Chapter 135: An Unfamiliar Sense of Security

Back in her room, Chen Muxue’s phone rang again. Thinking it was Sun Hong, she ignored it, but when it rang a second time, she turned her head in suspicion. Seeing it was her assistant, Jin Wei, she answered.

"Director Chen, it’s bad!"

Jin Wei’s voice on the other end was visibly panicked. "As soon as I arrived at the company, I received a notice from President Sun. He announced that the price of the raw materials is increasing by twenty percent!"

"I know!" Chen Muxue replied in a low tone. "Ignore him for now. If nothing else, we can source raw materials from other suppliers. Qingcheng Tech won't collapse just because of his cooperation!"

"But... Director Chen, the herbal wholesalers we previously inquired with have also issued statements blacklisting our company. This includes over a dozen large and small wholesalers like Changshengji, Shengmao Mall, and Wanyuan. None of them are willing to provide us with raw materials!" Jin Wei said, her voice urgent.

"What?!"

Chen Muxue’s body jolted. She felt a rush of blood to her head. There was no doubt that Sun Hong was behind all of this, but she hadn't expected his retaliation to come so quickly. The herbal wholesalers in Qingyang were a tight-knit group; with a single word from Sun Hong, they would naturally favor him and disregard Qingcheng Tech.

"Director Chen, there’s more. The Chamber of Commerce has also sent us a notice, claiming our products are suspected of quality issues and ordering us to suspend operations for rectification immediately!" Jin Wei’s voice carried a hint of a sob. "We’re in big trouble now, Director Chen. What should we do?!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Muxue felt a tightness in her chest, her vision blurred, and her legs gave way. She collapsed onto the bed, and her phone slipped from her hand, hitting the floor with a loud "clatter."

"Muxue?!"

Chen Jianguo, his wife, and Su Zheng, who were outside, rushed in at the sound. Seeing Chen Muxue fainted, they were struck with alarm.

"Muxue, what happened to you?!" Chen Jianguo shouted anxiously, lifting his daughter up.

"Daughter, don't scare your mother!" Lu Hongmei grabbed Chen Muxue’s hand, crying out in distress.

"Don't worry, Mom and Dad. She’s just under a lot of pressure lately and suffered a sudden shock, causing her to faint from agitation. Her life is not in danger!" Su Zheng carefully examined her complexion and quickly assessed her condition, feeling a sense of relief.

"What do you know!" Chen Jianguo was furious at the sight of Su Zheng. He quickly ordered Lu Hongmei, "Quick, call an ambulance!"

Lu Hongmei obeyed her husband and immediately dialed for help. An ambulance arrived shortly after. Chen Jianguo prepared to lift his daughter himself, but as he stood up, his lower back gave a sharp "crack," followed by a jolt of pain.

"Dad, let me do it!" Su Zheng offered.

Chen Jianguo glared at him. Though he didn't want his daughter touched by Su Zheng, he knew he couldn't lift her in his condition, and her safety was paramount. Gritting his teeth, he gave a cold nod.

Su Zheng skillfully scooped Chen Muxue up in a bridal carry and turned to head out. This was his first time in such close contact with her. Feeling the warmth of her body and catching the faint fragrance she emitted, Su Zheng felt a bit flustered.

Yet, there was not a trace of impure thought in his mind; instead, he was filled with tenderness. As he carried her out, he whispered, "Don't worry, it's alright. With me here, everything will be fine..."

A groggy Chen Muxue half-opened her eyes to look at Su Zheng. Feeling the heat radiating from his chest, she felt an inexplicable sense of security and closed her eyes, drifting into a deep sleep.

Because her condition was not critical, Chen Muxue regained consciousness quickly after receiving an IV drip at the hospital. Chen Jianguo and Lu Hongmei let out a long sigh of relief, standing by the bedside to comfort their daughter, telling her that no obstacle was insurmountable and to put her mind at ease.

Chen Muxue nodded weakly. She glanced at Su Zheng sitting nearby, remembering the sense of peace she felt in his arms. She felt a mix of gratitude and bashfulness, and a light flush crept onto her cheeks. She had never imagined she would one day be held by Su Zheng in such a situation.

Although she had been semi-conscious, she could still feel that Su Zheng’s hands, which supported her upper body, were firmly curled, making every effort to avoid touching her chest. Even if he had acted improperly in that state, she wouldn't have been able to resist—and besides, she was his wife; whatever he did would have been legal and reasonable.

But he hadn't done a thing!

Looking at Su Zheng now, her eyes held a hint of gratitude. Under this close observation, she felt he was strangely unfamiliar, or perhaps, she had never truly understood him at all.

Just then, seeing that Chen Muxue was awake, Su Zheng set his mind at ease and quietly stepped out of the ward. He took out his phone and made a call. Soon, a middle-aged man arrived at the hospital. When Su Zheng saw him, he pulled a token from his pocket—the Wanjin Token.

The man’s expression became instantly respectful as he waited for Su Zheng's instructions.

At that moment, in the suburbs of Qinghai City, more than three hundred kilometers from Qingyang, Sun Hong lay on a lounge chair by the swimming pool of his luxury villa. With his legs crossed, he sipped red wine, gazing at the scenery with a look of contentment.

With the Wu family gone, he wasn't about to miss the chance to quickly expand his connections and resources. He had specially traveled to Qinghai City that morning to meet with the Wu family’s former market partners, intending to bring them all into his fold and bolster his own power.

At that moment, a young female secretary with a hot figure, dressed in a black professional skirt and crystal high heels, hurried toward him. Carrying a file, she looked solemn and slightly flustered.

"How did it go? No slip-ups?" Sun Hong asked casually, still looking at the scenery.

"Everything is done, President Sun. I’ve confirmed with Changshengji, Wanyuan, and over a dozen other peers. They have already sent the statements to Chen Muxue. As for the Chamber of Commerce, I’ve pulled some strings, and they should have already called her company, ordering Qingcheng Tech to suspend operations for investigation. This time, Chen Muxue has absolutely no way to make a comeback!" the secretary reported meticulously.

"Hmph! Let’s see if that stuck-up woman will agree to me now. Trying to play the saint in front of me—she picked the wrong place!" Sun Hong’s face was smug, filled with an inexplicable sense of satisfaction. Swirling his wine glass, he squinted and said, "There has never been a woman I couldn't handle. Does she know what my status is in this industry? If she wants to make a living here, she has to sleep with me!"