Chapter 75 1/2

Kio was genuinely baffled by this.

They had considered the possibility of Shengquan using public opinion, but Starlight Entertainment had only been around for two years. Moreover, Shengquan had invested in those research projects for just a year. How could she possibly surpass Kio’s achievements?

Although Kio excelled at winning public opinion battles, they did have real capabilities.

The guide mechanical dog project had taken nearly four years in total, and with technological expertise supporting them, they were confident.

Shengquan, being in the entertainment industry and using technology for movie props, what groundbreaking results could she achieve?

Then they were slapped in the face.

While the hype did increase, the massive customer base swiftly shifted towards Huaxia.

A high score of 5.3 in just one year for Huaxia’s mechanical guide dog?

Even if Gu Shuyue was a genius, how was that possible in just one year with the small team she led? Even with the limited time and resources given to their company’s research team, they couldn’t achieve such results.

They almost immediately rushed to the research and testing institution. There, they saw a line of small words written clearly at the top of the testing sheet.

Funds Invested in the Project: 500 million Huaxia Currency

Five—hundred—million—

Kio’s management: “…”

Invested in a student team.

Five hundred million in one year.

Five hundred million! Five hundred million!

These words echoed incessantly in their minds.

The management felt like Shengquan had gone mad.

Scientific projects indeed required funds, but that was usually for major projects. For a small student team, she threw in five hundred million in just a year. It was more than what they spent in four years of research.

Why wasn’t she playing by the rules? It was unreasonable.

Despite how the management was collapsing mentally, the researchers at Kio’s affiliated research institute had a different perspective.

“Five hundred million in a year; I envy that. No wonder they could achieve results in such a short time.”

Look at the interview with the young university student from Huaxia.

“It was initially 30 million, but it proved to be insufficient quickly. I was worried that the project might be forced to terminate due to budget constraints.”

“Then Sheng Dong told me to continue, and she would invest as much money as needed for our project.”

“I won’t go into detail about the process, but we tried many times, and almost every attempt meant a substantial amount of money going down the drain. But every time, Sheng Dong said it didn’t matter.”

“She said she didn’t understand research, but what she could do was provide us with financial support.”

Kio’s researchers: So, there are such benefactors in the world.

For them, the company wanted them to achieve a thousandfold effect with one penny, and if they succeeded, they might get a bonus. If they failed, they would face criticism.

Even this time, with Huaxia’s guide mechanical dog scoring 5.3, they were the first ones to feel the pressure.

“They talk about the company investing so much time and effort, and in the end, the result is not as good as the project of Huaxia’s university students in just one year. They even gave five hundred million.”

“Yeah, if I had five hundred million, I would work my ass off to achieve something.”

“God, Sheng Dong even gives them a raise every time there’s a new achievement.”

K Country has always had a reputation for technological products. Before this, Kio’s researchers never even thought about the possibility of switching jobs, despite finding the company too strict. After all, they were accustomed to the country’s environment.

But how could people not fear comparison?

Now, seeing Shengquan’s treatment of the students from Huaxia, some of them were considering the idea of jumping ship to Huaxia to work under Sheng Dong.

She treated students so well; experienced researchers like them, with qualifications, should also be treated well if they jumped ship, right?

The fact was, regardless of the country, everyone had similar thoughts.

Phone calls from all over the country came frequently, reaching a point where there were more than three inquiries per second. Fortunately, Shengquan was well-prepared and had recruited and trained customer service representatives in advance.

To complement the production and sale of guide mechanical dogs and the subsequent “movie props,” she established a small technology company named “Kanxing” (Looking at Stars).

“An Baixing said that, rounding it off, ‘Kanxing’ means I’m looking at An Baixing.”

The movie had finished shooting, and Yu Xiangwan returned to the company. As one of the deputy CEOs, he was responsible for more than just producing; similar to Gu Zhaotong, Yu Xiangwan, who came from a non-professional background, also had to make time for professional courses.

His learning ability had always been good. In the original text of “Starlight,” after becoming a “unique thug,” he quickly learned various “grey methods” to assist his boss, who treated him as a sharp blade, in handling various matters.

Now, he could enroll in three courses for himself, not missing even a single second of study time. He voluntarily handled various affairs for Shengquan and accompanied her when she wanted to do something she liked.

For example, gossiping about An Baixing together

“Hahaha, how does he always find the fun in things? I think he has too little work; Minister Yuan should give him more workload.”

“Kanxing” is a homophone for “looking at stars,” a popular internet slang, and it can also bring some luck.

Shengquan was indeed amused; her eyes curled into a smile. She reached for her phone, and while sitting across from her, Yuxiang Wan was watching her with a light smile. When she sat upright and fumbled to find her phone, he gently placed the phone within her reach.

Shengquan, touching the phone, asked, “Why did I find it so easily? Wasn’t it deliberately placed far away?”

It was only now that Yuxiang Wan, with a fair complexion, revealed a realization. He quickly picked up the phone and placed it farther away, and in his usually magnetic and gentle tone, he said with a hint of guilt, “Sorry, I forgot you were in a test.”

Almost instinctively, when Yuxiang Wan saw Shengquan needed help, he extended his hand without even thinking.

“It’s okay. You shouldn’t overwork yourself normally. It’s essential to rest well. Insufficient sleep can affect memory,” Shengquan said casually, still searching with her hands.

“Wuwang.” A low dog’s bark sounded beside her. The mechanical dog, which had been obediently sitting on Shengquan’s left, stood up, gently swinging its head, and slowly pushed the phone, which was further away from Shengquan, toward her.

Shengquan, reaching for the phone, took off the black cloth covering her face and couldn’t resist rubbing the head of the mechanical dog. “So obedient, too obedient.”

The high score of 5.3 was no exaggeration. Although it was a mechanical dog, it seemed like a real dog with human-like characteristics. It could actually “understand language” and help its owner without specific commands.

“Wuwu…” The large dog, being petted and hearing praise, whimpered affectionately, gently rubbing against Shengquan’s small leg with a soft force contrasting its large steel body.

Who could resist such an affectionate, large mechanical dog?

Certainly not, Shengquan.

Her love was completely undisguised, and she continued to pat the head of the mechanical dog. “So obedient, so obedient. Come, eat the bread. I spent a lot of time making it myself.”

“Wuwu…”

“Ah, I forgot you can’t eat. It’s so cute. How did you manage to be so cute without fur? Mechanical bodies can be adorable too.”

“If you like it, why not keep it with you?” Yuxiang Wan suggested while taking the bread from Shengquan’s hands and taking a bite. He praised, “The bread you made this time is even better than last time.”

Shengquan said, “You said the same thing last time.”

In her previous life, when she was a part-timer, she only wanted to eat takeout every day. Not to mention cooking, she was reluctant to drink powdered medicine because it required washing the cup.

But now, when Shengquan was in a good mood, she would occasionally cook, leisurely spending afternoons researching recipes found online. Of course, there were occasional failures.

For example, at this moment, Shengquan picked up another slice of bread and took a bite, hissing, “It’s a bit hard; I didn’t notice when slicing.”

“It’s not hard. It’s just right for me,” Yuxiang Wan said while enjoying the bread.

They were chatting when Gu Zhaotong, dressed in a suit, walked in with a coffee cup in hand.