Knight or Demon

"I understand."

There was a hint of admiration in Murong Wan's voice.

"There's one more thing, regarding the South China Welfare House.

Lin Tianhao closed that welfare house because he found it unlucky, but follow-up funding never arrived, and now it's practically an abandoned project.

I was thinking..."

"Restart it. It must be restarted."

Li Wei's voice became unquestionable.

"And we need to increase investment.

This matter benefits the country and the people; cost must be no object.

New Voyage Group will provide the funding. In your name, build it into the best welfare house in the country.

Not just the hardware; the software needs to keep up too.

The best teachers, the best psychological counselors, the best medical conditions.

Oversee this personally. If the money isn't enough, I'll make up the difference."

Murong Wan was silent for a moment, her voice carrying a hint of emotion.

"Alright, I'll do as you say."

Yan Ruyu leaned against the sofa, her brows furrowed, unable to help being somewhat moved.

She didn't understand why Li Wei cared so much about a welfare house.

It seemed somewhat out of place compared to his cold commercial maneuvers.

Just then, Li Wei's voice rang out again.

"Zhao Anqi, Lewis."

Two analysts in professional suits with capable demeanors stood up.

One wore gold-rimmed glasses, looking rigorous and intellectual;

The other was tall with sharp eyes.

They were the two gold-medal analysts dispatched by Yinshan Capital to Li Wei's side.

The two walked to the hospital bed and bowed slightly.

"Boss."

"I have a new task for you."

Li Wei's voice was several degrees colder than before.

"In the name of Yinshan Capital, immediately search nationwide for a pharmaceutical company or bio-laboratory that holds a legal gene-pharmaceutical license."

Gene-pharmaceuticals?

Yan Ruyu's pupils contracted sharply.

"Scale, profit, loss—none of that matters."

Li Wei's voice passed through the screen and reached her ears clearly.

"I only have two requirements: the technology and that license.

It would be best if it's in Shen City.

If not, no matter the cost, take the entire company...

...or the entire laboratory, and move it intact to Shen City for me."

Zhao Anqi, wearing the gold-rimmed glasses, pushed them up, a hint of gravity flashing in her eyes behind the lenses.

"Boss, you might not be aware.

In this country, the approval process for gene-pharmaceutical licenses is extremely strict; they are practically as rare as phoenix feathers.

Behind every license, there is a deep background and intricate web of interests.

Acquiring one would be very difficult."

"Moreover,"

Lewis added from the side.

"Research into Gene-pharmaceuticals is a true bottomless pit; it's the most money-burning business in the world.

Because it directly touches upon the ultimate code of human birth, aging, sickness, and death.

Countless capital and geniuses have thrown themselves into it, yet after decades, there are very few results that can truly be commercialized.

In this industry, the failure rate is as high as 99.9%."

Yan Ruyu's heart pounded.

Almost the instant she heard the words 'Gene-pharmaceuticals,' she thought of the analysis report regarding the 'instinct' drug.

Complex composite neurostimulants, unknown bio-enzyme components, the unique 'Imprinting Effect'... everything pointed toward that mysterious and forbidden field.

He must have learned about the situation from Qin Xue.

What does he want to do?

He's gone to such lengths, wanting a gene-pharmaceutical license at any cost, is it to... develop an antidote for 'instinct' and save Qin Bing?

Or is it that he wants to replicate or even improve that demonic drug, taking that power into his own hands?

In an instant, countless conjectures churned in Yan Ruyu's mind.

She looked at the blurry figure behind the screen.

For the first time, she felt that this man's inner world was far more complex and profound than she had imagined.

He was like a bottomless sea—calm on the surface, but with undercurrents surging beneath, hiding a massive vortex capable of swallowing everything.

"I know it's hard, and I know it burns money."

Li Wei's voice interrupted her thoughts.

"I don't care how much money it takes, and I don't care what the cost is."

His voice carried an unquestionable determination.

"From now on, this is the highest priority task for Yinshan Capital for the foreseeable future.

Is that understood?"

Zhao Anqi and Lewis exchanged a look, both seeing shock in the other's eyes.

But they didn't ask another word.

"Understood, Boss."

After Zhao Anqi and Lewis took their orders and left, the hospital room fell into a brief silence.

Only the rhythmic 'beep-beep' of the medical equipment and several intertwined, deliberately slowed breaths remained.

Yan Ruyu could feel that the atmosphere behind the screen had become somewhat heavy because of that unquestionable command.

Even Yang Yun, who had been waiting by the side, stopped stirring her coffee and looked inside with a complex gaze.

Acquiring a gene-pharmaceutical company.

Everyone present was well aware of the determination represented by this action and the resources it would consume.

Yan Ruyu's thoughts were still stuck on that previous question.

Li Wei, did he want to play the knight who rescues the princess...

...or did he want to become the evil dragon perched atop the treasure, possessing power that could destroy heaven and earth?

Emotionally, she hoped it was the former.

After all, he was seriously injured to save Qin Bing, and by a twist of fate, he had become the only key to her shackles.

If he could develop an antidote, that would undoubtedly be the best outcome.

But her reason, and the deep insight into human nature forged over her years as a criminal police officer, were frantically sounding alarms.

Someone who could transform from a debt-ridden unemployed youth into a capital tycoon with hundreds of billions in assets in just a few months...

A man who could survive against a top professional killer...

He was full of too many mysteries and irrationalities.

The logic of such a person's behavior could never be measured by the moral standards of ordinary people.

The power represented by the 'instinct' drug was too tempting.

It was a god-like or demon-like power capable of controlling people's hearts.

Once he grasped it, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Yan Ruyu found herself caught in a dilemma.

She both hoped Li Wei would succeed and feared his success.

This contradictory feeling was like two hands repeatedly tearing at her heart, causing her a wave of unprecedented agitation.

"Wait, Zhao Anqi, Lewis.

There's one more thing."

Li Wei's voice rang out again, pulling her back from her chaotic thoughts.

The two who had just reached the door stopped and turned back to the hospital bed.

"Boss, what else do you require?"