26: Dangerous thoughts and initial temptations

Pushed to the brink by a lack of funds, Excellence paced his cramped dormitory like a trapped beast. The material list provided by the system was spread across his workbench like a death warrant, every word shimmering with a desperate light.

Time and again, his gaze swept over the astronomical prices on the list:

[Iridium-Osmium Alloy 0.5kg (Purity 99.99%) - Market Price: ¥475,000]

[Superconducting Ceramic Substrate (200mm×200mm) - Market Price: ¥320,000]

[Quantum Dot Resonators ×4 - Market Price: ¥180,000 each]

[High-Frequency Oscillating Crystal - Market Price: ¥265,000]

These numbers kept adding up in his mind, eventually converging into an astronomical sum he simply could not afford. Excellence felt his breathing become difficult, as if an invisible hand were clutching his throat.

In this moment of despair, his gaze involuntarily drifted to the corner of his desk. There lay a sleek, minimalist business card—Evelyn Li's card. Its metallic texture glinted coldly in the dim light, as if tempting him.

An incredibly bold and suicidal idea quietly took root in his heart like a venomous snake: Maybe... I could slightly... make use of The Foundation? Just to get some funds and materials, without involving core technology? They have plenty of money anyway; what does it matter who they sponsor?

The moment this thought appeared, it grew wildly like weeds. He could already see the scene of expensive materials piling up on his workbench, the image of the Wireless Power Transmission Device successfully completed. For someone in his desperate situation, that temptation was almost irresistible.

[Warning: Abnormally elevated heart rate detected; cortisol levels rising sharply. Suspected high-risk decision-making tendency. Any form of economic or technical interaction with 'Morpheus Li' and his affiliated organizations carries extremely high exposure and uncontrollable risks. This course of action is strongly discouraged.] The system immediately issued a sharp alarm, and red warning signs flashed frantically across his retinas.

"Then what do you suggest I do?!" Excellence retorted irritably, slamming a fist onto the workbench and making several precision components clatter. "No money! No materials! If the task isn't finished, I'll face social death! I'm being monitored! And now Su Mu is ignoring me! What other choice do I have?!"

His voice echoed in the tiny dorm, hoarse with desperation. Outside, the last rays of the setting sun filtered through the gaps in the curtains, casting blood-red patches of light on the floor.

[Recommendation: Attempt other legal financing channels or further tap into the potential of local resources.] The system gave its hollow advice while displaying several so-called "alternative solutions" in his field of vision—including applying for a student entrepreneurship loan (which required a detailed project plan and a mentor's recommendation) or participating in a tech innovation competition (which required public disclosure of project details).

"Legal financing? Where am I going to get financing? Tell investors I'm hand-building a wireless charging tower?! Local resources? Is my family's factory going to magically produce rhodium powder and specialized ceramics for me?!" Excellence was practically growling, his fingers digging deep into his hair, feeling the stinging pain from his scalp.

Internal struggle and pressure brought him to the verge of a breakdown. He felt as if he were standing at a crossroads where every path led to unknown danger. The system's warnings echoed continuously in his mind, while the material list loomed before him like a death summons.

Ultimately, the fear of task failure overrode his concerns about the risks. The painful memories of system punishment were more real and terrifying than any unknown danger.

With trembling hands, he picked up the business card from the corner of the desk. The card was icy to the touch, seemingly carrying that mysterious aura of Evelyn's. He noticed the email address on the card was made with a special laser-engraving technique, making it clearly legible even in the dim light.

Excellence opened his laptop, his fingers hovering over the keyboard for a long time. Finally, he took a deep breath and began to carefully compose an email.

He weighed every word he typed:

"Dear Miss Evelyn:" (Is that too formal?)

"I am Excellence," (Do I need my full name?)

"We met briefly at the Wythe Library." (Is this description appropriate?)

"I am a student with a keen interest in cutting-edge technology," (Does emphasizing my student status seem too naive?)

"I am currently exploring some 'self-amusement' small-scale projects," (Does using quotes for 'self-amusement' make it seem like I'm trying too hard to hide something?)

"But I have encountered difficulties in obtaining certain 'special electronic components'," (Is the word 'special' too obvious?)

"I wonder if The Foundation has any relevant resource-sharing platforms or small-grant programs available for students to apply for." (Would the term 'small-grant' lower her guard?)

He deliberately downplayed the project's specifics, highlighting harmless words like "student," "interest," and "small-grant." Every word in the email was carefully scrutinized; it couldn't be too professional to avoid suspicion, yet it couldn't be too amateur to lose its value.

The moment he went to press the send key, Excellence's finger trembled so much it was almost uncontrollable. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and finally clicked that fate-deciding button.

The notification sound for a successfully sent email seemed exceptionally piercing in the quiet dormitory. Excellence felt as if all his strength had been drained; he slumped into his chair, cold sweat soaking his back.

[Email transmission monitored. Risk index upgraded from Orange Alert to Red Emergency status. Probability of establishing contact with the 'Prophet Foundation' has reached 87.3%. It is recommended that the host immediately initiate emergency protocols and prepare for identity exposure.] The system's warnings became more urgent than ever before.

Excellence gave a weak laugh. "Isn't it a bit late for that now?"

He stood up, walked to the window, and gently pulled back a corner of the curtain. Night had fallen, and the campus streetlights were flickering on one by one. Under a large tree in the distance, he thought he saw a familiar figure—it was that "repairman" who often appeared nearby, currently looking toward his window with binoculars.

Excellence yanked the curtain shut, his heart racing all day. He both anticipated and feared a reply. Every notification sound from his phone made his heart skip a beat; every email alert made his palms sweat.

In this state of extreme anxiety, time seemed to slow down. Every minute was a torment, and his brain uncontrollably imagined various outcomes: maybe Evelyn would reject him outright, maybe she would set harsh conditions, or maybe this was simply a trap... Late at night, when the dormitory building had completely quieted down, Excellence still couldn't sleep. He sat at his workbench, mindlessly fiddling with cheap electronic components, replaying every detail of his encounter with Evelyn in his head, trying to find some clue.

Then, around two in the morning, his phone suddenly lit up—it was a notification for a new email. The sender was that very email address that made his heart race.

Excellence's fingers trembled so much he could barely hold the phone. He took several deep breaths before finally opening the email.

The email was very short, but every word made his heart pound faster:

"Student Excellence:

I am very pleased to receive your message. The Foundation has always been very interested in supporting promising young people.

Tomorrow at 3:00 PM, at the Nebula Cafe downtown, we can discuss your 'small project' in detail.

Looking forward to meeting you.

Evelyn Li"

At the end of the email was an exquisite electronic signature that looked like some kind of encrypted identifier.

Looking at this email, Excellence felt a glimmer of hope, but also a deeper sense of unease. The invitation to meet came too quickly and too directly, making him suspicious of its intent.

[Meeting invitation detected. Risk level: Extremely High. Recommendation: Decline immediately, or at least postpone the meeting to allow for more thorough preparation.] The system warned urgently.

But Excellence knew he had no way back. Whether it was a trap or an opportunity, he had to face it.

He replied with a brief "Okay, see you tomorrow," then put down his phone.

Outside, the moonlight was like water, but in Excellence's eyes, this tranquil night seemed to hide countless eyes watching his every move. This dangerous game had already begun.