Wen Ying’s argument was logical and well-reasoned. It carried a natural persuasiveness.
Several students who had previously questioned Wen Ying could not help nodding.
“Oh dear, I was almost led astray just now!”
“I would believe she could win a literary prize, but bringing down a whole company is too exaggerated…”
“Her method is quite good. Whether the product causes allergies or not, let someone from Silan use it themselves.”
These students had whispered about Wen Ying moments earlier. Now they whispered about Zhao Qian. Their stance truly favoured neither side.
Zhao Qian, however, faltered.
This development differed from the rehearsal with Zhao Dong.
Zhao Qian hesitated. Her gaze drifted. Several times she wanted to glance behind her but forcibly restrained herself.
Wen Ying formed a suspicion and deliberately raised her voice. “What’s wrong? You do not even dare to use your own company’s products. How can you guarantee they will not cause allergies?”
Wen Ying took advantage of Zhao Qian’s limited education, openly substituting concepts.
“Who, who says I dare not…”
Zhao Qian stammered as expected.
“If you dare not use them, then fine. Do not falsely accuse others in future. Consumers have their own measure for product quality. Put away crooked ideas and focus on making good products.”
Wen Ying’s disdainful tone and expression provoked Zhao Qian.
Zhao Qian grew dizzy with anger while finding herself in a dilemma. “Use them, then. What have I to fear?”
“Good!”
Wen Ying struggled to suppress her laughter. “With so many people watching, I invite everyone to bear witness. Oh, I almost forgot to introduce her. This is Zhao Qian, a student from our university’s International Cultural Exchange Institute. She is an American-born Chinese. The Zhao family has a scholarly ancestor who served as a Hanlin scholar, very prestigious. The family emigrated abroad years ago. By Miss Zhao’s generation, they had accumulated considerable wealth. The Zhao family cares deeply for national development. A few years ago, Miss Zhao’s elder brother returned with investment capital, and Miss Zhao came back as well… People like this, with noble ancestry yet still thinking of contributing to the motherland after emigrating, I personally respect greatly. This is a perfect chance, with everyone’s witness, to help clear things up for Miss Zhao’s family.”
Wen Ying spoke with apparent sincerity.
If Zhao Qian were not the person involved, she might almost have believed the nonsense.
Yet Zhao Qian could not refute it.
Could she deny that the Zhao ancestors were not prestigious, or that their return investment was not for national development?
Clearly not.
For Miss Zhao to endure without exploding or cursing today?
Wen Ying grew even more certain of her guess.
“Since Miss Zhao has no objection, I will take it as agreement. I will not wrong Miss Zhao. To avoid later disputes, I will go with her now to purchase the products.”
Wen Ying acted immediately. The onlookers clapped and cheered.
At this point, Zhao Qian’s own wishes were irrelevant. Wen Ying led several students in escorting Zhao Qian to the nearest beauty salon.
“This one will do. It looks quite upscale. They should sell Silan products.”
Wen Ying looked at Zhao Qian.
Zhao Qian’s mind was in turmoil.
All the way, stared at by so many eyes, Zhao Qian dared not even scratch an itchy nose, let alone contact Zhao Dong. She had never faced a real crisis. With her limited experience, she could not handle such an unexpected situation independently.
But Zhao Qian knew she must not follow Wen Ying’s pace.
Before Zhao Qian could find fault, Wen Ying had already led everyone inside.
Hearing Wen Ying inquire about Silan products, the salon staff assumed she was another victim seeking redress. They looked nervous. “We no longer sell that brand… No, we never sold it!”
Wen Ying laughed. “I am not here for rights. I genuinely want to buy. If you fear liability, I can sign a disclaimer with you. If Silan products cause allergies, the user will not hold your salon responsible.”
Drafting agreements was Wen Ying’s old skill.
Plotting for novels required imagination. Drafting agreements drew on over a decade of training from her previous life, almost a reflex.
The salon staff member was the second to falter.
Selling Silan risked trouble. Not selling, yet someone insisted on buying and even offered a disclaimer. Earn money without liability. It sounded acceptable?
While the staff fetched the manager, Wen Ying had already written the disclaimer.
“Miss Zhao, please sign.”
Wen Ying paid for the products. Zhao Qian would be the user.
Zhao Qian did not want to sign. Wen Ying smiled mockingly. “What is it, Miss Zhao? No confidence in your own products? Afraid your face will break out too?”
Zhao Qian hemmed and hawed for a long while before finding a refusal.
“You chose this salon. How do I know you did not tamper with the products in advance?”
The manager arrived just then.
These past days, the salon had been exhausted by consumer complaints. The manager harboured deep resentment toward Silan.
Though unsure why Wen Ying’s group wanted to buy, the manager instinctively defended the salon’s reputation. “Tamper? We are a proper establishment. The products come from Silan. We are victims too.”
With that, the manager had staff bring out a large carton.
The outer seal remained intact. Inside were many brand-new, unopened products.
The manager said the salon wanted to return them.
Zhao Qian was now truly trapped.
Wen Ying put away her smile and said coldly, “Miss Zhao, stop stalling. Your family is wealthy. Attending classes or not makes no difference to you. The rest of us must return for regular lessons. You claim I arranged for the salon to tamper with Silan products. Could I foresee you coming to confront me? If you dare not use them, then do not. I will write an honest account of today’s events on my blog. The public can judge for themselves.”
That would never do.
Zhao Qian had come to divert public attention, not to confirm Silan products were indeed problematic.
“I will sign!”
Zhao Qian gnashed her teeth.
Wen Ying promptly paid for a full set.
Since everyone was already in the salon, Wen Ying had Zhao Qian receive a facial treatment on the spot.
The fragrant products applied to her face left Zhao Qian trembling, praying the family company’s items would hold up.
They should not cause allergies, right?
No, they definitely would not.
The technology her brother acquired abroad could not have such high allergenic risk.
All the current online slander must be orchestrated by someone behind the scenes.
Others enjoyed facials with eyes closed in relaxation. Zhao Qian also closed her eyes, but her changing expressions revealed her inner turmoil.
Quite amusing.
Wen Ying did not want Zhao Qian too comfortable. To frighten her, she deliberately asked the beautician to massage longer.
“Miss Zhao, do not worry. To help your family products absorb better, I can pay extra for the beautician to serve you more attentively.”
Zhao Qian wanted to kill Wen Ying.
Several Zhendan students had followed from campus, nearly stuffed from the spectacle. One timely reminded Wen Ying, “So many people watched Miss Zhao use the products today. Next time she uses them, we may not be there.”
Wen Ying considered briefly. “Then let us ask someone to buy a safe. Remaining products after today will be locked inside. Miss Zhao sets the code. I will keep the safe. Each day I will bring it to the International Cultural Exchange Institute to find Miss Zhao and open it in front of others. With everyone’s witness, it will surely encourage Miss Zhao to maintain her skincare diligently.”
Anyone wanting continued updates could go to the institute and follow in person, choosing according to their own schedules without missing classes.
The arrangement was reasonable. The onlookers were highly satisfied, praising Wen Ying’s thoughtfulness.
Zhao Qian flushed with humiliation, reminding Wen Ying not to forget her promise.
“You said…”
Wen Ying cut in. “I said if you complete one full course without allergies, I will delete that post and apologise to you. Rest assured, I remember. I will never break my word.”
The Silan fragrance kept wafting into Zhao Qian’s nose. Even the finest scent could overwhelm in excess.
Something seemed off.
Yet also seemed fine.
In the end, Zhao Qian nodded in bewildered agreement.
