A Little Trick, the Scumbag Dad Can't Hold the Knife After Understanding Love-Chapter 285

As soon as Ji Nian stepped through the door, she learned from the servants that Ji Tingzhou had returned earlier to freshen up before heading straight to a company meeting, which was still ongoing.0

And it was all because of her.0

[Oh… it must be about the restorative serum.]0

Her usually lazy father had actually gone in person this time.0

At this point, Ji Nian still hadn’t grasped just how significant her restorative serum was for a country whose medical technology lagged far behind that of Western nations.0

This project was important enough for Ji Tingzhou to personally oversee.0

Even Lu Jinghuai’s willingness to accept her proposed price without hesitation stemmed partly from the belief that he was getting the better end of the deal.0

...0

A few hours earlier, at Ji Corporation.0

"Secretary Zuo summoned all the executives. Rumor has it Chairman Ji is coming?"0

One of the executives, already seated in the conference room, adjusted his tie, recalling the thorough disinfection process he’d undergone upon entering—scrutinized down to his fingernails.0

Another replied gravely, "Judging by the preparations, it’s almost certain."0

"Is it about the East City project?"0

But that didn’t seem likely. While the East City project was significant, it wasn’t enough to warrant Ji Tingzhou’s personal involvement.0

"More likely the collaboration with the Chen family."0

The questioning executive sifted through his memory before recalling the "Chen family" in question.0

Ji Corporation’s pharmaceutical subsidiary, Azure Biotech, had recently made waves in the industry with its universal antidote. However, the profits it generated didn’t even crack the top ten among Ji Corporation’s holdings.0

Most executives had dismissed it as a mere training exercise—Ji Tingzhou’s way of grooming his heir, Ji Nian.0

Even now, with rumors of a new restorative serum developed in partnership with the Chen family, they remained largely indifferent.0

The moment Ji Tingzhou entered the conference room, the low murmurs ceased instantly.0

Every executive rose, standing at attention in impeccable posture to greet their leader.0

After years under Ji Tingzhou’s leadership, the upper echelons of Ji Corporation had become his most loyal subordinates. His decisions had consistently propelled the company to greater heights, earning him near-mythical reverence.0

Some media outlets even speculated—half-jokingly, half-seriously—that he might be a reincarnated genius.0

"Sit."0

Dressed impeccably for the occasion in a tailored gray suit, Ji Tingzhou wore silver half-rimmed glasses that softened the sharpness of his emerald-green eyes, lending him an air of scholarly composure as he took his seat.0

A small entourage followed him.0

The executives glanced at them, recognizing only the head of Azure Biotech and its star researcher—a seasoned pharmaceutical expert named Bruce.0

"Begin."0

Without preamble, Ji Tingzhou signaled for the presentation to start.0

Bruce stepped forward, projecting a slideshow he’d meticulously prepared. Had Ji Nian been present, she would have recognized the product on display—her restorative serum.0

"Superficial wounds scab within one to three days and fully heal within ten," Bruce explained.0

"Current market-leading wound-healing ointments only accelerate scabbing. Without proper aftercare, scars still form."0

"But…"0

Here, the red-haired foreigner slowed his speech, straightening with visible pride as he played a video.0

The room, initially calm, grew increasingly captivated by the footage.0

The volunteer in the video had a deep gash stretching across his forehead, freshly stitched. A doctor in a white coat sprayed the restorative serum—the very same product Bruce had just introduced—onto the wound.0

None of the executives were medical professionals, but when they saw the wound scab overnight and begin shedding by the third day, revealing smooth, unblemished skin beneath, their breathing grew heavy.0

The implications were undeniable.0

"Does it work on all wounds? Even burns? What about old scars?"0

One executive’s eyes burned brighter than the rest.0

Two years ago, his wife had suffered facial burns from a hairdryer explosion. Despite multiple scar removal surgeries, the marks remained prominent. The once camera-loving woman now shied away from mirrors and rarely left home. He’d scoured hospitals worldwide, yet no treatment had fully erased those scars.0

Bruce smiled.0

"Absolutely."0

The ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‍principle was simple: surgically reopen the scarred tissue, then apply the serum during healing. The old scar would vanish entirely.0

Not only did the serum accelerate wound recovery—it also eliminated scars.0

And, as its creator had quietly included, it even possessed mild detoxifying properties.0

The room erupted in murmurs.0

Even those unfamiliar with pharmaceuticals understood: this would revolutionize medicine—not just domestically, but globally.0

Bruce spoke for nearly an hour before retreating behind Ji Tingzhou.0

Ji Tingzhou surveyed the room, his gaze lingering on the executives struggling to mask their awe.0

He tapped the table once.0

"Understood?"0

Three words were all it took.0

From today onward, Azure Biotech would no longer be treated as just another subsidiary.0

Ji Corporation’s full resources would be mobilized behind it.0

As the meeting concluded, someone finally asked, "The project’s current lead is… Ji Nian?"0

"Correct."0

"But she’s only fourteen. Entrusting something this monumental to her…"0

The unspoken suspicion hung in the air: Was Ji Tingzhou leveraging this project to bolster his daughter’s future succession?0

Even so, wasn’t it too soon?0

...0

Upon returning home, Ji Tingzhou changed out of his restrictive suit and summoned Ji Nian. He informed her that headquarters would dispatch a specialized team to assist her.0

Ji Nian blinked in surprise.0

She’d assumed he’d leave everything to her, as usual.0

Still, this was for the best—it meant fewer late-night calls to Secretary Zuo for manpower.0

"Did you discuss it with Lu Jinghuai?"0

Knowing he meant the partnership with the Lu family, Ji Nian nodded. She hadn’t planned to mention it, but her lingering unease won out, and she confessed how Lu Jinghuai had accepted her price without negotiation.0

Ji Tingzhou’s expression turned incredulous—clearly, she’d undersold it.0

Now, Ji Nian understood.0

The restorative serum was far more valuable than she’d realized. And Lu Jinghuai? He’d known it all along.0

But Ji Nian didn’t realize this at all—in fact, she even suspected that the other person liked her and was deliberately acting this way.0

Just the thought of it made her so embarrassed she could practically die.0

Back in her room, Ji Nian couldn’t sit still. She tried calling Chen Mo on video, but the call didn’t go through.0

Not only was Ji Tingzhou gearing up for something, but the Chen family had also been holding frequent meetings lately. Ji Nian hadn’t seen Chen Mo in days.0

Just as she was about to turn off her phone, Ji Nian exited Chen Mo’s chat and noticed Lu Jinghuai’s message window.0

She had sent him a text twenty minutes ago, but he still hadn’t replied.0

A glance at the time told her it was already 10:30 PM.0

Great. There was no way she could go out now.0

But that didn’t matter.0

She could always sneak out.0