“Let’s meet!”
Melina was the kind person who had helped Lin Xiaohe secure 1.2 million in compensation, so of course Lin Xiaohe wouldn’t refuse her.
Melina sent a message through her smart brain. Before long, the hospital room door opened, and a very handsome military officer walked in.
He had the kind of striking, cold, and elegant looks, but on his face was a gentle, harmless smile like a little rabbit’s: “Hello, Lin Xiaohe. We meet again. Do you still remember me?”
Of course Lin Xiaohe remembered him!
Back on Planet Miluo, she had been part of the control group, and in the early stages, she was just used as a foil to highlight them.
Wan Tianming smiled even more brightly: “It seems you do remember me. Let me introduce myself first. I am Wan Tianming, a mentor in the Command Department of the Federal Military Command College. The Military Command College is one of the four major military academies in the federation. It has a long history and a strong teaching staff…”
He went on and on, talking for a full ten minutes before finally stopping and looking at Lin Xiaohe expectantly.
Lin Xiaohe looked at Melina, then at Wan Tianming: “So?”
Wan Tianming said with a slight hint of nervousness, “Are you interested in studying at our school? We can offer you a special admission pathway. You can enroll directly without taking any exams.”
“But I’m already a specially admitted student of the Central Military Academy,” Lin Xiaohe said with a bit of bitterness.
She still had three more assessments to get through. Just thinking about it was hopeless, and she deeply regretted her earlier choices!
Seeing that there was a chance, Wan Tianming quickly said, “According to the Central Military Academy’s process, you still need to take three exams to officially become a specially admitted student. So right now, your student records are still with the Sixth Star Ring. As long as you find another school that accepts you, you’re free to change your college entrance exam preferences.”
He added temptingly, “Our dean has very high hopes for you. If you’re willing to come to our Command College, you can pick any department and any accommodation you like. Tuition will be completely waived, and we’ll also provide you with 500,000 a year for living expenses.”
Lin Xiaohe was a little tempted: “But Marshal Chu…”
Lin Xiaohe had to admit that she admired strong people and had an extremely high level of fan-like admiration for Marshal Chu.
Wan Tianming upped the ante: “We have a sister-school relationship with the Federal First Medical College, so we can help with your family’s medical conditions.”
He glanced at the Lin family members, who hadn’t said a word, and continued, “If your family members are looking for jobs, our Command College can also provide them with work.”
Lin Xiaohe’s heart was racing with excitement. The other side was showing genuine sincerity.
Just as Wan Tianming was about to convince Lin Xiaohe, Yuan walked in with some people and said excitedly, “Big shot, the president of Gaia Ecological Dome University from the Third Star Ring wants to recruit you!”
Wan Tianming’s expression froze.
Although Gaia Ecological Dome University was located in the Third Star Ring and its ranking wasn’t as high as universities in the First Star Ring, it had money.
Thanks to its patented ecological dome technology, this university had more annual funding than it could spend, and it was constantly poaching talented people from everywhere.
Sure enough, as soon as the president arrived, he boldly declared, “If Lieutenant Lin is willing to come to our school, not only will we waive tuition and transportation fees, but we’ll also cover all of your family’s medical and living expenses. We’ll give you 500,000 Star Coins a month, and if that’s not enough, we can add more!”
“If you like mechas, we can give you the latest model, the ‘Fire Phoenix.’ How about that?”
Wan Tianming’s face had turned beyond just unpleasant.
The ‘Fire Phoenix’ had a market price of 120 million, and with various add-on modules, the cost could go up to nearly 200 million.
Although the Command College was one of the four major military academies, its funding came entirely from federal budgets and military investments, so spending was subject to many restrictions.
Lin Xiaohe’s eyes were practically sparkling. The way she looked at the president of Gaia University was like how someone might look at a wealthy sheikh from Earth.
You know the type: a piece of cloth on their head, and they’re the richest in the world.
The president of Gaia University was delighted by Lin Xiaohe’s gaze. He held up his mighty bargaining chip and swung it hard at Lin Xiaohe’s already wavering convictions.
“I know you’re a stardust plant manipulator. I may not understand the technology myself, but I respect talented people. You can submit a project proposal for stardust plants, and I have the authority to approve 100 million in funding for you right off the bat. No interference with your project, no financial audits. If that’s not enough, we’ll add more later.”
Oh wow!
Lin Xiaohe’s breathing quickened. The president was essentially handing her a blank check, one where she could fill in any amount!
Was Lin Xiaohe finally going to live the good life, backed by a wealthy patron?!
Lin Xiaohe was grinning from ear to ear: “Mr. President, I…”
“No! You don’t want to!” Wan Tianming panicked. He grabbed Lin Xiaohe’s hand and said earnestly, “Have you forgotten? You’re part of the military. You’re meant to be the brightest star in the federal military! Many people have high hopes for you!”
Lin Xiaohe felt a twinge of guilt. In the face of unlimited money, that ambition to rise to the top didn’t seem quite so important anymore.
Wan Tianming was at his wit’s end. He glared angrily at the president of Gaia University: “You’re wasting her talent! Lin Xiaohe’s abilities can only be fully realized on the battlefield.”
The president said calmly, “Don’t say that. If we can integrate stardust plants into ecological dome technology, we might be able to develop a protective shield that can withstand 3S-level mutant beasts. Wouldn’t that be serving the federation even more? The military would benefit from it too.”
He looked at Lin Xiaohe and smiled like the God of Wealth himself: “If we really succeed, we’ll give you 1% of the patent royalties.”
1% of the patent royalties?!
With a market as huge as the entire federation, they could do business with planets and with the military.
Lin Xiaohe felt like she might pass out from lack of oxygen. She could do it! She would sacrifice everything to develop that technology!
Seeing Lin Xiaohe on the verge of succumbing to the financial assault, Wan Tianming was heartbroken but powerless.
Luckily, some disruptors showed up.
Lin Ye: “Big shot, people from the Hippocrates Medical College have arrived. They want to recruit you.”
Viktor: “Big shot, the Third Star Ring Orbital Satellite College also wants to recruit you.”
A crowd poured into the room. Many other schools’ admissions officers couldn’t even squeeze in and had to wait in the hallway.
“Lieutenant Lin, our medical standards are the highest in the entire federation. Won’t you please consider us?”
“Lieutenant Lin, we can offer you money!”
The president of Gaia University was pushed into a corner, fuming angrily: “Whatever price they offer, our college will double it!”
Wan Tianming had been completely pushed out of the hospital room.
He looked at the massive crowd in the hallway and was at a loss for words.
It was one thing for medical colleges to come recruiting, but why were economics and political science colleges trying to snatch her too?!
Lin Xiaohe was a stardust plant manipulator. What did she have to do with those two schools?!
This was absolutely outrageous. They had no respect for the military academies whatsoever.
Driven by the mindset of “we absolutely cannot let a good military prospect be lured down the wrong path by bad influences,” Wan Tianming contacted Kassian, the president of the Central Military Academy, directly and explained the situation.
Kassian was terrified out of his wits. He called Marshal Chu eighteen times: “This is bad! Someone’s trying to take Lin Xiaohe away!”
Marshal Chu had been crouching on the ground, carefully scattering seeds.
Upon hearing the news, he shot up to his feet, radiating an intimidating aura. His eyes blazed with fury: “How dare you?! Who’s trying to steal my student?!”
