"Please, heroine, stop coming over!

The senior executives at the pharmaceutical factory were in a heated argument. One group insisted that the drugs should not be destroyed. The batch was too expensive, and destroying such a large quantity would alert the drug regulatory authorities. The losses wouldn't just be limited to the cost of the raw materials, fine ingredients, and processing—it could shake the foundation of the company and damage the brand's market reputation. The losses would be immeasurable.

The other group was straightforward: if the drugs were substandard, they couldn't be labeled, shipped, or sold. No way!

The two sides were at each other's throats.

Lu Chengwen sat with his head in his hands, leaning on the table, lost in his own thoughts.

Why is everything so frustrating?

When it rains, it pours. All the bad luck seems to come at once.

This isn't even part of the original plot! What's going on? Can the system just change the storyline whenever it wants?

Is Long Aotian even in this part?

And what's up with Xu Xuejiao? Why does she suddenly want to ruin me?

Just then, the door burst open, and everyone immediately stood up.

"Good afternoon, Director Xu!"

Everyone greeted Xu Xuejiao.

Lu Chengwen was stunned. Why is she here?

Xu Xuejiao sat down across the round table, smiling at Lu Chengwen. "Brother Chengwen, I've heard about the situation. How do you plan to handle it?"

"Uh..."

Lu Chengwen's mind raced.

[This batch of drugs absolutely cannot be shipped. They must be destroyed!]

Xu Xuejiao was shocked. Her expression changed several times, as if she no longer recognized Lu Chengwen. She stared at him intently.

Destroy them?

Is that really what he's thinking?

[Got it! I'll say we should ship them normally and let her oppose me. She would never let this batch go out.]

[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 is too high. I suggested cutting back on the fine ingredients. Sure, the efficacy might be slightly reduced, but it's traditional Chinese medicine—it won't kill anyone!"

"But if we destroy it, the drug regulatory authorities will get involved. We'll have to hold a press conference, and our factory will be ruined! The reputation of our Ninth Pharmaceutical Factory will be destroyed! The stock price will crash, right? Sales will plummet, and we'll lose money!"

"We'll silence everyone who knows. We need to stand firm and do what's necessary. Right?"

Lu Chengwen smiled at Xu Xuejiao, anxiously thinking:

[Yell at me, yell at me! Oppose me, oppose me!]

[I'll withdraw my shares, and you can take over as the major shareholder. From now on, we'll go our separate ways and never bother each other again.]

[You can go be with Long Aotian, become his little wife, and we'll each live our own lives without interfering.]

Xu Xuejiao wasn't fooled.

This guy had already decided in his heart to destroy the drugs.

But why was he making me do it?

Since when did he have such a conscience as a doctor?

And why is he avoiding me like the plague?

Am I really that desperate to become part of Long Aotian's harem?

Xu Xuejiao's eyes sparkled as she smiled. "Brother Chengwen, I agree with you! The factory 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 had just collapsed.

[What the hell is going on!?]

[Xu Xuejiao, the compassionate doctor, how can you agree to this? This is the kind of thing that curses your descendants! 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' recovery. Think about it—thousands of people could be affected by 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 be shipped.

But both wanted the other to be the one to say it.

The situation was this: 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 it delays someone's treatment, that's their bad luck. Who told them to get sick in the first place? Right, Brother Chengwen?"

"But we've spent a fortune on this. If we don't recoup the costs, the company will suffer huge losses. Brother Chengwen, I support you! Here, I'll sign. Let's ship this batch today and get it all out within three days!"

The contract was brought over, and the secretary handed Xu Xuejiao a pen. She picked it up and was about to sign.

Seeing Xu Xuejiao actually about to sign, Lu Chengwen panicked. He slammed his hand on the signature area and stared at her.

Xu Xuejiao blinked her big eyes at him. "Brother 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, Brother 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.

Lu Chengwen pressed his hands on the table, his head hanging low, and said in a deep voice, "Report to the drug regulatory authorities. We will destroy this batch immediately and request their supervision."

"At the same time, conduct an internal investigation. All relevant departments must review their processes."

"Investigate those involved in the procurement of fine ingredients, revoke their professional qualifications, and hand them over to the judicial authorities for further investigation."

Xu Xuejiao smiled. She had won.

Zhao Gang was on the verge of losing it. "Young Master Lu, this batch is worth over six hundred million! Six hundred million! Think about it. 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 everyone else 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, all of you. 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, anyone who dares to mess with the fine ingredients will be sent to prison. They'll rot there!"

"Even if it's six billion, sixty billion, or six hundred billion... I'll let it all die 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 one she knew as a child.

Were all those rumors about him bullying others and committing all sorts of crimes really true? Could they have been mistaken?

And that outburst just now... it was kind of cool.

"Brother 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 realized.

[This damn girl had me figured out from the start!?]

[Hasn't she heard anything about my reputation? I'm the notorious villain who bullies others, steals women, and does all sorts of evil deeds! How dare she play me like this?]

[No, something's wrong. Something's definitely wrong!]

Xu Xuejiao stood up and smiled. "Brother Chengwen, my birthday is next week. I'm inviting you to my party. As for this matter, I'll leave it to you."

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 the car, Xu Xuejiao's emotions were in turmoil.

That brat. When I agreed to ship the drugs, the look of disappointment in his eyes... as if he were the good guy and I were the villain of Snow City.

But today, he really impressed me.

Thinking about how Lu Chengwen was driven to the brink of frustration, racking his brains to outwit me, only to be pushed to the verge of collapse... it was so much fun!

At this thought, Xu Xuejiao burst out laughing.

The secretaries were baffled. They exchanged glances, and the head secretary cautiously asked, "Director Xu, what's so funny?"

"Oh, nothing."

Xu Xuejiao put on a serious face, but then remembered Lu Chengwen's hilarious expression and burst out laughing again.

...

Evening, 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 did he accurately predict Long Aotian's actions?

He seemed terrified of Long Aotian, but they hadn't even met!

Among everyone present today, only I knew how skilled Long Aotian was. How did Lu Chengwen sense the danger in him so keenly?

There were too many mysteries.

This guy... for over three years, his so-called love, his pursuit of me... was it all fake?

Just because Long Aotian showed up, he backed off? He didn't dare to compete?

The secretary knocked on the door and peeked in. "Director Leng, are you heading off?"

"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 shameless suitor would be waiting at the entrance, dressed in flashy suits, holding flowers, and spouting cringy pick-up lines.

Every day, she had to endure his harassment and insincere flattery. Every day at this time, she would be humiliated in front of the entire company.

But today, he wasn't there. Looking at the empty entrance, Leng Qingqiu suddenly felt a void in her heart...

Walking down the hallway, the sound of her high heels seemed especially cold.

One secretary whispered, "Huh? Why does it feel so quiet today?"

Another blurted out, "Young Master Lu didn't come!"

"Oh, that's why! Yeah, he's usually here by now, talking non-stop."

Leng Qingqiu glared at them. "Don't you have work to do?"

The secretaries quickly shut up, and the group walked silently to the elevator.

Leng Qingqiu felt extremely uncomfortable.

What's going on?

Hadn't she always wished for Lu Chengwen to stay away?

Hadn't she always prayed for him to disappear from this world?

Now that he was gone, why did she feel this way?

Leng Qingqiu was unbearably irritable.

As she reached the entrance, a girl whose job was to collect the flowers Lu Chengwen brought every day was already waiting. Seeing Leng Qingqiu and the others empty-handed, she was puzzled.

She looked behind Leng Qingqiu, but there was no sign of Lu Chengwen.

She looked baffled.

Leng Qingqiu said to her, "He didn't come today."

Getting into the car, Leng Qingqiu felt even more agitated.

It was as if, without Lu Chengwen, her life had suddenly changed...

The frustration tormented her for a long time. Finally, she grabbed her phone and dialed. "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, drink with me!"

"Wait a sec, I'm on the phone. Director Leng, I'm a bit busy here. Let's talk another time!"

Beep... The call ended.

Leng Qingqiu was livid. She said to the driver, "Find out where Lu Chengwen is. We're going to see him!"