Capítulo 59: 59
Yu Zhiwan had been busy in the lab for a long time, only receiving her phone once the test results were confirmed. Just after she stepped out of her protective suit, she was informed of the situation.
The person who relayed the news clicked their tongue in sympathy:
"Yue Rong is probably being targeted by Yicheng's leadership. Miss Pei messed with their plans last time. They might not say anything publicly, but there's no way they'll let it slide without retaliating."
Anyone who had made it this far had connections, and Banana was a perfect choice for their scheme. She wasn't a celebrity, so there was less risk of public backlash, yet she was popular enough as an influencer. Normally well-liked for her positive reviews, Banana had quickly turned the public against Yue Rong with a few words, making the consumers rally behind "one of their own."
If Pei Yujang didn't have the right connections, she would be forced to swallow this bitter pill. It was hard to imagine that a single jar of cream could be tampered with so thoroughly.
Even if she suspected foul play, resolving this issue would be no small feat.
Yue Rong was a seasoned company, and its internal teams had quickly organized themselves despite the initial panic. While Pei Yujang took on the task of calming the public, Pei Jinhuai was handling negotiations with the other side, and the heads of the product, sales, and after-sales departments were tracing the source, identifying Banana's order number for the cream, and reviewing the production dates one by one.
However, no matter how busy and stressed the team was behind the scenes, Pei Yujang would have to bear the brunt of the public's ire, possibly facing a barrage of criticism the moment she went live.
Pei Yujang had already logged into the streaming software, bracing herself to start the livestream. Just as she was about to go live, a call from Yu Zhiwan ended, prompting her to glance instinctively at the closed door.
She opened the door, and a cool, fresh breeze met her. The courtyard outside was empty, with only the lush greenery of the evergreen plants, which thrived year-round, swaying in the wind.
Beyond the steps lay the front garden. Since Pei Yujang didn't live in Yicheng full-time, she hadn't had much time to tend to it, so the grass and weeds had grown wild in the spring. However, the plants beyond the garden, managed by the property's maintenance team, were neatly trimmed, a testament to the property's diligence.
But Yu Zhiwan was nowhere to be seen. Pei Yujang guessed she had only been joking earlier, perhaps just trying to offer some encouragement after hearing about the situation.
Feeling heavy-hearted but slightly uplifted, Pei Yujang took a deep breath of the fresh outdoor air and sent a smiling emoji to Yu Zhiwan:
"I'm going live now. I'll catch up with you later."
Yu Zhiwan didn't respond.
Pei Yujang locked her phone, slid it into her pocket, and forced herself to think that this was just a minor hiccup for a beauty company. She had survived much worse in the apocalypse, often handling injuries, fighting, clearing streets, and patrolling alone when there weren't enough hands.
That was a dark time, walking alone through long, deserted alleys. When night fell, there were no streetlights, only a dim moon hanging in the pitch-black sky.
Pei Yujang still remembered the feeling. It wasn't fear but a deep-seated loneliness that gave her a sense of being "alive" in this world. The alleyways were filled with choking dust, bloodstains, and ruined buildings. She trudged through her patrols, day after day, listening for the sounds of looters before turning to face them, blade ready, with the heat of fresh blood splattering on her face.
No matter what happened now, she was still living in a peaceful era. If her old comrades knew that General Pei was daunted by mere public opinion, they would surely mock her behind her back.
Pei Yujang closed the door slowly, casting a final glance outside, already mentally preparing her speech.
Just as the door was about to shut completely, she heard a familiar voice urgently call out:
"Wait—"
For a long time afterward, whenever Pei Yujang recalled this moment, she couldn't help but laugh at herself.
She actually teared up when she heard Yu Zhiwan call her name.
But it was also a clear sign that, unlike her invulnerable past, she was now surrounded by love and care. She didn't have to shoulder everything alone anymore, which made it possible for her to feel such emotions.
Even on the battlefield, Pei Yujang had never been emotionally distant. She had simply locked away her sensitivity to survive in harsh conditions. Now that she had someone by her side, everything felt different.
When she finally saw Yu Zhiwan clearly, a wave of bright, cheerful emotion swept through her, dispelling the gloom that had built up.
Yu Zhiwan was in her wheelchair, still carrying a bag, clearly having come straight from her home. Her chin was wet, and her bangs were slightly damp. It seemed she had only had time to change her clothes and wash her face, skipping a full shower before rushing over.
Pei Yujang blurted out, "What are you doing here?"
As soon as she said it, she wondered if it sounded a bit rude. Yu Zhiwan had come all the way here, so asking that question felt like she was stating the obvious.
But her momentary unease quickly gave way to confidence.
After all, Zhiwan wouldn't mind her being a little difficult.
Yu Zhiwan had rushed over in her wheelchair, clearly having spent considerable time and effort. Now, slightly out of breath, she lifted her face to let Pei Yujang take her in:
"Do I look okay?"
"You look great."
"Alright then, let's start the livestream."
Yu Zhiwan was very familiar with Pei Yujang's home, maneuvering her wheelchair inside with ease. The wheelchair had an automatic cleaning function and was cleaned before entering. Omega pulled up her hair into a neat bun, giving her a more mature and composed appearance.
"Why did I come? If I don't show up, my boss won't have an excuse to dock my pay, right?"
Yu Zhiwan's smile was gentle and graceful. Even without looking in the mirror, she knew she appeared beautiful—fresh-faced and clean, yet with a hint of fatigue. In front of the audience, she couldn't be too aggressive or too passive, and her current demeanor was just right.
Seeing Pei Yujang standing there, stunned, Yu Zhiwan urged:
"Did you start yet?"
"Oh, right. I'm starting now."
Snapping out of her daze, Pei Yujang quickly set up the livestream. There were likely many people waiting for her to go live, including rivals who had undoubtedly entered the chat under fake accounts.
As soon as the stream went live, a flood of viewers joined.
Pei Yujang didn't waste any time, sitting up straight and addressing the controversy head-on:
"We are currently conducting a third round of verification regarding the 'anti-aging cream' dispute involving Ms. Banana. Please remain calm."
As soon as she spoke, the chat exploded.
[Third round of verification??? Has Yue Rong lost it? Denying it to the end? I'm losing respect for you. I used to be a fan, but now I'm disgusted.]
[Poor Banana. What's next, discrediting her to save face? The common people can't win against corporations. I'm out.]
[Yue Rong has let me down. I've been a loyal customer, always supporting domestic brands. I've bought almost everything from your store, but now you're bullying an ordinary person?]
Pei Yujang had anticipated this reaction and remained unfazed.
She pulled out the prepared ingredient list, enlarged it on her computer screen, and shared it directly with the viewers.
"It's all here in black and white. This is the ingredient list for our cream. Anyone who has this product can check the ingredients themselves."
[LOL, I threw away all my Yue Rong products after hearing about Banana's reaction. Who would dare use your stuff now?]
[Is the streamer implying that Banana set them up? That's hilarious. Why would she ruin her own face just to scam a few bucks?]
Of course, some viewers hadn't thrown away their cream. Seeing Pei Yujang's statement, they compared their own ingredient lists.
Someone in the chat asked:
[Is it possible the ingredients don't match what's listed?]
Pei Yujang replied:
"If you have doubts, you can ask the National Quality Inspection Bureau. The ingredients are not something I made up; I'm just relaying the information. The Bureau will verify if the ingredients match the label."
After invoking the authority of the National Bureau, the critics fell silent on that front, but they quickly found other angles to attack.
[No matter what, causing someone's face to break out is terrible. And you're here, shamelessly livestreaming? I'm unfollowing.]
[You're a scammer! Karma will catch up with you, and you'll pay for ruining people's lives.]
Yu Zhiwan, watching the barrage of insults, noticed some were personal attacks on Pei Jinhuai and Pei Yujang. She tugged on Pei Yujang's hand and advised:
"If anyone resorts to personal insults, just have the mods ban them. You're here to explain, not to be a punching bag. Has there been a court ruling? Who gave these people the right to spew venom?"
[Wow, another one of Yue Rong's lapdogs. You won't admit defeat until you're caught red-handed. Who's this, the girlfriend or the mistress? Maybe she can be my sugar baby too?]
Pei Yujang didn't mind being insulted herself, but the moment she noticed the attack on Yu Zhiwan, anger flared up inside her. She immediately flagged the commenter, took a screenshot, and issued a 999-year ban before reporting it to the platform's admin.
The admin was quick to act. The commenter's account had already been flagged multiple times for harassment, and soon their entire IP was banned from the platform.
Pei Yujang's expression turned cold:
"If you have questions, you can ask me directly or discuss the situation. But personal attacks… on my employee will not be tolerated."
She had always been friendly to her audience, with a laid-back streaming style that many found endearing. She would answer questions seriously and engage with her viewers. Many people had a positive impression of her.
With her sharp features and striking blue-black eyes, Pei Yujang had a commanding presence. When she furrowed her brows and pursed her lips, she could be quite intimidating, a look that had often led people to mistake her for an Alpha.
Her stern tone made the trolls hesitate, reducing the amount of disruptive comments. As viewers continued to ask questions, Pei Yujang patiently answered them, avoiding any mention of the ongoing dispute with Yicheng's leadership, promising instead to provide results as soon as possible.
Some viewers were aggressive, trying to push their conclusions, but Pei Yujang, not one for verbal sparring, deliberately slowed her speech so Yu Zhiwan could follow along.
From the moment Yu Zhiwan had clasped her hand, she hadn't let go, her slender fingers interlocking with Pei Yujang's, transmitting a steady warmth and strength.
Naturally, some viewers supported Yue Rong, arguing that the company had no reason to sabotage itself just when it was on the rise.
The audience continued to argue among themselves. Eventually, Yu Zhiwan patted Pei Yujang's hand, signaling her to pass the microphone over.
Omega's clear, composed voice filled the livestream, steady and powerful:
"We promise to prove the truth as quickly as possible. Until then, any insults, slander, or baseless accusations, including verbal attacks on those responsible, will be recorded."
"As for whether this is a case of 'getting what you asked for,' watch closely. Some people should be careful not to get hit over the head when the truth comes out. And as for my relationship with Miss Pei? That's none of your business."
With that, Yu Zhiwan tossed the microphone onto the table, where it landed with a sharp clink, like the sound of a hammer. The woman lifted her delicate chin:
"Yujang, end the stream."
Pei Yujang cut the livestream with a blank expression. No matter how much the viewers argued in the chat afterward, she no longer saw the toxic comments nor had to repeatedly explain herself. She felt much lighter.
With one major hurdle cleared, Pei Yujang sprawled out on the couch like a contented cat, stretching her body.
The atmosphere was much brighter than before Yu Zhiwan had arrived. The warmth of her touch still lingered on Pei Yujang's fingers. Though the physical warmth had long faded, Pei Yujang's fingertips still tingled, feeling soft and weak.
As the room grew quieter, Pei Yujang tilted her head back to look at the ceiling, breaking the silence:
"Do you need to take a shower?"
Yu Zhiwan hummed in agreement:
"I'll shower at home. I'll send you the research report to your personal email later."
Pei Yujang hadn't noticed what Yu Zhiwan had been doing, only hearing some rustling noises. She realized she had been tidying up. For some reason, Pei Yujang felt a strange, subtle sensation, as if something was breaking through the surface of her mind, yet just out of reach.
Yu Zhiwan wasn't going to shower at her place?
But she had her own home, so it made sense for her to shower there. Since her home was closer, it was more convenient. Pei Yujang had no reason to insist she stay and, hearing no hint of a plan to have dinner together, didn't extend an invitation.
She watched Yu Zhiwan leave, politely saying "bye," as if they were just coworkers parting ways after a day at the office.
Yu Zhiwan had come to her home strictly for business.
Pei Yujang felt a twinge of irritation but couldn't quite pinpoint its source. She lay on the couch for a while, feeling restless, and picked up her phone, not wanting to scroll through any more frustrating news. Instead, she tuned into a random radio station.
"This next song is from the soundtrack of the campus drama First Love 303 Days, starring Chen Lulu and Fang Yu. It's called 'Love Letter,'" the female DJ's gentle voice announced. "The song captures the heroine's innocent feelings during her first love and the bittersweet moments of secret admiration, longing for someone who doesn't come, and the anticipation of a 4 o'clock date that starts at 3…"
After the brief introduction, Chen Lulu's sweet voice filled the room. She sang beautifully, and this version of the song was an intimate portrayal of the heroine's inner thoughts.
Pei Yujang had been lazily sprawled on the couch, but as she listened, something felt off. Slowly, she sat up, pushing the pillow aside.
Why did she feel like this song was describing her and Yu Zhiwan?
The sensation was like a seed of hope buried deep in her heart, waiting to grow after a long period of despair. It was as if her beloved was walking toward her, whether they greeted her or not, whether it rained or not—the heroine waiting at the station for the hero's arrival reflected her feelings, from disappointment to the thrill of seeing Yu Zhiwan.
Could it be that she actually, maybe, sort of, liked Yu Zhiwan?
Could it be?
Could it be?
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