City’s Best Divine Doctor
Chapter 857 - 0857: Wei Guomin’s Troubles

Chapter 857: Chapter 0857: Wei Guomin’s Troubles

Wei Guomin was baffled. The first time they stole the lingerie design, it was also from tracing and copying Mr. Ye’s design.

The first summer lingerie design sold exceptionally well, accounting for nearly three-quarters of the total revenue in the first half of the year. However, when the second stolen design was produced by the manufacturing department and launched, it was entirely the opposite.

Having been in the apparel market, especially the lingerie market, for so many years, Wei Guomin could instantly determine if a design was good or not.

Back then, when Li Yingjun stole and copied the first summer lingerie design, it left a deeply impressive feeling on him. To his eyes, this was exactly what the lingerie market had always needed.

Moreover, it was because of that realization that Qingcheng Group’s garment factory produced according to Ye Qiu’s design. Sure enough, once production began, even though there were only two styles, they became instant bestsellers, continuing to sell all the way into the autumn lingerie season. That one line of lingerie kept breaking records with explosive sales.

However, the second time Li Yingjun stole and copied another design, which, to Wei Guomin, seemed even more exquisite—a masterpiece among masterpieces—it completely upended his expectations.

Now, it left him completely shocked. The success of the first attempt had blinded him to the risk, prompting the garment factory to mass-produce, investing materials worth over two billion yuan.

And that accounted for just the raw materials. Factoring in other expenses, the total cost exceeded three billion yuan.

If this product could mirror the success of the previous bestseller, sales this time would undoubtedly exceed ten billion yuan.

In reality, however, Wei Guomin never anticipated that this particular autumn lingerie design, despite having more styles, would generate less than one billion yuan in total sales since its launch.

This loss was catastrophic!

Now, Qingcheng Group and its cooperating distributors were left with massive quantities of unsold inventory. With the garment factory continuing production at such a pace, the excess stock had severely impacted Qingcheng Group’s liquidity.

Should this situation persist, Wei Guomin knew Qingcheng Group might face complete collapse—even worse than earlier downturns.

Previously, even though profits hadn’t skyrocketed, they certainly hadn’t dropped as disastrously as now.

"Who can save me now?"

For days, Wei Guomin had been pondering this question.

While Qingcheng Group still had tens of billions in liquidity, its credit loans from the banks only amounted to around eight billion yuan, and the interest rates weren’t low. Yet, they had already used over four billion yuan of the loans.

If this continued, they might not even be able to cover the interest payments. And if the banks saw trouble brewing at Qingcheng Group, they might demand early repayment of the loans. That would only exhaust liquidity further.

Without liquidity, banks would definitely refuse to issue new loans, resulting in a fatal break in the cash flow—the nightmare of every entrepreneur.

If Li Yingjun hadn’t been caught, Wei Guomin might have considered asking him to steal designs again. But after Li Yingjun was detained by Xingyue Group and sent to the detention center, that option closed entirely.

Even if Li Yingjun hadn’t been imprisoned, his exposure by Shen Yueru as a design thief had destroyed any trust she might have had in him.

With Li Yingjun unavailable, and Qingcheng Group embroiled in a lawsuit with Xingyue Group due to Li Yingjun’s betrayal and testimony, Qingcheng Group was now in a highly awkward situation.

Although there was no definitive evidence yet proving Li Yingjun had stolen Xingyue Group’s designs and sold them to Qingcheng Group, those stolen designs had indeed been patented early by Qingcheng Group at the patent office.

In his CEO office, Wei Guomin sighed and shook his head, gazing out at Xingyue Group’s towering headquarters across the street, then back at his own. He was adamant about not losing to Shen Yueru.

Defeat, to him, would mean losing to himself—a reminder that he should never have left Xingyue Group to start his own venture.

Determined, Wei Guomin vowed not to crumble, and Qingcheng Group could not afford to collapse.

Yet, in this world, amid such dire circumstances, who would truly lend a hand?

For days, he had been holding meeting after meeting, demanding actionable proposals from his department heads, but to no avail.

The best option so far was to spend a fortune hiring a renowned lingerie designer from Europe to create a custom autumn lingerie line for Qingcheng Group, in hopes of recouping losses.

However, hiring a master designer in such a specialized field was enormously expensive. Moreover, even if they could afford the fees, securing a deal would be uncertain, as most renowned designers worked exclusively for major international brands.

Brands like Chanel and Dior, for instance. Even though he could theoretically shoulder the cost, it was not guaranteed.

With no better alternatives, Wei Guomin had already dispatched four department heads to London, New York, Milan, and Paris to seek out master designers to create a fall lingerie collection.

It would undoubtedly take time.

Meanwhile, someone suggested spending money to directly approach Ye Qiu for a design collaboration.

If that were possible and Ye Qiu agreed, there would be no need for underhanded methods like sending Li Yingjun to steal and copy designs.

However, Wei Guomin was aware that, due to Shen Yueru’s involvement, Ye Qiu would be highly unlikely to agree.

"Who can help me now?"

Wei Guomin had no idea.

He could only wait—wait for news from the four department heads traveling to the fashion capitals, and at the same time, he genuinely considered testing the waters with Ye Qiu through his secretary. Perhaps Ye Qiu could be persuaded to provide designs for a price or some other incentive.

As for why the autumn lingerie designs had failed to sell, while Xingyue Group’s were outrageously successful—even surpassing the summer lingerie designs—this was something Wei Guomin couldn’t comprehend.

He doubted it was the design itself. The problem might have stemmed from other factors, like Li Yingjun’s scandal being exposed in the news, damaging consumer trust and making them perceive Qingcheng Group lingerie as counterfeits. Wealthy customers would never buy knockoffs.

"Boss, do you really want me to approach Mr. Ye?"

"Of course."

Wei Guomin replied.

His secretary, not only stunningly beautiful but also a highly-educated overseas graduate with a unique relationship with him, was now tasked with testing Ye Qiu’s willingness to collaborate.

"Money and other resources are not an issue, as long as it stays within this budget!"

"How much?"

The secretary asked.

"One hundred million. You can agree to any terms as long as it’s within one hundred million. If it exceeds that amount but Ye Qiu is willing to cooperate, let me handle the negotiations in person."

"What if he takes a fancy to me?"

The secretary asked coyly.