If a person was hungry, it was just like eating. After you’re done with eating, you would feel the urge to drink water. And once you’re satisfied, you will think of other things. In the end, your desire would be endless.

Ni Jingqiu lacked emotional warmth and found friendship with Su Tao. When friendship could no longer satisfy the emptiness in her heart, she would seek more. She would want to go further and find emotional stability with Su Tao.

She met many outstanding men, and Su Tao wasn’t her only choice. But for some reason, only Su Tao could open the door to her heart.

Su Tao knew many of her secrets and Ni Jingqiu wasn’t worried about him leaking them. Because Su Tao had the tightest mouth in the world and secrets were safest with him.

Ni Jingqiu leaned her head against Su Tao’s chest. Her body slowly swayed along with the music.

Ni Jingqiu would give a calm and capable impression to others outside. She wouldn’t show much emotion on her face. But when she was with Su Tao, she would change. She would act coquettishly, angry, or even spoiled. But Su Tao liked that about Ni Jingqiu because she lived as herself.

The music abruptly stopped and the two separated. Ni Jingqiu’s cheeks were rosy. Looking at her, Su Tao was briefly stumped before he smiled, “You look beautiful like this.”

“Don’t lie to me. I know you’re lying!” Ni Jingqiu shook her head.

“I’m not lying.” Su Tao was startled, surprised.

“If I’m really beautiful, why didn’t you make your move at me earlier?” Ni Jingqiu teased.

Women were complicated. If you made your move, they would think of you as a rogue. But if you didn’t, they would feel that you were looking down on them.

“Aren’t we friends? We have a pure friendship. If I make a move at you, won’t I destroy it?” Su Tao was actually a little surprised that he had behaved himself earlier. That was so unlike him.

Maybe he had really considered Ni Jingqiu as a friend.

“Why don’t we try again and dance another one?” Su Tao unwillingly said.

“No way! I’m tired!” Ni Jingqiu fell onto the couch and started massaging her calf.

“Tired?” Su Tao rolled up his sleeves. “Why don’t I give you a massage? It's free. I will charge money for it if it’s for someone else.”

“Won’t you be taking an advantage of me in that manner?” Ni Jingqiu smiled.

Shrugging his shoulders, Su Tao nodded, “That’s for sure. It’s just like digging your nose. After you dig your nose, do you feel satisfied with your nose or finger?”

“You’re disgusting!” Ni Jingqiu glared at Su Tao before pointing at the couch. “Sit down. I need to talk to you about the future.”

“A future with both of us in it?” Su Tao gave a complicated look at Ni Jingqiu. “Give me some time. I still have no idea how to answer you yet.”

Waving her hand vigorously, Ni Jingqiu replied, “Stop bullshitting. I want to talk to you about the Three Flavour Hall’s future. The branch in Japan is almost ready. Once it’s ready, that will be our first step. But you will need capital if you want to develop further. My dad and Uncle Ye have communicated with each other. They want to join the Three Flavour Hall.”

Su Tao was stunned. So this was the reason why Ni Jingqiu looked for him. He felt somewhat disappointed and bitter, “How much are you willing to give me?”

“$3,000,000! USD!” Ni Jingqiu whispered.

“Wow! That’s a lot!” Su Tao smiled.

“Are you mocking me?” Ni Jingqiu naturally heard Su Tao’s tone.

“I’m not. I’m only cooperating with you.” Su Tao tugged his arms together.

“Are you angry?” Ni Jingqiu couldn’t understand the sudden change in Su Tao’s attitude.

“You’re thinking too much. Why should I be angry when someone is giving me so much money?” Su Tao spread his hands apart.

“I get it now. You’re angry that I’m not letting you massage.” Ni Jingqiu smiled.

“That’s just one aspect. I think that you have a low EQ. Why are we talking about money in this ambiance? Can’t we have a purer relationship aside from money?” Su Tao was speechless.

Ni Jingqiu burst into laughter and replied, “So you think that I’m too vulgar to talk about money! But aren’t we just talking about digging noses earlier?”

“So you’re trying to change the topic on purpose!” Su Tao smiled with his brows spreading out.

“You can think of it that way. But I still have to tell you about the investment.” Ni Jingqiu replied.

“I refuse.” Su Tao shook his head after a brief ponder.

“Why?” Ni Jingqiu was surprised. It should be something that no one would refuse. “With so much money, the Three Flavour Hall’s development will increase rapidly. Years can be saved with so much money.”

Sitting on the couch, Su Tao sighed, “I’m grateful for that. I believe that your father and Uncle Ye are sincere about that. The Three Flavour Hall isn’t mine alone, and I can’t call shots by himself. The Three Flavour Hall doesn’t lack money right now but talents. I will need four to five years for that. Lastly, I don’t want to expand blindly. If that’s the case, then I will lack the absolute leadership over the Three Flavour Hall.”

“I didn’t expect you to consider so far into the future.” Ni Jingqiu nodded her head.

“I’m not stupid. Would I refuse you without a reason since it involves so much money?” Su Tao smiled sourly. “Money can bring more development to the company, but we can’t bite more than what we can chew, especially when it comes to the Three Flavour Hall. We’re not lacking in money but talents!”

“You taught me a lesson today. I will tell my father and Uncle Ye about what you said.” Ni Jingqiu smiled.

Su Tao thought for a while before he replied, “I think that you can invest it into TCM’s education. It might be a long-term investment with no short-term benefits, but you will definitely see results a decade from now.”

“It’s indeed a breakthrough.” Ni Jingqiu furrowed her brows.

Seeing that Ni Jingqiu was tempted, Su Tao explained, “With the future of TCM becoming clearer, many people will choose to join this industry. So it’s a strategic investment if you invest in it. Hanzhou City’s government is planning to set up four TCM-related universities in the next two years. I can link you up with them if you’re interested.”

Ni Jingqiu smiled. She finally understood Su Tao’s strategy right now and the reason why Su Tao refused the investment. It wasn’t because he could neglect the sum, but he felt that it could be placed somewhere better.

“Every single of Three Flavour Hall’s branches is highly profitable. So as long as we have enough talents, we can create wealth in a short period of time.” Su Tao helplessly continued, “but there are too little talents. Although the State Council issued a policy to guide western medicine doctors into TCM, it’s not effective because the prospects aren’t clear. If we include everyone who is willing to learn TCM into the university and give them job opportunities when they graduate, I believe that TCM will be a popular industry for everyone.”

“So you’re saying that you will guarantee job opportunities for those who graduate from Hanzhou City’s universities?” Ni Jingqiu smiled.

At present, most hospitals do not cover allocation. Many western medicine graduates couldn’t find a career after their graduation and had to transfer jobs, not to mention TCM.

But Su Tao was offering a package right now which would undoubtedly be attractive.

“You’re in for a big game here!” Ni Jingqiu smiled.

“In order to integrate TCM into modern times, we must start from the basics.” Su Tao smiled bitterly.

Ni Jingqiu could sense the strong spirit coming from Su Tao. It was as if he was walking a road full of thorns. When she recalled his past, his successes were all filled with tests and pressure. This was the reason why he could achieve so many successes.

Seeing Ni Jingqiu falling into silence, Su Tao continued, “Although we can’t look at profits for everything, there won’t be any losses to invest in TCM’s education. From the perspective of investment, education has a huge consumer group as an industry.”

There are so many TCM universities in the country, so why have they not created any miracles?” Ni Jingqiu asked.

Letting out a sigh, Su Tao smiled bitterly, “I’ve also researched about that. The answer is simple, yet surprising. The textbooks adopted by universities are compiled by western medicine. It might be talking about TCM, but it’s actually under the western medicine system.

“It’s just like getting a chicken to teach a duck how to swim. In the end, the duck won’t even know how to walk, let alone swim. The talents cultivated by TCM universities now are a hybrid of TCM and western medicine. They’re jacks of all trades but master of none.

“So textbooks in universities at Hanzhou City will be compiled by famous physicians, changing everything from the basics.”

It was mainly related to political background similar to Japan. In 1951, the Ministry of Health had an attitude to ban TCM, making a requirement for all physicians to learn western medicine.

That incident caused a huge controversy that caused the current destruction of TCM. There was a serious lack of talent. So if TCM wanted to rise, they would have to start from education.