Tang Yu had originally gone to find Shen Yunyun.
The factory was already under construction, and Xiao Heng had asked him to obtain the prescription first so their team could start developing it quickly. Once the medicine was produced, it would still require numerous approval procedures before it could hit the market. Fortunately, they were developing health supplements, which were much simpler than prescription drugs. If it were prescription drugs, clinical trials would be needed, making things even more troublesome. Moreover, their marketing strategy needed to be put on the agenda. This was their self-branded medicine, and they had to build its reputation to ensure good sales. He wanted to discuss this with Shen Yunyun.
When he arrived at Shen Yunyun’s place, Gu Changye happened to be there too. Gu Changye was telling Shen Yunyun about Qiao Shiyue coming to see him when Liao Zhen showed up again. Liao Zhen also recounted Qiao Shiyue’s visit, and Shen Yunyun laughed so hard her stomach ached. She never expected that Liao Zhen, by sheer accident, had managed to anger Qiao Shiyue in such an absurdly random way. She could even picture Qiao Shiyue throwing a tantrum.
From her past life, she knew Qiao Shiyue wasn’t particularly clever—just ruthless, skilled at playing coy, and backed by the Qiao family’s vengeful favoritism, blind trust, and unwavering partiality, which allowed her to thrive. Plus, in her past life, she cared too much about the Qiao family, and that restraint had left her cornered with no way out. In truth, if she stopped caring about the Qiao family, Qiao Shiyue was nothing. She was only good at handling men; faced with a man who didn’t fall for her tricks, she was utterly helpless.
She hadn’t expected that in this life, Qiao Shiyue would not only find Liao Zhen but also approach Gu Changye, trying to use him to get leverage over Lin Mengxing to threaten her. The person Qiao Shiyue wanted to target couldn’t be Lin Mengxing; it was always her. She must have thought Lin Mengxing was close to her and planned to use that leverage against her. Admittedly, her logic was sound, but she picked the wrong people.
A sly old fox like Gu Changye probably knew who she was the moment Qiao Shiyue introduced herself. She didn’t think Gu Changye was a saint, but he was definitely smart. Did a tiny snuff bottle really think it could buy him off? She had underestimated Gu Changye—he was someone who played the long game, fishing for big catches. How could he sell her out for such a trivial gain? He could clearly distinguish between a one-time feast and a lifetime of plenty. Besides, she had no grudge against Gu Changye, so he had no reason to harm her. And with Lin Mengxing involved? Gu Changye’s feelings for Lin Mengxing were an open secret. Only an idiot like Qiao Shiyue thought she was clever and formidable. Indeed, information asymmetry could blind and deafen people, turning them into a joke.
As they were talking, Tang Yu walked in.
“What are you all chatting about? Laughing so happily?”
Shen Yunyun told him about Qiao Shiyue coming to Goose City, first seeking out Liao Zhen and then Gu Changye. Tang Yu’s expression suddenly turned strange.
Shen Yunyun noticed something was off and quickly asked, “What’s wrong with you?”
“I was just thinking, why did that girl look so familiar? It was Qiao Shiyue. How did I not realize it?”
He should have figured it out earlier—the Qiao family had also won a Beauty Pill at the auction.
“What? Did you run into her?” Shen Yunyun knew how to get to the point.
“I did.”
Tang Yu recounted his encounter with Qiao Shiyue to the three of them.
Gu Changye, Shen Yunyun, and Liao Zhen exchanged glances, then all turned to look at him.
Tang Yu felt a bit uneasy under their gaze. “Why are you all staring at me like that?”
“Tang Yu, don’t you think you should do some self-reflection?”