Her Entire Court Reborn with Her in the Modern World

Chapter 174: Chapter 173: Sudden Change! Reunion with an Old Friend

Shi Changying had never seen Xu Shuangqiao like this before. Her expression changed slightly as she asked, "What’s wrong?"

"It’s... it’s Fourth Uncle. He’s trapped at the company right now. Those executives won’t let him leave. They want to send him to prison." Xu Shuangqiao caught her breath before continuing. "It’s because of a performance bet agreement. I don’t know the exact details. Second Uncle told me about it. He went over there first, and I came to find you."

Shi Changying immediately put down her pen. "I’ll go with you."

"No, no, no!" Xu Shuangqiao hurriedly waved her hands. "Yingying, you don’t understand business matters either. We won’t be able to help if we go. It’s better to—"

Before she could finish her sentence, Shi Changying had already shouldered her bag, walked out the door, and flagged down a taxi.

Xu Shuangqiao froze for a moment before hurriedly following her. "Yingying, wait for me!"

Shi Changying told the driver, "Please head to the Xu Group headquarters at top speed."

With a ROAR, the car zoomed away, leaving a trail of dust. True to her request, the driver drove faster than he ever had in his life, arriving at the Xu Group headquarters building in just fifteen minutes.

"Yingying!" Xu Shuangqiao was incredibly anxious. "Calm down, you need to calm down."

Shi Changying said coolly, "I am very calm. Don’t worry."

She indeed did not understand business, but the business world was like a battlefield. She knew how to fight wars, and that was enough.

Meanwhile, in the conference room, everyone from the Xu Group’s upper management was present, along with Old Sir Xu.

"Chairman Xu, this performance bet agreement is about to reach its deadline, and it’s completely impossible to fulfill the terms now!" a middle-aged man said sternly. "You should know exactly how massive a loss the company is going to suffer!"

He held a contract in his hand, signed a month ago. The signatory was Ming Chengli.

Old Sir Xu had only just learned about this contract as well, and he couldn’t maintain his composure. "Chengli, when did you sign this? Did you carefully read the terms of the agreement? If we can’t fulfill the terms, the company will have to pay a billion in compensation."

"I didn’t sign it," Ming Chengli said, his voice hoarse. "I’ve never even seen this contract before."

"Fine. Since you’re saying you didn’t sign it, whose name is on it?" the middle-aged man’s voice was ice-cold. "Do you dare to claim this isn’t your handwriting?"

Ming Chengli remained calm. "Someone forged my signature. It’s not like such things have never happened before. You all—"

"Enough!" the middle-aged man interrupted him rather rudely. "This contract is legally binding. Come on, tell me, how are we supposed to fulfill the terms in three days?"

Xu Yunfan frowned as he flipped through the contract, his expression solemn. "Getting hospital approval plus the layers of regulatory filing with the drug administration will take at least a month."

"Mr. Yun Fan certainly has a sharp eye. Exactly. If preparations had begun the moment the contract was signed, a month would have been just enough." The middle-aged man looked disgusted. "But you kept this contract hidden away. You clearly want the company to lose everything!"

Xu Yunfan had no choice but to speak up. "President He, Chengli couldn’t possibly think that way. You’re making malicious assumptions."

"Why is it impossible? He lived a bitter life for over forty years, and now he wants to drag everyone else down with him. Is that so hard to believe?" President He retorted. "I don’t have the time to look into this whole switching-the-Crown-Prince drama of the Xu Family. In short, someone must take responsibility!"

Old Sir Xu sighed. "This matter—"

With a BANG, the conference room doors suddenly opened.

Seeing Shi Changying, Ming Chengli’s expression finally grew tense. "Changying, why are you here? This has nothing to do with you!"

President He’s eyes were filled with disdain. He had wondered who it was, but it turned out to be the dead weight brought along by that useless widower, Ming Chengli. He had long heard from Xu Zhao Yu that this burden was a violent thug—all brawn and no brains.

"There are only three days left!" President He threw the document heavily onto the table and sneered. "If we can’t complete this, the company will lose a ten-figure sum. Ming Chengli, can you bear that responsibility?"

"Since there are still three days, it means time hasn’t run out yet." Shi Changying looked at him. "Jumping to conclusions so early—do you actually want the company to win or lose?"

President He choked on his words. Flying into a humiliated rage, he questioned Old Sir Xu, "Chairman Xu, a company isn’t a place for playing house. I know you’re eager for your son to succeed, but not understanding business is not understanding business. Arbitrarily planting people in here will only turn the company into a total mess!"

Before Old Sir Xu could speak, Shi Changying smiled. "What are you so anxious about? If the bet fails, my dad’s name is on it, so my dad takes the blame. The Xu Family will pay the compensation. You won’t suffer any losses, will you?"

"Making a mistake and still talking back? Fine, I won’t lose anything, but you all will have to go to prison!" President He laughed out of sheer anger. "I’d like to see how you manage to clear all these procedures in three days!"

He flicked his sleeves and stormed out. The other executives exchanged glances for a moment before taking their leave one by one. Only Xu Family Members remained in the conference room.

After a moment of silence, Old Sir Xu suddenly spoke. "Chengli, did you truly not sign that contract?"

Ming Chengli’s gaze toward him was very indifferent. "You can think whatever you want to think. I have no right to sway you."

That look made Old Sir Xu’s heart skip a beat. He opened his mouth but ultimately didn’t say anything else, only sighing incessantly.

"Dad, with only three days, the bet definitely can’t be fulfilled." Xu Yunfan frowned. After hesitating for a moment, he said, "Unless we know someone from the Medical Science Academy."

Old Sir Xu didn’t speak, his gaze heavy.

Xu Yunfan spoke again. "Changying, go rest with your dad for now. Shuangqiao, keep them company."

After leaving the Xu Group, Shi Changying brought Ming Chengli and Xu Shuangqiao back to Half Cup of Clear Dream.

Less than an hour had passed since they had left. Shaoyuan was still in the same spot, reading a book. Shi Changying ordered a low-alcohol drink for Ming Chengli to help him relax.

Seeing that Ming Chengli looked somewhat desolate, she asked coldly, "Why did you return to the Xu Family? If you didn’t return, would it have been impossible to live?"

Ming Chengli was stunned by her words. He smiled and said, "Because your old man is useless, but he still wants you to live a good life without worrying about food or clothing. Suffering a few grievances doesn’t matter."

He had even experienced death. What did any of this count for? He didn’t want to drag Shi Changying around in hiding. He was afraid she would get swept into terrifying matters.

Shi Changying’s heart trembled. Ming Chengli made her realize that parents really would give their love to their children without reservation. This was something she had sought but never obtained in her previous life.

Shaoyuan’s features were calm. "What happened?"

"A performance bet agreement. If Fourth Uncle didn’t sign it, who did? It must have been that guy surnamed He!" Xu Shuangqiao briefly recounted the situation, equally exasperated. "Fourth Uncle only went to the company twice. He doesn’t even hold a sinecure, so he wouldn’t affect the interests of those old geezers at all!"

Qian Qiu frowned. "Does it have to be someone from the Medical Science Academy?"

She did know someone with immense talent in pharmacology. But that was someone from four hundred years ago who, like her, hadn’t left a name in the history books. The Medicine Girl among the Twelve Masters of Mingjing, Ning Liuyu.

Qian Qiu’s heart suddenly ached. She placed a hand over her chest and closed her eyes. She would never forget the scene where Ning Liuyu willingly marched to her death just so they could escape.

"Don’t worry," Shi Changying said indifferently. "I know someone in the Medical Science Academy. She will be here shortly."

They would handle whatever came their way.

Shaoyuan’s eyebrows shifted slightly. "Miss Ning?"

Shi Changying nodded. Just as they were speaking, the bar’s door was pushed open.