{Chapter: 325 The butterfly effect!}
Yan Ruyue explained that the mask supplier had increased their price by a significant margin—far more than what anyone could have expected.
This was completely inconsistent with the events that Lin Yuan remembered from the original timeline of the novel.
He was certain his memory wasn't wrong.
And Yan Ruyue, being who she was, wouldn't fabricate or exaggerate something like this.
If that was the case, then there could only be one explanation: the butterfly effect.
His presence and the actions he had taken up until now had already caused deviations in the course of events. What was once set in stone had now changed.
As Lin Yuan lowered his head in thought, connecting the dots, Yan Ruyue continued to speak, her tone serious and tired.
"The original cost of our facial masks has risen so steeply that we're practically paralyzed. We can't just replace our supplier overnight, either—not when our production relies on consistency and quality. But if we accept their inflated price, we'll end up with almost no profit margins. We're stuck in a very tight spot."
"And that's not even the end of it," she added with a sigh.
"We had just hired a new model and product endorser to lead our next major campaign. The previous endorser had to be let go due to a series of complicated issues—we couldn't keep her onboard any longer. Everything was going smoothly at first. We even had a good relationship with the new actress, and our past collaborations had gone well."
"But then, just a few days ago, an accident occurred. It wasn't life-threatening, thankfully, but it was serious enough that she was hospitalized. As a result, she won't be able to film any promotional material or advertisements for the foreseeable future."
Yan Ruyue leaned back into her chair, resting one hand against her forehead, her brows furrowed with stress.
"Because of these two issues alone, the entire Yanyue Company has been thrown into disarray. And to make matters worse, I'm not the only stakeholder."
"The board is now completely divided into opposing factions," she continued with visible frustration. "One group believes it's time to go all in and fight. They refuse to accept the supplier's price hike and are insisting we sue them for breach of agreement. But that route is slow—far too slow. Legal proceedings take time we don't have. Even if I find a stopgap supplier, the product quality will likely fall short of our existing standards."
"The other faction is advocating for compromise. They're saying we should accept the price hike for now while searching for a new supplier who can deliver similar quality. But doing that would require a massive initial investment. We'd be gambling the company's resources and reputation. And without a confirmed new model or endorser, the risk is too great."
"I haven't made any final decisions yet, but the pressure is mounting. The shareholders are breathing down my neck, urging me to take action. If I can't resolve the situation soon, they're threatening to release stock to the public at low prices or bring in a new partner. Either option would severely damage the company's image and possibly its long-term credibility."
Yan Ruyue's voice quieted, but the concern in her eyes only deepened.
"There are people who would love to take advantage of this. Some are already eyeing my position, waiting for me to stumble so they can seize control of the company and steer it in a direction that suits their interests."
She paused, her lips pursed in frustration. "So that's the third problem—the growing internal tension. It's no longer just a business issue. It's a power struggle. A game of influence and control."
"One problem after another," she muttered, "all tangled into a knot. I've tried to think my way through it, but I haven't found a solution that won't cause collateral damage."
She looked exhausted as she leaned back in her seat. Her voice had softened, but her expression revealed her inner turmoil.
Lin Yuan remained quiet for a moment, analyzing everything.
Truthfully, Yan Ruyue had broken down the problems clearly. She wasn't lacking in intelligence or leadership. She had even laid out multiple approaches to handle the situation.
But the truth was, these weren't your typical business hurdles.
Having to face all three issues simultaneously—the supplier's extortion, the endorser's accident, and the factional power struggle—was rare.
It felt too unnatural. Almost orchestrated.
It was as if someone was deliberately stacking the odds against her.
Lin Yuan stared at her thoughtfully before speaking slowly, his tone calm but firm.
"These kinds of issues, when they appear independently, can be considered unfortunate coincidences. But when they all emerge at once and hit so precisely? That's not a coincidence anymore."
Yan Ruyue looked up at him and nodded faintly.
"I've been thinking the same thing," she admitted.
"There's definitely someone behind this," Lin Yuan concluded. "Someone targeting you—and your company."
Yan Ruyue nodded again, her expression resolute but tired.
"I agree. That's why I already asked someone to investigate. But so far, we've come up with nothing. No clues. No leads. It's as if the person pulling the strings is hiding in plain sight, always one step ahead."
She clenched her fists slightly. "And that's what makes it even more frustrating."
Lin Yuan slowly rubbed his fingers together in contemplation before speaking in a calm yet serious tone. "With all the evidence laid out, it's no longer a matter of speculation. Someone is clearly pulling strings from behind the curtain. This isn't just a series of unfortunate events—it's deliberate. Someone is targeting your company. And in cases like this, the list of potential culprits is usually quite short."
He paused for a moment and then continued, "The first and most obvious suspect would be your competitors. Are there any recent developments in the beauty and skincare industry? Have any old rival companies made a comeback, or has there been a sudden appearance of a new startup that might be trying to shake things up?"
Yan Ruyue gently shook her head, her expression composed yet tired. "No, I've already considered that possibility. I even arranged for some discreet investigations. The usual players in the industry—our old rivals—are keeping watch, but none of them have made any suspicious moves. And as far as I know, no promising new competitors have entered the scene recently."
Lin Yuan nodded slowly, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Alright. If it's not a competitor looking to gain market share, then the second possibility could be more personal—revenge. Maybe someone you've crossed in the past is now trying to settle old scores. Have you offended anyone recently? Anyone with a motive to take you or your company down?"
Yan Ruyue fell into silence. Her brows furrowed as she thought deeply.
There were indeed people who might harbor grudges against her, but none who stood out immediately. "There are a few people who may dislike me," she admitted, "but I can't pinpoint one person who has both the motivation and the means to orchestrate all of this."
Lin Yuan, however, had already been connecting the dots. He had considered the matter long before this conversation.
He raised his gaze to meet hers and gently uttered two words: "Ye Feng."
Then, after a slight pause, he added, "And the Chen family."
"Ye Feng? The Chen family?" Yan Ruyue repeated in confusion, clearly caught off guard by the names.
Lin Yuan nodded. His tone turned colder. "You know about my relationship with Ye Feng and the Chen family. It's not just bad blood. It's a death feud. There's no middle ground—it's either them or me."
He leaned forward slightly. "The Lin family and the Yan family have always had a strong relationship. You and I are also quite close. They could very well be targeting you as a way to harm me indirectly, or to strike at the Lin family through a side door."
"I've already sent some trusted people to monitor the Chen family's and Ye Feng's activities," Lin Yuan continued. "They've done a good job keeping things discreet, but even the most careful conspirators leave behind traces. I managed to uncover a few hidden clues. Specifically, I've learned that the Chen family and Ye Feng have recently made contact with several company owners."
He leaned back slightly and added, "I've already compiled a rough list of who those people are."
Lin Yuan then looked her in the eye. "Tell me—who owns the manufacturing company your Yanyue Group has been working with? The one who suddenly raised their prices to an outrageous level. Once I know the owner's name, we can compare it to my list and confirm whether this is part of Ye Feng's and the Chen family's plan."
Even before she answered, Lin Yuan was already ninety percent sure of the truth. In his mind, he had already concluded that the Chen family and Ye Feng were orchestrating the entire situation.
After all, the price increase from the manufacturer wasn't just a standard adjustment due to inflation or market shifts—it was a sudden, unreasonable spike that made no business sense.
In the original version of the novel, Lin Yuan clearly remembered how Yan Ruyue was troubled by a minor price hike from the supplier. It was a small issue, and Ye Feng had stepped in like a knight in shining armor to solve it, earning her gratitude.
But that was the original timeline—before Lin Yuan himself entered the picture and disrupted the narrative.
Now, with Lin Yuan standing in Ye Feng's place and Yan Ruyue holding deep resentment toward Ye Feng, the situation had changed drastically.
That's the butterfly effect.
What used to be a small wave has now turned into a violent storm, intensified by Lin Yuan's mere presence.
It was clear: this chaos was no longer a coincidence. It was a carefully orchestrated sabotage effort—and the masterminds behind it were undoubtedly Ye Feng and the Chen family.
Lin Yuan had already made his judgment. He was now seeking confirmation only for due diligence.
He turned back to Yan Ruyue. "Tell me the name of the person who owns the manufacturing company. Let's confirm this once and for all."
Yan Ruyue didn't hesitate. She trusted Lin Yuan.
"The owner's name is Feng Dahai," she replied firmly.
The moment the name left her lips, Lin Yuan's expression changed slightly. He wasted no time and immediately pulled out his phone.
He dialed Long Wu's number and, once the call connected, he spoke quickly and firmly.
"Long Wu. Do you remember the task I gave you earlier—to investigate the identities of the company owners the Chen family had contacted recently? Have you compiled that list?"
On the other end of the call, Long Wu's voice was respectful and steady. "Yes, young master. There were around seven to eight individuals. I've documented their identities and cross-verified each one."
"Good," Lin Yuan replied. "Read them out to me now. One by one."
"Yes, Master!" Long Wu answered without hesitation. A moment later, he began reading the names clearly and deliberately.
"Niu Zhenge, Wang Qin… Feng Dahai…"
The moment Long Wu uttered the name Feng Dahai, Lin Yuan's gaze hardened. His expression turned sharp, like a blade being unsheathed.
The trap had been confirmed.
There was no longer any doubt—Ye Feng and the Chen family were indeed behind the series of disasters plaguing Yan Ruyue's company.
And Lin Yuan had no intention of letting them get away with it.