Chapter 47 Absolute Benefactor
At 1 AM, it was dead silent downstairs at the East Campus dorm building of Empire University.
Woken up from a good sleep and dragged out of her warm bed to get a face full of cold wind, Susan was full of complaints. Just as she was about to let loose a string of curses, she deflated instantly when she came face to face with the Director of Logistics, who was in charge of student housing.
The building door opened, and a young woman who looked like a beautiful movie star said "Sorry for the trouble" to the Director of Logistics, then rushed upstairs.
A few minutes later, she came back down. Without even glancing at Susan or the Director of Logistics, she walked straight past them toward a car.
In the darkness under the plane trees, a black Maybach sat quietly.
The young woman approached, and the rear window rolled down.
From a distance, Susan could only make out a shadowy figure in the back seat. Even though she couldn't see the face clearly, just from the intimidating atmosphere alone, she could tell this must be some big shot.
"...old and run-down...haunted...someone jumped..."
As the cold wind blew past, she vaguely caught a few words. Before Susan could ask the director what was going on, the sound of approaching vehicles and their sweeping headlights startled her.
The Vice President of Student Affairs.
The Associate Dean of Academic Affairs.
Tony Gibson, Dean of the Research Department.
Car doors opened, and a group of leaders got out.
It seemed like only at this moment did Susan realize that something serious had happened. She instinctively took a step back.
"Mr. Williams, what brings you to Empire University at this late hour? Has something happened?"
Tony's heart leapt into his throat.
Empire University's greatest claim to fame wasn't its century-old history or its reputation as a top institution, but its core research facilities.
The government allocated funding every year, but for research projects that were time-consuming, labor-intensive, and expensive, it was just a drop in the bucket.
So Empire University partnered with qualified commercial companies.
Empire University provided the people, the companies provided the money, and future research results would be shared proportionally—a win-win for both sides.
If other commercial companies were partners to Empire University, then the Windsor Group was its absolute benefactor.
The famous Frederick wasn't an Empire University student, but from the year he took charge of the Windsor Group, he had sponsored the university's research center with 50 million dollars annually to support their research, without asking for anything in return.
Not only that, but Empire University's outstanding graduates also enjoyed priority hiring rights at the Windsor Group.
Giving without taking anything back, the Windsor Group had become like a shining beacon of philanthropy in the hearts of Empire University's leadership.
Every year, the school administration would contact Mike, hoping to invite Frederick to dinner or to tour the research center as a way of thanking him, while also proving they weren't wasting the Windsor Group's sponsorship.
But whether official or personal, all invitations were declined.
Years had passed, and the school leaders had never even met Frederick in person.
Who would have thought that in the middle of the night, Frederick would come to Empire University.
And his car was parked in such a sensitive location—downstairs at the women's dorm.
Terrified that some clueless girl in the East Campus dorm building had offended Frederick, ultimately affecting those 50 million dollars in research funding, Tony glanced at the chubby dorm manager cowering by the pillar, so angry his beard was trembling.
"Just a personal matter."
Mike glanced at the back seat, then looked at Tony with a warm smile. "Star Apartments is now open for occupancy. If it's convenient, could Mr. Gibson do us a favor and give me one spot?"
In the middle of the night, just to get an apartment occupancy spot?
Tony was stunned.
Beside him, the group of school leaders exchanged confused glances.