The next day.
"Pretty wife, this car of yours is really nice."
Li Chen was sitting in the passenger seat, while Lin Yi was driving.
Lin Yi was on her way to the company, and Li Chen needed to go as well to arrange the manpower and tasks for the laboratory.
Originally, Lin Yi had a personal chauffeur, but how could Li Chen let go of such a good opportunity? Through various hints and "coercive persuasion," the driver conveniently complained of a stomachache and took leave, thus Lin Yi had no choice but to drive herself!
Li Chen gazed at Lin Yi's beautiful profile, then his eyes fixated on her towering chest, inwardly exclaiming and making comparisons with Wang Qianqian, wondering if one hand could even grasp it.
Lin Yi turned around and just happened to catch Li Chen's lustful gaze on her body, feeling somewhat shy and annoyed, "What are you looking at?"
"Looking at you," Li Chen blurted out without hesitation.
Lin Yi felt a little bit of sweetness in her heart for some reason, but when she looked at Li Chen again, she realized his gaze seemed to be focused on a particular part of her.
She looked down and realized where he was looking, and immediately snapped in anger, "Jerk!"
Li Chen immediately coughed and quickly straightened up, saying, "Have the instruments been delivered yet?"
Lin Yi was choked with anger. How dare this jerk change the subject?
With a huff, Lin Yi then realized that not long after, Li Chen's body had leaned again, his gaze once more concentrated on that particular part of her.
"Jerk, you're not allowed to look anymore!"
"Look where?" someone answered unconsciously.
"Li Chen, you jerk!"
...
Li Chen and Lin Yi entered the lobby, Lin Yi in front, and Li Chen behind. Seeing the receptionist girl in the lobby, Li Chen winked at her.
The girl, seeing Li Chen, and then him pointing at Lin Yi ahead, couldn't help but wear a shocked expression. Wasn't that the president? Was this man really the president's husband?
Feeling secretly elated, Li Chen and Lin Yi got into the elevator.
Soon, the two arrived on the 9th floor.
"The instruments you wanted have been delivered, and we can start today." Lin Yi said.
They would finally be able to develop the Z substance. Li Chen hoped the resources here could contribute to its creation, albeit with some uncertainty. Lin's Group mainly dealt with cosmetics and was not a specialized laboratory, so leveraging their resources would definitely make things much harder.
However, Li Chen had already done research once before, and with himself overseeing, it shouldn't be a problem.
"Let's go have a look."
The two went to the previous laboratory where Wang Lei and the others were busy as bees. On one of the tables were several oddly shaped instruments, all of which were requested by Li Chen. These items were often used in a chemistry lab and were essential for the development of the Z substance.
Upon seeing Lin Yi and Li Chen enter, everyone hurriedly greeted, "Greetings, President Lin."
"Greetings, President Lin's husband."
Hearing the latter comment, Lin Yi nearly stumbled, while Li Chen momentarily stunned, then broke into a smile, "Hello everyone, hello, don't mind us, just carry on with your work."
Lin Yi was almost furious on the inside. This jerk slipped into the role so quickly. Who else could be as shameless as him? Jerk!
Unfortunately, all Lin Yi could do was swear at him as a jerk, which for someone like Li Chen with a skin as thick as the Iron Shirt and Golden Bell Shield, was barely even tickling.
When Wang Lei saw Li Chen come in, his eyes lit up. He quickly approached Lin Yi, "President Lin, may I ask your husband for a favor?"
Rolling her eyes, Lin Yi had yet to speak when Li Chen jumped in with a smile, "No problem, ask me anything."
With joy in his heart, Wang Lei looked at Li Chen, remembering how he had treated him the day before and feeling somewhat guilty, "Here's the thing, there are some aspects of the formula I still don't quite understand, and I'd like to consult you."
"Sweetie wife, wait for me a moment, I'll explain it to him." Li Chen turned and began to instruct Wang Lei, "This perfume, you see, it's quite easy to concoct. Its three main components are quite common, each making up about thirty percent. The critical part is the remaining ten percent. Within it, you need to add five different materials..."
As Li Chen lectured, Wang Lei took notes, his face lighting up with delight. Lin Yi watched from the side, realizing that Li Chen looked quite handsome when he was serious.
After the explanation, Li Chen patted Wang Lei on the shoulder, "The key to this perfume is right here. Do as I said, and you can produce it."
"Thank you, Mr. Li," Wang Lei said sincerely admiring.
Wang Lei was a practical person, who although initially dissatisfied with Li Chen, was now fully convinced by his demonstrated expertise, and the fact that he was Lin Yi's husband, naturally earned his respect.
Li Chen turned his head and noticed Lin Yi was watching him, and couldn't resist teasing, "How about it? Do you think your husband looks particularly handsome and dashing in this moment?"
Lin Yi's face flushed, "Who's looking at you? What's there to see in a jerk like you?"
Then Lin Yi turned aside, "Here, these are the instruments you wanted."
Li Chen nodded, "I have another request. I want a separate laboratory."
Lin Yi looked puzzled but upon seeing her confusion, Li Chen quickly said, "This was part of our deal. You give me a separate lab, don't interfere with anything else, and I'll help you develop perfumes."
Nodding, Lin Yi agreed, "Okay, I promise. As for the room, you can choose any here on the 9th floor."
"Hehe, thanks, beautiful wife," Li Chen said with a smile.
By now, Lin Yi had resigned herself to Li Chen's moniker, saying, "Do you want anyone in your lab?"
"Of course, I do. You don't think I'd be alone, do you?" said Li Chen. He had already planned, the Z substance was vital, and only a few people knew how to formulae it. Of course, he wouldn't reveal the method for Z substance, but he could divide its formulation into several steps, having others produce components individually, while he personally handled the final development.
Lin Yi and Li Chen walked out side by side. Lin Yi was still somewhat curious and asked, "Why do you want your own laboratory? Isn't Wang Lei's lab quite good?"
"To produce some potions, for my own use," Li Chen answered nonchalantly.
"Manufacturing medicine?"
"Yes," Li Chen said, "In terms of manpower, just picking a few people who are familiar with the basic equipment will do. The medicine I'm making doesn't have very high requirements or standards."
Lin Yi nodded, "You can choose on your own from the perfumers. However, I worry there might be some differences between manufacturing medicine and cosmetics."
"Is my beautiful wife so worried about me?" Li Chen said with a mischievous smile, "But don't worry, your husband has already considered this, I'll take care of the key parts."
"Who's worried about you?" Lin Yi's face flushed, "I am worried about our agreement, okay?"
At the mention of the agreement, Li Chen couldn't help but pause, then he sized up Lin Yi.
"Looking at what?" Lin Yi, feeling as if she'd said something she shouldn't have, was also a bit nervous. Would they really separate in three months?
"Seeing as you're so beautiful, wouldn't it be a loss for me not to look at you more before we divorce?" Li Chen chuckled.
"Hmph." Lin Yi huffed lightly and said, "I will arrange the manpower for you later."
"Mm, right, I was also about to buy some medicine; I'll write a list later, and let those people go buy them," Li Chen said.
"Do as you please, I still have things to keep me busy."
Watching Lin Yi leave, Li Chen shrugged his shoulders. Soon, several people were arranged to work in Li Chen's laboratory.
Having moved all necessary instruments and items into the lab, Li Chen then made a shopping list and instructed one of them to purchase medicine from the pharmacy, including some Western drugs and some traditional Chinese medicine.
The Z substance was developed through great effort in Li Chen's laboratory, specifically for Li Chen's injuries, but its raw materials were actually very simple. The key lay in the combination of various ingredients, a process similar to blending perfumes—a process Li Chen had already experienced once, so he was well-practiced.
Meanwhile, Lin Yi returned to her office, and at that moment, the phone rang. Through the receiver came the voice of a secretary, "President Lin, the perfumers who came for the interview have passed. Their profiles have been sent to your computer."
"Alright." Lin Yi hung up the phone. Normally, she wouldn't be the one taking care of such matters, but as perfume could be said to be Lin's Group's foundation, she couldn't afford not to pay attention.
"Hm?" After looking at the profiles of those individuals, Lin Yi was somewhat puzzled, "There's one with a medical background?"
"Medical background, isn't Li Chen just about to manufacture drugs?" Lin Yi couldn't help but be pleased, this could prove to be helpful.
Lin Yi hadn't even realized that she had started to consider things from Li Chen's perspective. This change had happened unconsciously.
In the laboratory.
The medicines had been bought. Li Chen was directing others to sort the medicines, while he himself grouped them, each group tasked with managing a part of the Z substance production process. He didn't arrange the procedures in order and also skipped some critical steps.
"You, you, you, hurry up and pour this medicine in," Li Chen commanded, but suddenly, his phone rang.
Glancing down at it, Li Chen's expression immediately grew serious.
"Keep sorting things as you were told," Li Chen said before stepping out.
"Master!" The sound of Shadow's voice came through the phone.
"What's the matter?" Li Chen asked.
Shadow's voice was as calm as ever, "Master, the Ghost King is not dead. Today I detected a new set of instructions he issued; the decoded location points to Linchuan."
Linchuan! Li Chen's expression shifted slightly. Sure enough, this was aimed at him.
"Besides that, I have captured another important clue related to the Ghost King."
"What is it?" Li Chen asked.
"It's of great importance, I must explain it in person to you," said Shadow on the other end.
Li Chen furrowed his brows, "Agreed."
"I will come to Linchuan City specifically to meet with you in a week," Shadow stated.
Li Chen said, "A week later, come to Linchuan, you'll know how to find me then."
"Yes, Master."
After hanging up the phone, Li Chen looked through the floor-to-ceiling windows over the city of Linchuan, his expression calm. There would be a result in a week.
…
On the other side, at a discreet manor in Linchuan City.
A beautiful woman hung up the phone and then pushed open a room door.
The room was extremely dim, the occupant hadn't turned on the light, and the curtains were drawn. Even with the light pouring in from the newly opened door, only a faint silhouette could be seen, along with its shadow cast on the wall.
The person, with their back to Shadow, spoke indifferently as Shadow entered, "How's it going?"
Shadow, very respectfully, stepped forward: "The King of the Netherworld has taken the bait. He still thinks he will understand the situation in a week."
The man turned around, his face not clear, just a hint of a cold smile at the corner of his mouth. He extended a hand and gently pinched Shadow's chin, "Well done. He couldn't possibly imagine that his most hidden trump card has fallen into someone else's hands already."
Shadow showed no resistance, instead resting her head against his chest, "In a week, you will take his place, and the King of the Netherworld will disappear."
"Hahaha." A gleam flashed in the man's eyes, "Good, in a week, that will be the day the King of the Netherworld dies."
Li Chen did not know what awaited him after a week. After hanging up the phone, he returned to the laboratory to continue his work on the Z substance. For him at present, the production of the Z substance was of utmost importance.