rated S-Class.
But she was no slouch either!
At the tender age of eighteen, she had already made it into the top one hundred of the Dragon List!
In two years, she even had a chance of surpassing Yi Qingge.
She was a true prodigy, a daughter of heaven!
How could she not be proud?!
But ever since Lin Ying’s successful sneak attack, a palm strike to her chest, her previously smooth-sailing fate seemed to have hit a turning point.
Ever since entering the Federation Government Building, she hadn’t had a moment of peace.
Bullied, she endured.
Bullied again, she endured again.
Now, to be insulted again and again by people from a mere research center... she truly could not endure it any longer. She would use her strength to prove her worth!
"You blind dogs! Open your damn eyes and look! I am Yi Qinglian, the next Saintess of the Bright Sect! My talent is Titanium! Do you have any idea what that means?! Dean Lan, Lan Xiaobing, what do you two amount to in my presence?!"
"Wow, someone actually dares to cause trouble in the research center? Sister Xiaobing, let me go first. Let me handle this!" Gao Neng’s voice once again reached Yi Qinglian’s ears.
"You’ll handle it? Hahaha! Gao Neng, don’t tell me you really think I, Yi Qinglian, would be afraid of you! Come on, hit me! Let’s see if you have the guts..." Yi Qinglian laughed in fury.
But very quickly, her eyes went wide.
Because, right before her eyes, a fist was flying toward her face. It left a phantom afterimage, its speed pushed to the absolute limit.
Most importantly, this fist did not belong to Gao Neng.
"Shen Ning’Er?!" Yi Qinglian’s strength wasn’t low; she identified her attacker in an instant.
However, identifying and dodging were two different things.
Just because you see an arrow flying toward you, does that mean you can definitely dodge it?
Not necessarily!
And in this case, Yi Qinglian could not dodge this punch!
THUD!
Yi Qinglian went flying.
She slammed headfirst into the alloy wall by the door.
THUMP!
Yi Qinglian collapsed to her knees.
Her eyes were wide with disbelief. She couldn’t believe that the one who had attacked her wasn’t Gao Neng, but Shen Ning’Er.
"Shen Ning’Er, you... you dared to sneak attack me?"
"You can show your pride, and you can be arrogant, but you should not have insulted Dean Lan. The contributions he has made to the Federation are something you will never surpass in your entire life!" Shen Ning’Er glanced at Yi Qinglian, then slowly turned her gaze to Dean Lan. "Dean Lan, am I also just here to make up the numbers?"
"Haha, yes, you are," Dean Lan nodded.
"I see. In that case, may I come along to observe Gao Neng’s hidden talent test? Actually, I was the one who led his hidden talent test back in the Forgotten Land. Perhaps I could offer some suggestions along the way," Shen Ning’Er nodded and said.
"Is that so? Alright then." Dean Lan thought for a moment and finally nodded.
"No need to be so polite. And Ning’Er, you shouldn’t always talk about my contributions to the Federation. My contributions aren’t really that much. I’ve only invented thirteen heavy-class super-weapons, won twenty-three patents, and had over a hundred research papers accepted into the Federation’s Highest Academy of Sciences. Sigh... these things are nothing, really. I don’t usually mention them to people!" Dean Lan said with an air of earnest sincerity.
"..." Yi Qinglian was speechless.
’Thirteen heavy-class super-weapons?!’
’Twenty-three patents!’
’Over a hundred research papers accepted into the Federation’s Highest Academy of Sciences?!’
’Could he be the research maniac known throughout the Federation as the ’Madman Hospital Director’?!’
Yi Qinglian understood.
She understood why Shen Ning’Er had suddenly attacked her.
Because this man before her was someone that even her own father, and even the current Sect Leader of the Bright Sect, would not dare to offend lightly.
(The author ’Er Fa Liang Le’ asked me for a shoutout. I asked how. He said any position would be fine... I thought about it and decided to give a top-to-bottom recommendation for "My Spiritual Qi Can Talk." It’s a comedy novel, so if you like that, go check it out!)
