After returning home with the child, her ex-husband knelt down and gently coaxed her.

To facilitate the production of mushroom-based food products, Haowei established a research and development center at the foot of Qichuan Mountain, primarily for developing new food products.

Dong Chenghai had already given up on this project and planned to shut down the R&D lab before the end of the year. Once shut down, it would mean that the company would face some losses.

Dong Chenghai didn't care about the loss, but An Ning felt that it might still be salvageable.

Her main purpose in coming here this time is to participate in this research and development project, to see if she can find some innovative approaches to keep this production line going and bring greater benefits to Haowei.

"Hello, I am Anning, a senior nutritionist at the Haowei project department."

Outside the research and development room, An Ning met with the person in charge of the research and development project.

The other person was dressed in a work uniform, looked polite and wore glasses. He politely took off his gloves and shook hands with her. "Hello, Ms. An, I am Han Lei, a researcher. It's so kind of you, President Dong, to have you come here to work on the project."

"Does Engineer Han have any new data?" An Ning asked hurriedly. "Is there anything I can do?"

"The research lab has been extracting substances from more than fifty kinds of mushrooms. We have already extracted the relevant substances, but if we want to use them in food research, we need an experienced nutritionist to work with the data. Ms. An's arrival is just in time."

Han Lei led her into his office and gave her a thick stack of data.

An Ning quickly flipped through a few pages and roughly understood the situation.

"Could this data be the key to breaking through in the field of new foods?"

"That's right!" Han Lei said, "Each type of mushroom has different extracts, ranging from three or four to more than twenty."

An Ning nodded, immediately understanding what the other person meant: "Even if the ingredients are the same, the content of the extracts will be different, and even if the content of the extracts is the same, the adaptability to the human body will be different. A small difference can lead to a huge error."

From a nutritionist's perspective, their top priority is to maximize the benefits of extracted nutrients for the human body.

"Ms. An is right," Han Lei nodded approvingly. "That's why this data is so important."

An Ning immediately got to work, saying, "Leave it to me."

......

The research lab is located at the foot of the mountain, giving us priority in recording information about the growing climate, soil texture, and the growth and reproduction time of the mushrooms.

Therefore, An Ning spent the entire 48 hours in the R&D lab office.

"Miss An, please rest for a bit and have some food."

When Han Lei carried his lunchbox into the office, An Ning was still in front of the computer comparing data and writing a nutrition report.

"This data isn't urgent; Miss An's health is the priority."

Han Lei carefully unfolded the chopsticks and placed them on the table. "You've been here for two days now. It suddenly started pouring rain this morning, so you should go back to the hotel and rest. Tomorrow is the last day of the month. If the rain stops, you can go out for a walk. The little mushrooms in the mountains should be growing again."

Upon hearing this, the hand that was calculating data suddenly paused.

"Tomorrow is the last day?" she asked, as if talking to herself.

"Yes." Han Lei noticed her somewhat surprised expression. "What's wrong? Do you have anything planned for tomorrow?"

Anning opened her phone and flipped through the calendar.

On the important reminder on the calendar, a line of red text was somewhat glaring.

Lu Xiyan's engagement banquet was held on the 31st.

She hasn't contacted Lu Xiyan in the few days since she arrived in Dianhai.

The other party did not reply to the text message I sent.

She suddenly looked out the window at the torrential rain. The rain in Dianhai was truly unpredictable, and the downpour was particularly fierce.

Will his engagement party be a sunny day tomorrow?

"Miss An?" Han Lei called out, pulling her back to reality.

"Oh, nothing, I just felt like time flew by." She walked to the table, took the chopsticks offered to her, and said thank you.

Han Lei noticed that she seemed to have something on her mind, so he didn't ask any more questions. He pointed to the dishes on the table and said, "These are all specialties of Qichuan. You haven't been eating properly these past few days. When you have some free time, I'll take you to the city for a stroll."

"Thanks, but I won't be staying here long," Anning said with a smile. "I'll have to go back to the company once your research project has yielded results."

After returning, I will leave Haowei.

Next month, she will be joining Ou Teng.

"So sudden?" Han Lei seemed a little disappointed, then laughed, "I was thinking of taking you out to eat all the mushrooms in Dianhai after I finished this busy period."

"I've heard that there are hundreds of ways to cook mushrooms here, and there's even a saying that eating mushrooms can fight cancer. I have to say, mushrooms are truly a wonderful natural ingredient bestowed by God."

Han Lei had barely finished speaking when An Ning paused, her chopsticks still in her hand. She suddenly looked up at him and asked, "What did you just say?"

"What?"

"Mushrooms can fight cancer?" An Ning seemed to have been enlightened. "You mean the mushrooms here can fight cancer?"

"It's just a claim," Han Lei explained, noticing her slight agitation. "There's no concrete research or data to confirm it."

An Ning's eyes lit up. Could it be that anti-cancer substances could be found in mushrooms? It just so happens that Lu Xiyan's current medical division is tackling these kinds of intractable diseases.

If mushrooms can fight cancer, then food products made from fungal extracts can be combined with medicine. This is not only a breakthrough for Haowei, but also a breakthrough for the Outen project!

Thinking of this, An Ning got goosebumps and quickly put down her chopsticks and returned to her computer.

......

At nine o'clock in the evening, the sound of glasses clinking filled the restaurant of the Lu Family Manor, making the atmosphere even more lively.

The restaurant was filled not only with the Lu family but also with the Cheng family.

Lu Lixiao sat in the main seat, raised his glass, and declared, "Starting tomorrow, the Lu and Cheng families will officially become one family!"

"Congratulations, Dad! Congratulations, President Cheng!" Lu Jin raised his glass and looked at Lu Xiyan sitting opposite him. "Congratulations, Xiyan."

Lu Xiyan nodded slightly, his face expressionless.

Sitting next to him, Cheng Wanwan always had a smile on her face and seemed very well-behaved and sensible.

"Congratulations to you both!" Cheng Shao and Han Yun raised their glasses. "We're all family, so let's not stand on ceremony. As long as the children are happy, we, as their elders, are at ease."

The people at the table were all respectable, and their words were always perfectly tactful.

Lu Xiyan swirled the wine glass in his hand expressionlessly, his eyes deep and cold, revealing no emotion.

Suddenly, his phone rang in his pocket. His eyes flickered, and a barely perceptible hint of anticipation flashed through his mind. He quickly opened his phone.

Swipe open the screen, and that glimmer of hope is immediately dashed.

"Have you thought this through? This engagement is a big deal. If you regret it later, it will be too late. Grandpa will be the first to punish you."

He looked up and saw Lu Qinghe raising an eyebrow at him while holding a wine glass.

He didn't reply, but instead gave a slight smile as he prepared to put his phone away.

The next moment, a phone call came in.

The number "7" suddenly popped up on the screen.

Lu Xiyan's hand holding the phone suddenly trembled.

Cheng Wanwan caught it out of the corner of her eye, and her back stiffened. Why was An Ning calling at this hour?

"west Yan, we—"

Before she could finish speaking, the man got up and left his seat to answer the phone.

......

As soon as the call connected, I heard a lot of noise on the other end, which sounded like rain.

The wind and rain were very loud, and her voice came through the sound of the rain.

"Lu Xiyan!"

There seemed to be a hint of urgency in it.

Lu Xiyan stood on the balcony, gazing at the distant night scene, and hummed in agreement.

"I've found the key to your new project!"

An Ning's voice was excited, "Haowei's new food is conducting research and development on mushrooms, and the nutrients in mushrooms not only include some common substances, but also a special component called polysaccharide, namely β-glucan."

Lu Xiyan frowned slightly as he listened to her continue.

"These types of polysaccharides can participate in the body's immune system and activate immune cells, such as lymphocytes and macrophages. Lymphocytes can more accurately identify tumor cells and launch targeted attacks, while macrophages can better detect abnormal tumor cells and prevent further development."

"The polysaccharides in the skin can enhance the body's overall immunity, indirectly inhibiting tumor cells and helping the body fight cancer cells."

An Ning became increasingly excited as she spoke, "This new discovery will be a major help to your medical and dietary integration sector! With this breakthrough, as long as you continue to conduct medical research, Ou Teng can take the lead over Zheng Hong!"

Lu Xiyan listened to her long string of inexplicable words, his gaze indifferent, his voice clear and cold, "An Ning, what exactly are you trying to say?"

The other party seemed to pause for a few seconds, and after a while, a very soft voice came from the other side.

"I've thought about it for a long time, but I still want to ask you one last time..."

"If I can help you, could you not get engaged to Cheng Wanwan?"

Lu Xiyan's Adam's apple bobbed, his voice low and deep, "Why?"

"Because I don't want to," Anning said, her voice calm yet trembling. "I can't let you go."