It took a great deal of effort to calm his furious mother. Zhou Yi, using the excuse of being tired from the journey, brought Ororo and the others to the booked suite. Xia Ruis, however, was left behind to receive her mother's education.
He had to taste the bitter fruit he'd brewed himself, even if it was his own sister. Especially this time, Zhou Yi didn't want to share even a tiny bit of the burden with Xia Ruis.
After putting down their luggage, the already exhausted girls began to rest early. Ororo and Qin Gelei also went into their room together. Although Zhou Yi also wanted to go in, not to mention whether Ororo and the others would agree, the presence of Zhou Lan and Xia Ruis didn't allow him to do so.
So under these circumstances, he could only choose to rest alone. Luo Gen, however, was completely out of his consideration. That was an adult with his own thoughts; what he did was none of his business.
He rarely slept in, and Zhou Yi was woken up by a sudden doorbell. After tidying up his appearance slightly, Zhou Yi opened the door of the hotel suite. Unexpectedly, the person at the door wasn't Xia Ruis or Ororo, as he had expected, but someone he wasn't very familiar with.
Xiao Taoqi Mali stood there, looking somewhat unnatural, and asked, "Good morning, sir. I have something to bother you with, can I take up some of your time?"
"Of course, please come in, Miss Mali." He stepped aside, letting the tightly wrapped girl into his room. Zhou Yi scratched his head and said, "I'm sorry, I haven't relaxed like this for a long time, and I overslept. What's the matter, Miss Mali?"
"It's like this, sir." Xiao Taoqi Mali asked, sitting on the sofa, a little scared but also expectant. "Last time you said you could solve the problem with my powers. I want to know if that's true?"
"In a way, yes, that's correct." Zhou Yi took a bottle of milk from the refrigerator in the room and handed it to her. "But it might be a little different from what you think. The method I'm talking about isn't to eliminate your ability. It's to put a layer of insurance on you!"
"Insurance?" Xiao Taoqi sounded a little disappointed, but at the same time, she was a little expectant. She hoped that Zhou Yi's explanation could really restore her to her original state, even if it was just on the surface, that would be perfectly acceptable.
"Yes, I don't know if you've heard of Nanomaterials?" Zhou Yi asked back.
This question made Xiao Taoqi think for a moment, but she still had some common sense, and after a slight hesitation, she replied.
"Are you talking about those very small microscopic materials?"
"Yes, that's the thing." Thinking that Mali's family problems might make her not very familiar with this relatively obscure high-tech material, Zhou Yi had to explain as clearly as possible. "Nanomaterials are, in my opinion, one of the mainstream directions of future high-tech materials. Its microscopic structure can solve many problems, these problems even include your physical contact problem."
"Sir, I don't quite understand?" Mali said in a low voice, holding the milk. Although she didn't want to appear so ignorant, because it concerned her future, she had to ask. This was very important to her.
"Nano, also known as nanometer, is a unit of length. For example, if the diameter of a hair is 0.05 millimeters, and you divide it into 50,000 equal parts along its diameter, then each part would be about one nanometer thick. That is to say, one nanometer is 0.000001 millimeters. For humans, this is an almost imperceptible thickness. And the technological materials using nanometers as a unit are the solution to your problem."
"Sir, do you mean to wrap me in something as thin as a nanometer?" Xiao Taoqi Mali listened to Zhou Yi's explanation, her face showing a somewhat horrified expression. "Will this really work? Or, sir, will it be dangerous? I'm sorry, you know I don't mean it that way, but I'm still a little scared. Won't I suffocate from that stuff?"
"You're thinking too much, child!" Zhou Yi laughed, comforting her. "What you're thinking is a bit ridiculous for a professional. Nanomaterials aren't like plastic wrap, and the way it protects your body isn't what you think. Think about the air you breathe; the microorganisms and bacteria alone are larger than that. But will it affect you?"
"Also, even if it acts on the body, it's not like it's sticking to you. Instead, it forms a nano-outer layer on the surface of your skin. The nano-metals, which are even smaller than your pores, won't make you feel anything."
"Sir, I think I understand what you mean. Can I know where I can get this thing you're talking about?" Xiao Taoqi Mali understood Zhou Yi's meaning, but she understood another truth even better: there's no such thing as a free lunch. If you want to get something, you have to pay an equivalent price.
"You're very lucky, child. If there's anyone in the world who's the best at this, it's definitely the few cutting-edge scientific research institutions under my name. And, not long ago, these institutions under my control have already launched sufficiently mature products. Although we don't plan to sell them on the market yet, it's no problem to produce a small sample." Zhou Yi looked at Xiao Taoqi Mali as he said this, wanting to see what the girl's reaction would be.
Although such a technological product was insignificant to him, it wasn't to the point where he'd just give it away. Especially when the person you're giving it to doesn't even show a hint of gratitude, all your investment can be said to have gone down the drain.
If that were the case, Zhou Yi would rather not be the one to take the loss. So he needed to see, to see if Xiao Taoqi Mali's performance was worth his investment.
"Sir, can I ask about the price of this product?" Xiao Taoqi Mali was very cautious, she needed something to measure how much she should pay. And currency is always the most universal unit of measurement in the world.
"$15,680 per ounce, and that's just the raw material cost. If you want a finished product tailored for you, the manufacturing cost will be at least ten times that. One hundred thousand dollars, that's my lowest quote!"
Xiao Taoqi Mali's face instantly turned ashen at Zhou Yi's words. For some, a hundred thousand dollars might be the cost of a meal, or even just a bit of fun. But for Xiao Taoqi Mali, who relied on Charles Academy for even the basics, it was an impossible sum.
She struggled to steady her shaking body, trying to appear strong.
"I'm sorry, sir. I can't afford that. Sorry to have bothered you!" With that, Xiao Taoqi Mali was already thinking of leaving.
Zhou Yi reached out to stop Xiao Taoqi Mali from leaving, smiling as he spoke.
"Young lady, you should know that not everything in the world can be measured with money. For me, money isn't important. What I need, and what you can give, isn't that."
Xiao Taoqi Mali's eyes widened immediately, making her look extremely shocked. It was as if Zhou Yi had transformed into someone else before her, a seemingly righteous figure who was actually a corrupt beast.
"What do you want to do? I'm telling you, I won't agree to such a request." Her words were filled with disgust, completely devoid of the respect she had initially shown. Instead, she was filled with revulsion for a wolf in sheep's clothing.
Hearing the girl's unfriendly tone, Zhou Yi realized she had completely misunderstood him, and a wry smile appeared on his face.
"You're thinking too much, child. To me, you're still a little girl who hasn't grown up, and you hold no appeal whatsoever. Furthermore, my relationship with Ororo and the others prevents me from having any interest in you children. I meant something else entirely."
Not wanting to be misunderstood any further, Zhou Yi didn't want to continue playing this guessing game. Playing the games of cunning adults with a completely ignorant little girl was really a waste of time. He simply explained his meaning clearly.
"I can give you this product directly, and you won't need to pay me any money. You just need to help me with some of my plans. That's not too much to ask, is it?"
"I apologize, sir. I misunderstood you!" Xiao Taoqi Mali first apologized for her behavior, then continued to ask cautiously, "Can I know what kind of plans they are? If I don't understand the specifics, I'm afraid I can't agree to do so."
"You are a smart child!" Zhou Yi took a deep look at her, and felt it was necessary to be frank with this little girl. Perhaps she could really help his plans.
"I have been planning something for a long time. It concerns the reputation of Mutants. Xia Ruis is my sister, but as my sister, she can't even appear before the public. This has always made me feel very guilty. I have always wanted to make up for something for her, but no matter what material things I give her, they can't make up for the freedom she has lost. Therefore, I began to plan something."
"This matter requires all Mutants to work hard. And it was only recently that I put this issue before Professor Charles and the teachers of the Academy. For me, now is the time when the plan is mature and can be implemented. However, Ororo and the others still have too many concerns, and they have been hesitant in the face of my plans. This is a waste of time, or even watching opportunities slip away from us. Therefore, I need someone to do something to promote the progress of this plan."
"Do you think I can help?" Xiao Taoqi Mali, who had attended Zhou Yi's class, already understood his plan. She had to admit, like many others, that it was a brilliant idea. And contributing to this plan was something a Mutant should do.
"Of course, because you are a Mutant." Zhou Yi nodded. "My identity limits my right to make suggestions. And although Xia Ruis is also a Mutant, the mark on me is too obvious. The Academy won't listen to her voice. But you are different; you are completely uninvolved. Your student status can even help you stir up more voices in the Academy."
"As long as Charles and the others hear your voices and your wishes, this plan is very likely to be recognized by them."
"There won't be any danger, right?" Xiao Taoqi Mali made a final confirmation.
"Yes, I won't let Xia Ruis be in danger. So you can rest assured; my energy and identity are enough to protect you."
"Then, I agree. Sir!"
In Zhou Yi's eyes, Xiao Taoqi Mali had made the most correct choice. And for Zhou Yi, he had also obtained what he wanted at a minimal cost.
"Happy cooperation!" A big man and a little girl shook hands. From this moment on, a plan that had been brewing for many years began to be launched from within the Mutants.
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