Several informed executives at the Pharmaceutical Factory were arguing fiercely.
One group believed the medicine could not be destroyed.
This batch of medicine was too expensive; destroying such a large batch of finished medicine would alert the Drug Administration, and by then, the losses would be more than just the cost of raw materials, fine ingredients, and processing of finished products. It could even shake the foundation of the company and the market reputation of the brand.
The losses were immeasurable.
The other group's stance was simple: if the medicine wasn't good, it couldn't be relabeled, shipped, or sold. Absolutely not!
The two groups argued to the heavens.
Lu Chengwen held his head in his hands, slumped over the table, thinking only of his own affairs.
Why was he so annoyed?
When the house leaks, it rains overnight; all the bad luck was piling up.
This wasn't even in the main plot, was it? What was this? Could the system really alter the plot at any time?
There's no Long Aotian in this part, right?
What's wrong with Xu Xuejiao? Why did she suddenly want to harm him?
At this moment, the door was pushed open, and everyone immediately stood up:
"Hello, General Manager Xu!"
Everyone greeted Xu Xuejiao.
Lu Chengwen was stunned. Why was she here too?
Xu Xuejiao sat down opposite him at the round table, smiling at Lu Chengwen: "Chengwen Ge, I know everything that happened. How do you plan to handle it?"
"Uh..."
Lu Chengwen's mind raced.
"This batch of medicine absolutely cannot leave the factory; it must be destroyed!"
Xu Xuejiao's heart jumped, and her eyes instantly changed several times, as if she didn't recognize Lu Chengwen at all, staring intently at him.
Must be destroyed?
This was his true inner thought!?
"I've got it! I'll say we should ship them normally, and let her take the lead in opposing me. She would absolutely not let this batch of medicine leave the factory."
"If she's annoyed enough with me, she probably won't bother with me much in the future. I'll use this opportunity to have a big fight with her, and then withdraw my shares! Yes, that's what I'll do!"
"I really am a genius!"
Lu Chengwen started to smile at this thought.
He walked shamelessly to Xu Xuejiao: "Xuejiao Meimei, look, the situation is like this! The cost of this batch of medicine is too high. Compressing the fine ingredients was my idea. Although the medicine's effect might be slightly reduced, we're a traditional Chinese medicine, it won't kill anyone!"
"But if we destroy it, it will alert the Drug Administration. Then we'll have to hold a press conference, and our Pharmaceutical Factory will be finished! The reputation of our Ninth Pharmaceutical Factory will be ruined! The stock price will collapse, right? Sales of our medicines will plummet later, right? We won't make any money anymore!"
"We'll silence everyone who knows. At this time, we need to withstand the pressure and do something big! Right?"
Lu Chengwen looked at Xu Xuejiao with a grin, anxiously thinking:
"Scold me, scold me, quickly scold me! Oppose, oppose, quickly oppose!"
"I'll withdraw my shares, you become the major shareholder. From now on, let's not bother each other, and live our lives separately."
"You should obediently go and date Long Aotian, be his concubine. We'll go our separate ways and not get in each other's way."
Xu Xuejiao wasn't a pushover either.
This guy had already made up his mind to destroy this batch of medicinal materials.
But he wouldn't do it himself, wanting her to do it, what did that mean?
When did this guy become so compassionate as a doctor?
And he was avoiding her like the plague, what was going on?
Was she really so cheap as to be a concubine for that disgusting Long Aotian?
Xu Xuejiao's eyes darted, and she said with a smile: "Chengwen Ge, I think the same as you! Indeed, the Pharmaceutical Factory cannot be without you. At critical moments, we still need you to steer the ship!"
Lu Chengwen's smile instantly froze.
He looked at Xu Xuejiao as if he were looking at someone he didn't know at all.
"Xue Jiao, did you mishear? I said... to relabel, ship, and sell the medicine..."
"Yes!" Xu Xuejiao said: "That's what I think too!"
Lu Chengwen shook his head vigorously, feeling like his whole world had collapsed.
"What is all this!?"
"Xu Xuejiao, with a doctor's benevolence, how can you do such a thing? You agree to something that would make your son born without an anus? Are you out of your mind?"
Lu Chengwen forced a smile: "Xue Jiao, you need to think clearly, this is medicine! What is medicine for? Saving lives! If the medicine is not up to standard, it will delay the patients' conditions. Think about it, tens of thousands of people will suffer because of our medicine... Hehehe, you understand, right?"
"I understand, I understand completely." Xu Xuejiao had also made up her mind.
This was a game of who would blink first.
Both of them had secretly decided in their hearts that this batch of medicine absolutely could not leave the factory.
But they both wanted the other to propose it.
The current situation was: Xu Xuejiao already knew Lu Chengwen's bottom line, while Lu Chengwen was confused and couldn't see through the fog.
Xu Xuejiao had won from the start.
The cunning loli said with a relaxed expression: "It's just a batch of finished medicine, what's the big deal? If it really delays their condition, then it's their bad luck, who told them to get sick? Chengwen Ge, don't you agree?"
"But we've spent a lot of money, and if we don't make it back, the company's losses will be huge. Chengwen Ge, I support you! How about this, I'll sign, and this batch of medicine will be shipped today, with a requirement to send all of it out within three days!"
As soon as the contract came up, the Secretary handed over the pen, and Xu Xuejiao picked it up, ready to sign.
Seeing that Xu Xuejiao was really going to sign, Lu Chengwen panicked. He pressed down on the signing area and stared at Xu Xuejiao.
Xu Xuejiao's big eyes blinked at Lu Chengwen: "Chengwen Ge, what's wrong?"
Lu Chengwen was trembling with anger; he was very disappointed in Xu Xuejiao.
"Don't call me Ge anymore, you're my dad!"
"Xue Jiao, are you really... sure?"
"Yes, I'm sure!" Xu Xuejiao said: "I trust you, Chengwen Ge. Whatever you say, I'll listen to you."
Lu Chengwen lowered his head, so depressed he felt like he would explode.
He snatched the document and tore it to shreds.
Lu Chengwen pressed his hands on the table, head bowed, and said in a low voice: "Report to the Drug Administration. We will immediately destroy this batch of medicine and ask them to send people to supervise."
"At the same time, conduct an internal systemic investigation, and all relevant departments will review their operating procedures."
"Investigate personnel related to the procurement of fine ingredients, revoke their professional qualifications, and transfer them to the judicial authorities for investigation."
Xu Xuejiao smiled; she had won.
Zhao Gang was so shocked he was almost frantic: "Lu Shao, this batch of medicine is worth over six hundred million, over six hundred million! Please think again, you and General Manager Xu were already..."
"Get out!" Lu Chengwen vented all his anger and frustration on Zhao Gang, while deliberately scolding Zhao Gang for others to hear:
"Is company business something an security captain like you can interfere with? Can't I even enforce this simple household rule?"
"This is medicine! It's medicine! It's medicine to treat illnesses and save lives!"
"Listen clearly, all of you, if anyone dares to ship even one box, one packet, one pill of this batch of medicine... I'll twist his head off and kick it like a ball!"
"Not just today, from now on, if anyone dares to scheme about fine ingredients again, I'll send him to prison in minutes and make him sit there until the bottom of the jail wears out!"
"Forget six hundred million, even if it's six billion, sixty billion... I'll let them die in our Pharmaceutical Factory, not even a bit of dregs will leave the factory!"
Lu Chengwen looked at Xu Xuejiao: "What do you think, General Manager Xu?"
Xu Xuejiao smiled.
This time it was a smile of relief.
She suddenly felt that she didn't understand Lu Chengwen as much as she thought.
This guy was completely different from when he was a child!
Were those rumors about him bullying the market and committing all sorts of evil deeds really true? Could there have been a mistake?
Moreover, that outburst of temper just now was quite handsome.
"Chengwen Ge, I told you, you call the shots, and I'll listen to whatever you say."
Lu Chengwen looked at Xu Xuejiao's triumphant expression and suddenly understood.
"This damn girl knew from the start that I wouldn't let this batch of medicine leave the factory!?"
"Hasn't she heard anything about my reputation? Big sister! I'm a villain who bullies the market, forces himself on men and women, commits all sorts of evil, and is consumed by greed! How dare you play like this with me?"
"No, something's wrong, something must be wrong!"
Xu Xuejiao stood up and said with a smile: "Chengwen Ge, my birthday is next week, I invite you to my birthday party. As for things here, I'll leave them to you."
Xu Xuejiao turned and left.
At this moment, she was completely relieved.
She had completely figured out Lu Chengwen; there was no need to worry about him acting recklessly at the Pharmaceutical Factory anymore.
He didn't have that "ability."
Sitting in the car, Xu Xuejiao's mind was restless.
This Lu Chengwen, when she agreed to ship that batch of medicine, the disappointment in his eyes, it was as if he was the good guy and she was Snow City's number one villain.
However, this kid really made her swoon today.
Thinking about how Lu Chengwen was cornered and flustered by her today, racking his brains to outwit her, but ultimately being pushed to the brink of collapse by her, it was truly hilarious!
At this thought, Xu Xuejiao burst out laughing.
The secretarial team was baffled, exchanging glances, and the Secretary General cautiously asked: "General Manager Xu, what's wrong?"
"Oh, nothing."
Xu Xuejiao straightened her face, returning to a serious expression, but then she thought of Lu Chengwen's wonderfully varied expressions of defeat today, and she burst out laughing again.
...
Evening, as the streetlights began to glow.
Leng Qingqiu had been distracted all day.
Lu Chengwen's situation was too strange.
Why could she suddenly hear his inner thoughts?
And why could he accurately predict Long Aotian's actions?
He seemed very afraid of Long Aotian, but they clearly hadn't met!
Among the people present today, only she knew that Long Aotian was exceptionally skilled. Why could Lu Chengwen so keenly sense the danger from Long Aotian?
There were too many mysteries.
Had all his so-called love, liking, and pursuit of her for over three years been fake?
Because a Long Aotian appeared, he retreated? He didn't dare to compete anymore?
The Secretary knocked on the door, peeking in: "General Manager Leng, are you leaving work?"
"Huh? Oh." Leng Qingqiu regained her composure: "Yes, let's go."
Leng Qingqiu felt something was off, as if something was missing...
That's right, someone was missing.
For three years, at this time every day, a persistent, sycophantic suitor would be waiting at the door, dressed in a flashy suit, holding flowers, chasing her and saying nauseatingly cheesy pick-up lines.
Every day, she had to endure that guy's harassment and fake flattery; every day at this time, she would be embarrassed throughout the company building.
But today he wasn't there. Looking at the empty doorway, Leng Qingqiu's heart suddenly felt hollow...
Walking down the hallway, the sound of her high heels echoed with a particular chill.
One Secretary mumbled: "Huh? Why does it feel so quiet today?"
Another Secretary blurted out: "Lu Shao didn't come!"
"Oh, that's what I thought! Yes, usually at this time, he'd already be waiting at the door, talking non-stop."
Leng Qingqiu glared at them: "Are you two idle?"
The Secretaries quickly shut up, and the group quietly walked to the elevator.
Leng Qingqiu felt uncomfortable all over.
What was going on?
Hadn't she always wished for Lu Chengwen to stay away from her?
Hadn't she always wished for him to disappear from this world?
Now that he was gone, what was wrong with her?
Leng Qingqiu was incredibly irritable.
Walking to the entrance, a girl whose job it was to collect flowers every day was already waiting. Seeing Leng Qingqiu and the others emerge empty-handed, she paused.
Then she looked behind Leng Qingqiu, but there was no sign of Lu Chengwen.
She looked bewildered.
Leng Qingqiu looked at her: "He didn't come today."
Sitting in the car, Leng Qingqiu became even more irritable.
It was as if without Lu Chengwen, her life had suddenly changed...
The irritable mood tormented her for a long time. She resolutely picked up her phone: "Hello, Lu Chengwen? I want to see you."
Lu Chengwen's side was very noisy: "Ah? What? Louder, I can't hear you?"
A girl's voice came through the phone: "Lu Shao, drink with me!"
"Oh, wait a moment, I'm on the phone. General Manager Leng, I'm a bit busy here, let's talk another day!"
Beep beep... The call ended.
Leng Qingqiu was instantly furious and told the driver: "Find Lu Chengwen's location and go find him!"