Chapter Thirty-One: The Greedy Saint Tang Corporation

“You wanted to see me?” Zhu Lan regarded Tang Xuejian, who had sat down with remarkable ease, and after a moment of silence, asked.

Tang Xuejian didn’t answer. Instead, she glanced around Zhu Lan’s office. “Not bad! You’ve really surprised me.”

Zhu Lan merely watched Tang Xuejian, occasionally frowning.

Tang Xuejian caught Zhu Lan’s expression, smiled faintly, then rose and seemed to inspect the office.

“What brings you here?” Zhu Lan finally asked. Tang Xuejian felt things were different now; Zhu Lan was preoccupied, tangled in the company’s affairs, and whatever had happened between them in the past—whose fault it was—no longer mattered. Those were bygone days.

Tang Xuejian looked at Zhu Lan. “You…”

“That’s enough. If you have something to say, say it. I’m extremely busy right now!” Zhu Lan didn’t want to let this drag on. Under ordinary circumstances, Zhu Lan might have wanted to chat, but at present, trust was a luxury she could not afford.

“Very well, Zhu Lan, you really have changed!”

“Well then, the eldest daughter of the Tang family—what is it you want?” Hearing Tang Xuejian’s words, Zhu Lan realized she wasn’t here for old times' sake; she must have a reason.

Tang Xuejian glanced at Zhu Lan, sat down again, her business attire striking and alluring, but Zhu Lan was in no mood to appreciate it.

After a silent moment, Tang Xuejian looked up at Zhu Lan. “Since that’s how it is, I won’t beat around the bush. I’ll get straight to the point.”

Zhu Lan gestured for her to proceed.

“I want the agency rights for Asia,” Tang Xuejian declared directly.

Zhu Lan narrowed her eyes, regarding Tang Xuejian. “You’re even more formidable than I imagined.”

“Likewise,” Tang Xuejian replied, unfazed by the accusation. The two of them now were anything but lovers—in truth, they were rivals in the marketplace.

“Do you think I’ll agree?” Zhu Lan looked at her with a trace of amusement.

Tang Xuejian’s intentions were crystal clear: she wanted the sales agency rights for the gene optimization serum in Asia. She was the first, and so far the only, person to broach the subject with Zhu Lan.

The news about the gene optimization serum wasn’t hard to come by; anyone with an understanding of the market could see its potential.

Yet no one had ever discussed it with Zhu Lan.

Zhu Lan never truly believed she could monopolize such a vast opportunity. She’d always been waiting, considering various possibilities—even courting a certain princeling—but she certainly hadn’t expected Tang Xuejian to be the first.

Given the capabilities of the Sheng Tang Group, it wasn’t difficult to discover that Zhu Lan’s company possessed the gene optimization serum. Most of her exports were handled by Sheng Tang’s shipping division, making the information accessible, and Zhu Lan hadn’t deliberately concealed it. As for the military or the government, she wasn’t sure.

Tang Xuejian smiled mysteriously. “I believe that in this world, there’s no deal that can’t be made. If a deal doesn’t go through, it’s simply because the price isn’t high enough.”

Zhu Lan nodded at her words. Money may not be omnipotent, but without it, nothing is possible. Everything has its price. If you cannot buy it, it simply means your offer isn’t sufficient.

People say family affection, love, friendship, are priceless, but that’s not truly so; it’s just that the price offered hasn’t been high enough.

Everyone has needs—even monks have their own. To quote a price according to those needs is the essence of negotiation.

“Oh? Then I’m curious to see what price you’re willing to offer.”

Tang Xuejian’s expression remained cold, but just for an instant, she was moved. Zhu Lan’s words indicated that if the price was right, the agency rights could be secured.

“We’ll handle the entire distribution channel, offer a price ten percent above the current market, and Sheng Tang Group will take care of all the trouble.”

Zhu Lan shook her head. “Not enough.”

“What?” Tang Xuejian was truly taken aback. The offer was already the best there could be, yet Zhu Lan refused.

“Sheng Tang is impressive, but far from my ideal partner. You know the power of this product. To put it bluntly, Sheng Tang cannot protect the market; I won’t invite trouble for myself.”

Tang Xuejian fell silent. Indeed, considering the whole market, Sheng Tang performed well—within its own province, it was influential, but beyond that, there were countless stronger contenders. Once the domestic market opened up, international giants operating under joint ventures would enter. Sheng Tang might secure third-tier agency rights, could compete for second-tier, but first-tier—continental agency rights—were far beyond its strength.

Third-tier agency rights meant provincial or state-level representation; second-tier were national; first-tier meant continental representation.

Globally, there were only five first-tier agency rights. Whoever held an entire continent’s rights would be Zhu Lan’s preferred ally—someone who wouldn’t bring trouble. Sheng Tang simply wasn’t enough.

Zhu Lan never intended to handle the gene optimization serum herself; the agency rights needed to be granted, since genetics wasn’t her main focus—virtual technology was the real prize. But before that, she needed to gather a broad alliance and test the government’s intentions, since their attitude had been strangely ambiguous.

“What do you want?” Tang Xuejian asked.

Zhu Lan shook her head. “It’s not about what I want. Sheng Tang’s appetite is too large—you’re not afraid of bursting, apparently. While you’re outstanding, the world is filled with companies far stronger than Sheng Tang. I’d rather not witness your bankruptcy.”

Tang Xuejian was silent. Zhu Lan’s words were harsh but undeniable.

Tang Xuejian had known nothing about the gene optimization serum until ten days ago, when her grandfather assigned her to the matter. Only then did she realize the terrifying power of Fantasy Technology behind the scenes.

In ten days, Sheng Tang Group’s resources quickly uncovered the situation in Europe.

For a month, the European market had opened, but production lagged. Sales were barely over two thousand units—spread across Europe, it was negligible.

Because the serum was so scarce, word hadn’t spread; it was circulated only among Europe’s upper echelons. In those shadowy circles, the serum had reached a price of five million. A few days ago, a Middle Eastern tycoon offered ten million euros to buy in bulk.

Though it was branded as “Made in China,” Europeans believed it originated from the Americas.

Then, following the Ren Linting incident, the European market suddenly ran out of stock. Without Zhu Lan’s authorization, no new product reached the continent, and the price kept soaring.

Zhu Lan was waiting, holding out bait for the right fish. She hadn’t expected Tang Xuejian to bite first.

As for Tang Xuejian, Zhu Lan had mixed feelings. Reconciliation? Perhaps, but Tang Xuejian had changed so much, she was almost unrecognizable.

“Go,” Zhu Lan said softly, glancing at Tang Xuejian.

“You…”

“This is not your place, nor is Sheng Tang qualified to be involved. Go home and ask your grandfather. Once you’ve thought it over, give me an answer.”

Zhu Lan stood and gestured for her to leave.

Tang Xuejian was stunned; she had never seen Zhu Lan speak this way.

“Fine, fine, fine…” Tang Xuejian didn’t press further, grabbed her bag, and left.

As she departed, Zhu Lan said nothing more.

When Tang Xuejian stepped out, another person entered. Upon seeing her, Zhu Lan’s calm expression turned sour.

“What’s the matter? Is it so unpleasant to see me?” the newcomer asked.

“Not at all, Major Xiao. Is there something you need?”

After the incident in the Middle East and the Ren Linting affair, the previous supervisor had been recalled. The new arrival was the lady now facing Zhu Lan—about the same age, military rank of Major, reportedly from the national intelligence agency, though Zhu Lan neither knew nor cared about the truth.

Xiao He, the military’s liaison at Fantasy Technology, had full authority unless matters threatened national security—in short, she was the military’s monitor, assigned to keep watch over Zhu Lan, the living gene optimization serum.

“What did your girlfriend want?”

“Major Xiao, you’re mistaken. She’s an ex-girlfriend. As for her purpose—well! Nothing much, just wanted the Asian agency rights for the gene optimization serum.”

“And did you agree?”

“How could I? If I did, I’d probably end up in prison the next day!”

“What do you mean?” Xiao He frowned at Zhu Lan, sensing a strong aversion toward herself and her superiors, unlike what previous reports had suggested.

Zhu Lan said nothing more; she wouldn’t overstep where she shouldn’t.

Knock, knock, knock.

“Come in!”

Cheng Xue pushed the door open, about to speak, but seeing Xiao He, she glanced at Zhu Lan for guidance.

“What is it?” Zhu Lan didn’t answer Cheng Xue, but asked directly, treating Xiao He as if she were invisible.

Cheng Xue sensed something was off but couldn’t pinpoint what. She shook her head helplessly. “Boss, the sales manager from Canglong Group wants to see you!”

“Canglong Group? Hmph, they think highly of me. Let Lan Tianxin handle it. In the future, for this kind of attitude, don’t bother informing me—send it straight to Lan Tianxin.”

Cheng Xue nodded, making a note in her files.

“Anything else?”

Cheng Xue shook her head.

Zhu Lan waved her out.

“Aren’t you afraid?” Xiao He asked, unable to understand Zhu Lan.

“Afraid? You mean of Canglong Group?”

Xiao He nodded.

Zhu Lan sneered, “What they do is none of my business, but if they provoke me, I won’t hesitate to show them a lesson.”

Xiao He frowned; Zhu Lan’s approach was vastly different from before.

“That’s enough. If there’s nothing else, please go. I have work to do.”

Xiao He opened her mouth, but couldn’t find words, turned and left. Before leaving, she gave Zhu Lan a deep look, as if searching for signs of change.

Zhu Lan didn’t care, didn’t even look at her. Xiao He was new, and her understanding of Zhu Lan was based on the previous supervisor’s reports, but after everything that had happened, Zhu Lan had changed considerably.