Inside the pharmaceutical factory, several senior executives who knew the situation were in a heated argument.
One group insisted that the medicine could not be destroyed.
The batch was too valuable. Destroying such a large quantity of finished product would definitely alert the Drug Supervision Bureau, and the resulting loss would go far beyond the cost of materials, ingredients, and processing—it could even shake the company's foundation and destroy its market reputation.
The potential loss was immeasurable.
The opposing group's stance was simpler: if the medicine was defective, it must not be branded, released, or sold—under no circumstances.
The argument grew louder and more chaotic.
Lu Chengwen sat at the table, head buried in his arms, lost in his own thoughts.
Why was everything so troublesome?
When it rains, it pours. All the bad luck seemed to come at once.
This wasn't even part of the novel's original plot. What was going on? Could the system really alter the story at will?
Was Long Aotian involved in this scene?
And what was going on with Xu Xuejiao? Why did she suddenly want him dead?
The conference room doors swung open. Everyone immediately stood up.
"President Xu!"
The executives greeted her respectfully.
Lu Chengwen blinked in surprise. She came too?
Xu Xuejiao took a seat on the opposite side of the circular table, smiling at him. "Brother Chengwen, I've heard everything. How do you plan to handle it?"
"Uh…"
Lu Chengwen's mind raced.
[This batch absolutely cannot be released. It must be destroyed!]
Xu Xuejiao's expression changed slightly. Her eyes flickered with surprise, as if she no longer recognized the man before her.
He really meant to destroy it? That was his true thought?
[Got it! I'll say we should ship it out as usual, and she'll oppose me. There's no way she'd agree to letting this batch leave the factory.]
[Once she argues with me, I'll use that to pull out my investment. Perfect.]
[Damn, I really am a genius.]
A sly grin crept onto his face.
He strolled over to Xu Xuejiao and said with feigned cheerfulness, "Xuejiao, here's the thing. This batch was costly. Using compressed ingredients was my idea. Sure, the effects are a bit weaker, but it's traditional medicine—it won't kill anyone!"
"But if we destroy it, the Drug Bureau will be alerted. Then we'll have to hold a press conference, and the company will be ruined. The Ninth Pharmaceutical Factory's reputation will collapse, stock prices will plummet, and future sales will nosedive. We'll lose everything!"
"We'll just keep everyone quiet and hold the line. Sometimes you need to take the pressure to do great things, right?"
He smiled at her, though his heart was pounding.
[Come on, curse me. Argue! Say no!]
[Once I sell my shares, you can be the majority holder. Then we'll never have to see each other again.]
[Go be Long Aotian's devoted little girlfriend and stay out of my way.]
Xu Xuejiao wasn't easy to manipulate.
So, this guy wanted the medicine destroyed—but didn't want to do it himself, and instead was trying to make her do it?
Since when did he grow a conscience?
And avoiding her like the plague… what was that about?
Did he really think she was going to fall for Long Aotian?
Her eyes gleamed mischievously. "Brother Chengwen, I completely agree! The company really can't do without you. When things get rough, you're always the one to take the helm!"
Lu Chengwen's grin froze.
He stared at her like she was a stranger.
"Xuejiao, did you mishear me? I said we should label, ship, and sell the medicine…"
"Yes," she replied with a bright smile. "That's exactly what I think too."
Lu Chengwen shook his head in disbelief.
[What the hell is going on!?]
[Xu Xuejiao, the compassionate healer—how could you agree to something like this? Have you lost your mind?]
He forced a smile. "Xuejiao, think this through. Medicine exists to save lives. If the batch isn't qualified, it could harm patients. Thousands could suffer because of us. You understand what I mean, right?"
"I understand everything perfectly," she said, resolved.
This had become a contest of endurance.
Both of them secretly knew the medicine could not be released, but neither wanted to be the one to say it first.
Now the balance was clear: Xu Xuejiao already understood Lu Chengwen's bottom line, but he was still fumbling in confusion.
She had already won.
The cunning young woman smiled faintly. "It's just one batch. What's the big deal? If it delays someone's recovery, that's their bad luck. They shouldn't have gotten sick in the first place, right, Brother Chengwen?"
"But we've already spent the money. If we don't make it back, the company's losses will be enormous. Brother Chengwen, I support you! I'll sign right now to authorize shipment. Three days—everything out of the warehouse!"
The secretary handed her a pen. Xu Xuejiao picked it up to sign.
Seeing that, Lu Chengwen panicked and slammed his hand down over the contract.
Xu Xuejiao blinked innocently. "Brother Chengwen? What's wrong?"
He trembled with barely contained anger and disappointment.
[Don't call me brother—you're my ancestor!]
"Xuejiao, have you really thought this through?"
"Of course," she said sweetly. "I trust you, Brother Chengwen. I'll always listen to you."
His head hung low, frustration boiling over.
He snatched the document and tore it to pieces.
Pressing his palms against the table, he spoke in a low, cold tone.
"Report this to the Drug Supervision Bureau immediately. Tell them the batch will be destroyed under official supervision."
"Begin an internal investigation. Review all related departments and their processes."
"Audit the procurement team responsible for the ingredients. Revoke their licenses and submit the case to the authorities."
Xu Xuejiao smiled. She had won.
Zhao Gang looked horrified. "Young Master Lu, that batch is worth over six hundred million! Please, reconsider! You and President Xu already—"
"Get out!"
Lu Chengwen exploded, channeling all his anger at Zhao Gang—though part of it was for show.
"Since when does a head of security get to meddle in company business? Have I lost all authority here?"
"This is medicine! For saving lives!"
"Everyone listen up—if a single box, bottle, or pill from this batch leaves the factory, I'll personally tear off the culprit's head and use it for football!"
"And from today onward, anyone who tampers with ingredients again—I'll have them locked up for life!"
"I don't care if it's six hundred million, six billion, or sixty billion—this medicine dies here, in this factory!"
He turned to Xu Xuejiao. "What do you think, President Xu?"
Xu Xuejiao smiled softly.
This time, it was genuine.
For the first time, she felt she might not know him as well as she thought.
Was he really the cruel, power-hungry scoundrel everyone claimed he was?
And that temper—she had to admit, it was impressive.
"Brother Chengwen, I told you—I'll follow your lead."
As he saw her calm, satisfied smile, realization hit him.
[So that's it! This little witch knew from the start I wouldn't allow the medicine to leave!]
[Has she never heard of my reputation? I'm supposed to be a villain obsessed with profit! How dare she play me like this!?]
[Something's off—something's definitely off here!]
Xu Xuejiao stood and smiled. "Brother Chengwen, my birthday's next week. You're invited to the party. As for this matter—I'll leave it to you."
She turned and left.
Now she was completely at ease.
She'd figured Lu Chengwen out—he wasn't capable of causing trouble anymore.
Sitting in her car, her thoughts were tangled.
That look in his eyes when she pretended to agree to shipping the medicine—it was filled with disappointment, almost as if he were the good one and she was the villain.
But still… he had looked rather handsome today.
The image of him panicking and arguing with her, only to finally lose his temper, made her chuckle aloud.
Her assistants glanced at each other nervously. "President Xu?"
"Oh, nothing."
She straightened her posture, face calm again—but as the memory replayed, she couldn't help but laugh once more.
…
Evening lights flickered across the city.
Leng Qingqiu had been distracted all day.
Lu Chengwen's behavior was far too strange.
Why could she suddenly hear his thoughts?
And how could he so accurately predict Long Aotian's every move?
He seemed terrified of him, yet they hadn't even met.
Of all the people present today, only she knew Long Aotian's true strength—so how could Lu Chengwen sense his danger so clearly?
There were too many mysteries.
Had his so-called love for her over the past three years all been fake?
Because of Long Aotian, he simply backed away?
A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts.
"President Leng, heading home?"
"Ah? Oh… yes, let's go."
As she packed up, a strange emptiness lingered.
Something was missing.
Right—someone.
For three years, at this exact hour, a certain clingy man would always be waiting outside—dressed in a flashy suit, holding flowers, and reciting nauseatingly sweet lines.
Every day she'd have to endure his persistence and his shameless attempts to impress her.
But today, he wasn't there. The empty lobby suddenly felt… hollow.
Her heels clicked sharply against the floor as she walked out.
One secretary murmured, "Weird… why's it so quiet today?"
Another whispered, "Because Young Master Lu didn't come."
"Oh, that's right! He's usually here early, talking non-stop."
Leng Qingqiu shot them a glare. "Nothing better to do?"
They fell silent at once and followed her to the elevator.
Yet she couldn't shake the discomfort.
Wasn't this what she always wanted—for him to finally leave her alone?
Hadn't she wished he'd just disappear?
Then why did his absence feel so wrong?
Her irritation grew as she left the building.
The girl who usually picked up discarded flowers was waiting at the door. Seeing Leng Qingqiu walk out empty-handed, she glanced behind her instinctively—no sign of Lu Chengwen.
Leng Qingqiu spoke flatly. "He didn't come today."
Inside the car, she grew even more restless.
Without Lu Chengwen, her world suddenly felt different—too quiet, too still.
After struggling with her thoughts for a long while, she finally grabbed her phone.
"Lu Chengwen, I want to see you."
The line crackled with noise.
"Huh? What? Speak up, I can't hear you!"
A girl's voice chimed in faintly through the receiver, "Young Master Lu, don't ignore me, drink with me~"
"Wait a sec, I'm on a call! Cold CEO, I'm busy right now—let's talk another day!"
Beep… beep…
The call ended.
Leng Qingqiu's expression darkened.
"Driver," she said coldly, "find out where Lu Chengwen is. We're going there now."