Is there an even better opportunity than acquiring a manufacturing plant?

Ye Chen's interest was immediately piqued.

"Let's hear it."

"It all started with the lab. Didn't you allocate 30 million for me to set up a lab? I found the process cumbersome—finding a location, purchasing equipment, and all that. Besides, we don't need such a high-end setup right now. So, I thought about looking for a struggling lab that might be up for sale.

"Turns out, I found one. It's from a local company here in Jiangzhou. Although their brand isn't particularly noteworthy, their lab equipment is excellent. After learning that their lab was shutting down, I negotiated and bought it for 18 million.

"After the acquisition, my team and I immediately started R&D. But yesterday, I heard some news and confirmed it with their CEO—they're planning to liquidate the entire company, including their brand, operations, and a small production facility they built two years ago for self-sufficiency.

"I've visited the factory. It's not huge, but it's more than enough for our needs. So, Ye, are you interested? Acquiring the whole package would save us a lot of trouble. The company's profit margin might be limited, but it won't lose money under normal operations.

"When we develop the scar cream, we can seamlessly transition into production and leverage their platform and distribution channels to launch it. What do you think?"

As Pang Jun explained, Ye Chen fell into deep thought.

To most people, Pang Jun's proposal would sound absurd, if not insane. Buying a company for a product that hasn't even been developed yet? That's not just reckless—it's the definition of throwing money away.

If the product failed, they'd be stuck with a costly acquisition. Even if the company avoided losses through normal operations, the substantial investment wouldn't yield proportional returns. From a purely profit-driven perspective, it would be seen as a foolish gamble.

But Ye Chen thought differently.

He knew the kind of frenzy and profits the scar cream would bring once it hit the market. Acquiring a company now to pave the way for the product was undoubtedly the most efficient approach.

After all, even if he didn't acquire one now, he'd eventually need to build the infrastructure and distribution channels from scratch.

Moreover, this presented a great opportunity for Chen Yinuo, who specialized in marketing and corporate management, to gain practical experience in running a business.

"It sounds worth considering. What's the estimated acquisition cost?" Ye Chen asked earnestly.

"No more than 200 million, at most," Pang Jun replied. "It might even be less. Since their products have limited market potential and their investments haven't translated into profits, they're effectively stuck."

"Alright, let's visit their company and gather more information before making a decision," Ye Chen nodded. "By the way, how's the development of the scar cream going?"

At this, Pang Jun's expression turned serious.

"The issue of irritation—it's stuck at this stage. I've been trying to create a product that's completely gentle and free of side effects. I've explored many approaches but haven't cracked it yet. But trust me, Ye, I'll figure it out!"

Pang Jun seemed almost desperate to ensure Ye Chen didn't give up on the project.

Ye Chen, however, smiled faintly.

"Irritation? Have you tried using mild plant-based ingredients to neutralize it?"

Pang Jun's eyes widened in shock.

"Plant-based neutralization?"

"Yes, like aloe vera, mung beans, tung blossoms, ginkgo, goji berries, or peach leaves. These are gentle and common in traditional scar-removal remedies. They should be safe," Ye Chen suggested casually.

Pang Jun froze, his face twitching, muttering under his breath.

"Plant-based neutralization... Aloe vera... Mung beans... Tung blossoms... Ginkgo... Goji berries... Peach leaves..."

After repeating it several times, he suddenly shouted, "I've got it!"

With that, he leapt out of his seat, startling everyone in the upscale restaurant.

Before Ye Chen could calm him down, Pang Jun ran up to him, grabbed his face, and—kissed his forehead.

"Ye, I've figured it out! Thank you, thank you!"

Leaving these words behind, Pang Jun bolted out of the restaurant like a madman, leaving Ye Chen stunned.

Still processing what had just happened, Ye Chen wiped his forehead with a napkin, muttering, "What the...?"

Meanwhile, the restaurant's staff and patrons stared at Ye Chen in disbelief, adding to his discomfort. Unable to endure their puzzled gazes, Ye Chen paid the bill and left without finishing his meal.

On another note...

At Huaxing Trading, after enduring a morning of overt flattery and a lunch filled with awkward enthusiasm, Chen Yinuo, accustomed to a more modest lifestyle, found herself overwhelmed.

Sighing inwardly, she decided to escape the strange atmosphere and headed to Li Changfeng's office.

Knocking softly on the door, she called out, "Knock, knock, knock."