Chapter Eight: Committing Wicked Deeds!

"Mr. Hua, what… what did you just say?" Lin Qingxue asked in disbelief.

Not only Lin Qingxue, but everyone present was stunned by Mr. Hua's words, unable to regain their composure for a long time.

"I swear on fifty years of experience in pharmacology—this is absolutely the genuine formula for the Beauty Retaining Pill!" Mr. Hua declared with a resonant voice.

Lin Qingxue's beautiful eyes trembled in astonishment.

The Beauty Retaining Pill, a legendary elixir spoken of only in rumors!

It was said that just a small amount could keep a woman's beauty eternal; even at sixty or seventy, she would remain as youthful and lovely as a twenty-year-old. Countless beauty industry giants had exhausted all resources in search of it, but found nothing.

"A few years ago, I was fortunate enough to glimpse half of this formula. I remember, in the end, it landed in the hands of a young man."

"Afterwards, the noblest families tried everything to obtain it, but none could even see the edge of the secret recipe."

At this, Mr. Hua suddenly recalled something and hurried over to Jiang Zheng, gently helping her to her feet.

"Little girl, who gave you this formula?"

Jiang Zheng still hadn’t fully processed what was happening.

"No matter what, please let me meet him. Any request you make, I’ll fulfill—even if you want this old man to kneel!" Mr. Hua, so overwhelmed, was about to kneel before Jiang Zheng.

Jiang Zheng quickly supported him, unable to accept such a gesture.

"I don’t know… I thought it was fake," Jiang Zheng murmured, her mind swirling.

She remembered Qin Mu’s calm certainty at the breakfast shop, the confidence in his words as he wrote.

Qin Mu hadn’t lied to her!

This brother, from childhood to now.

He had never deceived her!

Yet she had been so disappointed, not believing him at all!

Jiang Zheng was completely disoriented.

Sitting on the floor, Zhou Shuyuan felt her mind explode, her expression twisted as she shouted,

"It's fake! It has to be fake! That wretched girl is just a low-born brat from the slums—how could she have the formula for the Beauty Retaining Pill!"

Hearing Zhou Shuyuan's outburst, Lin Qingxue finally regained her composure and cautiously asked again, "Mr. Hua, are you sure this is the genuine Beauty Retaining Pill formula?"

"There’s no mistake whatsoever. And with the formula’s completeness, it can be put into production immediately. It’s a thousand, ten thousand times better than those useless products from Hanmei!"

"Wonderful!" Lin Qingxue’s eyes shone. With this formula, the company would never fall!

"But…" Mr. Hua’s tone suddenly shifted, growing despondent.

"But what?" Lin Qingxue was nearly frantic.

"The formula has been torn into several pieces. Several key ingredients are now illegible…" Mr. Hua shook his head and sighed.

"What!" Lin Qingxue was furious.

"Someone tell me, what on earth happened here!"

Before Zhou Shuyuan could explain, the director stepped forward: "I know what happened. Before you arrived, the sheet was intact. Department manager Zhou Shuyuan snatched it, tore the formula apart, and even stomped on it several times!"

All eyes turned to Zhou Shuyuan, filled with outrage.

This was the crucial formula that could save the company from disaster, and it was nearly destroyed by this woman!

"No… I didn’t…" Zhou Shuyuan was powerless to defend herself, her heart already dead with despair.

How could she have imagined that the recipe scribbled on a napkin would be genuine!

"So it was you!" Lin Qingxue was furious, signaling to the security guards behind her.

Several burly guards immediately came forward, pinning Zhou Shuyuan between them.

"From this moment, you are officially dismissed from our company! I will honestly report your actions to our peers, so everyone knows your true, ugly face!"

Lin Qingxue delivered her final verdict, snorted in anger, and turned away.

"You can’t do this! President Lin! I’m a veteran employee! You can’t treat me like this!" Zhou Shuyuan panicked. If Lin Qingxue spread the word, not just in Jiangcheng, but in all the surrounding provinces and cities, her notorious name would endure!

She would truly be finished!

After Lin Qingxue left, Mr. Hua could no longer contain himself. He rushed up and struck Zhou Shuyuan hard across the face.

This was a priceless formula!

A treasure he had spent a lifetime pursuing, unable to even glimpse a fraction of!

And it had been ruined by this vile woman!

"Don’t think it ends here! If there’s any loss to this formula, I, Hua, will use all my connections. Prepare for a lawsuit and prison!"

It wasn’t just Mr. Hua; many senior researchers joined in denouncing her.

Witnessing the scene, Jiang Zheng could hardly believe it. She turned and ran out of the company, letting the morning chill whip her face as she rushed straight to the breakfast shop.

Just minutes ago, Jiang Zheng had thought Qin Mu’s words were pure nonsense, laughable in the extreme.

But now, looking back, she realized how utterly foolish she had been!

"I’m so stupid—how could he ever lie to me…"

Yet when Jiang Zheng reached the breakfast shop, only the boss remained, still selling breakfast.

The familiar figure was gone, leaving nothing behind.

Jiang Zheng stood frozen, tears welling in her eyes.

"Qin Mu, I believe you now. I believe you… Please come back…"

At that moment, the girl could no longer hold back. She crouched by the roadside, overwhelmed by regret, sobbing loudly.

She could have reconciled with that boy.

But she had missed the chance again.

…

Jiangcheng High School.

Qin Mu walked along a wooded path, many young men and women hurrying past, perhaps rushing to class.

"I truly miss this place," Qin Mu murmured.

This school had once been unremarkable, but thanks to its central location, the emergence of several high-achieving graduates, and convenient transportation, it attracted considerable investment and became a top-tier institution.

Qin Mu had studied here for two years before being taken by the military, completing his education within the army.

"General, that girl went back to the breakfast shop looking for you again," Wu Mu quietly caught up and reported to Qin Mu.

Qin Mu nodded slightly, saying nothing.

He walked along the path, stopping before a library.

It had once been a private collection, donated to Jiangcheng High School and transformed into the current library.

Qin Mu was about to enter, lost in memories.

Suddenly, a slender jade hand rested gently on his shoulder.

"Qin Mu! I recognized you from so far away!"

It was a young woman, nearly 1.7 meters tall, about Qin Mu's age, yet radiant and elegant—a true beauty.

Wherever she walked, there was a captivating fragrance.

"Su Zhi," Qin Mu recognized her at once.

She was one of the few friends he had made during his time at school.

Back then, Qin Mu rarely spoke in class, spending his time either in the classroom or the library.

Coincidentally, Su Zhi loved the library as well. Over time, the two became acquainted, often sitting together to read and analyze advanced topics.

"You said you were transferring, and I thought I'd never see you again."

"Now I’m a first-tier teacher here. What about you?" Su Zhi stood tall with pride, her face glowing.

To be recruited by Jiangcheng High School as a teacher at her age was extraordinary.

But Su Zhi had always been a top student, so it wasn’t surprising if someone recommended her.

"I joined the army," Qin Mu replied simply.

With those few words, Su Zhi noticed that the man before her carried an expression of countless hardships—a look only those who had truly weathered life’s storms possessed.

Su Zhi was about to suggest they sit down and chat, when hurried footsteps sounded behind her.

Almost instinctively, Su Zhi hid behind Qin Mu, hoping his tall figure would shield her.

"Help me…" The usually confident Su Zhi was now timid, like a sheltered maiden.

Qin Mu, puzzled, turned to see a flashy young man searching for someone.

Even with Qin Mu blocking her, the young man spotted Su Zhi.

"Teacher Su, why are you hiding? Am I really that scary?"

"Zhou Ming, I’m not feeling well today," Su Zhi's face paled dramatically. Qin Mu, standing close, instantly noticed the anxiety and fear flickering in her eyes.

The young man, Zhou Ming, snorted coldly.

"Teacher Su, you promised you'd tutor me! The place is already set—let’s go!"

Without waiting for Su Zhi's consent, Zhou Ming strode forward, reaching out to grab her wrist and drag her away!