The Martial Artist Turned Movie Mogul

Chapter 50: 49. Professional Scapegoat Chapter 50: 49. Professional Scapegoat Below is the English translation of the given Chinese novel excerpt:
Outside the business van, Jing Yu was conversing with a man roughly in his forties.

The man was also dressed in a pure black suit, followed by two relatively younger men with briefcases in their hands, who seemed very respectful towards him.

Through the car window, Tang Shu thought she saw the shadow of an official from Damo Country.

She guessed he might be an official.

“President Jing, I have read through the cooperation agreement from your company and thank you for the investment,” the man said. “We can discuss the specifics after visiting the ancient village. What do you think?”

“That would be fine. I hope Mayor Min will consider it carefully,” Jing Yu replied.

The man smiled, apparently very pleased.

“Of course, I don’t think anyone’s agreement could be more comprehensive than what your company has offered. Looking forward to our cooperation.”

After shaking hands, the three men walked towards a private car not far away.

Jing Yu withdrew his gaze and walked with long strides to the door of the business van. Upon boarding, he sharply noticed that the atmosphere inside was quite awkward.

Zhang Yunda seemed to see a savior, finally freed from his embarrassing predicament, with an unprecedentedly warm attitude.

“President Jing, you’ve arrived!”

Jing Yu nodded, and seeing Xie Yunzhen also board the business van, he took a seat at the very front.

“Let’s go,” he commanded.

The driver, retracting his gossip-filled gaze, started the vehicle and headed towards the destination.

“Ding ding—”
With the chime of a phone notification, Tang Shu glanced at the screen to find it was from the Weibo of the “Journey Together” production crew.

After switching accounts, she opened the content and reposted it.

The village was in a very remote location. Even in a top-performing business van, the journey was quite difficult.

Through the windows, everyone saw a private car trailing behind the business van.

The white license plate indicating its status stood out conspicuously in the sunlight.

The legal affairs staff gradually forgot about Tang Shu’s presence and began to quietly discuss the content of the agreement they were responsible for.

“I wonder if the other party is satisfied with the agreement we drafted this time?” one of them mused.

“Our company offered very good terms. They have no reason not to cooperate, right?” another added.

“They’ve come all this way, so they must certainly be looking to cooperate. Besides, Cloudscape Pharma is the largest pharmaceutical company in the country. Who else could be a more suitable partner than us?”

Upon hearing these remarks, Zhang Yunda suddenly became anxious.

“Shut your cursed mouth! Since this morning, everything you say seems to jinx us into the ditch. Better save your breath.”

“…No, but manager, isn’t everyone thinking the same as me? How come I’m suddenly the scapegoat now?” he responded, casting a cautious glance at Tang Shu’s seat.

However, no one echoed his words.

“It’s your fault we’re directed toward the ditch. You have to bear the blame whether you like it or not.”

“Exactly, listen to the manager and just shut up. We would be thankful,” agreed another.

“…..”

Are you all devils?

It’s not supposed to be like this, aren’t we supposed to be kind and loving colleagues?!

***
Imperial Capital, Medical University.

For senior students, especially those preparing for postgraduate entrance exams, weekends were no different from weekdays.

In the laboratory, Du An, wearing a white lab coat, was observing cells under a microscope while instructing Meng Yunyun beside him on the data.

“The cells have divided twice within five minutes. There seems to be a gel-like substance on the cell membrane, but the cause is unclear,” he noted.

Meng Yunyun, who was recording the data, wrote quickly, “Should we observe it a few more times?”

“Yes, let’s do a few more experiments later.”

He removed the small slide from under the microscope and set it aside, exhaling in relief.

“I hope I can finish the professor’s assignment today.”

Meng Yunyun smiled and put down her notes to prepare other specimens.

At that moment, Du An’s phone, placed outside his lab coat, started to vibrate.

He checked it and saw that it was information sent by a junior from the student council.

The name Tang Shu was followed by a string of basic information and contact details.

[Senior Du, here is the information from the instructor about the new student. These are all we have on Tang Shu for now; can it help you?]
Du An typed a few words in response.

[That will do, thanks.]
He then forwarded the details to Xu Qianyu.

Aunt Lin’s daughter with her ex-husband, she had no blood relation to the Xu Family.

Even if Uncle Xu wanted to lend a hand, it wouldn’t threaten the position of the Xu family’s heir.

Just as he finished replying to the message, his phone rang again, this time a call from home.

“Hello, Dad?”

Du An answered the phone while moving toward the corridor outside the laboratory.

Behind him, Meng Yunyun, who was recapturing experimental segments, set aside the glass slide.

“Xiao An, haven’t you been to the company these past few days?”

“I went there yesterday. Professor Lin has a research project that has kept me quite busy, but Assistant Du has been sending me the company’s materials.”

The Du Family’s enterprise began in pharmaceuticals, starting with his grandfather’s generation and lasting for quite some years now, and in the capital, it’s regarded as a longstanding business.

Speaking of pharmaceutical companies, the Du Family could definitely be ranked in the top five.

As the heir to the Du Family, Du An was exceptionally gifted in the field of traditional Chinese medicine and had early exposure to company affairs.

On the other end of the line, the current head of the Du Family hummed in agreement, very pleased with his son’s achievements.

“I understand. Since Professor Lin has research for you, the company matters can wait.”

For a pharmaceutical company, having the support of a big name in traditional Chinese medicine is more valuable than anything.

“I just wanted to ask if you’ve heard anything about Cloudscape Pharma’s recent activities?”

“Cloudscape Pharma? I… haven’t heard Assistant Du mention anything.”

Du An frowned, instinctively feeling that his father’s personal call would not be about something trivial.

Cloudscape Pharma was also one of the Du Family’s biggest competitors.

The patriarch of the Du Family pondered for a moment before explaining.

“There’s word from Cloudscape Group that they have a major project partnership coming up with their pharmaceutical branch. I thought you might be well-informed through your Chinese medicine circles, but it seems Cloudscape has kept this very tight-lipped.”

Even his most accomplished son was unaware, what could this project be?

Upon hearing this, Du An was taken aback; he indeed hadn’t caught wind of any rumors about Cloudscape Pharma.

Yet from the phone conversation, he detected the worry in his father’s voice.

“Cloudscape always makes big moves when they act, and this time it’s likely to be significant.”

In the pharmaceutical industry, having accurate information is a crucial factor in winning projects.

“Dad, have you found out anything?”

“Nothing, but President Jing of Cloudscape Group went to Yun Province with the legal department. Not sure if it’s related to this matter.”

“You can relax for now. Even if Cloudscape has found a good partner, according to procedures, they should issue a public tender. As an important enterprise in the pharmaceutical industry, our Du Family will surely receive notice.”

“Right, notify our tendering department to be prepared, this time we must get ahead of Cloudscape.”

“Alright.”

After hanging up the phone, Du An stood at the entrance of the laboratory, looking up through the window at the sky.

Yun Province…