Chapter 35: Morning Meeting
The astonishing power to traverse time and reshape the future was now within his grasp.
“Is it actually possible?” Lin Xian pondered, staring at his empty right hand before clenching it into a fist. “There’s only one way to find out.”
He shut the window, and warmth slowly reclaimed the room. Overcome by drowsiness, Lin Xian yawned. “I’ll tackle this tomorrow. Today’s Monday, and I have a morning meeting to attend.”
Switching off the light, he nestled into his bed, quickly succumbing to a deep, dreamless sleep.
The following morning, MX Company’s senior meeting room, situated on the 10th floor, bustled with the presence of over twenty mid-to-high-level executives gathered for the routine Monday morning meeting.
Zhao Ying Jun, the company’s founder, mandated that all team leaders and senior managers attend these meetings to report on the prior week’s activities and strategize for the upcoming week.
Previously, Lin Xian, merely a regular employee, would not have been invited to such high-level meetings. However, now as the head of the Rhine Cat IP Development Team, he reported directly to Zhao Ying Jun and sat alongside other department heads.
At the long conference table, Zhao Ying Jun presided at the center, flanked by three vice presidents, with department heads and team leaders arrayed around. As the newest and least experienced leader, Lin Xian occupied a seat at the far end of the table.Suddenly, Wang, the marketing team leader, slammed his hand on the table, disrupting the silence. “I disagree!”
“President Zhao, we’ve invested heavily in the launch of the Rhine brand centered around Professor Xu Yun. How can we just abandon this strategy?”
“Global cosmetic companies are clamoring for Professor Xu Yun’s exclusive authorization. If it’s still up for grabs, why retreat now?”
The room fell silent under the weight of these arguments. Everyone’s eyes darted nervously to Zhao Ying Jun, who had just stunned everyone with her announcement. Lin Xian sat quietly, spinning his pen.
Just moments before, after all reports had been presented, Zhao Ying Jun had declared a significant shift: the company would discontinue the Professor Xu Yun Moisturizing Cream initiative and instead focus on developing an entirely new product line.
This pivot away from a plan that had been central for months—leveraging a revolutionary chemical discovered by Professor Xu Yun to produce a unique moisturizing cream as the flagship Rhine brand product—shocked everyone. This strategy was expected to secure a global monopoly for the company.
However, without a detailed explanation, Zhao Ying Jun’s abrupt decision sparked discontent.
Though MX Company was entirely owned by Zhao Ying Jun, making her decisions final, Wang, a forthright founding member, openly challenged her. “Without Professor Xu Yun’s chemical, how will the Rhine brand compete? Are we shifting to toy manufacturing with just our Rhine Cat mascot?”
Murmurs of agreement followed, and the vice presidents, smiling encouragingly, joined the fray:
“President Zhao, perhaps we should rethink this?”
“If it’s a matter of compensation, we could increase our offer. It would be worthwhile.”
“Indeed! Gaining exclusive rights would effectively give us control over the global moisturizing cream market. The potential profits are enormous.”
For a brief moment, it seemed Zhao Ying Jun was alone in her decision, except for Lin Xian, who remained engrossed in his notebook. Only he and Zhao knew that Professor Xu Yun had categorically refused to sell the chemical.
Yet, hearing Professor Xu Yun’s name again sparked an idea in Lin Xian’s mind regarding his “Rewrite the Future Plan.” He remembered the professor, who had endured personal tragedies and professional skepticism but never ceased his research in cryogenics, hoping to someday revive his comatose daughter.
“Maybe I can assist Professor Xu Yun,” Lin Xian mused, eyes narrowing. He might be uniquely positioned to aid the professor. In the future, even if cryogenic technology is still emerging, there could be significant theoretical advancements.
Helping Professor Xu Yun could not only potentially save his daughter but also accelerate technological progress in the future. It was a scenario where Lin Xian’s theories could be tested: The dream world truly represents the future 600 years ahead. The butterfly effect in time is real; changes now could reshape the future. It was a win-win-win situation!
Suddenly, Zhao Ying Jun’s forceful bang of her folder on the table silenced everyone. “We needn’t discuss this further.”
She stood, asserting, “If the Rhine brand’s highlight is merely a cream, it’s not worth our focus. We aspire to establish a comprehensive beauty empire, not just sell moisturizers. Professor Xu Yun might aid us once but can’t sustain us indefinitely. We must develop our own core technologies. R&D, elevate your efforts, find our unique edge.”
“Meeting adjourned!”
With that, she strode towards the door, her heels echoing authoritatively. As she reached the doorway, she paused, the tension palpable.
She turned, her gaze sweeping across the room to the far end. “Lin Xian, come to my office.”