Chapter 71 - The Crisis of Liyu Science & Technology

Human beings are creatures of habit. A trait is hard to let go of once it becomes a habit.

Shangguan Ning had been married to Jing Yichen for such a short time, yet these two days when he was away, made her restless. Home didn’t feel like home.

She lived by herself for more than four years, but she had never felt like this.

It was a good thing that work kept her busy these days. It kept her mind off all such feelings.

That afternoon she was studying the intricacies of developing good public relations, when her cell-phone rang.

The middle-aged voice on the other side asked, “Is that Ning?”

Although Shangguan Ning hadn’t heard this voice in four years, still could still recognise it.

She answered, “This is Ning, Uncle.”

It was Shangguan Zheng’s younger brother – Shangguan Xing, who had called her.

“How have you been? I haven’t seen you in ages. I bet you have grown into a fine young lady!”

“I am well.” Shangguan Ning replied, in a voice devoid of emotion.

Shangguan Xing could sense the lack of enthusiasm in his niece’s voice. He couldn’t blame her for it. He was aware that he had hurt her. He knew how sensitive she was about Liyu Science & Technology.

He tried to ignore it and continued to make small talk with her. He said. “Ning, why don’t you come over and visit us someday? Your Aunt misses you too. Let’s reconnect over dinner. What do you say?”

Shangguan Ning rejected his invitation, without a second thought. “There is no need to take all this trouble, Uncle. I’m busy now. Let’s speak about this, some other time.”

Ning knew that her aunt never really cared about her. All she cared about was money.

She was about to hang up when she heard Shangguan Xing say anxiously, “Ning, don’t hang up! Liyu Science & Technology has run into problems. Please help me!”

He was aware that as soon as he spoke about Liyu Science & Technology, he had Shangguan Ning’s attention .

Sure enough, Shangguan Ning asked after pausing for a second. “What’s wrong?”

Shangguan Xing was relieved. He refused to divulge anymore details. Instead, he said, “Come home tonight. I will fill you in with everything that you need to know. This can’t be discussed over the phone.”

Shangguan Ning couldn’t help but frown.

The fury that was pent up inside her heart, was like a volcano that was on the verge of erupting. Yet she maintained her composure, and replied in the affirmative, “Alright!”

Liyu Science & Technology didn’t only have her mother’s name, but it was also a fruit of all the efforts which her mother had put in. As of this day, even though she didn’t have anything to do with the company, she couldn’t just be a bystander when it was going through troubled times.

She drove to Shangguan Xing’s house at the end of her working day.

Shangguan Xing greeting her enthusiastically at the door. He helped her take off her coat. Her aunt was busy making arrangements for tea.

Shangguan Ning was seeing her aunt and uncle after so many years. Even then, she didn’t feel happy, rather, the exact opposite.

The hosts were over enthusiastic. That was obviously because they needed her.

“Have a seat, Ning! Why don’t you have some fruit? I have bought your favourite cherries.” Aunt Fang Ruo said warmly. As if she really cared about Ning.

Shangguan Ning wasn’t moved. She already knew about her Aunt’s fickle behaviour. Were circumstances any different, and if Ning was of no use to them, her aunt wouldn’t think twice before driving her out of the house. Right now though, her aunt treated Ning as if she was her own daughter.

Shangguan Ning sat down on the sofa in the living room and said casually, “Don’t get too busy, Aunt. I won’t be able to stay long.”

“That’s not nice. You should stay until dinner. Do you like fresh salmon? Your cousin has gone out to buy it. He will be back with it shortly.”

Fang Ruo insisted that Ning stay.

Shangguan Ning was indifferent. She turned to Shangguan Xing. “Uncle, can you tell me about Liyu Science & Technology now?”

Shangguan Xing looked at her awkwardly.

Fang Ruo who couldn’t hold back any more, started to speak of the problems that haunted the company. Shangguan Ning understood that her aunt’s tears were just for the sake of gaining some sympathy.

The new smart phones at Liyu Science & Technology had been recently developed keeping youngsters in mind. These phones were capable of taking high resolution pictures and had a long standby period. Shangguan Rouxue, the popular socialite of A City, was invited to be the ambassador of the product. Although she was quite popular, yet the cell phone hadn’t done quite well as most youngsters couldn’t afford to buy it. Therefore, the sales had dipped.

Besides, LOVE Science & Technology, that was a subsidiary of the business that belonged to Family Ji, has just launched a new branded cell-phone under the Love series. This phone looks good and was reasonably priced.

If one were to compare the two products, the cellphones of Liyu Science & Technology cut a sorry picture. If nothing concrete was done at the earliest, they would not only lose out on their initial capital investment, but also face public embarrassment.

What made matters worse was that in this crucial, difficult period, someone had poached their entire Research and Development team. Someone had literally bought them off.

Liyu Science & Technology was on the verge of collapse.

Shangguan Ning was very unhappy upon hearing these words.

“Uncle, I may not be able to change anything when the development team is not in place. You better establish a new team as soon as possible.”

Shangguan Xing was a professional science and technology developer, and he was more knowledgeable than most experts. Besides, development of cell-phones was a strategic mistake and Shangguan Xing would have to bear the consequences himself.

Shangguan Xing sighed, thought for a moment and said, “Ning, you may not be aware, but our development team was poached by someone, on purpose! Not because of their expertise but to cause our downfall. That man has only one condition. That you have lunch with him. He would return our team to us, and even help us to beat the Love cell-phone.”

Shangguan Ning froze. What did they expect her to do? Go and see a stranger and spend time with him over a lunch date?

How could they sell her out so easily? How could they ?

Controlling her temper, she stood up slowly, picked up her bag and started to leave.

“This is your own business, not mine. Liyu Science & Technology has nothing to do with me anymore. You gave me a payout of 5 million yuan and drove me away!”

Seeing her leave, Shangguan Xing couldn’t hold himself back. He shouted, “It wasn’t my decision alone, for you to have lunch with that man. It was your father’s decision as well.”

Shangguan Ning was shocked.It took her a few minutes to regain her senses. “Whoever has made this decision, I have nothing to do with it. I don’t need to sacrifice myself just for your sake.”

Someone wouldn’t have gone to so much trouble of driving Liyu Science & Technology to closure, just in order to get her company over lunch.

Shangguan Xing knew what this company meant to Shangguan Ning. He touched a raw nerve when he said, “Ning, you don’t need to think of my well being, but at least think of your mother. Liyu Science & Technology was established by her. Do you want to see it fail?”