Wan Tianhui

Li Mo Shang found himself unable to attain a satisfactory period of sleep.

Having to make do with the couch in the commons, he greeted Su Yuan'er with a full glare when she came down for breakfast. Receiving a thin smile hiding multiple intentions, Li Mo Shang could only sigh as he headed towards his room for a fresh change of clothing.

It was when he had left Magnolia Dormitory that Su Yuan'er ran towards him, her delicate cheeks flushed from exhaustion, causing him to send an inquisitive stare. Su Yuan'er's classes started two hours after Li Mo Shang and Li Zhen Yue, so why was she leaving the dormitory so quickly?

Su Yuan'er grabbed at his arm, stopping Li Mo Shang from continuing to the general lecture hall. Motioning for him to get closer, she spoke with a soft buttery voice, causing Li Mo Shang to receive glares from the onlooking male students.

"Brother Li, can we find a time to chat?"

Li Mo Shang raised an eyebrow towards the unexpected question from Su Yuan'er, indicating for her to continue. Getting no response, he could only sigh and head towards a secluded corner of the dormitory complex, before turning around to face the fidgeting Su Yuan'er. With a sigh of frustration, he could only directly ask.

"Just why do you want to talk? Can it wait until after afternoon lectures?"

"I need your help…"

Su Yuan'er bit her lip, clearly anxious. As she contemplated over an unknown issue for some time, she secretly gazed at Li Mo Shang's countenance. Watching the annoyed expression dissolve into the usual deadpan gaze, she decided to tread the water a step at a time.

"Brother Li, you don't have a girlfriend, do you…?"

Li Mo Shang mentally palmed his face multiple times. Just what did this girl want from him!? Mumbling under her breath about whether he was in an amorous relationship, just what was she thinking in that strange mind of hers? Li Mo Shang's irritation began to stir as he gazed at his terminal, indicating that he had less than half an hour before morning lectures began.

"Speak up. I don't have time, lectures are starting very soon."

"It wouldn't be a…ah!?" Su Yuan'er startled, having broken from her train of thought from Li Mo Shang's sudden interruption. Gazing at Li Mo Shang while tilting her head, she twisted her fingers before sighing loudly.

"Someone at my research group continues courting me for a relationship," she spoke, gradually gaining confidence. "Just because I refused him once, he began to pressure me in various methods, and none of the staff will intervene. I want a legitimate reason for denying him."

"You want me to act as your pretend lover?" asked Li Mo Shang.

Oddly enough, he somehow felt uneasy upon hearing the beginnings of Su Yuan'er's request, as if he were falling into a fierce and unavoidable honey trap. Seeing a hint of confirmation within Su Yuan'er's eyes, he immediately began to refuse when she suddenly grabbed his arm.

"Just be in a nominal relationship, please?" she asked, her voice quivering from embarrassment.

"That senior is extremely lecherous, but will never go after anyone in an official relationship. If he did attempt to do so, then the University would expel him."

"Why didn't you find Wang Xing?" Li Mo Shang suggested, his voice completely flat. "Perhaps he would agree with enthusiasm."

Su Yuan'er fiercely blushed with embarrassment. Before leaving the dormitory to chase after Li Mo Shang, she had indeed asked Wang Xing for help. However, the frail-looking youth had immediately declined her, stating that he was already in a relationship.

Before she even had the opportunity to apologize for the intrusive request, he had even provided photo evidence, thoroughly embarrassing her! She faced Li Mo Shang, opening her mouth to attempt to convince him of assisting her, when he suddenly gazed at his terminal, his expression darkening.

"I'll have to leave this moment," he spoke coolly. "Perhaps we can continue this discussion later."

With that, he quickly sped off towards the general lecture building, leaving Su Yuan'er behind. Gazing at his retreating figure once more, Su Yuan'er held a despondent smile filled with hopeless wishes. She would see that senior all day today, and didn't know what kind of humiliation he would put her through.

-

Li Mo Shang never thought that he would exploit his cultivation just to get into the lecture auditorium on time. Utilizing the advantages of <Cold Wind Trace> and spiritual qi directed towards the muscles in his legs, Li Mo Shang had blazed through the half-kilometer walk to the lecture building.

On the course of the trip, he had realized that while tempering the body, maintaining balance was paramount. He would have never anticipated nor foreseen the disruption of balance caused by the solely refined humerus in his right arm. The single refined bone had nearly caused him to deviate off course by a significant margin due to the large difference in weight, and he even had to pause every few meters to adjust his balance.

Sitting in his usual position near the right side of the auditorium, he noticed that Wan Xue had not shown up today, leaving the pitiful teaching assistants attempt to regain order in the lecture hall. Li Mo Shang was in the middle of finishing an essay assignment when the auditorium doors opened, and a middle-aged man walked in.

Dressed in a plain brown suit and pants, the lean middle-aged man pushed his glasses to his nose before reading the note clenched in his hand, his voice resounding throughout the settled lecture hall.

"Is there a student named…Li Mo Shang? Yes, yes, you're being called to the administrative building, they have a guest requesting to meet you."

Li Mo Shang could only stand under the gazes of his classmates as they inquired about the visitor. Special guest visits during lecture sessions was relatively rare in Blue Rose University, for the guests were clearly informed not to disturb lecture session hours.

Visitations were generally rescheduled for evening hours whenever possible, hence anybody demanding a visit at this hour could be anything but ordinary. Reminding Li Zhen Yue to show him a copy of her notes later, Li Mo Shang departed for the administrative building with the middle-aged man.

Facing the octagonal building once more with its plain exterior and extravagant interior, Li Mo Shang could only release a light sigh at the statues of precious materials. The middle-aged man was discussing with the attendants at the counter, of which an office worker then approached Li Mo Shang, his curt voice returning Li Mo Shang from a temporary daydream.

"Student, follow me. The guest rooms are on the right."

Facing the vast elevating platforms, Li Mo Shang noticed two corridors on either wall, of which he was led into the second one. There, he saw numerous guest rooms marked with 'Occupied', and even with his enhanced senses, could not eavesdrop on the conversations. Li Mo Shang's room was on the far end of the hallway, and the office worker quickly left after Li Mo Shang had entered.

The guest room was quite spacious for its small perceived appearance from the hallway. Li Mo Shang found himself within a rectangular room with two carpeted couches, a lounge table with snacks and fruits, spanning over seven square meters in area.

Sitting on a nearby couch, Li Mo Shang mused over a temporary idea that had been accumulating in his thoughts, to upload the <Heretic Manual> into the <Hourglass of Eternity>. He had been itching to attempt it, but the <Hourglass of Eternity> had been busy and unresponsive since his last attempt of inputting fragmented knowledge regarding the central building in the dormitory complex.

If fragmented information would jam the <Hourglass of Eternity> for such a long time, what would happen if the <Heretic Manual>, a tome that intentionally withheld information, was inputted for decoding? Li Mo Shang didn't dare imagine the consequences.

Suddenly, the door opened, and in walked in two figures. With slight surprise and shock, Li Mo Shang discovered a middle-aged man entering, with Wan Xue trailing in the back. As if detecting his gaze, Wan Xue quickly lowered her head, causing the middle-aged man to frown. Seating himself on the other couch, the man cleared his throat before speaking in a husky voice, stretching out his hand for a shake.

"Young man, I am Wan Xue's father, Wan Tianhui. I heard from my daughter that you have something she desires to possess, and wanted to negotiate. I apologize for disrupting your academics, but I hope you can understand the worries of a father."

Wan Tianhui spoke evenly, neither displaying arrogance nor humility, and he spoke to Li Mo Shang on equal terms. With a slight frown, Li Mo Shang inwardly grumbled before returning to his deadpan mask, standing to shake the middle-aged man's hand.

Recalling the standards of etiquette imparted by his mother, Li Mo Shang introduced himself as a student of Blue Rose University instead of a scion of the Li Family. Wan Tianhui sent an appreciative gaze at the lack of arrogance; he had researched before and determined Li Mo Shang's identity as a member of the medicinal giant Li Family, and had expected an exhibition of youthful arrogance.

Such calm disposition and controlled behavior, such people were relatively difficult to find. Lightly coughing, he jumped straight into the heart of the discussion.

"Young Li, how about we negotiate regarding the matter of the Yin Restoration Pill?"

"How would Senior Wan like to negotiate regarding this issue?"

Li Mo Shang threw back the issue. He wanted to see whether the middle-aged man was willing to abuse the emotional card like Wan Xue.

Wan Tianhui paused, briefly contemplating before his eyes shone with a strange light. "What would Young Li desire in return for the Yin Restoration Pill?"

"Equal reimbursement for the price I paid during the auction. I'll be courteous and drop the interest."

Wan Tianhui could only cough violently from Li Mo Shang's terms, blood surging within his veins. He had found out from Wan Xue that the price that bought the Yin Restoration Pill within Li Mo Shang's possession was three hundred and sixty-seven billion, an astronomical price regarding the Wan Family's identity.

Even if they sold ownership rights to their research projects, properties, and possessions, it wouldn't even amount to half of that figure! His heart bleeding from the mere mention of such a debt, Wan Tianhui desperately attempted to dissuade Li Mo Shang.

"…Couldn't you…cut our suffering family some slack…?"

"Didn't I sent Old Tai over to assist with the treatment? Convincing him to go took a massive favor from me, how else should I be reimbursed? Not to mention, even the hospital fees for that visit was covered by me."

Li Mo Shang's cold reply instantly shot over, causing Wan Tianhui's mouth to flap open, gaping with embarrassment. Next to him, Wan Xue simply refused to meet anyone's eyes, staring at the refreshments on the lounge table with an unknown ardor.

"But…"

"How does Senior Wan intend on settling this issue? This pill did take a significant chunk of my income, I hope Senior understands."

Li Mo Shang replied, masking his amusement. To his intrigue, the indeterminate and perplexing sensation of amusement at watching people squirm under verbal attacks rose once again. Reflecting on his father's prank yesterday night, he pondered on his next course of action while Wan Tianhui struggled to form an argument.

"How…about marriage! You can have Little Wan's hand in marriage. As a family, there would be no cause for a debt!"

Wan Tianhui slapped his thigh, his outburst causing Wan Xue's head to jerk up and stare at her father at his shamelessness. Li Mo Shang lifted his brows in surprise, and an amusing thought came to mind. Deciding on adding some color into his relatively plain social life, he stood and suddenly expressed a bashful smile, causing Wan Xue to have a bad premonition.

"I'm sorry, but I already have a steadfast relationship. Unfortunately, talks of marriage are impossible."

"You can have a second wife, what's wrong with that!!!"

Wan Tianhui suddenly roared without regard for shame, completely ignoring the other occupants of the room and their various reactions.