Chapter 164: Ten Minutes Between Life and Death!

Layers of immense pressure bore down like a tidal wave.

Ahead stood Pei Huaide, eyeing them with predatory hostility.
Behind lurked Peng Haidong, waiting for an opportunity to strike.
Crucially, aside from Huang Yuanxiang's ruthless exploitation, there was also the overwhelming and coercive threat of Bei Chaonan.

In an instant, Ye Wushang became the target of public wrath, while the An and Lan families were reduced to fish on a chopping block, at the mercy of others!

"Time is up, but where is the new medicine? You must give us an explanation!"

"How can they possibly explain? Obviously, as President Huang said, the Lan family must go bankrupt and the An family must be restructured! Such deceitful enterprises have no right to exist!"

"For two large corporations to actually send some nobody to stall here—do they really take us citizens for fools?"

"Bankruptcy! Bankruptcy!"

The surrounding onlookers, including customers who had come to purchase medicine, grew increasingly agitated, shouting relentlessly.

Yet Ye Wushang showed no trace of fear. He held his head high, chest thrust out, and said proudly, "No amount of punishment will work. Forget about bankrupting the An and Lan families—even if you wanted my life, Ye Wushang, it wouldn't matter."

"Because I have created the new medicine, and moreover..."

"Enough!"

Before he could finish, Lan Ruoxue let out a piercing shriek.

Her voice trembled, hoarse and laden with a hint of crying.

She rushed over, her eyes bloodshot as she stared at Ye Wushang, a mixture of exasperation at his failure to meet expectations and bitter resentment. "Are you out of your mind?"

"You've been running your mouth about making a new medicine all this time. Where is it? Where is the medicine?"

"You stand here spouting nonsense without any medicine at all. Do you think you look cool? Do you think you can really turn the tide?"

"It doesn't matter if you want to court death on your own, but don't drag us down with you!"

"Is it because I divorced you that you're seeking revenge by crushing me like this? Are you even human?"

Pear blossoms drenched in rain, her face streamed with tears.

Ye Wushang remained expressionless, saying indifferently, "Lan Ruoxue, don't flatter yourself."

"I didn't make this medicine for you, but for Lanlan."

"I have indeed developed the new medicine. Both in quality and quantity, it fully meets the standards."

"Their so-called punishments are, in my eyes, sheer nonsense."

"Then produce it!"

Pei Huaide curled his lip in a sneer. "We care about results, not your grandstanding here."

"Bring out the medicine, and everything is negotiable."

"If you can't produce it, don't blame us for being unpolite!"

Ye Wushang's expression remained unchanged as he glanced at the time: nine-twenty.

His agreement with Lord Rabbit had been set for nine-thirty. With ten minutes still remaining, he pondered slightly and said, "The medicine is on its way. Give it another ten minutes..."

"You expect us to wait just because you say so?"

"Our time is extremely precious. We want to see the medicine right now."

"Otherwise, let President Huang handle this strictly by the book!"

Before the words had even faded, Pei Qinghu immediately shouted in rebuke.

As soon as he spoke, the crowd immediately chimed in with support.

Everyone concluded that he was simply stalling for time and that no medicine existed at all.

Over on one side, Zhao Xiue and her two daughters were still wildly spewing venom, hurling extreme mockery and malicious abuse.

Over on the other, Su Xiaoding was sighing heavily, completely at a loss.

Although An Lan had no firm certainty in her heart either, she understood Ye Wushang; he never fought a battle without preparation.

Things had reached this point, and she chose to place her bet on him.

Taking a deep breath, she hurried forward, grabbed Ye Wushang's arm, and said solemnly, "Wushang, did you really make the medicine?"

"Yes, the quality is exceptional."

"Furthermore, by working overtime through the night, the quantity meets the standards as well."

"It's just that a slight complication arose, which caused a bit of a delay..."

"All right, I trust you!"

Making a desperate, all-in gamble, An Lan nodded, then turned her gaze to Pei Huaide and stated firmly, "Give Wushang ten minutes."

"Once ten minutes are up, if no new medicine appears, the Chamber of Commerce won't need to issue any penalties—my An family will willingly suspend operations for rectification."

"As for the Lan family, they will also immediately shut down their business for an indefinite period."

Gasp!

Hearing this, everyone couldn't help but draw a sharp breath.

Was An Lan out of her mind? How could she actually believe the empty blather of this good-for-nothing?

If the Chamber of Commerce issued a forced injunction, they could still appeal or even try to win public sympathy.

But a voluntary shutdown meant handing all initiative over to the opposition, allowing them to deal with them however they pleased.

"I object!"

Lan Ruoxue rushed forward immediately, rejecting the notion. "He can't possibly make any medicine. I absolutely refuse to let the future of the Lan Corporation be gambled on him!"

"President An, if you want to throw your life away, that's your business, but I have to answer to my corporation and my family!"

"This matter—"

"Whether you agree or not, you will comply!"

An Lan cut her off, raising her volume and stating with iron resolve, "The Lan Corporation is fundamentally a subsidiary of the An family; we signed an agreement to that effect."

"You hold the business agency rights, but the ultimate decision-making power lies with me."

"If you refuse, not only will the Lan Corporation be shut down, but you will also have to pay the An family a tenfold penalty for breach of contract."

"That amounts to billions! Can you afford to pay that?"

Hearing this, Lan Ruoxue turned pale with shock.

The contract indeed contained such a clause, but she couldn't fathom it.

Why on earth would An Lan trust Ye Wushang to this degree? This was blatantly impossible, yet she insisted on driving it forward.

Could her obsession with him have driven her to such an insane and unhinged degree?

"An Lan, we have no deep grudges between us. Why are you trying to destroy me like this?"

Lan Ruoxue stood there soul-less and desolate, as if her spirit had been sucked away.

Zhao Xiue and Lan Ruoshuang wanted to roar in protest, but they were cowed right back down by a ferocious glare from An Lan.

Corporation bankruptcy was already devastating enough.

If they were saddled with billions in breach-of-contract penalties as well, wouldn't that push the Lan family straight into the grave?

"Very well, President Pei, we have no objections on our end."

Seeing her opponents crushed into submission, An Lan looked at Pei Huaide and said, "Give Wushang ten minutes."

"When the time is up, the truth will reveal itself."

"I hope that during this period, you—"

"No problem!"

Pei Huaide smiled and nodded, saying coolly, "What's waiting ten minutes? I'll grant him this chance."

"When the time comes, the An and Lan families will face bankruptcy where they must, and liquidation where they ought."

"As for the mastermind, Ye Wushang, he has not only deceived public sentiment but is also suspected of commercial fraud."

"As it happens, Deputy Director Fu Fei is right here. When the time comes, we'll take him back to the precinct for a thorough interrogation."

Before he finished, Bei Chaonan stepped in, letting out a cold scoff. "It's been a long time since I last visited the police precinct."

"When the time comes, I'll join in as well. This brat and I still have a lot to talk about."

His gaze sharp, he glared at Ye Wushang as if already viewing him as game caught in a trap.

Once they reached the police precinct, he would definitely settle old scores and exact vengeance!

An Lan and Su Xiaoding, who knew the inside story, exchanged fearful glances, dread filling their hearts.

Given Bei Chaonan's vindictive nature, if Ye Wushang were truly dragged to the police precinct, he would likely never make it out alive.

"Everyone step back a bit and give them ten minutes of breathing room."

"Rest assured, folks, if the An and Lan families fail to develop the new medicine, my Pei family can."

"Once we settle the issues here, follow me, and I guarantee you'll all be able to purchase the medicine."

With Zhang Yanhong in his grasp, development had long since been completed ahead of time.

Full of confidence, Pei Huaide intended to use this opportunity to suppress the An family and exact revenge on Ye Wushang.

Moreover, he could win over public sentiment in passing. To him, it was hitting three birds with one stone!

"Come on, let's head over to the Pei family's side."

"Sign the purchase contract first, and we can collect the medicine later."

"The Pei family is much better, knowing how to look out for us instead of the Lan family, who are full of lies and utterly disgusting."

"Give him ten minutes? Even if you gave him a hundred minutes, what difference would it make?"

The crowd swarmed toward Pei Qinghu's side.

Though this was the Lan Corporation's territory, they had turned it into their own domain.

They had citizens queue up to sign documents one by one, intending to purchase the Pei family's new medicine once matters were resolved.

Meanwhile, news media swarmed to follow the developments, praising the Pei family to the high heavens.

"Sis, what do we do now?" Lan Ruoshuang asked, consumed with anxiety.

Driven to absolute despair, Lan Ruoxue sighed helplessly, "What else can we do? Settle accounts and prepare for the corporation's bankruptcy."

"You can't be serious, daughter? Are we really going to reach this point..."

Zhao Xiue's eyes widened in horror.

Lan Ruoxue sighed. "What other choice is there?"

"Do you really expect Ye Wushang to pull a new medicine out of thin air?"

"His so-called ten minutes are completely meaningless. Just to exact revenge on me, he dragged the An family down too. How vicious."

"That damned good-for-nothing! I'll tear him to shreds!"

Raging with fury, Zhao Xiue roared and lunged forward, only to be intercepted by Lan Ruoxue. "Mom, drop it."

"A lean camel is still bigger than a horse. He's An Lan's favorite right now; making trouble for him now is unwise."

"We'll figure out our next move after this blows over."

With that, she instructed the major executives to archive documents and dismiss personnel, preparing for the impending bankruptcy of the corporation.

Nearby, Su Xiaoding desperately wanted to ask questions, but seeing Ye Wushang sitting quietly on a bench with his eyes closed in meditation, An Lan stopped her. "Xiaoding, stop bothering him. Let him have some peace and quiet."

"The house is on fire, how can anyone find peace?"

Su Xiaoding was speechless. "Lanlan, it's not that I want to lecture you."

"I believe in Ye Wushang's character, and his capability might even be decent."

"But you truly shouldn't have made an all-in gamble, staking the entire future of the An family on him. Why are you so foolish..."

"I am willing!"

An Lan raised her voice, her expression resolute. "For him, I can give up everything."

"As for the family, I will handle the fallout. You don't need to worry about me!"

Having said that, she sat down beside him, leaning close to Ye Wushang to silently keep him company.

Prompted by emotion, she subconsciously reached out to take Ye Wushang's hand.

Ye Wushang's body stiffened slightly; he initially intended to pull away, but hearing her words touched his heart deeply, and he let it be.

In his mind, he pondered: Lord Rabbit and he were bonded by life and death; the rabbit understood better than anyone else the critical importance of today's new product launch.

May he arrive as promised.

Otherwise, the consequences would be unimaginable!