Chapter 6: Something's Missing

The top executives at the pharmaceutical factory were in a heated argument.One group insisted that the drugs should not be destroyed.The batch of medicine was too expensive. Destroying such a large quantity of finished products would alert the drug regulatory authorities, leading to losses far beyond just the costs of raw materials, fine ingredients, and processing. It could even shake the company's foundation and damage the market reputation of the brand.The losses would be immeasurable.The other group had a simpler stance: if the drugs were substandard, they couldn't be labeled, shipped, or sold—no matter what.The two factions were at each other's throats.Lu Chengwen sat with his head in his hands, slumped over the table, preoccupied with his own thoughts.Why was everything so frustrating?When it rains, it pours. All the bad luck seemed to come at once.This wasn't even part of the original plot! What was going on? Could the system just change the storyline at will?Was Long Aotian even involved in this part?And what was up with Xu Xuejiao? Why did she suddenly want to ruin me?Just then, the door swung open, and everyone immediately stood up."Good afternoon, Director Xu!"Everyone greeted Xu Xuejiao.Lu Chengwen was stunned. Why was she here?Xu Xuejiao sat down across the round table, smiling at Lu Chengwen. "Chengwen, I've heard about the situation. How do you plan to handle it?""呃..."Lu Chengwen's mind raced.[This batch of drugs absolutely cannot be shipped. They must be destroyed!]Xu Xuejiao's heart skipped a beat. Her expression changed several times in an instant, as if she was seeing Lu Chengwen in a completely new light. She stared at him intently.Destroy them?Was this his true intention?[Got it! I'll say we should ship them as usual, and she'll definitely oppose me. She would never let this batch of drugs leave the factory.][If she's annoyed enough with me, she'll probably leave me alone in the future. I'll use this chance to argue with her and then withdraw my shares. Yes, that's the plan!][I'm a freaking genius!]Thinking this, Lu Chengwen started to smile.He walked over to Xu Xuejiao with a sly grin. "Xuejiao, here's the thing. The cost of this batch of drugs is too high. Cutting back on the fine ingredients was my idea. Sure, the efficacy might be slightly reduced, but it's traditional Chinese medicine—it won't kill anyone!""But if we destroy them, it'll alert the drug regulatory authorities. We'd have to hold a press conference, and our factory would be finished! The reputation of our Ninth Pharmaceutical Factory would be ruined! The stock price would crash, right? Sales would plummet, and we'd lose money in the long run!""We just need to keep everyone who knows about this quiet. We have to stand firm under pressure and do what's necessary. Right?"Lu Chengwen smiled at Xu Xuejiao, anxiously thinking:[Scold me, scold me, hurry up and scold me! Oppose me, oppose me, hurry up and oppose me!][I'll withdraw my shares, and you can take over as the majority shareholder. From now on, we'll go our separate ways and never bother each other again.][You can go ahead and cozy up to Long Aotian, be his little wife, and we'll each mind our own business.]Xu Xuejiao was no pushover.This guy had already decided in his heart to destroy the drugs.But why was he pushing me to do it?Since when did he have such a conscience as a doctor?And why was he avoiding me like the plague?Am I really that desperate to become part of Long Aotian's harem?Xu Xuejiao's eyes sparkled with mischief. She smiled and said, "Chengwen, I agree with you! The factory really can't do without you. In critical moments, we need you to steer the ship!"Lu Chengwen's smile froze.He looked at Xu Xuejiao as if he didn't recognize her."Xuejiao, did you mishear me? I said... we should label and ship the drugs, sell them...""Exactly!" Xu Xuejiao said. "That's what I think too!"Lu Chengwen shook his head vigorously, feeling like his world was falling apart.[What the hell is going on!?][Xu Xuejiao, the compassionate doctor, how could you agree to this? This is the kind of thing that curses your future children! Have you lost your mind?]Lu Chengwen forced a smile. "Xuejiao, think carefully. These are drugs! What are drugs for? To save lives! If the drugs are substandard, they'll delay patients' treatment. Think about it—thousands of people could suffer because of our drugs... You get it, right?""I get it, I totally get it." Xu Xuejiao had made up her mind.This was a game of who would blink first.Both of them had secretly decided that the drugs must not leave the factory.But both wanted the other to be the one to say it.The current situation was: Xu Xuejiao already knew Lu Chengwen's bottom line, while Lu Chengwen was still in the dark, unable to see through the fog.Xu Xuejiao had already won from the start.The scheming little Lolita said nonchalantly, "It's just a batch of drugs. What's the big deal? If patients' conditions worsen, it's their own bad luck for getting sick in the first place. Right, Chengwen?""But we've spent a fortune on this. If we don't recoup the costs, the company will suffer huge losses. Chengwen, I support you! Here, I'll sign off. Let's ship this batch today and have it all distributed within three days!"The contract was brought forward, and a secretary handed over a pen. Xu Xuejiao picked it up and was about to sign.Seeing that Xu Xuejiao was really going to sign, Lu Chengwen panicked. He slammed his hand down on the signature area and stared at her.Xu Xuejiao blinked her big eyes innocently. "Chengwen, what's wrong?"Lu Chengwen was trembling with anger. He was deeply disappointed in Xu Xuejiao.[Don't call me 'brother' anymore. You're my dad!]"Xuejiao, are you... really sure about this?""Of course!" Xu Xuejiao said. "I trust you, Chengwen. Whatever you say, I'll follow."Lu Chengwen lowered his head, feeling like he was about to explode.He snatched the document and tore it to pieces.With both hands on the table, he said in a low voice, "Report to the drug regulatory authorities. We will destroy this batch of drugs immediately and request their supervision.""At the same time, launch an internal investigation. All relevant departments must review their procedures.""Investigate the personnel involved in the procurement of fine ingredients, revoke their professional qualifications, and refer them to judicial authorities for further investigation."Xu Xuejiao smiled. She had won.Zhao Gang was on the verge of losing his mind. "Young Master Lu, this batch of drugs is worth over 600 million! 600 million! Think about it again. You and Director Xu have already...""Shut up!" Lu Chengwen vented all his anger and frustration on Zhao Gang, while also deliberately scolding him for others to hear:"Since when does a security captain get to meddle in company affairs? Can't I even enforce basic rules?""This is medicine! Medicine! It's meant to save lives!""Listen up, everyone. If even one box, one bottle, or one pill of this batch leaves the factory... I'll rip your head off and use it as a soccer ball!""Not just today. From now on, if anyone dares to cut corners with the ingredients, I'll send them to prison and throw away the key!""Even if it's 6 billion, 60 billion, or 600 billion... I'll let it rot in our factory. Not a single speck of it will leave!"Lu Chengwen looked at Xu Xuejiao. "What do you think, Director Xu?"Xu Xuejiao smiled.This time, it was a smile of relief.She suddenly felt that she didn't know Lu Chengwen as well as she thought.This guy was completely different from the boy she remembered.Were all those rumors about him being a tyrant, a bully, and a villain really true? Could they have been mistaken?And that outburst just now... it was kind of cool."Chengwen, I told you. You're in charge. Whatever you say, I'll follow."Lu Chengwen looked at Xu Xuejiao's triumphant expression and suddenly understood.[This damn girl had me figured out from the start! She knew I wouldn't let the drugs leave the factory!?][Hasn't she heard anything about my reputation? Lady, I'm the notorious villain who bullies the weak, steals women, and does every evil deed imaginable! How dare you play me like this?][No, something's wrong. Something's definitely wrong!]Xu Xuejiao stood up and said with a smile, "Chengwen, my birthday is next week. I'm inviting you to my party. As for this matter, I'll leave it to you."With that, Xu Xuejiao turned and left.Now she was completely at ease.She had Lu Chengwen figured out. There was no need to worry about him causing trouble at the factory.He didn't have it in him.Sitting in her car, Xu Xuejiao's emotions were in turmoil.When she had agreed to ship the drugs, the look of disappointment in Lu Chengwen's eyes... It was as if he were the good guy, and I were the infamous villain of Snow City.But today, this guy really impressed me.Thinking about how Lu Chengwen had been so flustered, racking his brains to outwit me, only to be pushed to the brink of collapse... It was so much fun!At this thought, Xu Xuejiao couldn't help but laugh out loud.Her secretary team was baffled. They exchanged glances, and the head secretary cautiously asked, "Director Xu, what's so funny?""Oh, nothing."Xu Xuejiao straightened her face, trying to look serious, but then she remembered the look of defeat on Lu Chengwen's face and burst out laughing again....In the evening, as the city lights came on, Leng Qingqiu had been distracted all day.Lu Chengwen's behavior was too strange.Why could I suddenly hear his thoughts?And how could he accurately predict Long Aotian's actions?He seemed terrified of Long Aotian, but they had never even met!Among everyone present today, only I knew how skilled Long Aotian was. How could Lu Chengwen so keenly sense the danger emanating from him?There were too many mysteries.This guy... For over three years, he claimed to love me, pursued me... Was it all a lie?Just because Long Aotian showed up, he backed off? He didn't dare to compete?A secretary knocked on the door and peeked in. "Director Leng, are you heading out?""Huh? Oh." Leng Qingqiu snapped out of her thoughts. "Yes, let's go."Leng Qingqiu felt something was off, like something was missing...That's right. Someone was missing.For the past three years, at this time every day, a certain persistent suitor would be waiting at the entrance, dressed in flashy suits, holding flowers, and spouting cheesy pick-up lines.Every day, she had to endure his harassment and insincere flattery. Every day, she had to suffer the embarrassment in front of her colleagues.But today, he wasn't there. Looking at the empty entrance, Leng Qingqiu felt a sudden void in her heart...Walking down the hallway, the sound of her high heels echoed coldly.One secretary whispered, "Huh? Why does it feel so quiet today?"Another blurted out, "Young Master Lu isn't here!""Oh, that's why! Yeah, he's usually waiting at the entrance by now, talking nonstop."Leng Qingqiu shot them a glare. "Don't you have work to do?"The secretaries quickly fell silent, and the group quietly made their way to the elevator.Leng Qingqiu felt uneasy.What was going on?Hadn't she always wished for Lu Chengwen to stay away?Hadn't she always hoped he would disappear from her life?Now that he was gone, why did she feel this way?Leng Qingqiu was extremely agitated.As she reached the entrance, a girl who usually collected the flowers Lu Chengwen brought was already waiting. Seeing Leng Qingqiu and her team empty-handed, she was puzzled.She looked behind Leng Qingqiu, but there was no sign of Lu Chengwen.She looked bewildered.Leng Qingqiu said to her, "He didn't come today."Getting into her car, Leng Qingqiu felt even more restless.It was as if without Lu Chengwen, her life had suddenly changed...The frustration gnawed at her for a while, and she finally picked up her phone. "Hello, Lu Chengwen? I need to see you."Lu Chengwen's side was noisy. "Huh? What? Speak up, I can't hear you!"A girl's voice came through the phone. "Young Master Lu, come drink with me!""Hold on, I'm on the phone. Director Leng, I'm a bit busy right now. Let's talk another time!"Beep beep... The call ended.Leng Qingqiu was furious. She told her driver, "Find out where Lu Chengwen is. We're going to see him."