I'm Starving: Why Should I Do Charity? 18: Rule Loophole (2)
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"Let's establish three rules," she finally spoke. "First, all financial flows must be publicly disclosed in real time; second, no child shall be forced to participate in any commercial activities; third..." She paused, "I want full oversight." 0
 
Lin Xiaofan extended his hand. "Deal." 0
 
The moment their fingertips touched, Lin Xiaofan's phone vibrated in his pocket. He stole a glance at the screen; it was a system notification: 0
 
【Cooperation Mode Confirmed】 0
【Goodwill Value Increased to 95/100】 0
【New Feature Unlocked: Project Tracking】 0
 
A week later, the launch event for the "Glimmer Art Project" was held at the city center library. Lin Xiaofan stood by the registration desk, watching the endless stream of media and guests, feeling a sense of unreality. Just a month ago, he had been vilified online as a "fraud," and now he had become a "transparent charity pioneer." 0
 
"Don't daze off," Su Yuqing whispered, handing him a revised speech draft. "Remember to emphasize the oversight mechanism." 0
 
Lin Xiaofan nodded and was about to speak when suddenly there was a commotion at the entrance of the venue. The crowd parted automatically, and a sharply dressed middle-aged man walked in with steady steps, followed by two young assistants. 0
 
"Zhao Tianming..." Su Yuqing's voice turned icy. 0
 
Lin Xiaofan felt a tightening in his stomach. Although media reports had exposed Zhao Tianming for tax evasion, it was clear that this charity mogul's status remained unshaken. Today, he wore an impeccably tailored three-piece suit, the foundation's emblem gleaming on his chest, and a signature friendly smile on his face. 0
 
"Lin Xiaofan, right? It's a pleasure to finally meet you," Zhao Tianming extended his hand. "You have some interesting ideas, young man!" 0
 
Lin Xiaofan shook his hand mechanically, feeling as if he had touched a venomous snake. Zhao Tianming's palm was dry and warm, with just the right amount of grip; the jade ring on his ring finger glinted coldly. 0
 
"Chairman Zhao's presence is truly an unexpected delight," Su Yuqing stepped forward slightly, skillfully positioning herself in front of Lin Xiaofan. 0
 
"Ah, Xiao Su, you’re still so protective," Zhao Tianming chuckled as he took an envelope from one of his assistants. "This is our foundation's modest contribution—a check for one hundred thousand—to support your promising project." 0
 
Polite applause erupted from the audience, and several reporters immediately raised their cameras. Just as Lin Xiaofan was about to take the envelope, his phone suddenly vibrated violently in his pocket, sending a jolt of pain up his thigh. He nearly dropped the envelope as a bright red warning filled his screen: 0
 
【High-Risk Alert!】 0
【Malicious Associate Detected】 0
【Target: Zhao Tianming】 0
【Goodwill Value for Host: -100%】 0
【Immediate Termination of Contact Recommended】 0
 
Zhao Tianming seemed to sense something amiss and narrowed his eyes slightly. "Is something wrong, Mr. Lin?" 0
 
"N-no... I'm fine," Lin Xiaofan forced himself to stay calm and handed the envelope to Su Yuqing. "According to regulations, all donations are managed by Director Su." 0
 
 
Zhao Tianming's gaze swept between the two, his smile deepening. "Having rules is a good thing." He leaned closer to Lin Xiaofan and spoke in a voice only they could hear, "Young man, are you interested in joining the regular army? Our foundation is in need of someone with your... unique talents." 0
 
Lin Xiaofan felt a cold sweat soak through his back instantly. The implication in Zhao Tianming's words was unmistakable—he knew something. 0
 
"Thank you for the offer, but I still lack experience..." 0
 
"There's no rush." Zhao Tianming patted his shoulder, his voice returning to normal. "The press conference is about to begin. I'm looking forward to your speech." 0
 
The next half hour felt like a nightmare. Lin Xiaofan stood under the spotlight, mechanically reading from his speech, yet he could clearly feel Zhao Tianming's sharp gaze piercing into his back like a knife. The system continuously popped up warnings, and his phone in his pocket felt like it was about to explode from the heat. 0
 
"...In conclusion, we promise that every penny will be used for the children..." Lin Xiaofan's voice trembled slightly. 0
 
During the Q&A session, a reporter wearing gold-rimmed glasses suddenly raised his hand. "Mr. Lin, some have questioned the source of your suddenly acquired substantial funding. How do you respond?" 0
 
The venue fell silent instantly. Lin Xiaofan's throat tightened as he caught a glimpse of Zhao Tianming's barely-there smile—this question was clearly orchestrated by him. 0
 
"All funding..." 0
 
"All funding has undergone strict scrutiny." Su Yuqing suddenly took the microphone. "As the project supervisor, I can confirm that every donation received by Mr. Lin comes from legitimate sources, and detailed accounts will be made public on our official website." 0
 
Her voice was steady and powerful, her left hand discreetly gripping Lin Xiaofan's trembling wrist beneath the podium. That warmth helped him regain some composure, and the frequency of the system alerts decreased slightly. 0
 
After the press conference ended, Zhao Tianming was the last to leave. He cast a meaningful glance at Lin Xiaofan. "We will meet again soon, young man." 0
 
Once the venue was finally empty, Lin Xiaofan let out a long sigh and slumped into his chair. Su Yuqing handed him a bottle of water, her brow furrowed. "Do you have a history with Zhao Tianming?" 0
 
"No, today is our first meeting..." Lin Xiaofan twisted open the bottle cap, his hand still slightly shaking. 0
 
"His gaze towards you was unsettling." Su Yuqing bit her lip. "It felt like... he was evaluating a product." 0
 
Lin Xiaofan recalled the system's "-100%" goodwill assessment and felt another pang in his stomach. Just how much did Zhao Tianming know? What connection did he have with the system? 0
 
"Just be careful," Su Yuqing said as she gathered her documents. "We’re heading into the mountains for an inspection next week; you..." 0
 
"I'll go." Lin Xiaofan interrupted her. "No matter what happens, I must see this project through to the end." 0
 
Su Yuqing paused for a moment, then smiled slightly. "Then it's settled." She picked up her briefcase and headed toward the door but turned back to add, "By the way, I've returned Zhao Tianming's check. That kind of money is dirty." 0
 
Lin Xiaofan sat alone in the empty venue as the sunset cast long shadows on the floor through the windows. He took out his phone; the system interface had returned to normal except for one new message waiting quietly: 0
 
[Rule Violation Alert] 0
[The most effective good deeds often seek no reward] 0
[But the host's survival is equally important] 0
 
 
Outside the window, the neon lights of the city flickered to life one by one. An invisible game had only just begun. 0
 
 
 
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