Luo Jialin didn't bother looking for Han Weicheng again. He knew even if he found him, it would be pointless. Whether Han admitted it or not, the product had already failed, and all the blame would fall squarely on his shoulders.
After all, he was the company's legal representative—and its sole shareholder.
He deeply regretted not adding Xiao Anning back as a shareholder when he chose to work with Zhang Chengyou again.
And even more, he regretted not listening to his grandfather and father's warnings to stay away from Xiao Anning and Han Weicheng. Those two were never worth trusting.
If they could screw him over once, why not twice? They clearly saw him as easy prey, scheming against him again and again.
No wonder, after he cut ties with Xiao Anning, Han Weicheng had come crawling back, flattering him and pleading to continue the partnership.
Luo had actually believed Han was having a change of heart—truly feeling guilty and trying to make amends.
But it was all a lie. Han had calculated everything from the very start. That realization left Luo numb with despair—and full of hatred for Han Weicheng.
He suddenly remembered what Shu Lanzhou and Tian Hua had both said before—that Han Weicheng treated him "differently." But now he wondered: when the time came, would Han throw him under the bus too?
He let out a cold, bitter laugh.
So much for "different." That old man was the most selfish person alive. Probably never cared for anyone but himself, only how to manipulate and control.
"Different"? More like "specially selected for sacrifice." Han Weicheng had dug a pit just for him—carefully, precisely.
Luo closed his eyes, pain written all over his face.
He could only hope the situation would be resolved smoothly. But once it was, he swore he'd cut all ties with Han Weicheng for good.
And the rest of his life? He'd dedicate it to making sure Han landed in prison—where that scum truly belonged.
Clenching his teeth, Luo Jialin finally swallowed his pride and returned to the Luo family estate, begging his father for an investment.
But before he even got the funds—before he could bribe the factory manager to take the fall—he heard news that the fake-product case involving Mu Group had been solved. And Zhang Chengyou had been arrested.
He quickly asked around and discovered Zhang had been charged for hiring thugs to cause harm. Turns out, the "victims" who stirred up trouble at the hospital were all part of an organized act.
And the mastermind pulling the strings? A man bought off by Zhang Chengyou.
But that wasn't all. The counterfeit version of the medicinal cosmetics developed by Mu Side's company? Also funded by Zhang Chengyou.
No wonder something had felt off.
Luo had long suspected that people like Han Weicheng and Xiao Anning were involved, especially when the Mu Group scandal first broke out.
He remembered how Han had suggested leveraging Mu's scandal to deflect attention from their own product issues. Now it was clear—Han had planned everything from the start.
His old mentor really was a master manipulator—ten steps ahead, always lining up scapegoats and shields. They, his students, were merely tools in his schemes.
"Did you hear what I just said?" Father Luo kicked lightly at Luo Jialin's foot, displeased by his distracted look.
"What's going on with you lately? You've been completely out of it. Don't tell me your company's in trouble too?"
He frowned. "Or are you involved in that Mu Group counterfeit case?"
"Dad!" Luo's face stiffened with panic. "Come on, do you really think I'd do something like that?"
Father Luo snorted. "You'd better not. Our companies may compete, but we're not that low. We don't destroy rivals with dirty tricks."
"I'm telling you—this is illegal. If you get caught, you're going to jail. No matter how badly you want to beat Mu Side, you're not allowed to stoop that low. Understood?"
Luo Jialin forced a smile. "I get it, I get it. Didn't they already get to the bottom of it? I'm still here at home, aren't I? Relax. Your son's not that despicable."
Father Luo opened a news article on his phone.
"The Mu family's something else. Any other company would've tried to hush this up, avoid attention, protect their reputation and stock prices."
"But them? They went the opposite way—launched a public investigation, invited journalists to follow the case, and somehow pulled their sinking reputation back from the brink."
"And that Shu Lanzhou woman—she's got guts. As Mu Side's wife, she faced those angry protestors head-on, no flinching, no hiding."
"She risked injury, yet still stood firm, promising their products were safe and swearing they'd take full responsibility."
"Just for that alone, I've got to say—she's not an ordinary woman. Mu Side really scored marrying her."
"I'm telling you, Jialin, when are you going to bring me a daughter-in-law like that?"
The words hit Luo like a slap to the face. The more brilliant Shu Lanzhou was now, the more bitter the sting.
He had once looked down on her—now, all he felt was regret.
After all those years of being her senior schoolmate, how had he missed her strengths?
How blind could he have been?
Dragging his heavy heart, Luo Jialin left the Luo house. But before he even reached the factory, he got a call: the police were there.
Panic surged through him like ice.
By the time he arrived, the place was swarming with officers. Crates of products were being hauled out of the production floor.
"What… what's going on?" he asked the factory supervisor. But before he could get a full answer, the police approached.
"You are Luo Jialin?" The lead officer produced a search and seizure warrant.
"Based on our investigation, this factory's products—labeled under Luo Group—contain large quantities of harmful substances."
"Prolonged use can cause skin damage and even ulceration. As such, we are shutting down and confiscating the facility."
"All related products on the market will be recalled. The person in charge will be arrested and investigated."
"Mr. Luo, as the seller of these products, you bear joint responsibility. Please come with us to the station for questioning."
Luo Jialin's knees buckled, nearly collapsing.
So this was it. He'd walked right into the trap. With police already on-site, bribing the factory head was no longer an option.
He was completely cornered.
His mind was a mess. He blamed his father—why had the investment taken so long to come through? If he'd had the money earlier, he could've taken care of the problem.
And he blamed himself too—for not acting sooner.
But who could've predicted things would escalate this quickly? He had already started reaching out to victims, even arranged to suppress the negative posts online.
So how had the police still caught up?
With the internet flooded by Mu Group headlines, who had even noticed their company?
He just couldn't figure it out.
What he didn't know was—back when he tried to revert the formula, Shu Lanzhou and Tian Hua had already brought Chen Yue to the police and filed a case.
Mu Side's legal team and assistants had even used Chen Yue's account to post online, not just to expose the issue—but to attract more victims. While Luo was busy deleting posts and burying hashtags, Mu Side's team was simply biding their time.
Once the Mu Group scandal was resolved, the spotlight naturally shifted to Luo Jialin…