Chapter 597: a very satisfied smile

MO JIU tilted his head, completely confused as to why this kid suddenly asked such a question.  "What does that have to do with anything?"

"Of course, it has to do with everything," Luo Yan said, grinning mischievously.  "Because this 'something fun' involves your sister."

Mo Jiu was starting to understand where the other was going with this.  "What makes you think I would go along with your idea of 'fun'?"

"Didn't you say that you don't care about what's happening with your sister right now?  So, I don't think you would feel guilty even if you join in with this 'fun'," Luo Yan said with a shrug.  "Besides, I'm not letting you do it for free.  I'll give you an incentive."

"Surely, you're not thinking of paying me," Mo Jiu said.

"I'm not talking about money.  I'm talking about something that you want.  That's why it's called an incentive," Luo Yan said.  "Didn't you want to join the research team that would analyze the items dug at H province last summer?  From what I've heard, you didn't make the quota because you were late in submitting your application.  If you promise to join in with the 'fun', I can guarantee that your name would be on the list of students that would be part of the team."

Luo Jin was surprised to hear this.  He didn't expect that his brother would have this much information on this Mo Jiu.  Did the report he read on the Mo family really that extensive?

Yes, that's right.  The report Luo Yan had read was indeed very thorough.  To the point that it included the favorite food of each of the family members.  He learned from Luo Ren that it was compiled by his assistant.  Really, in Luo Yan's opinion, that guy definitely deserved a pay raise. 

Mo Jiu was also slightly surprised to hear that the other knew about that.  There was a dig that happened last summer at an archeological site in H province.  They managed to unearth a lot of materials.  So, this winter, they were hoping that students from a number of universities would help them analyze the data from those materials.

He indeed wanted to be part of that research team.  But unfortunately, he was too pre-occupied by another project that by the time he found out about it, the quota was already filled out. 

He tried to talk to the professor in charge.  But that professor firmly refused.  Saying that they couldn't add another student because it would exceed the quota allotted to their university.  Because this project was a joint project by a number of top universities in the country.  If other universities found out about it, it might affect their university's reputation. 

Another factor was the fact that he was only in his sophomore year in his undergrad course.  The other students who were going to be part of that team were either senior students or those who were already taking their master's degree.  So, even if he managed to submit his application on time, it's highly unlikely that he would be chosen.  No matter how brilliant he might be.

He actually considered bribing someone from the school.  But he thought better of it.  What if that decision came back to him in the future?  He didn't want that to affect his educational record.

"If you're planning to bribe the school, then forget it," he said.

Although he was a bit tempted, if this thing got back to him then he'd rather not take the risk.

"I'm not going to bribe the school.  That's criminal, you know?" Luo Yan said, acting as if he was offended by what Mo Jiu was insinuating. 

Mo Jiu, on his part, didn't buy Luo Yan's guilt-tripping.  "Then, what are you suggesting?"

Luo Yan smiled sweetly.  "I'm simply going to bribe the students who are supposed to be part of that research team."

Both Luo Jin and Mo Jiu were quite speechless by this.  What's the difference between bribing the school and bribing an individual?  Seeing the flabbergasted expression of the two, Luo Yan further explained;

"I'm thinking of bribing two.  That way, if they gave up their spot, no one would find it suspicious if you and another student took their place.  Of course, I would make it so that they wouldn't give up their spot at the same time.  I would even make sure that the reason for them doing that would be so varied, no one would suspect a thing.

"The start of that project is still two months from now, right?  I'll make sure that those two who will give up their places will do so with a considerable amount of time in between.  In this way, even if you take the place of one of them, no one would suspect that your bribed them.  People would just think you're lucky for taking one of the spots."

This made Mo Jiu speechless once again.  It's like the other had already planned for everything and the only thing missing was his approval.  On the other hand, Luo Jin only thought that his brother's 'dark side' was showing again.

"If that's the case, then I can also do that.  Which means I don't really have any need for you," Mo Jiu said after 

Luo Yan only smiled meaningfully.  "Really?  But I don't think you will do it.  If you're planning to, I think you have already done it.  The fact that you haven't yet meant you're not thinking of doing so.  Why do I have such an idea, you ask?  Because you don't want this whole thing to be connected to you.  You know that even if you do everything secretly, there's still a chance, albeit very small, that it would come back to you.

"But if I'm the one who would do it, that chance would almost be negligible.  After all, the two of us have no connections whatsoever.  And if you must know, the bribing method I will use would not look like bribes at all.  You don't need to know the details.  The less you know, the better, right?  So, what do you think?  Are you in or out?"

Mo Jiu was silent for a couple of seconds.  He appeared to be thinking deeply.  Then, he looked straight into Luo Yan's eyes and answered, "I'm in."

And a very satisfied smile appeared on Luo Yan's beautiful face.