Chapter 36: The Conspiracy Emerges

The next morning, the sky over the Magic City remained shrouded in a persistent curtain of rain. The Plaza 66 building appeared exceptionally tranquil amidst the downpour; rain slid down its glass curtain walls like countless silver threads, blurring the city’s scenery while adding a sense of hazy beauty.

Sun Xiaoyan’s assistant, Ma Ping, stood with two men in formal business suits before the revolving doors of the building. Their expressions betrayed a hint of anxiety, their gazes frequently drifting into the distance as if waiting for someone. Behind them, the revolving doors turned slowly, emitting a faint mechanical hum that intertwined with the sound of the rain, creating a unique rhythm.

Fine rain drifted from the gray sky, soft and continuous, splashing into tiny droplets on the plaza in front of the building. Ma Ping stood on tiptoe, peering through the mist. The view in the distance was hazy and elusive, appearing almost like a mirage. Although cars pulled into the parking lot from time to time, none carried the person she was waiting for. As time ticked by, Ma Ping’s eyes suddenly lit up. She grabbed her umbrella, opened it, and dashed into the rain without hesitation.

A red Maserati pulled quickly into the parking lot. By the time the vehicle came to a stop, Ma Ping had already reached the driver’s side and held the umbrella over the door.

Sun Xiaoyan stepped out, dressed in a sharp, professional white suit. It was elegant yet understated, the cut simple and exquisite, with fluid lines that fit her figure perfectly and highlighted her poise. Her long hair was swept up into a high, neat bun today, with a few stray strands framing her ears. Her makeup was light and refined, with subtle eyeshadow and lip gloss that perfectly accented her natural beauty.

"Ms. Sun, Young Master Xuan and Dean Li are already upstairs. They are currently in negotiations with Wanhai Technology regarding the possibility of continuing our partnership."

Upon seeing Sun Xiaoyan, Ma Ping quickly shared the information to prevent any misjudgment due to a lack of updates.

"Sun Xuan?" Sun Xiaoyan’s expression darkened at the mention of the name. "Who let him come?"

Ma Ping glanced cautiously at her face and whispered, "Ms. Sun, it was arranged by the Chairman. He said he was sent to assist you."

"Assist me?" A trace of sarcasm tugged at the corner of Sun Xiaoyan’s mouth. "It would be enough if he didn’t cause trouble! By the way, has Wanhai Technology raised any new demands?"

As they spoke, the two entered Plaza 66 through the revolving doors. The two men in suits immediately bowed respectfully upon seeing Sun Xiaoyan.

"Ms. Sun, these are our company’s legal counsel, Ma and Zhang. I brought them along to see if they could be of any help," Ma Ping explained, noticing Sun Xiaoyan’s inquisitive look. Sun Xiaoyan nodded, a gentle expression crossing her face as she shook hands with both of them.

"Thank you for your hard work. The situation with Wanhai Technology is quite sudden, and I hope you can both offer advice from your respective professional perspectives."

The two lawyers looked at each other and replied in unison, "Understood, Ms. Sun!"

It turned out that shortly after Sun Xiaoyan finished discussing work with Li Kai of MineARC, she had received a call from her assistant, Ma Ping, back in the capital. Ma Ping had informed her of a crisis: the partnership between Tianhai Pharmaceutical and Wanhai Technology appeared to be in jeopardy, as Wanhai Technology had contacted the research department to terminate their collaboration.

The reason for the termination was simple: they claimed Tianhai Pharmaceutical had failed to pay the agreed-upon research and development fees for the new drug. They declared the previous contract void and demanded a penalty of 400,000 for breach of contract.

Sun Xiaoyan was shocked. She had personally arranged the transfer of three million to the company’s account, and the transaction had clearly gone through. Why would they claim the fees were unpaid? Despite her shock, she did not rush to confront Wanhai Technology. Instead, she spent the last two days having Ma Ping investigate the matter thoroughly.

When the investigation concluded, a new drug development contract she had never seen before was placed before her. It was then she realized that the entire situation was a conspiracy. The contract bore her forged signature and the company’s official seal, dated within a week of the late Chairman’s passing. Although the handwriting was an imitation, Sun Xiaoyan recognized at a glance that it was not her own. It seemed someone was playing a much larger game involving Wanhai Technology.

Having grasped the situation, Sun Xiaoyan instructed Ma Ping to immediately schedule a meeting with Wanhai Technology’s senior management. She intended to confront them and see what they were truly up to. Because of her anxiety last night, she hadn't been able to sleep, and with no one to confide in, she had called Qin Zhong—a move that had almost cost him his life.

"Ms. Sun, hello. I am Fang Hai, Vice President of Wanhai Technology. It is a pleasure to meet you!"

As Sun Xiaoyan’s group reached the 24th floor, a tall man wearing gold-rimmed glasses walked toward them with a broad smile. Sun Xiaoyan shook his hand briefly, and under his guidance, the group entered the office area.

"Ms. Sun, Wanhai Technology occupies the 20th through 26th floors. The 24th floor houses the administrative offices. If you’re interested later, I’d be happy to show you around."

As they walked, Fang Hai cast frequent glances at Sun Xiaoyan, seemingly captivated by her beauty, and dropped subtle hints in his conversation, attempting to create an opportunity to be alone with her.

Noticing his subtle maneuvers, Sun Xiaoyan smiled faintly. "This is my first time at Wanhai Technology. I would certainly appreciate your hospitality, Vice President Fang."

"My pleasure, my pleasure!" Seeing that Sun Xiaoyan hadn't rebuffed him, Fang Hai felt a surge of secret delight. Sun Xiaoyan was remarkably beautiful and a wealthy socialite; if he could truly get close to her, he would not let such an opportunity slip by.

Guided by the attentive Fang Hai, the group arrived at a conference room. Before they could enter, a roar of anger erupted from within.

"This is the logic of a bandit! You are taking advantage of our desperation—this is a shameless act!"

Sun Xiaoyan paused; she recognized the voice of Li Yuansheng, the Dean of the Tianhai Pharmaceutical Research Institute. It was clear he was arguing with someone. Li was a veteran employee who had risen from a humble researcher to become the Dean. When the late Chairman Sun was alive, he had invested massive resources into Li’s development, and Li had lived up to that trust.

Though Sun Xiaoyan hadn’t interacted much with him since taking over, she had a hunch that the distance between them was merely the social anxiety of a researcher. To see such a man lose his composure and shout openly suggested that the problem within was far from trivial.