As the Administrative Director of Huaihai Group, Zhuang Youxing naturally understood the weight of the Research Director position.
Leaving aside the fact that they were from different groups, comparatively speaking, although Zhuang Youxing was the Administrative Director of the group's headquarters, while Lu Chen was the Research Director of a branch office, the latter's position held far greater prestige.
The Administrative Director position wasn't particularly technical. Generally, as long as you spent enough time in a group, became familiar with the daily operations, and had some connections, you could manage it.
Moreover, this kind of position carried little weight in other places or companies.
The Research Director, on the other hand, was a technical talent, highly sought after everywhere, and increasingly so. Headhunting firms loved to poach these kinds of people.
Moreover, he was the Research Director of Feiying Biotechnology!
Zhuang Youxing naturally knew that Feiying Biotechnology's supplements and health products were high-end consumer goods; becoming their director was clearly extraordinary.
Immediately, Zhuang Youxing began to view Lu Chen in a different light.
If Zhuang Youxing's previous enthusiasm for Lu Chen was merely out of consideration for Zhuang Keluo, now he felt a greater sense of respect. After all, a position like research director wasn't something one could get through connections alone; it required genuine talent and ability. Moreover, this position was very valuable, and the person holding it was highly regarded.
Seeing Zhuang Youxing's astonishment, Lu Chen scratched his head and chuckled, "Fourth Uncle, don't be so surprised! It's just a director position; compared to yours, mine is far inferior!"
Zhuang Youxing smiled wryly. If he could change it, he would gladly do so!
"You only recently became this director, right? How did you get it? What's your relationship with that girl Shangguan Bei like?" he asked quickly.
Lu Chen nodded: "It's recent, only a little over a week. I wasn't really planning on doing it; running a pastry shop is more comfortable. But Xiao Bei insisted I do it. Uh, I'm quite knowledgeable in Traditional Chinese Medicine, so I helped improve the efficacy of her 'Living Dragon Elixir' a little bit. So, hehe!"
Zhuang Youxing immediately asked: "Living Dragon Elixir? You mean that girl's 'Gold-Grade' Living Dragon Elixir, which is still in the clinical trials stage, right? How much did you improve it?"
It seems he knows quite a bit about this high-end tonic.
Lu Chen hesitated slightly, scratched his head, and finally said: "Uh, not much, only 27%."
This figure really shocked Zhuang Youxing.
"Twenty-seven percent? My God, twenty-seven percent isn't much? That's simply unbelievable!"
Zhuang Youxing hissed, exclaiming, "No wonder Shangguan Bei made you her research director! You truly deserve it! You actually increased the efficacy of her Gold-grade Vitality Dragon Liquid by twenty-seven percent. Even at a top-tier global biotechnology company, that's an extremely high position! Ah Chen, I didn't realize you were so capable!"
"Haha, I really misjudged you! I knew it! All the men my Luo Luo likes are considered her boyfriends, why would she be doing sales!"
To be honest, Lu Chen was quite proud to receive such high praise from Zhuang Youxing.
Just as he was about to say that it was just so-so, he noticed that Old Zhuang's expression was very strange.
This reminded him of what he had just said: if they wanted to sell Flying Eagle Biotechnology's health products to Huaihai, they would have to ask Zhuang Keluo's permission, and that working for Flying Eagle would make Zhuang Keluo unhappy. Lu Chen seemed to understand something. Could there be some grudge between Zhuang Keluo and Shangguan Bei?
He scratched his head and chuckled, "Fourth Uncle, why don't you tell me about Luoluo and Xiaobei? There seems to be some story behind it, right? Tell me, and I'll be more careful in the future."
Zhuang Youxing nodded and gave a brief explanation.
Among the four great families, the Zhuang and Shangguan families were probably the closest. They had even intermarried several times over the past century. The Zhuang family patriarch, Zhuang Wenshan, and the current head of the Shangguan family, Shangguan Yingneng, often played chess together and sometimes traveled together.
However, the granddaughters of the two patriarchs were a different story.
Originally, Zhuang Keluo and Shangguan Bei were childhood sweethearts, but Zhuang Keluo was mischievous and willful, wild and mischievous, and liked to play pranks. Shangguan Bei, on the other hand, was quiet and gentle.
Throughout history, who doesn't like a gentle and sensible child? Therefore, Shangguan Bei was deeply favored. At one point, even Grandpa Zhuang doted on her, neglecting Zhuang Keluo.
As a result, Miss Keluo became unhappy and started to quarrel with Shangguan Bei, becoming jealous. Shangguan Bei initially tried to appease her, but Zhuang Keluo's behavior became increasingly outrageous. Even after Shangguan Bei's parents suffered a tragic fate, Zhuang Keluo continued to mock her. This deeply hurt Shangguan Bei, who then slapped Zhuang Keluo several times.
When his granddaughter was beaten, Grandpa Zhuang not only didn't stand up for her but also applauded it and severely scolded Zhuang Keluo. This scolding led to serious trouble.
Zhuang Keluo was only fourteen years old at the time, not even having an ID card yet. In a fit of anger, she ran away from home but was kidnapped by a group of thugs and nearly killed. Fortunately, the Zhuang family had influence and leveraged their connections in both the legitimate and underworld circles, finally managing to rescue Zhuang Keluo from the thugs. This incident led to two possible outcomes.
First, Grandpa Zhuang never dared to scold or beat his granddaughter again, and instead doted on her even more. To accommodate her temperament, he even distanced himself from Shangguan Bei, whom he had originally adopted as his goddaughter.
Second, Zhuang Keluo and Shangguan Bei became irreconcilable enemies.
And now, after learning that Shangguan Bei had started her own company, Flying Eagle Biotechnology, she disliked it even more. Therefore, she strictly forbade the entire Huaihai Group from purchasing health products from Flying Eagle Biotechnology.
"Luo Luo and Shangguan Bei have had their share of conflicts since they were little girls. You could say they've fought over everything except men. Of course, to be fair, Shangguan Bei is definitely more lovable; everyone's more willing to give her anything, and Luo Luo has taken more from her."
"By the way!" Zhuang Youxing slapped his thigh and asked, "Chen, what's your relationship with Shangguan Bei like? Just a superior-subordinate relationship, or… But, since her legs are both crippled, you probably have some reservations, right?"
He looked at Lu Chen very eagerly.
Lu Chen immediately broke out in a cold sweat, then chuckled awkwardly.
He instantly understood the underlying issue; this seemed like a real problem. Shangguan Bei liked him, and Zhuang Keluo kept saying he was her boyfriend. These two girls were like oil and water; wasn't this turning into a situation of fighting over a man?
"They've fought over everything except men," now they're really going to fight over a man?
What Lu Chen didn't know was that this "man-stealing" incident had already begun. Of course, Shangguan Bei didn't know either; only Zhuang Keluo knew. From the last incident tracking the thug to the subsequent hospital commotion, where hadn't the seeds of Zhuang Keluo and Shangguan Bei stealing each other's man been sown?
However, Zhuang Keluo kept it all to herself, not even telling Lu Chen about her relationship with Shangguan Bei.
Actually, she had been in contact with Lu Chen these past few days, frequently sending him text messages and even MMS messages. Those MMS messages were filled with pictures of her alluring figure, even provocative images—all aimed at getting with Lu Chen.
She said that if it weren't for her grandfather forcing her to learn about the management of the car dealership, she would have already sneaked out to find Lu Chen.
Now, hearing Zhuang Youxing say this, Lu Chen suddenly felt a headache coming on.
Zhuang Youxing's words clearly implied that Lu Chen shouldn't be with Shangguan Bei; if he wanted to find someone, he should find Zhuang Keluo.
Lu Chen chuckled to himself, wondering if he should tell Zhuang Youxing that he had already cured Shangguan Bei's legs.
By this time, the food had arrived, and the two ate and chatted.
Zhuang Youxing's gaze towards Lu Chen was much more fervent than when he first arrived. At first, he thought it was out of respect for Luo Luo, but now, four words could describe his feelings: The trip was worthwhile.
He looked at Lu Chen as if he were a treasure.
"Chen!" Zhuang Youxing spoke again, "Although Flying Eagle Biotechnology is large enough for someone as talented as you to realize your ambitions, you shouldn't only think about your career; you should also think about your life. Huaihai is a vast ocean, and biotechnology is also one of our development goals, only we lack talent. And your relationship with Luo Luo is so good, so why..."
Lu Chen's head throbbed even more. What was going on? He had only wanted to casually gather some business, and now it seemed like he was being poached? At this crucial moment, his phone rang; someone had sent a text message.
Lu Chen pulled out his phone, his face immediately turning grim.
The text message contained only two words: "Come quickly!"
"What's wrong?" Zhuang Youxing asked curiously.
Lu Chen scratched his head, forcing a smile: "Actually, I was here at noon today to protect a friend. She was having lunch with a client, but that client might have ulterior motives towards her, so she asked me to come. If that happens, she'll text me immediately so I can come to her aid. Now, the text has arrived."
Lu Chen waved his phone, abruptly stood up, and said, "Fourth Uncle, sit for a moment, I'll go check it out."
Zhuang Youxing nodded, but watching Lu Chen leave, he also scratched his head, muttering, "No, I have to go check it out too!"
Meanwhile, in the adjacent Wild Rose private room, less than ten minutes after Shen Tian went in half an hour ago, she had already begun to be harassed.
Chen Yun, the manager of the third administrative department at Huaihai Group's headquarters, was over forty years old. Forty-something is still in the prime of life, but Chen Yun was already balding, had large bags under his eyes, and his eyes held a faint, imperious glint.
Indeed, the administrative manager of Huaihai Group's headquarters was considered a mid-to-high-level position. When he went to any branch office, the branch manager had to treat him with respect, let alone clients.
So, he was considered quite successful.
"Miss Shen, actually, I've liked you for a long time. Every time I go to the Gold Coast, I hope to have a few more words with you. Haha, being able to have lunch with you today is truly a blessing I, Chen, have accumulated over three lifetimes!"
As Chen Yun spoke, he pulled up his chair, moving closer to Shen Tian.