Zhang Yi always kept a close eye on the shifting situation outside because it could impact the safety of his future life. Perhaps he was being overly cautious, and no powerful organization would ever attack this place, but he needed to be prepared for any potential threats.
"Xinxin, come and check out your new equipment!" Zhang Yi stood up from the sofa and prepared to take Yang Xinxin to the supercomputer. Yang Xinxin sat in her wheelchair, and Zhang Yi left the others behind as he pushed her into the control room.
As they entered, Yang Xinxin's eyes lit up with bright excitement upon seeing the control panel. The room's design made it feel like they were floating in space. Wang Siming had a taste for luxury, so even the control room floor was fitted with OLED screens. The glowing colors flowed like the galaxy, while the massive control panel was neatly lined with various buttons.
"From now on, the security of the network here is in your hands," Zhang Yi said, patting her on the shoulder, though his gaze couldn't help but fall on her immobile legs. A genius with an extraordinarily developed mind, stricken by polio and paralyzed from the waist down—she was the perfect candidate for this job.
Yang Xinxin nodded and rolled her wheelchair up to the control panel. Using his highest authority, Zhang Yi granted her secondary access, allowing her to handle network security without modifying the system's core components. Without saying a word, Yang Xinxin placed her delicate hands on the control panel, moving them as gracefully as a pianist. The large screen quickly displayed black and blue panels, and code began to scroll rapidly.
Zhang Yi couldn't understand any of it, but he watched with interest from the side. In less than ten minutes, Yang Xinxin had completed a full scan of the shelter's network.
"So, are there any vulnerabilities in the network?" Zhang Yi asked.
Yang Xinxin replied, "This Galaxy Light system was the top-tier personal network system a decade ago, and its performance is still incredibly powerful. Even now, it surpasses the vast majority of network systems worldwide. Its AI is so advanced that, theoretically, no security loopholes should exist."
Then, her tone shifted slightly. "However, top-tier hackers can create vulnerabilities. In the past two weeks, the system has been under thousands of network attacks. If they hadn't been detected in time, the entire network would have collapsed in a month."
Zhang Yi's eyes narrowed. His suspicions were correct. After the incident with Lu Fengda, both he and the shelter had inevitably attracted attention from prying eyes, and whoever was responsible wasn't ordinary.
He asked Yang Xinxin, "Can you fix the vulnerabilities and stop these attacks?"
A hint of a smirk appeared on Yang Xinxin's lips. "Brother Zhang Yi, don't forget what my specialty is!" As one of the world's top hackers, her expertise lay in network security, and she was particularly skilled at offensive operations. Though the attackers had some skill, they were no match for her.
"Fixing the vulnerabilities is simple. I'll also create a new encrypted network for you to use. Stop using the old routers; it's too easy to hack wireless networks."
Zhang Yi nodded. "I'll leave it to you."
It didn't take long for Yang Xinxin to finish. She smiled brightly and looked up at Zhang Yi, her face practically begging for praise. "Brother, I'm done!"
Zhang Yi smiled back, patting her on the head. "Xinxin, you're amazing!"
Yang Xinxin enjoyed his praise but modestly replied, "It was just basic maintenance. Nothing too difficult."
Her eyes gleamed with a mischievous light, and there was a hint of excitement. "Now, let's see who's trying to break into our network." She licked her lips playfully. "If I can hack into their system, that would be even more fun!"
As a top hacker, she was naturally inclined to take on ever greater challenges. Zhang Yi thought for a moment before asking, "How confident are you? And what are the risks if you fail?"
Zhang Yi was curious about the organization watching him. He had no plans to launch a full-scale attack but would love to gather some intel.
Yang Xinxin said, "It's hard to say how confident I am since we haven't fully engaged yet, and I don't know their capabilities. But based on the current level of attacks, they don't seem too powerful. Don't worry, even if I can't breach their system, I can at least cover my tracks so they won't find me."
Satisfied, Zhang Yi nodded. "Alright then, go ahead."
Since they had already initiated the conflict, it was only right to strike back. Just as they were speaking, Zhou Ke'er rushed in, her voice frantic.
"Zhang Yi, something's wrong! There's a—m-m-monster!"
Zhang Yi and Yang Xinxin exchanged a glance. "Looks like that cat really likes you. It's followed us all the way here," Zhang Yi said with a chuckle.
Yang Xinxin tilted her head. "I guess I'm the only human it trusts. It must have followed me because it's worried."
Zhang Yi had already noticed that the demon cat had followed them. He had plans to tame the cat and make it a weapon for himself. However, it seemed the time to act was now, or more people across the river would die.
"Let's go check it out," Zhang Yi said, pushing Yang Xinxin's wheelchair out of the control room.
Zhou Ke'er, pale with fear, clung to Zhang Yi's arm for comfort. "Zhang Yi, there's a huge monster outside! It's been meowing at the house from the window."
"Keran says we need to bring Xinxin over. It followed her here," she added.
Zhang Yi reassured her, "Don't be scared. It's Xinxin's friend. Let's go take a look."
Pushing Yang Xinxin into the living room, Zhang Yi saw two massive glowing eyes outside the window, as red as lanterns, staring into the house. The demon cat, Huahua, occasionally let out a few yowls, but it didn't seem hostile. If anything, it appeared to be waiting for someone to feed it.
As soon as it saw Yang Xinxin, the cat quieted down and sat in the snow. If you ignored its spiked fur, it looked just like an oversized house cat.
Yang Mi hid behind a table, her wide eyes peeking out to watch the cat, while Lu Keran, though a bit braver since she knew it was a stray cat that Yang Xinxin had once fed, still kept her distance from the glass window.