On a chilly winter afternoon in New York, with the biting wind still howling, the office of Hengyue Technology was buzzing with a tense yet hopeful energy. The company was embroiled in a legal battle with Sunny Medical, who accused them of damaging their business and demanding a big payout. Hengyue Technology had officially filed a response and was waiting for the trial to begin.
Although this legal matter was critical—losing could mean a huge financial hit—Grace Li's focus was on the upcoming product launch. She knew that losing the lawsuit might hurt the company's finances, but if the product launch went badly, it could cripple Hengyue Technology's future. She knew what mattered most.
The product launch was set for January 6, at a fancy hotel near an upscale retirement community. The venue had been chosen with care by Tom Wilson and Grace Li. The event wasn't just for suppliers and potential clients—Tom had also used his connections to invite key members of business associations. Plus, they set up a special area to invite elderly residents from the community to try out the product. After all, they were the end users, and letting them experience it firsthand would be a great way to spread the word.
To boost the launch's reach, Tom also invited five prominent healthcare influencers to stream the event live on popular platforms like Instagram and TikTok.
Though only one product was being launched, it came in three versions based on materials and features: high-end, mid-tier, and basic.
The basic version of the wheelchair was designed for everyday mobility needs, while the mid-tier model added communication features and entertainment options. The high-end version took things a step further, with advanced health monitoring technology that kept track of the user's health in real time. Users could pick the version that best suited their needs.
The day of the launch was electric. Grace Li had arranged for a few elderly guests with mobility issues to demo the chairs. As they tested the features, everything worked perfectly—smooth, easy to use—and the guests were impressed, nodding in approval. The energy in the room was off the charts.
After the event, Hengyue Technology's office quickly filled with activity. Clients were calling non-stop, eager to place orders. With the team stretched thin, Grace Li quickly called in Ryan and Olivia to help.
Everyone stayed late at the office, working hard to keep up with the influx of orders. By the time they wrapped up around 9 PM, everyone was wiped out but happy with the results.
To celebrate the successful product launch, Tom Wilson treated everyone to a late-night feast at a lively BBQ joint nearby. They sat around an outdoor table, devouring delicious barbecue and sipping on cold beers, chatting about the day's event. Laughter filled the air, making it the perfect way to unwind.
Months of hard work had finally paid off. Right after the launch, they landed orders worth tens of millions of dollars. This was, without a doubt, the best reward they could ask for.
Grace Li and the Hengyue Technology management team were seated together at the table. Tom Wilson stood up first, raising his drink with respect and turning to Grace Li. "Ms. Li, I'm toasting you with this drink. Thank you so much for all your support on this project and for always being there when we hit rough patches. Without you, Hengyue Technology wouldn't be where it is today."
Grace Li, holding a cocktail, smiled warmly. "The success of Hengyue Technology is the result of everyone's hard work. Each of us has put in a lot of effort for this project. I hope we can all keep up the energy and make Hengyue Technology even bigger and better."
After Grace Li and Tom clinked glasses, the rest of the group stood up. "Let's drink to this! May Hengyue Technology be flooded with orders! Let's aim to become a unicorn in three years and go public in five!"
"Cheers!"
Just as Grace Li finished her drink, her phone rang from her bag. She took it out and saw it was a video call from Aiden Thompson.
She excused herself and walked to the side to answer the call.
As soon as the video connected, Aiden appeared on screen. He had just showered and was sitting in a chair, with dark-colored decor in the background.
Noticing the noise around her, Aiden asked, "Are you still out?"
"Yeah, today was the Hengyue Technology product launch, and it went really well. So we're out celebrating our win."
"And by 'really well'—what does that mean?"
"Right after the launch, five customers placed orders totaling over ten million dollars."
"My Grace is totally killing it."
Grace Li smiled. "Sounds like you're praising a kid."
"Of course, I'm praising my girl."
Grace Li then asked, "How's everything on your end? How did the shareholders' meeting go?"
Aiden grinned. "Henry Morgan got arrested by the cops for stock manipulation. To reward me, my dad cut our three-year separation period down to two and a half years. He also said if I land Meco as a client, he'll cut it down another six months."
Grace Li couldn't help but laugh. "Really? You're not messing with me?"
"Nope. Next time he reduces the time, I'll record it and show you."
Grace Li smiled wider. "Okay."
Aiden laughed. "At this rate, by the end of this year, he'll be blessing us."
Just as Grace Li was about to reply, Ryan and Olivia walked over. Ryan was holding a skewer of grilled food and leaned in close to the camera, grinning widely. "Hey, Aiden! Long time no see. Miss me?"
Aiden saw Ryan's face filling his phone screen and practically wished he could reach through and strangle him. "No, and please stay ten feet away from my girlfriend, thanks."
"You ungrateful jerk. Now that you're doing well, this is how you treat your old mentor? I'm so disappointed," Ryan mocked.
Grace Li noticed Ryan's flushed face and realized he might be a little drunk. Olivia quickly pulled Ryan away from the camera and apologized, "Mr. Thompson, I'm so sorry. He's had a bit too much to drink."
"Olivia, don't pull me. I wanna chat with Aiden!" Ryan protested.
Grace Li smiled helplessly at the camera. "Ryan's drunk. I'll take him home first. Talk to you later."
"Alright."
Grace Li ended the call and went to help Olivia support Ryan. "Olivia, how much did he drink?"
"Not much, really. Just two glasses of white wine."
"Is he out of his mind? Why white wine?"
"He lost a drinking challenge earlier."
"Let's get him home first."