Harbor
When I arrived at the company on Monday, the senior management had finished their routine meeting. Meng Shuang sent a meeting notice in the group chat, saying that there would be a pre-meeting for tomorrow's academic promotion conference.
Bai Yi had little to do with the conference preparations; she was mainly responsible for the Q&A session, addressing potential clinical issues, providing relevant theoretical support, and offering some solutions.
She had already compiled a detailed report on these matters last week and sent copies to both her department and the marketing department.
Meng Shuang didn't actually need her written work; she mainly wanted her to go to the site.
Professor Wu is a leading figure in the field of traditional Chinese medicine, and Bai Yi is one of his favorite students. Meng Shuang would not easily let this opportunity slip by.
Bai Yi sat in an inconspicuous spot on the conference table, listening to Meng Shuang give work instructions. He thought the marketing director of a large pharmaceutical company was indeed very capable.
Meng Shuang spoke at the meeting, her pace rapid. She covered everything, big and small, with clear logic and a perfect correspondence between people and things. She definitely couldn't do that kind of work; she wouldn't have the physical stamina.
This year's Vietnam-Hong Kong Pharmaceutical Conference was hosted by the Fourth Hospital of Vietnam and Hong Kong, with Runhe Pharmaceutical and Sijian Pharmaceutical as sponsors. The conference was held at Wuzhou International and lasted for two days. Runhe's presentation on its new drug took place on the afternoon of the first day.
It's common practice for pharmaceutical companies to sponsor conferences of this caliber to promote their corporate strength and new drugs. Attendees are typically pharmaceutical industry management or renowned experts.
Professor Wu is a member of the National Pharmaceutical Association, and Bai Yi often attends such meetings with Professor Wu, although she used to be a guest speaker.
The next morning, Zhong Yunxi drove her directly to Wuzhou International. She was wearing a business suit and asked Zhong Yunxi if she looked impressive.
Zhong Yunxi truthfully said, "I feel like a newcomer to the workplace."
Bai Yi: ...
"I'm here to provide academic support, so wouldn't it be unconvincing for a newcomer like me?"
Zhong Yunxi laughed at her: "I told you this morning that you should just stick to your usual style and wear a plain dress. Director Meng doesn't want to see you in business attire."
As soon as the two got out of the car, they saw Meng Shuang hurriedly making a phone call as she walked from the hotel lobby to the entrance to greet an expert.
Meng Shuang didn't recognize Bai Yi at first; she first saw Zhong Yunxi, whose aura was undeniable, before glancing at the people around him.
Seeing Bai Yi dressed in business attire with a conference staff badge around her neck, Meng Shuang's eyes widened in shock. She grabbed Bai Yi and said, "What are you doing? You're not with Runhe today; you're with Professor Wu's research team. Why are you wearing business attire?"
Zhong Yunxi smiled.
Meng Shuang glanced at Zhong Yunxi, her eyes filled with resentment as if to say, "Does Bai Yi not understand, and neither do you?"
Bai Yi was speechless: "Isn't that unprofessional?"
“Professional, but a professional businessperson, not a professional researcher. We each have our own roles and identities.” Meng Shuang was speechless, then glanced at Zhong Yunxi. “Mr. Zhong, could you please take someone back to change their clothes? Just wear something casual, something clean and simple, nothing too commercial, like a pharmacist. Aren’t there enough pharmacists at the event already? Do you think we need another one?”
Bai Yi: ...
Zhong Yunxi smiled and pulled the person back.
Bai Yi couldn't argue with Meng Shuang, so she could only vent to Zhong Yunxi when she got in the car.
She changed into a white knitted dress with a green sandalwood woven belt, her hair casually pulled back in a low bun, just like when she went to work, and asked Zhong Yunxi, "Is this okay?"
Zhong Yunxi nodded and picked out a pair of pearl earrings to put on her.
On the way back to the venue, Zhong Yunxi explained to her, "People don't like to see too many commercial elements in the pharmaceutical industry."
Bai Yi: "But the commercialization of experimental results is indeed driven by capital."
Zhong Yunxi: "The circulation of almost all factors of production is driven by capital, but in many cases, it is necessary to downplay it."
Bai Yi said "Oh".
"What time do you finish this afternoon? I'll come pick you up."
Bai Yi opened the meeting schedule on her phone and looked at it: "The meeting is at 5:30, but there is a catering arrangement after the meeting, so I should go."
Zhong Yunxi roughly knew what was going on: "Then I'll come over and have dinner with you here."
Bai Yi glanced at him and said, "You're not even a participant, yet you have the nerve to come and freeload."
“If I don’t come, Meng Shuang will drag you out to drink with those leaders and experts. Can you handle that?”
Bai Yi fell silent; she truly couldn't handle it.
After dropping Bai Yi off at the hotel, Zhong Yunxi made a point of greeting Meng Shuang, saying he would come over that evening.
Meng Shuang could only sigh inwardly, because with Zhong Yunxi present, she dared not make full use of Bai Yi.
Bai Yi spent the whole morning listening to the speeches of other guests. He went out of the venue for some fresh air and went to the restroom.
Bai Yi had a vague impression of the wealthy-looking woman who sat opposite her when they ate at the Runhe staff restaurant last time. It wasn't that she was particularly beautiful, but rather the way that woman looked at her back then.
That indescribable strangeness, like someone scrutinizing her, carried an unfriendly, comparative, and judgmental tone, making her feel awkward and uncomfortable.
As she looked in the mirror and fixed her hair, Wen Ying came out of the cubicle.
As the sensor faucet turned on, Wen Ying looked up while washing her hands, her gaze meeting Bai Yi's in the mirror without any attempt to conceal it. Bai Yi hurriedly looked away and walked out of the bathroom, her steps quickening involuntarily.
A male voice spoke from behind: "Wen Ying, long time no see. I heard you went back to China. Why didn't you contact us?"
Bai Yi slowed her pace again as she finally matched the name Wen Ying with the face.
She didn't turn around and went straight into the venue.
Lunch was a hotel buffet. She sat with Meng Shuang and listened to a few people at the shared table talking about a tech company's roadshow and fundraising.
When she and Meng Shuang were almost finished eating, Wen Ying picked up her tray and patted Meng Shuang on the shoulder: "You looked like me when I came in, but I didn't recognize you."
Meng Shuang took a deep breath, her heart pounding in her chest, and replied with a smile, "What are you doing here, Sister Ying?"
Wen Ying sat next to Meng Shuang, facing Bai Yi, and nodded slightly.
Strangely, the two met for the second time, and it wasn't even a private meeting, but each time they met, they never introduced themselves, and the people around them never introduced them as acquaintances.
Wen Ying took a spoonful of porridge: "A friend's startup is having its Series B funding roadshow here, so I came to chat with other people in the industry. What about you? What are you busy with?"
Meng Shuang: "We sponsored this year's pharmaceutical conference in Vietnam and Hong Kong to promote new drugs."
Wen Ying nodded and hummed in agreement as she ate her meal.
The two had almost finished eating, and Meng Shuang didn't want Wen Ying and Bai Yi to meet. If something happened, she and Zhong Yunxi wouldn't be able to cover it up.
Just as she was about to leave, someone came over to greet Wen Ying, "You listened to two presentations this morning, how were they?"
The person was sitting on the other side of Wenying. He looked up and saw Baiyi, and paused for a second.
Bai Yi knew this person; she had met him at a gathering that her senior, Lu Xin, had taken her to. His name was Ning Ye, and her senior had told her that he was the founder of a technology company and was unmarried.
Meng Shuang seized the opportunity and quickly stood up, saying, "Sister Ying, you two chat. We need to go back to the venue to prepare for the afternoon's schedule."
Ning Ye watched Meng Shuang and Bai Yi leave the table and asked Wen Ying, "Was that Bai Yi?"
Wen Ying looked at the porridge in the bowl and slowly exhaled, "Mmm."
Ning Ye remained silent for a long time.
Wen Ying smiled and said, "Why do you all act like this when you see me meet her? What, are you afraid I'll bully her? I really wish we could run into Zhong Yunxi and have him introduce us to each other."
“Wen Ying, you and Zhong Yunxi…” Ning Ye first met Bai Yi at a dinner party and remembered her because Zhong Yunxi insisted on taking the seat next to her from Lu Xin. At that time, he felt that Zhong Yunxi treated Bai Yi differently.
Wen Ying smiled faintly.
Men usually offer comfort based on facts, so Ning Ye continued, "It's a real shame about you two, but when it comes to relationships, there's no logic to it. Zhong Yunxi, to be honest, he's a real jerk. People who are cold-hearted and can't be warmed up are all like that. You're so smart, don't make yourself miserable."
Wen Ying remained expressionless, simply replying, "Indeed."
However, she lacked nothing and could easily obtain everything, yet she couldn't have what she liked most. That resentment almost became a heartache for Wen Ying, like an inextinguishable fire that burned her spine day and night.
She never bowed her head to anyone, except Zhong Yunxi, in front of whom she had ever been so pathetic.
“Your ideas are indeed good. I’ll go back and organize them and report to headquarters.” Wen Ying quickly calmed down and started talking to Ning Ye about the project.
Ning Ye was thinking about something else, which he didn't tell Wen Ying. Zhong Yunxi had also invested in his company's Qingrui series of robot dogs. The two of them had decided on it at the card table a few days ago, so he didn't come to the venue today.
Ning Ye also felt that the two were simply not meant to be. Wen Ying had been back in China for quite some time, and she and Zhong Yunxi always seemed to run into each other by some twist of fate. Wen Ying had even met Bai Yi, but she just couldn't seem to bump into Zhong Yunxi. However, it was probably for the best that they didn't meet.
Now that Zhong Yunxi has joined the project, he won't ask Wen Ying for any more funding. He feels a headache if the two of them get involved.
The afternoon meeting agenda included a detailed presentation by Runhe on the new drug, followed by a half-hour discussion in the form of a symposium. The stage was furnished with sofas and low tables. Attendees included the moderator, two or three renowned traditional Chinese medicine practitioners, leaders from the drug administration department, Runhe's representative, and Bai Yi.
When Wen Ying entered through the back door of the conference hall, Bai Yi was explaining the issue of clinical side effects to a guest speaker.
Wen Ying stood at the booth set up at the back of the venue, reached out and picked up a copy of the new drug DA to look at it. Bai Yi's voice came through the microphone, still gentle and soft, and pleasant to hear.
"The most typical clinical symptom of Ge Sang granules is indeed a decrease in neutrophil count. This is also the key point I want to explain to you all today, as mentioned by Professor Yang from the Third Affiliated Hospital..."
"To protect the formula, the ingredients of Gesang granules are not fully listed in the instructions. Our research results show that the main component that causes this reaction is curcumin, which inhibits key inflammatory signaling pathways such as NF-κB..."
"For this type of symptom, clinicians need to rule out autoimmune diseases. If the patient is simply prescribed Ge Sang granules at the normal dosage, the decrease in neutrophil count caused during the course of treatment is completely recoverable after stopping the medication..."
Wen Ying listened to Bai Yi's speech on stage. She had made many investments in biopharmaceuticals and was familiar with some of the terms.
Ever since she learned of Bai Yi's existence, she found it hard not to observe her, and it was impossible not to be curious about what she looked like, what her personality was like, and what Zhong Yunxi loved about her.
Having been in the domestic and international capital markets for so many years, she may not be able to judge people with uncanny insight, but at least she is not far off the mark. Zhong Yunxi is not the kind of person who would lower his head to coax someone, but Bai Yi seems to be the kind of obedient girl who is most easily coaxed.
Bai Yi's life and work are simple. After being together for a long time, Zhong Yunxi has become almost her entire social circle. Any slight movement around Zhong Yunxi is like a cataclysmic event for Bai Yi.
Zhong Yunxi couldn't possibly be unaware of the fragility of this relationship; maintaining his marriage with Bai Yi required far more effort than his work.
The more Wen Ying understood Bai Yi, the more she glimpsed Zhong Yunxi's true intentions. It was like someone walking in a storm suddenly finding themselves carrying a delicate flower that couldn't withstand the wind or rain.
Wen Ying wasn't sure how long he could keep it.
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