C10 I Was Inexplicably Angered!

"Hello, everyone, I'm Xu Wenn! I truly appreciate your donations, but I cannot accept this money! Your goodwill is something I, Xu Wenn, will always treasure!"

In front of Lulu's phone camera, Xu Wenn showed a seriousness that was seldom seen on his face.

True to Lulu's words, Xu Wenn was battling a congenital immune disorder.

But this condition wasn't something that money could fix—it was an issue with his very genes.

If cash were the cure, Xu Wenn would have shamelessly approached his student Lu Ming for help long ago. Why would he wait until now?

Despite the leaps and bounds in medical science, it still hasn't reached the point where it can alter a person's DNA.

Even the system hadn't offered Xu Wenn any real solutions.

Perhaps this was due to the system's low level. For now, it had only provided some measures to ease his symptoms, which, thankfully, kept Xu Wenn hanging on.

Xu Wenn was also conducting research to tackle this very issue, though the progress was difficult to articulate.

"Professor Xu Wen, I love you!"

"Professor, you're so cool!!"

"Professor, I want to have your babies..."

"Can I get an autograph, please? Big fan!"

Witnessing Xu Wenn's willingness to appear on camera and his easygoing demeanor, the netizens in Lulu's live stream were instantly charmed, quickly turning into avid fans of Xu Wenn.

Yet, amidst the adoring crowd, one viewer was far from pleased.

Zhou Baobao held her phone with a scowl, Xu Wenn's image casting a shadow over her mood.

This Xu Wenn!

The very person who stole her limelight and got her live stream banned.

What, just because he's a professor, he can do as he pleases?

He's run out of money for treatment, and yet he still plays the saint?

The professor doesn't seem so great after all!

He's sabotaged my live stream, but I'll get even. I'll rally the trolls and hire smear writers. I'm going to tarnish your reputation too!

I, Zhou Baobao, am no pushover!

All those so-called big brothers are nothing but a bunch of dimwits, useless when it really counts!

In the end, it's up to me to take action!

The more Zhou Baobao dwelled on it, the more her anger festered, convinced she'd been wronged. She stealthily exited Lulu's live stream.

Unbeknownst to Xu Wenn, he hadn't lifted a finger, yet he had inadvertently provoked the ire of a prominent Famous Anchor.

Even if Xu Wenn were aware, it's doubtful he'd give it much thought.

...

That day, a flurry of sensational headlines erupted across Weibo, daily news feeds, and various media platforms.

"Shocking! A University Professor is Only Twenty Years Old!"

"Twenty-Year-Old Professor Commits Outrageous Act! Is it a Breach of Ethics or a Moral Collapse?"

"Young Professor's Scandalous Affair with Gorgeous Anchor Causes Outrage!"

The titles smacked of the handiwork of a certain department known for its shock value.

Each news story racked up over a hundred million clicks.

In no time, Xu Wenn's name was ablaze on the internet—but not for reasons one would hope.

As the adage goes, fame can be as much a curse as a blessing, and in this case, stepping on the toes of a top-tier blogger was bound to invite retaliation.

Though Xu Wenn had little to do with the incident and was unequivocally a victim, mad dogs, as they say, will bite anyone.

The smear campaign had reached a fever pitch, but to assume it would end there would be to underestimate Zhou Baobao's malice.

Come evening, at Dinghai University's subway station.

Xu Wenn stepped onto the subway, which was bustling with commuters, but fortunately, there was an empty seat by the door.

He scanned the car—no elderly or children in sight.

Xu Wenn collapsed into the seat, motionless.

Exhaustion weighed on him. Despite medication from the system keeping his illness at bay, his body was still frail.

And who could endure a diet of just steamed buns and cold water?

He had hoped to improve his meals today, but even the buns had been tainted with some "extra seasoning."

Xu Wenn was too drained to speak, yet his research project remained at the forefront of his thoughts.

He was a scholar, rich in knowledge—an expert.

Since the establishment of the Great Zhou Country, only a select few scientists had been honored with the "special" title, and with most now deceased, only two remained.

One was an elder who had dedicated his life to advancing agriculture in Great Zhou and beyond.

The other individual in question was none other than Xu Wenn.

Since inadvertently acquiring the scientific research system, Xu Wenn had become akin to a walking library.

What set him apart was his ability to master what others could not.

With sufficient Contribution Value, he could unlock knowledge beyond the scope of contemporary scientific research.

This knowledge could even be the key to saving his own life.

And so, Xu Wenn rose to prominence as a leading researcher within Great Zhou Country.

Ten months prior, he had delved into research on Scarlet Fever and a particular strain of pneumonia.

His efforts culminated in a vaccine that, with just two doses, granted lifelong immunity to these diseases.

He then dedicated another six months to developing a drug that halted the spread of tumors, making further expansion impossible.

Moreover, he intentionally reduced the cost, enabling more families to afford the treatment, thereby transforming the prognosis of terminal cancer from a death sentence into a manageable condition.

Yet, despite such a stellar track record, this scientist had yet to discover a means to save himself.

Many of Xu Wenn's breakthroughs were serendipitous byproducts of his long-term research into genetic diseases.

Now, having expended 200,000 Contribution Value for the blueprint of the "Black Vajra" hybrid aircraft, he hadn't earned a dime.

Were it not for his slight acquaintance with Lu Ming and his own patriotic spirit, Xu Wenn might not have bothered with the project at all.

"Ding!"

"Congratulations, host, for earning 80,000 Contribution Value. Thank you for your fresh contributions to charity. Your Contribution Value has been updated to the new total. For details, please consult the system interface."

Xu Wenn's contemplation was shattered by the chime of the system alert.

"Huh?"

He was puzzled; he hadn't done a thing!

Besides, his pockets were emptier than his expression—he couldn't donate even if he wanted to!

"Could it be that anchor?"

A lightbulb went off in Xu Wenn's head as he remembered the host who still owed him for a piece of clothing.

Earlier, while declining to donate, he had wondered if the system would deem such a refusal invalid. Yet, unexpectedly, the system had now acknowledged it!

But still...

"After donating a whopping 80,000 yuan, when will I get reimbursed for that mere handful of yuan for the clothes?"

Xu Wen gave a wry smile, yet it was in that very moment that he found his peace.

He closed his eyes to rejuvenate his spirit before turning his thoughts to a different scientific research project.

Xu Wen was akin to a modern-day Taoist hermit. He could have amassed a fortune, yet somehow, he never managed to hold onto his money!

In more flattering terms, he was dedicating his life to the pursuit of scientific research. But if we're being frank, he was essentially lining other people's pockets.