"What! You're saying Ferdinand and his team left? How is that possible? Didn't he agree to stay and help us at Lin's Group develop new cosmetics? I've already raised the funds, and we were about to buy the equipment and instruments!"
Upon hearing this news, Lin Yi abruptly stood up from his seat.
The secretary was startled by Lin Yi's action. The usually composed president had such an uncharacteristic reaction upon hearing the news today.
But a secretary is only a secretary, unaware of the shock Lin Yi was feeling at that moment.
Perhaps only a handful of people in the entire company were aware of the Frenchman, Ferdinand's, status.
He was the master she had specifically hired for a large sum of money. His team had the experience of developing renowned products, such as those for Chanel, created by Ferdinand's team. Ferdinand, nearing sixty this year, was universally acknowledged as the person with the deepest understanding of perfumes in the world.
To invite his team for an assessment at her company, Lin Yi had spent nearly five million. She had finally reached a verbal agreement, but the equipment they required was too expensive, and Lin Yi couldn't come up with the money right away.
But she was a shrewd businesswoman who knew she had to seize this opportunity, for it was her only chance to enter the big capital market.
Lin Yi had only one dream in life: to elevate Lin's Group to the ranks of the world's elite giants, akin to Microsoft.
And this time, Ferdinand's team had given her hope.
Even if his team demanded fifty percent of the profits, Lin Yi had agreed without hesitation.
She had sacrificed her own marriage to raise three hundred million in funds, but she hadn't expected the team to actually leave.
Then what was the purpose of all her efforts? If the company failed to develop new products, it would inevitably be replaced by the tide of time, and Lin's Group would be finished.
Perhaps Lin's Group could still secure a profit of about ten million each year, but Lin Yi scorned such numbers. She wanted more than just that.
She was an ambitious woman, with incredibly great ambitions!
"Arrange it for me immediately, I will invite Ferdinand's team to lunch at the Cloud Top Hotel. Bring the whole Public Relations department to me. I will spare no expense to keep Ferdinand's team!"
...
At that moment, Li Chen was feeling bored and visited Lin's Group.
Why visit Lin's Group? The reason was simple: he wanted to gauge the scale of Lin's Group and, by the way, see if he could affiliate a laboratory with Lin's name.
Indeed, Li Chen had decided that having his laboratory in North America was a bit passive. Now that he was in his home country, he wanted to establish a lab there too. With this double insurance, his supply of Substance Z wouldn't be abruptly cut off.
He had to admit that right now, he was in a reactive position.
Approaching the reception desk, he said to the receptionist, "Excuse me, where is the president's office?"
Indeed, Li Chen still didn't know where Lin Yi's office was, because the two of them... well, their marriage was coerced. Could they really expect to share confidences?
No hope for that.
Li Chen had a lot of power. Honestly, a company the size of Lin's Group didn't even register on his radar.
Yet such a company had one advantage: it would not arouse suspicion.
If a large company suddenly appeared and quickly rose to prominence in the country, it would undoubtedly draw attention from people with intentions.
If it were Lin's Group, though, it wouldn't be a big deal. After all, they had an established presence and were of a considerable size; even if they expanded tenfold abruptly, it would seem normal.
"Good day, sir. Do you have an appointment?"
"I'm her husband, do I need an appointment?"
"Sir, please don't joke around. Our president is still single. If you keep this up, I'll have to call security."
"What do you mean single? We just got married a few days ago. Do I need to show you our marriage certificate?"
"Sir, please don't say that anymore. I am going to call security. This is an insult to the CEO."
"I really am her husband. Otherwise, you can call her..."
"Security, security! There's a madman here..."
...
In the end, Li Chen was chased out as if he were a madman, and as a result... he could never again enter the doors of Lin's Group. Two security guards were watching him with vigilant eyes nearby.
It seemed the only way he could get in was to force his way through.
Although he barely knew Lin Yi, hitting her staff seemed somewhat unjustified.
Therefore, Li Chen did something he thought was quite 'mad.' That was, he decided to wait at the entrance.
You, Lin Yi, have to leave the office sometime, right? When you do, won't I be able to see you?
Possibly aware of Li Chen's presence, it was not even two minutes before he saw Lin Yi walk out from the office with a flat-chested beauty following her.
Yes, flat-chested. Li Chen was not mistaken.
Watching the two head into the parking garage, Li Chen immediately stood up, causing the security guards to tense up.
The CEO had just come down, and if this guy saw her and went crazy, that wouldn't be good.
But the security guards had underestimated the speed of Li Chen's 'madness.'
"Wife, I'm here to see you!"
Li Chen shouted at Lin Yi, who was five or six meters away.
The security guards were dumbfounded and wanted to stop him, but found it was already too late.
Lin Yi suddenly heard this shout and immediately became angry. Who was making such a commotion at the company entrance? Clearly, she could not associate the word 'wife' with herself.
But when she turned her head and saw who it was, irritation stirred within her.
What did this man want, coming to her company like this?
She told her secretary to get the car and walked directly to the front gate.
The two security guards were nearly scared witless; the CEO herself had come over, surely to blame them for not handling such a trivial matter properly.
But then...
"What are you doing here?"
Lin Yi asked with a frown.
Upon hearing this, Li Chen said cheerily, "Of course, I'm here to see you. This is your company, which also makes it mine. How about it, want to invite me inside to sit?"
"You... I'm still busy. I'll speak with the security, and if you want to go in, then go in."
"You're not going to accompany me?"
"When do I have free time to accompany you? Go in if you like, or don't!"
After speaking, Lin Yi immediately gave a few instructions to the security guards. Once the secretary brought the car around, she got in and left without so much as glancing at Li Chen.
Seeing Lin Yi hurry away, Li Chen knew she must have had some important business to attend to.
Well, he would start by taking a look inside the company.