As soon as Chen Buhui finished speaking, the room erupted in applause. Official procedures were fair, unlike some small websites that engaged in shady backdoor deals. In reality, the slots had already been pre-determined.
Of course, what surprised everyone even more was the official approach. The expert panel wasn’t just about voting—it was more about future support for the Sci-Tech City project. In other words, the higher the votes a company received, the more experts would be assigned to support them. Those who didn’t receive votes had no choice but to accept it, as the majority ruled.
As long as a project was approved, it meant the majority of experts endorsed it, leaving little room for dissent. The officials’ strategy was truly impressive.
Moreover, the various research institutions under the government had no right to refuse.
At this point, it was clear that the Sci-Tech City project wasn’t just some simple money-making venture. The authorities were clearly aiming to elevate it to an unprecedented level.
Some companies already regretted their decisions. While they had recognized the project’s importance, they had still underestimated just how crucial it was. Had they known earlier, they would have formed alliances with more companies to bid together.
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the results were soon announced.
Third place: South China Chamber Alliance—18 votes.
Second place: Luo Corporation—28 votes.
First place: Modu Chamber (including the Samsung Group)—29 votes.
As expected, the top three spots went to these three.
Although the Modu Chamber took first place, more people were stunned by Luo Corporation’s vote count.
The biggest difference between Luo Corporation and the other bidders was that while the others had formed alliances, Luo Corporation had gone solo.
The Modu Chamber had the backing of three major families, with branches likely contributing from various fields.
Luo Corporation, on the other hand, was just one entity. Yet, it had still made it into the top three—truly terrifying.
And they were only one vote short. Did that one vote matter?
As long as they made the cut, the final decision rested with the officials, and the winner was still anyone’s guess.
Some were overjoyed, while others were disheartened.
Luo Yao wasn’t surprised by the result. She was determined to win this bidding project.
Once she secured it, she could practically retire.
After completing this project, she could settle down with Lin Ran and enjoy life.
"Congratulations to the three winning bidders. For those who didn’t make it, don’t be discouraged. As a token of appreciation for your support, we will open a door of opportunity for you. If you encounter any difficulties in the future, within the capabilities of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, we will assist where we can."
This was the officials’ way of compensating the losers.
The unsuccessful bidders felt slightly better.
"I hereby announce that the three companies must supplement their proposals within three days and demonstrate their capabilities and commitment. We will conduct a final vote, and the official results will be announced via the government account in five days."
"To ensure the smooth execution of the project upon successful bidding, we require a financial verification. Please consolidate all funds into your designated bidding account within three days. If the bid fails, the funds will be returned to you in five days. If successful, the funds will remain in the account for project use."
Chen Buhui added a few more rules before declaring the event concluded.
To be honest, this wasn’t Lin Ran’s first time participating in a bidding process. He had accompanied his mother to similar events as a child.
But this kind of aggressive bidding was new to him.
Moreover, the process was very different from ordinary bidding procedures—highly unusual.
They even had to prepare at least 10% of the project’s funds upfront.
This was a multi-trillion-dollar project. Ten percent meant hundreds of billions.
Even a conglomerate with a market value of five trillion wouldn’t have that much liquid capital.
But the terrifying part was that Luo Yao could actually produce it.
At this moment, Lin Ran gained a new understanding of Luo Yao’s wealth.
No wonder the black card with a ten-billion limit she gave him was just "pocket money." He had once thought it was an exaggeration, assuming she was just spoiling him out of love.
Now—it really was just pocket money.
"Yao Yao, I’ve never asked before because I didn’t want you to think I’m with you for your money. But I’m genuinely curious—how much do you actually have?"
Luo Yao: "Do you really want to know, Ah Ran?"
Lin Ran nodded.
"I love money. My dream used to be counting cash until my hands cramped. But then I realized that once money reaches a certain point, it really just becomes numbers."
Luo Yao: "Actually, it’s not that much. The funds for this bid are all Luo Corporation can spare without affecting operations. If we lose this money, all we’ll have left is the cold, hard numbers in my personal account."
"Personal account? Cold numbers?"
"Right. Just our private assets—nothing much. A measly few hundred billion, a few dozen luxury mansions, villas, estates, and a few hundred high-end cars. That’s it. If that happens, we’ll just have to live like paupers again."
Lin Ran swallowed hard.
"Do you have some kind of misunderstanding about what ‘poor’ means?"
Though Lin Ran wasn’t entirely familiar with the cash flow of major conglomerates, his instincts told him one thing.
In this world, apart from the government, Luo Yao was the only one who could pull out this kind of money.
Even many countries couldn’t match it.
It was absolutely insane.
"Is that so? But since Ah Ran likes money, I’ll keep earning it. I’ll make sure you have the most money in the world."
Lin Ran: "Yao Yao, don’t overwork yourself. The wealth you’ve accumulated already surpasses many nations. No private enterprise in the world can match this. The only reason the government hasn’t come knocking is thanks to China’s benevolence."
"They already have. Don’t worry, our money is clean. Spend it however you like."
Lin Ran: "Alright then. So, does this mean I can buy whatever I want?"
Luo Yao nodded.
Lin Ran suddenly found the world absurd.
Here he was, busting his ass trying to build a business.
Build what?
What was the point of "entrepreneurship" at this stage?
Maybe he should just hand Nuanyao Group over to Old Wu and spend the rest of his days lazing around, loving Luo Yao.
Without Luo Yao’s money, Lin Ran would be penniless.
His funds were tied up in libraries, schools, Suran Group, and Nuanyao Group—none of which had turned a profit yet.
He had originally planned to use his year-end dividends to buy Luo Yao a birthday gift.
But compared to Luo Yao’s wealth, his earnings were like ants at the feet of a giant.
"Of course. What would Ah Ran like to buy the most?"
What did he want to buy the most?
Lin Ran thought, "No, no."
He still had to keep working.
It didn’t matter how much he earned—whatever he gave Luo Yao would be a token of his heart. Wasn’t that his original intention?
Stay true to the mission, forge ahead.
"What I want to buy depends on what you want the most."
"Besides, the things I truly want can’t be bought with money."
for mindless slaughter, this isn't for you.] My name is Ye Shu, and I'm a transmigrator. It seems I'm supposed to be the protagonist, but that feels pretty unlikely. This world has been invaded by a system. The antagonists on the other side have suddenly become pure, flawless saints. The female leads have been force-fed the so-called "original plot," making them think they've been reborn. Now, everyone thinks I'm scum. Including the old lady in my ring. And here I am, in the Monster Beast Mountain Range, braising pork. To put my situation in perspective— It's as if, the moment Xiao Yan stepped into the Monster Beast Mountain Range, the Soul Emperor already knew he would become the Flame Emperor, and Yao Lao had been turned to the enemy's side. I have nothing right now. Oh wait, that's not true. I do have a white-haired loli child-bride who's the Heavenly Dao, and her only skill is acting cute. So, tell me guys... what are my chances of making it to the end?
pression Bureau] Transported to a fantasy world overrun by demons and monsters, Gu Qingfeng becomes a jailer in the Demon Suppression Prison of the Great Yan Dynasty's Demon Suppression Bureau. From this point on, bizarre cases frequently occur in the Demon Suppression Prison, once known as hell on earth and infamous for its gloomy, terrifying atmosphere! Why do the demons and monsters in the prison wail miserably every night? Why has the corpse demon, capable of transforming into various beauties, donned black stockings and switched careers to become a foot massage therapist? Why has the eye demon, expert in soul-snatching and illusions, turned into a VR headset? Why is the fox spirit performing otaku dances? Are all these occurrences a twisted expression of demonic nature, or a descent into moral depravity? After peeling away layer upon layer of mystery, all clues ultimately point to a jailer named Gu Qingfeng. Gu Qingfeng: "Hehehe... My dear demons and monsters, whose card shall we flip today?"
s + Rent Collection Wealth】 At the start, he inherited a rundown house in the urban village from his grandfather. The house had no tenants, but the moment he was diagnosed with a terminal illness, a self-proclaimed empress from the Tianxuan Continent arrived as his first tenant. Ye Chuan soon discovered that with every new tenant moving in, not only did he receive massive daily payments, but he also obtained unique items related to their backgrounds. 【Acquired Bai Qianshuang’s related item: Tiger Strength Pill—dramatically enhances physical power!】 【Acquired Bai Qianshuang’s related item: Deer Blood Pill—significantly boosts vitality!】 …… From that day on, all sorts of bizarre tenants began appearing in the house: the empress from Tianxuan Continent, an apocalyptic sorceress from the Magic Realm, a mysterious scientific girl who fell through a spacetime rift… Every single day, he received strange, powerful items and endless money. Then one day, he suddenly realized—he had become invincible. Enough, enough! Stop giving me more!
nd fell into a coma while saving his younger sister from an out-of-control car. He became a vegetable. No one knew that his consciousness had crossed into a world of cultivation. Over the course of sixty years, he began as the lowest kind of mine slave, struggling to survive amid mountains of corpses and seas of blood. By sheer chance, he eventually obtained the complete memories of a fallen Immortal King. Alchemy, medicine, formations, feng shui, physiognomy, artifact forging… Every great inheritance of the cultivation world was now his. But when he opened his eyes again, he discovered that ten full years had passed in the modern world. To pay for his treatment, his father had sold the family’s shop and house, leaving himself covered in lasting injuries and illness. His mother had cared for him day and night, and more than half of her hair had already turned white. His younger sister, who had been only fifteen back then, was now twenty-five. To help repay the family’s debts, she had been forced to lower her head and put on a smiling face in places of glittering lights and endless revelry. Only then did Chen Xuan understand that what he had lost was not merely ten years. He had lost the life his entire family was meant to have. The good news was that he had brought back the memories of an Immortal King’s entire lifetime. The bad news was that his soul had returned alone—his cultivation had not come with him. Spiritual energy was scarce, resources were depleted, and the modern world still had firearms, surveillance, capital, and laws. If he wanted to protect his family, break free from everyone’s control, and become truly invincible beneath the heavens, he would have to start all over again.
