As expected, the power cable had been intentionally unplugged.
Bai Yan remained unfazed, her fingers moving swiftly to reconnect the cable. A cold smile tugged at the corners of her lips.
Nice try. Just a petty trick.
She pressed the power button, and the computer screen flickered to life. The familiar interface loaded, and everything returned to normal as if nothing had happened.
Casually, she shrugged and offered a simple explanation, her tone light and unaffected: "Must have been a loose connection." Throughout the entire process, her demeanor remained composed, not a hint of concern or agitation. This calm poise caught the attention of her colleagues, who watched her with growing curiosity. Even Liang Yu, who had been observing from the sidelines, couldn't help but take a renewed interest in her.
This woman... she's intriguing.
And so, the game officially began.
Bai Yan dove into the game, effortlessly assuming the role of a fierce female warrior. Her movements were precise, controlled—every keystroke filled with intent.
To her surprise, Liang Yu also joined in, his character appearing beside hers in the virtual world. He took control of his character with deliberate care, setting traps along her path, commanding small monsters to attack her, and trying to make her stumble at every turn.
But Bai Yan wasn't an amateur. She had played this game before.
With grace and precision, she sidestepped every trap, eliminating the monsters in swift motions, dancing around danger with the ease of a seasoned player. Her colleagues, who had been quietly watching from behind, could only stare in awe.
"These moves... 666!" someone blurted out, clearly impressed by her skills.
Liang Yu's eyes never left the screen, following her movements with keen interest. He nodded to himself, a quiet recognition dawning within him.
This girl... she's got some real talent.
The game neared its climax. The scores were neck and neck, with Bai Yan and Liang Yu in close competition. It seemed the outcome would be decided in the final moments.
Then, Bai Yan noticed something. A hidden loophole in the game. A small flaw—barely perceptible, yet enough to turn the tide in her favor.
A knowing smile curved her lips as she realized the opportunity before her. It was time to show her true skills.
Her fingers flew across the keyboard, executing a dazzling series of rapid, calculated moves. Within seconds, she exploited the loophole, triggering a massive in-game reward. Her score shot up, overtaking Liang Yu and the others in one swift motion.
"What the hell! What kind of move was that?!" The room erupted in astonished exclamations. Colleagues leaned in closer, scrambling to comprehend what had just happened. The sudden leap in her score left everyone stunned.
Liang Yu stared at the screen, his eyes wide with disbelief. His character, which had been ahead, now trailed behind in the blink of an eye. His mind raced, trying to piece together what had just occurred. But deep down, despite the shock, a spark of admiration flickered in his chest.
Bai Yan basked in the glow of her victory, her chest swelling with satisfaction. She had done it. And she hadn't just beaten them—she'd done it with flair.
She turned toward Liang Yu, her smile a mixture of amusement and triumph. "Mr. Liang, I've outdone you."
The game ended, and the office buzzed with excitement. Colleagues swarmed around Bai Yan, congratulating her and chatting animatedly about her brilliant performance. Liang Yu stood at the sidelines, watching the crowd gather around her. A complex mix of emotions churned inside him.
Though he maintained his usual competitive attitude, brushing off her victory with a scoff, "It was just a trick," a subtle shift had occurred in his opinion of her. This was no longer just a colleague he could dismiss. Bai Yan had proven herself.
He approached her, his tone casual, but something more lingered beneath the surface. "Didn't expect you to have some skills," he remarked, his voice still carrying a hint of pride. "But don't get too cocky. I'll definitely win next time." There was a layer of reluctant admiration hidden in his words, a soft undercurrent beneath the bravado.
Bai Yan smiled slightly, playing along. "You're too kind, Mr. Liang. I'll try even harder next time." She could barely understand the sudden shift in his attitude. Just yesterday, he had been nitpicking, challenging her at every turn. Today, he seemed almost… respectful. Could it be that he couldn't handle losing the game?
As the colleagues continued to gather around, sensing a subtle tension between the two, they exchanged knowing glances. Whispers spread through the office like wildfire.
"Do you think Mr. Liang might have a thing for Bai Yan?" one colleague whispered, glancing toward the pair.
Another colleague leaned in, eyes gleaming with gossip. "It's possible. Just look at the way he looks at her... Clearly, something's going on."
Meanwhile, Lin Yue stood on the outskirts of the crowd, her eyes narrowing as she watched Bai Yan and Liang Yu engage in conversation. She watched as the others crowded around them, congratulating Bai Yan on her victory. A malicious grin slowly spread across her face.
She took out her phone, discreetly snapping a photo of the two of them talking. The image captured Bai Yan smiling brightly, a look of satisfaction on her face, while Liang Yu stood beside her, still maintaining his usual composure but subtly altered in the way he interacted with her.
"Bai Yan, just wait and see," Lin Yue muttered under her breath, her eyes gleaming with a dark promise.
She opened her messaging app and prepared to send the photo to the company's group chat. Her plan was already forming—expose Bai Yan's "true face" and ruin her reputation once and for all. In her mind, this would be her chance to bring Bai Yan down a peg. After all, no one had the right to outshine her.
Bai Yan, completely oblivious to Lin Yue's scheming, continued to engage with her colleagues, deeply immersed in a conversation about gaming strategies. Her face was alight with confidence, her victory still fresh and exhilarating.
"Tomorrow, you'll all have a good show to watch..." Lin Yue whispered to herself, glancing down at the photo on her phone. Her grin widened, a sense of satisfaction settling in. She had her plan. And tomorrow, Bai Yan's life would take a turn for the worse.