Chapter 12 Science

It breathes, and it locks in moisture...

This is just a "moisturizer"!

MX Company is a cosmetics company, and although Lin Xian works in the design department, he still has a certain understanding of the basics of makeup and skincare products.

The three biggest demands women have for skincare products are —

Whitening, wrinkle reduction, and moisturizing.

Nowadays, none of the moisturizing products on the market can provide absolute, long-lasting hydration.

During makeup application, to achieve moisturizing effects, it's usually necessary to apply several layers of skincare: a layer of essence, a layer of lotion, and a layer of moisturizer.

Not to mention how cumbersome and heavy this feels, it's also uncomfortable for the skin.

But looking at Professor Xu's chemical substance from another angle, its properties perfectly solve many of the issues with current moisturizer products.

Therefore, in the moisturizing skincare domain, a novel moisturizer utilizing this chemical substance would be a disruptive force.

Wouldn't they just sell like crazy?

"I understand now."

Lin Xian said slowly:

"If we can secure the usage rights for this chemical substance and use it as the launch product for our new brand Rhein, we can definitely overturn the entire skincare market. At the least, we would be unrivaled in the moisturizing arena."

"That's right."

Zhao Yingjun nodded and said:

"Nowadays, all the major cosmetics companies around the world have offered Professor Xu very high prices, with some companies even proposing licensing fees of several million dollars."

Hisss...

Lin Xian took a sharp breath of cold air.

Several million dollars, and that's just the licensing fee. It is simply too exaggerated; converted, it's at least tens of millions of Long Yuan.

But as someone who works in the cosmetics industry, Lin Xian was very clear that Professor Xu's product was worth the price.

If they could get an exclusive license, it would essentially be sentencing all other brands' moisturizing products to death.

It would be enough to monopolize the entire moisturizing market.

"Actually, MX Company has offered even higher terms."

Zhao Yingjun said with a wry smile:

"But Professor Xu doesn't even give us the time of day... However, the good news is, he isn't giving any other company the time of day either, so we still have a chance."

"Come on, Lin Xian, let's go and greet Professor Xu."

...

Lin Xian also held a wine glass and followed Zhao Yingjun to the corner of the hall.

As soon as Professor Xu Yun saw Zhao Yingjun approaching, he turned his head to leave—

"Professor Xu, it's been a long time!"

Zhao Yingjun greeted with a smile as she walked up.

Professor Xu Yun turned around and gave an awkward smile.

"Congratulations, Professor Xu."

Zhao Yingjun raised her wine glass to meet with Professor Xu Yun's:

"Your research results are truly a groundbreaking invention! I believe that if it's applied in the right field, it will definitely realize its full potential!"

However...

Professor Xu Yun did not clink glasses with Zhao Yingjun.

He looked down, laughed at himself, and said:

"Are you talking about that laughable failure? I've already received enough mockery."

"No, Professor Xu! I don't think it's a failure; you should treasure your rese—"

"Miss Zhao."

Professor Xu Yun interrupted Zhao Yingjun with his hand. He looked up, his face serious, and said:

"Miss Zhao, I am very pleased to see you here today."

"If you're here to donate funds for scientific pursuits, then I'm more than happy to drink as many glasses with you as you like."

"But if you're here with other intentions... I am sorry, but I must decline."

...

Lin Xian squinted his eyes.

It was clear that Professor Xu Yun did not welcome Zhao Yingjun and even had a strong aversion to interacting with these cosmetic companies.

"You flatter me, Professor Xu, but let's keep things separate,"

Zhao Yingjun maintained her smile:

"I'm here today solely to support scientific endeavors and research; there's no other agenda."

"That's good to hear, then on behalf of the scientific researchers of Donghai City, I thank you, Miss Zhao!"

Professor Xu Yun extended his glass to clink glasses, and Zhao Yingjun purposely lowered hers a bit.

Clack!

After the toast, both of them drained their glasses.

Putting down his glass, Professor Xu Yun looked at Zhao Yingjun:

"Miss Zhao, I hope to see you more often at occasions like this one, and not in my laboratory."

With that, Professor Xu turned and left.

Zhao Yingjun pulled out a white handkerchief, pinched a corner of it, and dabbed at the red wine stain on her lips:

"You see, Lin Xian, he's always had this attitude towards us; today was actually not too bad."

Lin Xian nodded his head.

He had little contact with Zhao Yingjun before, and hadn't even exchanged a word with her.

He had thought that this woman would be lofty and superior everywhere she went.

But now it seemed… she too had her difficulties, she too had to put on a smiling face in front of Professor Xu Yun and bow to clink glasses with him.

However, this was also unavoidable.

The company needed to grow.

The people below needed to eat.

At just 23 years old, Zhao Yingjun had grown the company to this size within less than two years after returning from studying abroad; her family background and heritage must be impressive, undoubtedly supported by family resources.

But Lin Xian couldn't understand why she would choose to strike out on her own instead of taking an easy path, biding her time to take over the family business.

These matters were known to few within the company; Zhao Yingjun must have her own distress and her own thoughts.

"Professor Xu Yun must be in desperate need of research funds and equipment… Why doesn't he want to turn that failed product into capital?"

Lin Xian was puzzled:

"Clearly, with financial backing, he could set up his own lab and carry out research under much better conditions. Who knows, he might actually come up with something."

Zhao Yingjun put down the handkerchief, smiled helplessly, and said:

"This is probably the pride and stubbornness of a scientist at play. He has failed for too long, been mocked for too long, so he's even less able to accept selling his failures around the world."

"That accidental chemical substance might look like a treasure to us. But to Professor Xu Yun… it might be seen as a shameful scar, a pain that goes right to the heart every time it is mentioned."

Zhao Yingjun set down her glass, crossed her arms, and looked at Lin Xian:

"You're also a graduate of East Sea University—could you think of some way to help me?"

"Me?"

Lin Xian was stunned.

For a moment, he thought of the '86 version of "Journey to the West," where the character Bumper Ar Lan was ordered by the Nine-Headed Beetle: "Go eliminate Master Tang and his disciples!"

Who was he to measure up!

These upper-class nobles, these business tycoons, even they were being snubbed by Professor Xu Yun.

As a team leader, seen as a mere schoolboy in their eyes, how could he possibly manage to broker such a major deal?

"I'll ask around."

That was all Lin Xian could reply.

He was finally beginning to understand why Zhao Yingjun had brought him to this dinner… perhaps she thought, since he and Professor Xu Yun were alumni, that he might be able to establish a connection in the future.

But she was greatly overestimating his abilities.

Perhaps it was the exceptional performance of the Rhein Cat project that gave Zhao Yingjun a terrible misunderstanding of his real level of ability.

But that cat was literally copied from a dream!

Could it be that from a dream… he could also replicate Professor Xu Yun's research results?