Yi Chen started his lunch with Ning Jing. She was visibly pleased, eating in an elegant and poised manner, her every movement refined as if she were dining with royalty. However, an awkward silence loomed over the table. Yi Chen focused on his meal, occasionally exchanging glances with her but saying nothing.
Finally, Ning Jing broke the silence. "Grandpa Yi told me that next time, he'll let me choose the location for our dinner," she said with a soft smile. "I told him there was no need for another meal, but he insisted. I even mentioned that Yi Gege was busy, and I understand it..."
She spoke in a way that implied a deep understanding of Yi Chen, as if their bond was undeniable. Then, with an almost dreamy tone, she added, "I think we should wear matching outfits for Tai Sun's engagement. What do you think?"
Yi Chen abruptly put down his fork, his sharp eyes locking onto hers. "Ning Jing," he said firmly, his voice calm but decisive. "I've told you before, and I'll tell you again—you need to take this seriously this time."
Ning Jing blinked, surprised by his sudden shift in demeanor.
"I don't know what you've told Grandpa about us," he continued, his tone unwavering, "but let me make this crystal clear—there is nothing between us. There never was, and there never will be. To me, you're the same as Yi Ru Xuan. You deserve better than this illusion you're clinging to. Stop wasting your time on me."
His words hit her like a slap. The warmth drained from her face, replaced by disbelief and frustration. "Chen Ge..." she muttered, her voice trembling. "You know I've liked you since childhood. And yet, you're doing this to me? If you don't care about me, then why do you always look after me? Why do you pamper me?" Her grip on her chopsticks tightened.
Yi Chen exhaled, his patience wearing thin. "You've always been a spoiled child, Ning Jing. I've never given you hope—not once. Every gift you sent, I returned. Every effort you made, I shut down. You know that. I treat you no differently than I treat Yi Zi Hao or Yi Ru Xuan—nothing more."
Her nails dug into the tablecloth. "You're lying!" she snapped, her voice laced with desperation.
Yi Chen wiped his lips with a napkin, his expression unreadable. "I will talk to your grandfather and take the blame for this. But stop making it harder for both of us."
With that, he stood up. "I have a meeting to attend. Hao Yang will drop you home."
Before she could protest, he turned and walked away, his stride unwavering. Ning Jing sat frozen, her breath shallow, her heart pounding with a mix of anger and humiliation. Her eyes burned as she stared at the table, her hands clenched into fists.
Her voice was barely above a whisper, yet dripping with venom. "Me, Bai Ning Jing… whatever I want, I get. You can't reject me like this, Yi Chen. If you won't accept me willingly..." Her fingers tightened around the fork until her knuckles turned white. "I have other ways."
****
The shareholder meeting took place in the VVIP conference room of the hotel, guarded by layers of strict security. Only those with a Life Pharmaceutical card were permitted entry. The room was filled with the city's most powerful figures—business tycoons, renowned doctors, high-profile investors, and even government officials, including Mayor Wen Zhong and Minister of Health, Dr. Qian Tao. The air buzzed with anticipation, laced with greed and curiosity, as they awaited Leixian's arrival.
Minutes later, the doors opened. Leixian walked in, flanked by two imposing bodyguards. She exuded an aura of authority, her tailored suit emphasizing her poised and commanding presence. But all eyes shifted to the figure behind her—Xin Yi.
She wore a simple yet elegant turtleneck dress that reached her knees, her half-tied hair cascading down her back, the stark white streaks standing out like a mark of defiance. Murmurs erupted in the room.
"Who is she?"
"Why is she with Leixian?"
Xin Yi's heart pounded, but she kept her expression neutral, reminding herself of Qin Lianyi's warnings. Her body stiffened when a guard stepped forward and grabbed her shoulder. "Let's go."
Without resistance, she walked out of the room, the murmurs trailing behind her.
Leixian sat at the head of the table, eyes sharp as she scanned the room. "Let's get to the point," she said, her voice slicing through the whispers like a blade. "You're all here because you want me to create a cure for you or your loved ones. Am I wrong?"
Silence. Then, a hesitant nod from a well-known plastic surgeon, Mr. Lin. "Your company's products are remarkable. My patients swear by them. The injections make them look years younger. My hospital's reputation has soared thanks to your pharmaceuticals."
Others chimed in with similar praise. A billionaire investor leaned forward. "The regenerative properties in your latest drug trials are astonishing. I invested in Life Pharmaceutical for its potential, and I want to see results."
Leixian smiled—a cold, calculating smile. "Now, let me share a secret. The girl who just left? She is the source of it all."
The room stilled.
"This meeting is to discuss the next step. I intend to launch a new project. The Alpha Human Project."
A collective gasp. The room erupted into murmurs again.
Mayor Wen Zhong cleared his throat. "Miss Leixian, what exactly does this project entail?"
Leixian leaned forward, her hands resting on the table. "Imagine creating a human superior to all others. A being whose blood cells are so resilient, they can eradicate cancer and fight off any disease. A genetic marvel."
A prominent oncologist, Dr. Zhao Wei, furrowed his brows. "You mean her blood can cure diseases?"
Leixian's eyes gleamed. "Not just cure, Dr. Zhao. Prevent. Halt genetic disorders before birth. Restore brain function in stroke patients. Grow limbs for amputees. We're talking about rewriting human biology."
A businessman scoffed. "You're talking about something unnatural."
Leixian smirked. "Unnatural? Or revolutionary? People will do anything to save their loved ones. We simply give them what they want."
She let that sink in before continuing. "We establish a blood bank, using subjects from our Alpha Human experiment. Their blood alone can become the foundation of medical miracles. Organ transplants, advanced pharmaceuticals, age-defying treatments—we will hold the entire medical industry in our hands."
A shareholder hesitated. "Miss Leixian… How do you intend to start this experiment?"
Leixian turned towards the screen, her lips curling into a wicked smile. "That girl—Xin Yi—is the first subject of the Alpha Experiment. And these… are the results."
The screen flickered to life, displaying footage of Xin Yi subjected to years of experimentation. Her body enduring relentless pain. Her blood being extracted. Her tissues regenerating faster than any normal human's. Her bones being broken repeatedly, only to heal in months. Electrodes attached to her brain, sending waves of stimulation to test her cognitive responses beyond human limits.
Gasps filled the room. Some turned away, horrified. Others leaned forward, intrigued.
"For seven years, my team has tested everything on her," Leixian declared. "And she has survived it all. Her blood cells reject disease, her body heals rapidly."
The footage changed. A controlled experiment where Xin Yi's blood was injected into a cancer-ridden mouse. Within hours, the tumors shrank. Within days, they vanished. A room full of paralyzed patients—some regaining sensation in their limbs after being treated with a serum derived from her spinal fluid.
Whispers grew into murmurs of excitement.
Leixian's voice cut through the growing enthusiasm. "And now, we move to the next phase—neural experimentation. If successful, we will unlock treatments for Alzheimer's, dementia, and more. Her neurons will become the key. And once we achieve that…" She straightened, her voice laced with undeniable authority. "We begin full-scale Alpha experimentation."
A slow clap echoed in the room. A pharmaceutical mogul grinned. "Brilliant, Miss Leixian. Absolutely brilliant."
Another investor laughed. "The richest families in this country would pay anything to stay young and disease-free. This is more than medicine. This is power."
Leixian's smirk deepened. "Power, gentlemen, is exactly what I'm offering you. Control over life and death itself. Those who invest now will not only profit from these breakthroughs but dictate the future of humanity. Think beyond wealth—think about what it means to hold the cure to every disease, the ability to extend human life indefinitely."
Her eyes gleamed as she delivered her final words. "The future of medicine lies in our hands. And nothing—" she glanced toward the door where Xin Yi had exited, "—will stand in our way."