The Favored Heiress
Chapter 480: Li Qiao, Honorary Member of the Medical Alliance

Chapter 480: Chapter 480: Li Qiao, Honorary Member of the Medical Alliance

Li Ru was stunned, her eyes darting nervously to the PowerPoint projected on the screen, "Without Chairman Su, this is all there is for the initial introduction of the project."

"Hmm..." Su Moshi pondered, his tone noncommittal, his expression revealing nothing, but his slightly furrowed brow seemed to suggest dissatisfaction.

Li Ru anxiously gripped the laser pointer in her hand, hesitant to step down and take her seat, fearful that he might have more questions.

As the group’s representative, she was obliged to answer all of Su Moshi’s questions; such minor setbacks were making her increasingly unsure.

The chairman and experts of the Medical Alliance were certainly not the types to seek reputation through superficial means.

For this precise reason, the demands of the individuals before her were bound to be very high, leaving no room to bluff her way through.

In an instant, Li Ru was overwhelmed with emotions, even regretting her rash decision to take on such a significant responsibility.

She glanced at the two academicians without betraying her feelings and soon regained her composure, "May I ask if there are any more questions?"

Su Moshi looked up at her briefly, pursed his lips, shook his head, then whispered something to the experts beside him, and afterwards, all of them wore inscrutable expressions as they turned their gaze toward Li Ru.

At that moment, one of the Chinese experts, speaking in less-than-fluent Chinese, asked, "You just mentioned that you have pinpointed the chemical arsenic element that causes genetic mutations, is that the only one?"

Li Ru opened her mouth and struggled to respond, "Uh, this... Of course not."

"Then what else is there?" Su Moshi tilted his head and regarded her, his eyes calm but exerting an intense pressure.

Li Ru’s eyes flickered involuntarily toward the two academicians.

Seeing this, Su Moshi slightly curled his lips into a cold smile, "As the group’s representative, Researcher Li, are you telling me that you cannot even recite the most basic research results?

These two are internationally renowned experts in gene research. You’ve been emphasizing arsenic compounds’ role in causing mutations in your presentation. I want to know, besides that, have you inquired into other elements?"

Li Ru was completely unable to answer.

The reason was that all the materials she held were submitted by Renhe Laboratory.

Initially, when the research institute took over Renhe’s project, they started in the middle of it, and many reports were filtered to include only the most crucial conclusions.

As a result, much of the experimental process was omitted.

The large conference room fell silent, not a sound to be heard.

The audience included not only the experts from the Medical Alliance but also many colleagues from the research institute.

Over fifty pairs of eyes were fixed on Li Ru, and time dragged on in her silence, growing long and quiet.

"I..." Li Ru truly couldn’t come up with an answer.

She had indeed read through Renhe’s experimental process reports, but she didn’t believe in the value of their research and had instinctively chosen to ignore it.

Just as Academician Jiang was about to intervene and alleviate the situation, Su Moshi said on his own accord, "Researcher Li Qiao, can you answer?"

Li Qiao, who was dozing off at the back of the crowd: "..."

Li Qiao stood up, blinked her eyes, and then calmly recited more than twenty elements, "These have all been studied in experiments and have shown no significant reactions causing mutations.

Among the arsenic compounds, arsenic trioxide is the primary one. It has been confirmed through multiple tests to match the pathological structures in the volunteers’ bodies."

Her crisp explanation wasn’t particularly striking, but her calm demeanor allowed her to list the elements she had experimented with firsthand as if they were treasures in the palm of her hand.

Su Moshi’s frown smoothed, his slight smile deepening as he turned his chair back around, and when he looked at Li Qiao, he nodded in approval, "Well said, this is the kind of talent we need in the Medical Alliance."

As the words fell, there were murmurs throughout the meeting room; after all, many colleagues from other research groups present were familiar with Li Qiao’s name, but only because of the incident where she broke a machine and paid a hefty compensation.

Now recognized affirmatively by the chairman of the Medical Alliance in public, it seemed she indeed had some skills.

Li Ru, still standing at the front, nearly deformed the laser pointer in her grip from squeezing so hard.

She never anticipated things would turn out like this. Just by answering one question, she had become someone needed by the Medical Alliance?

Li Ru had long been self-conceited and held disdain for Li Qiao’s style. Perhaps driven by jealousy, she stepped forward in her high heels, speaking stiffly, "Chairman Su, the content she mentioned, although I only briefly touched upon it earlier, is all detailed in the documentation. You can flip to page seven to see for yourself."

At that, Su Moshi turned his head, looking at Li Ru at the front with a smile that was not quite a smile, "From what you’re saying, if you can’t answer a question, we have to find the answer ourselves?"

A stir went through the crowd.

Li Ru looked at Su Moshi with panic and confusion, "I... I didn’t mean that. Li Qiao is only a Junior Researcher. I was worried... if she misspoke, it could lead to misunderstanding."

"Junior Researcher?" Su Moshi seemed to feign surprise, lifting his eyebrow. His expression hardly changed, yet somehow it emanated an icy hostility.

Su Moshi looked down and adjusted his sleeve, "Then Researcher Li is an Intermediate?"

As if finding her confidence, Li Ru’s face brightened with a smile, "Yes, I am an Intermediate Researcher, Li Ru."

"Hmm," Su Moshi chuckled softly, lifting his eyelids to stare across at her, "In that case, the research institute truly doesn’t live up to its name. A question that a Junior Researcher can answer is one that an Intermediate Researcher can’t utter a single word about. Moreover..."

He paused for a few seconds, and with that, the hearts of everyone in attendance were also hoisted up.

Li Ru turned even paler, her gaze becoming much more distant.

Indeed, if an Intermediate Researcher was outperformed by a Junior Researcher, it wouldn’t just be a reflection on Li Ru’s incompetence, but rather an indication that the research institute’s ranking system was overstated.

At the moment, Wang Zheng, seated at the table, was already sweating profusely. If the research institute were publicly doubted by the Medical Alliance and branded as unworthy of its name, he, the director, might as well go home and farm.

"Chairman Su, about this matter..." Wang Zheng said with a flattering smile beside him, trying to soothe his anger.

But Su Moshi completely ignored him, continuing in a calm voice while fixing his sleeve, "Moreover, how is it that a Permanent Institution Level-1 Honorary Member of the Medical Alliance has turned into a Junior Researcher at your research institute?"

Huh?

What does that mean?

Who is the honorary member of the Medical Alliance?

In the conference room, a buzz of voices began to rise.

Quickly, someone in the crowd reacted with a shocked exclamation, "Could it... could it be Li Qiao?"

"Ah? Her?"

In a flash, everyone turned their heads to offer Li Qiao their full attention.

Could it be her?

Impossible, isn’t it? In recent years, it has been rare for the Medical Alliance to make an appearance in China, and the medical experts who joined the organization were all leading figures in their respective fields.

Li Qiao, how old was she, and what qualifications did she have to join the Medical Alliance?

The most incredulous of all was Li Ru on stage.

Her face couldn’t even be described as pale anymore.

Ever since she heard that the Medical Alliance was coming, she had resolved to make every effort to join the international organization.

Now, not only had she failed to join, but she had also been publicly criticized, while Li Qiao, the one she looked down upon the most, was already a Permanent Institution Level-1 Honorary Member?

No, she didn’t believe it.

At that moment, Su Moshi rapped his knuckles on the table, causing the noisy chatter to come to an abrupt halt.

He turned his head towards Li Qiao, lifted his chin, and then slowly stood up. Waving her over with one hand, he spoke with a light smile, "Let me introduce her to everyone. Li Qiao, Permanent Institution Level-1 Honorary Member of the Medical Alliance."