Chapter 12: The Windfall
Zhang Wei dashed into her food factory’s R&D center.
Her high heels clicked sharply against the smooth tiles.
Clutching the can of cola she had gotten from Tong Xingyao, her excitement was nearly uncontrollable.
“Chen Dong! Quick, look at this!” Zhang Wei pushed open the director’s office door, ignoring the experimental reports spread across Chen Dong’s desk, and slammed the can in front of him.
“Zhang, what’s the emergency?” Chen Dong adjusted his glasses. He rarely saw her in such a flustered state.
“This drink—this is a revolutionary beverage!” Zhang Wei’s voice rose with excitement.
“Try it! Just a sip, don’t finish it. I’ve already confirmed with others—it’s unlike anything on the market. The flavor is entirely unique.”
“The texture, the fizz, the subtle caramelized sweetness balanced with refreshing aftertaste—it’s perfect. I’ve never tasted anything like it.”
Her eyes sparkled with the thrill of discovering a massive business opportunity.
Chen Dong didn’t hesitate. Carefully, he opened the pull tab.
“Pff—” The sound alone gave him a small sense of relief.
He inhaled the aroma—the sweet, caramelized scent with hints of plants.
He took a small sip, letting it linger on his tongue.
Seconds later, his brows first relaxed, then knitted tightly. His expression turned serious and contemplative.
“How? How does it taste?” Zhang Wei asked eagerly.
“Exactly as you said,” Chen Dong said. “The carbonation is fine and long-lasting, sweetness is moderate, the layers of flavor are rich, and there’s no cloying aftertaste.”
Zhang Wei’s eyes shone even brighter. “Right? I told you, this is the next big trend! We have to seize this opportunity.”
“But…”
Chen Dong’s expression changed, revealing a trace of embarrassment.
“Zhang, from my experience, trying to replicate this will be extremely difficult.”
“The flavor composition is complex and subtle. The sweetness itself is unusual—not just cane sugar or high-fructose syrup, but seemingly a mix of multiple sweeteners. Yet it lacks the sharp acidity typical of artificial sweeteners—this is all from years of experience in the food industry.”
He didn’t elaborate. Instead, he led Zhang Wei into the lab.
After a long afternoon of testing and analysis, Chen Dong confirmed what he expected.
“Zhang, as you can see, our master chefs can identify the common components, but the combination… it’s missing a crucial element, a soul of the flavor. We can’t replicate it exactly.”
Chen Dong sighed. The cola from Wang Yan’s system was in a different league entirely. It might share the name, but the recipe and production were unlike anything in their current world.
Zhang Wei clenched her teeth. “Fine. Keep experimenting—I’ll figure something out later.”
“From what I observe, this beverage already has an initial production chain. It seems ready for mass production,” she noted, seeing the many bottles in Tong Xingyao’s bag.
It was clear there was an industrial supply chain behind it. Modern industrial production capacities are formidable; it couldn’t possibly be just for one person.
Chen Dong smiled wryly. “Zhang, this product clearly uses techniques and raw materials we don’t have. Short-term progress is unlikely.”
Zhang Wei’s excitement slowly sank.
She could see the next big trend—the money train—already whistling down the track, yet she couldn’t even buy a ticket.
Watching others profit while she struggled felt unbearable.
“Mysterious formula…” she murmured, tapping her fingers on the desk unconsciously.
“Continue testing…”
“Test all ratios, step by step…”
“If it fails…”
A complex determination flashed in Zhang Wei’s eyes.
The windfall was within reach—but it would take ingenuity, persistence, and courage to capture it.