Chapter Thirty-Two: You Scoundrel

Bang! The only response he received was three pairs of eyes filled with contempt.

As a member of the Bai family, renowned in the pharmaceutical industry, Bai Jing naturally possessed a keen business mind; otherwise, she wouldn't have become the deputy general manager of Baifu Pharmaceutical and held such power. The Bai family was considered a rising star among pharmaceutical clans. Compared to the Lin, Tang, Leng, and Jiang families, theirs was worlds apart. Still, her father, Bai Cheng, was a genius in business, carving out a commercial empire in the chaotic Jin Hai over twenty years and founding Baifu Pharmaceutical Group, the largest pharmaceutical company in Jin Hai. They had made quite a mark in the industry.

Geniuses have never been content with the status quo, and Bai Cheng was no exception. Now, his ambitions had reached Jiangning, a prefecture-level city, and branded pharmaceuticals had become the Bai family's most urgent need.

As the saying goes, a tiger father breeds no dog daughter; Bai Jing was a business prodigy who inherited her father's best qualities. From Lin Yang's miraculous Golden Silkworm Powder, she instantly saw boundless commercial wealth—potentially sparking a pharmaceutical storm across all of China. Thus, she boldly proposed what seemed an outrageous yet reasonable plan: to offer the Bai family's current ten percent share, inviting Lin Yang to join and co-manage the Golden Silkworm Powder. Anyone hearing this would think Bai Jing had lost her mind.

Ten percent may not sound like much, but in cash terms, it represented assets worth no less than a hundred million. Although this paled in comparison to the Lin family, for Lin Yang—eager to develop his business—it was like manna from heaven.

Yet, this fellow proved greedy, unwilling to settle. After some thought, he brazenly held up two fingers before Bai Jing. As the three women puzzled over his gesture, he bluntly declared, "Twenty percent. At least twenty percent."

"That's too much. I can't decide that," Bai Jing shook her head like a mallet, feeling an urge to curse at Lin Yang. Twenty percent! Even if she hadn't reached the level where a mere finger could shake all of China, she was at least one of Jin Hai's three giants, with assets surely above ten figures. A single percent would instantly make someone a millionaire. Yet here he was, greedily demanding twenty percent. How could she tolerate that, especially after his shameless display earlier? How should she account for that?

It's true—women never forget a grudge. Lin Yang's lewd behavior moments ago was instantly etched in her memory, likely to become a lifelong grievance.

"Xiao Yang, that's too much. Given the Bai family's situation, you're asking for their lifeblood," said Tang Yixue, Bai Jing's friend. Though not as close as Tang Yixue herself, their relationship was far from ordinary. As the daughter of the city party secretary, she was well acquainted with Jin Hai's business magnates and had a clear sense of the Bai family's assets. Ten percent was significant. If she knew the Lin family's net worth, she might not say it was too much.

"Xiao Yang, maybe thirty or forty percent?" Tang Yixue, while not thinking twenty percent excessive, worried Lin Yang might insist and Bai Jing might withdraw, costing him a golden opportunity she didn't want to see slip away.

Lin Yang shook his head, stood up, and after a moment's meditation, his internal energy had recovered considerably—especially since he'd just consumed a bit of Tianyang Pill, making his recovery even faster. As the Lin family's sole heir, though not immersed in business, he had seen enough to be familiar with commercial affairs. If he patented the Golden Silkworm Powder and the market accepted it, its value would be incalculable. Thus, after careful consideration, he set the price at twenty percent.

Bai Jing knew his request wasn't excessive, but twenty percent exceeded her authority. Her father had never witnessed the powder's miraculous effects; persuading him would be difficult. For now, Bai Jing felt her head swelling.

Zhu Yunyun, unfamiliar with business, wisely kept silent and sipped her tea.

Time passed, but Lin Yang showed no sign of yielding, casting a dead silence over the hall.

After about five minutes, Tang Yixue broke the impasse. "Bai Jing, you can develop the Golden Silkworm Powder under the company's name, and negotiate the share structure directly with Xiao Yang. You two would be the bosses, keeping Baifu Pharmaceutical out of it, making profit distribution easier. What do you think?"

"Good, I agree."

"I agree too."

Lin Yang and Bai Jing spoke in unison, endorsing the plan.

Yet, the division of shares remained contentious.

"Seventy-thirty. I'm providing all the startup funds and personnel," Bai Jing insisted, refusing to budge.

"That’s no better than Baifu Pharmaceutical's ten percent," Lin Yang countered, unmoved. Personal interests came first, even if the other party was a stunning beauty—and even after having seen her upper body in full earlier, he wouldn't concede.

"Sixty-forty. I get sixty, you get forty. That's my bottom line," Bai Jing gritted her teeth, brows furrowed. She found Lin Yang unbearably stubborn; those she’d negotiated with before usually melted under her gaze, but he remained impervious to charm, immune to temptation.

"No, too little," Lin Yang retorted, not backing down.

Their tug-of-war negotiation made Tang Yixue and Zhu Yunyun feel sleepy—it was torture, Zhu Yunyun thought.

"What do you want, then?" Bai Jing, unable to gain the upper hand, felt defeated, staring helplessly at the stern-faced Lin Yang.

"Fifty-fifty. That's my biggest concession." Lin Yang spread his hands before her, solemn, as though making a formal deal.

"Fine! Fifty-fifty, I give up!" Finally, Lin Yang was settled, and Bai Jing felt exhausted, sighing that negotiating with him was like steaming in a sauna.

After the haggling, the share allocation was decided. Both were thirsty, grabbing their teacups and gulping down the tea as if it were plain water.

"So, are you free tomorrow?" Bai Jing asked urgently, setting down her cup. Others might not know the Bai family's current predicament, but she was acutely aware. The Bai family had once dominated Jin Hai, but recently her father Bai Cheng, ambitious to expand into Jiangning, suffered a major setback and heavy losses.

Their rivals had waged a price war, causing Baifu Pharmaceutical’s Jiangning branch to hemorrhage money. If they withdrew, it would mean total defeat, possibly jeopardizing even the Jin Hai headquarters. Worse still, Jiangning's Fangyu Pharmaceuticals seemed set on swallowing Baifu whole, already moving into Jin Hai and aiming to control its pharmaceutical sector.

This was another reason Bai Jing was desperate to secure the Golden Silkworm Powder. With Baifu in steep decline, only a drastic measure could turn things around—a secret few outsiders knew, not even the resourceful Tang Yixue; otherwise, she wouldn't be so supportive of Lin Yang's partnership.

"Of course," Lin Yang replied calmly. Indeed, his Thirteen Blades Clinic had been smashed and would need four or five days to renovate, giving him plenty of free time.

"Great! Tomorrow, Vice President Lin, let's sign the contract!" Bai Jing's face lit up with irrepressible joy. With the Golden Silkworm Powder in hand, she believed the Bai family would survive and maybe even defeat Fangyu Pharmaceuticals.

"May I ask, where will we sign the contract tomorrow?" Lin Yang furrowed his brows in confusion.

"Haha, I almost forgot!" Bai Jing, excited and embarrassed, patted her forehead. "Baifu's headquarters is in Tianchen District, in Baifu Tower."

"Baifu Tower? Ha, I should've thought of that," Lin Yang laughed. Baifu Tower was one of Jin Hai's landmarks, yet he'd never connected it to Baifu Pharmaceutical.

"Then, tomorrow at nine, Baifu Tower. Don’t be late," Bai Jing smiled radiantly, so much so that Lin Yang found himself momentarily entranced.

"Not late, don’t be late."

After all the commotion, the sky was awash in rosy clouds and it was getting late. Zhu Yunyun and Bai Jing said their farewells and prepared to leave.

At the door, ready to get into her car, Zhu Yunyun suddenly remembered something and turned back with a hint. "Xiao Yang, the director of Ai Hua Plastic Surgery Hospital has been accused, with solid evidence. He won’t keep his job. I’ve recommended you for the position to my father, so be prepared!" Without waiting for Lin Yang's response, she floored the accelerator and her imposing Porsche sped away, leaving only the roar of its engine echoing behind.

"Oh no, I forgot something important." Once the car was out of sight, Lin Yang realized that Golden Silkworm Powder couldn't be produced in bulk, and his face turned utterly grim.

"Xiao Yang, what is it?" Tang Yixue, standing by his side, asked, puzzled.

Helpless, Lin Yang explained everything. After hearing it, Tang Yixue was stunned. So, it had all been for nothing. After a moment, she cursed, "You idiot! Now let's see how you explain this to Bai Jing."

"Explain? I’ll have to, obviously." Lin Yang rubbed his head in defeat; things had really gotten out of hand now.