Chapter 38: The Soaring Demand for Genetic Optimization Serum

"Boss, can you stop stirring things up?" Yu Dongming looked helplessly at Zhu Lan as she walked out of the police station.

Zhu Lan paused, turned back with a smile. "Alright, bring Xiaobai along. Let's go home."

Watching Zhu Lan’s figure, Yu Dongming shook his head, resigned, and pulled Xiaobai to follow.

Being taken into the police station wasn't as dark as he'd feared; everything was stable. After the questioning, Yu Dongming arrived. He simply presented a special permit issued by the military, and Zhu Lan was allowed to leave, since those people had criminal records anyway. Of course, Zhu Lan still paid for their medical expenses.

The military, to protect Zhu Lan, issued two special passes—one for Yu Dongming, the other for Qin Shi. The special permit was essentially a fake military credential. Though "fake," it worked within the province; outside the province, it was useless. To put it simply, it was a pass issued by Luo Guoqiang for resolving small troubles locally.

The military couldn't always arrive on time, so to avoid complications and at Zhu Lan's request, these two special permits were made.

Back at the company, Zhu Lan had just sat down when Xiao He entered from outside.

"Zhu Lan, what are you trying to do? Do you realize how dangerous your actions are?"

Zhu Lan sipped her tea leisurely. "Relax, I know my own situation. Haven't I come through without incident?"

"You—" Xiao He looked at Zhu Lan’s indifferent expression, so angry he could hardly speak, but Zhu Lan’s temperament was always like this.

When Zhu Lan called saying he was at the police station, Xiao He almost brought people to retrieve him, but managed to restrain himself, letting Yu Dongming go instead.

That morning, Xiao He had just returned from the military district, fully aware that Zhu Lan was now under the scrutiny of multiple factions. No sooner had he returned than Zhu Lan was absent from the company. When he asked around, all he learned was that Zhu Lan had gone out—no one knew where.

Just as Xiao He was about to investigate, Zhu Lan called.

"Zhu Lan, you've become their prize. Today’s situation—I don’t want to see it repeated!"

"Understood," Zhu Lan replied nonchalantly, shaking her head. "Anything else? If not, please leave. The company meeting is about to begin."

"Hmph." Zhu Lan never listened to him; it was almost as if she were performing for those above. Xiao He sighed, resigned, and turned to leave.

"Cheng Xue, inform the company executives to convene," Zhu Lan instructed through the phone as soon as Xiao He departed.

Without waiting for Cheng Xue’s reply, Zhu Lan bent down, entered a password, opened a drawer, and took out a document.

She flipped through it, found no errors, nodded in satisfaction, stood up, and walked to the other side.

Next to Zhu Lan’s office was a conference room.

When she arrived, two people were already waiting.

"Boss—"

Zhu Lan nodded. "Sit."

No sooner had she taken her seat than the others hurried in; after all, it was only a few floors down, and soon all the company’s executives had assembled.

"The meeting is rather sudden, and so are the circumstances," Zhu Lan said, seeing everyone seated.

It was nearly five o’clock, almost closing time, making Zhu Lan’s summons particularly abrupt.

The conference room was silent, everyone waiting for Zhu Lan to speak.

Surveying the group, Zhu Lan nodded slightly. "I’m sure you’re all aware of the recent situation. Though production of the Gene Optimization Solution has ceased, some people are like sharks drawn by blood, circling, eager to take a big bite out of me."

"Manager Lan, tell us: how many company representatives have visited us recently?"

Lan Tianxin nodded, evidently prepared for this question, her notebook ready. She stood, opened it, and glanced around. "In the past week, 135 companies have visited under various pretexts. Most are leading domestic or international conglomerates, directly stating their desire to purchase exclusive sales rights for the Gene Optimization Solution."

"Only seven have offered sincere bids—two domestic firms, one Japanese, one American, two European, and one from Singapore."

"The rest either made inquiries without competing or tried to pressure us, with the lowest bid at just ten thousand yuan for agency rights."

"Hmph." Zhu Lan snorted. Ten thousand—what an audacious offer.

Zhu Lan gestured for Lan Tianxin to sit.

Looking at the group, she continued, "You’re all trusted by the company. The company’s well-being is your own. Though we seem to be in crisis, you’re all steadfast at your posts—this pleases me."

"But..." Zhu Lan’s gaze turned to Luo Wuyan. "Luo Wuyan, you are my senior, someone I respect. You were the best among the candidates recommended by our mentor, and I entrusted you with the most important responsibilities. But what answer have you given me?" Zhu Lan’s voice rose toward the end.

Luo Wuyan lowered his head, unable to meet her eyes. "Boss, it was my oversight. I didn’t expect them to succumb to temptation."

"Hmph. This time, Yu Dongming, you did well—did not disappoint my expectations."

Yu Dongming nodded blandly, showing no pride.

"Those three will be dismissed. Since nothing irreparable happened, I won’t inform our mentor. The day after tomorrow, a new batch will arrive—Luo Wuyan, Yu Dongming, prepare for their onboarding. I don’t want a repeat of this with the next group."

Luo Wuyan and Yu Dongming nodded.

"Internal crises have always existed in the company. Everyone is working to address their issues, as am I, but some can’t resist outside temptations. I pay generous salaries—why can’t people just work diligently, instead of selling out?"

No one responded; it was a question none could answer.

"Huang Xiu, you may proceed with your work." Zhu Lan looked to the rightmost corner, where a bespectacled, scholarly man in his thirties sat.

Huang Xiu adjusted his glasses. "Understood. I’ll begin promptly. The team is ready. Give me half a month, and I’ll deliver results that satisfy you."

Zhu Lan nodded. "That’s best. If you fail, I’ll find someone who can."

Huang Xiu said nothing.

Huang Xiu was specially recruited by Zhu Lan from the military. He studied political science and previously served as a company instructor in the army. Recruiting him was both a matter of terms and a mission.

Zhu Lan couldn’t manage the company herself, but she knew how to employ talent. As long as management was sound, she didn’t mind their background.

Huang Xiu’s arrival was also part of a task assigned by the military.

It was Zhu Lan’s own proposal, and she had no reason to refuse.

After joining Fantasy Technology, Zhu Lan immediately had him establish an Internal Affairs Department—in essence, an internal oversight unit.

"How are things outside? Have we reached our targets?"

Lan Tianxin paused, then nodded. "Last night, we hit the specified figures. Now, not only in China, but the news about the Gene Optimization Solution has spread across Asia. In Japan, right-wing factions are making noise, and in Korea, the situation is promising."

Zhu Lan nodded. "Since that’s the case, starting tomorrow, notify all major groups: on the sixth of next month, we’ll hold an agency rights auction. Invite them all."

"But, boss—"

Zhu Lan waved her off. "Just do as I say. Any trouble, they’ll solve it themselves." Lan Tianxin’s concern was naturally about government intervention, but Zhu Lan believed the allure of the Gene Optimization Solution would drive those vying for a share to disregard it.

Though the state is powerful, this is an era of peace; to a degree, even the government can’t go too far. This applies domestically and internationally alike.

Every matter has its limits—no matter how weak or strong you are, if you cross the line, you’ll face a powerful backlash.

Since the Gene Optimization Solution became a hot topic, Zhu Lan received news immediately. She didn’t react the first day, pondered overnight, and on the second day instructed Lan Tianxin to intensify the online hype.

For five days in the past week, the Gene Optimization Solution dominated online headlines; the other two days were about China’s leaders visiting America.

It wasn’t just one person pushing the hype, nor a single group of internet trolls.

Frankly, at least half of China’s online troll armies were hired to promote news about the Gene Optimization Solution.

It began with one company, but after Zhu Lan secretly joined in on the second day, several more groups started hyping it, all with one goal: to make the Gene Optimization Solution famous.

The first two days were focused solely on the product; by the third day, stories from Europe began circulating.

Even more, massive amounts of data were posted.

For example, a terminal cancer patient, given at most three months by doctors, took the Gene Optimization Solution. While repairing genes, it also boosted gene activity. Upon re-examination, his life expectancy was extended to a year and a half.

Beyond that, patients with AIDS, leukemia, and other fatal diseases saw marked alleviation after taking the Gene Optimization Solution.

Several chief physicians from major European hospitals even declared that, with increased dosage, the solution could strengthen the body and possibly eradicate viruses within.

These expert opinions were copied domestically and spread across all of Asia—and not just Asia; in Europe and the Americas, netizens posted the information online as well.

In the internet age, crossing into foreign websites is troublesome for some, but effortless for others, especially those eager for online fame.

After Asia heated up, Europe and America followed suit. Though skepticism abounded, the Gene Optimization Solution had ceased sales, and among those previously sold, barely ten vials remained unused. As of now, on the European black market, the price has soared to thirteen million per vial, with none actually sold, while Fantasy Technology originally priced them at just a hundred thousand each.