Jiang Fuyue, radiating murderous energy, led Xu Kaiqing all the way until they finally stopped in front of… Hanqing Biotech?
In front of the DNA Building?
“What the h*ll?” Jiang Fuyue muttered, double-checking the address.
It was correct…
Xu Kaiqing asked, “What’s wrong?”
“The IP address points here.”
Xu Kaiqing looked around, his expression growing stranger the longer he observed: “Why does this place feel… kinda familiar?”
Suddenly, realization struck. “Isn’t this Ah Yuan’s company?!”
Jiang Fuyue’s face turned grim.
“You’re saying… the person trying to breach the firewall is here?”
“It’s not out of the question.”
“Then… should we ask Ah Yuan to help us investigate?”
Jiang Fuyue narrowed her eyes slightly. “I’m afraid… it’s a case of the thief crying ‘thief.’”
Xu Kaiqing: “?”
He didn’t get it.
Hanqing Biotech, top-tier computer skills, member of the S-SA internal network, IP points to the DNA Building, and holds a strong curiosity and intense investigative drive toward “I Send My Sorrowful Heart.”
The only one who fits all these conditions… is Xie Dingyuan himself!
—
Meanwhile, in front of a retro-styled teahouse.
Xie Dingyuan slowly lifted his gaze.
“Welcome. Do you have a reservation?”
“This place requires reservations?”
“Yes.”
“Then your guest information should be pretty complete, right?”
Uh…
“Strictly speaking, yes. Members are required to fill out detailed info.”
“Please help me look someone up.”
“Sorry, we have a policy against revealing guests’ private information…”
Xie Dingyuan didn’t waste his breath. He turned around and made a call.
Moments later, the front desk phone rang.
“Yes, sir… yes, there is a gentleman here… understood. We’ll fully cooperate.”
The staff hung up, their face instantly brightening into a smile. The troubled look disappeared: “Apologies, I didn’t realize you were a friend of President Wu. He just called and instructed us to assist you in every way.”
Xie Dingyuan didn’t hold back, speaking directly: “I want all records of people who entered this teahouse from this morning until now. Also, take me to the surveillance room.”
Fifteen minutes later.
“All the camera feeds are here?”
“Yes. Except for cameras A15 and A18.”
Xie Dingyuan frowned. “What’s the problem with those?”
“They malfunctioned this morning. Haven’t been fixed yet.”
“This morning?”
“Yeah. They were just replaced last year. Everything else works fine—it’s just these two. Really weird…”
Xie Dingyuan’s gaze darkened.
“What do those two cameras cover?”
“Let me check… Fengya Room.”
Xie Dingyuan nodded. “Take me there.”
—
The tea room was serene and quiet. The tea on the table was still warm.
Four seats, four teacups.
Xie Dingyuan asked, “Who booked this room?”
The staff checked the iPad and replied, “A Mr. Liu.”
“Full name?”
“Liu Jinzhong.”
—
Back at the DNA Building.
Jiang Fuyue approached the security booth and leaned on the window with a smile. “Uncle Wang, you’re on duty today?”
“Miss Jiang! What brings you here?” Uncle Wang hurriedly tidied up his dishes.
“No rush—go ahead and eat. I was just passing by. I need to see Professor Xie. Has he been to the lab today?”
“Ah, what a pity. He came, but already left.”
“Oh?” Jiang Fuyue’s eyes gleamed. “When did he leave?”
“Just now—maybe half an hour ago. If you’d come a little earlier, you’d have caught him.”
“No worries, next time then. I’ll be going now.”
“Sure. Drop by whenever you like. They’re building a new lab here—top of the line tech! Super impressive!”
“Great,” Jiang Fuyue smiled—then her face turned cold the moment she turned away.
If earlier she was only 60% suspicious, now she was 95% sure.
The last 5%? Just needed confirmation.
Xu Kaiqing: “So? What now?”
“Old Xu, how long have you known Xie Dingyuan?”
“Uh?” Xu Kaiqing was startled. “Why do you ask? Hmm… probably seven or eight years, since he started under Old Shen.”
“How’s his computer skill?”
“Very good. I heard he wrote all the report analysis programs in Old Shen’s lab himself. Improved the team’s efficiency by 10%. My team’s junior researchers were all green with envy.”
“Is that so?” Her voice was soft, with a deeper meaning.
Jiang Fuyue pulled out her phone. Under Xu Kaiqing’s puzzled gaze, she dialed a number.
“Hello, Professor Xie, are you busy?”
At that moment, Xie Dingyuan was sitting inside Fengya Room, toying with one of the used teacups.
He brought it close—besides a faint tea aroma, there was also a subtle citrus scent.
The other three cups had none of that.
Just as he was pondering, his phone rang. He was about to hang up, but upon seeing the caller ID, he answered immediately.
The girl’s crisp, smiling voice came through. A single “Professor Xie” made his whole soul tremble.
His ears tingled, heart pounding.
“Not busy,” he said, feigning calm.
“Where are you right now? Let me treat you to a meal.”
“I’m… downtown. Why so sudden?”
“You’ve treated me before—this is just returning the favor. Is that weird?”
“Not at all.”
“Then are you free?”
Xie Dingyuan furrowed his brows. “Right now?”
“Mhm.”
“I… have something to take care of. How about next time?”
Jiang Fuyue raised an eyebrow, her tone languid: “Who knows how long that’ll be.”
“Not like I’m worried you’ll disappear,” he chuckled.
“Confident, huh?”
“I have faith in you.”
“Alright,” Jiang Fuyue conceded. “Next time then.”
After hanging up, Xie Dingyuan shook his head with a smile.
Suddenly, his expression froze.
Didn’t Jiang Fuyue have plans with Ming Yu today?
Why the sudden dinner invite?
And judging by her tone, it seemed like a spur-of-the-moment idea.
Something wasn’t right.
His eyes drifted to the oddly scented teacup… and a wild, absurd idea sprang to mind.
The tea house had yielded nothing, and Xie Dingyuan quickly left.
The staff respectfully saw him out. Only after the car drove off did she let out a heavy sigh of relief.
A colleague came over and nudged her shoulder playfully. “What a hottie! You were serving him the whole time—did you get his number?”
“Are you crazy? Didn’t you see his face? Darker than the bottom of a pot. No matter how good-looking, that cuts his appeal in half.”
“I heard it’s not just his looks. The guy’s got major status. You know how arrogant our boss Wu usually is? In front of him, he was like a mouse seeing a cat. From my years of experience—definitely not your average bachelor!”
“Forget it. I’m not that lucky.”
“You’re dumb. If I were young and pretty like you, I’d have already landed a rich husband. Who’d still be working the front desk?”
“Sister Tan… don’t you think he looks familiar?”
“Pfft. He’s gone. What good is flirting with me now?”
“I’m not flirting!”
“He looked familiar? ‘Deja vu’? Girl, that’s just a pickup line.”
“I’m serious. I’ve seen him before…”
But where?
If it were in real life, she’d remember for sure.
So maybe not real life…
“You mean he’s a celebrity? No way—I’m all over celebrity gossip. Never seen that face on TV dramas.”
TV dramas…
TV!
“That’s it! The news! That famous scientist! His surname is Xie—young, handsome, super serious when he talks but still makes the girls scream! Ring any bells?”
“Uh… I never watch the news.”
“…”
“What are you whispering about? Another guest just arrived upstairs. Go greet them!” The floor manager walked over.
The two instantly fell silent and got back to work.
Over half an hour later, the server finally remembered who that man was—
Xie Dingyuan! Professor Xie!
Oh my god!
—
Meanwhile, after leaving the teahouse, Xie Dingyuan rushed back to the DNA Building.
He had a guess he urgently needed to verify—he didn’t want to waste another second, pushing the speed limit as he drove.
Finally—
SCREECH!
Brakes screeched to a halt.
He parked at the entrance, got out, looked around—no sign of the person he was looking for.
But he wasn’t worried.
He walked to the security booth and knocked on the window. “Uncle Wang, having lunch?”
“Oh! Professor Xie! You’re back?!”
Uncle Wang had nearly finished eating. He set down his chopsticks and stood up at once.
“I’ll open the gate for you right away…”
“No rush,” Xie Dingyuan waved. “Sit down. Do you remember Jiang Fuyue? The girl who came to the lab a while back.”
