It was a photo of a full moon, hanging in the dark night sky as bright as a piece of jade. It was the exact same one that the
stranger sent to her that night!
So Ace really was "Mr. Moon"?!
Joanna was stunned.
She could not understand why Ace Moran, the heir of a prestigious family and the CEO of a multinational company, would use a burner account to send a picture of a moon to his ex–wife in the middle of the night?
While she was still stunned, Ace took the opportunity to seize his phone back. He immediately locked it. His cold eyes. glared at her with an intense pressure as he said, "Don't look at things that you shouldn't be looking at!"
Joanna's mind was in a mess.
She already found it bizarre that Ace would secretly take her picture. Now she found out that he had used a burner account to add her as a friend on WeChat. That was not just bizarre, it was scary!
"You… are you really Mr. Moon?"
Joanna asked him again because she could not believe it.
She could not figure out why he would want to chat with her using a burner account.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
His voice was cold, as if Joanna was talking nonsense.
"There's no way you don't know what I'm talking about. The picture in your gallery is exactly the same as the one Mr. Moon sent me…"
"The moon is the moon. It looks the same everywhere!"
Ace retorted, unperturbed.
"You…!"
Ace's reply rendered Joanna speechless.
"Fine. You won't admit it? I'll make you admit it."
Joanna took out her phone, opened up WeChat, found Mr. Moon's profile picture, and clicked on the video call button.
Ace's phone immediately rang.
"So?"
Joanna raised her phone and smiled triumphantly.
Ace remained as calm as a mountain. He said coldly. "So what if it was me? Ethan taught me the techniques of courting women, so I experimented with you. I didn't expect you to be so chatty. You confided everything to a stranger. It wasn't even challenging."
Joanna was about to lose it.
She recalled the way she had told everything to "Mr. Moon" night after night. She recalled the dependence she formed on him. and the sense of security she found in him… She felt so humiliated that she wanted to slap herself in the face!
"You're crazy, Ace Moran!"
She was extremely furious, and a large part of that was due to her being ashamed of herself. She quickly walked away with
Jane.
Ace stared at Joanna's disappearing back. He stayed where he was and did not chase after her.
Hah. That's right, Ace Moran, you might actually be crazy.
Joanna was not the only one who could not understand why he did that. He himself could not understand why he did that. He
must be crazy!
Joanna took Jane back to the Professor's house.
The Professor had prepared a table of food. When he saw that only the two of them had come back, he asked curiously. "Only you two? Where's Mr. Moran? I thought he went out for a walk with you? Why didn't you come back together?"
"He died!"
Joanna was still mad.
She turned on her phone to delete Mr. Moon from her friend list, but in the end, she simply could not do it.
Looking through the chat history between them, his words seemed indifferent at first, but he was actually showing concern for
her… She did not know how to feel about that!
The Professor could guess that they must have had an argument. He sighed and said, "Both of you are outstanding individuals and are strong in your own right. That's why your relationship is bound to be bumpy."
"There's no relationship. We've already divorced!"
The Professor laughed and said meaningfully. "Emotions aren't stagnant. It has nothing to do with marriage. Didn't you want to know why Mr. Moran was here looking for me? I can tell you now…"
Joanna's interest was piqued. She looked at Professor Wood expectantly, holding her chin like a student.
The Professor pushed his glasses up and told her the truth, "Mr. Moran came today to discuss with me his intention to acquire half of the management rights of BC University…"
"What? He wants to acquire BC University?"
Joanna was still emotional and felt that it was ridiculous. "BC University is one of the top public universities in the country. especially its engineering majors. It's a well–known university even on a global scale. Ace actually dares to mess with a
public university?!"
The Professor shook his head and said, "No, no, how can you call it messing with us? He's doing it so that BC University would have a brighter future. You know how it's like for public universities these days. With limited funding for scientific
research, many experimental projects have not made any progress for years…"
"If the Moran Group really acquires half the management rights of BC University, it would make BC University a semi public and semi private university. BC University will not have to worry about scientific research funding anymore and still maintain its authority. Isn't that the best of both worlds?"
What the Professor said sounded reasonable. It must be a very persuasive proposal for the staff and students of BC
University.
But Joanna knew Ace very well.
He was a businessman through and through.
Since he was a businessman, he would never do a losing trade. There must be a deeper conspiracy behind the massive
funding!
"Professor, I don't think things will be that simple. Ace is a shrewd person. I don't believe he'll selflessly fund BC University without expecting any returns. He must have some harsh conditions, right?"
Professor nodded and said, "Mr. Moran did state some conditions, but I don't think they're that harsh. I find them acceptable."
Joanna quickly asked, "What are the conditions?"
"After Mr. Moran acquires BC University, he'll provide unlimited funding to BC University, including construction funds, experimental funds, incentive funds, etc. However, his condition is that all future research achievements of BC University will immediately be shared with the Moran Group, and the scientific research achievements in the fields of physics and electronics will be owned by the Moran Group…"
"In his dreams!"
Joanna immediately became furious upon hearing those conditions. "He's way too greedy. The physics and electronics disciplines of BC University are world–renowned. Any of their scientific research achievements could change the industry. He wants to own their rights with only a bit of investment? That's daylight robbery! Why not let me do it?!"
Professor said, "You can also purchase the management rights of BC University if you want, provided that you have the financial power."
"I…"
Joanna fell silent.
She was now only in the early stages of starting her own business. She was already thankful enough that she had no debt. There was no way she would have the financial power to be a capitalist.
However, things would be different after a few years.
She might even become more powerful than Ace in less than five years!
"Joanna, I know what you're dissatisfied about. All of us who engage in scientific research think very highly of ourselves. None of us want to bow down to the capitalists. But you don't know how much human and financial resources need to be invested to research something now. Without major backing, the researches will not bear fruit!"
Professor Wood sighed with a heavy expression and said, "In recent years, BC University has been under great pressure. Many universities have overtaken us now. Without seeking breakthroughs, our future is bleak!"
Joanna did not know what to say.
This was the harsh reality faced by today's universities, especially domestic ones.
Without high research funding, many researchers simply could not produce results. There were a lot of research breakthroughs made by foreign universities that their country's domestic universities could have made first, but they were unable to do so due to insufficient funding. Sometimes, it was less a lack of competence than it was a lack of investment.
Putting aside her prejudice against Ace, she could actually understand Professor's reasoning.
"Alright, alright, let's not talk business at the dinner table. Let's have dinner first!"
Sophia came out with more dishes, interrupting their argument.
At that moment. Ace opened the door and walked in.
"Come, Mr. Moran, we're waiting for you!"
Joanna's face darkened. Why was he still here?