Wen Su's motion of opening the door didn't pause in the slightest, as if she hadn't heard a thing.
Back in her office, Wen Su leaned against the door panel and took a deep breath.
Her fingers, gripping the documents, were turning white from the force.
Compared to numbly accepting lies, what she feared more were unknown variables.
Wen Su sat down at her desk, picked up the landline, and dialed a number. "Sister Zhao, could you forward me the archived materials for the 'Yi Qi An Shen Granule Improvement and Sustained-Release Technology Application' project? I have something important to announce at the three o'clock meeting this afternoon."
Wen Su turned on her computer and received a document.
This project with considerable potential had been brokered by Old Mrs. Shen. It was publicly described as a collaboration between sisters-in-law, and if it succeeded, it would make for a fine story.
As the project was about to conclude, looking at the application materials, the solution description listed Lu Qingyun's formulation process innovation team, while Wen Su's name only appeared in the pharmacology support personnel list.
"Just as I thought, it's the same again."
Wen Su extended her fingers and began typing on the keyboard.
At three o'clock in the afternoon, in the spacious conference room, at the head of the table, a man with deep, brooding eyes stared at the documents before him with a complex gaze.
Today's meeting topic was the phase summary of the "Yi Qi An Shen Granule" project.
The R&D department and technical backbone members from all divisions had attended.
When it was Wen Su's turn to speak, she calmly spread out a stack of materials and stood before the presentation podium. The documents displayed on the projector were her revised versions.
"Regarding certain application materials for the project, there are some discrepancies with the original records. Here, I would like to make a clarification for everyone."
The moment these words were spoken, everyone present was stunned.
The application materials had already been submitted, and Wen Su suddenly claiming there were errors was indeed shocking.
Shen Fei'an stared at Wen Su with a complicated look in his eyes.
Wen Su's voice was calm and cool, and through the projector, she displayed one by one the photocopies of her original laboratory notes with her own markings and dates, early sample testing data, and some communication emails between her and Lu Qingyun—all of which she had prepared in advance.
Shen Fei'an stared at the screen, a hint of gravity crossing his handsome face.
This complete chain of evidence all pointed to one fact.
The core technology and key parameters of the project's breakthrough point had been led by Wen Su.
The conference room fell into dead silence.
Then, some people couldn't hold back and began whispering among themselves.
"Dr. Wen!" Li Jiajia, the assistant of Lu Qingyun's project team, spoke up first with a tone of reproach: "We're already at the approval stage. Isn't it inappropriate for you to bring this up now?"
"In the final sprint of the application process, if outsiders learn that we've switched leaders at the last minute, wouldn't that make us a laughingstock?"
Another middle-aged researcher chimed in: "In a collaborative project, credit is hard to divide clearly anyway. Dr. Lu is the project lead—she handled coordination and oversight, and her contributions are considerable. Dr. Wen, isn't this being too petty of you?"
"That's right. Dr. Lu just lost her husband and is in the most heartbreaking time of her life. Can't you show some consideration?"
Murmurs of discontent rose in the conference room. Everyone felt that Wen Su seizing credit at this moment was the behavior of a petty person—lacking tolerance and showing no kindness whatsoever.
Wen Su's actions had broken certain rules: the leader takes the top credit, and those who work silently must know when to yield.
Everyone believed she was aggressively grabbing power, and as Shen Fei'an's wife, she was kicking Lu Qingyun while she was down.
Wen Su's expression barely changed.
In a measured, unhurried tone, she said, "I understand everyone's concerns, but I believe that R&D work must always be grounded in facts and the principle of originality. Clarifying the authenticity of the technology is not about personal gain. If the source records are unclear, once disputes arise over technical details or intellectual property, the company will also suffer losses and bear fault."
She paused, letting her gaze rest briefly on the faces of several displeased individuals.
"Based on the facts of technical contribution, having me take over leadership to complete the final integration phase of this project and provide subsequent production handover technical support is the most reliable plan to ensure the project progresses smoothly."
The man at the head of the table remained as still as water, his thoughts unreadable, simply staring at the woman before the projector.
Wen Su finished saying what she needed to say and returned to her seat.
"What is Dr. Wen trying to do? Steal credit?"
"I never noticed before that Dr. Wen was this kind of petty woman."
"Will President Shen agree to this?"
"Dr. Lu has been close with her for so many years—how heartbroken must she be?"
"Quiet!"
A steady, forceful male voice rang out, suppressing the wave of criticism.
"The meeting ends here. Everyone, please leave." Shen Fei'an didn't give a final decision, merely dismissing the attendees.
"Wen Su, did it have to come to this?"
Wen Su was also gathering her materials, preparing to leave, when that voice came straight at her: "Did you have to push her to the brink?"
Wen Su picked up her documents and looked at him. "I will formally submit a report to the R&D leadership and company management."
"If I refuse?" The meeting room had emptied, and the man reached out to close the door behind them. With his hands in his pockets, his face showed displeasure: "She's not just my sister-in-law—she's my family. Wen Su, you've picked the wrong person to provoke."
"I only made the arrangement I believed was most beneficial for the company and the project." Wen Su didn't avoid his cold, furious gaze; she spoke calmly.
"Most beneficial?" The anger in Shen Fei'an's eyes surged, but he forced it down: "Wen Su, have you ever considered Qingyun's situation right now? She lost her husband, was forced to go abroad, and at a time like this, you take away her project in this manner, laying out the so-called evidence of originality in front of everyone, cornering her like a coup. Are you really thinking about the company? Or are you thinking about yourself?"
"Do you want to hear what outsiders will say?"
"That you, Wen Su, took advantage of your sister-in-law's downfall, kicked her while she was down, stole her credit and seized her power?"
"Cold-blooded, utterly lacking in compassion, so utterly disgraceful?"
Shen Fei'an was genuinely angry. He didn't approve of Wen Su choosing this moment to make such a decision.
He walked over, placed both hands on Wen Su's shoulders, and as usual, gently smoothed the hair by her ear: "Wen Su, it's just a project. It might not even make much money. Is it worth sacrificing your reputation to trample Qingyun underfoot?"
Wen Su lowered her gaze, gently pushed away the man's arms resting on her shoulders, and spoke quietly: "I'll wait for the higher-ups' decision and arrangement. As for whether it's worth it, I have my own convictions and principles."
With that, Wen Su opened the meeting room door and strode out.
Shen Fei'an, you have no right now to talk to me about circumstances and dignity.
When you and Lu Qingyun plotted to have a healthy child to solidify her position in the Shen family, that dignity was already destroyed.
Less than three minutes after the meeting ended, Wang Jiajia called Lu Qingyun and recounted everything that had happened in the meeting room, in full detail.
An hour later!
A black Bentley sedan pulled up in front of the villa at No. 6, Songhu Bay.
In the back seat, the man's cigarette was still burning.
Once the car came to a stop, he tossed the cigarette onto the floor and crushed it out with his black leather shoe.
"Second Young Master!" Nanny Wang hurried forward to take the coat draped over the man's arm.
"Is she willing to eat anything?" Shen Fei'an asked.
Nanny Wang said softly: "She ate a little, but not much."
Just then, Lu Qingyun's figure appeared at the top of the stairs.
She wore only a thin silk robe, with a cardigan casually draped over it.
In this late autumn season, such attire was clearly not warm enough.
Her pale face bore no makeup, and her eyes were red and swollen.
Lu Qingyun looked like a completely different person from the poised and refined eldest daughter-in-law of the Shen family she usually was.
She resembled a frightened bird backed into a corner with nowhere to go.
"Fei An…" Her voice was hoarse and broken, carrying a hint of tears, and the next moment, tears rolled down like beads from a broken string.