185: 185. Zhao Family

The motorcade drove smoothly on the way back to the school, but the atmosphere inside the car was completely different from when they had arrived.

Wang Yuxi leaned against the car window, silently watching the fleeting, vibrant lights outside, which were rapidly receding. Fan Kui's disgusting performance earlier had clearly brought back unpleasant memories for her.

Lu Feng could understand her; after all, in his dream, he had personally experienced the feeling of being pressed down by that 200-pound fatty, which was utterly nauseating.

Lu Feng handed her an unscrewed bottle of mineral water, his voice gentle: "Sister Yuxi, let bygones be bygones. It's not worth letting such a person ruin your mood. Now and in the future, no one can force you to do anything again."

His voice calmed Wang Yuxi considerably. She took the water, took a small sip, and her emotions also settled a bit.

She turned her head and gave Lu Feng a somewhat forced smile: "Mm, I know. I just didn't expect him to appear in that way... Thank you, everyone."

Yu Tianxiong turned back from the passenger seat, his tone steady: "Miss Wang, you don't need to worry. Xiao Hao's actions were merely an excuse to probe. He's just a clown; there's no need to pay him any mind. If you want that director to pay a price, I have plenty of ways."

"I don't want to see that kind of person again," Wang Yuxi said, shaking her head.

"Understood."

To change the subject and also to report on work, Qin Tian, sitting in the back, adjusted his glasses, cleared his throat, and drew everyone's attention to a more exciting direction.

"Sir, President Yu, while everyone is here, I'll report on the latest progress in the lab."

Qin Tian's voice carried the unique rigor of a researcher, yet it couldn't hide his excitement: "Our solid-state battery technology for mobile phones is already very mature. I've now handed it over to other teams for optimization, and the results are significant. My main focus recently has been on iterative development based on our core technology."

He paused, seemingly organizing his thoughts, then continued: "I've tried to push in two extreme directions: first, miniaturization. Utilizing our battery's extremely high energy density and safety features, we've successfully created ultra-thin flexible batteries. These batteries are highly suitable for wearable devices, such as smartwatches, fitness trackers, and even implantable medical sensors, electronic skin, and other fields, with very broad prospects."

"But the true strategic focus is still on large-volume, high-power traction batteries!"

Qin Tian's tone suddenly rose, full of confidence, "We have successfully solved the core problem of large-scale solid-state battery interfaces. Currently, the data from our laboratory samples is... electric vehicles equipped with our batteries all achieve a comprehensive range of over 1000 kilometers! And they support ultra-high-speed charging, allowing for over 400 kilometers of range with just 10 minutes of charging!"

Silence filled the car, broken only by the faint hum of the air conditioning system.

Even Yu Tianxiong, who was already aware of the project's potential, couldn't help but slightly narrow his pupils upon hearing these startlingly specific figures.

He hadn't expected Qin Tian, with the support of power, to unleash such capabilities!

Absolutely astounding!!

Qin Tian took a deep breath and dropped the biggest bombshell: "Furthermore, based on the physical properties of our solid-state battery, I can guarantee with my professional career that it absolutely, positively cannot spontaneously combust or explode! Its safety is unparalleled by any existing lithium-ion battery!"

"A thousand-kilometer range... four hundred kilometers in ten minutes... never spontaneously combusts..."

Yu Tianxiong slowly repeated these keywords, his heart surging.

He looked at Lu Feng and said in a deep voice: "Sir, once this is officially released, the global automotive industry landscape will experience an unprecedented earthquake. Our Xia Kingdom's electric vehicle industry chain, relying on this battery, will gain an absolute leading edge of at least ten years!"

This is just what can be seen currently, but the potential of this technology is not yet fully realized. If it is applied in the aerospace field, high-end military equipment, giant energy storage projects... without a doubt, Tingfeng Energy will directly define a new high-end market.

Lu Feng leaned back in his chair, his fingertips gently tapping his knee, a calm smile, as expected, on his face.

In that smile, there was approval for the excellent work of Qin Tian's team, but more than that, there was the composure of holding an ace card and sitting firmly on the fishing platform.

He stretched, saying, "Very good. It seems our bargaining chips for... cooperation are heavy enough."

"Sir, I think we should... prepare for our own press conference, rather than being an appendage to anyone else."

Lu Feng laughed, "No rush. There's a good thing and a bad thing coming our way in the next two days. You should prepare for it, Old Yu."

...The next day, sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Tingfeng Capital's CEO office, casting a bright glow.

Yu Tianxiong had just finished a brief video conference when there was a soft knock on his office door.

His secretary entered, a hint of subtle seriousness on her face: "President Yu, a Mr. Qian, who says he represents the Zhao Family, insists on seeing you immediately. He says it's regarding an important matter concerning Tingfeng Energy's cooperation."

Yu Tianxiong's gaze shifted from his computer screen, his eyes subtly moving.

The Zhao Family?

In Xia Kingdom, those who dared to announce their family name were all top-tier aristocratic families, transcending ordinary social strata.

Just like the Xiao Family before, if that behemoth truly intended to swallow Tingfeng Capital, Tingfeng Capital would be utterly defenseless against their overt methods.

And this Zhao Family was clearly an entity of similar magnitude.

Could this be the good thing and the bad thing Sir mentioned?

So, is this a good thing or... a bad thing?

He mused, "Please invite him in."

A moment later, a middle-aged man, around forty years old, with a meticulously slicked-back hairstyle, gold-rimmed glasses, and dressed in a suit, walked in.

He wore a perfunctory smile, but his eyes held a condescending, scrutinizing look, as if he wasn't there to discuss cooperation but to inspect his own territory.

Behind him followed a young assistant carrying a briefcase, equally arrogant in demeanor.

"President Yu, I've long admired your reputation."

Representative Qian extended his hand, his tone polite but carrying a detached sense of superiority: "I am Qian Yongming, entrusted by Mr. Zhao Longyu to pay you a visit."

Yu Tianxiong stood up and shook his hand lightly: "Mr. Qian, please have a seat."

His tone was calm as he gestured for the other party to sit on the reception sofa, while he himself returned to his desk, subtly creating distance and establishing his home-field advantage.

The secretary quietly withdrew after serving two cups of clear tea, closing the door behind her.

Qian Yongming didn't touch the tea. He leaned back slightly, crossed his legs, and clasped his hands on his knees, getting straight to the point: "President Yu is a straightforward person, so I won't beat around the bush. Young Master Zhao is very interested in your company, especially the Tingfeng Energy project."