Bai Yan's fingertips gently touched the screen. The email with the subject consisting of a single question mark felt like a stone thrown into the calm surface of a lake, instantly stirring ripples in her heart. The content of the email was simple and blunt—just a string of numbers and letters interwoven like an alien language, leaving her completely baffled. Her delicate brows furrowed, and a sense of ominous premonition surged within her. The air around her seemed to thicken, as if time had slowed.
Liang Yu noticed her pale face and leaned in to take a look. His brow also knitted in concern. "What is this? Looks like a virus. Just delete it."
Su Yao, too, appeared nervous and quickly leaned in for a glimpse, echoing, "Yeah, Yan Yan, what if it's some malicious program? That could be disastrous!"
"No, this email wasn't sent randomly," Bai Yan replied firmly. She had a strong feeling that behind the code, there was something dark and secretive.
"I have to trace its origin!"
Liang Yu sighed helplessly. This girl's stubbornness was acting up again. But he knew once she made up her mind, even ten bulls couldn't drag her back.
"Alright, do whatever you want. I'll go with you."
Ignoring Liang Yu's reluctance, Bai Yan immediately dialed Zhao, a technician from the IT department.
"Zhao, I need your help. I received a strange email. Can you analyze it for me?"
Soon, Zhao rushed over. He studied the code carefully, his fingers flying across the keyboard as the characters on the screen kept scrolling.
"This code is encrypted, and the security is strong. Someone did this on purpose," Zhao said gravely.
"Just as I thought!" Bai Yan felt a chill in her heart. It seemed the situation was more complicated than she had imagined.
At that moment, a sarcastic voice cut through the tension, laced with disdain: "Heh, someone must have a guilty conscience, right? Otherwise, why would they receive something like this?" Everyone turned to see Lin Yue's older brother, Lin Qiang, standing with his arms crossed, looking at Bai Yan with contempt.
Bai Yan's temper flared instantly. She stood up, glaring at Lin Qiang. "What do you mean?"
"Hmph, some people, they act one way in front of others, but who knows what they're really up to behind the scenes? Maybe this email is something she cooked up herself!" Lin Qiang sneered, his tone dripping with malice and provocation.
"Lin Qiang! Don't slander her!" Su Yao was so angry she stamped her foot.
"Slander? Who's to say? Maybe it's all a self-directed drama!" Lin Qiang continued to stir the pot, and the atmosphere in the room dropped to freezing point.
Bai Yan was completely enraged. She sneered coldly, staring directly at Lin Qiang, her voice icy as she spoke: "Lin Qiang, you better clean up your mouth. Otherwise, I'll make you pay for your words!"
"Oh? Threatening me? I'm so scared!" Lin Qiang exaggeratedly pretended to be frightened, but his eyes showed no hint of humor—only venom.
Seeing that the situation was about to escalate into a confrontation, Liang Yu stepped forward, positioning himself in front of Bai Yan. He shot Lin Qiang an icy look. "This is the office, not a place for you to make trouble!"
Just then, Zhao suddenly exclaimed, "Wait, I think… I'm close to cracking it!"
Zhao's fingers fluttered across the keyboard like a butterfly, and the code on the screen began to dissipate like receding waves, revealing a clear block of text.
He excitedly shouted, "I've cracked it! This email… was sent by Lin Qiang, who hired a hacker!"
"What?!" Bai Yan's eyes widened in disbelief.
She snatched the screen and carefully read through the message, her fury erupting like a volcano. The email's content clearly revealed how Lin Qiang had contacted the hacker and sent this threatening email, all of it pointing back to him.
"Lin Qiang, you've got some nerve!" Bai Yan gritted her teeth, her anger flaring. "He'll pay for this!"
She stormed over to Lin Qiang and thrust the screen in front of his face.
"Open your eyes and see clearly. Everything you did, all your dirty deeds, have been exposed!"
Lin Qiang's face instantly drained of color, and his previously arrogant demeanor vanished. He avoided Bai Yan's gaze, his eyes filled with panic. He tried to deny it, "Y-You're talking nonsense! I have no idea what you're talking about!"
"At this point, you're still trying to lie?" Bai Yan sneered, her gaze as sharp and cold as ice, piercing Lin Qiang's heart. "The evidence is right in front of you, and you're still trying to act dumb? You have no shame!"
Around them, colleagues began to gather, whispering and pointing at Lin Qiang.
"Geez, didn't expect Lin Qiang to be this kind of person. How disgusting!"
"Yeah, he's all nice in front of others, but behind their backs, he tries to frame Yan Yan. So devious!"
Lin Qiang felt the weight of everyone's scorn. It was as though he had been stripped naked and was standing there, exposed and humiliated.Unable to bear the shame any longer, he covered his face and fled the office, leaving behind the condemning stares of his colleagues.
Bai Yan watched as Lin Qiang scurried away, a feeling of satisfaction swelling within her. She turned back to her colleagues and smiled faintly, her smile like the first thaw of ice, beautiful beyond words.
"Yan Yan, you're amazing! You're just too cool!" Su Yao cheered, jumping up to hug Bai Yan.
Liang Yu also stepped up beside her, a faint smile playing on his lips, admiration shining in his eyes. "As expected of the woman I chose, you're so clever."
Just as everyone was admiring Bai Yan's quick thinking and bravery, she noticed something strange on her computer screen—a key project's data was rapidly depleting.
This particular project was one Liang Yu had been in charge of and was critical to their success.
Bai Yan's smile instantly froze, and her brow furrowed in concern. She raised her head to look at Liang Yu. His face had also turned serious. They exchanged a glance, both seeing unease and anxiety in each other's eyes.
"The project…" Liang Yu uttered, his voice trailing off, his gaze dark and fixated on the screen.
Bai Yan's heart sank. A heavy sense of foreboding filled the air, as though something bad was quietly unfolding.