Film and Television Time Travel: Why Do I Always End Up in Romance Dramas?

Chapter 36: This is not about beating a video game.

Monday morning, 7:00 AM.

As soon as Yu Chen stepped into the laboratory, Hua Xiangyang rushed over with a livid face.

"Mr. Yu, something's happened!"

Yu Chen slammed his backpack on the table: "What's wrong?"

"The equipment purchase order is stuck." Hua Xiangyang slammed the document on the table. "The purchasing department says the process is not compliant and requires price comparison reports from at least three suppliers. This is clearly a delaying tactic!"

Yu Chen picked up the document and glanced at it.

Mr. Mo's signature was in the rejection section, written in a flamboyant and deliberately exaggerated style.

Since the equipment supplier was directly designated by Yu Chen, there was no room for profit, so the purchasing department definitely wouldn't agree.

Yu Chen sneered, walked to the whiteboard, picked up a pen and wrote a few words: Equipment, General Manager Mo, Time.

Then he took out his phone and dialed Lin Yusen's number directly.

The phone rang seven or eight times before being answered. Lin Yusen's voice sounded like he had just woken up: "Yu Chen? So early."

"President Lin, the purchasing department has stalled the equipment for the project." Yu Chen cut to the chase. "It was signed by President Mo, so we have to go through the price comparison process again, which will take at least a week."

There was a two-second silence on the other end of the phone.

"What do you want to do?"

"I need one sentence from you," Yu Chen said calmly, but clearly, "Regarding this project, will you support it or remain a bystander?"

Lin Yusen did not answer immediately.

Yu Chen could hear soft breathing on the other end of the phone.

"Yu Chen," Lin Yusen finally spoke, "you're forcing me to take sides."

"Yes." Yu Chen admitted readily, "President Lin, President Mo dared to block the equipment because he knows your current precarious situation. Chairman Sheng placed you in Shuangyuan to make the necessary changes, but a month has passed and you haven't made a single change. The people below have seen it all."

"They think you're afraid to move, or... unable to move."

That's a very strong statement.

The breathing on the other end of the phone paused noticeably for a moment.

"Yu Chen," Lin Yusen's voice turned cold, "who do you think you are?"

"I'm the kind of person who can take Shuangyuan Technology to the next level," Yu Chen said. "And I'm also the kind of person who can uncover the mess that's rife with problems in the purchasing department. President Lin, Nie Xiguang has already compiled preliminary data: potential losses start at eight million over three years. Would you like to see this data?"

"...Are you threatening me?" Lin Yusen's expression was rather unpleasant.

What's even more infuriating is that Nie Xiguang's involvement is also mentioned.

"No, I'm handing you the knife." Yu Chen walked to the window and looked down at the gray sedan that had just driven into the factory area.

That's Mr. Mo's car.

"President Lin, you are Chairman Sheng's grandson. This identity is both an advantage and a disadvantage in Shuangyuan. The advantage is that no one dares to openly touch you, but the disadvantage is that everyone is watching you to see if you have the ability to hold onto this position."

He paused, then continued, "Now the opportunity has arrived. President Mo is the litmus test. If you make a move against him, the whole company will know you're not just here for a superficial experience. If you don't, who will take you seriously in the future?"

A coughing sound came from the other end of the phone.

"Where's the data?" he asked.

"I'll send it to your email in ten minutes," Yu Chen said. "President Lin, I just need your word. If you support me, I'll resolve the equipment issue today. If you stay out of it, I'll find another way, but you can forget about interfering with Shuangyuan's technical roadmap from now on."

"Are you trying to negotiate with me?"

"I'm discussing a collaboration with you." Yu Chen glanced at the time. "Eight o'clock. I'll be waiting for your reply."

After saying that, he hung up the phone.

Hua Xiangyang, who was listening nearby, was dumbfounded: "Engineer Yu...you're putting General Manager Lin on the hot seat!"

"He was already on fire." Yu Chen walked to the computer and pulled up the data summary that Nie Xiguang had sent last night. "President Hua, print out three copies of this. Send one encrypted copy to President Lin's email, one copy to me, and keep one for yourself."

"That equipment..."

"I'll go see Mr. Mo about the equipment myself." Yu Chen stood up, draped his coat over his shoulders, and said, "You wait here. Let me know as soon as Mr. Lin replies."

"Mr. Yu!" Hua Xiangyang grabbed him, "You need to be careful with President Mo. He's been in Shuangyuan for so many years, he's deeply entrenched..."

"Deep roots?" Yu Chen laughed. "I'll go loosen the soil for him today."

---

At 8:10 a.m., in the purchasing director's office.

Mr. Mo was making tea when he saw Yu Chen push the door open and immediately put on a smile: "Oh, Engineer Yu, what a rare guest! Come, sit down, have a seat and try my newly arrived Da Hong Pao tea."

Yu Chen didn't sit down. He walked to his desk and placed the rejected purchase order on it.

"Mr. Mo, the equipment issue needs to be resolved today."

Mr. Mo's smile remained unchanged as he slowly poured himself a cup of tea: "Engineer Yu, don't be in such a hurry. There are rules for purchasing; comparing prices from at least three suppliers is the procedure..."

"Processes are rigid, but people are flexible," Yu Chen interrupted him. "This batch of equipment is crucial to the project. Not only will Sheng Yuan's people come to inspect it on Wednesday, but the bank's people will also be here. We can't afford to wait."

"Oh well, rules are rules." Mr. Mo pushed his teacup towards Yu Chen. "Besides, the price you quoted is indeed a bit high. Saving the company money is my duty, don't you think?"

Looking at his smooth, smiling face, Yu Chen suddenly smiled too.

"Mr. Mo, do you really want to hear me say 'isn't that right'?"

Mr. Mo's smile froze for a moment.

"Then let me do the math with you." Yu Chen stepped forward, placing his hands on the edge of the table. "In the third quarter of 2010, the market price for that batch of polysilicon from Xinya Materials was 210,000 yuan, while you signed the contract for 245,000 yuan. How much money did you save on that deal?"

Mr. Mo's expression changed.

"And what about last year's batch of EVA film? The payment terms were ridiculously harsh—30 days for payment, with a penalty of 0.3% per day for late payment." Yu Chen stared into his eyes. "Other suppliers offer 60 days for payment, with a penalty of 0.1% for late payment. Mr. Mo, are you trying to save the company money or burn it?"

The air in the office seemed to freeze.

Mr. Mo slowly put down his teacup, and the smile on his face completely disappeared.

"Yu Chen," his voice turned serious, "what do you mean?"

"What I mean is," Yu Chen straightened up, "the equipment issue must be approved today. If you approve it, we can settle some accounts later. If you don't—"

He paused, then said, word by word, "Then I have no choice but to ask General Manager Lin to settle both the equipment and the old debts together."

Mr. Mo suddenly stood up: "Are you threatening me?"

"It's a reminder." Yu Chen glanced at his watch. "It's 8:15 now. I need to see the purchase order back in the process by 9:00. Otherwise, at 9:01, I'll be in General Manager Lin's office with all the data. By the way—"

He turned and walked to the door, glancing back at President Mo: "President Lin is Chairman Sheng's grandson. Do you think he'd protect a purchasing director who's been accumulating power for ten years, or someone who could give Shuangyuan Technology a chance to turn things around?"

The door closed.

Mr. Mo stood there, his face ashen.

He grabbed the teacup on the table and smashed it on the ground!

"Hold!"

---

Yu Chen had just stepped out of the purchasing department building when his phone rang.

It's Lin Yusen.

"I've seen the data." Lin Yusen's voice was devoid of emotion. "Eight million, no less."

So what's your decision?

There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone.

"Yu Chen," Lin Yusen said slowly, "My grandfather sent me to Shuangyuan and gave me two tasks: one was to reorganize management, and the other was to seize the technological opportunities. You've essentially... packaged both tasks for me."

"So, will you answer or not?"

"Yes," Lin Yusen said decisively. "Regarding the equipment, I'll have the finance department go through the special channel and approve the payment within half an hour. As for Mr. Mo, give me three days to complete the evidence chain."

Yu Chen smiled: "Deal."

"However, Yu Chen," Lin Yusen changed the subject, "I don't like the way you forced me to take sides."

"As long as it works," Yu Chen said. "President Lin, the waters around Shuangyuan are too deep. If we don't stir them up, we won't be able to see what's underneath."

Lin Yusen didn't respond to that, but only said, "Have someone keep an eye on Nie Xiguang. President Mo isn't stupid; he knows where the data comes from."

"Mr. Lin, you don't need to worry about my girlfriend." Yu Chen glanced in the direction of the archives in the distance. "There's something else."

Hearing Yu Chen say that Nie Xiguang was his girlfriend, Lin Yusen felt a sharp pang in his heart.

"explain."

"Once the purchasing department's affairs are settled, I want Shuangyuan Technology Department to be completely independent and report directly to you," Yu Chen said. "I want to have absolute say."

Lin Yusen smiled.

It was the first time Yu Chen had heard him laugh; it was a very short laugh.

"Yu Chen, you have quite the appetite."

"Technological breakthroughs require a voice," Yu Chen said. "Will you give that voice?"

"……Give."

After hanging up the phone, Yu Chen put away his phone and let out a long sigh of relief.

"Engineer Yu!" Hua Xiangyang ran over from the direction of the laboratory, panting. "It's approved! Finance just notified us that the equipment payment has been approved, and the earliest one can arrive tomorrow!"

"Got it." Yu Chen patted him on the shoulder. "Notify the project team that the meeting is at 7 p.m. tonight, and the kickoff meeting will be moved to tomorrow morning."

"Tomorrow? But Sheng Yuan and the bank people will be there the day after tomorrow..."

"We won't wait for them," Yu Chen said. "When they come, we need to have something to show them."

---

3 PM, Archives Room.

Nie Xiguang was organizing data on his computer when the door was pushed open.

Yin Jie poked her head in, looking nervous: "Xi Guang, President Mo is here."

Nie Xiguang's heart tightened, but she tried to keep her face calm: "Where?"

"They just entered the building and are coming this way," Yin Jie said in a low voice. "Should you... look away for a bit?"

"No need." Nie Xiguang took a deep breath. "I'm right here."

No sooner had he finished speaking than Mr. Mo appeared at the door.

He wasn't wearing a suit today, just a jacket, and he had a smile on his face, but that smile was creepy.

"Xiao Nie, busy?"

"Mr. Mo," Nie Xiguang stood up, "Is there anything I can help you with?"

"Nothing serious." Mr. Mo walked in, put his hands behind his back, and walked around the archives room. "Just checking in to see if things are going well here."

"It went very smoothly, thank you for your concern, Mr. Mo."

"That's good." President Mo stopped beside Nie Xiguang's desk, casually flipping through the documents on it. "I heard you've been helping Engineer Yu organize some historical data lately?"

Nie Xiguang's fingers tightened slightly: "It's a task assigned by President Lin: to sort out the company's procurement records over the years."

"Oh?" Mr. Mo picked up a document and looked at it. "So... did you find anything?"

Nie Xiguang looked up at him.

The archives were dimly lit, and Mr. Mo stood with his back to the light, his face hidden in the shadows.

"The discovery is," she said, emphasizing each word, "that some historical data doesn't match up."

Mr. Mo's smile froze.

"Young lady," he slowly put down the documents, "knowing too much about some things is not necessarily a good thing."

"Mr. Mo," Nie Xiguang met his gaze, "I was just doing my job according to the leader's requirements. As for why the data doesn't match, you'd have to ask the person who handled it back then, don't you think?"

The air was eerily quiet.

Yin Jie stood at the door, barely daring to breathe. Yu Chen's task for her was to keep a close watch on Xi Guang.

Mr. Mo stared at Nie Xiguang for a long time, then suddenly smiled: "Good, very good."

He turned and walked out, but stopped at the door: "Xiao Nie, please give a message to Engineer Yu for me."

"Please speak."

"Tell him," Mr. Mo turned around, his eyes icy, "that some situations are not so easy for him to resolve. Be careful... don't get yourself into trouble."

"This isn't like beating a game where you can use revival coins."