Chapter 1583: Too Idealistic

Roxanne, still preoccupied with the medicinal herb matter, didn't hear Lucian's question until the car engine started. "Where are we going?" she asked.

Lucian replied, "I don't know what you want to eat, so I'll choose a place."

Roxanne nodded; she was in no mood to decide. The car soon stopped at a restaurant. Lucian opened the door for her, but she remained lost in thought, her worry evident on her face. Lucian, concerned, ushered her inside.

The meal was unappetizing; Roxanne's anxiety stifled her appetite. She ate quickly, finishing only after Lucian's gentle insistence.

Back in the car, he asked, "Is the collaboration with the Damaris Group not going well?"

Roxanne hesitated. She wanted to handle the situation herself, but she didn't mind relying on him as a last resort. While she was still considering this, Lucian said, "Jack didn't accept your pricing, and the negotiation failed. The Damaris family is refusing to collaborate."

His confidence surprised her. "How do you know?" she asked.

"There are only a few possible outcomes to your negotiation with Jack," he explained. "As a businessman, I could tell what happened from your expression."

Dejection clouded Roxanne's face. Lucian continued, "If I were in Jack's position, I wouldn't accept your pricing either."

"Is it really that low? But if I set the price higher…" she trailed off.

Lucian didn't offer his usual comfort. Instead, he stated, "To a businessman, low profits and long return times are unwise investments."

Roxanne frowned. "But we're in the medical industry; shouldn't we prioritize patients?" she asked, her self-doubt evident. "Or am I thinking too much? Am I being too idealistic?"

Lucian gazed at her grimly, silent. She was indeed too idealistic, especially in business. She approached negotiations not as a businesswoman, but as a medical professional, making victory against Jack impossible. However, having Lucian's support, she could still maintain her ideals.

"But some of my experienced researchers agree with me," she said hopefully, seeking his affirmation.

Lucian replied, "As someone in the medical industry, your approach is admirable, even noble." He implied, however, that she lacked business acumen.

Roxanne, facing numerous setbacks and now facing Lucian's criticism, felt overwhelmed. "What would you do? Would you raise the price as Jack wants?" she asked.