The Sickly Beauty Gives Up Struggling [Rebirth] Chapter 113

When the plane landed, Li Rong had to temporarily part ways with Cen Xiao.

He needed to return the cross to He Changfeng. Moreover, the next two days were packed with professional exams, so staying on campus would be more convenient.

Cen Xiao also had exams coming up, but his were a week later than Li Rong’s. For now, his priority was attending the summary meeting Han Jiang had mandated for District Nine’s Ghost Eye team.

After saying goodbye at the airport, Cen Xiao finally powered his phone back on.

Han Jiang had called him four times and sent seven or eight messages. By the end, Han Jiang seemed to have given up in frustration.

[Han Jiang: You’re something else, Cen Xiao. I don’t even call my wife this much. Get back to District Nine as soon as you land!

Unlike Cen Xiao, Yu Fuyan and Geng An didn’t have the same bold attitude. Though they’d also switched off their phones, they spent the entire flight anxious, unable to sleep.

As soon as they turned on their phones, the two team members sent apologetic emojis in the group chat.

[Geng An: Just saw this, the taxiing took too long. Apologies, everyone.]

[Yu Fuyan: Just landed, sorry to keep you all waiting!]

When they arrived at District Nine, there was no time to even grab a sip of water before they were summoned to a meeting.

Cen Xiao’s and Du Mingli’s offices were on the same floor, and the two happened to run into each other while waiting for the elevator.

Du Mingli smiled faintly at Cen Xiao and casually waved the file folder in his hand. “I heard Team Leader Cen just returned from Yangshi. Must’ve been exhausting.”

“Not really,” Cen Xiao replied, giving him a sideways glance. He pressed the floor button, one hand in his pocket, his eyes fixed on the red numbers ticking upward on the elevator display.

Du Mingli knew that Cen Xiao had always looked down on him, but he no longer cared.

Han Jiang clearly intended to groom him for higher positions, and with Han Jiang’s backing, Du Mingli’s path ahead was bound to be smoother than Cen Xiao’s.

Not that he harbored any intention of suppressing Cen Xiao—he figured that when he eventually replaced Han Jiang in the top seat, having Cen Xiao as his deputy could actually be quite beneficial.

This investigation into Meijiang Pharmaceuticals had seen both of them make some progress. Although the final outcome was disappointing, their efforts were comparable in terms of results. At least in professional capability, neither seemed to outshine the other.

But in terms of popularity, it was a different story.

In the past three months, Cen Xiao hadn’t spent a single moment building interpersonal relationships. Some group leaders in auxiliary teams hadn’t even seen him in person.

Such aloofness and a penchant for going it alone hardly left a favorable impression.

Du Mingli, on the other hand, had spent a decade navigating the social jungle, working as both a client and a contractor. He excelled at maintaining relationships and had gained far more support compared to Cen Xiao.

By that metric, this round had clearly been his win.

Du Mingli sighed lightly. “If only we had a little more time. Then perhaps we wouldn’t have both left empty-handed. Alas, things rarely go as we hope. The interest chain behind Meijiang Pharmaceuticals is just too powerful—they even compressed ten days into two.”

Though he spoke of regret, his face betrayed none of it.

He had already delivered his reflections and wrapped up his role in the matter successfully. While today’s meeting was labeled as a collective review session, it was essentially meant for Cen Xiao’s accountability.

With nothing weighing him down, Du Mingli carried his folder like a prop, pretending to contribute while, in truth, he was just there to enjoy the spectacle.

Cen Xiao chuckled coldly. “Who said we both left empty-handed?”

Du Mingli was momentarily stunned, but before he could react, the elevator doors opened. Cen Xiao stepped out decisively, leaving no room for a retort.

Standing in the elevator, Du Mingli frowned.

Cen Xiao must have been summoned back by Han Jiang. Could it be that he uncovered some new evidence?

Impossible. Even if he had, there was only a little over a day left before the operations at Meijiang Pharmaceuticals would be concluded. It was too late to act on anything.

Still, Cen Xiao wasn’t someone driven by pride or reckless vanity. Du Mingli couldn’t help feeling a twinge of unease.

In truth, with more time, Du Mingli was confident he could have uncovered a significant weak point in Meijiang Pharmaceuticals. His years of experience in various industries had taught him that no fortress was unbreachable. The problem was that his team lacked the manpower and time to find a true insider to crack.

When they went to Yangshi, Du Mingli had even enlisted a biochemical expert from the Hongsuo Research Institute, approaching the task with great confidence.

Unfortunately, while the expert was indeed skilled, the findings fell short of dealing a fatal blow to Meijiang Pharmaceuticals. On the contrary, they inadvertently helped the company patch some of its vulnerabilities—something Du Mingli deeply regretted.

Du Mingli walked into the conference room with his folder, only to find that Han Jiang had yet to arrive.

Meanwhile, a few of Cen Xiao’s team members were chatting with Du Mingli’s subordinates. Other group leaders from auxiliary teams, disinterested in mingling, sat silently scrolling through their phones.

They were all busy with other tasks and wouldn’t have attended if Han Jiang hadn’t specifically asked for their presence.

“Just got back from Yangshi?” 

Yu Fuyan responded, “Yeah, I’m absolutely wiped. We came straight to work after landing.”

“You guys got there too late in the game.”

Yu Fuyan sighed. “Yeah, we couldn’t help it. Progress is progress, though.”

“That guy He Dayong is a slippery one. When we got there, someone must’ve tipped him off—he was fully prepared.”

“Exactly,” Yu Fuyan replied. “He’s pretty crafty.”

“You’re a young team. There’ll be more chances in the future. Treat this as a learning experience.”

“Yep, yep. From following Team Leader Cen and…  I’ve learned a lot .”

“That’s good that you learned a lot.”

The person chuckled dismissively, clearly unimpressed by Yu Fuyan’s response.

At just 19, Cen Xiao was the youngest in District Nine—still only half a year into university. What could anyone possibly learn from him?

Yu Fuyan’s words likely sounded like mere flattery, though that was understandable since Cen Xiao was his Team Leader.

The room fell silent as Han Jiang strode in, his usual briskness unmistakable.

Straightening up, everyone quickly took their seats and awaited his remarks. Du Mingli sat upright, uncapped his pen, and prepared to take notes—even if there wasn’t much to write, appearances had to be maintained.

Han Jiang had recently dyed his graying hair black, which made him look noticeably younger.

He rested his hands on the table, leaning slightly forward with his brow furrowed into a deep crease, exuding a quiet authority.

“This meeting,” Han Jiang began, scanning the room before momentarily locking eyes with Cen Xiao, “is about the investigation into Meijiang Pharmaceuticals.”

Cen Xiao lowered his eyes as he listened, fingers interlocked on the table, his expression unchanging.

Du Mingli watched Cen Xiao’s demeanor, but he couldn’t stop the unease tightening in his chest.

Han Jiang glanced at Cen Xiao before casually averting his gaze, as though addressing everyone. “Regarding the investigation into Meijiang Pharmaceuticals, I know you’ve all worked hard. You’re new to the Ghost Eye team this year, and failure isn’t the issue. What’s important is learning from failure and adopting the right mindset. Lack of experience is no excuse, and avoiding problems is unacceptable…”

After finishing his opening remarks, Han Jiang was about to direct criticism toward Cen Xiao when Cen Xiao suddenly spoke up. “Captain Han is right. Failure isn’t the issue, and lack of experience is no excuse. However, I must respectfully correct one point—we didn’t fail.”

Han Jiang froze, staring at Cen Xiao for a few seconds before asking incredulously, “What did you say?”

Cen Xiao replied calmly, “Oh, you rushed us so much that we had to hurry back by plane and didn’t have time to report. Regarding Meijiang Pharmaceuticals’ hygiene violations, falsified experimental data, and Yuan Hesheng’s use of substandard materials, we’ve completed the investigation and have the relevant evidence.”

The meeting room fell silent. Even the team leaders who had been engrossed in their phones looked up in surprise at Cen Xiao.

Du Mingli felt a loud “buzz” in his head as his heart began to race.

He knew Cen Xiao wouldn’t dare lie about something like this, but how could it be possible?

Meijiang Pharmaceuticals had heavily fortified their defenses and even corrected earlier oversights during the inspection. Even with a surprise attack, it shouldn’t have left He Dayong unprepared and full of flaws.

And where had Cen Xiao found evidence in such a short time?

“You’re saying you’ve obtained evidence?” Han Jiang repeated in a low voice, unable to believe it.

Cen Xiao nodded and said evenly, “Yes. In addition to the previous test results for Yuanhesheng’s old drug, we uncovered new evidence during this trip. He Dayong didn’t resist and has already confessed.”

Han Jiang fell silent for a moment before raising his hand. “Where’s your evidence?”

Cen Xiao replied, “It’s still in Yangshi.”

Han Jiang immediately lowered his hand, his tone rising in frustration. “Are you joking? District Six will dissolve this case in a day, and it won’t be under Ghost Eye’s jurisdiction anymore. Saying the evidence is still in Yangshi is as good as having no evidence at all!”

Cen Xiao’s lips twitched slightly as he explained calmly, “He Dayong has agreed to surrender himself to the relevant authorities. He’s prepared to accept whatever penalties are imposed. Since the Medical Industry Commerce Association is no longer operational, there’s no need for Ghost Eye to intervene.”

Han Jiang let out a cold laugh. “Surrender himself? He Dayong told you this directly? And you trust him?”

Cen Xiao lifted his gaze, his eyes sharp and cold. “Yes, I trust him.”

Han Jiang narrowed his eyes, his clenched fists trembling slightly.

Geng An quickly stepped in with a measured tone, “Team Leader, here’s the situation. Considering that Meijiang Pharmaceuticals’ Qingrui can’t halt production temporarily and that the company’s thousands of employees need their jobs, it’s not suitable for Ghost Eye to issue punitive measures. Allowing He Dayong to surrender and giving the authorities a little leeway ensures that Qingrui can continue safe and effective supply to the market, which benefits the public.”

He added, “We do have solid evidence, including fabricated original data records for Qingrui and video footage of the unsanitary conditions. But Team Leader Cen has set aside personal grievances for the greater good. After all, Ghost Eye’s mission is to maintain a healthy market environment and create more benefits for ordinary people.”

Geng An’s explanation was flawless, even elevating Cen Xiao’s actions to the level of selflessness and public service. This left Han Jiang with no grounds to criticize, even if he wanted to.

Han Jiang’s facial muscles twitched, and his neck turned red with tension. For a long moment, he couldn’t utter a word.

Meanwhile, Du Mingli’s face turned ghostly pale. The tip of his fountain pen dug so deeply into the file folder that the ink began to bleed into its brown surface, leaving a conspicuous stain.

He gripped the pen so tightly that his knuckles turned white, unaware that the pen’s tip had bent slightly under the pressure, smearing dark blue ink onto the folder.

From the start, Du Mingli’s goal had been to bring down Meijiang Pharmaceuticals. He had never considered what would happen afterward—how the thousands of patients nationwide who depended on Qingrui would be affected, or how the thousands of employees at Meijiang would find alternative jobs, or whether Yangshi had the capacity to address such employment challenges.

How ironic.

The privileged “prince” he had always looked down on, someone who seemingly couldn’t comprehend the struggles of ordinary people, had thought about these vulnerable groups.

And he, who prided himself on his grounded pragmatism, hadn’t given them a moment’s thought.

For a fleeting instant, Du Mingli felt a rare sense of confusion and self-doubt.

Could it be that he truly was inferior to Cen Xiao—not just in ability, but also in character?

Han Jiang remained silent for a long time before finally forcing out, “Fine. Let’s see if He Dayong really turns himself in after the Sixth District revokes the license!”

With that, Han Jiang pressed both palms firmly on the table, straightened up, took two deep breaths, and scanned the room full of colleagues and subordinates with a heavy glare. Finally, he declared, “Meeting adjourned!”

Cen Xiao was unperturbed. He wasn’t worried that He Dayong might change his mind.

The moment He Dayong handed over incriminating evidence against Suhe Biotech, his fate was sealed—there was no turning back. Even if, at some point, he realized Cen Xiao and Li Rong might have been bluffing and that Suhe Biotech wasn’t vulnerable after all, it would already be too late to reverse course.

As Han Jiang strode out of the conference room, a few group leaders exchanged glances. Though bewildered, they didn’t know Cen Xiao well enough to ask any questions. So, they quietly gathered their belongings and left to attend to their own tasks.

Only the members of the two squads remained in the room.

Du Mingli’s team looked utterly deflated. Despite their desire to leave the stifling room, the sharp contrast with their counterparts felt unbearable. However, since Du Mingli hadn’t moved, they didn’t dare to either.

After Cen Xiao stood up, he glanced at Du Mingli.

On the document folder in front of Du Mingli was an unmistakable dark blue ink circle, but Du Mingli showed no intention of reacting.

Cen Xiao shifted his gaze and addressed his team members, “You’ve worked hard during this period. Go back and get some rest. I’m about to hit exam season, so I won’t be around District Nine much. If you guys want to have a team dinner or a trip to the suburbs, make sure to keep the receipts—I’ll reimburse you.”

Yu Fuyan immediately exclaimed with excitement, “Awesome!”

But just as he finished cheering, he realized his reaction might have been inappropriate, as it seemed disrespectful to the members of the other team.

Feeling awkward, Yu Fuyan stuck out his tongue and quickly reined in his enthusiasm.

Geng An chuckled, “Then we won’t hold back. Thank you, Team Leader.”

***

The evening deepened, and the sunset faded.

When Li Rong returned to campus, the first thing he did was call Zhang Zhaohe.

Zhang Zhaohe was attending a faculty seminar on academic integrity. But when he saw the caller ID, he sighed, grabbed his cane, and quietly left the conference room. Standing in the corridor, he answered the call.

In a slow, hoarse yet steady voice befitting his age, Zhang Zhaohe said, “Hello?”

While scrolling through his class schedule and checking exam dates in the academic system, Li Rong casually said, “Professor Zhang, the final exams for each subject are coming up. I’ve missed too many classes in some courses, so I’ll need your help to process a waiver request.”

Zhang Zhaohe sighed, clearly exasperated. “…You’re aware you’ve missed too many classes? Where have you been these past few days? You haven’t been to the dorm or the campus clinic.”

Having noted down the exam dates for his courses, Li Rong closed the academic system and replied lightly, “I went out of town.”

Hearing this, Zhang Zhaohe rubbed his cane with his palm, his sharp eyes narrowing instinctively.

Though he was older now, walking and speaking at a leisurely pace, his eyes were exceptionally sharp. When his eyelids drooped slightly, there was a certain commanding presence about him.

Few students had ever seen him display such an expression; otherwise, he wouldn’t have been overlooked for so many years.

“Out of town, huh.” Zhang Zhaohe murmured.

Leaning back in his chair, Li Rong rested his fingers on the bend of his arm. “Yes, for personal reasons. Can you help me with the waiver, Professor?”

Zhang Zhaohe chuckled softly, “Waiver requests aren’t so easy to process. You were admitted via recommendation, without a college entrance exam score. What should I base your waiver on?”

Li Rong tilted his head, thinking for a moment, then said nonchalantly, “How about… my final exam scores?”

Zhang Zhaohe said, “You have two exams tomorrow and two more the day after. Are you telling me that two nights of cramming will get you scores above ninety in all of them?”

Li Rong smiled faintly, “Ninety, huh? I’ll give it a try.”