Volume One, Chapter Seventeen: His Deepest Love
After a long moment, You Jin turned around.
A mocking smile tugged at the corner of his mouth as he slipped his hands into his pockets and slowly approached Song Wanxi.
Standing at a distance that was polite yet familiar, his voice steady and cool, he said, “Since you’ve already called me President You, let’s speak business. I’ll invest fifty million yuan, plus a pharmaceutical factory production line. But I want fifty-one percent equity, and the research team must expand to twenty people. Besides developing special drugs for rare diseases, we must also add new drug development and production for common illnesses.”
Song Wanxi was stunned for several seconds. When she recovered, she was quite annoyed. “Not only do you want to override my decision-making power, but you also want to change the scope of my research. How is this any different from acquiring my company?”
You Jin’s tone turned serious. “You hold forty-nine percent equity, just focus on the research you want to do. Leave the rest of the management and operations to me. Although I can’t treat this business like a charity, I promise you, I will never be one of those heartless profiteers you despise.”
Song Wanxi clenched her fists tightly, a surge of frustration rising in her chest, leaving her speechless.
“Think it over carefully. When you’re ready, come to my company to sign the contract.” You Jin finished speaking and turned to continue walking into the room.
Song Wanxi sank onto the sofa, too tired to speak, closing her eyes and falling into deep thought.
—
The next morning.
In the laboratory of the pharmaceutical research institute, Song Wanxi sat dazed in front of the microscope, her mind elsewhere.
An Xiao entered carrying a stack of files and began sorting them on the cabinet. She couldn’t help but glance at Song Wanxi, who was supposed to be conducting experiments.
Sensing something was off, An Xiao gently touched her shoulder.
Song Wanxi jolted, snapping back to reality and looking at her.
An Xiao frowned. “What are you thinking about?”
Song Wanxi sighed softly. “The investment.”
An Xiao was surprised. “You found an investor?”
Song Wanxi nodded.
“Who is it?” An Xiao immediately put down the files, excitement on her face. “Have you reached an agreement? How much is the investment?”
Song Wanxi looked at An Xiao, hesitating to speak.
An Xiao pressed, “Who is it?”
“You Jin.”
“Your husband?” An Xiao gasped, covering her mouth to stifle a laugh. “Wanxi! Who was it before that said you could find any investor except You Jin? Looks like you were proven wrong.”
Song Wanxi felt a bit embarrassed. “Grandma helped me find him.”
“It’s the same thing.” An Xiao smiled as she pulled a chair beside her. “Since he’s willing to invest, what’s there to hesitate about? Just say yes!”
Song Wanxi shook her head. “No, his terms are too harsh.”
“Tell me.”
“He’s investing fifty million, plus a pharmaceutical factory production line, but our team must grow to twenty people. We have to expand from rare disease special drugs to new drug development and production for common illnesses. Worst of all, he wants fifty-one percent equity, the operational control and decision-making power—he would completely sideline me.”
An Xiao was speechless.
Song Wanxi sighed in frustration. “You think he’s going too far, right?”
An Xiao shook her head blankly. “No, I think he’s crazy about you.”
Song Wanxi frowned. “What nonsense are you talking about?”
An Xiao swallowed nervously and analyzed seriously, “Wanxi, think about it. Your little company isn’t worth much! You Jin has fifty million, a pharmaceutical factory production line, and can hire a team of twenty researchers. He could easily start a pharmaceutical company many times bigger than yours and own it outright. But instead, he’s giving you forty-nine percent equity. You’re just a small, shabby workshop—his involvement instantly turns it into a magnificent palace. If that’s not crazy about you, then what is?”
Song Wanxi frowned. “An Xiao, whose side are you on?”
An Xiao blinked, smiling warmly. “Of course, I’m your friend!”
Song Wanxi explained helplessly, “He’s interested in my technology. My small company is worthless, but the projects I’m working on are priceless.”
An Xiao nodded in agreement. “Yes, he really values your talent. But all your projects are still in the research phase. No one knows how they’ll turn out. He’s investing so much to scale our small company up to a publicly listed one and giving you forty-nine percent equity. Shouldn’t you be secretly pleased? What’s there to hesitate about?”
Song Wanxi weakly retorted, “He holds fifty-one percent equity. What if one day he fires me?”
An Xiao was genuinely surprised and fell silent.
Song Wanxi added, “Even if he doesn’t fire me, if my projects don’t turn a profit, he could cut off my research funding and take away my projects. Who else can I turn to then?”
An Xiao hesitated, conflicted and uncertain. “You don’t think You Jin would be that cruel, do you?”
Song Wanxi said, “After two years of being with him, I still don’t understand him. Can you guarantee he’s not that kind of person?”
“You don’t understand him? That’s your own fault,” An Xiao complained irritably. “Why did you have to be so stubborn and go on blind dates? And then you married after just a few months of knowing him. Once married, the relationship immediately cooled off. You’ve been in a cold war for two years with hardly any communication. How could you possibly understand him?”
As expected from her best friend, every word struck a painful chord deep within her heart.
Song Wanxi deflated and lowered her head, unwilling to say more.
So tired! And a little heartache too!
Seeing her low spirits, An Xiao quickly comforted her, “Alright, alright, let’s talk to him again. Maybe we can get him to lower the investment amount, but Wanxi, you have to hold the majority.”
“An Xiao, you go talk to him. I don’t want to deal with him anymore.”
An Xiao was shocked. “He’s your husband! If you don’t negotiate, and I do, do you think he’ll listen to me? Besides, I’m just an assistant—I don’t know anything.”
Song Wanxi corrected her, “You’re the company’s general manager.”
An Xiao smiled bitterly. “Ha!”
—
Seizing the moment, Song Wanxi couldn’t wait until evening.
At one o’clock in the afternoon, after lunch, she set off for You’s Group.
She had never been to You Jin’s company before and didn’t expect the journey to be so long. Even without traffic at noon, it took an hour and a half by taxi.
In her memory, You Jin, except when on business trips, came home every day without fail to sleep.
So it would take him three hours or more just commuting back and forth?
This puzzled her greatly.
By the time she arrived at You’s Group, it was nearly three o’clock.
Standing beneath the towering grandeur of the building, Song Wanxi felt somewhat lost.
She preferred to be alone in the lab and was truly not skilled at business dealings.
Entering the lobby, the lavishness and grandeur were striking.
She approached the reception desk politely and said, “Hello, my name is Song Wanxi. I’m here to see President You.”
The receptionist asked politely, “Do you have an appointment?”
Song Wanxi thought for a moment and shook her head.
“Sorry, Miss Song, you need an appointment.”
Song Wanxi took out her phone. “If I call him directly and get his consent, would that count as an appointment?”
The receptionist smiled warmly. “Of course.”
Just as Song Wanxi was about to dial, the sharp click of high heels approached, accompanied by a familiar female voice, “Sister-in-law? What are you doing here?”
Song Wanxi looked toward the voice.
Wu Weiwei walked over from the lounge area, her heavy makeup strikingly obvious.
On the lounge table were a phone streaming live and a collection of makeup bottles and jars.
Wu Weiwei seemed quite familiar with the receptionist and introduced herself, “She’s your President You’s wife, my sister-in-law.”
The receptionist nodded and greeted politely, “Good afternoon, madam.”
Seeing Wu Weiwei’s insincere smile and feigned warmth, Song Wanxi’s calm heart stirred with a humid, oppressive wave of unease.
So You Jin also brought her here to work.
She was forced to reconsider the true significance that this childhood friend, “good brother” You Jin, held in his own heart.
Wu Weiwei linked her arm through Song Wanxi’s. “Sister-in-law, are you here to see A Jin? No need to call ahead—I just finished streaming. Let me take you upstairs.”
Song Wanxi’s expression remained cool as she slowly withdrew her hand, unwilling to have any physical contact with her.