For a few days, Lu Lingxiâs life was very quiet, and Wang Shuxiuâs fear that the Lu family would find Kunnan didnât come to reality. In fact, it was not that Lu Hengchuan didnât want to go past Wang Shuxiu and contact Lu Lingxi directly, but he was held back by the events in Zhongjing.
Three days ago, all the major newspapers in Zhongjing suddenly broke the news that the new drug that Hopewell was preparing to put into production was only semi-finished and didnât meet the standards for the production of new drugs in China. Accompanying this news was the fact that one of Hopewellâs drug developers had reported Sun Li of the Food and Drug Administration Bureau for taking bribes and approving the new drugâs marketing application despite knowing that it wasnât up to standard.
As soon as these two news came out, the entire Zhongjing was in an uproar. Before Hopewell had time to react and start crisis public relations, Sun Li had been suspended for investigation, and the Lu family, which had a deep relationship with Sun Li in the past, entered the public eye. Compared with Hopwellâs new drug, which had not yet been listed, the Lu familyâs origin was health products and drugs. Who knows how many of these drugs launched by the Lu family were like Hopewellâs new drug and had obtained pharmaceutical qualifications that should not have been obtained.
All kinds of suspicions were brewing in private. The first person who jumped out to say that they had used the Lu familyâs drugs without any useful effect was followed by the second, the third⊠Some of these people were arranged by Yan Yue, some were the result of the Ye familyâs revenge and some came from other pharmaceutical companies fishing in the muddy waters, trying to take advantage of the opportunity to screw up the Lu family.
The media, the internet, the newspapers⊠In just three days, the Hopewell incident fermented into a huge storm amidst all kinds of reports, sweeping the three giants, Hopewell, the Food and Drug Administration and the Lu family and pushing all three to the brink of trust bankruptcy.
âNow that the Lu familyâs reputation has been tarnished, someone must take responsibility for this.â
In the Lu family mansion, Lu Chengwen, the eldest son of Lu Hengchuan, looked at Lu Weiâan, who was standing aside, with a knife-like gaze and an obvious intent. If it wasnât for Lu Weiâanâs involvement with the Yin familyâs girl, the Lu family wouldnât be in the situation it was in.
After Lu Chengwenâs words, several other people in the hall nodded. They all understood Lu Chengwenâs meaning, which was clearly to take advantage of Lu Weiâan.
Speaking of which, no one in the Lu family actually liked Lu Weiâan. In the past, it was fine; they saw Lu Weiâan as a sick and miserable person. Although the familyâs confinement of Lu Lingxi was a bit unkind, there was no way to distinguish between right and wrong in such matters, so they couldnât put the blame on Lu Weiâanâs head. But once Lu Lingxi died last year, they no longer saw Lu Weiâan in the same light. This, coupled with the fact that Lu Weiâan was jumping up and down trying to get involved in the Lu familyâs business, made the rest of the Lu family even more discontented. If it wasnât for the fact that Lu Weiâan had hooked up with Hopewell, they would have joined forces to squeeze Lu Weiâan out long ago, having guessed what the old man had in mind. Now that something had gone wrong, someone had to take the blame, and Lu Weiâan was the best candidate to do so.
The eyes of the people in the hall focused on him, and Lu Weiâan, who was in the centre of attention, smiled coldly in his heart, but his face wore the expression of self-blame. Although he was the one to pull the strings for the new drug, the entire Lu family was optimistic about the future of the new drug and wanted a piece of the pie. Now, as soon as something happened, they were in a hurry to clear themselves of responsibility. He didnât believe that those present couldnât see that someone was deliberately targeting the Lu family this time, otherwise the public opinion wouldnât have been focused on the Lu family in the incident caused by Hopewell. Lu Weiâan gave Lu Hengchuan a covert glance, more concerned about his grandfatherâs reaction than his unclesâ anger. But to his disappointment, his grandfatherâs eyes were downcast and expressionless, and Lu Weiâan couldnât guess what was on his mind.
âWeiâan, what do you say?â Seeing that Lu Weiâan was silent, Lu Chengwen asked him plainly.
Lu Weiâan gritted his teeth and said in a low voice, âIt was my mistake in judgement that affected the familyâs reputation, I will take the responsibility for this.â
Just as he finished speaking, Lu Chengwenâs eyes lit up and he was about to speak when Lu Hengchuan, who had been silent, coughed, attracting everyoneâs attention. Lu Weiâan looked over with an expectant expression, and Lu Hengchuan gave Lu Weiâan with a faint glance and said in an authoritative tone, âSince Weiâan has admitted his mistake, the investigation into the bribery of Hopewell will be handled by Weiâan. You will take care of the rest and try to suppress the impact of this matter.â
By saying this, Lu Hengchuan was obviously ready to give up on Lu Weiâan. Now regarding the investigation of Sun Liâs bribery, the whistleblower said conclusively that it was someone from the Lu family who was involved and there was the relevant evidence in his hands. Although a discerning person might not believe it if the Lu family put the blame on Lu Weiâan, it was a good enough explanation to the public.
After hearing Lu Hengchuanâs words, Lu Chengwen quickly agreed. The eyes of the people in the hall fell on Lu Weiâanâs face, and Lu Weiâanâs fist, hidden in his sleeve, clenched up tightly as he smiled reluctantly at Lu Hengchuan, âI understand, Grandfather.â
Under the different gazes of the people in the hall, Lu Weiâan didnât know how he had managed to get out of the Lu family mansion. He glanced back. Obviously, the weather was good today, a rare day with high clouds and no smog, but he felt that the whole Lu family was shrouded in a shadow.
Lu Weiâan laughed in a low, cold voice. He knew that his eldest uncle and the others didnât like him because they thought he was too cold-blooded and heartless, sacrificing Lu Lingxi for his own life. But was leukaemia something heâd chosen to have? If he hadnât been born prematurely, how could he have grown up in poor health and had leukaemia after a cold? He watched others alive and kicking, and he could only lie on the hospital bed. Who knew his pain these years? He was obviously worse than dead, but he had to hold on to survive for the sake of his motherâs obsession. Was this also his fault?
Lu Lingxi⊠Lu Weiâan closed his eyes and expelled the name from his mind. A child who wasnât even born to his mother; even if his body retained the bloodline of the Lu family, when he was alive, no one recognised him as a member of the Lu family. Now that he was dead, all sorts of irrelevant people were jumping out and accusing him, Lu Weiâan, of being cold-blooded, selfish and lacking affection. It was fucking ridiculous! A bunch of hypocritical villains. Why didnât they appear when Lu Lingxi was alive? Just because Lu Lingxi died and he survived, all the sins were his? Should he live in Lu Lingxiâs shadow for the rest of his life? Why should he!
Lu Weiâan opened his eyes and clenched his fists in hatred.
The Lu familyâs dark tide wasnât known to Lu Lingxi, who was far away in Kunnan. Meanwhile, Wang Shuxiu didnât see Lu Hengchuan for several days in a row, and only after watching the news did she know that something had happened to the Lu family. She vaguely felt strange; how could there be such a coincidence? As soon as Lu Hengchuan got into trouble with her, something happened to the Lu family in Zhongjing?
She told Xiao Feng of her suspicions, âYan Yue didnât do anything, did he?â
Xiao Feng wasnât sure either and said, âThis is such a big deal, it couldnât have been done overnight. Yan Yue has only known about Lu Hengchuan for a few days, so he probably has nothing to do with it. Besides, even if Yan Yue did it, itâs not a bad thing. Look at all the unethical things the Lu family has done, someone should have dealt with them.â
âThatâs true.â Wang Shuxiu said bitterly. She was furious at the thought of Lu Hengchuan coming to her door and saying something about wanting Xiao Xi to acknowledge his ancestors. She couldnât wait for the Lu family to go bankrupt and see what other crazy thing they would come up with.
The two of them talked for a long time, but Wang Shuxiu remembered one more thing, âDo you think we should tell Xiao Xi about the Lu family? The Lu family shouldnât be able to care about finding Xiao Xi now, right?â In the end, she still didnât want Lu Lingxi to know about this; she thought it would be good if Lu Lingxi didnât know anything like now and was safe.
âItâs better to tell Xiao Xi.â Xiao Feng persuaded, âIn case the Lu family doesnât give up, itâs better for Xiao Xi to be psychologically prepared in advance.â
Wang Shuxiu sighed, knowing that Xiao Feng had a point; better safe than sorry.
Please report us if you find any errors so we can fix it asap!