Pharmaceutical Negotiator - Chapter 8

After the dinner party with Su Wei, Zhang Sitan arranged to meet with Qi Shenli.

The venue was also a high end restaurant. Zhang Sitan lightly touched up her makeup and waited at the restaurant for Qi Shenli.

She had originally considered ordering a bouquet of flowers, but then thought it unnecessary. The document given by Qi Zhiguo had already tainted this dinner party with unpleasantness, and even the most beautiful fresh flowers would seem contrived in the face of this discomfort.

She hadn’t waited long before Qi Shenli arrived, winded from her journey. She was thinly dressed and complained of the cold before even sitting down.

Zhang Sitan called the waiter, ordered a cup of hot tea for Qi Shenli first, and then passed her the menu, signaling for her to order.

Qi Shenli casually checked a few items, not ordering much: “I can’t eat too much at night. I’m not a young person anymore; a little food is enough to make me gain weight.”

“No way. CEO Qi, you have a great figure; even a little weight gain would still look good.”

“Hahahaha.” Qi Shenli laughed, pleased.

She was also a smart person. Seeing that Zhang Sitan was not getting to the point, she didn’t ask and continued to make small talk.

“Look at the fine lines here,” Qi Shenli leaned forward a bit, tilting her head to show Zhang Sitan the small wrinkles under her eyes. “I had Fotona 4D done twice, but it only lasted three months. The effect isn’t great, is it?”

Zhang Sitan examined Qi Shenli’s face, thinking these fine lines were truly harmless: “If you hadn’t mentioned it, I really wouldn’t have noticed.”

“I hear Ultherapy and Thermage are very effective now. Fotona 4D is okay for daily maintenance.”

“It is, isn’t it?” Qi Shenli agreed with Zhang Sitan. “I have a few sisters who also had Thermage. I’ll ask about it next time and give it a try.”

The two engaged in idle chatter. When the food arrived and they had nearly finished eating, Zhang Sitan finally presented the document.

“CEO Qi,” Zhang Sitan placed the document on the table.

The pharmacy survey report was on top, with Qi Zhiguo’s document underneath.

Zhang Sitan didn’t offer any further explanation. Her chopsticks were already set aside, and her delicate hands were lightly clasped together on the edge of the table.

Qi Shenli still had a smile on her face. Her gaze lingered on Zhang Sitan’s face for a moment, and then she drew out the bottom document first.

It was Qi Zhiguo’s explanation regarding the whereabouts of the large batch of Atenolol.

Qi Shenli quickly flipped through it, then picked up the other document.

Zhang Sitan kept an eye on her expression but saw no hint of change. She was still smiling, her movements unhurried.

Qi Shenli spent a longer time on the second document, examining every page carefully. The smile on her face gradually disappeared.

After a long time, Zhang Sitan thought she heard a sigh, but it might have been imagined.

The restaurant was situated by the sea, with transparent glass windows standing by. It was dark outside; a place of deeper color under the black curtain of night was the ocean.

The seawater was constantly turning over by the wind, one layer rushing onto the sand, and another receding.

Zhang Sitan remained silent, waiting for Qi Shenli to speak.

Qi Shenli put both documents aside, not discussing their contents, but instead shared a personal experience:

“Sitan, do you know why I want to cooperate with the Medical Insurance Bureau to drive the drug price down?”

Zhang Sitan shook her head, looking at Qi Shenli with rapt attention, signaling her to continue.

“My own sister’s child, twelve this year, has this terrible disease since birth spinal muscular atrophy.”

“Yes, yes,” Zhang Sitan nodded, interjecting, “The beta injection we are discussing with Senborg Pharmaceuticals is for this type of genetic disease.”

“Exactly. That’s why I sincerely hope we can work together to negotiate the price down.”

“Our family… truthfully, our standard of living is relatively high. But spending several million for one dose, and several million again for another dose, is still hard to bear. If it’s this way for our family, what about ordinary families?”

“People are just afraid of getting sick. The child suffers, and we adults are also distressed. My nephew has never been to a proper school. Other children are running around the courtyard, while his legs swell up purple. My sister keeps massaging them…”

Qi Shenli seemed to have opened up, telling Zhang Sitan about her nephew’s twelve years of life.

From the doctor advising an abortion to the divorce after he was born, and then running to the US seven or eight times a year to seek medication, to Qi Zhiguo developing the red pill.

The child was protected and pampered since childhood, with three caregivers not being enough, just afraid the child might accidentally bump or injure his spine. He swallowed large amounts of vitamin E, his body swelling up like a walnut.

By the end of the story, Zhang Sitan was in tears, but Qi Shenli’s face only showed solemnity.

She said: “The red pill has too many problems. If we look closely, the charge of academic fraud against Qi Zhiguo is not enough. But the fact that this medicine could be developed and achieve clinical results is indeed commendable.”

“My nephew took it for a while.”

When Qi Shenli said this, Zhang Sitan was visibly shocked and couldn’t help but gasp, “Ah.”

“I knew the medicine had problems,” Qi Shenli gave her a comforting look. “My nephew’s hair all fell out. He’s small and weak, only his legs are thick.”

Qi Shenli gave a self deprecating smile: “There was no other option. When people are desperate, let alone taking a pill that fails quality inspection, as long as there is any way, we parents will spare no effort.”

“Take these documents back. I know what you mean. I’ll go back and think about it.”

The conversation couldn’t continue. Qi Shenli apologized for her lapse in composure, picked up her bag, and left.

“CEO Qi,” Zhang Sitan called out as she was leaving, “I truly admire you.”

Qi Shenli smiled and said, “Xiao An told me yesterday she wanted to go to Beijing, and I didn’t agree. But if there are any changes in the future, I hope you can look out for her, Sitan.”

“That child is naive and guileless…”

Qi Shenli was about to list more of her flaws, but Zhang Sitan held her shoulder: “This child is sincere and open-minded. I will take good care of her.”

This was Zhang Sitan’s sincere promise. Qi Shenli nodded to her. After leaving the restaurant, Zhang Sitan felt dizzy. A gust of sea wind made her feel as if she was about to explode, her body alternating between hot and cold.

She hailed a taxi, rolled down the window, and leaned back with her eyes closed.

This was her first time leading a negotiation team. To be honest, she really wanted to win; she really wanted to achieve a glorious start.

Whether she revealed Qi Zhiguo’s statement or not, she had already lost.

The only way was to drag the real culprit into the water.

The red pill was Qi Zhiguo’s doctoral subject. If there was data fabrication, all the academic degrees and positions Qi Zhiguo had obtained over the years would be revoked.

Regarding the large batch of Atenolol, if it were revealed what components Qi Zhiguo extracted or synthesized from it, he would also face imprisonment.

Even so, it was fortunate that Taiyong Group was not listed, so the impact would be relatively less severe.

But could Qi Shenli have the courage to do this?

Qi Zhiguo was, after all, her husband of over twenty years and the father of her daughter.

Zhang Sitan suddenly thought that the red pill had never been widely promoted. It lost momentum after the press conference, which perhaps indicated that Qi Shenli and Qi Zhiguo still had a conscience.

The red pill must contain some dangerous component, the source of which probably lay in the large missing batch of Atenolol.

If Qi Shenli was willing to expose him and the public opinion was properly managed, this bad hand might turn into a trump card, and the group might even gain a reputation for “righteousness over kinship.”

In the negotiation room, this would no longer be a ticking time bomb.

But, Qi Zhiguo…

Qi An…

That little girl who liked to wear green, said “ah” a lot, and was inexperienced in the ways of the world…

Upon arriving at her apartment, Zhang Sitan was about to open the unit door when she saw a small figure squatting by the wall.

“Qi An!” Zhang Sitan exclaimed.

The small figure in the corner sprang up from the ground, shouting in surprise: “Sister Sitan!”

“Why are you here? Aren’t you going home?” Zhang Sitan pushed open the unit door. “Do you want to come in?”

“Yes!” Qi An nodded heavily and followed Zhang Sitan into the elevator.

“I had dinner with Youran and then wandered around for a while. I thought you might be back, so I wanted to come and play with you.”

In the elevator, Qi An explained to Zhang Sitan.

“Come and play?” Zhang Sitan secretly found it amusing. She had just been at her wits’ end, yet this child was still leisurely coming to see her.

“Why didn’t you send me a message?” Zhang Sitan turned to look at her.

Qi An smiled shyly, not daring to say that she actually missed her and came to find her, afraid Zhang Sitan would refuse her visit if she messaged.

Inside the apartment, Zhang Sitan turned on the lights and asked Qi An to sit while she poured her a cup of hot water.

She casually placed the two documents on the dining table, then reconsidered and picked them up, putting them into the desk drawer.

“Have some hot water to warm up. How long were you waiting for me outside?” Zhang Sitan handed a cup of water to Qi An and asked.

“Not long.” Qi An took it and took a sip with her head bowed.

A wisp of steam rose above the transparent glass cup. Qi An held the cup in her hands, the warmth spreading from her fingertips throughout her body.

“Sister Sitan, will you be even busier when you go to Beijing?” Qi An murmured softly. “I’m really afraid I won’t be able to adjust when I go to Beijing.”

Zhang Sitan chuckled, her tone light: “Didn’t your mom forbid you from going to Beijing?”

“Huh? How did you know, Sister Sitan?” Qi An looked up in surprise.

“Hahaha.” Zhang Sitan knew she had slipped up and didn’t want her to know she had just met Qi Shenli today, so she played it off: “Just a guess.”

“Oh.” Qi An bowed her head again, small and curled up on the sofa, still holding the glass cup.

“She forbade it, but I think I can still try to convince her.”

Qi An bent her knees, rested her head on her knees, and looked sideways at Zhang Sitan, giving a small laugh: “Sister Sitan, your makeup is old again.”

Zhang Sitan was speechless. She stood up from the sofa. “Then I’ll go take off my makeup. Can you stay here by yourself?”

“Mhm.” Qi An grunted. Zhang Sitan then realized she seemed a little down today.

After removing her makeup, Zhang Sitan also felt that she hadn’t properly taken care of her skin during the recent change of seasons, so she found a face mask to put on.

With everything sorted, Zhang Sitan, wearing a face mask, came to the living room.

She turned on the television and snuggled up next to Qi An on the sofa. “You have work tomorrow. Shouldn’t you go home early?”

“Sister Sitan, can I stay a little longer?” Qi An looked at Zhang Sitan with a wronged expression, like a small abandoned wet dog.

Zhang Sitan knew Qi An wasn’t one for formalities, and remembering all the trouble with Qi Zhiguo, her heart softened. She nodded.

Both of them fell silent.

The television was playing an indistinct movie from last year, The Best Encounter. It was about two intellectually disabled people expecting a child.

Zhang Sitan had only watched a little and was now seeing the protagonist struggling to ride the bicycle left by the.

As soon as she relaxed, Zhang Sitan felt a throbbing headache.

Gradually, Zhang Sitan became unaware of what was playing on the television.

Her head ached more and more, and her eyelids grew heavy.

After an unknown amount of time, Zhang Sitan felt a pair of small hands gently stroking her face, carefully removing the face mask.

People can feel prolonged attention even when asleep.

Whether there’s any scientific basis for this, Zhang Sitan fell into a deep sleep under this peculiar sensation of being watched.

When she woke up again, the dawn was breaking.

The June sunlight carried the scent of small insect corpses. The light streamed through the window blinds, the fragrance filling the air.

Zhang Sitan had fallen asleep on the sofa but woke up in bed.

She stared at the light flashing through the curtain gap for a long time, wondering how Qi An managed to drag her onto the bed.

She turned over and saw another face sleeping beside her.

The bed was small, and they were using two separate down quilts, with some space between them. Zhang Sitan was only noticing her now.

“Qi An?” Zhang Sitan was a little incredulous.

The small figure in front of her was lying on her side, facing Zhang Sitan, eyes tightly closed. Then she suddenly burst into laughter and opened her eyes.

Pretending to sleep!

“Sister Sitan,” Qi An opened lazily, probably not having been awake for long either. Seeing that Zhang Sitan hadn’t woken up, she deliberately pretended to sleep and lie in bed.

Zhang Sitan wanted to lose her temper, feeling that Qi An had crossed a boundary again.

Before she could speak, Qi An explained first “It was too late last night, and I didn’t dare go back alone… The sofa is so hard…”

“Mhm…” Zhang Sitan lay flat, momentarily speechless. Her anger suddenly dissipated.

“Get up. We have to visit the factory for an inspection today.”

“Oh.”

Qi An reluctantly got up and pulled out a green bra from a pile of clothes.

Zhang Sitan was startled. “You took off your bra!”

“Ah,” Qi An was bewildered. “Sleeping with a bra on can cause breast cancer.”

Seeing Zhang Sitan still shocked, Qi An looked at her concernedly: “Sister Sitan, do you sleep with a bra on? That’s not good for your health.”

“I know, I know! Don’t change yet! I’m going out, then you can change!”

“Oh.”

Zhang Sitan practically fled the bed, putting her slippers on the wrong feet the left slipper on her right foot.

When she reached the living room, Zhang Sitan switched her slippers and then belatedly realized that her bra was also green…