QT: The Rescue Of The Miserable Bigshots-Chapter 294 - 9.40

"What does Chief Fang want with me?"

At the A City base, Ling Zhuang finished his autopsy at an unhurried pace, changed into a fresh white coat, a coat indistinguishable from the previous one, and only then made his way to Fang Jing’s office. By the time he arrived, almost an hour had passed since Fang Jing’s men came to fetch him.

Upon entering the room, he immediately noticed Fang Jing’s impatient expression.

Ling Zhuang’s own demeanor remained calm and composed, still carrying that gentle yet distant smile.

Fang Jing felt as though he had punched a soft cotton ball, his anger landed nowhere. The man before him seemed completely oblivious to his displeasure.

He really is a lab idiot, Fang Jing scoffed inwardly. He can’t even read basic expressions.

Was this why he dared to lay a hand on his nephew, Fang Geng, earlier?

He clearly didn’t know whom he could afford to offend.

"Professor Ling." Fang Jing began, putting on airs, "What exactly did you do to Fang Geng? He is my nephew, my own flesh and blood. Didn’t anyone warn you beforehand?"

He knew his nephew’s personality well. Fang Geng bragged about his connection to him everywhere. Even if no one asked, he would always mention he was the nephew of the A City base’s leader.

Chen Ping from the Sky Squad had also confirmed that Fang Geng indeed boasted about this.

Yet Ling Zhuang still attacked him!

Was he not afraid of being humiliated or punished at the A City base?

He had driven Fang Geng insane and still dared to come to his territory, freeloading comfortably as if nothing had happened.

It was practically a slap to the face.

"Yes, he mentioned it." Ling Zhuang replied gracefully.

Fang Jing almost laughed out of anger. "And you still dared to attack him? Professor Ling, are you unbelievably bold, or just too stupid to understand the consequences?"

Ling Zhuang’s lips curved slightly. His cool gaze, half-hidden behind his glasses, swept across Fang Jing. "If I must choose, then I suppose I am unbelievably bold."

"What? What did you just say?!"

Fang Jing stared at him in disbelief. Ling Zhuang’s response completely shattered his previous assumptions about the man.

He wasn’t someone ignorant of social cues, nor someone too straightforward or idealistic to compromise.

No, he knew exactly what he was doing, and he still did it!

This wasn’t naivety.

This was provocation.

This was outright contempt.

But where did a professor without even an awakened ability get such confidence?!

"Aren’t you afraid I’ll kill you? Or throw you out of the A City base and let the zombies tear you apart?"

Realizing Ling Zhuang was provoking him intentionally, Fang Jing completely forgot his earlier plan of using pressure and coercion to make Ling Zhuang submit.

"Didn’t you just say I’m incredibly bold?" Ling Zhuang replied softly.

He calmly pulled out a chair, sat down, and smiled as if chatting casually.

The scene struck Fang Jing with déjà vu.

He suddenly remembered, back when he tried to stop Jiang Jiamian from forming a team, Jiang Jiamian had also barged into his office, ignored his authority, and pulled up a chair to sit without permission.

One arrogant and flamboyant, the other seemingly gentle yet sharp, yet both evoked the same reaction in him, complete bone-deep fury.

"How could someone so bold be afraid of being devoured alive?"

Ling Zhuang pushed up his glasses lightly, his signature gesture when maintaining his composed image.

Unfortunately, Fang Jing couldn’t comprehend the subtle meaning beneath that action.

Looking at Ling Zhuang’s refined appearance, he assumed the man was merely pretending to be calm. Remembering his original purpose for calling him here, he decided to suppress his anger for now and set the Fang Geng issue aside.

"Professor Ling, I must say, I am indeed very angry about this matter."

Fang Jing sat down in the chair, deliberately softening his expression as he looked at Ling Zhuang. He paused for a moment before saying, "But I didn’t invite you here to interrogate you. After all, my nephew was indeed the one who offended you first. And you are a rare talent. I, Fang Jing, am not the petty, vindictive type who uses personal grudges to settle scores."

Ling Zhuang laughed inwardly. On his face, however, he only showed faint puzzlement.

This self-important idiot, Fang Jing, if it weren’t for the fact that his precious little darling hadn’t had enough fun yet, Ling Zhuang would’ve already beaten Fang Jing half to death, just to stop this fool from being an eyesore in front of him.

Seeing Ling Zhuang’s confused look, Fang Jing continued, "So, I intend to give Professor Ling a way out. As long as Professor Ling is willing to take proper care of my nephew, and then devote himself to research, creating miracles for Base A and achieving results as soon as possible, then I can completely let bygones be bygones."

"Results? What results does Chief Fang want?"

Ling Zhuang asked mildly.

He was honestly getting impatient. Fang Jing kept circling around the topic without saying it directly.

Of course, Ling Zhuang knew exactly why Fang Jing wouldn’t speak openly.

Because the matter of the potion was something Fang Jing shouldn’t know about.

Otherwise, wouldn’t he basically be admitting that he installed surveillance or planted spies?

Though, honestly, what he had already done was unbelievably stupid. But apparently not stupid enough to confess on his own.

Fang Jing’s gaze flickered. "For example, a vaccine for the zombie virus. Or, even if nothing can be achieved concerning zombies, strengthening human abilities is also a viable research direction."

Ling Zhuang nodded. "Mm, you’re right."

Fang Jing pretended to think for a moment before finally speaking. "For instance... is there any method to rapidly increase an ability user’s powers? Professor Ling should already know zombie crystal cores can enhance an ability user’s strength, but the effect is slow. Perhaps if Professor Ling studies the principles behind crystal cores, you might find a faster, more effective way to boost abilities?"

Ling Zhuang smiled slightly. "Chief Fang truly lives up to his reputation, your insight is sharper than others’. Yes, I’ve been considering that line of thought. Although I don’t know how to enhance existing abilities, I do have some leads on how to give someone without awakened powers a level of strength not inferior to an average ability user. But the specific effects and further improvements still need time to observe."

Hearing him speak so openly, Fang Jing’s anger immediately softened. It seemed Ling Zhuang wasn’t rebellious after all.

With a show of surprised delight, Fang Jing asked, "Oh? Professor Ling already has results?"

Ling Zhuang shook his head gently. "The effects aren’t fully confirmed yet. Continuous experiments are required. But regarding enhancing ability user’s powers, as Chief Fang mentioned, I can guarantee there will be progress."

Fang Jing brightened. "You’re confident!?"

Ling Zhuang narrowed his eyes slightly at the undisguised greed on the man’s face. "Yes, but..." Whether you can wait long enough... that’s another story entirely.