Zhao Fu and Wang Tai had been chatting with Qin He for a while, and their guard had gradually dropped.
"Miss Qin, you don't understand our situation. You are a top medical professor who can get any funding approved and come from a wealthy and influential family. But it's different for us. Our families aren't well-off. Any medical funding approved is for research and cannot be used to improve our living conditions."
Qin He felt extremely disgusted. How could they even think of using official medical funds to improve their family's situation? And they looked so wronged.
Wang Tai, standing beside Zhao Fu, also appeared to be forced into a corner. "Miss Qin, you have no idea how difficult our lives were before. Medical students already have a tough time graduating. We then pursued doctorates and postdoctoral degrees, started research, and finally managed to get the title of professor, yet we still don't earn much."
Qin He inwardly sneered. If they had researched any useful drugs, the government subsidies and bonuses would not have been small. Ultimately, it was just insatiable greed.
"So, this Ice Sea is very profitable?" Qin He asked with a half-smile, feigning interest.
The two men's eyes lit up, thinking Qin He was also interested in this business.
After exchanging a look, Zhao Fu leaned closer and lowered his voice, "Miss Qin, haven't you heard the saying? The most profitable things are all written in the criminal law. You haven't been exposed to this line of work, so you don't know the astronomical profits."
"Astronomical profits might be an exaggeration," Qin He said, pretending to be curious.
Zhao Fu chuckled, "It's certainly not possible in China, but this is Kun Dian. In a place like Kun Dian, as long as you have the skills, many bosses will pay you to do it, and you'll even get a cut—"
Wang Tai chimed in, "Miss Qin, I'm not exaggerating. The money we make here in one day is enough for many people to earn for a lifetime!"
Qin He's eyes turned cold. Yes, but this money was earned at the cost of others' lives! They could take this blood-stained money so at ease!
Qin He appeared hesitant.
Zhao Fu, thinking Qin He was tempted, whispered, "Miss Qin, how about we make a deal? As long as you can get us out of here, we'll bring you in. You are a world-leading medical expert, and you'll surely be able to research something even more potent than Ice Sea. Then, the three of us will be truly rich!"
Wang Tai glanced at Qin He with some concern.
Qin He pursed her lips, appearing to be deep in thought, but in reality, she was utterly disgusted. Zhao Fu spoke very close to her, fearing that their conversation might be overheard by surveillance, and his strong, foul breath was overwhelming.
She spoke hesitantly, "This will affect my reputation, after all."
"Miss Qin, don't worry. You just need to be the mastermind behind the scenes. We will handle the front-end. I swear to you, only the three of us will know about this."
Qin He sneered inwardly. What use were their oaths to people who would engage in such activities? She didn't believe a single word they said. However—
She looked at Zhao Fu. "I can consider this deal, but you should also show some sincerity."
"We are being held here. What sincerity do you want?" Zhao Fu asked, assuming Qin He wanted money. "Don't worry, if you can get us out, we'll give you this amount!" Zhao Fu held up five fingers.
Qin He raised an eyebrow, surprised by their wealth. "Fifty million?"
Zhao Fu and Wang Tai exchanged glances and laughed triumphantly. "Miss Qin, it's five hundred million."
Qin He's heart skipped a beat, and her gaze turned icy. Five hundred million could ruin so many ordinary families. These two truly deserved a thousand deaths!
She pursed her lips. "Since you can't produce it now, give me some other form of sincerity. For example, the formula for Ice Sea."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Fu and Wang Tai hesitated.
Qin He sneered, "You can refuse. It's only a matter of time before I research the formula myself. But your safety..."
The expressions of the two men changed slightly. Although they had only been here for a few days, they had already seen Qin He's influence. She was ostensibly being held captive to treat patients, but even the terrifying man in charge was constrained by this situation and dared not do anything to endanger her life. If Qin He had an issue with them, that man would surely dispose of them. Having operated in the underworld for years, they had developed a keen sense for reading people.
Zhao Fu gritted his teeth. "Fine! I'll write it down for you when I get back!"
Qin He shook her head. "No need to write it down. Just tell me, and I'll listen."
Zhao Fu whispered the formula to Qin He. Qin He narrowed her eyes as she listened, realizing these two had little true expertise. They were using common street drugs mixed with some concoctions. The creation of Ice Sea was partly due to luck.
After Zhao Fu finished, he looked at Qin He. "Miss Qin, we've given you all the sincerity we can. Are you satisfied?"
Qin He nodded.
Wang Tai chimed in, "Then when will you send us away?"
Qin He chuckled. "When did I ever promise to send you away?"
The atmosphere became tense for a moment. Zhao Fu suddenly stood up. "Miss Qin! You can't go back on your word!"
His sudden movement caused the guards at the door to immediately raise their guns, aiming them at him. Zhao Fu's face turned ashen, his eyes filled with disbelief and anger as he stared at Qin He.
Qin He slowly stood up, brushing off the spot where Zhao Fu had been close to her. Although she hadn't touched him, his breath had been sickeningly close. She smiled, "Aren't you afraid the owner here will find out you told me all this?"
With that, she turned and left. Zhao Fu and Wang Tai finally realized they had been tricked. Their faces turned livid as they watched Qin He walk away. They wanted to follow, but the cold, black muzzles of the guns at the door could make them disappear from this world at any moment.
After Qin He returned to her office from the dining hall, Zhao Fu and Wang Tai had still not returned. Half an hour later, the office door opened. Qin He looked up and saw Shen Yicong's reflection on the cold machine screen.
She lowered her gaze. "Mr. Shen, is there something you need?"
Shen Yicong calmly walked in and sat down on a chair nearby. "Miss Qin, you played the game of 'borrowing a knife to kill' quite well."
Qin He sneered. "You didn't have to kill them either."
Shen Yicong smiled enigmatically. "I still need something from Miss Qin. Since Miss Qin dislikes those two so much, it's best to get rid of them."
Qin He felt a wave of nausea. The moment Zhao Fu told her the Ice Sea formula, she knew Shen Yicong wouldn't let them go. She wasn't afraid of Shen Yicong knowing; after all, under his watchful eye, it was difficult for her to do anything else now. Knowing the formula only deepened Qin He's despair. These were addictive formulas, something medicine couldn't solve. She would have to wait until she escaped and force herself to quit, and she certainly couldn't do it alone. She would need to go to an official institution.