Chapter 18: A Bet!
[Location: Headquarters of Magic City Renxin Hall Pharmaceutical Company – Top Floor Conference Room]
Qin Ningbing's gaze towards Shen Anyu changed. The hostility melted, replaced by a complex mix of fear, awe, and curiosity.
Originally, in her heart, Shen Anyu was nothing more than a profligate and reckless person who relied on his top family background—a typical second-generation rich kid. She thought he was fond of beautiful women and didn't care about his life, a hedonist with power but no substance.
Although he was very strong and overbearing, that strength and overbearingness were merely a result of relying on his family background. He was a tiger made of paper money.
Qin Ningbing showed reverence on the surface because she had to, but inwardly, she felt disdain. She respected capability, not inheritance.
But now, seeing Shen Anyu show off a little, Qin Ningbing was shocked to her core.
She only felt that the Shen Anyu before her was shrouded in a mysterious veil. He was an enigma.
Whether it was his ability to casually crush a military-grade spring knife with his bare hands as if it were clay, or the miracle of casually healing the subtle scar on her neck with a touch, both were incredible feats that defied science and logic.
Shen Anyu, however, didn't give her time to process this. He gently gripped Qin Ningbing's slender, snow-white neck with one hand. His touch was warm, possessing a terrifying strength that could snap her neck instantly, yet it was strangely gentle.
He leaned forward, invading her personal space, and narrowed his eyes like a male lion about to pounce on its prey. His breath fanned against her cheek.
He said indifferently, his voice vibrating in her bones:
"Qin Ningbing!"
"Besides me, no one can harm you, including yourself!"
Looking at the man's gaze, like a monarch looking down on his subjects, and hearing his overbearing words, Qin Ningbing's heart was instantly in chaos! Her pulse raced, and a flush crept up her neck.
[Ding! Detected that destined heroine Qin Ningbing's favorability +30! Plundering +90,000 Destiny Points!]
[Ding! Child of Destiny Xia Liu's main emotional line fluctuated! Plundering +50,000 Destiny Points!]
Shen Anyu's expression remained stern and indifferent, a mask of absolute control, but in his heart, he truly breathed a sigh of relief.
'Success.'
Qin Ningbing, the first destined heroine of "Country Divine Doctor in the Debauched City," a beautiful CEO and fiancée, was truly difficult to conquer. She wasn't a damsel in distress; she was a warrior in the business world.
If it was just about taking her down, then for Qin Ningbing, a rational female CEO who could weigh the pros and cons, Shen Anyu could easily achieve it by using his power. He could force her submission through financial pressure or physical intimidation.
But Shen Anyu needed more than just taking her down; only by conquering her heart could he gain more Destiny Points! He wanted her loyalty, her love, her devotion.
A total favorability of 80 yields an additional 30,000 Destiny Points. A total favorability of 90 yields an additional 100,000 Destiny Points. And if favorability is full, the rewards are astronomical!
Qin Ningbing's personality was extremely proud, preferring to break rather than bend. Forcing her would only lead to mutual destruction, a pyrrhic victory that would waste her potential.
From the [Destiny Plunder System], Shen Anyu knew the stakes.
Unlike "Master Descends the Mountain, My Peerless Beautiful Sister-in-Law," a book that has already been completed and where he knew the plot inside out, other novel planes merging into this main world have only just begun.
Just like the book "Country Divine Doctor," there are only general settings for the male and female leads, and the beginning; everything else is fluid, evolving with time. The butterfly effect of his presence was already rippling through the timeline.
The variability is too great! Even the book "Master Descends the Mountain" will change with the integration of other novel planes. A butterfly flapping its wings in the south can stir up a storm in the north.
However, Shen Anyu knew Qin Ningbing's general setting: proud and strong personality, intelligent and calm, likes to be in control, prefers to break rather than bend, and will resort to mutual destruction in desperate situations.
Moreover, the only man who could conquer her had to be stronger, more outstanding, able to protect her, and give her a sense of security she had lacked since her parents died.
And not a second-generation playboy relying on family background, as that would make her look down on him. He had to prove his own worth.
Fortunately, now there was a good start; thirty points of favorability were proof and gain. It was a massive jump.
What Shen Anyu didn't expect was that Xia Liu actually provided 50,000 Destiny Points just from this interaction!
It seems that Qin Ningbing, this beautiful CEO fiancée, as the first destined heroine of "Country Divine Doctor," holds too much weight in the protagonist's destiny!
However, Ye Yan, the Child of Destiny from "Master Descends the Mountain," did not give such a large red packet because of the first destined heroine Lin Keqing. Shen Anyu guessed that it was very likely that Ye Yan had not yet appeared, causing changes in destiny and stirring up the situation. Or perhaps Ye Yan's destiny was spread across more heroines.
This also gave Shen Anyu some ideas, which was that he could find out when Ye Yan would descend the mountain through Lin Keqing. She was the key.
Speaking of which, Shen Anyu also missed Lin Keqing, that peerless beautiful sister-in-law. He made a mental note to visit her soon.
As for how to completely conquer Qin Ningbing, Shen Anyu already had an idea. He had analyzed her weakness perfectly.
That is, Qin Ningbing still has a serious flaw: a heavy gambling addiction! Not for money, but for high stakes in business.
This can be seen from her resolute decision to invest most of her liquid funds into the research and development of the Ginseng Nourishing Heart Pill, risking the entire company on one product.
Immediately, Shen Anyu looked at Qin Ningbing with interest, his thumb caressing the line of her jaw.
At this moment, Qin Ningbing bit her red lips with her pearly teeth, her beautiful eyes stubborn, not saying a word.
It was as if she already knew that she was a fish on a chopping board, to be dealt with however Shen Anyu pleased. She was waiting for the final blow.
However, her beautiful eyes were filled with determination, clearly not giving up the idea of mutual destruction if he pushed too hard.
Shen Anyu smiled, releasing her neck but staying close.
"Honey, how about we make a bet?"
A ripple appeared in Qin Ningbing's determined beautiful eyes. Confusion flickered there. She looked at Shen Anyu with slight surprise.
"A bet?"
"If you win, then I can let you go, and I will completely return Magic City Renxin Hall Pharmaceutical Company to you. I will help you clear all obstacles, remove Wang Hai permanently, and fund your research without strings attached!"
"Of course, if you lose, then everything you have, everything about you... will be mine!"
Qin Ningbing's eyes finally changed. The dull resignation vanished, replaced by a spark of hope. Her red lips parted, and she said in surprise:
"Really?"
The surprise came too unexpectedly, making her disbelieving. Was he serious?
Because now, in front of the mysterious and deeply backgrounded Shen Anyu, she had no capital left to protect herself, not even to achieve mutual destruction. He had disarmed her effortlessly.
She had already developed a pessimistic thought, which was that at most, she would be bitten by a dog, used and discarded. Dying would end everything.
But now?
Shen Anyu actually agreed to let her go? To give her a chance?
Moreover, he even offered such good terms, not only letting her go but also helping her clear all obstacles and completely control Magic City Renxin Hall Pharmaceutical Company?
These were tempting conditions she couldn't refuse! It was everything she wanted.
As for losing... would her situation be any different from now? She was already in his power.
Unbeknownst to her, Qin Ningbing's psychological expectation had already included the consideration of becoming Shen Anyu's woman. The bet just gave her a dignified way to accept it—or a chance to escape.
Shen Anyu smiled faintly and said:
"Of course it's true. As the Young Master of the Yanxia Shen Family, would I lie to you?"
Of course, he really would lie; don't doubt the integrity of Shen Anyu, that old fox. He was a villain, after all.
However, there was basically no need to lie, because Shen Anyu had a ninety-nine percent chance of winning! He never bet unless the game was rigged.
Qin Ningbing believed him, or rather, what else could she do besides believe him? It was her only lifeline.
"Hoo…"
Qin Ningbing took a deep breath, her chest rising and falling. Her beautiful eyes looked at Shen Anyu, analyzing him one last time. Then, a captivating smile bloomed on her exquisite face, a smile of a gambler placing her final chip.
"Young Master Shen, Ningbing believes that you are a magnificent man, absolutely not one to deceive Ningbing!"
"Ningbing accepts this bet!"
"But, what we bet on must be proposed by Ningbing!"
"Otherwise, a bet that is certain to lose has no meaning. If we bet on your wealth or power, I lose instantly."
Shen Anyu looked at Qin Ningbing with a half-smile and said generously:
"Alright! Name your terms."
He knew that with Qin Ningbing's intelligence and calmness, she wouldn't propose an excessive bet. She wouldn't dare.
Because that might anger Shen Anyu, leading him to tear up the bet, and she would still be the one to suffer the loss. She walked a tightrope.
This was the helplessness of the weaker party.
Moreover, Shen Anyu had already guessed what kind of bet Qin Ningbing would propose. It was obvious.
Sure enough, Qin Ningbing bit her red lips with her pearly teeth, pondered for a moment, hesitated, and then spoke, her voice gaining strength:
"Young Master Shen, then let's bet on the Ginseng Nourishing Heart Pill!"
"Our Magic City Renxin Hall Pharmaceutical Company spent 500 million over the past three years, yet we haven't successfully researched it! It is the gordian knot of our company."
Speaking of this, Qin Ningbing sighed softly; the reason for the second shareholder Wang Hai's challenge in today's top-level meeting room was also because of this failure. It was her greatest regret and her greatest hope.
Then, Qin Ningbing continued, her eyes locking onto his:
"Three months! With Young Master Shen's ability and family background, there should be hope of successfully researching the Ginseng Nourishing Heart Pill within three months, achieving the effect of curing heart disease!"
"As long as it succeeds, Ningbing will be Young Master Shen's woman, and everything will be handed over to you! I will serve you wholeheartedly."
"If it fails... then I ask Young Master Shen to abide by your promise and let Ningbing and Magic City Renxin Hall Pharmaceutical Company go!"
At this point, Qin Ningbing looked at Shen Anyu with expectant beautiful eyes. She thought she had him. Three months was an impossible deadline for a drug that had failed for three years, even with unlimited resources. Science couldn't be rushed that easily.
Shen Anyu thought to himself, "As expected."
He smiled faintly, a look of absolute confidence on his face.
"Good, we'll bet on that!"
On Qin Ningbing's exquisite and cold face, her beautiful eyes seemed both annoyed and pleased... annoyed that he accepted so easily, pleased that she saw a path to victory.
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