Honey, Open The Door. I Want To Give You The Room Key - Chapter 8

Lou Qingshuang pondered it in her heart. Thinking of Liu Yu, she finally said with uncertainty, “How about we give it a try?” Refusal wasn’t working, so trying something metaphysical might be an option.

“I’ll check right now which Taoist temple is the strongest at severing ill-fated relationships! I’ll strive to cut it clean once and for all!” Bai Wan acted as soon as she spoke, picking up her phone to start looking for guides. She even made a call to her father to ask him; since he believed in such things, he was bound to have connections.

Looking at her best friend who was impatiently scouring for guides, Lou Qingshuang, for some reason, felt that she seemed a bit excitedly schadenfreude. Only Lou Qingshuang now held authorization for the laboratory; everyone else’s access had been suspended. The researchers who worked with her had entered the investigation phase. Once the plagiarism incident broke out, anyone who had come into contact with the formulas and data was under investigation. Whenever Bai Wan had a spare moment, she constantly reviewed the surveillance footage, searching for the person who had leaked the information. Yet, after searching back and forth, she still couldn’t find anyone.

After disinfecting herself and changing into a clean white lab coat, Lou Qingshuang entered the laboratory to seek inspiration. Since Xinyu was to collaborate with Wanshuang, they definitely had to produce a new product. The efficacy of this new product had to be different from others, something that could catch the consumers’ eyes and satisfy Xinyu for the launch of their joint line. Ideally, it would also serve as a “comeback work” after winning the lawsuit.

However, Lou Qingshuang was still somewhat puzzled as to why Xinyu had suddenly wanted to negotiate a collaboration with them, but the conditions Xinyu offered were truly tempting. If they grasped the olive branch offered by Xinyu this time, Wanshuang could leap across several levels at once. This could be considered meeting a “benefactor.” Lou Qingshuang did not yet know that the benefactor in her heart was not the same “benefactor” she imagined.

On the other side, Lan Dai suddenly released a nostalgic documentary, drawing the attention of many people away. It triggered the nostalgic sentiments of consumers and also caused their gaze to fall upon Lan Dai’s current products. Lan Dai fully intended to step over Wanshuang to rise to the top. They openly began promoting their “new” products, while simultaneously spreading word that Lan Dai’s product had released trial samples long ago, backing it up with experimental data and interviews.

Various influential bloggers also began selling nostalgia while not forgetting to paint Lan Dai in a sympathetic light, implying that Xinyu was trying to crush Lan Dai to death.

“The trending searches Lan Dai has bought recently are all about nostalgia and implying things about Xinyu. They intend to touch base with Xinyu while trampling us to death,” Bai Wan said, tapping her chin.

Qin Nan was well-versed in the tactics of these people. “Lan Dai wants to use nostalgia to awaken consumer memories and increase their own sense of tragic heroism.”

“There must be a master behind Lan Dai giving them advice,” Qin Nan said with a frown.

“The traitor hasn’t been caught yet. For the upcoming product research, I’m afraid only I will be able to interface with the Xinyu team,” Lou Qingshuang looked up at Bai Wan.

“Let’s proceed with the interface normally. At the very least, we need to put on a grand show; we can’t let others think we are afraid of the battle. This time, Xinyu’s contract has a division of labor for the joint research and development of products. At the same time, we can learn from Xinyu’s team experience,” Bai Wan said.

“That works,” Lou Qingshuang nodded.

A week later, Xinyu officially signed the contract with Wanshuang Company. At the same time, Lou Qingshuang received an invitation. The Chairman of Xinyu Group wanted to invite her to dinner to learn about Wanshuang’s future development plans. Although Lou Qingshuang was somewhat surprised, she accepted the invitation. She remembered that the person in charge of Xinyu was an older Omega; she was very serious and had a strong sense of fashion.

“The time is next Tuesday. Please attend the appointment on time,” said the team from Xinyu who came to coordinate.

“Alright,” Lou Qingshuang agreed. Lou Qingshuang, Bai Wan, and Qin Nan saw off the people from Xinyu. The three of them were going to have a small private celebration, as there was finally a comforting matter to deal with.

“It’s finally done.” Qin Nan took a large gulp of champagne; her eyes filled with excitement. Bai Wan had even used the collaboration with Xinyu to talk to distributors everywhere; after several rounds of reassurance, her mouth was practically dry from talking.

“Shuangshuang, next Tuesday, do you need me to drive you?” Bai Wan unbuttoned her white suit jacket and breathed a sigh of relief.

“No need, my assistant will take me,” Lou Qingshuang declined with a smile. Just then, a call from Shen Yue came in. As soon as Bai Wan saw Shen Yue’s call, she started dancing her eyebrows, teasing Lou Qingshuang. Lou Qingshuang opened the door and walked out.

“Yueyue, why are you calling at this time?” Lou Qingshuang spoke softly to Shen Yue, her eyes carrying a hint of tenderness.

“I missed you, so I gave you a call. By the way, I’ll be coming to Lu City next Tuesday to stay for a night. Let’s go out on a date.” Shen Yue made the invitation with high expectations.

“Next Tuesday?” Lou Qingshuang felt very conflicted.

“What, do you have something on next Tuesday?” Shen Yue’s disappointed voice came through the phone.

“There’s a very important social engagement next Tuesday that involves the future of Wanshuang,” Lou Qingshuang told Shen Yue the truth, hoping she wouldn’t be angry.

Shen Yue listened for several seconds before slowly saying, “Then should I go directly to your house that evening and wait for you to come back? Or should I go pick you up?”

“Wait for me at home. Mom has mentioned you several times too,” Lou Qingshuang said lighthearted words to steer away from their unpleasantness.

“I miss Auntie too. I’ve brought some good things to supplement her health this time. When I get back, I’ll give them to Auntie Wu and have her stew them for her to eat.” Shen Yue’s tone carried a sense of mystery, not telling her exactly what it was.

“Alright, then I’m looking forward to it,” Lou Qingshuang replied with a smile. The two didn’t chat for long before Shen Yue went off to be busy. Lou Qingshuang looked at the ended call screen and sighed.

“What did Shen Yue say to make you so melancholy?” Bai Wan looked curiously at her friend who had pushed the door back in.

“She’s coming back next Tuesday,” Lou Qingshuang spread her hands.

“The timing is quite a coincidence; it clashed. You’ll have to make it up to her more next time.” Bai Wan nudged Lou Qingshuang with a mischievous grin.

“Stop it.” Lou Qingshuang had no way to deal with this friend of hers.

When next Tuesday arrived, Lou Qingshuang dressed up elegantly and went to the restaurant mentioned in the invitation—a very private club. Under the guidance of the waiter, Lou Qingshuang arrived at the door of the private room. The moment she pushed the door open, the smile on her face vanished instantly. She even took a half-step back to check the name of the room; there was no mistake.

The moment she entered, Liu Yu looked at the ethereal and aloof Lou Qingshuang with amazement. She quickly suppressed her startled gaze, not letting Lou Qingshuang see it. Today, Lou Qingshuang wore a pale purple long dress, adorned with crystals and gemstones on a high collar. Silver was the primary color with blue-green as an accent, as if the galaxy had fallen. The styling was gorgeous, and combined with the thin, pale purple chiffon, it gave off a soft, hazy feeling. The gemstones were merely highlights, ensuring she didn’t look entirely like a celestial being or extremely cold. Her shoulders were covered beneath her overcoat.

Liu Yu looked at her elegantly low-bun hairstyle, which had a few pearl decorations on it. She was truly beautiful, and she had truly done her homework for the task of meeting “Auntie An.” An Ming was the Executive CEO of Xinyu Group.

Frost formed on Lou Qingshuang’s face. Her right hand tightly gripped the doorknob, not wanting to enter.

“Miss Lou, please come in and take a seat.” Liu Yu sat in the main seat with a smile on her face. Her eyes rippled with a charming and composed smile, making it easy for people to feel favorable toward her. This time, Liu Yu was not wearing a suit. She wore a low-key, classic wool coat, and that intimidating aura about her had faded quite a bit.

Lou Qingshuang squeezed the doorknob and finally let go, gently closing the door. She struggled to maintain her composure and spoke, “I didn’t expect that Xinyu was actually a subsidiary group of the Liu Corporation.”

“Hardly. It is my mother’s life’s work.” Liu Yu elegantly and gentlemanly poured a cup of tea for Lou Qingshuang. Lou Qingshuang glanced at it, picked it up politely to smell it, but did not drink it. “A very good Pu’er tea.”

“Rest assured, nothing has been added to it. I would not use such base methods.” This sentence from Liu Yu could also be considered an answer to the question Lou Qingshuang had when they met.

“Meeting you is just to discuss the future development of Wanshuang Company, and at the same time, to understand your ideas for product research and development.” Liu Yu appeared perfectly serious on the surface, but her words forced Lou Qingshuang, who wanted to leave, to sit down.

She could not be impulsive now. Once the collaboration between Xinyu and Wanshuang fell through, Wanshuang Company would fall through as well.

What a vicious tactic.