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Recently, several employees have left Jin Chen Capital, including Suning, Lan Qianyi, Hao Shuai, and Gao Yue, who have also submitted their resignation reports.

The news spread throughout the industry, and many colleagues were discussing it privately.

But for Jin Chen, this was no big deal.

Jin Chen has been established for so many years, it's perfectly normal for people to come and go.

The company is large and well-established; the departure of a few people will not shake its fundamental structure.

However, the atmosphere inside became subtle.

What appears ordinary is actually a turbulent undercurrent; the high-level maneuvering and power struggles are already common knowledge.

The root of all this lies with Qu Zhonghui.

That day, Wu Kezhi, quite unusually, knocked on the door of President Qu's office.

"Mr. Qu, is it convenient for us to chat for a few minutes?"

Qu Zhonghui was looking at documents when he looked up. "Old Wu! Sit down. What's up?"

Wu Kezhi sat down opposite him and said directly, "I want to keep Sun Yiqiu."

Qu Zhonghui raised an eyebrow. "Sun Yiqiu?"

“Yes! Sun Yiqiu has good potential, is down-to-earth and willing to learn, and is a good prospect.” Wu Kezhi said, “Moreover, the fourth group is short-staffed right now. Lan Qianyi left, and if Sun Yiqiu leaves as well, there will be no one to do the work.”

Qu Zhonghui put down the documents and leaned back in his chair. "Old Wu, Sun Yiqiu's contract has expired. According to the rules, the HR department has the right not to renew it. Besides, he's just a high school student. It's already rare for him to stay at Jin Chen Capital for so long."

"President Qu, I used to dislike him even more than you do, but his performance has forced me to take him seriously. I am willing to keep such a promising young man."

Qu Zhonghui remained silent for a while before saying meaningfully, "Old Wu, I can keep him, but you have to do something for me."

"what's up?"

"Your group four will take over the project for Rihuan Bio's IPO and be responsible for the entire process," Qu Zhonghui said directly.

Wu Kezhi's expression changed. "Rihuan Bio? President Qu, haven't you been personally overseeing this project? Why have you suddenly been transferred to Group Four?"

“Rihuan Bio is the culmination of my years of hard work, and it must be successfully listed. Your team four is capable and efficient, and I trust you to take charge of it.”

Wu Kezhi frowned: "President Qu, but I heard... Rihuan Bio has been having some problems lately?"

"Who told you that?" Qu Zhonghui's eyes suddenly sharpened.

“There are some rumors circulating in the industry,” Wu Kezhi said vaguely, “saying that their products may have problems.”

Qu Zhonghui stared at him for a few seconds, then opened a drawer, took out a letter, and threw it on the table. "Read it yourself."

Wu Kezhi picked up the letter, which was a printed anonymous letter with a very brief content: Rihuan Bio's products have serious safety hazards. If they are forced to go public, I will file a formal complaint with the regulatory authorities.

"When did you receive this?" Wu Kezhi asked.

“Last week,” Qu Zhonghui said, “the whole company is very tense now, and the listing process has been suspended.”

Wu Kezhi put down the letter. "So you asked me to take on this project because you wanted me to..."

“Find the person who wrote this letter,” Qu Zhonghui interrupted him. “Find out who they are, why they wrote the letter, and what evidence they have. Then… solve the problem.”

The phrase "solving the problem" carries a profound meaning.

Wu Kezhi realized that this was no ordinary listing project; it was a ticking time bomb.

Qu Zhonghui wanted him to clear the mines.

In fact, by keeping himself at Jin Chen, Qu Zhonghui was essentially letting himself play this role.
“President Qu, this…” He wanted to refuse.

“Old Wu,” Qu Zhonghui stood up and looked at Wu Kezhi with a seductive gaze, “I know you have concerns. But this project is related to the company’s major affairs and your personal future. As long as you handle this matter well, I will personally talk to HR to renew Sun Yiqiu’s contract. Not only will it be renewed, but he can also get a raise and a promotion. In addition, I will also give Group Four some preferential treatment in terms of project resources afterward.”

"So, what do you think? Is this deal fair?"

"..." Wu Kezhi remained silent.

He knew this was a trap. If there was really a problem with Rihuan Bio's products, he would be the scapegoat if he took over; if there was no problem, investigating anonymous letters would be a thankless and offensive task.

But Sun Yiqiu... that kid is really good, down-to-earth, hardworking, and shouldn't be eliminated just because he chose the wrong side.

“I need time to think about it,” he said.

"Okay, I'll give you one day," Qu Zhonghui said. "Give me your answer tomorrow."

……

When Wu Kezhi returned to Group Four, Lin Yuming was pacing anxiously in his office.

"Boss, you're finally back!" Lin Yuming said. "Yi Qiu went to the HR department! He said his contract was expiring and he went to discuss renewal. But I heard... President Gao might not renew it!"

"Well, I see."

"Boss, how about we switch jobs together? Anyway, Xiaolan said Ningyuan Capital is pretty good."

"What's the panic?" Wu Kezhi sat down. "Yi Qiu can't leave."

"Huh? Why?"

"I said I can't leave, and I mean I can't leave." Wu Kezhi didn't explain. "Wait for news."

Sure enough, an hour later, Sun Yiqiu returned, still looking completely bewildered.

Lin Yuming quickly asked, "How did it go? What did the HR department say?"

Sun Yiqiu opened his mouth in disbelief, “President Gao said…the company decided to renew my contract, and…he even gave me a raise and promoted me to senior analyst.”

"Really?!" Lin Yuming was overjoyed. "That's wonderful! I knew the company would see how hard you work!"

Sun Yiqiu, however, was not happy. He looked at Wu Kezhi and asked, "President Wu, what... what's going on? Wasn't the company not planning to make an appointment with me?"

Wu Kezhi waved his hand: "If the company keeps you, just do your job well. Don't think too much about it."

"But……"

"No buts," Wu Kezhi interrupted him. "Go to work!"

Sun Yiqiu had no choice but to go.

Lin Yuming leaned closer and whispered, "Boss, what's going on? Why are President Qu and President Gao suddenly being so agreeable?"

Wu Kezhi glanced at him: "Yuming, some things are better left unknown. Just remember, it's a good thing that Yiqiu stayed."

"Is it really a good thing?" Lin Yuming still found it somewhat unbelievable.

Wu Kezhi did not answer, but looked out the window.

Rihuan Bio, anonymous letter, product issues...

Taking on this project was like jumping into a whirlpool.

But in order to keep Sun Yiqiu, he had no choice.

It's just unknown what the consequences of this decision will be.

At that moment, Qu Zhonghui was in his office, looking at Rihuan Bio's financial report.

His face was expressionless, but his eyes were cold.

Anonymous letter? A whistleblower? No matter who's causing trouble, he'll find them.

Because Rihuan Bio must go public, this is his hard work, and it is also the reason for his confidence in asking the managing director.

Anyone who tries to block your way will have to pay the price.

As for Wu Kezhi... I hope he's smart and doesn't disappoint himself.

Otherwise, whether or not the four groups stay or not will not be up to him.

A covert war has begun.

Sun Yiqiu's retention of his position is merely the smallest piece in this covert battle.

……

Sun Yiqiu was restless all day, feeling as excited as if he were on a roller coaster.

In the morning, he thought he was going to be fired and had mentally prepared himself to go to Ningyuan Capital.

As a result, Gao Yue suddenly told him that the company not only renewed his contract, but also gave him a raise and a promotion.

The turn of events happened so fast that Sun Yiqiu still hasn't reacted.

"Manager Lin, why do you think the company is keeping me?" Sun Yiqiu couldn't help but ask Lin Yuming during lunch.

"Is that even a question? Of course it's because you're outstanding!" Lin Yuming said, shoveling rice into his mouth. "Yiqiu, I'm not trying to criticize you, but you're just too insecure. How much have you accomplished during your time in Group Four? President Wu has seen it all, and President Qu must have heard about it too. It's normal for the company to retain talent."

“But…” Sun Yiqiu still felt something was wrong. “Su Ning, Lan Qianyi, Hao Shuai and the others are also quite capable, didn’t they all leave? Why am I the only high school student left?”

"This..." Lin Yuming couldn't explain it either, then thought of a ridiculous reason, "Maybe... you're different from others?"

As the two were talking, Wu Kezhi came over with a tray, looking rather unwell.

"Mr. Wu," Sun Yiqiu quickly greeted him.

"Hmm." Wu Kezhi sat down and ate in silence.

"Mr. Wu, is something on your mind?" Lin Yuming asked cautiously.

"It's nothing," Wu Kezhi replied briefly, but everyone could tell he was in a heavy mood.

He spent the whole morning inquiring about Rihuan Bio.

I first asked a few friends in the industry, and they all said they hadn't heard of anything unusual about Rihuan Bio recently, and the listing process was proceeding normally.

I went to see Ding Libo, a former colleague from the second comprehensive group. The project of Rihuan Bio was initially handled by the second group, but later, because of its potential for listing, it was transferred to General Manager Qu to take charge personally.

Although Ding Libo has been transferred to another department, he still knows a little about the situation.

“Old Wu, the Rihuan Bio project… is a very complicated matter.” Ding Libo spoke cryptically on the phone. “When I left Group Two, the project had already been transferred, so I don’t know the specific details. But I heard that Director Qu is particularly interested in this project, and anyone who touches it is doomed.”

"What do you mean?" Wu Kezhi asked.

"What I mean is, this project is President Qu's crown jewel. After all, it's a unicorn-level project; it can only succeed, it can't fail. If anyone messes it up, the consequences will be severe." Ding Libo paused. "But Lao Wu, let me give you a piece of advice: since President Qu has entrusted this project to you, you should do it well. Although I know you have concerns, this is an opportunity for Team Four. If you do well, Team Four's status in the company will be different."

"An opportunity?" Wu Kezhi smiled bitterly. "I think it's more like a trap."

“You have to jump into the pit!” Ding Libo sighed. “Old Wu, you’ve been in this position for so many years, and most of the time you don’t have a choice. You… be careful.”

After hanging up the phone, Wu Kezhi felt even more troubled.

Ding Libo's words confirmed his suspicions: there were problems with the Rihuan Bio project, and Qu Zhonghui was pushing it hard.

If we let him take on this task now, it's like sending him to clear a minefield. If he succeeds, the credit goes to Boss Qu; if he fails, he'll be the one to blame.

But he had no choice; he had already agreed in order to keep Sun Yiqiu.

Of course, he could have just walked away like Lin Yuming suggested, but he was really unwilling to do so.

It's important to know that his continued stay at Jin Chen Capital was all thanks to the sacrifice of Ma Xiyuan.

Being a deserter was not his style, and he also felt sorry for Ma Xiyuan.

……

In the afternoon, Zhou Qingyu, the deputy director of Group Two, wandered over to Group Four for a visit.

"Hey, Yiqiu, congratulations!" Zhou Qingyu patted Sun Yiqiu on the shoulder. "I heard you not only stayed on, but also got a promotion and a raise? Double happiness!"

Sun Yiqiu smiled sheepishly, "Thank you, President Zhou."

“There’s even more good news!” Zhou Qingyu said mysteriously, “Your group four is about to take on a big project. If you succeed, your group will be doing a great job!” “A big project? What big project?” Lin Yuming leaned closer.

Didn't General Manager Wu tell you?

"No ah!"

"I don't know about that." Zhou Qingyu blinked, knowing that Wu Kezhi was trying to keep it a secret. "Anyway, that's the message that's been circulating."

Lin Yuming, Zhou Qingyu, and Sun Yiqiu all looked at Wu Kezhi, but Wu Kezhi, who was reading documents, didn't even look up. "President Zhou, do you have nothing better to do than come to our group to gossip?"

"Hehe, I'm just happy for you guys!" Zhou Qingyu laughed. "Alright, alright, I'm leaving. I won't disturb your preparations for this big project."

He left, leaving four groups in silence.

Lin Yuming couldn't help but ask, "Boss, is what President Zhou said true? Is our team really going to do a big project?"

"Don't listen to his nonsense! It's not true."

"But……"

"No buts!" Wu Kezhi said succinctly. "Stop asking questions, just get to work. If you don't have the ability, Suning won't want you."

"..." Lin Yuming and Sun Yiqiu could only return to their workstations with strange expressions.

Although Wu Kezhi remained mysterious, the atmosphere in the four groups clearly became strange.

Wu Kezhi was very secretive. He would often sneak up to the rooftop to make phone calls or rush out the door, and no one knew what he was going to do.

Lin Yuming, being very curious, went to ask Zhou Qingyu for more information.

"Mr. Zhou, could you tell us more? What kind of big project is it?"

“I really can’t say.” Zhou Qingyu shook his head. “Old Wu told me not to say. But… let me remind you, this project is not simple. Your team needs to be careful. If you do it well, you can make a fortune.”

"What's not a simple method?"

"I don't know the specifics either, you should ask Lao Wu."

"..."

Lin Yuming returned to Group Four with a heavy heart.

He wanted to tell Sun Yiqiu, but he was afraid of scaring him.

In the end, he simply said, "Yi Qiu, listen to General Manager Wu these next few days, talk less and do more."

"What happened?" Sun Yiqiu asked.

"I don't know either! It's just...better to be cautious."

……

Wu Kezhi has been investigating that anonymous letter for the past few days.

They used all their connections, even contacting friends who used to work in regulatory departments, but still couldn't find any clues.

The letter was printed; there were no fingerprints or handwriting.

The sender's address is fake, and the sender's information is also fake; it's as if it appeared out of thin air.

What's even stranger is that very few people within the company know about this...

Besides Qu Zhonghui and himself, there were only a few senior executives from Rihuan Bio.

Wu Kezhi had a vague feeling that the letter might not have been sent by an outsider, but rather by someone inside Rihuan Biotechnology Company.

But who could it be? And what is their purpose?
Is the intention to prevent Rihuan Bio from going public? Or is it a warning to Qu Zhonghui?

Although he couldn't understand it, one thing was clear: he had been dragged into this.

We have to accept the Rihuan Bio project, whether we want to or not.

No one knows what will happen next; he can only take it one step at a time.

Now I just hope nothing serious happens.

……

Nowadays, Gao Yue frequently visits Tomson Riviera to secretly meet with Suning.

Before she knew it, she had come to like this feeling; Su Ning always brought her unexpected joy.

She had never thought about a relationship with a younger man before, nor was she interested in coaxing a naive little brother.

However, after dating this boy who is much younger than me, I suddenly discovered that relationships between older women and younger men are really sweet and beautiful.

When Gao Yue arrived, Suning had just finished an online meeting.

The two didn't say much, but naturally hugged and kissed, and then went to their familiar bedroom.

Just like last time, Gao Yue was very proactive, as if she wanted to vent all the pressure from work.

Afterwards, she leaned contentedly against Suning's chest, panting slightly to calm herself down.

“You seem very tired lately.” Su Ning did notice Gao Yue’s absent-mindedness.

"How can I not be tired?" Gao Yue smiled wryly. "Jin Chen is in complete chaos right now. President Qu is completely focused on the listing of Rihuan Bio, and it's obvious that Rihuan Bio has run into serious problems. The people below are caught in the middle, in a dilemma. By the way, that Rihuan Bio project has been transferred to Group Four. Wu Kezhi is handling it."

“Rihuan Bio?” Su Ning raised an eyebrow. “Qu Zhonghui passed that bomb to President Wu?”

"You also know that it's a mine?" Gao Yue looked at him.

“Of course!” Suning said, “I’ve heard some rumors about Rihuan Bio’s products. Their flagship product, ‘cell regeneration agent,’ may have problematic clinical data. The fact that they’re rushing to launch it now is most likely to boost their performance.”

Gao Yue nodded: "You're right. I've checked, and Rihuan Bio's revenue growth over the past three years has mainly come from this one product. But the clinical trials for this product have only been completed in Phase II, and the Phase III data has not been released. People in the industry have been questioning it for a long time. So why is Qu Zhonghui still pushing it so hard?"

“Because his current situation is awkward, he needs to consult with the managing director about performance.” Su Ning analyzed calmly, “After Li Shensi came, Qu Zhonghui’s pressure increased. The founders have already shown their dissatisfaction with him, after all, Li Shensi came to check and balance him. So he must prove himself with outstanding performance, otherwise his position will be unstable. If Rihuan Bio successfully goes public, it can bring Jin Chen at least several hundred million yuan in underwriting revenue and enhance the company’s brand. This is his chance to turn things around.”

Gao Yue sighed, "That's why he was in such a hurry, even ignoring the anonymous whistleblower letter."

"An anonymous letter?" Su Ning asked. "Did someone report it?"

“Yes, I received it last week. It says that Rihuan Bio’s products have safety risks,” Gao Yue said. “President Qu is asking Wu Kezhi to investigate who wrote it. But I think he’s just pretending to investigate; he’s really trying to suppress it. He doesn’t want this to affect the listing process.”

Su Ning was silent for a moment. "Gao Yue, you'd better not touch this project. If Rihuan Bio really has problems and goes bankrupt after listing, everyone involved will be held responsible. As for President Wu... I can't persuade him, but you have to protect yourself."

“I know,” Gao Yue said. “I’m only in charge of human resources now, not involved in specific projects. But… President Qu doesn’t intend for me to be idle.”

"What do you mean?"

“I submitted my resignation,” Gao Yue said. “But General Manager Qu didn’t approve it. He told me to wait until Rihuan Bio goes public, and that if the IPO is successful, he would give me a big bonus and promote me to vice president.”

Suning laughed: "This is just empty promises. If the IPO succeeds, he'll get all the credit; if it fails, you won't leave honorably either. He wants to tie you to his boat so that if anything goes wrong, there will be more people to share the burden."

“That’s what I think too,” Gao Yue said. “But I can’t leave now. There’s a clause in the contract that says I need to apply three months in advance to leave, and the company has the right to delay approval during major projects. President Qu is using that clause to prevent me from leaving.”

“Then you’ll have to wait,” Su Ning said. “I estimate we’ll have results soon regarding the Rihuan Bio project. Either it will successfully go public, or it will fail midway. Either way, it won’t take too long.”

He sat up abruptly, looking at the stunningly beautiful Gao Yue. "But you have to promise me that no matter what happens, you won't get involved. You're the HR director; if you can avoid something related to the project, then do so."

“Okay.” Gao Yue nodded. “By the way, I can’t go to Ningyuan Capital for now. I have to wait until things are settled here.”

"No rush," Su Ning said. "The partner position is reserved for you. You can come whenever you're available."

Gao Yue felt a warmth in her heart; she knew her relationship with Su Ning was quite delicate...

They were not simply superiors and subordinates, nor were they normal lovers.

But she really enjoyed the feeling of being needed and trusted.

"Su Ning, thank you," she said softly.

"No need to thank me." Su Ning lay back down. "It's just a mutually beneficial arrangement. You help me build Ningyuan's talent system, and I'll give you a platform and opportunities. It's a fair trade."

This is a very realistic statement, but Gao Yue likes this kind of reality.

Among adults, honesty is better than hypocrisy.

After lying down for a while, Gao Yue suddenly asked, "Your relationship with Lan Qianyi... is it also a mutually beneficial arrangement?"

Su Ning glanced at her: "Why are you suddenly asking this?"

“I’m just curious,” Gao Yue said. “I know I shouldn’t ask, but… I just want to know.”

“Qianyi is different,” Su Ning said frankly. “She’s someone I want to seriously pursue a relationship with. As for you and me… it’s a different kind of relationship. We can understand and support each other, but we won’t be partners. Is that clear?”

"I understand." Gao Yue smiled. "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. I won't cause you any trouble, nor will I affect your relationship with Lan Qianyi."

"That's good."

Gao Yue glanced at the time, stood up, and put on her clothes: "I should go. I have to work overtime tomorrow; President Qu has called another meeting."

"Again."

"Ah? Are you still coming?"

"You were in a bad mood and not in the right state of mind just now, but now..."

"Fine! You must be my nemesis from a past life."

Another hour or two passed before Gao Yue was finally allowed to get dressed and leave.

As she reached the door, Gao Yue glanced back at Su Ning and said, "If there are any new developments regarding Rihuan Bio, I will let you know."

"Okay, be careful."

After the door closed, Su Ning, shirtless, stood in the living room and thought for a moment.

Rihuan Bio, anonymous letter, Qu Zhonghui strongly pushes for IPO...

All of this points to one conclusion: something big is about to happen to Jin Chen.

This matter could affect many people.

Wu Kezhi, Sun Yiqiu, and even Gao Yue...

All I can do is offer reminders.

Whether they can escape it or not depends on their own fate.

He took out his phone and sent Lan Qianyi a WeChat message: "Are you asleep?"

After a while, Lan Qianyi replied, "Not yet, I'm looking at project materials. What about you?"

"Just finished working. Are you free this weekend? Let's have dinner together."

"Okay, Saturday night?"

"Okay, I'll come pick you up."

After putting down his phone and lighting a cigarette, Suning walked to the window.

The night in Shanghai is deep outside the window.

Inside the Jin Chen Capital building, countless people are likely to be sleepless tonight.

A storm is brewing.

And at the center of this storm is Rihuan Bio.

Who will be dragged into this, and who will emerge unscathed, remains to be seen.

But soon, we'll see.

...(End of chapter)