With slender, pale fingers poised once again over the keyboard, Qin Sheng resumed her relentless typing. Her eyes flickered with lines of code as they danced across her screen. The firewall set up by Fu Hanchuan was formidable, but it was becoming increasingly clear that it could not contain QS.
Sitting up straight, Fu Hanchuan intensified his own efforts, his hands moving swiftly over his keyboard. A fierce duel of skills and willpower ensued—Qin Sheng attempting to break free from the virtual prison, while Fu Hanchuan worked tirelessly to maintain its integrity. Back and forth they went, in a heated exchange that stretched over an hour. At last, Qin Sheng managed to slip past the defenses.
"You're pretty good, but you still can't hold me," she taunted, leaving this haughty message on Fu Hanchuan's computer screen before vanishing without a trace.
A smile flickered across Fu Hanchuan's face, his eyes filled with a rare amusement as he savored the taste of his tea. That night, he slept soundly, dreaming of nothing in particular but waking with a sense of satisfaction.
By noon the next day, Qin Sheng stood at the gates of Feiyuan Technology Company. There, she saw Hong Yuan, looking utterly defeated, standing despondently in front of the company's closed doors, his fists clenched tightly.
His company had been seized. As the sole owner of this private enterprise, all the shares were under Hong Yuan's name, making him solely responsible for the debts the company had incurred. Even after the company's assets were auctioned off, he still faced a staggering debt of over one million yuan.
He had knocked on the doors of every so-called friend and business partner he once knew. Yet, due to Du Kaifeng's machinations—or perhaps simply because Hong Yuan was no longer of any use to them—not a single person was willing to lend him a hand.
The death of his wife and the collapse of his company had delivered a crushing double blow. At just thirty-five, Hong Yuan's back was already stooped with the weight of his troubles, and the once dark hair on his head was now streaked with gray.
From behind him, a cold chuckle rang out. "Hong Yuan, oh Hong Yuan, who would have thought you'd end up like this?"
Turning, Hong Yuan found himself face-to-face with Du Kaifeng, whose sneer was laced with vindictive pleasure.
For a long time, Du Kaifeng had been jealous of him. In the same class, Hong Yuan's grades were always the best, while he remained in second place. The teachers' praises were always reserved for the one who was first.
After graduation, both men left the prestigious Imperial Capital University, and while Hong Yuan went on to establish a gaming company that thrived, Du Kaifeng's entrepreneurial ventures repeatedly failed, leaving him scraping by, often skipping meals just to survive.
Who could have imagined that one day Hong Yuan would fall from grace? And Du Kaifeng, now flush with success, had managed to siphon five million yuan from Feiyuan Technology. He had even handed over two newly developed games to Longyue Technology, earning himself the position of a department manager.
Longyue Technology was a behemoth compared to Feiyuan Technology; three of the market's best-selling games belonged to them.
Hearing Du Kaifeng's voice, Hong Yuan's eyes turned bloodshot with rage, a look of sheer hatred blazing within them as if he might devour Du Kaifeng on the spot.
"Du Kaifeng, how could you betray my trust like this?"
Du Kaifeng had always been a master of deception, and having been Hong Yuan's brother for twenty years, he had easily earned his confidence, leading him to hand over the company without hesitation.
Scoffing with disdain, Du Kaifeng replied, "In business, it's all about business. There's no room for sentimentality. You trusted me too much; was it my fault for exploiting that trust? Am I to blame?"
Suddenly, Hong Yuan grabbed Du Kaifeng by the collar, his voice a low growl. "Du Kaifeng, you despicable rat!"
Unperturbed, Du Kaifeng's lips curled into a mocking smile. "If you hurt me, you'll have to pay a hefty fine. Tell me, Hong Yuan, do you even have any money left now?"
Hong Yuan's strength seemed to evaporate in an instant. The hands clutching Du Kaifeng's collar slowly loosened their grip.
He still had a son to think about. He couldn't afford to act recklessly. If anything happened to him, his son—who had just lost his mother—couldn't afford to lose his father as well.
A bitter smile twisted Hong Yuan's lips.
His gaze, however, remained sharp as ever, piercing through to Du Kaifeng. "One day, I will have my revenge."
At his words, Du Kaifeng burst into a fit of scornful laughter. "Hong Yuan, as long as I'm around, you'll never have a chance to rise again."
Hong Yuan's fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white.
Du Kaifeng stepped closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Those two games of yours—they're really quite good."
(End of Chapter)