Honey, Open The Door. I Want To Give You The Room Key - Chapter 4

Lou Qingshuang did not know how she managed to walk out. The blood rushed to her head, making her feel dizzy. She was at a loss for what to do—she didn’t even know who she could talk to about it.

If she spoke of it, no one would even believe her. After all, Liu Yu was someone who truly stood above the heavens.

Even now, Lou Qingshuang felt as though someone’s grip still lingered on her wrist. She raised her right hand and stared at it blankly for a long while. Although there were no visible marks left, she rubbed it forcefully and used a large amount of alcohol-based hand sanitizer to scrub it. Only after disinfecting it several times did she finally start to feel a bit more comfortable. Ultimately, she tossed the room card into a trash can and left the premises.

Back in the venue, Bai Wan was facing a three-sided siege from reporters. A swarm of journalists surrounded her, asking questions: “President Bai, may I ask how you respond to the allegations from Lan Dai?”

Bai Wan raised her hand to quiet the noisy crowd. “Our company, Wanshuang, does not stoop to plagiarism. From the moment Wanshuang was founded until now, all our formulas have been fully documented and are traceable. Lan Dai’s accusations seem more like an attempt to disrupt the competition—after all, as you all know, the results are due to be announced in five minutes.”

Bai Wan immediately escalated the situation, framing it as a matter of corporate warfare. By dragging the “conspiracy” out into the light of day, she successfully diverted everyone’s attention and sowed seeds of doubt among the consumers. After all, not all consumers were fools.

By the time Lou Qingshuang approached, the reporters had been escorted to the press area by the venue security.

Seeing Lou Qingshuang return, Bai Wan breathed a sigh of relief. “Shuangshuang, what did that big shot Liu Yu talk to you about?”

Thinking of that female Alpha who had stood so incredibly close to her, Lou Qingshuang felt a surge of loathing. She forced herself to maintain her composure and covered it up, saying, “She didn’t ask anything. We just exchanged a couple of words and then she let me come back.”

Bai Wan felt a bit disappointed. If Liu Yu had been willing to say even a single word on their behalf, perhaps their situation would have been reversed.

But she didn’t know that there was a price to be paid for Liu Yu’s words.

Once entangled with Liu Yu, Lou Qingshuang wouldn’t be able to shake her off. Right now, Lou Qingshuang wished she could be twelve thousand kilometers away from Liu Yu. A frivolous and dissolute person—that was all she was.

“Let’s wait for the results first.” Bai Wan pulled the exhausted Lou Qingshuang down to sit. Lou Qingshuang reached back and gripped Bai Wan’s hand, saying with great foresight, “No matter whether the results are good or bad in a moment, we are going to be attacked. You must stay steady.”

Bai Wan nodded solemnly, though she was filled with inner anxiety. Lan Dai was being too ruthless; they were clearly trying to crush their company to death.

Under this double pressure, regardless of the outcome, Wanshuang Company had been placed on the edge of a blade. If they weren’t careful, they would never be able to recover.

Standing by the window on the third floor, Liu Yu watched Lou Qingshuang. “Chairman, Ms. Lou threw the card away.” The assistant secretary respectfully placed the cleaned card on the office desk.

Liu Yu didn’t say a word. She merely narrowed her eyes as she watched the woman who, though looking a bit dejected moments ago, had already pulled herself together to comfort the person beside her. Both of them sat with straight backs like warriors, heads held high to face the coming war.

A smile tugged at the corner of Liu Yu’s usually expressionless mouth; she was becoming increasingly curious about this woman.

This was likely the first time she had been rejected twice. Or rather, she had never been rejected before in her life—this was the first time.

But next time, she definitely wouldn’t be able to refuse.

“Chairman, the results have been announced. Wanshuang Company won. Lan Dai has already posted various ‘evidences’ on their official Weibo accusing Wanshuang of plagiarism. They are continuously buying trending searches, and many influencers with millions of followers are speaking up for Lan Dai.” The assistant placed the organized materials on the desk, waiting for Liu Yu to review them.

“Lan Dai is an established, large company after all. Their fan base and consumer groups are very stable. Wanshuang Company might not be able to withstand this wave of impact,” the assistant offered as an opinion for Liu Yu’s reference.

“She has a backup plan.” Liu Yu’s seemingly non-sequitur comment caused Zhu Yan to subconsciously wonder what Ms. Lou’s backup plan could be and how to handle the subsequent events.

Liu Yu looked at the calm deep within Lou Qingshuang’s eyes. She recalled how earlier, although the woman was afraid, she hadn’t been overly worried or even considered backing down. It was clear that Lou Qingshuang had already thought of how to handle the aftermath.

Thinking of that woman who was enveloped in the scent of roses, Liu Yu couldn’t help but take a deep breath, as if she could smell it again.

She… only needed to help by adding a little fuel to the fire.

“Have you found the other information I asked you to check?” Liu Yu turned and asked.

“It’s still in preparation. It will take a day or two,” the assistant replied after checking the progress report.

“Fine. Once the data is out, send it to the office,” Liu Yu said casually. She was preparing to leave.

There would be people downstairs protecting Lou Qingshuang in the shadows.

As soon as the news broke that the Wanshuang Group had entered the finals, many reporters swarmed them. The faces of those from the Lan Dai Group were extremely unsightly. Seeing the chaos, many reporters who loved a good drama crowded forward to ask Lan Dai how they felt.

“Plagiarists will eventually face a backlash,” the Lan Dai representative snapped before leading their subordinates away.

They had lost the competition and had to vacate the venue. For an established brand to lose to a newcomer was incredibly humiliating. Wanshuang Group had to be crushed for Lan Dai to have a chance to rise again; Lan Dai had to win this battle of traffic and commerce.

The conflict online had already begun. Lan Dai held the initiative at every turn, leaving Lou Qingshuang and Bai Wan in a very passive position.

Before the two of them even left the venue, distributors and branch offices from various regions were already calling to inquire about the situation. Some shopping malls were even looking to remove the company’s counters.

The online sentiment was completely one-sided. Lan Dai’s PR war had bolstered their own reputation. For a time, the internet was filled with nothing but insults directed at Wanshuang, with various tactics being deployed in rapid succession.

Sitting in the car, Lou Qingshuang and Bai Wan looked at the online comments. Their faces were tense and grim. “Wanshuang, can we survive this wave?” Bai Wan’s heart bled as she looked at the abuse; the announcements they had issued were having no effect at all.

“Wait a day or two first to let the heat die down. The netizens’ passion will fade with time. Meanwhile, we must also formally file a lawsuit against Lan Dai,” Lou Qingshuang brainstormed.

Lou Qingshuang’s gaze was so cold it felt murderous. She didn’t know if Liu Yu was involved. If Liu Yu was participating in this, Lou Qingshuang couldn’t help but close her eyes—if she truly was involved, their company would be like a small boat thrust into a vast ocean; the other party could capsize them with a casual flick of the wrist.

Thinking of that room card she had thrown away, Lou Qingshuang felt both disgusted and anxious.

The goal Liu Yu wanted to achieve through this matter had been reached: she wanted Lou Qingshuang to come and beg her personally.

Wanshuang Company was not only the hope of Lou Qingshuang and Bai Wan, but it was also Lou Qingshuang’s trump card for a comeback. She had poured an immense amount of energy and effort into the company; furthermore, she desperately needed Wanshuang to serve as her support.

She would not watch the company collapse.

Lou Qingshuang would come to beg her.

Liu Yu was certain of this. She liked to slowly tighten her palm, clasping her belongings firmly within her grasp.