"Gurgle... Gurgle..."
Walking out of the office building, Ye Huan's stomach protested, but there was nothing he could do about it.
He didn't have a single penny on him. It's not like he could rob a store on the street, right?
His wife was really something, leaving in such a hurry yesterday without leaving some money behind.
And he had to wait until the afternoon to start his job. Without a company badge, he couldn't go to the company cafeteria at noon, so he'd go hungry again—troublesome!
At this moment, Ye Huan's nose suddenly twitched...
Hmm?
Ginseng? And also... Asparagus root?
Who mixed these two together? Are they courting death?
"Come and have a look!" Su Qingqing shouted with a smile through a megaphone, "Tianyun International is about to launch its newest Meiying series skincare cream, which will easily make your skin firm and bouncy, back to baby level, with free trials for a limited time!"
But it was the CBD business district and work hours, so her shouting had no effect—she was the only one there.
Seeing a man approaching, Su Qingqing exclaimed in surprise, "Sir, would you like to try our product?"
"Beauty, do you have a problem with your IQ?" Ye Huan asked.
Su Qingqing was stunned for a moment, then glared with her beautiful eyes, "You're the one with the IQ problem, your whole family has the IQ problem, what's with your speech?"
"As the saying goes, disasters don't affect family. How can you curse someone's whole family? I didn't expect you to look so good but speak like this," Ye Huan said, somewhat displeased.
Su Qingqing was undeniably beautiful, with extremely delicate features, long black hair tied into a single ponytail, a black OL uniform accentuating her S-curve figure, wearing flesh-colored pantyhose with black crystal high heels beneath her legs.
"Are you sick or something? You start by cursing people and then blame me?" Su Qingqing was quite upset, thinking she might have encountered a mental case.
"Did I say wrong that you have an IQ problem?" Ye Huan pointed to the skincare cream on the table in front of Su Qingqing, "This has ginseng and asparagus root mixed, doesn't it?"
Su Qingqing was dumbfounded, then directly took out her phone and started dialing, "Hello, 110? Someone is stealing our company's business se..."
Before she could finish, Ye Huan directly snatched her phone and hung up.
"What are you doing!"
"I'm helping you, why are you calling the police on me?" Ye Huan scolded, "Ginseng and asparagus root, one is fiery and the other is cold, ice and fire can't mix. Even if there aren't much of these two ingredients in your skincare cream, it can still cause skin ulceration for some users, and in severe cases, it could be life-threatening!"
"Nonsense!"
"Our products, which we dare to market, have all gone through long-term tests and pose no safety risks. So far, fifty people have used this product with good effects."
"Moreover, confess, how do you know the components of our skincare formula? Be honest, or you'll rot in prison!"
Su Qingqing's face was stern as she slapped the megaphone heavily on the table.
"I'm an old Chinese medicine practitioner, so I can naturally smell the ingredients. Also, if your product shows good test results, that's only because the symptom onset time for the test subjects hasn't come yet."
"Old Chinese medicine? I think you're just BS-ing." Su Qingqing looked distrustful and extended her hand, "Give me back my phone, go away, stop disturbing me from promoting the product."
Ye Huan's face darkened like Bao Qingtian.
If it were someone else's company, Huan would definitely walk away on the spot.
But that's not an option now!
This is his wife's company. If this skincare product hits the market, within three months, many people's skin would ulcerate, and by then, Tianyun International's reputation would be completely ruined.
"Beautiful, there's really a problem with this skincare cream formula, you all should stop the entire product line," Ye Huan returned the phone, earnestly advising, "Honestly, I'm joining Tianyun International this afternoon, can't betray my own company, right?"
"Joining? You're trying to steal trade secrets, aren't you? I'll inform HR to fire you this afternoon,"
Su Qingqing grabbed back her phone, coldly snorted, then put it back in her pocket while looking away.
At this point, a car pulled up nearby.
A group of people got out of the car.
Two men were surrounded by uniformed employees at the center stage—one in a suit and tie, and the other in a doctor's white coat.
"Qingqing? What are you doing here?" the man asked in confusion.
He wore an expensive Givenchy suit, wide-shouldered and sturdy.
Seeing him arrive, Su Qingqing frowned slightly, her voice cold, "Wu De'an, how many times have I told you, my nickname isn't for you to use."
She then noticed the person next to Wu De'an and smiled, "Mr. Zhang, you've come."
The doctor, Zhang Song, nodded with a calm expression.
"Qingqing, you just haven't recognized my goodness..."
The man chuckled, only to be cut off by Su Qingqing impatiently, "I don't have time to spar with you; there's a matter to handle here."
With that, she laid out everything that had just happened.
Wu De'an and Zhang Song exchanged glances, their expressions briefly changing.
"Kid, who are you?" Wu De'an frowned, "You're claiming our product has... has quality issues?"
"It's not a quality issue; it's a formula issue," Ye Huan spread his hands helplessly.
"Formula issue?" Zhang Song crossed his arms, looking displeased, "Kid, do you know who I am? The formula personally developed by me is something people like you can question?"
"Exactly."
The employees echoed in agreement.
Upon hearing Ye Huan mention "stealing trade secrets," their attitude towards Ye Huan naturally wasn't good.
"Dr. Zhang's medical skills are renowned across the world; his formula can't possibly have any problems."
"How could someone like you question Dr. Zhang's medical skills?"
"I think this kid is an undercover sent by a rival company, intent on disrupting our new product launch—that's a crime worth punishing."
"Yeah, and he even knows our formula, surely he stole our trade secrets, we should call the police and have him arrested."
"Arrested? This kind of person should be executed, even ten times wouldn't be enough!"
The employees buzzed with discussion, verbally attacking Ye Huan.
Ye Huan's face turned a few shades darker, and he coldly said, "I'll say it again, if you insist on launching this skincare cream, Tianyun International is finished."
Wu De'an's eyes were sinister, his voice cold, "Stop spouting useless things. Are you the one who told Qingqing the new product contained asparagus root and ginseng?"
"I'm an old Chinese medicine practitioner; I could smell it, and these two ingredients must never be mixed, or there'll be big issues."
"Old Chinese medicine? I think you're just pretending, 'smelling' the formula? That's the first time I've heard of such nonsense, ridiculous!" Wu De'an had a face full of mockery.
Zhang Song's lips also curled into a mocking smile.
Indeed, old Chinese medicine doctors who were familiar with herbs could detect ingredients by smell.
But not at such a young age.
"Come clean, where did you steal the formula from?" Wu De'an said coolly.
"I said, I smelled it, I don't want to argue with you," Ye Huan said plainly, "I can only tell you, this thing can't be released, or Tianyun is doomed."
"Utterly ridiculous!" Wu De'an's face was gloomy, "The product formula is top secret, only the innermost members can know. Admit how you stole it! Besides, we have no need for your concern about the product, the formula was personally developed by Dr. Zhang Song at the Celestial Sea City TCM hospital and has been tested—it can't possibly pose any safety risks."
Celestial Sea City TCM Hospital—Zhang Song?
Ye Huan furrowed his brows.
This title rang a bell for him.
Once at an overseas medical forum, Huan had casually advised an old man named Zhang Song.
Since then, the old man had always begged to be Huan's apprentice.
However...
That old man and this Zhang Song were completely different people.
Ye Huan seemed to have realized something and asked Wu De'an, "Dude, you're saying this old man next to you is Zhang Song, the Zhang Song from Celestial Sea City Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital?"
Wu De'an and "Zhang Song" both dodged a bit in their gaze, then quickly calmed down.
"It's good you've heard of my name, now hurry up and admit your mistake!" Zhang Song roared.
Ye Huan scrutinized "Zhang Song," his lips curling into an amused smile, "Are you really Zhang Song?"
"Zhang Song" frantically dodged, waving his hand and turning his head away with a face full of anger, clearly guilty as charged.
"Kid, what's your intention?" Wu De'an's voice lowered threateningly, "If you don't give us a satisfactory explanation today, expect to explain things to the police."
With that, he took out his phone, preparing to call the police.
Ye Huan ignored him, chuckled lightly, and dialed a number, boisterously saying, "Zhang Song? I'm in Huaxia now, come down to the Tianyun International building, ten minutes tops, I won't wait beyond that, got it?"