In the reception room, a bald middle-aged man and a blonde foreign woman sat on the sofa, flanked by two assistants.
Anyone familiar with the industry would immediately recognize the bald man—Wu Xiaobin, President of Pfizer Greater China.
He was speaking quietly with the woman beside him—Elena, a representative from Pfizer's U.S. headquarters. She was sent specifically to handle potential dealings with Marching Ant Company. Wu Xiaobin accompanied her to smooth communications and help facilitate any partnership discussions.
Lately, Starfish Company had shaken up the pharmaceutical industry with two blockbuster drugs. Internal sales data already showed Pfizer's own Viagra sales dropping significantly due to the competition from Starfish's new product, Haizhiwei.
This was why so many companies feared Marching Ant—whichever industry they touched, the existing giants inevitably took a hit.
Phones? Apple and Samsung suffered major losses.Operating systems and office software? Just as viruses were spreading globally, Microsoft, Apple, and Umbrella Corporation's productivity tools lost ground to Marching Ant's Termite System.
Now they'd entered pharmaceuticals—an unexpected move, even by Marching Ant's standards.
The reception room door opened, and Zhao Min entered with Xiao Yu and a robotic assistant. Wu Xiaobin's tense expression relaxed as he rose to greet her.
"Hello, Ms. Zhao. I'm Wu Xiaobin from Pfizer," he said warmly, extending his hand.
"Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Wu. I've heard a lot about you," Zhao Min replied politely as they shook hands.
"You're too kind. It's an honor to meet you in person." Wu Xiaobin smiled and gestured to his companion. "Allow me to introduce Elena, our representative from Pfizer U.S."
"Hello." Zhao Min offered a professional smile and shook Elena's hand.
"Nice to meet you, Ms. Zhao." Elena's eyes studied Zhao Min carefully—this calm, direct woman was different from the image she had of Chinese executives, who she'd assumed were more conservative and reserved.
Zhao Min sat down opposite them, unbothered. "So, what brings Pfizer to us today?"
Hearing the direct question through her translator, Elena was momentarily surprised. No small talk, no formalities—Zhao Min went straight to business.
"We're here to discuss a potential partnership," Elena said smoothly. "Pfizer is interested in acquiring Starfish Company or investing in a significant stake."
Zhao Min didn't flinch. Her smile remained professional. "I'm afraid Starfish is not considering a share transfer at this time."
Elena's face stiffened. She hadn't expected the rejection to come so quickly—or so bluntly.
Of course, this wasn't the first time something like this happened. From the very beginning, countless firms had tried to get a piece of Marching Ant's pie. But if there was one thing Zhao Min had learned, it was this:
You loosen your grip, and capitalists will slowly eat you alive.
Still trying to keep the conversation alive, Elena persisted. "We've helped Starfish grow. With Pfizer's global network, we can ensure your products enter international markets at the fastest possible speed."
"I don't doubt that Pfizer is capable," Zhao Min said with a polite nod.
"Then doesn't it make sense for us to invest in Starfish?" Elena leaned forward slightly. "It's a win-win: greater profits, faster market expansion…"
Zhao Min gave a soft chuckle. "It's certainly a tempting idea. But we're confident in our own global expansion strategy. We're not looking to transfer any shares."
"Ms. Zhao, time is money. We're offering a shortcut to maximize returns. Isn't that worth considering?" Elena watched Zhao Min closely for any signs of hesitation.
But Zhao Min remained calm, her tone unchanged, her demeanor unreadable.
To Elena, Roche seemed like the less ideal partner—after all, compared to Pfizer's market reach, they lacked scale. But Roche had still secured a joint venture. Pfizer was simply trying to follow the scent of ripened fruit.
It was a no-risk opportunity, and Pfizer had hoped to waltz in and grab a slice.
Seeing Zhao Min unmoved, Elena pressed again. "As you say in China: rest in the shade of a big tree. With Pfizer's support, Starfish can grow faster and farther. Why not take advantage of that?"
Zhao Min's smile didn't fade. "And as we say here: under the big tree, small trees never grow. And when the wind blows, they fall first."
That struck a nerve.
Elena's expression soured. Her assistant translated the words, and the message was clear.
"You mean you're completely unwilling to consider any kind of share transfer?" she asked.
"Our company is still in its early stages," Zhao Min replied coolly. "Things are stabilizing. For now, share transfers are off the table."
"You won't even hear our offer?" Elena asked, a trace of disbelief in her tone.
Zhao Min tilted her head. "Do you really think we're short on cash?"
That stopped Elena in her tracks.
Everyone knew Marching Ant was one of the most cash-rich companies in China. Money was the least of their concerns.
But Pfizer's interest wasn't purely about investment—it was also about defending their market.
Viagra had built Pfizer's empire. When it launched, the company rode the wave of its success, acquiring firms like Warner-Lambert and eventually becoming the largest pharmaceutical company in the U.S.
Now, Haizhiwei threatened that legacy. And with Yujie dominating the women's market, Starfish was on track to be a pharmaceutical giant of its own.
Pfizer needed in.
"Ms. Zhao," Wu Xiaobin finally joined the conversation, his tone diplomatic. "You've partnered with Roche, and they aren't even a pharmaceutical powerhouse. Why not cooperate with Pfizer? The benefits would be greater for both sides."
Zhao Min raised an eyebrow. "Our company is always open to partnerships," she said. "But at the time, the only door that opened to us was Roche's."
"And now?" Wu Xiaobin pressed.
Zhao Min gave a faint smile. "That time has passed."
The room fell silent.
Everyone understood what that meant. Pfizer had missed their window. The Marching Ant Company wasn't interested anymore.
"We're very sincere," Elena added, still trying. "Please reconsider."
"Of course. Next time there's an opportunity, Pfizer will be our first call." Zhao Min's tone was pleasant, but final.
With nothing more to say, Elena and Wu Xiaobin exchanged a few more polite words before standing to leave. Zhao Min and Xiao Yu returned to her office.
Back behind her desk, Zhao Min turned to Xiao Yu. "Do you know why I refused them?"
Xiao Yu shook her head. "Not really."
Zhao Min walked over to the window, watching their car drive away.
"Pfizer's top shareholders include BlackRock, Vanguard, and several other major consortiums like Morgan Stanley and JD Capital. These are the same groups that tried to block Marching Ant's international expansion. They're not allies—they're opponents."
"Why would they want to suppress us?" Xiao Yu asked, clearly surprised.
"Because in the Western world," Zhao Min said, her voice calm but sharp, "capital controls the market. These same conglomerates are the major shareholders of tech giants like Microsoft, Apple, and Umbrella Corp."
She paused, her eyes narrowing slightly.
"They use Wall Street, banks, and hedge funds to control the entire U.S. capital market. Their goal is to pressure us into opening our company to their influence—so they can eventually take control."
"But we're in China," Xiao Yu said. "They can't just buy into our markets, right?"
Zhao Min nodded. "Exactly. Our government protects domestic capital. They can't force their way in. That's why they're trying to isolate us internationally."
Xiao Yu's expression turned serious. She hadn't realized the deeper layers at play.
Zhao Min turned back to her desk with a faint smile. "In business, there are no permanent enemies—only permanent interests. But that doesn't mean I'll hand them our hard-won gains just to earn their goodwill."
"They're not here to collaborate. They're here to pick peaches."