C16 The Biggest Shamelessness!

A wave of dizziness crashed over Bao Guo, intensified by a gravitational pull on his body, making him feel as though his soul was yanked back into his flesh. He lost control of his body, his consciousness retreating fully into his brain, vision darkening, senses numbing. All he could do was think.

Suddenly, Bao Guo found himself hovering at the center of a vast pit in his mind, surrounded by a clutter of oddities. He mumbled to himself in confusion, "What's happening? Wasn't I just about to sign an agreement? How did I end up fainting and in this state? Could it be that I'm about to evolve again, to gain another 'golden finger'?"

He was overthinking it. Before him materialized a vast, bird-like figure, starry and indistinct, radiating desolation and antiquity. A surge of warmth and sorrow overwhelmed him; had he been able to move, Bao Guo was sure he would have collapsed in tears, like a long-lost traveler finally glimpsing his kin.

But the apparition merely shimmered and vanished, leaving no sound, no moving images—just a fleeting, enigmatic silhouette.

Something new had lodged itself in Bao Guo's mind, a piece of content beyond words, instinctively repelling him, refusing to let him stamp the blood seal on the agreement.

The message it conveyed was one of disdain and scorn; the contract was beneath him. Should he attempt to sign it, Bao Guo sensed it would spell disaster.

Abruptly, a pulling force from above snapped him back to reality. With a startled yelp, he realized he'd been doused with water by none other than Anna, who hadn't sought him out for days.

"Are you okay? What caused you to faint all of a sudden?" Anna asked, her voice tinged with embarrassment as she reached out to help Bao Guo to his feet.

"I'm fine, just a bit weak," Bao Guo reassured her. "I should join you for some practice when I get a chance; it might help. And as for you—Master Hu Da, was it? My apologies, but I can't sign that agreement. If you're truly keen on this trade, stay a while longer. Once I've sorted out my current tasks, I'll have an answer for you. Anna, would you help me back to my room to change? Also, what are they building next to the cabin?"

A flicker of disappointment crossed Hu Da's face, yet the promise of an answer from Bao Guo kept a glimmer of hope alive within him. Glancing at the nearby foundation, he chuckled and said, "Really, my friend? This is clearly the groundwork for your mage tower. Though you're no mage, it's still a fine idea. It'll be nice to have a place to call your own someday, huh?"

With a dismissive wave, Bao Guo locked himself in the small wooden tower and teleported back to Earth.

The night deepened, and both Bao Guo and Guibao, their eyes red from excitement, found sleep elusive. The toothpaste business plan was concise—just five pages, with one copy each for Bao Guo, Luo Yuqiong, and their silent partner. It detailed everything from product positioning and pricing to marketing and after-sales strategies. Neither Bao Guo nor Guibao could think of any improvements.

"You start," Guibao urged, taking a hefty drag from his green cigar. "What's the plan? Luo Yuqiong is no simple character. If we're going to partner with her, we'd better keep our eyes open."

Bao Guo, legs propped up on the stove, inhaled the rich aroma of the stew. "Complicated as she may be, she's still dependent on us. No one else can produce those beans. And you've seen it yourself—I brought the beans to Earth, and they won't grow. You're sure they're completely inert?"

"Absolutely," Guibao assured him. "You can rest easy on that. With just three hours till dawn, let's catch some sleep. We'll meet with Luo Yuqiong in the morning. I've decided, I'll take care of the grocery store from now on. As for Old Man Zhang next door, it's time for him to retire. It's not a matter of trust; it's just that the stakes are too high."

Bao Guo nodded in agreement. "You're right. We'll be bringing back more items from there. These tooth-cleaning pods are just the beginning. Once the toothpaste factory is up and running, I plan to start promoting these green cigars. The tobacco industry is heavily regulated, making it tough for private enterprises to get involved. But let's not worry about that now. Let's get some sleep. First thing tomorrow, we'll seal the deal on this partnership."

Before they could even sit down for breakfast, they were jolted awake by the sound of someone pounding on the door.

"What's all this racket about? Can't a person get some sleep around here? What do you want?" Bao Guo grumbled, his face clouded with irritation as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes and opened the grocery store door. He was met with the sight of three middle-aged men, clearly not pleased to see them.

"We're not here for you. Move aside and let Guibao come out. I'm giving him one last chance to own up to his mistake. Guibao, show yourself! Ignoring my calls, huh? You've got some nerve. Do you really think you did nothing wrong by dropping out of school on your own? Come out, I said!" The man with the slicked-back hair was bellowing so loudly that the early-rising villagers stopped in their tracks to watch the commotion.

Bao Guo glanced at the license plate on the Buick these men had arrived in; they were from Qin Island, and they were clearly here for Guibao—likely sent by the academy.

"Hold on, I'll get him. But don't you dare come inside; this is my place," Bao Guo warned them, pointing a finger before going back inside to drag out a still-groggy Guibao.

As soon as Guibao laid eyes on the three men, he let his phone crash to the ground. "Shameless! You're utterly shameless, tracking my phone like that. You've really outdone yourselves in shamelessness. Forced out of school, and yet you twist the story to say I left voluntarily. What are you even doing here? Suing me, too? Fine, go ahead and sue. I'll face it head-on."

Bao Guo tugged at Guibao's arm, eyeing the shattered phone with a sense of foreboding.

"You think you can just use the school's lab to create a groundbreaking new product and keep it all to yourself? Recruiting some thug to help you and planning to team up with that failing Hua Xia Toothpaste Factory? I'm telling you, if you go through with that, you're going to end up behind bars. That patent belongs to us—to the school. You have no right to hoard it. Hand it over," the middle-aged man demanded.

Guibao's chest heaved with fury, but then he burst into incredulous laughter, pointing at the man as if he was about to unleash a torrent of insults. Bao Guo, however, yanked him back sharply. "Enough. Let me handle this."

Guibao was taken aback, nearly falling into the other party's trap. What formula? What laboratory? If he had inadvertently played along with their conversation, it could have spelled real trouble.

"What's your last name, sir? It seems there's been some misunderstanding. My name is Bao Guo, and Guibao is my brother. I'm not sure what you're referring to with this formula talk, but if you're here about the teeth cleaning water, you're mistaken. It has nothing to do with him. A few days ago, I sent Guibao some teeth cleaning water via a long-distance bus with the license plate number XXX. Good brothers share the good stuff, right? If that's the 'formula' you're talking about, then go ahead and sue. Be my guest."

"You, what are you even worth? A street thug like you concocting a formula? Don't make me laugh. Step aside. Guibao, listen to me. As your mentor, I'm entitled to know everything about this. You're coming back to the academy with me, and you're not leaving until you've explained everything. Otherwise, take a look at this—this is a lawsuit. We will sue you directly, and I bet we could sue you into bankruptcy. Think about your father, think about your dilapidated home."

After the middle-aged man finished, Guibao, with a cry of rage, lunged forward, ready to throw a punch. Bao Guo saw right through it—his brother had likely never been treated well by this man. He firmly restrained Guibao.

"Cool it! If you start a fight here, he'll have you behind bars. Let him sue if he wants. Now, go inside, wash your face, and then we're heading home to see your dad. Forget about them."

With that, Bao Guo turned, a sneer on his lips, "I don't care to know your name, but you're not welcome here. Please leave. And another thing, if you're too scared to sue, then you're nothing but a coward. Goodbye."

"You, you scoundrel, you punk! Just wait, I'll sue you until you're stripped down to your underwear, you jerk!" The middle-aged man's hysterical shouts were met with the sound of Bao Guo slamming the door shut.