Chapter 10 - Work Visit

After greeting her cousin along with Long Jie, Su Xiang went straight home to change in business attire, consisted of tight-fitted grey suit pants, and a white blouse tucked in.

She placed on a lab coat over and tied her long golden hair into a ponytail, that curled at the ends. She glanced at herself in the mirror; with the sunlight peering through the window, the gold in her eyes brightened.

She was a Su and a Song; she reminded herself.

Su Chen was the heir of her father's company, Sun Group, while she was heiress of her mother's company Song Pharmaceuticals. Both companies are part of the medicinal industry, and her parents were initially rivals until they got married and united their resources. Now she and Chen are their successors.

They both operate the companies within the same sector, but even both companies have different projects that they distinguish as different.

Su Xiang never got the chance to collaborate with Chen since they both focused on studying. Now, her parents wanted them to take on more significant roles, which meant that they would be working together often.

Su Xiang arrived at work, where her colleagues greeted her as she walked by. She gave them all acknowledgements until she reached her office. It was clean and arranged to her liking. It was simple, with a mix of a doctor's office scent and lemon.

She began to work by asking her assistant to give her an update on the reports and stats from the day before. She was satisfied with the increase in sales and dismissed her assistant in the meantime.

Song Pharmaceuticals was meant to focus on effective, off-the-counter medicine, where prescriptions aren't needed. Her mother, Song Ren, uncovered a scientific phenomenon that shaped the future of medicine, by researching the findings of an old colleague.

Sun Group, on the other hand, focused on clinical trials, medical devices, and health insurance aspects, which is different from Song Pharmaceuticals, but either way, everything intertwined.

Su Xiang only hopes that one day she would be as good as her mother.

...

Su Xiang spent the afternoon visiting some labs, learning more about the science behind the medicine in the practical sense. She was in school, one more year away from graduating her Doctors of Medicine Degree at her local university, but those who worked for her mother were mentors to Su Xiang.

It seemed odd that she—a twenty-five-year-old woman—would soon provide them orders even though they were more experienced than her, but still, she would try her best.

She was able to participate in following the formula and recipe of a new medicine they would soon launch, which required a lot of mental and physical effort from her.

When she began to wrap things up by returning to her office, she documented some last-minute reports before going out to find her assistant when she noticed Su Chen stepping from the elevator. He was wearing a white lab coat over his clothing, speaking with two men in business attire.

He was showing them around the office area when he caught sight of her quickly, locking his gaze with hers, before proceeding to disappear in another room.

"Ah! What a rare visit from Boss Chen," said one of the receptionists, "he returned, but he's been cooped up in Sun Group." The woman who spoke caught sight of Su Xiang, and straightened into a proper posture.

"Is your work done?" asked Su Xiang.

The receptionist nodded. "Calendar is ready; all emails have responses, and reports are due in the morning," she said.

"Then you are dismissed," said Su Xiang. The receptionist abruptly stood, scurrying her things, "Have a good night!" she said to Su Xiang. Su Xiang echoed the same words back.

She then sighed exasperatedly before going to the lounge, pouring herself a cup of coffee. She began to rub her temples.

"Tired?" asked a deep, magnetic voice.

Su Xiang turned around, holding her cup of steaming coffee. "You're done with your meeting already?" she asked.

Su Chen stepped into the lounge, "It was to approve the new launch. You know which one concerns the lawful practices and judiciary approval of different pharmacy products is?" he questioned her.

"Drug Regulatory Affairs," she answered smoothly. "Try a harder question."

Su Chen stepped closer. "What can be used to treat Acetaminophen Toxicity?"

Su Xiang narrowed her eyes at him before answering, "Acetaminophen Toxicity can be an overdose of the improper indigestion of medication. Symptoms can include abdominal pain, loss of appetite, and nausea. Acetylcysteine can be used to treat it."

Su Chen smiled, approaching her slowly.

"That was easy," she said. "Try another."

Su Chen was close enough that she felt him brush her fleetingly. He then reached out for the coffee urn to pour himself some. "I am confident that no matter what I ask you, it will be correct," he said next to her.

"Or are you afraid if you ask me any of those Final Medical Exam Liscenscing questions, I'll school you?" said Su Xiang.

Su Chen let out a small chuckle. "I do not doubt that you can, and there will be a day that I may ask for your assistance," he said.

"Good," answered Su Xiang, "If we want both our companies to run smoothly, then we need to rely on each other. I don't want to end up like grandfather. He lost a brother due to envy and competition over this company. I don't want that for us."

Su Chen reached out impulsively to brush her cheek fleetingly. "You have an eyelash stuck there," he said as an excuse. He held his grip, meeting her golden-brown eyes to say, "I won't let that happen. We're a team."

Su Xiang lips parted open; she stared up at his deep-jade eyes. He let go. "We are a team," she whispered back, echoing his words.

Su Chen placed a hand in the pocket of his lab coat and sipped the coffee he held with his other hand. "It's late, do you want to go home?" he asked.

"It depends," she said.

"What depends?" he asked.

"If you're staying to work late, then I should too. Don't insist on me going home if you're going to stay behind to take over."

Su Chen kept his expression blank momentarily before his lips curled. "You know I don't sleep," he said.

"Me neither," she responded with a mischevious smile.

Su Xiang knew him well, and what's typical of doctors, or anyone in the medical field is that sleep or being well-rested was a myth.

...