A wry smile touched Xie Yu's lips upon hearing Grandpa Xie's words.
"Grandpa, you think too highly of me. Actually, all of this was guided by Doctor Zhou," he said.
Grandpa Xie raised an eyebrow, his expression unsurprised. He knew his grandson well. To put it kindly, he was refined and gentle; to put it bluntly, he was a coward. He always left himself an escape route and avoided offending anyone. With Xie Yu's personality changing so drastically, it was definitely due to Doctor Zhou's guidance.
"Doctor Zhou, you are truly a lucky star for our family," Grandpa Xie exclaimed with emotion.
Since Zhou Yu arrived, good fortune had consistently befallen the Xie family! The two major breakthroughs for the Xie Group, the share buyback and the longevity medicine research results, were all credited to Zhou Yu! Grandpa Xie even started to wonder if forty percent of the Xie Group's shares was perhaps a bit too little...
If the people who had just left knew Grandpa Xie's thoughts, they would surely be consumed by envy.
"You are too kind, Old Master. I am merely here to help," Zhou Yu replied humbly.
However, Grandpa Xie did not buy into this modesty. Helping someone would earn him forty percent of the Xie Group's shares? Helping someone would make the Zhu and Xie families willingly obey his command? Grandpa Xie finally understood; his previous attempt to match Zhou Yu with Xie Shishi was utterly ridiculous. Xie Shishi was nowhere near worthy of Zhou Yu!
"The patent for the longevity medicine should be approved today. The priority now is tomorrow's press conference."
"Once the patent is approved today, the Shi family will undoubtedly get the news. We must prepare thoroughly for the longevity medicine press conference!" Zhou Yu cut straight to the chase, skipping the pleasantries.
Before the patent application, the progress could be kept secret. But once the patent was applied for, the secret would be out. The Shi family had extensive connections and would surely receive the information! This made tomorrow's press conference exceptionally perilous.
"I just wonder if the Shi family will choose to make their move at the press conference or at the Xie family's old residence," Xie Yu analyzed. If they attacked at the press conference, with so many people around, the Shi family might not be able to catch everyone. However, at tomorrow's press conference, Xie Yu and the others would definitely be present. If the Shi family chose to attack the old residence, they feared Xie Yu and the others might escape.
"I believe they will wait until after the press conference to make their move."
"In that case, let's create an opportunity for the Shi family!" Zhou Yu's eyes glinted with a cold light. Having such a venomous snake lurking in the shadows was always unsettling. Now, it was time to expose this snake.
"What should we do?" Xie Yu asked.
"Spread the word that the Xie family will be holding a celebration banquet at the old residence tomorrow to celebrate the success of the longevity medicine," Zhou Yu said with a smile. This was an open scheme. Both the Xie and Shi families knew that this celebration banquet was a trap. But Zhou Yu was gambling. He was gambling that the Shi family, after collaborating with the Dark Shadow organization, had become overconfident and would come!
"Very well, we will do as Doctor Zhou says," Grandpa Xie nodded. He had never doubted Zhou Yu's decisions!
After discussing tomorrow's arrangements, everyone began to busy themselves. The moment the patent certificate arrived, Xie Yu immediately had familiar media outlets begin spreading news of the celebration banquet. Of course, this was done through smaller tabloids. The Shi family received the news that very evening!
"Brother, the Xie family's longevity medicine has even obtained a patent, and I heard they are holding a press conference tomorrow!" Shi Lifeng rushed to the study to find the Shi family head the moment she received the news. She placed a tabloid on the desk.
The Shi family head frowned, glanced at it, and immediately said, "So soon?" His voice carried a hint of surprise and unwillingness. They had painstakingly stolen the core data, expecting it to at least throw the Xie family into disarray. They never imagined they would still be behind in progress! Thinking of the researchers in the Shi family's newly established laboratory, those who could barely utter a word, the Shi family head felt a surge of frustration! How could the gap between people be so vast? Zhou Yu was also human; after entering the Xie family's laboratory, he accelerated the longevity medicine project in just a few days. Yet, on his end, there had been no breakthrough yet!
"What should we do? Should we make our move at the press conference?" Shi Lifeng asked again. As long as the press conference had not commenced, their eventual claim to the patent would remain unknown!
The Shi family head shook his head, narrowing his eyes. "If we make a move at the press conference, the people at the old residence might get wind of it and escape."
"We must cut off the roots!"
Shi Lifeng frowned. "Then what about us..."
The Shi family head pointed at the information in the tabloid and sneered, "They still want to hold a celebration banquet? Then we will strike during the celebration banquet!"
A celebration banquet? Shi Lifeng lowered her head and carefully examined the tabloid, her frown deepening.
"Given the current situation, the Xie family shouldn't be so foolish as to still hold a celebration banquet, right?"
"Brother, this is definitely a trap!"
Shi Lifeng understood this logic; how could the Shi family head not? He glanced at his sister and said calmly, "Do you have a better plan?" Even if the Xie family's celebration banquet was a ruse, they had no choice but to attend! It was an open scheme!
Shi Lifeng shook her head. If she had a solution, she wouldn't have rushed back in such a hurry.
"You wait at home tomorrow. I will take people to the Xie family's old residence."
"Once it's done, I will go rescue your husband and Shaohua," the Shi family head instructed.
Hearing this, Shi Lifeng's eyes sparkled with hope. She had thought the Shi family head no longer intended to concern himself with Zhang Deshuang and the others. She hadn't expected him to still remember them!
"Don't worry, I'll stay home and notify you immediately if there's any sign of trouble," Shi Lifeng vowed.
Leaving Shi Lifeng at home was a precaution against the Xie family playing a diversionary tactic. If the Shi family head led everyone to the Xie family's old residence, and then the Xie family counterattacked the Shi family, it would be disastrous!
After the siblings discussed the matter, Shi Lifeng withdrew. The Shi family head then picked up the landline, hesitated for a moment, and dialed a number.
"Hello... rustle rustle..." From the other end of the line came Dark Shadow's hoarse voice, with a hint of static. This was to prevent signal tracking devices.
The Shi family head said excitedly, "The Xie family has developed the longevity medicine, and they are holding a celebration banquet tomorrow!"
"I've decided. We will launch a surprise attack tomorrow night, during the Xie family's celebration banquet!"
Dark Shadow was silent for a moment. Then, it simply replied, "Okay... rustle rustle... I'll send someone over tomorrow morning." With that, the call ended.
The Shi family head put down the receiver and rubbed his face. Actually, just now, the Shi family head had considered acting with his own martial artists without informing Dark Shadow. After all, the Shi family had over fifty or sixty Qi martial artists! Dealing with the Zhu and Xie families would be more than enough.