Pharmaceutical Negotiator - Chapter 29

A promotional video titled “Vitality” quickly became a trending topic and entered the public eye.

In the video, the actors on stage were full of passion, their eyes blazing with an invisible power. The young actor watching the performance from the audience, seated in a wheelchair, had eyes flickering with an unyielding flame of defiance.

Following the promotional video was an interview that neither sensationalized the illness nor deliberately picked at old wounds. The married couple chatted casually about their everyday life. The director’s questions were not tricky, but rather focused on small, routine things in life.

The laughter, the lightheartedness, and the most ordinary scenes unexpectedly stirred a tenderness in people’s hearts.

The promotional video did not emphasize fighting the disease or dwell on suffering. The young actor also seemed to genuinely enjoy the magnificent performance throughout.

However, the tenacity in his eyes, the unwavering light that kept burning, and the Tyrannosaurus Rex toy clutched in his arms, all led the audience to connect with the title of the promotional video Vitality.

At an age when he should be running and jumping, he is confined to a wheelchair. At the time he most needs to play with others, he is left lonely in the hospital ward, accompanying himself. While typical couples enjoy the ordinary life of a nine to five job, buying groceries, and cooking, his parents have to rush around to raise money for the costly special effect drug.

Yet, when the camera focused on him, the seven-year-old boy’s face was full of vigor, a longing for life, and an upward, vibrant vitality.

That strength, projected from his inner being, manifested in the little actor’s sparkling eyes.

The video was continuously shared and liked, with the viewing volume growing exponentially. Zhang Si-tan sent a message to Liu Yujing to congratulate her on the success.

Director Zhang was also very pleased, as the list of responsible personnel from the Medical Insurance Bureau was attached after the promotional video.

The next day in the office, Li Hua and others discussed it, commenting that it was a fortunate coincidence that inviting the child from the hospital had made the effect even better.

After concluding the promotional video shoot, Zhang Si-tan assigned Qi An a new task.

The goal of the cooperation between Taiyong Group and Aire Company had been achieved. Anhydrous disodium hydrogen phosphate, purified from the disodium water, is one of the main components of the beta injection. By suppressing the price of the disodium water and negotiating with the German company Senburg Pharma, which holds the rights to the beta injection, success should be straightforward.

Zhang Sitan wanted to give Qi An more experience, and since Li Hua was not going with them to Qingdao this time, the position of deputy was vacant.

Everyone had witnessed the young woman’s growth during this period, and no one would object to giving her this opportunity.

“Take a look at these materials first; familiarize yourself with some of the German specialized terms in advance.”

“Okay.” Qi An looked at the small stack of files in front of her. The edges of the file folders were worn white from long use.

Sigh, the task is heavy, and the path is daunting.

However, Taiyong Group is her family’s enterprise, so this is also helping Qi Shen-li share the workload. Qi An certainly wanted to do her best to complete it.

“Sister Sitan, won’t it be too hasty for me to be the deputy? I don’t know how to negotiate.”

“Mmm.” Zhang Sitan, seated across from Qi An, looked at Qi An’s leaning head. “You’ll learn after one experience. Just help me with the coordination; it’s not complicated.”

“Since we’ll be in your home territory, please guide me.” Zhang Sitan deliberately teased her.

“Ah.” Qi An wanted to let out a loud groan to express her stress, but the office was full of people, and she didn’t dare to make a scene.

“Don’t worry. The negotiation is set for the end of August, so you can prepare slowly.” Zhang Sitan comforted her, sensing Qi An’s anxiety.

“Or, if you really don’t want to do it, we can find someone else.”

“I want to do it!” As soon as Qi An heard she could be replaced, she quickly confirmed her commitment. “I’m just afraid of not doing it well.”

“If you don’t do it well, then you don’t do it well. It’s not like you’re intentionally trying to fail.” Zhang Sitan looked into Qi An’s eyes. The computer screen and the tables and chairs beside her gradually blurred, leaving only the small figure with her short hair pulled back reflected in Zhang Sitan’s pupils.

“I’m here, and I’ll help you.”

Stared at by a pair of powerful eyes, Qi An nodded almost hypnotically. Yes, if I don’t do well, then I don’t do well. It’s not like I’m intentionally trying to fail. I should eat, drink, sleep, and carry on as usual; the sky won’t fall.

Moreover, Qi An trusted Zhang Sitan. She had seen Zhang Sitan dominate on the negotiation floor. With her there, Qi An would feel much more at ease.

Qi An settled down, opened the file, and took out a black leather notebook to start recording information.

That evening, after returning home, Zhang Si-tan finished her wash and lay in bed. Seeing Qi An still poring over the materials at the desk, she spoke up, reminding her, “Go to bed early; you can look at it again tomorrow.”

“Sister Sitan, you go ahead and sleep. I’ll read a little more.” Qi An didn’t raise her head, remaining in her hunched position over the desk.

Zhang Si-tan didn’t call out again. She pulled the covers over herself and lay flat.

She had actually wanted to say, There are two bedrooms in the house, so why do we both have to squeeze into one bed? But this thought only occurred a couple of times. For some reason, the words were swallowed before they could be spoken.

The wind in August was very quiet. The cold air from the air conditioner descended from the ceiling, seemingly stagnant, pooling beneath the bed.

Zhang Sitan couldn’t sleep. She recalled the express delivery box the doorman had given her when she returned today.

“Is the package at the door yours?”

“Ah?” Qi An looked confused. “I didn’t order anything.”

“Me neither. The doorman gave it to me; it shouldn’t be a mistake, right? I’ll go check.” Zhang Sitan got out of bed, shuffled into the living room in her slippers.

“Oh.”

Just as Qi An “Oh”-ed, she realized it might be something Lu Youran sent her. Lu Youran had said she wanted to help her make a move on Zhang Si-tan. It can’t be a pile of NSFW things, can it?

I’m doomed; I can’t let Sister Sitan see it.

Qi An darted into the living room: “My package!”

Zhang Sitan had already picked up the express box and was squatting at the entryway, looking at the information on it. She was startled to see Qi An rush out of the bedroom like an erupting volcano, but then found her actions amusing.

Qi An awkwardly moved to the entryway, looking at the pink box in Zhang Sitan’s hand, still harboring a sliver of hope. No matter what embarrassing thing is inside, the vendor wouldn’t be so unethical as to write it on the outside, right?

“Walkthrough for Sister Sitan’s Pure/Lust/Sexy/Easy-Off/Battle/Robe”

A line of neatly written characters was on the outside of the information slip. Zhang Sitan surprisingly read it out without stumbling and with an even tone.

… Qi An’s mind went blank with a loud boom.

The vendor wasn’t unethical; Lu Youran was very unethical.

“This, this, this was sent by Lu Youran she wanted to play a prank on me.” Qi An had a difficult expression.

“Hmm, are you trying to ‘walkthrough’ me?” Zhang Sitan was very good at grasping the key point.

“No, no, no,” Qi An quickly shook her head.

“Oh, so you’re not trying to ‘walkthrough’ me.”

Qi An’s heart skipped a beat. Damn, how should I explain this?

A hint of a smile remained on Zhang Sitan’s face. Every word on that information slip was intriguing. She had seen the sender was Lu x and guessed it might be from Lu Youran.

Seeing her name on it, and becoming the “target” of the “walkthrough,” she was slightly curious if the “battle robe” inside could really “walkthrough” her.

“Want to open it?” Zhang Sitan looked at Qi An, who was standing beside her with a lost expression, like a child who had done wrong. She was tempted to tease her.

Qi An shook her head like a rattle, but Zhang Sitan still handed her the scissors.

The sharp end of the scissors pointed towards herself, and the handles pointed towards Qi An.

The pajamas she was wearing were soft and smooth, sticking thinly to her skin. Her body was unusually hot. Qi An took the scissors handed to her, hesitated greatly, but still cut open the express box.

Qi An was very familiar with Lu Youran’s style: very explicit, very shameless, and utterly “no face” (brazen).

The clothing inside the box was in a bag, and she couldn’t see what it was from the outside.

Qi An tried one last struggle: “Maybe I should just mail it back to Lu Youran.”

“Sure,” Zhang Sitan held back a wicked smile. “I thought you sincerely wanted to ‘walkthrough’ me.”

! Sister Sitan, do you know what you just said? Are you implicitly agreeing that I can ‘walkthrough’ you?

Qi An looked conflicted, raised her head to look at Zhang Si-tan, steeled herself, and muttered, “It’s not that I can’t ‘walkthrough’ you.”

“Hmm?” Zhang Sitan truly couldn’t hold back her amusement, a mischievous expression on her face. “You sound so reluctant.”

Qi An didn’t speak, clutching the clothes and heading into the bedroom.

Zhang Sitan was usually understanding, but now she was pressing, step by step. Qi An knew she was trying to trick her, after all, whose package had Sister Si-tan’s name written on it?

Qi An returned to her original bedroom. Having not slept there for too long, the room felt a bit cold. The quilt and pillows had been moved to Zhang Sitan’s bedroom. The bed was bare, the sheet neatly spread without a single crease.

The clothes in her hand felt hot. Qi An slowly, little by little, unwrapped them.

… Lu Youran, how brazen.

The black stockings were the smallest complaint. The ruched sheer fabric covered very little skin. The most crucial part was that the cloth panel covering the chest could actually be lifted up.

Am I really going to wear this!!! Qi An’s mind was doing a hundred retreat dances.

Sister Sitan just wanted to tease me, perhaps it was just a joke and she didn’t really want me to change.

But… Qi An tilted her head, making a deeply contemplative expression.

Sister Sitan saw the information slip saying I wanted to ‘walkthrough’ her, and she wasn’t angry; she even egged me on to change. What if she is implicitly agreeing that I can ‘walkthrough’ her? Does Sister Sitan have such good self-control?

While Qi An was still agonizing, Zhang Sitan put away the scissors and pushed the express box towards the wall.

There were a few other items stacked in the box. Zhang Sitan spotted a rabbit ear mask headband, black, with the ears extending about twenty centimeters long. It was probably meant to go with the outfit.

I can have Qi An put it on later. Zhang Sitan rarely entertained such wicked thoughts.

Looking further down, there were several boxed items, packaged more meticulously than the clothes in the plastic bag.

Zhang Sitan picked one up to look at it, then quickly dropped it back in.

Too hot to handle.

This Lu You-ran, who seemed as gentle and quiet as Qi An, actually had such a wild side.

Zhang Sitan could mostly guess what was inside when she saw the words “Pure/Lust/Sexy.” She was a bit curious why it said “Walkthrough Sister Sitan.” She figured the only Sister Sitan Qi An knew was herself.

Do these two silly girls really think a “Pure/Lust Battle Robe” can ‘walkthrough’ me?

Since they want to play, I’ll indulge them.

Just as she was thinking this, Qi An pushed the door open and emerged from the bedroom.

She stood at the bedroom door, not daring to walk towards the entryway, constantly tugging on the hem of the dress.

The black stockings were too sheer, with her skin visible underneath. A complicated strap was wrapped around her leg and hung down from her waist. There was also a black tail bunched up at the small of her back. Zhang Sitan knew this design: a gentle tug on the hanging drawstring, and everything below was completely exposed.

She suddenly didn’t dare to hand over the rabbit ears.

Zhang Si-tan didn’t speak, staring at Qi An in surprise.

Qi An was already pale, and her arms, completely bare, looked like freshly picked lotus roots, seemingly ready to exude water at any moment. She wrapped her arms across her chest, feeling Zhang Sitan’s gaze, her earlobes gradually growing hotter until they reached her neck.

Her two legs were awkwardly close together, not daring to move. Half shameful and half trembling, she reminded Zhang Sitan, who was staring intently, “I’ve changed.”

“Oh.” A hoarse voice came out of her throat and was quickly swallowed.

Zhang Sitan retracted her gaze and tossed the rabbit ears back into the express box.

“I’m tired, I’m going to sleep.”

Qi An watched Zhang Sitan turn and walk towards the bedroom, her stiff body only slightly relaxing.

Returning to the entryway, she picked up her phone and reported the “battle” status to Lu Youran.

Lu Youran replied with a string of exclamation points, admiring Qi An’s courage and execution.

“!!! You wore it!! You really wore it!!”

Qi An gave her a speechless “Yup,” thinking it was a terrible idea.

“It was completely ineffective in ‘walkthrough’ her. She already went back to the bedroom to sleep.”

“You idiot, you idiot!!!!!” Lu Youran replied with another string of exclamation points.

“If she had just walked up and openly teased you and dared to look at you, that would mean you hadn’t ‘walkthrough’ her. She’s hiding now!! I’m telling you, she has something to hide. You need to follow up immediately, go lie down next to her in the bedroom.”

Qi An was speechless. “What if she’s genuinely tired? Besides, Sister Sitan is my niece.”

“What niece, what cousin. You! Now! Go smoothly and roundly lie down next to her! Go quickly and spread your charm!”

Qi An threw a turd emoji at Lu Youran: “It’s too awkward. I’m going to change back.”

“Are you scared, are you scared?”

“Sister Sitan is so great; there must be tons of people interested in her. If you don’t take the initiative, watch out or she’ll introduce you to a brother-in-law someday.” Lu Youran started using provocation.

Qi An pouted. If Sister Si-tan were to be with a stinky man, it would indeed be a waste of her beauty.

She took a deep breath, saw the rabbit ears still in the box, took them out, put them on, and headed to the bedroom.

Her hand rested on the bedroom doorknob, hesitating to twist it. Her phone was still vibrating in her hand; Lu Youran was cheering her on.

“Go in.” Qi An told herself in her heart, and she turned the doorknob.

In the bedroom, the light was still on. Zhang Sitan had closed her eyes. Hearing the movement, her breathing paused, but she didn’t open her eyes.

Qi An shuffled small steps to the bedside, lifted the covers, and slipped inside.

The cloth panel on her chest was too easily lifted. Qi An reached her hand under the covers, carefully pulling the riding up panel back down.

Zhang Sitan maintained her flat-lying posture. Qi An bravely asked foolishly, “Did I successfully ‘walkthrough’ you?”

After a brief silence, Zhang Sitan opened her eyes and looked up at the ceiling.

The round light fixture was mounted on the ceiling, with light concentrating from within. Staring at it for a long time, the vision would gradually blur, and the head would feel a bit dizzy.

“I don’t know,” she whispered.

I don’t know. Qi An pondered this answer, a hint of delight bubbling in her heart.

Zhang Sitan turned over, facing Qi An, looked at the rabbit ears on her head, hesitated, and then helped her take them off.

“Sleep now.”

“Oh.”

Qi An snuggled deeper into the quilt. With the quilt wrapping around her, the earlier feeling of shame disappeared somewhat.

She closed her eyes, held the cloth in front of her chest with both hands under the quilt to prevent it from lifting again, and fell into a deep sleep.