Something's Missing

The few informed senior executives in the drug factory were arguing fiercely.

One group believed the drugs should not be destroyed.

This batch of medicine was too expensive. Destroying such a large quantity of finished medicine would alert the Drug Administration Bureau. At that time, the losses would not be as simple as the costs of raw materials, fine ingredients, and finished product processing. It could even shake the enterprise foundation and the brand's market reputation.

The losses were immeasurable.

The other group was simpler: the medicine was no good, so it couldn't be labeled, ex-factory, or sold... Absolutely not!

The two groups argued until the sky turned upside down.

Lu Chengwen held his head in his hands, lying on the table, thinking only of his own affairs.

Why was he so annoyed?

When it rains, it pours. All the bad luck seemed to be happening at once.

This wasn't part of the plot in the main story, was it? What was this? Could the System alter the plot at any time?

Wasn't Long Aotian supposed to be in this part?

What was going on with Xu Xuejiao? Why did she suddenly want to kill him?

At this moment, the door was pushed open, and everyone immediately stood up:

"Hello, President Xu!"

Everyone greeted Xu Xuejiao.

Lu Chengwen was stunned. Why was she here too?

Xu Xuejiao sat down opposite the round table, smiling as she looked at Lu Chengwen: "Brother Chengwen, I know about the situation. 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 skipped a beat. Her eyes flickered several times, as if she didn't recognize Lu Chengwen at all. She stared intently at him.

Must be destroyed?

Was this his true inner thought!?

[I've got it! I'll say we should ship it normally, and let her lead the opposition against me. She definitely won't let this batch of medicine leave the factory.]

[If she's annoyed enough with me, she'll probably ignore me from now on. I'll take this opportunity to have a big argument with her, and then withdraw my shares! Yes, that's what I'll do!]

[I really am a damn genius!]

Lu Chengwen thought this and started to laugh.

He walked over to Xu Xuejiao with a smug look. "Sister Xuejiao, look, the situation is like this! The cost of producing this batch of medicine is too high. Compressing the fine ingredients was my idea. Although the effect of the medicine will be slightly reduced, it's traditional Chinese medicine, it won't kill anyone!"

"But if we destroy it, we'll alert the Drug Administration Bureau, and then we'll have to hold a press conference. Our drug factory will be finished! The reputation of our Ninth Factory will be ruined! The stock price will crash, right? Sales of the medicine will plummet afterward, right? We won't make any money in the future!"

"We'll keep all those who know silent. We need to withstand the pressure at this time and do something big! Right?"

Lu Chengwen looked at Xu Xuejiao with a grin, anxiously thinking in his heart:

[Scold me, scold me, hurry up and scold me! Object, object, hurry up and object!]

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

[You should just obediently get together with Long Aotian and be his concubine. We'll each go our own way, and neither of us will interfere with the other.]

Xu Xuejiao was not to be trifled with either.

This guy had already decided in his heart to destroy this batch of medicine.

But he wouldn't do it himself. What did he mean by making me do it?

When did this guy develop such a conscience as a doctor?

And why was he avoiding me like I was a plague?

Was I that pathetic, that I would go and be part of Long Aotian's harem, that disgusting person?

Xu Xuejiao's eyes darted around, and she said with a smile, "Brother Chengwen, I think the same way as you! Indeed, the drug factory can't function without you. In critical moments, we still have to rely on you to steer!"

Lu Chengwen's smile froze instantly.

He looked at Xu Xuejiao as if she were a stranger he didn't know at all.

"Xuejiao, did you misunderstand? I said... we should label it, put it ex-factory, and sell the medicine..."

"That's right!" Xu Xuejiao said, "I think so too!"

Lu Chengwen shook his head vigorously, feeling like his entire world had collapsed.

[What the hell is this!?]

[Xu Xuejiao, the compassionate doctor, how could you agree to do such a thing? You'd agree to something that would result in your descendants having no anuses? Are you out of your mind?]

Lu Chengwen forced a smile. "Xuejiao, you need to think clearly. This is medicine! What is medicine for? Saving people! If the medicine is not up to standard, it will delay the patient's condition. Think about it, thousands of people will be affected because of our medicine... Hehehe, you understand, right?"

"I understand, I understand everything." Xu Xuejiao had also made up her mind.

This is a game of who blinks first.

Both of them secretly decided in their hearts that this batch of medicine absolutely could not leave the factory.

But they both wanted the other person 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 confused and unable to see through the fog.

Xu Xuejiao had already won from the very beginning.

The scheming 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 own bad luck. Who told them to get sick in the first place? Brother Chengwen, don't you think so?"

"But we spent a lot of money, and if we can't get it back, the company's losses will be huge. Brother Chengwen, I support you! How about this, I'll sign it, and this batch of medicine will leave the factory today, with the requirement to ship it all out within three days!"

As soon as the contract was presented, the secretary handed over the pen, and Xu Xuejiao grabbed it, ready to sign.

Seeing that Xu Xuejiao was really about to sign, Lu Chengwen panicked. He pressed down on the signature area and stared at Xu Xuejiao.

Xu Xuejiao looked at Lu Chengwen with her big eyes blinking, "Brother Chengwen, what's wrong?"

Lu Chengwen trembled with anger. He was very disappointed in Xu Xuejiao.

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[Don't call me brother anymore, you are my father!]

"Xuejiao, have you really... thought it through?"

"I have!" Xu Xuejiao said, "I only trust you, Brother Chengwen. I'll listen to whatever you say."

Lu Chengwen lowered his head, depressed to the point of exploding.

He snatched the document and tore it to shreds.

Lu Chengwen placed his hands on the table, lowered his head, and said in a low voice, "Report to the Drug Administration Bureau. We need to destroy this batch of medicine immediately and ask them to send someone to supervise."

"At the same time, conduct a system investigation internally. All relevant departments will review their operational procedures."

"Investigate personnel related to the procurement of fine ingredients, revoke their professional qualifications, and transfer them to judicial authorities for investigation and prosecution."

Xu Xuejiao smiled. She had won.

Zhao Gang was so shocked he was about to go crazy, "Young Master Lu, the value of this batch of medicine is over six hundred million, over six hundred million! Think about it again, didn't you and President Xu already..."

"Get lost!" Lu Chengwen vented his inner anger and depression onto Zhao Gang, deliberately scolding him for others to hear:

"Is this something a security captain like you can get involved in company matters? Can't I even enforce this little bit of family rule?"

"This is medicine! Medicine! Medicine to treat illnesses and save lives!"

"Listen up, you damn fools! If anyone dares to let a single box, a single pack, a single pill of this batch of medicine leave the factory, I'll twist your heads off and use them as soccer balls!"

"Not just today, but from now on, anyone who dares to lay a finger on the fine ingredients again, I'll send them to prison in minutes, and they'll rot there!"

"Forget six hundred million, even six billion, sixty billion... I'll let it all die in our drug factory, not a single speck of dregs will leave!"

Lu Chengwen looked at Xu Xuejiao. "What do you think, President Xu?"

Xu Xuejiao smiled.

This time, it was a smile of relief.

She suddenly felt that she didn't understand Lu Chengwen as well as she thought.

This guy was completely different from when he was a child!

Were the rumors of him bullying people and doing all sorts of evil true? Could there have been a mistake?

And, that outburst just now was quite cool, wasn't it?

"Brother Chengwen, I told you, you're in charge. I'll listen to whatever you say."

Lu Chengwen looked at Xu Xuejiao's triumphant expression and suddenly understood.

[This dead girl knew from the start that I wouldn't let this batch of medicine leave the factory!?]

[Doesn't she know anything about my reputation? Big Sister here is a notorious bully, a scoundrel who robs men and preys on women, a wicked person driven by greed! How dare you play me like this?]

[No, something's wrong, something must be wrong!]

Xu Xuejiao stood up and said with a smile, "Brother Chengwen, my birthday is next week, and I'm inviting 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 figured Lu Chengwen out completely and had no worries about him causing trouble at the drug factory.

He didn't have the "ability" for that.

Sitting in the car, Xu Xuejiao's emotions were turbulent.

This idiot, when she agreed to let the medicine leave the factory, the look in his eyes was so disappointed, as if he were the good guy and she was the most evil young master in Xue City.

However, this kid was really cool today.

Thinking about how Lu Chengwen was cornered by her today, racking his brains to outsmart her, only to be pushed to the brink of collapse by her, was really too much fun!

Thinking of this, Xu Xuejiao chuckled.

The secretary team was confused. They exchanged glances, and the chief secretary cautiously asked, "President Xu, what's wrong?"

"Oh, nothing."

Xu Xuejiao put on a serious face, regaining her professional demeanor. But then she remembered the wonderfully expressive look of defeat on Lu Chengwen's face today, and couldn't help but chuckle again.

Evening, the city lights began to twinkle.

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 hadn't even met!

Among everyone present today, only she knew that Long Aotian was an excellent fighter. Why could Lu Chengwen so keenly sense the danger emanating from Long Aotian?

There were too many mysteries.

Was this guy's so-called love for her, liking her, and pursuing her for the past three years... all fake?

Because Long Aotian appeared, he backed down? He didn't dare to compete anymore?

A secretary knocked on the door and poked her head in. "President Leng, are you leaving work?"

"Huh? Oh." Leng Qingqiu collected her thoughts. "Let's go."

Leng Qingqiu felt something was off, like something was missing...

Yes, someone was missing.

For three years, at this exact time, a simp would always be waiting by the door, dressed in a flashy suit, holding flowers, and chasing after her with nauseating pickup lines.

Every day she had to endure that guy's harassment and fake flattery, and every day at this time, she had to endure public embarrassment in 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 seemed particularly cold.

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

Another secretary blurted out, "Young Master Lu isn't here!"

"Oh, that's why! Yes, at this time every day, he'd already be waiting at the door, talking non-stop."

Leng Qingqiu glared at them. "Are you all bored?"

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

Leng Qingqiu felt uncomfortable all over.

What was going on?

Hadn't she always wished Lu Chengwen would stay away from her?

Hadn't she always wished he would disappear from this world?

Now that he was gone, what was happening to her?

Leng Qingqiu was extremely annoyed.

When she reached the entrance, a girl responsible for picking up flowers every day was already waiting. Seeing Leng Qingqiu and the others come out empty-handed, she was stunned.

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."

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

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

The restless mood tormented her for a long time. She resolutely picked up the phone. "Hello, Lu Chengwen? I want to see you."

It was very noisy on Lu Chengwen's end. "Huh? What? Speak louder, I can't hear you?"

A girl's voice came from the phone. "Young Master Lu, keep me company for a drink!"

"Oh, wait a moment, I'm on the phone. President Leng, I'm a bit busy here. Let's talk another day!"

Beep beep... The call ended.

Leng Qingqiu was instantly furious. She said to the driver, "Track Lu Chengwen's location and go find him!"