Xiao Anning shot Han Weicheng a derisive look.
"If there really were safety issues, how do you explain their drug clearing the clinical trial phase? Don't forget—if Elder Xiang hadn't pulled a few strings, you wouldn't have even secured a market‐launch approval."
"And their approval came only after multiple layers of regulatory review. The sheer volume of trial and clinical‐validation data proved their drug's safety and efficacy beyond question."
"Otherwise, why do you think I had you prepare the launch dossier in advance—so we could reverse‐engineer theirproduct?"
Had Han Weicheng's team not been so inept—never delivering real results—Xiao Anning would never have considered such a gambit. Even a lost research timeline could be forgiven; but a failed product launch would doom them. Once their rival's treatment protocol, which combined acupuncture‐guided surgery with this new drug, rolled out at the National Hospital…
Han Wei Cheng would lose not only his next promotion, but possibly even his position as director of his own department.
"That idea of yours," Han Weicheng said, his eyes dark, "has forced us into this high‐risk move! If the experiment succeeds, fine—if it fails…"
"There is no "if,"" Xiao Anning cut in coldly.
"You should be praying Luo Jialin succeeds in securing those orders. You and I both know what failure would mean. And Professor Han, don't expect me to share your liability."
"Don't worry," he added with a thin smile, "if it ever comes to the worst, I can still persuade Elder Xiang to purchase your trial batches. Just be ready to replicate it quickly."
"A failed experiment then just fades into the dust."
Han Weicheng sighed.
"In truth, we didn't have to go to these extremes. If we could've waited until after their drug hit the market, we could've cashed in safely."
"'Cashed in safely'?" Xiao Anning snorted.
"Go tell that to Luo Jialin. Once Mutian dominates the initial supply, and patient‐outcome feedback starts rolling in, you'll never get another contract."
"Whereas if Luo Jialin could lock in just a handful of major supply deals in advance, then even if Mutian delivers first, a strong round of post‐market feedback could still make his orders pay off—even if they ship later."
"Understand?"
Han Weicheng, not versed in the cutthroat realities of business, failed to grasp the gravity of Xiao Anning's point. He still believed the safest course was to let Mutian go first—after all, China's market was huge; no one company could monopolize it. Once they saw He Xin's formula worked, hospitals and pharmacies would inevitably come knocking on their door to buy it.
From Han's perspective, that was the lowest‐risk plan.
Besides, he personally still harbored doubts about any miraculous synergy between acupuncture‐assisted surgery and a "breakthrough" drug curing previously intractable conditions.
But Luo Jialin and Xiao Anning were desperate to secure early orders—and that required marketing materials more comprehensive than Mutian's. Han had no choice but to gamble on generating genuine clinical data.
He could have fabricated it—but they were dealing with professional hospital procurement officers with rigorous audit processes. Fake data would be too easily exposed and would ruin their reputation forever.
Safer, he decided, to run real patient trials.
Mutian's drug wasn't yet on the market, so Han had no opportunity to reverse‐engineer theirs. He had to press ahead with his candidate—but that drug…
Meanwhile, Du Yifan had been in a foul mood.
Ever since Huang Tiantian betrayed him, the Du family business had teetered on the brink of collapse. Their cash flow broke, and his father had to sell off several subsidiaries just to keep the parent company afloat.
For the past two years, Du Yifan had quietly stuck to lab research, but without any major achievements, he dared not return home to face his father.
When his team finally announced their drug's successful development, he'd rushed back ecstatic—only to be greeted with his father's icy sarcasm.
It turned out that the man responsible for Du Corporation's crisis had been none other than Huang Tiantian's then-lover, President Zhang.
In a fury, Du Yifan had confronted Huang Tiantian. Though wiser now and refraining from violence, their verbal clash had been severe enough that President Zhang collapsed and lapsed into a coma.
Doctors later discovered he also had early‐stage cancer. Though not advanced, the head trauma from his collapse posed a serious risk.
Huang Tiantian had immediately accused Du Yifan of causing Zhang's injury and threatened legal action.
The police were awaiting the hospital's final verdict: did President Zhang's collapse stem from his cancer, or from trauma to the head sustained during their argument?
Should it be ruled the fall was due to the altercation, Du Yifan faced possible detention again.
Terrified of returning to custody, he'd been scrambling to find medical experts to evaluate the cause. Huang Tiantian, naturally, was doing the same to pin liability on him.
His lawyer advised that the only guaranteed way to resolve the matter was to wake President Zhang.
If Zhang regained consciousness and expressly released Du Yifan from any blame, Du Yifan would escape punishment—after all, neither had physically assaulted the other, and both bore some responsibility.
"Your research team has developed a drug for pre-surgical use in cancer patients, right?" the lawyer pressed, tapping the table. "I checked with Zhang's doctors: once the tumor is removed, he has a high chance of waking up."
"But his condition is precarious. Conventional surgery alone won't suffice. They'll need that new drug your team invented."
"I also heard two new drugs have just been approved," the lawyer continued. "Both are still unavailable on the market. For Zhang's surgery to proceed—and succeed—they're waiting on that medication. If you can secure some doses early, they could operate sooner, and Zhang could awaken faster."
Du Yifan was struck by how fortuitous it sounded.
"Are you sure the doctors said that—that Zhang's surgery must use our drug?"
The lawyer bristled.
"If you don't believe me, call the hospital yourself. Or hire another lawyer—unless you think I'd suggest this if President Du didn't specifically request it."
"He told me your team has the best R&D experts," the lawyer added. "This new drug got a special–expedited approval. Do you think all of that is just for show?"
"Of course not!" Du Yifan snapped. He hated anyone doubting him. "So get me the drug for the surgery. Leave it to me—and just wait."
Believing that his drug was already approved, he was confident he could obtain a few doses from Professor Han. With any luck, he'd avoid both legal and familial disaster.
He rose and headed straight back to the institute.