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Fang Ziyang really didn’t want to waste any more words with Lu Yan. Finally, he dropped a line and ended the visit.

He had nothing to say to this little uncle.

When he was first reborn, he dealt with Fang Yandong completely because he lacked confidence. Now that he had a powerful backer and trump cards, there was no need to continue playing along with Lu Yan.

He actually had considered letting Lu Yan off the hook. In his previous life, Lu Yan only watched him coldly from the sidelines. For the sake of his grandfather, he didn’t mind doing the same, letting Lu Yan do whatever he wanted without getting involved.

But he had underestimated human nature.

In his previous life, Lu Yan didn’t make a move against him, only watched indifferently because he had already hit rock bottom. There was no need for Lu Yan to act, nor was there any benefit to be gained. At heart, Lu Yan was no different from Fang Yandong.

That’s why now he kept coming after him, revealing his true nature.

Given that, there was no need for Fang Ziyang to be soft-hearted anymore.

That night, while video chatting with Xie Zheng, Fang Ziyang told him about Lu Yan’s visit and left the investigation to Xie Zheng.

He had some suspicions about the scope of the investigation and gave Xie Zheng a list.

Sure enough.

A few days later, Xie Zheng had uncovered the truth.

The one instigating trouble this time was still Yan Tong.

After all, who else but Yan Tong, who was eager for his death and knew a lot about him, could manipulate Lu Yan like this?

Moreover, Xie Zheng had always had people monitoring the situation. For an anonymous letter to be delivered to Lu Yan under such close surveillance without anyone noticing, only Yan Tong, who lived under the same roof as Lu Yan, could manage that.

“He really can’t stand to see me doing well at all…”

Fang Ziyang smiled lightly, but his eyes were cold.

Given his understanding of Yan Tong, he could piece together what had happened.

Although the magical beauty serum and chip ID cards didn’t exist in the storyline Yan Tong knew, such high-tech items still inevitably aroused Yan Tong’s suspicion as a transmigrator.

Yan Tong probably hadn’t realized that his cheat had been tampered with, but he would likely think there were other research materials left by the Lu family.

Yan Tong always wanted to drag him down, so of course he couldn’t stand to see him doing well. With the new world’s technology and Dongsheng Pharmaceuticals in the limelight, how could Yan Tong just sit back and watch?

The only support Yan Tong had now to act against him was Lu Yan. As long as Lu Yan obtained shares in the two companies, wouldn’t he have ample opportunities to infiltrate and destroy them in the future?

Although Shi Meijing’s fate had previously scared Yan Tong, it was only temporary. Greed and selfishness were inherent in him.

“It seems he’s been too idle lately. In that case, let’s give him something to do. It’s also time to collect some interest from him…”

Fang Ziyang smiled, his tightly clenched fingers digging into his palm.

He had waited long enough; Yan Tong should start repaying his debt.

…

Xie Wenxu hadn’t been having a good time recently.

To be precise, ever since he got together with Yan Tong, he hadn’t been happy. He once thought Yan Tong was the one he loved, but reality showed him it was just a joke.

Because of a moment of confusion, he lost his true love, discarding a pearl to pick up a stone.

When he realized this, he was filled with endless regret.

He had considered changing his ways and winning back his love, but he no longer had the right. Someone as proud as Ziyang couldn’t tolerate a cheater. From the moment he made the first wrong step, there was no turning back.

Reflecting on the past, Xie Wenxu was in unbearable pain.

He couldn’t understand how he had ever hurt Ziyang so deeply.

Even if he no longer loved Ziyang, they could have had an amicable breakup. Why did he have to hurt Ziyang so much, making him a laughingstock?

Now, no amount of apologies or regret could change the fact that Ziyang no longer had any place for him in his heart.

His days with Yan Tong were far from happy. The more time he spent with Yan Tong, the more he realized how blind he had been.

Yan Tong wasn’t the understanding, kind, and pure person he appeared to be. He was foolish, ignorant, and had ill intentions. Moreover, Yan Tong probably never loved him; it was all about money and status.

As much as he didn’t want to believe it, the truth was in front of him.

Since Xie Zheng left the Xie family, his position as heir was no longer valuable. As his wealth and power dwindled, Yan Tong’s attitude towards him changed.

Yan Tong became less passionate, colder, and even started arguing with him…

After Yan Tong managed to connect with the second branch of the family and a mysterious research expert, his arrogance grew even more.

When Yan Tong somehow found connections in the entertainment industry and left, their relationship became almost non-existent. They barely saw each other and only communicated via phone.

This situation had persisted for over three months.

Xie Wenxu admitted that his past actions were scummy, but he still had his limits and pride.

As the former heir of the Xie family, his pride didn’t allow him to repeat past mistakes.

He knew clearly that he no longer loved Yan Tong, but he had to endure the bitter fruit of his own making. Otherwise, Ziyang would look down on him even more, and he wouldn’t be able to face himself.

So even though he knew Yan Tong might not be a good partner, he never thought of abandoning him again.

But now.

After their last argument, Yan Tong had left home for almost three months, and Xie Wenxu could no longer endure it.

“Yan Tong, how long are you going to stay angry? I admit I was too harsh during our argument, but those were just angry words. I’ve apologized and promised to be with you and let go of Ziyang. What more do you want?”

“Besides, how could I not be angry after what you did? We both made mistakes, but recognizing them and making changes is what matters.”

“I can forgive your past mistakes because I know I didn’t give you enough security. I’m working on letting go of Ziyang, but why do you keep dwelling on it?”

“You are my fiancé. How can you stay away for three months without seeing me? What kind of relationship is that?”

Xie Wenxu sent voice message after voice message to Yan Tong, feeling exhausted.

What started as a regular argument had turned into a three-month cold war, something he never expected.

Over the past three months, he had called and messaged Yan Tong countless times, apologizing and reasoning. At first, Yan Tong would answer his calls and messages, although their conversations often ended badly with Yan Tong accusing him of clinging to past feelings.

But recently, Yan Tong had blocked his calls and stopped replying to messages, escalating the cold war.

“If you can’t believe me, then I have nothing more to say. Respond to me. Let’s meet. If you want to break up, then let’s break up. I’m really tired.”

Finally, Xie Wenxu couldn’t take it anymore and sent this final message.

He did care about his pride and didn’t want to face the embarrassment of breaking an engagement within a year. But Yan Tong’s current behavior clearly indicated he wanted a breakup.

He also had his pride. If Yan Tong wanted to break up, then so be it. Their relationship was doomed from the start.

After sending the last message, Xie Wenxu rubbed his temples wearily, waiting for a response.

But instead of a reply from Yan Tong, the butler knocked on his door.

“Young Master, a courier just delivered a package. Judging by the packaging, it looks like documents. I brought it up for you. Do you want to look at it now?”

Documents?

Who would send him documents?

Puzzled, Xie Wenxu gathered his energy, “The door isn’t locked. Bring it in.”

Hearing this, the butler opened the door and entered.

Seeing the young master looking so exhausted and dejected, the old butler felt very distressed.

He had been the secretary to Xie Wenxu’s father and came to work at the Xie family out of gratitude after his employer’s death, wanting to look after the young master.

He had watched Xie Wenxu grow up and, although he disapproved of his association with the second branch of the Xie family, he couldn’t interfere in family matters. After all, Xie Wenxu was still Madam Zhou’s grandson and wouldn’t be too badly off, so he stayed silent.

When Xie Wenxu got engaged to Fang Ziyang, he was genuinely happy.

Even though the Fang family wasn’t as prominent as the Xie family, Fang Ziyang was a good match, and most importantly, the young master loved him. They were childhood sweethearts, truly a perfect match.

But then, for some reason, the young master became infatuated with Yan Tong, ruining his promising relationship with Fang Ziyang.

The butler had never liked Yan Tong, feeling that anyone who would destroy someone else’s relationship couldn’t be a good person.

He predicted that the young master would regret it, and it didn’t take long for his prediction to come true, with the young master now in such a miserable state because of Yan Tong.

The butler felt pained and didn’t know what to say, so he just sighed, placed the package on the desk, and went to prepare some nourishing soup.

No matter what, the young master’s health couldn’t be compromised.

After the butler left, Xie Wenxu opened the package.

Sure enough, it contained a stack of documents and some intimate, explicit photos of Yan Tong and Lu Yan!

Seeing the photos, Xie Wenxu’s face darkened.

When he looked at the documents, he jumped up from the sofa, eyes red with rage, teeth clenched.

“Yan Tong, you cheating bitch!”

xxx

Sandy: aiii what goes around comes around, Wenxu ah lol

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Those who were persuading her had their own thoughts.

Jin Yu became angry with the members who spoke. What did they mean? Their tone clearly suggested that the incident with the USB drive was caused by the conflicts between her and Fang Ziyang.

“Those who are innocent will be proven innocent, and those who are guilty will be proven guilty.” It was clearly an attempt to distance themselves at the earliest opportunity. But these members couldn’t present any solid evidence to prove their innocence and were the most suspicious ones!

The situation reached another deadlock.

Group A members all had significant opportunities to commit the act, and they couldn’t produce any solid evidence to prove their innocence. Although their testimonies were reasonable, they couldn’t dispel the suspicion.

The same applied to Fang Ziyang. Although he had no motive from an interest perspective, if it involved revenge and framing due to conflicts, his suspicion was substantial.

Everyone stuck to their own statements, and there was no progress in the investigation.

At this moment, Yang Qilong unintentionally said, “Let’s carefully think about whether there was anything special when each of us touched the USB drive. Perhaps some small details have been overlooked. Let’s think back carefully…”

Suddenly, Qian Yu remembered something and hurriedly said, “Yes, I remember now. When we received the USB drive, I noticed that everyone’s USB drives looked the same. I was worried about getting mixed up with other groups when things got busy, so I made a mark on mine with a pen. The pen contains a persistent fluorescent powder, and the proportion is quite heavy. If you touch it, the powder won’t wash off for at least three days.”

“And except for me and Yang Qilong, no one else in our group has touched the USB drive in the past three days…”

In other words, apart from Qian Yu and Yang Qilong, anyone who had traces of the fluorescent powder on their hands would be the primary suspect, and possibly the actual leaker!

Yang Qilong nodded upon hearing this. “I brought the pen from the entertainment area to the study room.”

“Good, let’s continue the investigation from here.”

The investigator nodded at Professor Yu beside him, indicating for him to check the study room area while they continued their investigation.

After more than ten minutes, there were no issues on Professor Yu’s side, but they encountered a suspicious situation on their end.

When the scanning device scanned Jin Yu, traces of fluorescent powder appeared on her hands!

“It’s, it’s you, Miss Jin Yu…”

Yang Qilong was the first to show a shocked expression and exclaimed.

Jin Yu’s face turned pale, and she looked at her hands in a state of panic, shaking her head anxiously as she explained, “No, it’s not me. I don’t know, I didn’t do it…”

“If it wasn’t you, Jin Yu, how did fluorescent powder end up on your hands?”

“Jin Yu, please explain.”

“This… could it be that it wasn’t Fang Ziyang seeking revenge on you, but you seeking revenge on Fang Ziyang? Intentionally setting this trap? After all, if all of us in the group can clear our names, only Fang Ziyang will be left.”

“Perhaps, even though she didn’t blame Fang Ziyang openly for the incident when she fell down the stairs, who knows what she was thinking inside? After all, she’s so arrogant and domineering, holding grudges is not out of the ordinary.”

“I knew something was off when their relationship suddenly improved. Turns out, Jin Yu is sweet-talking but secretly plotting, setting a trap to take advantage of this situation and frame Fang Ziyang.”

“This is getting too excessive and scary!”

The members of Group A had various changes in their expressions.

Some wore shocked expressions without saying a word, some directly questioned, and others whispered and reached conclusions.

The situation suddenly reversed.

At this moment, Jin Yu was completely dumbfounded.

Despite enduring various verbal attacks during this period, her resilience had grown stronger. Knowing how everyone talked about her privately felt like a wake-up call, making her truly realize the impropriety of her behavior. She was determined to reflect on herself and control her temper.

But facing this sudden blame was something she had never experienced before!

It’s easy to find an excuse to inflict punishment.

Jin Yu had the means and motive to commit the act. She had portrayed herself as a vicious and malicious supporting character, someone spoiled, arrogant, and domineering. No one doubted that she would engage in revenge due to conflicts.

Otherwise, would Jin Yu be the kind of foolish person who would fall down and break bones because of her romantic rival, only to help that person and forget past grievances with a smile?

At this moment, Jin Yu couldn’t explain herself clearly.

“It’s not me, really, it’s not me. I don’t know why there’s fluorescent powder on my hands. Investigator, Professor Yu, please believe me. Why would I do such a thing out of boredom? Fang Ziyang and I just fool around, our relationship isn’t that bad, really…”

Jin Yu was on the verge of tears, filled with anxiety.

Being framed and accused of leaking confidential information would be disastrous for her. If the accusations were proven true, not only would she be expelled from the base, but her career in the scientific research field would likely be over. She might even end up in jail.

Research was the only thing she knew how to do. Without the research field, what else could she do in her life? Her family would be ashamed of her, and her grandfather would be devastated.

The expressions of the people were extremely subtle.

Some took the opportunity to kick her while she was down, pretending to advise her but secretly reveling in the misfortune.

“Miss Jin Yu, if it was really you, just confess. Luckily, no real damage has been done yet. If you confess, the base will handle it leniently.”

However, not everyone felt this way.

Qian Yu weakly spoke up, “Let’s investigate this further. The presence of fluorescent powder doesn’t necessarily mean it was Jin Yu. It could be accidental…”

Qian Yu didn’t quite believe it was Jin Yu. He had spent time with Jin Yu at other research institutes outside the base and believed he knew her well enough. He couldn’t imagine her doing something as malicious and cunning as what was happening now.

However, Qian Yu’s voice had no effect at all. The phrase “People’s true nature is hidden” shut him down.

Jin Yu’s image was just too bad. While there might have been doubts when Fang Ziyang was accused, it was easy for everyone to believe it when it came to Jin Yu.

Moreover, it was necessary to find a scapegoat now. No one wanted to be expelled from the base or go to jail under the current circumstances. It wasn’t surprising that Jin Yu, who wasn’t well-liked, became the target.

Yang Qilong stood in the crowd and hardly said a word. He only spoke up at critical moments, attempting to make himself invisible the rest of the time.

Seeing Jin Yu unable to defend herself and being questioned by everyone, he finally revealed a long-lost smile in his heart.

He had been worried sick as he watched Jin Yu and Fang Ziyang’s relationship improve over time. From the day they were assigned to the same group, he had been trying to bring Jin Yu down.

Originally, it was to prevent Jin Yu from shining too brightly. Unexpectedly, Jin Yu got him kicked out as a formal team member. Now that Jin Yu was being pushed away, it was a compensation for him. After all, this foolish woman was so dumb that she would easily become a weak point for the team in competitions. It would be beneficial for her to leave early.

However, just as he was feeling happy…

Fang Ziyang spoke again, “Jin Yu, take out the necklace I gave you.”

His words seemed inexplicable, and no one understood what he meant.

Jin Yu didn’t understand either, but it didn’t prevent her from cooperating. She quickly took off the necklace around her neck and handed it over, her voice choked with tears, “Here.”

Fang Ziyang took the necklace and, without saying a word, found a hidden button on it and pressed it.

Then everyone saw a three-dimensional holographic image appear in front of them, and Jin Yu’s figure was prominently displayed within it!

Everyone was astonished, “What is this…”

“This is the latest surveillance technology developed by New World Technology, a three-dimensional, all-round monitoring device with fire, theft, and framing prevention capabilities.”

Fang Ziyang smiled faintly, “You all know that my family background wasn’t very good before. My brother, Fang Qianhao, and I used to fight and argue a lot. When he couldn’t beat me, he would go to my scumbag father to complain, distorting the truth and framing me. To ensure my own safety and innocence, I developed a liking for carrying recording pens and monitoring devices.”

Translated on ho lo lo novels dot com.

“My brother knew about this hobby of mine, so he developed this for me. I saw that Jin Yu looked unlucky, so I gave her one.”

“Of course, I reported this device to the higher-ups. The person in charge should know, right?”

Fang Ziyang looked towards the person in charge of the training base.

The person in charge smiled and nodded.

So, to determine whether Jin Yu was innocent or not, they could directly check the surveillance footage.

Jin Yu was a bit dazed. As she understood what was happening, her face changed drastically. Then she covered her chest with both hands and screamed, “Ah, ah, ah! Does that mean my shower was also recorded?!”

Everyone:…

Although this was crucial, the focus seemed a bit off.

“This kind of sensitive privacy will be automatically blurred. Thank you.”

Fang Ziyang covered his ears, which were hurting from the scream, and continued, “Of course, some people might say that during routine operations, I could have done it in just a few minutes, doing something under everyone’s nose…”

Upon hearing this, the person who had just made that accusation felt embarrassed.

This accusation was obviously a bit far-fetched, and they had only said it out of haste to escape blame.

Fang Ziyang smiled lightly, his gaze falling on Yang Qilong. “There’s also something I probably haven’t told everyone. You might not know, but the information provided by New World Technology… is the legacy left by my grandfather, the culmination of generations of efforts by the Lu family.”

Everyone was shocked, “What!”

Yang Qilong’s face gradually turned pale.

Fang Ziyang’s lips curved up, “The USB drives distributed by the base not only contain security devices, but the data itself has a tracking feature. I won’t go into the complexities, but in simple terms, these files automatically record the time and IP address each time they are transmitted or shared…”

“So, we can find out who tampered with the USB drive by checking the operation time and IP address.”

As he finished speaking, the investigator smiled and said, “Then I’ll trouble Young Master Fang to help.”

Meanwhile, Yang Qilong collapsed to the ground, his entire body going limp. His face was ashen, and in his mind, there were only two words: It’s over!

---

Update 20 JULY 2024: I first decided to drop this novel due to very few number of readers, probably from all the bad ratings and reviews on NU, and wrote a note notifying the readers. Then many readers commented and asked I continue.

This translator is so happy to see there are many people commenting and hear from some regular readers like Elli and ParanoidKitten to name a few. Thank you all. I feel injected with chicken blood. I will work hard and continue to translate 🥰🥰🥰🥰 Please continue to support 🥲

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The base conducted the investigation swiftly.

In less than three hours, with the harsh questioning from the investigation team and the intentional pushing from certain individuals, the suspicion for the data leak temporarily focused on Fang Ziyang. This was a result that none of the team members had anticipated.

When the investigation team called Fang Ziyang to confront him, everyone was shocked by their expressions.

“It’s impossible. How could it be Fang Ziyang who leaked the data?”

“Why would Fang Ziyang do such a thing? What benefit does he gain from it? Besides, the data still belongs to New World Technology. Why would he leak his own company’s information?”

“Yeah, Fang Ziyang has no reason to do this. He’s not someone who loses his mind…”

Facing these accusations, nobody believed them.

Because Fang Ziyang had no reason at all to leak the data. The materials belonged to his brother’s company, and he wouldn’t do something that would harm himself. It should be noted that leaking data in the research institute would be considered a crime against the national interest!

The investigation team didn’t believe it either; that’s why they confronted Fang Ziyang.

“Fang Ziyang, according to the statements from the members of Group A, they consulted you regarding some questions, so you were the only person, apart from them, who had contact with Group A’s USB drive.”

“Moreover, according to the surveillance footage, the USB drive was indeed only accessed by you, an outsider. Additionally, the USB drive was lost for a period of time a few days ago, and the surveillance footage can confirm this. Do you have any explanation?”

Considering that Fang Ziyang was Tang Xun’s younger brother and had outstanding abilities, although there was evidence pointing towards him, the investigation team’s attitude remained calm and neutral.

Although the members of Group A didn’t fully believe that Fang Ziyang could commit such an act, he was currently the only suspect.

Facing everyone’s skeptical gazes, Fang Ziyang remained calm. He finished watching the surveillance videos and the dates of contact that the investigation team handed over to him.

Then, he shook his head and said, “It wasn’t me. Although I had contact with Group A’s USB drive materials, I always operated it in front of them. While the USB drive was lost before, I didn’t have it with me when I went to the visiting area. I was thoroughly checked and didn’t bring anything out of the restricted zone…”

“Furthermore, I would never leak the data. If I really wanted to, I could have stolen my brother’s company secrets outside. Why would I take such a risk by coming here?”

His words made perfect sense. Although he had contact with the items involved in the case, he did so in the presence of others, and he genuinely had no reason to commit such an act.

At this point, Fang Ziyang smiled faintly and added, “There’s something I haven’t mentioned. I’m in a relationship with Xie Zheng, and we plan to get married after the training at the base is over. By then, I will also have a stake in New World Technology…”

How could someone whose mind was so clouded leak his own company’s secrets?

Everyone’s astonishment was evident.

The members of Group A were even wide-eyed!

Although everyone had known that Jin Yu and Fang Ziyang had expressed their liking for Xie Zheng, and they would quarrel with each other every time they met, it was all considered their own little conflicts. Nobody had actually thought that either of them would successfully pursue Xie Zheng.

After all, Xie Zheng was notorious for not being interested in physical appearance, and their romantic involvement didn’t match the personalities of the spoiled young masters like Jin Yu and Fang Ziyang. How could there be any romantic feelings between them?

But the result…

Fang Ziyang had actually won over Xie Zheng? Based on that playful confession phone call that seemed so absurd? It was like something out of a fantasy!

If that was true, then Fang Ziyang would be even more unlikely to leak the data. The suspicion against him would be greatly diminished.

Moreover, the testimony from Group A was not sufficient to incriminate him. At most, there was only some suspicion, but it was too weak.

But if it wasn’t Fang Ziyang, then it must be someone from Group A.

However, after the intense questioning they had gone through earlier, none of the Group A members were able to clear themselves of suspicion. Each one of them had the opportunity to commit the act, and after a long time of questioning, no results were obtained.

And each of them believed in their own innocence. So, in the end, they could only suspect someone outside the group, with Fang Ziyang being the only plausible suspect apart from themselves.

But if it wasn’t Fang Ziyang, then it must be one of them. They couldn’t present any concrete evidence to prove their innocence, so the final result of the investigation would undoubtedly be a collective responsibility for all members of Group A.

Everyone was desperate.

At this moment, Yang Qilong stood up again, his expression anxious as he said, “Investigator, it really wasn’t anyone from our group who did it. If the USB drive data leaks, all of us in the group will be implicated. Why would we do something that harms our own interests?”

“Even if one of us wanted to leak the data, now is not the right time. The data is still incomplete, and even if it was stolen, it wouldn’t be useful. If someone wanted to steal the data, they would want it in its entirety…”

The rest of Group A nodded repeatedly.

“It really wasn’t me. I have no reason to do such a thing. Besides, since the USB drive was distributed, I haven’t even touched it…”

“It wasn’t me either. I usually don’t touch the USB drive, and every day after leaving the study room, I haven’t been alone except when I return to my room to sleep. The base’s surveillance can vouch for me!”

“Although I was in charge of the USB drive and sent the files to everyone, it wasn’t always with me. Yang Qilong, Jin Yu, and many others have also touched the USB drive.”

The matter was of great importance. Even though Qian Yu, who was not good with words and had an honest character, knew that he needed to defend himself.

If they were indeed found guilty, even if it was due to a mistake in data management, it would still be a serious offense!

But if it wasn’t someone from Group A, then it must be Fang Ziyang, right? After all, apart from them, all the others had been eliminated as potential contacts for the USB drive, and they had solid evidence of their innocence.

Translated on ho lo lo novels dot com.

At this moment, someone from Group A weakly said, “Although Fang Ziyang always operated the computer in front of us, we didn’t keep an eye on him all the time. His computer skills are so good that he could break through difficult defenses in just a few minutes…”

So Fang Ziyang’s suspicion was still significant.

“But I have no motive. Those materials were the result of hard work by my brother and my boyfriend at the research institute.”

Fang Ziyang didn’t mind being implicated and calmly responded again.

Another person couldn’t help but speak up, “But don’t you and Jin Yu have conflicts?”

The implication was that if he deliberately framed her in retaliation. After all, although the data was suspected of being leaked, it had only been downloaded, and it couldn’t be guaranteed whether it had been transmitted. However, considering the base’s security measures and the surveillance of all team members, it was likely that the data hadn’t been transmitted and hadn’t caused any real damage.

Having a narrow mind and seeking revenge was also a plausible motive.

Previously, Fang Ziyang was even suspected of pushing Jin Yu down the stairs.

With this reminder, the other members of Group A also became suspicious, wavering between Fang Ziyang and Jin Yu.

Jin Yu’s face turned uglier, and she glared fiercely at the member who voiced the speculation, then turned to the investigator and said, “Investigator, I believe Fang Ziyang. Although we did have some conflicts before, they were trivial matters that didn’t escalate to this level of revenge. And recently, our relationship has improved. It couldn’t have been Fang Ziyang…”

Jin Yu was feeling angry.

She had a vague feeling that she and Fang Ziyang were being targeted. Despite the fact that their relationship wasn’t that bad, it seemed to everyone as if they were sworn enemies.

When she applied to view the surveillance footage, everyone was gossiping behind her back, speculating whether she would do something malicious to Fang Ziyang due to their conflicts. And now, when something happened, they immediately suspected Fang Ziyang of pushing her down the stairs and leaking the USB drive data to frame her.

Even if Jin Yu had low emotional intelligence, she could sense that something was not right.

Yang Qilong, seeing this, finally spoke up. His expression mirrored the indignation he showed when Jin Yu fell down the stairs.

“Jin Yu, it doesn’t matter if you believe him or not. People’s true nature is hidden. Last time when you fell down the stairs, it was related to him, and now our group’s USB drive has been leaked. Why is it that every time something happens, it’s always somehow connected to him? Don’t say anything more. Let the investigator continue the investigation. If he’s truly innocent, the investigator won’t wrong him…”

The other members of Group A nodded, persuading Jin Yu with a nod.

“Yes, Miss Jin Yu, don’t be too naive. This is a serious matter now, and we need evidence. It can’t be resolved with just a few words from us.”

“Those who are innocent will be proven innocent, and those who are guilty will be proven guilty. Jin Yu, this is not just your personal matter; it concerns all of us in the group…”

So, Miss Jin Yu, please don’t cause any more trouble.

Even though you had such intense arguments with Fang Ziyang before, as if you were sworn enemies, why is it that every time something happens to Fang Ziyang, you’re always defending him? Could it be that you actually have feelings for him? May-December romances are quite popular nowadays, and Fang Ziyang is quite attractive!

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Originally, Yang Qilong didn’t want to cause trouble at the training base.

After all, this was official territory, and it wouldn’t be good to engage in underhanded tactics. It could easily backfire and cause trouble for him.

But Yang Qilong never expected to have such bad luck. According to his abilities, becoming an official team member should have been no problem. However, during the group formation, Yang Kairui and Yuan Zhuoting unexpectedly acted out of his expectation and ended up in Group B, turning what could have been a strong alliance into a competitive situation.

In the end, he became a reserve team member!

Although reserve team members also had the opportunity to play, it was nowhere near as prestigious and important as being an official team member. He was already in his twenties, and this was his only chance to participate in an international science and technology competition. It was the best opportunity for young researchers to make a name for themselves. How could he be content with being a reserve team member with his abilities?

Driven by this intense dissatisfaction, he had to take a risky move.

He couldn’t touch Tang Xun and Fang Ziyang, the two brothers, but Jin Yu, this foolish girl, could still be manipulated.

With Jin Yu’s temperament, he believed that as long as he said a few words to sow discord, she would surely dig her own grave.

However, things didn’t go as planned. Unexpectedly, the situation took a turn, and Jin Yu and Fang Ziyang not only didn’t develop in the negative way he imagined, but their relationship seemed to be getting better. They truly were a pair of oddballs!

Jin Yu now saw through his schemes, leaving Yang Qilong with no choice but to personally intervene and push things forward.

In the face of adversity, without courage, how could one strive for success?

…

A few days later.

Everyone was studying the materials as usual.

Due to the division of tasks within each small team, each team had different materials, and the specific data was stored on USB drives. It was very convenient for everyone to study using computers and multimedia classrooms.

Qian Yu was a member of Group A.

Although his abilities couldn’t compare to Jin Yu, Zhao Kairui, and a few others, he was still quite capable. However, he had a reserved personality and was usually seen as an honest person who was willing to take on any task in the group. Therefore, not only did he have a busy workload in Group A, but he also ended up handling many miscellaneous tasks.

For example, before studying every day, he would help everyone organize their belongings, get water, and turn on the computers. He would also transfer the day’s study materials from the USB drive to each team member.

Today, just like usual, Qian Yu opened the USB drive to transfer the study materials while the others were chatting.

However, after a few attempts, Qian Yu suddenly realized that the materials couldn’t be transferred.

On the computer screen, a sentence popped up: “The maximum number of transfers for this USB drive has been reached for the week. If you need to transfer it again, please seek approval from the mentor.”

“What does this mean?”

Qian Yu understood the message displayed on the screen, but he couldn’t comprehend it.

What did it mean by “the maximum number of transfers for this USB drive has been reached for the week”? Was there a limit on the number of times the USB drive could be used?

Although Qian Yu had been to many research institutions and had some experience, this was his first time at a training base of this level, so he naturally didn’t know about many of the hidden rules within the base. He had a vague sense of unease regarding the message on the screen but had no choice but to seek guidance from Professor Yu, their mentor.

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The other members of Group A were also puzzled and sat in their seats, waiting.

When Professor Yu came over and saw the message on the computer screen, his expression immediately changed.

Professor Yu’s face turned serious, and he anxiously asked, “Did anyone in your group use the USB drive during non-study hours?”

His voice carried a tone that made people feel uneasy.

Upon seeing this, the members of Group A felt a sense of unease and shook their heads in unison, saying, “No, we didn’t. Didn’t you mention before that the USB drive can only be used during study hours? After transferring the materials in class, we didn’t use the USB drive again. Professor Yu, is there a problem?”

Although they didn’t understand the base’s regulations earlier, everyone had honestly complied with them.

Professor Yu had emphasized that the USB drive could only be used during study hours, and they hadn’t used it during non-study hours.

Although this rule was very strange, nobody thought too much of it. After all, the USB drive was used to transfer the materials during class, and once the materials were in the computer, who would bother playing with the USB drive? It wasn’t a game, after all.

But now, looking at Professor Yu’s expression, it seemed that there was trouble brewing for Group A due to the sudden issue with the USB drive.

And indeed, that was the case.

Professor Yu’s face became even more grim.

Without answering their questions, Professor Yu took out a special communication device and made a phone call.

“Seal off the base immediately and request the investigation team. The materials of Team A may be involved in a leak,” Professor Yu said on the phone.

As soon as Professor Yu spoke, the entire classroom fell silent, and everyone’s faces showed signs of panic.

A data leak! This was no small matter!

The members of Group A turned pale, particularly alarmed.

These were their team’s materials, and each person in their team had the responsibility to maintain confidentiality. If the materials were leaked, it wouldn’t be as simple as just being expelled. They could end up in prison!

Even Jin Yu, who was usually bold and daring, turned pale and anxiously asked, “Professor Yu, what… what’s going on? How could our team’s materials be suspected of leaking? The USB drive was fine, and we always kept it with us. No one else had access to it. Moreover, the base has various monitoring and security measures. How could there be a leak? And to access the USB drive, you need fingerprints…”

Although the materials were distributed to each small team via the USB drive, the measures to ensure confidentiality were indeed quite strict.

Not to mention the other security measures in the base, even if someone wanted to open the USB drive, they needed both a password and fingerprint verification. Even if someone managed to get their hands on the USB drive, they wouldn’t be able to access it. It seemed impossible for the data to leak from the USB drive.

Now that the USB drive materials were leaked, the only possibility was an insider!

The expressions of the members of the other teams weren’t much better.

If Group A’s materials were suspected of leaking, it would affect not only Team A but also everyone else. It was certain that everyone would be subject to investigation.

Although everyone knew they were innocent and had nothing to hide, it was disheartening to face a situation like this so soon after entering the base. It greatly undermined the trust among teammates. Moreover, the experience of being interrogated and the pressure was definitely unpleasant.

The atmosphere in the study room became even more oppressive.

Only Fang Ziyang and Tang Xun, who had anticipated this, remained unaffected. Fang Ziyang even seemed to be in a good mood, putting down his things and subtly glancing at Yang Qilong.

At this moment, Yang Qilong’s expression turned pale and panicked, as if he had been caught off guard by the sudden turn of events. There was nothing suspicious on his face.

But compared to the immediate reactions of the other members of Group A, who stood up and took action, Yang Qilong’s response was slower, betraying him in the end.

Due to the severity of a data leak, as soon as Professor Yu finished the phone call, the person in charge of the base, accompanied by the investigation team, arrived within ten minutes.

Following them was a team of stern-looking soldiers, armed and ready.

The imposing presence of the soldiers made the already pale faces of the people in the room even paler. Clearly, they were overwhelmed by the show of force.

After the person in charge and the investigation team arrived, they didn’t waste

any time. Without further ado, they solemnly announced, “We apologize, everyone. Due to the possible data leak, which is a serious matter, in order to ensure the maximum level of secrecy, we request your cooperation in the investigation. We need to record your statements one by one, and until the statements are recorded, none of you can leave this study room… The rest of you will be called out by name.”

The person in charge briefly explained and reassured everyone, but the investigation began swiftly.

Everyone understood the gravity of a data leak.

Therefore, nobody felt any resentment towards the way it was being handled. They complied with the instructions, feeling nervous and obediently following the arrangements. They remained silent and didn’t dare to utter a word.

Fang Ziyang didn’t plan to step forward at this moment either. He acted like everyone else, listening attentively. When his name was called, he promptly went to give his statement.

After about two hours, with the exception of the members of Group A, almost everyone else had been investigated.

At this point, people finally dared to speak again. They gathered around Tang Xun, cautiously asking what was going on. How did the inability to transfer files using the USB drive imply a data leak? Their minds were in a whirl.

Tang Xun, whose identity was different from the others, wasn’t being attended to by Professor Yu and the other mentors. Everyone could only hope that Tang Xun could provide some clarification.

Tang Xun didn’t hide anything and explained to them, “This is one of the high-level research institute’s security measures to ensure that the materials distributed via the USB drive won’t be leaked. Each USB drive has a confidentiality device installed, and the number of uses is limited according to the class schedule. If someone uses the USB drive during non-scheduled study hours, intentionally or not, they will be suspected of leaking information and need to be investigated.”

“Moreover, the materials transferred from the USB drive to your computers cannot be transferred again. They will be destroyed during the transfer process.”

“Don’t worry, as long as you have a clear conscience, there won’t be any problems. The base has well-established security measures and regulations. They won’t falsely accuse anyone, nor will they let any suspicious individuals go.”

Tang Xun explained to them a hidden rule of the base that newcomers were not explicitly told.

One reason was to ensure confidentiality, and another reason was to fish for those with ulterior motives. The base wouldn’t have sent the materials directly to everyone if their heads were filled with water. People’s hearts were unpredictable, and to protect the research projects, the base had to conduct thorough investigations on everyone who entered, especially those involved in the projects.

Of course, there were also those who took advantage of the rules.

But that wasn’t important. Those who wanted to play tricks under the base’s watchful eyes and scheme would have to bear the consequences.

The day had dawned, and it was time to remove some people from the team.

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On the other side,

Jin Yu, filled with a sense of injustice and unwillingness to accept reality, approaches the person in charge of the base to request access to the daily surveillance videos.

Initially, this was not allowed, but the daily surveillance was not particularly secretive. Before his granddaughter came to the base, Grandfather Jin specially came to negotiate with the professors and officials in charge of the base, requesting the help of Professor Yu and his other friends to educate his increasingly arrogant and willful granddaughter.

Therefore, Jin Yu did not face too many difficulties. After discussing with Professor Yu, the person in charge agreed to her request.

And what she saw…

Jin Yu once again experiences the harsh reality of society.

Fang Ziyang didn’t say anything wrong. People do often talk about her when she’s not around, both in the classrooms and the resting areas, and the things they say are even worse than what Fang Ziyang mentioned.

“Damn, did you hear that clearly? Jin Yu is actually secretly in love with Xie Zheng? Not only that, she openly threatened Fang Ziyang not to have the same intentions. She’s so unreasonable and has become the most domineering person I’ve ever seen!”

“I’ve heard that Jin Yu is very arrogant and willful, but she’s even worse in reality than the rumors.”

“That’s nothing. Have you seen how everyone in Group A caters to her? Whenever she makes a mistake, it’s Yang Qilong who apologizes on her behalf. The people in Group A regret being in the same group as Jin Yu now. I heard they’re afraid that Jin Yu will do something that affects everyone.”

“Really? Even though Jin Yu is arrogant, she wouldn’t cause a major incident just because of a minor dispute, would she?”

“Why not? When someone with a princess temperament like hers gets heated and loses control, there’s no limit to what they can do. And now she and Fang Ziyang are fighting over a man. Fang Ziyang isn’t one to back down from a fight either. Jin Yu always ends up losing in their arguments. Who knows what she might do one day when provoked… Anyway, let’s keep our distance and watch the show. We don’t want to get caught up in it.”

“Right, Jin Yu was injured when Fang Ziyang bumped her down the stairs. Although it seems like she’s fine on the surface, who knows what she really thinks. I don’t believe Jin Yu doesn’t suspect that Fang Ziyang pushed her on purpose…”

“Jin Yu is not an easy-tempered person. Just wait and see, Fang Ziyang’s days are definitely going to be tough. It’s going to be a good show.”

…

In the surveillance video, some of the more gossip-prone individuals gather together to discuss, leaving Jin Yu with a pale complexion.

She is aware that her personality is not likable, but she never imagined that her image in everyone’s eyes would be like this.

She’s just a little bit arrogant and domineering, so why do people perceive her as someone who might carry out vicious revenge over minor grievances?

Jin Yu is not completely clueless.

She understands the consequences of having such an image. It’s not just about being disliked by others; having such an image means that if something goes wrong within the team, she will be the first one suspected and blamed.

But Jin Yu can’t understand why it has come to this.

She really hasn’t done anything wrong. She actually gets along well with everyone, except for a few arguments with Fang Ziyang. Isn’t that a normal and common thing? Why does she appear to be such a malicious supporting character in everyone’s eyes?

Jin Yu’s ability to withstand such blows is not strong.

After watching the surveillance footage, she can’t help but burst into tears and cries in front of Professor Yu.

“Wuwu, Grandpa Yu, why do they hate me so much? I haven’t done anything, I’m usually nice to them. I even promised to introduce them to my grandfather’s research team. Why do they think I’m so malicious? Wuwu, it’s too much. They’re all a bunch of two-faced people, talking bad about me behind my back… Wuwu…”

If Fang Ziyang had said those things, she wouldn’t have been so heartbroken. After all, she argues with Fang Ziyang every day and they don’t get along. But when others say such things, it’s really too much.

She hasn’t displayed any princess-like attitude towards others. How did she end up being seen as someone who might resort to extreme and malicious revenge over the slightest disagreement?

Professor Yu is well aware of the situation within the team.

But he didn’t intervene because Jin Yu has been spoiled by her family, and if she doesn’t experience a real blow, it would be difficult for her to change her temperament.

Kindly, he pours her a glass of water and says, “If you really want to know, then go back and think about it carefully. What others tell you will never be as profound as your own thoughts. If you can let go of your preconceptions, you can carefully observe how Fang Ziyang handles things.”

“Take a closer look. Why is it that Fang Ziyang is equally arrogant and domineering, but people have a better impression of him than you? Every outcome has a corresponding reason. When you blame others, also reflect on your own behavior. Being stubborn and self-righteous will only result in your own loss. Your grandfather and parents can’t protect you in every situation…”

“I understand. I will think about it carefully. Thank you, Grandpa Yu.”

Jin Yu didn’t fully understand, but she noted it down.

The visiting time quickly comes to an end.

When Fang Ziyang returns, he clearly sees that Jin Yu’s complexion is not good, her eyes red as if she had been crying.

There’s no need to say anything; the little girl must have been deeply affected by the discussions behind her back. Jin Yu is a few years older than him, but her ability to cope is truly poor. In addition, she has a rather childish mindset, making it difficult for her to accept such a degree of emotional blow, shattering her perception of the world.

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But a heavier blow is still to come; this is just a minor issue.

After observing these days, he has already guessed what Yang Qilong wants to do.

Jin Yu is probably going to encounter some trouble.

For now, he’ll let Jin Yu exercise her resilience, so that she won’t be completely unable to accept the reality of being manipulated when the time comes.

After the visit ended, Fang Ziyang continued to study the materials with everyone, waiting for Yang Qilong to make another move.

Meanwhile, Jin Yu underwent a significant change starting from that day. She became much quieter.

During the break time, Jin Yu no longer chatted and laughed with everyone as before, floating in the praise and compliments of those around her. Now, she often sits alone in a corner during breaks, either lost in thought or studying materials with a focused expression.

When people talk to her, she no longer responds with the same enthusiastic chatter as before.

She also stopped arguing with Fang Ziyang. Instead of their previous confrontations, she now approaches him with a straight face to ask for advice. She follows him eagerly when they go to the cafeteria for meals.

Occasionally, they would whisper to each other in a corner.

This surprised everyone.

However, Jin Yu had no intention of explaining, and Fang Ziyang did not clarify things with the others. The two of them acted mysteriously, and their relationship seemed to have improved overnight.

This disappointed some people who were looking forward to seeing them argue. Life became less enjoyable without Jin Yu and Fang Ziyang’s clashes.

Yang Qilong, on the other hand, became anxious.

He had intended for the two of them to become enemies and clash with each other, but instead of becoming enemies, their relationship suddenly improved. Weren’t they arguing fiercely just a while ago?

If Jin Yu and Fang Ziyang stopped arguing, how could he kick Jin Yu out of the base?

Tang Xun and Fang Ziyang were determined to stay, but the other members of Group B were still up for grabs.

As long as Jin Yu left, he could easily pull any other member of Group B down, securing his spot as an official team member…

He initially thought that dealing with Jin Yu, this foolish woman, would be easy. Who would have known it would be so difficult? She completely deviated from his script, causing more harm than good!

As Jin Yu and Fang Ziyang’s relationship grew closer by the day, things were definitely not going as planned.

Yang Qilong grew impatient, gritted his teeth, made up his mind, and couldn’t wait any longer.

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Fang Ziyang and the others were temporarily unaware of what was happening in the area of the base.

Tang Xun and Rick were enjoying their private time in the adjacent room.

Fang Ziyang, Xie Zheng, and the dejected Jin Yu were chatting and eating snacks together.

Jin Yu gritted her teeth as she bit into the snack in her hand. Her expression was one of sadness and complexity as she looked at Xie Zheng. She still couldn’t believe the reality she had just heard.

“Mr. Xie, you… Do you really like Fang Ziyang? You’ve liked him for a long time?”

What’s so special about this bastard Fang Ziyang, who is just slightly good-looking and slightly capable? Xie Zheng actually started liking Fang Ziyang a long time ago. It was a terrifying reality!

Xie Zheng wasn’t someone who enjoyed chatting with others, but he didn’t mind showing affection in this conversation.

When it came to his own love story, he was currently very willing to share it with others. Posting on social media was no longer enough for him. He was now very willing to answer Jin Yu’s curiosity.

“Well, I actually liked Ziyang before, but at that time, he had just broken off his engagement with Xie Wenxu. I was worried that he wouldn’t be able to accept anyone from the Xie family, so I never said anything…”

This statement wasn’t entirely made up.

He hadn’t understood his own feelings before, but now he had a realization. Looking back, when he found that Ziyang was different from what he had imagined, he might have started to develop feelings.

He had never expected that he would fall for someone like Ziyang, who was so unruly and flamboyant. Ziyang’s personality and his own preferences were clearly parallel lines, but he couldn’t help but be moved.

A rare smile appeared on Xie Zheng’s usually stern face.

Jin Yu had been paying attention to Xie Zheng for many years and knew how seldom he smiled or spoke casually.

Don’t even mention that Xie Zheng’s smiling face has never been seen in the news. Even during private gatherings, he rarely shows a smile. Describing him as an “icy high-cold flower” is already being very polite; he’s basically an iceberg.

But who made Xie Zheng so handsome! Not only is he handsome, but he’s also highly capable!

In their circle, Xie Zheng’s achievements at his age are few and far between. Even if he’s an iceberg, he can’t stop countless girls and boys from secretly admiring him. It’s just that such an outstanding and handsome guy wouldn’t be interested in someone unless they have a problem with their eyes.

Jin Yu is somewhat superficial when it comes to looks.

She does like Xie Zheng, that’s true, but most of her liking for him is because he’s good-looking and capable. She doesn’t think it’s to the point of being deeply in love.

So at this moment, although she feels a bit sad and regretful, it’s not that serious.

Especially when she looks at Xie Zheng’s expression, even if her emotional intelligence is low, she can tell that Xie Zheng probably has deep feelings for Fang Ziyang. She realizes that she doesn’t stand a chance.

But…

Jin Yu still can’t understand and is indignant.

“Mr. Xie, what do you see in Fang Ziyang? He’s just a bastard. You don’t know, he’s always arguing and bullying me in the base!”

Xie Zheng:…

This question is a bit difficult to answer. His wife always tells him how to handle this little girl, but obviously, the plan hasn’t been successful. Jin Yu’s emotional intelligence is in the negative range.

But Fang Ziyang is quite proud and says, “Of course, Brother Xie likes me because I’m good-looking and capable. I’ve already told you, but you don’t believe me.”

Jin Yu doesn’t believe it!

She looks at Xie Zheng, full of anticipation: Mr. Xie can’t be so shallow. Fang Ziyang must be making up stories.

However, her expectant gaze doesn’t work on Xie Zheng.

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And Xie Zheng thinks that he fell for his wife partly because of his face. His wife is truly cute and capable, and he likes him a lot.

“Ziyang is mischievous, but he’s actually a good person. He just likes to argue with people, but he definitely doesn’t mean to bully you…”

Xie Zheng smiles apologetically but firmly stands on his wife’s side, without the modesty of being a host in front of guests.

And he’s particularly good at making things up, “This is his way of making friends. Don’t compare yourself to him. When Ziyang was still in the Fang family, he didn’t have a good life. Fang Qianhao often bullied him. It’s because of self-protection that he developed this prickly personality. Actually, he wants to be friends with you.”

Fang Ziyang nods in agreement, with a spoiled expression, “And I’m giving you some advice. If it wasn’t for me, everyone would have definitely isolated you.”

Jin Yu: She doesn’t want this kind of friendship. Thank you very much!

But…

Jin Yu is still not convinced and gets increasingly angry.

“Are you saying that everyone is isolating me? I’m the young miss of the Jin family. Everyone is trying to flatter me. Who dares to isolate me?”

“Because you’re both arrogant and domineering, and your brain doesn’t work well.”

Fang Ziyang doesn’t hold back and states the facts.

Jin Yu is once again infuriated, “Fang Ziyang, you won’t be content until you’ve annoyed me every day! Yes, I may be a bit arrogant and domineering, but my brain works just fine! I’m actually very smart! Even if I’m not as good as you, I can rank fourth in terms of personal and team abilities. How dare you say my brain doesn’t work!”

She does have some self-awareness. She knows that she can be arrogant and domineering, but she firmly denies that her brain doesn’t work. That’s a huge humiliation.

Fang Ziyang remains unfazed and shows a disdainful expression, “I say you’re stupid, but you refuse to admit it. You may be fine in terms of technical skills, but your emotional intelligence really needs to be tested. What’s the point of saying such things to provoke your anger? If you want to know whether people want to isolate you or not, just apply to check the surveillance footage. If you bring up your grandfather, they should let you see it…”

“You’ve been mentioned behind your back several times when you weren’t around. Of course, I’m a highly intelligent person with sharp eyes, so I don’t fully believe those things said behind your back.”

“What are they saying about me behind my back?”

This time, Jin Yu’s expression changes. She knows that Fang Ziyang wouldn’t tell such easily exposed lies.

Could it be that everyone is saying terrible things about her behind her back? She may be a bit arrogant, but it couldn’t be to the point where everyone wants to isolate her! She’s not the only one with a princess temperament.

“You’ll know when you check the surveillance. Anyway, if it wasn’t for me always bickering with you, people wouldn’t just think you’re childish and have low emotional intelligence.”

“Regardless, you’re still the young miss of the Jin family. You’ve learned social skills, right? I really don’t understand how you turned yourself into this. It’s only because I have a good heart that I’m giving you a hand. You’re still not grateful and you’re always slow to react…”

Fang Ziyang shrugs, displaying his spoiled side.

Jin Yu is infuriated by his spoiled and punchable appearance, but she’s not in the mood to argue with Fang Ziyang right now.

“I don’t believe it. I’m going to apply to view the surveillance footage right away!”

Jin Yu refuses to accept the reality and leaves behind those words before stomping away.

She can’t believe what Fang Ziyang said. How could everyone dislike her so much to the point of isolating her? It’s impossible!

She hasn’t been at the base for long. Apart from some friction and arguments with Fang Ziyang, she hasn’t done anything to anyone. Moreover, she gets along well with everyone and has even told a few of them to help her grandfather’s research team after the competition. It can’t be that bad, right?

Seeing Jin Yu’s unhappy departure, Fang Ziyang shakes his head and then looks at Xie Zheng with a helpless expression, “If I didn’t know that the Jin family truly cares for this little granddaughter, I can’t help but think that Jin Yu has become like me…”

The Jin family is truly talented in raising their granddaughter to be so silly. No matter how high Jin Yu’s talent is in research, her ability to handle relationships is just as poor. She’s been too well-protected by her family.

Xie Zheng rubs his wife’s hair, “Ziyang can be like this now.”

All the innocence and happiness come from someone who protects and cares for them from the front. If possible, he also hopes his wife can be innocent and sweet like that.

“Okay, I’ll start acting spoiled with you more often from now on!”

Fang Ziyang smiles and takes the initiative to hug Xie Zheng, feeling very happy in his heart.

Xie Zheng also reaches out to hold his beloved, resting his chin on the soft top of his head and enjoying the closeness of his lover greedily.

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The incident of Jin Yu’s injury caused quite a stir in the training base.

Initially, it wasn’t a big deal, considering that Jin Yu’s injury was not severe. However, Yang Qilong’s “heroic” intervention turned it into a big fuss.

In Yang Qilong’s calculation, regardless of Fang Ziyang’s defense, as long as he insisted that he witnessed Fang Ziyang intentionally pushing Jin Yu down the stairs, even if Fang Ziyang successfully defended himself, he would still be suspected by everyone, and the conflict with Jin Yu would further escalate.

However, Jin Yu didn’t cooperate.

Not only did Jin Yu not doubt Fang Ziyang, but she also showed strong aversion to Yang Qilong’s help, bluntly stating that he was meddling.

This immediately made Yang Qilong’s heroic act appear awkward.

It indirectly proved that Jin Yu and Fang Ziyang’s relationship wasn’t as bad as it seemed.

As they reflected on the incident later, the perception of Yang Qilong became more subtle.

At that time, they didn’t think much of it, but now they realized that Yang Qilong did indeed meddle unnecessarily.

No matter how righteous and fair he wanted to be, since there was no evidence from the surveillance footage showing Fang Ziyang pushing anyone, regardless of the truth, a smart person would know when to stop.

But what did Yang Qilong do at that time? He insisted on holding on and was highly emotional, as if he himself had been pushed down the stairs.

This behavior was either trying to take advantage of the situation to harm Fang Ziyang or a sign of low emotional intelligence.

Even if Yang Qilong’s intention was to pursue Jin Yu, this incident revealed his poor attitude towards handling matters.

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After this incident, Yang Qilong not only failed to achieve his goal but also earned the disdain of others, who viewed him as somewhat self-righteous.

The title of “self-righteous” is not a positive adjective nowadays. After all, while these people are kind-hearted, they often resort to moral blackmail, which is not likable at all.

Especially when Yang Qilong mentioned Fang Ziyang’s despicable father, it struck a chord of disgust in some people’s hearts.

Today’s young people are not as old-fashioned as the previous generation. While filial piety is important, if parents are not kind, why should children blindly listen to them and care for them?

Who doesn’t know how despicable Fang Ziyang’s father is? By speaking up for Fang Yandong, does it mean that Yang Qilong is also the same kind of person, thus defending a scumbag like Fang Yandong?

When they thought about it this way, those who had just started to develop some interest in Yang Qilong due to his abilities quickly changed their minds and began to dislike him.

Yang Qilong was almost infuriated when he noticed the change in people’s gazes.

What was this? It’s called getting no benefits after taking risks!

This foolish woman, Jin Yu, is truly a hindrance! It’s a miracle she managed to survive with such low emotional intelligence.

Originally, he had wanted to do something more, but encountering this situation, he had no choice but to temporarily give up and calm down.

With Yang Qilong quieting down, Fang Ziyang didn’t continue to hold on to the matter. Jin Yu, on the other hand, was carefree, having obtained the super VIP commemorative card from Dongsheng Pharmaceuticals. She immediately put her broken arm aside.

After all, with some rest and recovery, her injury would heal. It wasn’t a serious injury, so she didn’t worry too much.

Moreover, with the VIP commemorative card, she finally had the opportunity to approach Fang Ziyang and discuss topics other than quarrels. Of course, these conversations were limited to beauty products.

Although she didn’t want to admit it, Jin Yu had to recognize the reality that Fang Ziyang was indeed more good-looking than her, and he had the kind of stunning beauty that made others jealous!

Considering that she was already at a disadvantage, she had to put effort into skincare. Otherwise, she would be even more lacking in competitiveness!

…

The incident of Jin Yu’s injury quickly faded away on the surface.

Everyone had a heavy workload of daily learning tasks and didn’t have much time to focus on a commotion. So within a couple of days, everyone moved on and continued their training preparations for the competition.

Time passed quickly in this busy atmosphere, and in the blink of an eye, it was the following week.

Xie Zheng wasn’t someone who spoke without thinking. When he previously mentioned visiting the base, he arrived on Wednesday with his belongings. Rick accompanied him, as he wouldn’t miss the opportunity to witness his friend’s love story while he worked hard as the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl.

Although the training base agreed to Xie Zheng’s visit, due to the need for secrecy, Xie Zheng and Rick couldn’t enter the internal area of the base. There was a designated visitation area for meetings.

Fang Ziyang and Tang Xun received the news, and their faces both showed the same joy. They immediately put aside their tasks and eagerly went to meet them.

Of course, Jin Yu tagged along as a little tail.

Although Tang Xun never verbally expressed his liking for Rick and even acted a bit harshly towards him, he did have feelings for Rick in his heart. Their relationship was basically in a default state, and the chasing game between them was just a way they interacted.

Meeting in the visitation area, both couples were excited and missed each other in their hearts.

As soon as they entered the adjacent visitation room, Ric lol held Tang Xun’s hand and went to enjoy their private conversation.

Jin Yu found it strange that Tang Xun left his younger brother alone. However, she realized that today was her chance to confess to Xie Zheng, and she couldn’t afford to lose to Fang Ziyang. It was better to have fewer onlookers to avoid embarrassment. So she didn’t dwell on it.

When only Xie Zheng, Fang Ziyang, and herself were left in the visitation room, Jin Yu immediately took the initiative to introduce herself without hesitation.

“Mr. Xie, hello, I’m Jin Yu. Jin Youren is my grandfather. We met before when you came to my house for his birthday. Do you remember me? You even praised me for being smart and beautiful. It was three years ago when we met…”

Jin Yu was excited beyond measure.

She had thought of ways to meet Xie Zheng before, but he was extremely difficult to approach. Not just her, even her grandfather had to wait in line for an appointment to meet Xie Zheng. Today was only the second time in her life that she had the chance to meet Xie Zheng! The first time was during her grandfather’s birthday celebration, and it was not easy at all.

That was why she was so thrilled when she heard that Fang Ziyang could easily meet Xie Zheng. As admirers, they were both in the same boat, but she was so unlucky!

Jin Yu was filled with excitement and anticipation, acting infatuated.

After not seeing each other for years, Xie Zheng looked even more handsome than before! Her judgment was unbeatable!

If you were to ask how much she truly liked Xie Zheng, it wasn’t that intense. Rather than saying she admired him, it was more accurate to say that she worshipped his good looks. He was a handsome, wealthy man with ability—a dream lover for many.

Fang Ziyang also understood this, so he didn’t take Jin Yu’s secret admiration to heart.

After all, he wasn’t that magnanimous. Who could get along well with someone who secretly admired their lover? He would definitely eliminate any threats to his old flame!

Seeing Jin Yu’s excited appearance, Fang Ziyang didn’t speak but smiled at Xie Zheng.

This was Xie Zheng’s peach blossom, so it was only natural for him to handle it.

Xie Zheng had already learned about Jin Yu’s existence through their daily video chats and also knew that they argued like primary school students at the base, which left him both helpless and happy.

The fact that Fang Ziyang argued with Jin Yu for his sake showed that he cared about him! Indeed, emotions needed a catalyst. If it weren’t for Jin Yu, he wouldn’t have witnessed this childish side of his beloved.

Although Xie Zheng wasn’t one to pity or value others excessively, he wasn’t completely cold-hearted.

Although Jin Yu was willful, her heart wasn’t bad, and she acted with integrity. She was still just a girl. She merely had an admiration and affection for him, which wasn’t a wrongdoing. He didn’t need to be overly harsh on her.

So, faced with Jin Yu’s expectant gaze, Xie Zheng didn’t directly say that he didn’t remember her at all.

He nodded slightly and smiled gently.

“I remember. You’re the young miss of the Jin family. How could I forget? Plus, Ziyang often mentions you to me lately, saying that you often keep him company.”

Speaking of which…

Xie Zheng handed over a prepared paper bag, “Some snacks specially made at home. They’re for you. Thank you for taking care of my wife.”

Technically, visitors weren’t allowed to bring things to the base, but Xie Zheng had a lot of face, and the snacks were easy to inspect, so the base didn’t impose strict restrictions.

“Oh, thank you. I really, really like snacks…” Jin Yu received Xie Zheng’s gift and became even more excited, stuttering in her speech.

Xie Zheng actually gave her a gift! And it was snacks! She loved sweets the most! Xie Zheng truly understood her! Could this be the legendary telepathy and fate?

No, wait.

Wait a minute.

What did Xie Zheng say at the end?

My wife?

Suddenly, Jin Yu felt like she had been struck by lightning. “Mr. Xie, you said ‘wife’? Who, who, who is your wife? Are you married?” She hadn’t heard about it!

Xie Zheng smiled slightly and looked at Fang Ziyang, reaching out to ruffle his hair.

“We’re not married yet, but Ziyang and I are dating. After the base training is over, we’ll get our marriage certificate first and then have the wedding after the competition. He’s still too young now…”

Fang Ziyang grinned and winked at Jin Yu, not denying their relationship.

It was as if he was saying, “See? I told you, Mr. Xie only likes boys like me. Don’t you believe it?”

He hadn’t planned to tell Jin Yu about his relationship with Xie Zheng. The bickering between them was just to train Jin Yu’s temper.

But he hadn’t expected Jin Yu to be so persistent and follow him to meet Xie Zheng.

He had no choice but to let Xie Zheng say that they had only confirmed their relationship after the phone confession.

Otherwise, with Jin Yu’s temperament, if she knew that they had been in a relationship for a long time, she would definitely think he was playing with her and feel even more humiliated.

Indeed, although Jin Yu felt like she had been struck by lightning upon hearing Xie Zheng’s words, she didn’t harbor any negative emotions.

But she felt wronged.

Her unrequited love hadn’t even started, and it was already over! And she was the one who facilitated it!

More importantly, Xie Zheng was so easily won over. Had she wasted all those years?

Who the hell spread such nonsense? It’s infuriating!

…

Inside the training base.

Everyone was enviously discussing how Fang Ziyang and Tang Xun managed to get the visitation opportunity so quickly.

It should be noted that anywhere related to the research institute had very strict security measures. Apart from requiring closed management, many important projects didn’t even allow visitation until they were completed!

Although this time they allowed everyone to have the visitation opportunity, it still required strict application and review. Going through the whole process would take at least a month, unlike Fang Ziyang and Tang Xun who got it so easily.

But who made Fang Ziyang and Tang Xun extremely outstanding? Moreover, the competition project this time was provided by New World Technologies. Having some privileges was not surprising for them.

After all, anyone here could be suspected of leaking project secrets, except for Fang Ziyang and Tang Xun.

“Hey, it’s really a case of different luck for the same parent. Why is it that even though they are siblings, their brains are so sharp! Tang Xun, I’ve already accepted the existence of Boss Tang, but why is his younger brother so talented too? Sob, in the past, I used to bring others down, and now it’s me who’s being beaten…”

“Haha, come on, can geniuses be compared to monsters? Tang Xun and Fang Ziyang are real brothers, and they are also descendants of the Lu family. It’s not surprising that they’re exceptional. You should know that the Lu family, like the Jin family, is a prestigious scientific research family with a hereditary talent for research. That’s really incomparable.”

“I heard that Xie Zheng is the one who came to visit today. Speaking of the most impressive person, it’s Mr. Xie. If it wasn’t for his keen insight, he wouldn’t have noticed Tang Xun’s talent and supported his development. He’s truly a legendary talent scout!”

“Xie Zheng not only has good vision but is also very capable in scientific research. He’s just more low-key, and everyone’s attention is mostly drawn to his business talent, overlooking his achievements in research…”

“By the way, I saw Jin Yu also going out. Could it be that she’s really going to confess to Xie Zheng? Are the arguments between her and Fang Ziyang every day actually true? Does Jin Yu really have a secret crush on Xie Zheng? I thought it was just a rivalry with Fang Ziyang.”

“Who knows if it’s true, but there will definitely be some good drama when they come back later. It’s always entertaining to see Fang Ziyang and Jin Yu bickering like primary school students.”

“Yeah, we’re looking forward to some good news later, haha…”

Everyone was discussing and laughing heartily.

Compared to envying Tang Xun and Fang Ziyang for their visitation, they were even more excited for the entertainment news of Fang Ziyang and Jin Yu’s bickering. Training and studying every day was too boring, and watching Fang Ziyang and Jin Yu argue had become a source of amusement for everyone.

But just when everyone was in high spirits, an unpleasant voice suddenly sounded nearby.

Yang Qilong panicked and exclaimed, “Ah, the USB drive! Our team’s USB drive seems to be missing. Wang Na, Yao Yu, quickly check over there, I’ll search here…”

Upon hearing this, everyone stopped their discussion and hurriedly inquired, “Yang Qilong, what USB drive is missing?”

“It’s the study materials! It was clearly here before, but if we can’t find it, we’re in big trouble! Please help us look for it. It was right here.”

Yang Qilong was getting anxious.

The members of Team A had gloomy expressions and looked panicked. Losing the USB drive with study materials was not a trivial matter, and if it couldn’t be found, it would be a disaster!

Upon hearing this, everyone was taken aback.

“What? How could it be lost? Where was it just now? We’ll help you find it…”

With that, the previously cheerful group put aside their banter and immediately stood up to help search with enthusiasm.

Although losing the study materials USB drive wouldn’t result in punishment for their team, they were all part of the same group and had been together for several days. They couldn’t bear to just stand by and watch. Helping them find the lost item was the least they could do.

With dozens of people working together, they quickly found the item in a corner after searching for a while. It turned out to be a false alarm.

“Phew, luckily we found it here. You guys from Team A, how could you be so careless? This is the USB drive for study materials, and if it really went missing, it would have been a big problem. Make sure to keep it safe.”

Everyone patted their chests and advised them.

The members of Team A nodded repeatedly, their expressions filled with relief.

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That’s right, Tang Xun was Fang Ziyang’s own brother. If Fang Ziyang was being accused of not defending him, then Tang Xun merely spoke up and did nothing. How could that be considered doing whatever he wanted?

On the other hand, Yang Qilong’s reaction was indeed somewhat excessive. He had been shouting excessively from the beginning to the end.

Yang Qilong hadn’t expected that Fang Ziyang would remain so composed even after the accusations were directly thrown at him. With a crunch in his heart, he couldn’t let Fang Ziyang resolve the situation with just a few words. He immediately suppressed his eagerness and angrily said, “Fang Ziyang, don’t divert the topic. Jin Yu and I are team members in Group A. If something happens to her, it will delay our progress. Naturally, I’m concerned about her.”

“Yes, I don’t have evidence for what happened just now, and the surveillance footage doesn’t show it either. But actions have consequences. Fang Ziyang, you often bully Jin Yu, but this time it went too far. You and your brother can be so heartless even towards your own father. It shows your cold-heartedness!”

In other words, it wasn’t surprising for Fang Ziyang, who could be heartless towards his own father, to push Jin Yu down the stairs due to a minor quarrel. The previous incidents involving the Fang family were well-known, and it was also known that Fang Ziyang hadn’t shown any concern for the family’s affairs after leaving with Tang Xun.

Huaguo valued filial piety, and many people liked to watch drama and didn’t mind the severity of the situation as long as the knife didn’t fall on them. Therefore, even though Fang Yandong had done many wrong things, some people who casually commented believed that Fang Ziyang and Tang Xun were somewhat heartless after not even sparing a glance for their father in prison.

Fang Ziyang was well aware of all this. He had considered putting on a show, but everything in the past made it unbearable for him.

When Yang Qilong mentioned Fang Yandong, Fang Ziyang’s gaze turned even colder.

The colder he felt inside, the bigger his smile on the face.

“Yes, I am heartless. I am heartless towards the person who killed my mother, coveted my grandfather’s inheritance, manipulated my brother’s life, and exploited my caring father. I’m indeed heartless. My father, who committed tax evasion and consumer fraud, went to prison, and I didn’t even visit him once. I’m so petty, heartless, and unfilial…”

“But all of this is inherited. Who made me carry the selfish blood of my father? Growing up with my heartless father, like father like son. Indeed, I can’t compare to your broad-mindedness, Yang Qilong. The halo of your saintly father shining upon the earth.”

“I heard that your teacher bravely reported his good friend for academic fraud, sacrificing his own kin for justice? It seems that now you’re so kind and righteous, helping Miss Jin Yu ‘seek justice.’ How about I call you Yang Yongshi from now on? It suits you well since you love meddling in other people’s affairs and playing the hero.”

His smile appeared sincere, but his words were undisguised mockery.

Translated on ho lo lo novels dot com.

After hearing Fang Ziyang’s words, everyone’s thoughts became subtly influenced, just like the dirty water Yang Qilong had poured earlier.

It was almost as if Fang Ziyang was explicitly naming and accusing Yang Qilong’s teacher of being wrongly accused. The continuity between Yang Qilong and his teacher in terms of standing up for justice was now extremely ironic.

Yuan Zhuoting was not good at speaking, and he had no intention of getting involved. However, Fang Ziyang spoke up for his teacher, and regardless of the intention, he felt grateful.

He no longer remained silent and stepped forward to support Fang Ziyang, staring at Yang Qilong with an unfriendly gaze.

“Evidence is becoming less and less valuable these days. With evidence, you can frame someone, and without evidence, you can still smear others. Yang Qilong, you’re irresponsibly spouting nonsense. Could it be that you think by standing up like this, like a bear saving beauty, Miss Jin Yu will suddenly be interested in you?”

As Yuan Zhuoting spoke, he once again muddled everyone’s thoughts.

Everyone immediately showed a look of sudden realization.

They had been wondering why Yang Qilong was so indifferent and jumped out to defend Jin Yu. It turned out he was trying to take the opportunity to pursue her!

Fang Ziyang also displayed a furious expression, following Yuan Zhuoting’s words.

“Aha! I knew it! Why did you choose to be in Jin Yu’s Group A when we formed the teams? You cook meals for Jin Yu every day and stick to her side all the time. And now, when Jin Yu gets injured, you jump out to smear me. Yang Qilong, you cunning villain, you actually want to step on me to rise!”

“What nonsense are you talking about? I just can’t stand you bullying Miss Jin,” Yang Qilong retorted, his face turning red with anger.

Damn it! These two scoundrels, Yuan Zhuoting and Fang Ziyang, were saying he liked Jin Yu. He must be insane to be interested in Jin Yu.

“Don’t try to defend yourself. Look at how red your face is. Do you think we’re all blind?” Fang Ziyang ignored his retort.

Just like how Yang Qilong had splashed dirty water on him earlier, Fang Ziyang was simply returning the favor.

After speaking, he looked at Jin Yu and spoke with a seemingly kind tone, “Jin Yu, I never expected that Yang Qilong would defend you to this extent. He even distorts the truth and smears me on your behalf. Isn’t this equivalent to a life-saving favor? How about you offer yourself to him as gratitude? That way, we won’t have to argue for the sake of Brother Xie every day. It’s a win-win situation.”

Jin Yu was already bewildered by the sudden turn of events.

She had never encountered such a setup before. Even if she had conflicts within the Jin family in the past, they were always resolved before she even noticed. So even after Fang Ziyang pushed her down the stairs and broke her hand, she hadn’t thought about seeking revenge or conspiracies.

Therefore, when Yang Qilong had been instigating and manipulating earlier, she didn’t really pay attention. Her mind was still in a state of shock and confusion.

Her thoughts were filled with “Is this for real? How did a simple argument escalate into such a severe personal attack?”

At this moment, when Fang Ziyang spoke to her again, she was still in a state of shock and confusion. She didn’t catch the mocking tone in Fang Ziyang’s words. She only understood that everyone was saying that Yang Qilong seemed to like her.

Instantly, Jin Yu rebutted loudly, “Fang Ziyang, you scumbag! Offering myself? No way! Don’t think you can tarnish my innocence. Do you really think baseless accusations can make me change my mind and shift my attention? Are you afraid of competition? You’re so vicious!”

Frustrated, Jin Yu turned her head and glared at Yang Qilong. “Yang Qilong, aren’t you tired of pestering me? You’re constantly nagging in my ear. Am I a three-year-old child that needs your constant supervision? Or do you think I’m a fool, unaware that I’m being manipulated? You think you’re the only smart person in the world! Who asked you to be my protector?”

Although Jin Yu had an average impression of Yang Qilong, he had been playing the role of a good person for the past week, stepping in and making peace when she had conflicts with others. Although Jin Yu was naive and clueless, she gradually sensed that something was off. Every time Yang Qilong helped her, she ended up feeling like the one in the wrong, which made her feel frustrated.

Jin Yu was a proud and strong-willed person. Yang Qilong’s “help” not only failed to earn her gratitude but also made her feel annoyed. She felt that Yang Qilong’s help always made her appear foolish and naive.

Jin Yu expressed her dissatisfaction, “Yang Qilong, I appreciate your good intentions, but I don’t need you to meddle in my affairs. The conflicts between Fang Ziyang and me, we’ll handle them ourselves.”

Moreover, Yang Qilong seemed a bit dim-witted. Even if Fang Ziyang did push her intentionally, without sufficient evidence, Yang Qilong’s continued quarrel only made him look foolish and weak.

As the person involved, Jin Yu’s words rendered Yang Qilong’s excuse of standing up for justice meaningless.

Knowing that Jin Yu’s emotional intelligence was lacking, Yang Qilong hadn’t expected her to be this oblivious. Jin Yu completely failed to grasp his attempts to sow discord. It was simply mind-boggling!

“Sorry, Miss Jin, I shouldn’t have meddled. You can handle your own affairs. I won’t say anything more,” Yang Qilong said in a frustrated tone, unable to hide his anger towards Jin Yu’s lack of gratitude.

Jin Yu was satisfied with his response and nodded. “It’s good that you know you shouldn’t meddle.” She really couldn’t stand Yang Qilong’s goody-two-shoes act.

Yang Qilong almost spurted blood upon hearing her words.

Everyone twitched at the corners of their mouths, unable to express their feelings towards Jin Yu.

Fang Ziyang stifled a laugh. Sometimes, being stupid to such an extent was quite impressive.

Just then, Tang Xun, who had left earlier, returned.

Tang Xun handed a box to Fang Ziyang. It was the item Fang Ziyang had asked him to get.

Fang Ziyang opened the box, confirmed that everything inside was in order, and then walked up to Jin Yu.

“Jin Yu, although I dislike you, it was indeed me who pushed you down the stairs earlier and caused your injury. I won’t waste time with useless apologies. Consider this necklace as compensation.”

“What is this?” Jin Yu saw a beautifully designed necklace inside the box. However, she didn’t think Fang Ziyang would offer a simple necklace as an apology.

Fang Ziyang explained with a smirk, “Of course, it’s something valuable. This necklace is a super VIP commemorative card from my company. With this, you can purchase all Dongsheng Pharmaceuticals’ products at a 50% discount, and you’ll have absolute priority in purchasing. No need to worry about not being able to buy things while waiting in line. There are also… other privileges. You’ll discover the many benefits later.”

Who didn’t know about Dongsheng Pharmaceuticals’ beauty serum? Rumor had it that even more powerful products were going to be launched.

Even someone like Jin Yu, who came from an affluent family, was tempted. With just a broken arm, she could obtain such an amazing VIP status. Suddenly, she felt it was a great deal!

Jin Yu’s face instantly showed delight, and she wanted to thank Fang Ziyang. However, she realized that he was her love rival, and this was a form of compensation. There was no need to say thank you. Instead, she should demand something else.

Jin Yu’s eyes sparkled as she made a request, “This compensation alone isn’t enough to buy me off. Treat me to one thing. When Xie Zheng comes to see you next week, no, when he comes to see your brother, let me accompany you. Let’s compete on equal grounds!”

Fang Ziyang couldn’t enjoy an advantage with his underhanded tactics!

Everyone: … Love really messes up people’s brains.

Yang Qilong: This foolish woman is driving me crazy!

“Fine, since you’re inherently inferior to me, go ahead and come along. Wear this necklace and consider it a symbol of our temporary truce,” Fang Ziyang chuckled and placed the necklace around Jin Yu’s neck. He discreetly pressed a hidden button with his finger before retracting his hand.

He glanced at Yang Qilong, who had an unpleasant expression on his face, and curled his lips.

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“Fan Ziyang, what were you doing just now? Why did you push Jin Yu!”

As Yang Qilong’s words came out, everyone’s gaze immediately turned towards Fang Ziyang, their expressions filled with shock.

Obviously, there was too much information in that statement.

What did it mean by “Why did you push Jin Yu?” Was Fang Ziyang the one who caused Jin Yu to fall? It couldn’t be true, as Fang Ziyang didn’t seem like that kind of malicious person.

Although they hadn’t known each other for long, the image of Fang Ziyang in everyone’s eyes was still quite positive. Despite being a bit domineering, his excellent abilities, outstanding appearance, and generous personality were all likable qualities. Therefore, when they heard Yang Qilong’s words, their first reaction was that it couldn’t be true.

Fang Ziyang wasn’t an inexperienced 18-year-old boy. He would know if he had pushed Jin Yu or not, right?

Considering the sudden trip under his foot just now, he understood very well that what was happening now was not an accident but a setup.

And the one behind this setup was none other than Yang Qilong, who had just jumped out and started spouting nonsense. Otherwise, why would he immediately accuse Fang Ziyang?

However, Fang Ziyang couldn’t understand why Yang Qilong would do this since they had no grudges or conflicts. Why would Yang Qilong act like this?

Looking at Jin Yu beside him, clutching her arm and crying.

Fang Ziyang had no intention of wasting time arguing here. He gave Yang Qilong a cold glance and said directly,

“I didn’t push Jin Yu. Now is not the time to argue. Let’s take her to the infirmary for treatment.”

After speaking, regardless of Yang Qilong’s expression and any attempts to speak, Fang Ziyang gestured to Tang Xun and him to help Jin Yu up from the ground and head to the infirmary.

For researchers, injuring one’s hand was not a trivial matter.

Although in the perception of ordinary people, researchers only needed a smart brain. But in reality, agile hands were also vital for researchers. Every scientific achievement required extensive data analysis and precise experimental operations.

Not to mention that computers heavily relied on typing with both hands.

Initially, everyone’s attention was drawn to Yang Qilong’s words, pondering whether Fang Ziyang had pushed Jin Yu or not.

But as soon as Fang Ziyang spoke, he immediately reminded everyone.

Yes, Jin Yu had injured her hand. Shouldn’t the priority be to quickly take her to the infirmary for treatment? Arguing about who pushed whom at this moment would only delay the opportunity for treatment!

The safety of a researcher’s brain was important, but the safety of their hands was equally significant.

Setting aside whether Jin Yu’s fall was accidental or not, the different reactions of Fang Ziyang and Yang Qilong immediately revealed their attitudes toward dealing with the situation.

Fang Ziyang directly pointed out the main issue, and Yang Qilong couldn’t stop him anymore. Otherwise, it would be seen as interfering with help rather than genuinely assisting.

Unexpectedly, Fang Ziyang, who seemed innocent and irritable on the surface, turned out to be so calm and rational when faced with a situation. Fortunately, his main objective today wasn’t to confront Fang Ziyang, or else things wouldn’t have gone well!

With this in mind, although Yang Qilong didn’t intervene, he cast an angry look at Fang Ziyang, as if he was a righteous person seeking justice.

Then he said to everyone,

“It was my impatience. Let’s quickly take Jin Yu to the infirmary. Wang Yao, please inform Professor Yu and also check the surveillance room. Regardless, we must investigate this matter thoroughly!”

After speaking, Yang Qilong approached and took Jin Yu away, his expression filled with anger.

He practically stopped short of directly accusing Fang Ziyang of being the perpetrator. Now, going to the infirmary was just buying time to destroy evidence.

Everyone looked at each other, unable to come to a conclusion for the time being.

In the end, some went to inform Professor Yu, while others accompanied Jin Yu to the infirmary.

Fang Ziyang watched Yang Qilong’s retreating figure with a cold gaze.

Tang Xun’s expression wasn’t pleasant either as he held his younger brother’s hand to comfort him. “It seems you guessed it right. This Yang Qilong is not only suspicious but also hostile towards us.”

Although he didn’t witness the exact situation of the fall earlier, Tang Xun believed that his brother wouldn’t do something as crude and malicious as pushing someone. Even if his brother disliked Jin Yu and wanted to harm her, with his personality, he would do it seamlessly, not easily caught like this.

“This Yang Qilong is quite interesting. I want to see what he’s up to. Let’s go, brother. Since the stage is set, it would be a waste if we don’t sing a few lines and appreciate their efforts.”

Fang Ziyang felt warmed by his brother’s grasp and smiled at Tang Xun, then they followed along.

In his previous life, he had seen all kinds of tricks, so this little storm wasn’t enough to fluster him.

Due to the closed training environment, the base had excellent facilities for everyone’s daily life. Although they called it an infirmary, it was more like a small hospital, with carefully selected doctors and nurses.

So Jin Yu’s examination quickly came out. Although her arm was fractured, it wasn’t too severe. After applying medication and proper rest, she would fully recover.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

Although Jin Yu’s temperament was unlikeable, there was no denying her talent. Even as a substitute team member, she was still crucial.

Everyone understood the significance of the international science and technology competition. Despite having their own ulterior motives, they understood when to advance and retreat in the grand scheme of things.

However, while they were relieved, now that Jin Yu’s hand injury had been taken care of, Yang Qilong’s earlier words had to be addressed.

Professor Yu, as the head supervisor overseeing everyone’s affairs, was responsible for managing conflicts among the team members.

Professor Yu asked with a serious expression, “What exactly happened? Yang Qilong, you claimed that Fang Ziyang intentionally pushed Jin Yu. Do you have any evidence?”

Yang Qilong finally got the opportunity he had been waiting for. Naturally, he immediately put on an indignant expression and explained the incident in detail.

“…That’s how it went. I knew there was a grudge between Jin Yu and Fang Ziyang before. Because I was worried that Jin Yu might impulsively do something wrong, and we are a team, we rise and fall together. So, I usually keep an eye on her. I saw Fang Ziyang pretending to trip and then pushed Jin Yu down the stairs. I don’t have evidence, but the incident happened suddenly, so we might have to check the surveillance.”

After speaking, he looked at Fang Ziyang with great anger.

“Fang Ziyang, I know that Jin Yu offended you before, but it was just a quarrel. You have never lost an argument with Jin Yu before. What benefit do you gain from injuring Jin Yu? Why would you do such a thing just to satisfy your ego?”

If Fang Ziyang hadn’t been aware in advance, he might not have noticed any flaws in Yang Qilong’s appearance of genuine indignation.

But once he was on guard, the words Yang Qilong spoke at this moment became worthy of scrutiny.

On the surface, Yang Qilong seemed to be standing up for Jin Yu, acting heroically, but in reality, he was discreetly sowing discord. It not only confirmed Jin Yu’s previous immaturity but also painted Fang Ziyang as a petty and ruthless person, further escalating the enmity between them.

Translated on ho lo lo novels dot com.

Regardless of whether he would be proven innocent in this incident, Jin Yu would undoubtedly suspect him of deliberate retaliation, and he would likely vent his anger on Jin Yu, further entangling themselves in a feud.

The people around them couldn’t believe what they heard from Yang Qilong.

Even Jin Yu, with tears in her eyes, widened them, clearly shocked. The Jin family had protected her too well, so although she had heard some nasty rumors, she had never truly experienced them.

She couldn’t imagine the possibility that Fang Ziyang had deliberately pushed her. It couldn’t be true, right? It was just a quarrel, Fang Ziyang wouldn’t be so cruel to her!

“Let’s check the surveillance first.”

Professor Yu was fair in his approach and didn’t favor anyone. He instructed someone to review the surveillance footage to see the exact situation at that time before making a judgment.

However, Yang Qilong dared to mention checking the surveillance, indicating that he was confident in the footage. After watching a segment of the surveillance video, it indeed showed Fang Ziyang seemingly tripping and coincidentally bumping into Jin Yu in front of him.

But the video couldn’t reveal whether Fang Ziyang did it intentionally or was tripped by someone else.

Yang Qilong had anticipated this argument and didn’t show any disappointment. It was within his expectations.

However, his face displayed disappointment and resentment, as if he was the one who had been wronged, not Jin Yu. He seemed helpless and unwilling.

“Professor Yu, although the surveillance footage doesn’t show what happened at our feet due to the crowd, I wasn’t lying…”

Fang Ziyang found it amusing and crossed his arms. “If you didn’t lie, then it must be my fault. I intentionally pushed Jin Yu and even found the perfect angle to avoid evidence, right?”

Tang Xun spoke coldly, “Yang Qilong, you also mentioned that if Jin Yu got injured, it would benefit my brother. It was just a minor quarrel, and you insist on putting the blame on my brother for such a poorly executed act. What are your intentions?”

Yang Qilong, unafraid, had already foreseen this argument and didn’t waver. He continued with an indignant and righteous tone.

“Tang Xun, just because you have strong abilities and are a preselected team member, it doesn’t mean you can do whatever you want! Do you think we are all blind to your brother’s character? Jin Yu is just arguing with him, and instead of educating him, you protect him. You can’t differentiate right from wrong!”

Yang Qilong didn’t bother with evidence or the lack thereof, but rather vaguely and loudly accused them. Regardless of the truth, he made sure Fang Ziyang wouldn’t be able to shake off the suspicion of pushing Jin Yu down the stairs.

His firm and indignant demeanor made it challenging to doubt him.

Although everyone still found it hard to believe that Fang Ziyang could do such a thing, there was still some influence left. Could it be that everything Yang Qilong said was true? Why else would Yang Qilong, who had no grudges against Fang Ziyang, step forward and accuse him?

At this moment, Yang Qilong was purely stirring up trouble. He had no intention of reasoning at all.

Fang Ziyang had encountered this trick from Yan Tong many times and was proficient in dealing with it.

If Yang Qilong could stir up trouble, why couldn’t Fang Ziyang?

Fang Ziyang leaned in and whispered a few words to Tang Xun before nodding and leaving.

Then Fang Ziyang continued to look at Yang Qilong, calmly smiling and saying, “Yang Qilong, why are you shouting so loudly? Weren’t we investigating and clarifying the situation? If we don’t have the surveillance footage, we can still discuss logically, right? Your loud yelling as if the one with the loudest voice can determine guilt. My brother is my own brother. If something happens to me, of course, he would stand up for me. How does that equate to doing whatever he wants?”

“You’re so agitated. It seems you’re coming to Jin Yu’s defense as a righteous act. But maybe you think you’ve been greatly wronged, or perhaps I offended you at some point, and now you’re taking the opportunity to smear me?”

The people present suddenly had a realization.

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After the group assessment was completed and the team members were finalized, the base began formal training.

In reality, it was more accurate to call it pre-competition preparation.

After all, technology competitions are fundamentally different from other types of competitions. The time and effort required for the emergence of a technological achievement is beyond the imagination of ordinary people. In a technology competition, there is no way for everyone to truly compete on-site. It is mostly about presenting the results.

So, what everyone needs to do now is familiarize themselves with the research projects prepared by the country. During the competition, they will directly produce, assemble, showcase, and explain their projects on-site.

However, even so, it requires talented professionals. Without strong expertise and a thorough understanding of the specific projects, even if you imitate it, you won’t be able to produce the same results.

According to the rules of international technology competitions, there are a total of five rounds.

Except for the first round, which is an attack and defense battle, essentially a hacker war, the remaining four rounds are technology achievement competitions. They are categorized according to four themes: life, transportation, entertainment, and AL robots.

After discussions in Huaguo, for this competition, they planned to showcase the projects of Sleep World, Hovering Cars, Holographic Online Games, and Elderly Care Robots.

Let’s not discuss the latter three projects for now.

When the first project, Dreamscape, was announced, all the team members showed expressions of shock and excitement.

Because of the previous commotion surrounding Dreamscape, not only cutting-edge researchers, even eighty-year-old seniors were familiar with this software.

Regardless of the previous virus incidents associated with the software, its technological level couldn’t be denied.

After the government obtained the data on the Dreamscape software, they had been researching it all along. After putting in so much effort, it would be a waste not to use it for this competition. Since Dreamscape has already been introduced to the world and has gained some recognition internationally, it’s a good opportunity to showcase it.

After all, although New World Technology provided a lot of research materials, they couldn’t reveal everything at once. Saving one project means saving one project.

Most of the project materials used in this competition were organized by Fang Ziyang for New World Technology, so he naturally became familiar with the materials.

His main purpose for coming to the training base was to cultivate rapport with his teammates and help everyone better understand the content of the materials to make sufficient preparations for the competition.

Of course, except for Tang Xun and a few people above, the others were not aware of these details.

Translated on ho lo lo novels dot com.

So Fang Ziyang once again astonished everyone with his speed of mastering the materials.

When the first set of materials came out, Fang Ziyang managed to grasp it completely in less than a week. Was he trying to demoralize people?!

Especially Jin Yu.

She thought she had already accepted the reality that Fang Ziyang was better than her, but now she realized that reality was even more demoralizing than she had accepted.

Jin Yu could hardly believe it. “You’ve understood all the first set of materials? In less than a week?”

“Yeah, but it’s not surprising that I’m fast. My brother taught me this special code before, so I have a foundation and naturally can learn faster than you guys.”

Fang Ziyang patiently explained. He wasn’t the type to bask in his own glory.

Although people like Jin Yu needed a reality check, a little lesson was enough. It wouldn’t be beneficial for the competition if others were demoralized too much. What they needed was motivation, not excessive demoralization.

Upon hearing this, the shocked hearts of the others were slightly comforted, but they were still amazed by Fang Ziyang’s learning speed and comprehension ability.

Even if Fang Ziyang had a foundation, considering his young age, it was already terrifying that he could reach this level of understanding. Fang Ziyang and Tang Xun were truly extraordinary brothers, inheriting the same exceptional intellect. They were beyond comparison.

With this thought, everyone’s mentality became more balanced. After all, there was a fundamental difference between a genius and an exceptional individual. Being serious was what truly mattered.

Jin Yu also understood this principle, but she was still greatly demoralized. Being surpassed repeatedly by someone she used to look down upon, that feeling could only be understood by experiencing it!

However, although Jin Yu was arrogant and assertive, she was very serious when it came to academics. She would question, but she wouldn’t be jealous. This was the pride of someone who loved technology.

“You wait, I will surpass you. I’m the most talented one!”

Jin Yu said indignantly, then turned around and hurriedly went back to her seat, passionately studying the materials. Her curiosity had been greatly stimulated.

Fang Ziyang smiled at the sight.

Although this girl had an unpleasant personality, she was straightforward and genuinely serious about academics. If she could change her temper, she would become a shining star in the research community in the future.

Of course, it wasn’t only Jin Yu who was putting in effort.

The others didn’t hold back either, even the substitute reserve team members didn’t slack off. Everyone was working hard, and the competition among them was fierce.

However, talent still played a role. Currently, the most outstanding individuals, apart from him and Tang Xun, were still Zhao Kairui, Yuan Zhuoting, Jin Yu, and Yang Qilong.

And Jin Yu, who declared that she would surpass him, was once again demoralized.

Her speed in grasping the materials not only didn’t surpass Fang Ziyang, but it also didn’t surpass Zhao Kairui and Yuan Zhuoting. Their learning speeds were not much different from hers.

Now Jin Yu finally realized that she had been somewhat arrogant in the past. She was just one of the many intelligent people, and she wasn’t the only one in this world.

Jin Yu felt frustrated.

But soon, she regained her composure and, with an awkward expression, approached the members of Team B to seek their guidance. Since Fang Ziyang could grasp the materials quickly, he would provide assistance to the members of Team B, and their learning speed would surpass everyone else in Team A.

Jin Yu couldn’t bring herself to ask Fang Ziyang for help due to her pride, so she shifted her focus to the other members of Team B.

Zhao Kairui, Yuan Zhuoting, and the others were not stingy. They would gladly help anyone who came to seek advice, regardless of who it was.

The learning atmosphere among everyone was excellent for a while.

However, Jin Yu was still deeply bothered by the fact that Fang Ziyang and she both liked the same person.

So whenever they met, sparks would fly between them, and they wouldn’t stop arguing until they had a few words.

Fang Ziyang was bored at the base, and Jin Yu wasn’t afraid of getting her face slapped every day. He didn’t mind it either. He treated her as a source of entertainment, engaging in small arguments with her like primary school kids. Every time, he managed to get her so angry that she would stomp her feet.

“You jerk! Wahh, all you know is to bully girls. You have no gentlemanly demeanor at all! Just you wait, when I leave the base, I’ll go on Weibo and let the whole world know what an indecent guy you are!”

Jin Yu would cry every time she got angry and then start making unreasonable remarks.

Unfortunately, Fang Ziyang wasn’t afraid at all. His face was even thicker than the Great Wall. The more she cried, the happier he smiled.

“Go ahead, go ahead. I’m not getting married to a woman anyway. What’s this thing called ‘demeanor’? I’m going to marry Brother Xie, so how can I not cherish young ladies?”

Jin Yu became frustrated. “You shameless person! Xie Zheng would never like someone like you!”

“Why not? I’m so good-looking. My brother told me that Xie Zheng likes good-looking boys. Boys, you know? Good-looking boys like me. Sister Jin Yu, you’ve lost your competitive eligibility at the core.”

Fang Ziyang blinked his eyes, looking adorable.

That statement was like a thunderbolt striking down.

Jin Yu widened her eyes. “Impossible, you’re making things up!”

“Then wait until next week when Brother Xie comes to see me. Just ask him and you’ll know…” Fang Ziyang struck again.

“Xie Zheng is coming to see you? Are you sure it’s not to see your brother?”

“It’s the same thing.”

Fang Ziyang raised his chin, looking proud.

“You, you shameless person! Xie Zheng won’t like someone like you!”

Jin Yu was furious. “You bastard! You bastard! You bully girls shamelessly…”

Fang Ziyang: “You’re spoiled, you’re spoiled! How can you bully your juniors? Don’t you feel guilty?”

Jin Yu: …

Jin Yu once again suffered defeat and became so angry that she jumped up and down in place. It was truly infuriating!

The two oddballs in the genius group bickered with each other every day, like primary school kids pecking at each other.

Everyone felt helpless yet couldn’t help but find it amusing.

Although they argued fiercely, their quarrels were limited to verbal disputes, and the content of their arguments was incredibly childish.

Jin Yu would be driven to the brink of madness every day.

But Fang Ziyang was enjoying himself immensely, treating “bullying” the little girl as a source of amusement.

Of course, his intention was to teach her a lesson. After all, the Jin family and the Lu family had a long-standing relationship, so he thought he could help properly discipline the arrogant and naive granddaughter of the Jin family. But the little girl just couldn’t understand, always mistaking his guidance for bullying and getting herself worked up. He had no choice but to continue with his teasing.

As the saying goes, “Experience is the best teacher.” With more experiences of being taken advantage of and teased, one would eventually grow.

Look, he truly was a good person!

Fang Ziyang, in a rare good mood, decided to show some kindness and properly educate the granddaughter of the Jin family for her grandfather’s sake.

However, before he could achieve his goal, an accident occurred.

That day, after everyone finished their class with the instructor as usual, they went to the first-floor research lab for practical exercises.

It was a normal routine, but as they were going downstairs, Fang Ziyang suddenly felt a trip under his foot, causing him to lose balance and fall forward.

And Jin Yu happened to be walking in front of him.

As a result of their fall, they both tumbled down the stairs together.

Since Jin Yu was at the bottom, Fang Ziyang didn’t suffer any major injuries, just a few scrapes.

But Jin Yu was unlucky and ended up fracturing her hand directly.

Fang Ziyang hadn’t reacted yet.

Yang Qilong immediately stepped forward and angrily questioned, “Fang Ziyang, what were you doing just now? Why did you push Jin Yu?”

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