Life Plan

Chapter 19, Candy Wrappers

Public opinion shifted rapidly, and the Helsinki Declaration became the new trending search term.

The subjects have taken on the safety risks for all potential users of the drug. Even though opinions on Liu Chichi remain divided, some people have already spontaneously resisted the publication of the subjects' photos.

Yang An's exaggerated expression quickly disappeared from online dissemination. The speed at which the internet fermented and burst was as fast as a soap bubble, and some of the public opinion battleground even shifted to the account of the person who filmed it.

The current public opinion is positive. The warning has been issued regarding Chen Bin's investigation results, and Liu Chichi's insistence on protecting the privacy of the subjects despite being criticized for a week has received positive comments.

The company supervisor proactively spoke with Liu Chichi, and Shen Shuyi had rehearsed with her beforehand: "How would you answer if they asked you how you coped with cyberbullying?"

"Shut down".

"No, I should say that under the company's guidance, I learned to maintain a positive attitude and persevere under pressure."

"How would you answer if they asked if you had considered disclosing the participants' information?"

"I haven't thought about it, and I dare not announce it."

"No, it should be said that we should adhere to our personal beliefs, remain steadfast in the face of negative comments, and strictly abide by laws, regulations, and company rules and regulations."

"What did you say when they asked you how you would persuade Hao Jia?"

"We are friends."

"That won't work either. You have to explain to them the potential impact of releasing the information on the pharmaceutical company. You try your best to persuade them, but they are persistent. However, we used our professional skills to convince them, and finally we reached an agreement."

"Why can't we just say that an agreement was reached, instead of saying that she persisted?"

"Are you trying to get me into trouble?" Shen Shuyi leaned forward, her smooth forehead suddenly close to hers. "I've been trying to persuade her for two days without success, but she agrees as soon as you say something. Doesn't that make me look incompetent?"

"Oh, oh." Liu Chichi suddenly realized, "Didn't you try to persuade me at all?"

Shen Shuyi is a very tactful person, and she might even tell a few small lies when necessary. If she wanted to persuade Hao Jia, she would never need to speak up herself. Besides, Shen Shuyi's manuscript—

"You're preparing this for yourself, aren't you?"

"The process doesn't matter." Shen Shuyi grabbed her hand. "You're a star in the industry now. Repeat after me, I'm not wrong!"

Liu Chichi opened her mouth awkwardly and uttered, "I did nothing wrong."

"Your delivery isn't powerful enough. Read it again. I'm not wrong!"

"I did nothing wrong..."

Liu Chichi's face flushed slightly, and Shen Shuyi finally let her off the hook, "Never mind, just keep it in mind."

The supervisor sat at the head of the long table, next to Yan Shaohai, the representative of the ethics committee, while Liu Chichi sat at the other end of the table.

The supervisor cut to the chase: "I heard someone sent you Chen Bin's travel itinerary information. Haven't you considered publishing it?"

"I haven't thought about it."

Why?

Liu Chichi silently thanked Shen Shuyi in her heart. Her predictions were as accurate as ever, and she had memorized them very well: "The company has instructed us that when we encounter problems, we must stick to our personal beliefs, never waver, and abide by the company's rules and regulations."

She just felt like she had suddenly become a worldly adult. Her dull sincerity was not enough to help her navigate society. No one would bother to check if she was number one on her report card unless she showed her efforts to everyone.

When Shen Shuyi first impersonated her boss to make a phone call, she thought Shen Shuyi was too cunning. Later, she thought Shen Shuyi was too worldly-wise, adept at navigating social situations, remembering everyone's likes and dislikes, and sometimes even a bit obsequious, but she never allowed anyone to cross her boundaries. Her attentiveness and rejections were so obvious and decisive.

Liu Chichi could only do half of it, so she became a pushover who couldn't say no.

The supervisor was surprised by her sudden display of loyalty, and he leaned back slightly: "Aren't you concerned about the online comments?"

"I care about it, so I've been trying to adjust my mindset."

"To be honest, we did consider sacrificing you to end this mess. You know, that chat log was the beginning of all the disputes, and even now there are still claims that you engaged in manipulative behavior."

"I've considered this outcome."

"Then why did you choose to stand up?"

Later, public opinion gradually shifted towards the clinical trial, and Liu Chichi had already escaped the center of the controversy. She also considered letting the matter pass.

But she saw Yang An's photos, and those self-righteous people used all sorts of sensational stories to speculate about him, exaggerating the fear he showed when he was photographed.

Liu Chichi remembered this person; he was a thin, middle-aged man with thick glasses that couldn't hide his dark circles, and he was carrying a bottle of melatonin. The test results showed that he hadn't taken any hormone medications. When Liu Chichi checked the items, she found the bottle was very light, with only the bottom having some weight.

To prevent him from taking any medication that might affect the trial results before enrolling, Liu Chichi opened the bottle.

Inside, it was a riot of colors, filled with origami cranes folded from colorful candy wrappers. Through the gaps between the layers of origami, she could see capsules squeezed to the bottom of the bottle.

Sometimes Liu Chichi felt that she had too much empathy. Even though she was in the eye of the storm of public opinion, she still felt sorry for Yang An the moment she saw his photo.

"I believe those test subjects who were forced to disclose their identities are innocent."

Shen Shuyi taught her to put herself in other people's shoes.

As the representative of the company assisting in the clinical trial, Liu Chichi tentatively began, "Furthermore, losing the trust of the participants would significantly impact our future clinical research, right?"

No one answered.

After Liu Chichi walked out the door, the supervisor glanced at Yan Shaohai, who turned his head to the side and said, "Why are you looking at me? I'm just someone sent by the committee to observe the proceedings."

"However," he added, changing the subject, "her current situation does indeed make it easier for her to gain the trust of the test subjects."

In a sense, Liu Chichi is now the spokesperson for the clinical trial research team, and as a result of misfortune, she has been promoted ahead of schedule.

What pleased Shen Shuyi even more was that, in order to wait for the public opinion to calm down, the project that was originally intended to be undertaken by the center was transferred to another place.

Upon receiving the news, Shen Shuyi slammed the filing cabinet she had just cleaned shut, completely ignoring the researcher's gaze, and hugged Liu Chichi tightly: "Great, the job I was about to get is gone!"

Liu Chichi sensed that she wanted to show a hint of disappointment, but she couldn't fake it at all. Because she couldn't fake it either; a good life with a nine-to-five job and weekends off was beckoning her.

But Chen Bin's case is not over yet; his parents still insist that clinical trials caused their son's death. Wang Lan sat at the main entrance holding his portrait, and the hospital security guards, unable to forcibly remove them, could only let them sit there.

To avoid conflict, Liu Chichi and Shen Shuyi wore masks and went to and from get off work through the side door.

People avoided Wang Lan. She would sit on the steps and sob every day. Occasionally, uninformed people would come up to watch, and she would grab them and cry that the clinical trial had killed her son.

Until she caught a local thug—Brother Liu.

With his hands in his pockets and eyes narrowed, Liu leaned closer to look at the photo in her arms. Wang Lan instinctively grabbed him, but before she could even begin to cry, Liu abruptly shook her off, yelling, "Don't fucking touch me!"

He was very strong; he shoved Wang Lan over, knocking the photo frame she was holding to the ground, shattering the glass instantly. Wang Lan froze for a moment, then screamed and tried to pounce on Brother Liu, but he kicked her hard, sending her sprawling back to the ground, where she sat amidst the broken glass.

Chen Bin's father, Chen Laosi, who was smoking in the wind, only then noticed. He rushed over with a cigarette in his mouth, grabbed Brother Liu by the collar, and raised his fist high.