Chapter 254: Chapter 196: The Appointment and the Failure of the Liu Clan’s Plan
After all, judging by last night’s events, the so-called Medical Small Business Alliance couldn’t provide Lin Qi with enough value. On the contrary, the intelligence Lin Qi brought was incredibly significant to them.
Lin Qi looked at Xiao Gu’s message and thought for a moment.
"Alright."
In the end, Lin Qi decided to participate.
It wasn’t for any particular reason, other than a single possibility.
’What if?’
’What if there’s actually new information?’
Lin Qi believed that if he accepted Xiao Gu’s invitation, Xiao Gu would have plenty of time today to recruit new members for their so-called Medical Small Business Alliance.
Once the group grew, there was a chance someone with a special intelligence network would join—someone who could provide him with something of real value.
Besides, there was no harm in expanding his network.
It was networking downwards, to be sure, but with enough numbers, there might just be a pleasant surprise.
Lin Qi didn’t know if Xiao Gu could give him a surprise.
But the surprise Lin Qi had for Xiao Gu was more than big enough.
Xiao Gu, who was still lying in bed, shot upright in an instant. His whole demeanor brightened, his energy renewed.
He immediately opened the Medical Small Business Alliance chat and started typing.
The last messages in the group chat were from after the previous night’s meeting had ended, with many people still expressing their disappointment.
"It’s a shame that researcher from United Pharmaceutical only joined one meeting. Even his casual remarks were valuable intel for us. Such a pity."
That was the last message in the group chat from the previous night.
But now, Xiao Gu sent a new message.
Xiao Gu (Rotor Pharmaceutical): "Good news! Director Lin Qi from United Pharmaceutical will be joining the meeting again tonight!"
The moment the message appeared, the chat filled with a uniform response.
"?"
"?"
"?"
The screen was flooded with question marks.
After the tide of question marks, a new message appeared.
"That’s Xiao Gu for you. His social skills are top-notch."
"How did Xiao Gu manage that? Did he work some magic on the guy from the big corporation?"
"Xiao Gu’s a beast, no doubt. But it’s a shame it’s only Director Lin. If he could get Chairman Liu from United Pharmaceutical to come, *that* would be legendary!"
"What are you dreaming of? That Chairman Liu isn’t just the chairman of United Pharmaceutical; she’s the daughter of the person in charge of Liu’s Heavy Industries, a genuine mega-corporation."
"I was just saying... Hey, Xiao Gu, why don’t you give it a shot?"
Reading the messages in the chat, Xiao Gu’s mouth twitched.
’Invite Liu Xuan?’
’Who do I think I am?’
’If I had that kind of clout—enough to get a word in with the daughter of a real corporate magnate—why would I be wasting my time with these losers?’
’As a researcher, I’m burning myself out for Rotor Pharmaceutical day in and day out... I’m just so damn dedicated...’
As he mused, Xiao Gu’s thoughts began to drift.
But he quickly brought his focus back.
’Wait!’
’I met Lin Qi a little late yesterday, and I wasn’t even sure if he’d actually show up for the meeting.’
’So I didn’t make any further arrangements.’
’But today, I got confirmation this early. And with the foundation of all that valuable intel from last night’s meeting... doesn’t this give the Medical Small Business Alliance a golden opportunity to grow?’
Xiao Gu made a snap decision and contacted the group chat’s administrator—who, before Lin Qi, had been his most valuable contact.
"Sister Yuan, did you see the messages in the group?"
"Yes, that’s right. I contacted Lin Qi from United Pharmaceutical, and he’s agreed. I think this is a huge opportunity for our Medical Small Business Alliance."
"Whether we achieve anything at this summit or not, this is a lifeline for small businesses like ours. I think we need to expand."
"At the Medical Small Business Alliance’s current size, if we can just triple it, our influence won’t be any less than an average corporation. A hundred and fifty small companies... we could make some serious noise..."
Xiao Gu was a fast thinker and quickly convinced Yuan Hong.
After getting Yuan Hong’s support, Xiao Gu immediately sprang into action. He began contacting members of other small companies one by one—people he knew of, but wasn’t well acquainted with.
Before long, the number of members in the Medical Small Business Alliance group chat began to grow rapidly, and most of the new arrivals had been invited by Xiao Gu.
What surprised the other members even more was...
[Xiao Gu of Rotor Pharmaceutical has been promoted to group admin by the group owner.]
"Huh?"
"Brother Xiao Gu, you’re the man!"
"Brother Xiao Gu, I’m ready to lick your boots..."
The members of the Medical Small Business Alliance quickly noticed that Xiao Gu had become a group admin, and it seemed to dawn on each of them what this meant.
’So this is how powerful connections can be!’
Rotor Pharmaceutical, a small company worth no more than 200 million, was now sitting at the same table as Tianshui Technology—a company worth nearly 10 billion and poised to become a major corporation.
This was all thanks to the contributions of Xiao Gu, an A-level Researcher.
As for the chairman of Rotor Pharmaceutical?
He was still sleeping soundly, not working nearly as hard as Xiao Gu.
But in the Medical Small Business Alliance group chat, people started sending their congratulations.
"@RotorPharma_Bossman, stop lurking! You’ve officially leveled up!"
"@RotorPharma_Bossman, get in here and say something!"
"By the way, how come Xiao Gu is an admin and his boss is still...?"
Xiao Gu read the chat messages, his expression unchanging.
For a small company, an A-level Researcher was already the highest caliber of talent they could hope for.
There wasn’t a huge gap in status between Xiao Gu and his boss; you could even say they were basically partners.
This was the reality of a small business, surviving in the cracks.
...
Xiao Gu’s actions were more or less what Lin Qi had expected.
While replying to Xiao Gu, Lin Qi went with Brother Green Hair to try the complimentary breakfast at the Alliance Mansion.
’The verdict?’
’You get what you pay for.’
Even at the Alliance Mansion, the most iconic building in the entire Asian Region.
Most of the food was synthetic, not even up to the standards Lin Qi was used to in Red Fruit City.
But Lin Qi was here at the Alliance Mansion for business, not for the dining experience.
Just as Lin Qi was finishing his meal, his Intelligent Brain suddenly received a call request.
The call was from Liu Xuan.
Lin Qi glanced at the time. It was a little after nine, nearly time for their usual "chance" encounters.
Lin Qi accepted the call, and Liu Xuan’s face appeared in his retinal display.
"What’s wrong?" Lin Qi asked.
Liu Xuan’s expression seemed calm, but the intense purple light flickering in her left prosthetic eye revealed the turbulent emotions churning within her.
"I’m sending you an address. Meet me there at two this afternoon. There are some things I need to discuss with you."
Liu Xuan’s voice sounded weary.
Seeing her condition, a bad feeling stirred in Lin Qi.
Her wanting to meet so soon probably meant that her visit yesterday had not gone smoothly.
The Liu Clan had been counting on contacting a permanent director of the Big Business Alliance to try and reverse the Alliance’s decisions that were leaning in the Si Clan’s favor.
But now, it looked like they had failed.
If that was the case, it meant Si Pharmaceutical had a chance to turn things around.
And Liu’s Heavy Industries, despite being the apparent victor of the Greenfield City incident, would instead find itself continuously targeted.
Anyone in that situation would be under immense pressure.
Not to mention Liu Xuan already had her own mental health struggles.
"Alright. I’ll see you this afternoon."
For no apparent reason, a flicker of irritation sparked within Lin Qi.
Perhaps her state was affecting him.
Taking a deep breath, Lin Qi, not liking this feeling at all, stood up and left the dining area.
"Wait for me!"
Brother Green Hair hadn’t finished eating, but a bodyguard’s first duty was to protect his client.
He quickly stuffed the last two or three mouthfuls of synthetic protein from his plate into his mouth and hurried after Lin Qi.
Inside the elevator, Lin Qi frowned as he thought of someone.
