After Jingyan launched several products with the same efficacy as their own but better results, they wanted to obtain Jingyan's formulas.
However, Jingyan's formulas were kept under tight security, inaccessible to anyone outside the core R&D team. Therefore, they contacted headhunting firms to poach elites from Jingyan's R&D department.
"President, HR still has no good news. But there are rumors that the formulas for Jingyan's main products were not developed by the R&D department; Jingyan already possessed them. The R&D department is mainly developing new products, but they are also developing individual items based on specific requirements from above."
The secretary's reply made Chang Yuan's expression darken further. If Jingyan's formulas were truly held by the top management, it meant they could never obtain them. In that case, poaching the R&D department would be useless.
"Jingyan has been opposing us. Investigate what exactly our conflict with them is. At the same time, help me contact Jingyan's high-level executives to see if we can seek cooperation. In the business world, there are no eternal rivals."
Chang Yuan's gaze was profound. One had to bow their head when under another's roof. But Luo Yan had experienced such storms before; he didn't believe they would be completely defeated by Jingyan.
Most of Yang Meng's suitors had been targeted. However, they had always been in direct competition with each other, with no real connection. Especially since they were all quite gleeful about others' misfortunes.
Furthermore, since they were not targeted at the same time, they all believed it was their usual competitors making a move, never considering it was because of Yang Meng. After all, although they valued Yang Meng and would spend a lot of money for her, she did not hold that much weight in their hearts. She was, after all, just a woman; even if they liked her a lot, it couldn't compare to their own careers. Therefore, when their own businesses were in trouble, they didn't have the energy to placate Yang Meng.
After Yang Meng subtly hinted a few times to her suitors about standing up for her, and no one responded, she realized these people were unreliable. She didn't know what was wrong with them lately; they seemed less enthusiastic about her than before. Even when she proactively contacted them, they claimed to be busy and were not as generous as they used to be! Hmph, men! They truly were unreliable.
Since she couldn't get help from these men in her conflict with Xinchuang, Yang Meng felt she needed to find a new backer, someone with more power and wealth. To this end, Yang Meng had Lisa accept several banquet invitations for her, and she diligently researched the backgrounds and fortunes of some individuals. However, this was done very discreetly; she couldn't let others discover her intentions. After all, she couldn't afford to offend her current suitors easily.
In a short period, the targeted attacks on those companies brought Lin Yan considerable gains. Although she incurred some expenses, the returns far outweighed them. Furthermore, the companies of those who had caused the Lin family's bankruptcy were on the verge of collapse, but Lin Yan did not let them go bankrupt. After all, they were all large companies, and their collapse would lead to many people losing their jobs. Moreover, Lin Yan did not harbor enough resentment to force them into bankruptcy. However, Lin Yan planned to acquire those companies. Witnessing their fall from grace and their humble pleas to her, whom they previously disdained, would be even more satisfying.
At a recent high-society banquet in the city, Lin Yan attended for the first time as the Chairperson of Xinchuang. This was perhaps her first appearance in a formal setting, and she immediately drew the attention of many. After all, she was an unfamiliar face, yet she was treated with exceptional enthusiasm by the organizers. When everyone learned of her identity, their attitude became even more cordial. The Chairperson of Xinchuang, a major shareholder of Jingyan Cosmetics! Either of these titles alone commanded respect. Even the heir of the Fu family was by her side, treating her with great kindness.
"I finally get to see you. Have you been busy lately? I couldn't even get you to agree to a meeting." Fu Yuze said with some grievance.
"It's been alright, but I've started dating recently, so it's not appropriate to go out with a single man." Lin Yan took a glass of champagne from a passing waiter's tray.
"You're dating!" Fu Yuze was surprised. "How could you start dating before me? With your workaholic personality, you're dating before me!"
"I'm not that much of a workaholic!" Lin Yan rolled her eyes at him.
"Seven days a week, you have work every day. How are you not a workaholic!" Fu Yuze complained.
Because his father's health had been somewhat poor recently, he had been acting as a mascot at his own company. Although he didn't manage much, he disliked such restrictive work. Fortunately, his father had trained a manager long ago, so he only needed to collect dividends. His going to the company this time was to let the staff recognize him and to familiarize himself with some of the company's procedures and data, so he wouldn't be easily fooled.
"I pay attention to work-life balance. And I leave work very early. But why are you attending this banquet today? The host's influence isn't enough to force you to come, is it? Wasn't your father hospitalized earlier? How is he recovering?" Lin Yan was also curious why Fu Yuze was present, as he disliked such occasions, finding them too hypocritical. However, she already knew the female lead would be here today, which was another manifestation of the attraction between the male and female leads.
"My dad's health has improved a lot; he just doesn't want to work! I didn't want to come either, but my dad threatened me with my collectibles, so I had no choice!" Fu Yuze's tone was filled with complaint.
"It seems your prolonged single status is making your father impatient. This banquet will have many young ladies from prominent families," Lin Yan guessed the elder Mr. Fu's intentions with a smile.
"Alas! Why did you have to start dating? Otherwise, you could have been my shield." Fu Yuze looked at Lin Yan with a mournful expression.
"I'm afraid that's a disappointment for you!" Lin Yan said somewhat impatiently.
Across so many worlds, she and Fu Yuze, the male lead, likely had the best relationship. This was partly because she and Fu Yuze had no conflicting interests, and also because Fu Yuze had not yet met the female lead, and Lin Yan had previously done him a favor. Fu Yuze had a good personality, and their interests were quite similar, so they sometimes met up to visit art exhibitions and attend concerts. However, he hadn't developed any special feelings for Lin Yan, viewing her merely as a friend with whom he could converse easily.
"Who is your boyfriend? Do I know him? Shall we arrange to meet up sometime?" Fu Yuze was very curious about the man who could win over Lin Yan.
"He's an employee at my company; you probably don't know him!" Lin Yan didn't elaborate on Song Minghao. She would arrange a meeting once she had some free time. However, she doubted Song Minghao and Fu Yuze would get along.
"Which company? Xinchuang?" Fu Yuze frowned slightly. "You didn't find a celebrity, did you!"
"Is that not allowed?" Lin Yan raised an eyebrow at him.
"He's really a celebrity!" Seeing Lin Yan's gaze becoming somewhat dangerous, he quickly changed his tune. "It's fine, it's fine, it's fine. How could it not be allowed!"
Just as he was thinking about changing the subject, he suddenly saw someone over there.
"Hey, Lin Yan, that person over there looks a bit like you. Could it be your long-lost sister!"