Volume One, Chapter Seventeen: Little Yu Mo, I hope you will like this grand gift I have prepared for you.
Yu Mo’s expression remained unchanged as she lifted her long lashes, her tone indifferent.
“Friends,” she replied.
She hoped Lin Xing would be wary of the crown prince and restrain his arrogance. If so, there might still be hope for the pharmaceutical factory.
“Oh?” Lin Xing twirled a fountain pen between his fingers, a faint, almost imperceptible smile at his lips. “I thought you were his girlfriend.”
“I’m not.” Yu Mo dared not claim to be the crown prince’s girlfriend—that would only invite trouble.
A flicker of delight passed through Lin Xing’s eyes as he spun the pen with his slender fingers. “But the way he looks at you isn’t how one looks at just a friend, you know.” The possessiveness in that gaze was unmistakable; as a man himself, he understood all too well the implications—longing, ownership, and overflowing affection. So even the illustrious crown prince could secretly pine for a woman.
“President Lin, did you come all this way just to discuss my personal affairs?” Yu Mo had little fondness for Lin Xing; the man was far too defiant for her tastes.
Lin Xing turned the black metal pen in his hand, fixing his gaze on Yu Mo’s beautiful eyes before speaking slowly. “Since you’re just friends with the crown prince, why not ask for his help? I’m sure you’re well aware of his influence in Modu. It would be a matter of a single word from him. Or, if we all have dinner together, with the crown prince present, I would have to give him that respect, don’t you think, Yu Mo?”
Yu Mo regarded Lin Xing, as if trying to discern whether he was joking. She replied solemnly, “The crown prince doesn’t have time for dinner with me.”
“How do you know if you don’t try?” Lin Xing would have bet that with just a phone call, Mu Shaozhou would definitely show up.
Yu Mo stood up. “President Lin, I have other matters to attend to. Please make yourself comfortable.” With that, she opened the door to the reception room and left.
After she departed, Manager Yao sent Lin Hua in to see Lin Xing. Lin Hua brushed past Yu Mo in the hallway, giving her a glance and a reminder: “Yu Mo, you didn’t hit President Lin today, did you? Yesterday you hit him, and after you left, he really gave me a scolding.”
Yu Mo ignored her.
Manager Yao, standing to the side, shuddered at this revelation. Yu Mo hit President Lin?
As if just noticing Manager Yao, Lin Hua covered her mouth. “Sorry, Yu Mo, I didn’t mean to bring it up, but I can’t always be the one to bear the consequences when you upset President Lin.”
Yu Mo snorted coldly, knowing full well Lin Hua’s words were intentional. Now that Manager Yao knew, it was as good as the entire board knowing. If the application succeeded, all would be well, but if it failed, the board would surely blame her. Then she would have no chance at managing the pharmaceutical plant—precisely what Lin Hua wanted.
“Lin Hua, you’re more than capable of handling it,” Yu Mo said, then turned and left.
Lin Hua entered the reception room. “President Lin.”
Lin Xing didn’t even look up. “Have you redone your application?”
Lin Hua hurriedly handed over her application. “Yes, please have a look.”
Lin Xing took it, lit a cigarette, and leafed through the document. “Summarize it for me.”
“Of course,” Lin Hua began, speaking slowly.
Lin Xing rested his arm on the desk, letting the smoke drift toward Lin Hua. He seemed to listen, but perhaps he didn’t; a glimmer of light flashed in his dark eyes, as if recalling something amusing, his attention fully absorbed.
When Lin Hua finished, she couldn’t help coughing twice. “President Lin?”
Still not looking up, he held her application in hand. “You may go—wait for news tomorrow.”
Lin Hua bowed deeply and left the room.
Lin Xing stubbed out his cigarette, a faint smile in his voice. “Yu Mo, I hope you’ll like the gift I’ve prepared for you.”
Lin Hua then spread the word that President Lin would respond the next day. The entire board and Manager Yao were excited. Manager Yao greatly admired Lin Hua’s abilities. “Miss Lin, it must have been your sincerity that moved President Lin,” he said.
Casting a sidelong glance at Yu Mo, Manager Yao sighed inwardly. Miss Yu was decent enough, but her temper was too much—imagine daring to strike President Lin! If he were in Lin Xing’s position, he wouldn’t sign her application either. He was already grateful that the blame hadn’t fallen on the Fu family.
Lin Hua replied modestly, “Let’s not jump to conclusions before tomorrow’s results.”
Indeed, it was too soon to be complacent. Yu Mo had no chance of success, but Lin Hua wasn’t guaranteed it either.
The next day at noon, the pharmaceutical plant received an email containing Lin Xing’s signed letter of authorization. The board immediately convened a meeting with the company’s managers and technical staff. Lin Hua attended as well, but Yu Mo was not informed and thus did not go.
The board announced that the credit belonged to Lin Hua, never mentioning Yu Mo. A technician spoke up, “Why isn’t Miss Yu here?” It was no secret at the plant that Yu Mo and Lin Hua were competing for management. Most of the technicians, being bachelors, had hoped Yu Mo would take charge—then they could see her every day.
At this, Director Huang’s face darkened. “Why talk about her?” Not only had Yu Mo failed to secure the application, she had also offended President Lin, which could harm the plant’s future development. That woman was simply not fit to be a manager.
The atmosphere in the conference room grew stifling.
Suddenly, the black doors of the meeting room were pushed open from outside.
Yu Mo stood before them all, her voice ringing clear. “Even if I am not the plant manager, I represent Fu Ronghan. To hold such a meeting without even notifying me is to show utter disregard for Master Fu. Let me remind you again—Master Fu is only ill. Standing in for him, I have the right to be informed of all major decisions and notifications regarding the plant!”
Today, Yu Mo wore striking makeup—a black business suit, two shining pearl earrings at her lobes adding softness to her look, while her vivid red lips made her presence impossible to ignore. Every word she spoke commanded attention.
The technicians gasped in awe at her entrance. She was formidable—any man who could marry a woman like her must have done countless good deeds in a past life.
Director Huang, however, was displeased. At his age, he was not about to be lectured by a mere slip of a girl. He pointed to a chair in the corner. “Since you’re here, sit and listen.”
After all, Lin Hua would soon be the new manager of Fu’s Pharmaceuticals. Yu Mo was nothing more than an observer.
Yu Mo glanced at the chair in the corner, then strode to stand beside the board member closest to the head of the table. “Excuse me,” she said.
The board member snorted coldly, pretending not to hear, refusing to yield his seat.
Yu Mo had no patience for such antics. She simply pulled his chair back and tipped it. “Yu Mo, you—!” the man sprang up, ready to argue.
Director Huang interjected, “Xiao Yao, bring her a chair.”
Manager Yao immediately fetched a chair and placed it beside the board member’s seat.
Without another word, Yu Mo sat down.
Director Huang resumed, “Today I announce—the management of Fu’s Pharmaceuticals shall—”
“Wait,” Yu Mo interrupted, tapping the table and standing up. She addressed everyone solemnly, “Director Huang, I want to confirm—whoever secured the authorization will be the manager and responsible for future communications with the bureau, correct?”
“That’s right,” replied Director Huang, growing impatient.
“Understood,” Yu Mo sat back down, continuing to listen quietly.
“Management of Fu’s Pharmaceuticals will be handed over to Lin Hua. Tonight, we’ll hold a celebration banquet at the hotel in President Lin’s honor—everyone is invited,” Director Huang concluded, glancing at Yu Mo, anticipating she would excuse herself. After all, who would want to attend the victor’s banquet as the loser?
Arms folded, Yu Mo replied at an unhurried pace, “I’ll be there.”