The Sickly Beauty Gives Up Struggling [Rebirth] Chapter 106

He Dayong’s expression stiffened slightly.

He studied Cen Xiao, pondering the authenticity of his claims.

He had connections in District Nine and could stay informed about the investigation team’s movements. However, Cen Xiao rarely collaborated with other departments in District Nine, so most of the information he received pertained to Du Mingli’s actions.

Naturally, he assumed that Cen Xiao’s capabilities were inferior to Du Mingli’s, who had access to most of District Nine’s auxiliary resources.

But now, it seemed Cen Xiao was either bluffing, hoping for He Dayong to slip up, or relying on information from other channels, bypassing District Nine entirely.

Forcing a smile, He Dayong said, “The employees in the workshop just started their shift and are likely changing into protective gear now. Why don’t you all join me in my office for some tea while we wait? It won’t take long.”

Geng An glanced at Cen Xiao.

What He Dayong said made sense. They were already here, so there was no rush. Besides, Geng An remembered enough from his undergraduate days to know that donning protective gear could take quite a while. If they went now, the employees might not even have started working, making it impossible to inspect the processes.

After a brief pause, seeing that Li Rong remained silent, Cen Xiao said, “Let’s keep this quick. We also want to wrap this up and report back soon.”

He Dayong nodded eagerly, “Of course. Everyone hopes to resolve any misunderstandings quickly.”

In the elevator, He Dayong courteously invited Cen Xiao in first. The others followed one by one.

Li Rong brought up the rear, head lowered and lips slightly pursed, utterly silent.

It was then that He Dayong finally noticed Li Rong—though his attention went first to his appearance.

The weather was sweltering, and most of the group had switched to short sleeves. But Li Rong remained in long sleeves. 

His pale skin was accentuated by the blue sweatshirt he wore, making his delicate, refined face stand out even more. For a moment, He Dayong mistook him for a young celebrity.

The more striking someone’s appearance, the easier it was to overlook their other qualities, as looks often made the strongest impression.

Compared to the rest of the team, Li Rong’s slender build and slightly sickly pallor—he was still recovering from a fever—made him seem frail, hardly resembling one of Ghost Eye’s elite members.

Most importantly, he was young. Though Cen Xiao’s team already skewed young, Li Rong made them appear even less credible.

Casually, He Dayong asked, “Is this young man also part of the District Nine team?”

Hearing the question, Li Rong finally raised his eyes to meet He Dayong’s gaze. He replied calmly, “I’m not. I’m a student in the Biochemistry Department at A University, here to learn from Captain Cen.”

“Oh, from A University?” He Dayong’s lips twitched as he resisted the urge to mock him.

His own son also studied biochemistry at A University and ranked near the top of his class.

He knew that while his son, He Changfeng, was outstanding compared to his peers, even A University students were limited in their understanding of his industry.

The knowledge He Changfeng had gained so far paled in comparison to what even one of He Dayong’s assistants knew.

And yet, Cen Xiao had brought along a biochemistry undergrad—one who seemed like a decorative “vase” at that—expecting him to contribute. How laughable.

The last time, Du Mingli had brought along Professor Li Baishou from A University, a member of the Hongsuo Research Institute.

But even after a thorough inspection, that professor had only spouted theoretical knowledge and broad perspectives without finding anything substantial to challenge Meijiang Pharmaceuticals. The minor issues he raised were so trivial that even Du Mingli himself seemed embarrassed.

However, that professor wasn’t entirely useless; instead, he helped identify minor flaws and deficiencies, which were subsequently rectified.

Seeing He Dayong’s nonchalant tone, Li Rong knew that the man didn’t take him seriously.

Li Rong chuckled softly, leaning quietly against a corner of the elevator, his gaze fixed indifferently on the tips of his shoes.

While He Dayong and Li Rong were conversing, Cen Xiao had no visible reaction. When he noticed Li Rong leaning against the cold elevator wall, he reached out and gently steadied him.

“It’s cold.”

Li Rong instinctively moved a little forward, stepping away from the chilly surface.

Cen Xiao’s hand lingered momentarily on Li Rong’s shoulder blade before withdrawing.

He Dayong glanced at the interaction, giving it little thought. To him, it merely demonstrated Cen Xiao’s attentiveness toward his subordinates. In his mind, the less competent a leader was, the more they needed to win loyalty through gestures like this.

Yet, He Dayong couldn’t entirely discredit Cen Xiao’s ability—after all, the latter was only nineteen. But joining District Nine’s deep waters at such a young age was undoubtedly premature.

He Dayong’s office, located on the top floor of the company building, was roughly 20 square meters. Despite being the top executive, his office wasn’t ostentatious; it was understated, with simple decor.

This trait sharply contrasted with He Changfeng’s preferences.

Li Rong had read up on He Dayong’s background. Born into a rural family, he grew up under challenging conditions, enduring a life of hard labor. Even after achieving wealth, he didn’t develop extravagant habits.

In contrast, He Changfeng, who had been raised in comfort, was at an age brimming with vanity and a penchant for flashy yet impractical things.

As they entered the office, a secretary quickly brought in cups of Biahaoyinzhen tea, filling the room with a fragrant aroma. 

Despite the sweltering weather, where most people preferred cool drinks and avoided steaming hot tea, even knowing that the tea He Dayong served was of exceptional quality, only Li Rong accepted a cup.

He gently blew away the rising steam, tested the temperature with his lips, and took a small sip.

The tea was fragrant without being overwhelming, with a soft and mellow taste and a slight, lingering sweetness.

Li Rong remarked, “This is excellent.”

Only then did He Dayong glance at Li Rong again.

He took a cup for himself, sipping slowly and deliberately. “This is top-grade Biahaoyinzhen tea that I had a friend bring over. Indeed, it’s a rarity.”

For the first time, He Dayong felt some appreciation for Li Rong beyond his striking appearance. He thought it was a shame that so many young people were accustomed to drinking coffee and bubble tea, and he noted that Li Rong at least had the good taste to appreciate fine tea.

His own son, He Changfeng, showed nothing but disdain for the things he liked.

Geng An interjected, “President He, when can we head to the production workshop? It’s so hot outside that it’s really hard to sit here and enjoy tea in peace.”

He Dayong chuckled. “No rush, no rush. It’ll only be about another half an hour.”

As Li Rong sipped his tea, he casually surveyed He Dayong’s office.

The decor was indeed understated, and a large bookshelf filled with books related to the pharmaceutical industry caught his eye.

Glancing over the titles, Li Rong was surprised to spot a book authored by Li Qingli.

Published three or four years ago, it served as a supplemental textbook for undergraduate biochemistry courses, covering relatively basic material. However, given Li Qingli’s towering reputation in academia at the time, the publisher had gone all out with the cover design, making it a flashy prop for those looking to showcase their knowledge.

Li Rong’s gaze shifted to the wall behind He Dayong’s desk.

There hung a framed ink painting, depicting a mountain shrouded in mist, with celestial palaces hidden among the clouds. The brushwork balanced bold strokes and soft shades, flowing naturally with great finesse.

In the lower-right corner of the painting were aged inscriptions and a red ink seal.

Li Rong set down his half-empty cup of white tea, glanced briefly at Cen Xiao, then smiled as he walked over to the painting. Stepping around He Dayong’s desk, he approached the artwork.

“President He, is this ink painting an authentic piece?”

Cen Xiao frowned slightly.

He couldn’t fathom why Li Rong had suddenly taken an interest in He Dayong’s collection.

Li Rong had once mentioned that Li Qingli was an avid collector of traditional ink paintings and ancient manuscripts, with a few prized items at home. In contrast, Gu Nong had a passion for modern art. Having grown up between these two influences, Li Rong seemed indifferent to both, overwhelmed by the conflicting tastes.

Otherwise, in his previous life, Cen Xiao might have found a way to cheer Li Rong up. After all, the Xiao family owned an extensive collection of ancient books and paintings, which would have been irresistible to anyone interested in such treasures.

He Dayong was slightly taken aback. “Oh? This young man has an interest in fine art?”

Li Rong shook his head and softly replied, “Not an expert, just influenced by my father’s passion for calligraphy and painting. I’ve picked up some basic appreciation skills from growing up around him. Of course, even a novice can see how beautiful this painting is.”

He Dayong studied Li Rong’s posture with growing interest.

“This piece was acquired at an overseas auction,” He Dayong explained. “Such treasures from our ancestors should never have left the country.”

For the first time, He Dayong entertained the idea that this so-called “student” might come from a family of intellectuals. Perhaps he wasn’t entirely shallow, after all. Recognizing authentic art wasn’t a skill everyone possessed.

Even so, his perspective remained largely unchanged: no matter the talent, a mere university student had limits. The inclusion of someone so inexperienced made the investigative team appear careless.

Li Rong seemed genuinely captivated by the painting, studying it intently for a long time. Even when He Dayong’s secretary came in to inform them that the workshop was ready for a visit, it took Li Rong a moment to reluctantly tear his gaze away.

As they descended the stairs, He Dayong chuckled and asked Li Rong, “Young man, are you fond of calligraphy and paintings?”

Li Rong sighed, “Yes, I love them. Unfortunately, I’m just a poor student who can only admire them in museums—I can’t afford a single piece.”

Cen Xiao tilted his head slightly, squinting at Li Rong.

He Dayong pointed at Cen Xiao and said, “Well, you could ask Team Leader Cen for help. As far as I know, Mrs. Xiao hails from one of the country’s top collector families, with countless treasures at home.”

Li Rong lowered his gaze, smiling softly. “Oh, I wouldn’t dare. Team Leader Cen and I are just classmates.”

Raising an eyebrow, Cen Xiao played along. “You have such an interest, yet you never told me. While the pieces belong to my grandfather’s collection, I could still arrange for my classmates to take a look.”

He understood that Li Rong was intentionally revealing a supposed weakness to He Dayong. Someone with apparent preferences seemed less threatening.

However, Cen Xiao couldn’t fathom the reasoning behind Li Rong’s ploy, especially since the current environment, full of prying eyes, made it difficult to communicate privately.

Geng An and Yu Fuyan exchanged a glance, their expressions meaningful.

They were well aware that the real relationship between Li Rong and Cen Xiao was far closer than what they portrayed. Yet, here they were, putting on a show of politeness in front of He Dayong.

He Dayong laughed, “Ah, true, the more someone loves something, the harder it is to part with it.”

Whether or not Cen Xiao and Li Rong were close didn’t concern him much. However, the impression that Li Rong had a fondness for art and calligraphy was now firmly planted in his mind.

The production workshop for Meijiang Pharmaceuticals was located behind the office building, housed in an opulent two-story facility.

As they reached the entrance, Li Rong suddenly stopped, his expression innocent as he asked, “President He, are all the staff back to work, and are all production lines operating normally?”

He Dayong glanced at his secretary. “Aren’t they?”

The secretary immediately replied, “Of course, everything is back to normal.”

Li Rong raised his hand, pointing to the door ahead. “And what exactly are we entering now?”

He Dayong smiled. “This is the production workshop for Yuanhesheng. Didn’t you listen when Team Leader Cen mentioned it earlier?”

Li Rong turned to Cen Xiao, feigning confusion. “Did you mention it? I’m not really interested in Yuanhesheng. Since all the production lines are operational, why not take me to see Qingrui first?”

He Dayong was caught off guard. “This…”

Li Rong’s request clearly wasn’t part of his plan.

Surprisingly, Cen Xiao, usually the stricter of the two, responded mildly, “Fine, if that’s what you’d prefer.”

He Dayong: “….”

So much for just being classmates—how could Cen Xiao be so indulgent?

Upon learning of Cen Xiao’s impending visit to Yangshi yesterday, He Dayong had rushed to prepare. 

However, with only one night, they’d focused all their efforts on the Yuanhesheng production line. As for Qingrui, its numerous production lines made thorough preparation impossible, leaving room for potential mistakes.

But refusing now would seem suspicious.

He only then realized that Li Rong’s casual question earlier had been a trap. It had led both him and his secretary to explicitly confirm that all production lines—including Qingrui’s—were operational.

Under the blazing sun, He Dayong began to sweat profusely.

He exchanged a glance with his secretary, who forced a stiff smile and said, “Qingrui’s production facility is a bit farther away.”

Li Rong smiled warmly. “That’s fine. President He spends so much time in the office—surely a walk would do you good.”

Cen Xiao added, “Let’s check Qingrui first, and then return to Yuanhesheng.”

With the conversation at this point, He Dayong had no choice but to lead the group to Qingrui, despite his growing unease.

They had made some preparations for the other production lines as well, so it wasn’t impossible to get through a cursory inspection without issues.

The Qingrui production workshop was significantly larger than Yuanhesheng’s. Being Meijiang Pharmaceuticals’ flagship product with high market demand, it required numerous production lines.

The workshop manager, caught off guard by the surprise inspection, quickly regained composure after exchanging a glance with He Dayong.

The manager led the group down a long, glass-paneled corridor, which provided a view of the observation and operation rooms. Inside, staff in protective suits worked efficiently alongside the assembly-line machines.

At first glance, the workshop seemed clean, well-organized, and thoroughly professional, with spotless floors and gleaming equipment that inspired confidence.

The manager spoke enthusiastically, “As per President He’s directives, we prioritize drug safety and operational standards above all. Our operators wear triple-layer protective suits and endure considerable heat to ensure a sterile production environment.”

“Over here is where our staff record data. See the sign on the wall? ‘No Tipp-Ex.’ It’s a reminder against using correction fluid. In the past, some overseas generic drug companies falsified data to pass inspections, disregarding patient safety. We use this slogan to remind our staff to honor data integrity.”

Yu Fuyan glanced around nervously, despite being in an air-conditioned room. He found himself sweating.

From his perspective, there didn’t appear to be any issues with the Qingrui production workshop.

When Li Rong suddenly suggested inspecting Qingrui first, Yu Fuyan had initially felt a surge of excitement. He thought their unexpected move would catch He Dayong off guard, exposing some flaws in the process.

But it was clear that Qingrui’s production lines had also been carefully prepared.

Yu Fuyan discreetly tugged on Geng An’s sleeve and mouthed silently, “Did you notice anything?”

Geng An’s expression was serious. He scrutinized every detail with wide eyes but found nothing unusual and had to shake his head.

Biochemistry, after all, is a broad field, with pharmaceuticals being just one possible career path. Moreover, Geng An had merely coasted through university and wasn’t much more knowledgeable than Yu Fuyan.

As the manager continued boasting about a prominently displayed slogan, Cen Xiao gave Li Rong a subtle glance, motioning for him to observe the nails securing the sign.

The nails still had traces of loose powder around them, indicating that the sign had been mounted only recently.

Li Rong gave the faintest nod, his half-lidded eyes fluttering slightly. A mocking smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he signaled Cen Xiao to remain patient.

Then, Li Rong stepped forward, pushing through the crowd. Tilting his head back to study the sign intently, he remarked with a touch of admiration, “It’s rare to see companies with such a strong sense of precaution these days. Since that’s the case, may I take a look at your data logs? The operators should have them on record, right?”

The manager’s voice abruptly cut off. He scrutinized Li Rong cautiously, hesitant to respond immediately.

He Dayong intervened smoothly, “Of course, we strive to cooperate with District Nine’s inspections. Most of the non-confidential data has been uploaded to the system. Perhaps we can view it in the manager’s office later?”

Li Rong responded seamlessly, “Paper records are the most original form of data—they reflect the meticulousness of Meijiang’s operations, wouldn’t you agree?”

Cen Xiao added pointedly, “Surely a professional company like Meijiang wouldn’t fail to keep hard copies of their records.”

He Dayong chuckled. “Of course not.”

He wasn’t particularly afraid—after all, when Du Mingli came for his inspection, everything had already been reviewed. Even Professor Li Baishou from the Hongsha Research Institute hadn’t found any issues.

What he hadn’t expected was that this young university student would share the same meticulous mindset as the professor.

He Dayong instructed the operators to bring out the data logs for Li Rong to review.

The logs formed a towering stack, nearly as tall as a person. Neither Li Rong nor Professor Li Baishou could possibly go through all of it in a short time.

The moment Cen Xiao’s plane had taken off, He Dayong had urgently informed President Jiang Zhong. 

By the time Li Rong managed to uncover any discrepancies in the massive pile of records, Meijiang Pharmaceuticals would already have withdrawn from the Blue Pivot United Commerce Association. At that point, he wouldn’t even bother showing District Nine any respect.

This was why He Dayong felt confident.

Li Rong opened one of the current records and scanned two pages. Despite the messy handwriting of the recorder, the data aligned perfectly with Qingrui’s production requirements.

Having found nothing amiss, he set it down and continued flipping through other logs.

Yu Fuyan stood beside Li Rong, pretending to review the pages Li Rong had already checked. But he, too, found nothing unusual.

At that moment, Cen Xiao’s phone buzzed.

Li Rong paused mid-motion and glanced back at Cen Xiao, who returned a reassuring look.

Yet, the message on Cen Xiao’s phone was anything but comforting. Instead, it felt like a massive weight pressing heavily on everyone’s hearts.

The message was from Han Jiang:

[Han Jiang: Just received word—Jiang Zhong issued a last-minute directive last night. The Sixth District dissolution plan must be completed within two days. We’re out of time.]

[Han Jiang: I’ve instructed Du Mingli to cease his investigation into Meijiang Pharmaceuticals. The Ghost Eye team is preparing to use the test report to create public pressure, condemning and boycotting Meijiang Pharmaceuticals.]

Jiang Zhong’s swift action indicated that he had already colluded with He Dayong.

They were rushing to sever Meijiang Pharmaceuticals from District Nine’s control to avoid prolonged scrutiny.

But Cen Xiao knew the test report alone wasn’t enough to bring down Meijiang Pharmaceuticals.

The report concerned outdated drugs from Yuanhesheng’s old production line. With current products on the market meeting standards, the public wouldn’t be fixated on past issues.

Even if Meijiang apologized and paid a fine, the scandal wouldn’t gain much traction.

Unless they could prove that Meijiang was still producing substandard drugs with far-reaching and severe consequences, the test report would only serve as a fleeting embarrassment.

For Cen Xiao and Li Rong, their objective wasn’t just to make Meijiang Pharmaceuticals stumble. They intended to peel back the layers and expose the interest groups supporting it from behind the scenes.

They couldn’t afford to stop now.

Time seemed to accelerate, each second slipping away too quickly to grasp.

The corridor was filled with people, the silent hum of the air conditioning pumping cool air into the narrow space.

The damp and slippery floor emitted faint creaks under the pressure of leather shoes, adding to the cacophony of subtle, irregular noises that felt like the ticking of a countdown clock.

Li Rong had calmly flipped through ten record books, skimming quickly without delving into the details. His fingers grazed each page lightly, barely taking in the data before moving on.

Geng An’s back was soaked with sweat. Every member of the Ghost Eye team had received Han Jiang’s message.

In District Nine’s main workgroup chat, Du Mingli was already taking the lead in reflecting on his supposed failures, earning the understanding of the others.

Only Li Rong remained oblivious, leisurely flipping through the data-heavy, sloppily handwritten records.

He Dayong maintained a smile on his face. “So? The data looks fine, doesn’t it?”

Geng An felt a sinking feeling in his chest. The fact that He Dayong was confident enough to say this meant the data logs were indeed flawless.

Even if they spent two whole days scouring these records in the workspace, they might come up empty-handed.

Yu Fuyan shot a panicked glance at Cen Xiao, his mouth dry. He moved his lips as if to ask whether they should show Li Rong the internal message from Han Jiang.

But Cen Xiao, gripping his phone tightly, shook his head lightly.

Previously, Du Mingli had taken the initiative to reflect on and apologize for his mistakes, earning the understanding of everyone in District Nine. After all, the leaders of the other auxiliary teams in District Nine had all witnessed Du Mingli’s efforts firsthand.

This shifted the pressure squarely onto Cen Xiao.

Everyone in District Nine was waiting for Cen Xiao to follow Du Mingli’s lead and provide a summary of his own oversights. But Cen Xiao didn’t comply, leaving the workgroup chat in an awkward silence.

Inside the Qingrui production workshop, the group stood there, each lost in their own thoughts, waiting as Li Rong finished reviewing over thirty record books.

When Yu Fuyan saw Li Rong close the last record book, his heart skipped a beat, and only two words echoed in his mind:

“It’s over!”

But then Li Rong placed his hand on the towering stack of records, turned to He Dayong, and let out a derisive laugh.

“President He, making the records from three years ago look like they’ve aged five or six years—isn’t that a bit careless craftsmanship? As a collector of calligraphy and antique books, you didn’t personally check these?”

With that, Li Rong flicked his wrist and unceremoniously tossed the topmost record book straight at He Dayong.