"You want to be a pharmacist?"
A cold voice sounded as a woman with flowing long hair and a stern face emerged.
She was tall and exuded an air of arrogance.
Security guard Xiao Wang didn't even dare to look directly at her, merely speaking softly before leaving the floor.
"Yes, I want to give it a try," Chen Shu said, continuously appraising her.
"This is no place for children. Go back," the woman stated.
She turned and left, not once making eye contact with Chen Shu.
"Xiao Yu, what's going on? Introducing just anyone to the company, always causing trouble."
"My interview hasn't even started yet?" Chen Shu shouted.
"It's already over!"
The woman's indifferent voice echoed as she returned to the laboratory.
Options reappeared before Chen Shu's eyes.
[Option One: Remain silent and go home dejected. Completion Reward: Title "The Unfulfilled Ambition, Crushed Before It Begins," Wearing Effect: Aura of Misfortune +1]
[Option Two: Catch her off guard and kick her in the backside, shattering her composure and enraging her, instantly breaking through her defenses. Completion Reward: Moderate Beast Taming Power]
[Option Three: Sneak into the laboratory and look for an opportunity. Completion Reward: Charge Skill +1]
Chen Shu looked at the woman's receding back. Although he strongly desired to choose the second option, reason prevailed.
If he kicked her, he would definitely lose the job and incur her lasting resentment.
"I'll sneak in and take a look first."
Seeing the woman had gone far, Chen Shu swaggered to the laboratory door.
"Hmm, I didn't expect there to be spare clothes."
Chen Shu calmly picked up the white coat from the doorway, put it on, donned a mask, and then entered the laboratory.
His demeanor was composed, and he instantly blended in.
Chen Shu entered a small laboratory where three people were diligently refining medicinal liquids.
The three were focused on their tasks, refining flame medicinal liquids.
"Busy with work?"
Chen Shu clasped his hands behind his back and greeted them amiably.
The three looked up, momentarily unsure of who he was, but could only smile and nod.
"Keep up the good work, keep up the good work. The company cannot do without its core strength like you," Chen Shu said, walking away with his hands behind his back.
"The leader departs," one of them said hastily, mistaking him for a high-ranking company executive.
Chen Shu, who was walking, stumbled. He hadn't expected to be mistaken for a leader.
His eyes immediately filled with confidence, and he began to stroll around boldly.
"Hmm? Finally found the Strength Elixir."
Chen Shu's expression lit up as he entered a laboratory.
However, there was no one inside. He assumed they must have been called away for something.
"Should I wait?" Chen Shu idled in the laboratory.
After a few minutes, he noticed various medicinal herbs on the table, even five precious Strength Flowers.
Chen Shu's heart stirred, and he directly picked up the herbs.
On his system's Alchemy interface, the Strength Elixir was displayed as available for refinement. "Refine?"
Chen Shu, filled with curiosity, chose to refine.
At that moment, he felt himself enter a strange state, his body seemingly managed by the system.
His hands were steady, like a machine, continuously picking up the refined medicinal materials and adding them to the container in precise proportions.
Soon, the white medicinal liquid in the container emitted a faint sweet aroma. It was the Strength Elixir sold on the market.
"Low-grade Strength Elixir refined successfully. Upon refining ten times, Mid-grade Strength Elixir will be unlocked! 1/10"
Chen Shu was slightly surprised; he hadn't expected the system to be so user-friendly.
Mid-grade Strength Elixir could be used for contracted spirits from level four to six. The refining materials were the same, but it required two Strength Flowers as the main ingredient, and the refining difficulty doubled, naturally doubling the selling price.
"I wonder how many bottles were refined."
Chen Shu poured the medicinal liquid into standard-sized bottles.
Before long, a total of thirteen bottles of Strength Elixir were placed on the table, equivalent to over sixty thousand Chinese Yuan.
His cost was less than twenty thousand Yuan, truly a profitable industry.
Of course, the real profit wasn't from the Strength Elixir itself, but from his system.
Depending on the pharmacist's skill, five to ten bottles of Strength Elixir could be refined.
An average pharmacist could only refine five bottles, with the possibility of failure.
Chen Shu, with his system's assistance, naturally achieved the highest level of ten bottles.
Furthermore, his Mastery-level proficiency reduced material consumption by 30%, meaning an additional 30% yield, thus resulting in thirteen bottles.
"Did I refine too many bottles at once? That might be too conspicuous," Chen Shu mused.
Just then, approaching footsteps were heard.
Chen Shu acted swiftly, storing seven bottles of the elixir into his system space.
The laboratory door opened, and two people in white coats entered.
"Hmm? Who are you?" Xu Qingxue frowned, her eyes showing displeasure.
"Trouble! It's her!"
Chen Shu's heart sank. He hadn't expected it to be the woman who had treated him with indifference.
"The laboratory layout is quite good."
Chen Shu, hands behind his back, nodded and walked towards the exit as if nothing had happened.
"It's you!" Xu Qingxue instantly realized. "That student!!"
"Holy cow, you can recognize me from that?"
Chen Shu hadn't expected the woman to react so quickly and had to remove his mask.
"How dare you enter the laboratory without permission?" Xu Qingxue's eyes blazed with anger. The other party was so audacious.
"Sister, I'm genuinely here for an interview. Why make things difficult for me?" Chen Shu said.
The two stared at each other, locked in a stalemate.
"Huh? These medicinal liquids?"
The person accompanying Xu Qingxue suddenly looked towards the laboratory table and saw six bottles of Strength Elixir placed there.
He stepped forward and sniffed the aroma of the Strength Elixir.
"This is genuine Strength Elixir!" the pharmacist exclaimed, clearly in disbelief.
Xu Qingxue also reacted and looked at Chen Shu incredulously. "Did you refine these?"
"I told you, I really can refine Strength Elixir," Chen Shu spread his hands, appearing helpless.
A high school student could refine Strength Elixir, and moreover, he had refined six bottles, which meant his skill surpassed that of ordinary alchemists.
Such earth-shattering news left the two in a prolonged silence.
"It turns out some people are truly just filling space in this world."
After a long pause, Xu Qingxue swallowed and asked, "Is your failure rate for refining medicinal liquids high?"
"I rarely fail," Chen Shu replied.
"On behalf of the company, I hope you will become a pharmacist in our department!" Xu Qingxue said solemnly, regretting her earlier attitude.
"A thick fog has descended; I never realized the burden fell upon myself."
"I really didn't like your attitude earlier, Uncle Chen."
Chen Shu raised an eyebrow slightly, shook his head, and looked at Xu Qingxue with amusement.