59: Chapter 58: Zhao Qingyan’s Assistance, Is Zhao Xiaoxiao the Real Talent?
59: Chapter 58: Zhao Qingyan’s Assistance, Is Zhao Xiaoxiao the Real Talent?
(Happy New Year to all my readers~ Today’s second update is coming early~)
(Author Germ is still dedicated to writing for everyone in this freezing winter, my hands are about to turn into ice~ Especially since I live in Wu Xi, near Tai Lake, where it’s bitterly cold and damp.
We don’t have central heating in the Southern areas, so writing in winter is indeed a challenge.
I won’t say more here, but I will persist in writing diligently to deliver a thrilling plot to all my readers!)
(PS: Many readers have comnted that so chapters are not very good and even sowhat toxic.
Author Germ has seen these comnts.
You all are referring to the chapters about the female lead and so daily life filler.
I admit I’m not very good at writing everyday life scenes, but I will try to learn from more slice-of-life literature at Qi Dian and strive to improve.)
(If you, my dear readers, are reading this, it ans you’ve also persisted through so many chapters, and for that, I am delighted.
Thank you all for your support~)
…
Thanks to Zhang Wei’s face recognition, the two were able to enter the laboratory for investigation.
The lab’s security system was still operational, and many areas were inaccessible.
Among them, the most critical fungus culture room was in a highly secured area on the second floor.
Zhang Wei and Luo Feixiang, as expected, were stumped by the security asures.
“Damn, we can’t get in!” Luo Feixiang said, looking at the security monitor with a helpless expression.
“Don’t worry, I have a way!”
But Zhang Wei, looking at a logo on the security equipnt, had a smile that was inscrutable.
The logo was a hamr, which inford Zhang Wei that the lab’s security system was all from Blacksmith Technology.
“Hello, Uncle Zhao?
It’s Xia Zhang.
Sorry to bother you during work hours.
I wanted to ask, do you know about the security system at the dical University Affiliated Laboratory?”
“Right, right, it’s all done by your Blacksmith Technology.
I saw your company’s logo.
Are you familiar with the situation here?”
“Why am I at the dical University laboratory, you ask?
That’s easy, it’s part of my main job.
I’m a public defense lawyer!”
“Yes, the case concerning Wang Yuqing, I took it!”
“Oh, thank you, Uncle Zhao.
That’s very kind of you.”
“Wait a second, you ntioned sending over a ‘ssenger’.
Is this ssenger a pigeon?”
“Oh, I’ll know when I see it.
Well, I’ll wait here then…”
Zhang Wei hung up the phone, and under Luo Feixiang’s astonished gaze, he went outside the lab to wait.
This also made Sister Wang and Xiao Lu at the entrance feel puzzled.
You just entered, so why did you co out so soon?
But soon, they knew the reason.
A buzzing sound ca from the sky, and soon after, a drone resembling a fighter jet with a streamlined front-end flew over.
Underneath the drone hung a silver-gray access card.
As Zhang Wei raised his hand, the drone slowed down and descended.
With the silver-gray access card in hand, the drone had completed its mission and with a whoosh, it flew away, quickly disappearing from everyone’s sight.
“Goodness, what’s that thing?”
Whether it was Xiao Lu or Sister Wang, they were both staring dumbfoundedly as Zhang Wei re-entered the lab.
Luo Feixiang, who was waiting inside, witnessed this scene as well.
“Zhang Wei, do you know soone from Blacksmith Technology?”
“Yeah!”
Zhang Wei did not elaborate and brushed off the question before he began swiping the access card he was holding.
Ding——
The security access that was previously impenetrable was like nothing in the face of this access card.
A simple swipe by Zhang Wei, and the entire lab was almost completely accessible.
Zhang Wei once again marveled that Zhao Qingyan truly deserved his reputation as a programming guru, effortlessly providing black tech solutions.
Having full access, the two finally arrived at the culture room ntioned by Wang Yuqing for storing the fungus.
The culture room was under isolation; not only did entry require an access card, but also a dedicated preset password, so even with the access card, Zhang Wei couldn’t get in.
“Only a few people from the laboratory know the password—Professor Tan, Wang Yuqing, and three other researchers from the sa team.
Does that an only they were able to enter the culture room and take the fungus?”
Looking at the weakly fluorescent green liquid stored in containers, Zhang Wei speculated.
As he spoke, he took out a note and peered at one of the entries.
“According to Wang Yuqing, the fungus is active only in liquid form; once exposed to room temperature, it quickly evaporates into the air, easily causing air transmission and infection, making it extrely inconvenient to transport.
For extraction, the fungus is dried into a powder form.
When it’s ti to grow them again, they are placed back into a liquid to revive their activity!”
“In other words, the fungus can only spread in the air.
Once it enters the human body and encounters the moisture inside, it starts to infect, damaging the body’s tissues.
This is also why Councilor Yang and his wife t their deaths!”
Luo Feixiang glanced at the vessel in the culture room, “Are you saying that the liquid in there is actually very dangerous and once it cos into contact with the human body, it will…”
“Yes, it will beco very tragic.
It’s said that after Councilor Yang died, his entire body’s skin was corroded, and he was completely unrecognizable as a human.”
Zhang Wei recalled for a mont, then his expression darkened, “That ans his wife also ended up like that, and there was no way to leave a presentable body after death!”
“This case is becoming troubleso…”
Luo Feixiang didn’t want to say more, but he understood what Zhang Wei ant.
If the prosecution submits all this as evidence, it could likely influence the jury’s judgnt.
He looked at the culture room and shuddered subconsciously.
It was hard to imagine that Wang Yuqing was studying these things every day, and if an accident were to happen, would she also beco like that.
“Let’s go, there’s nothing more to find out here!”
After making a few rounds in the laboratory, Zhang Wei indeed didn’t discover any clues and could only leave.
At the door, he said goodbye to Sister Wang, who also asked about Xia Qianyue’s situation.
When Sister Wang learned that Xia Qianyue had joined the Heavy Case Unit 7 and beca an official intern, she was quite emotional.
“Xia Xia is not the type to stay out of trouble, I knew it from the first glance.
What a pity for Old Xia, now he has to worry about his daughter every day.”
Zhang Wei felt the sa way.
His daughter is now mingling with Wu Yong and the others every day, dealing mostly with homicides, robberies, etc., all violent cris.
Although Zhang Wei hadn’t been a parent for many years, he could imagine how a father would feel knowing his daughter was doing these things daily.
He guessed his future father-in-law’s mood wouldn’t be that great.
After leaving the dical University’s laboratory, Zhang Wei thought of an issue.
“Old Luo, next you’ll drive to the headquarters of Blacksmith Technology, I need to return an access card, then we’ll temporarily go our separate ways!”
“Oh, alright!”
Luo Feixiang drove, heading straight for the Inner Ring City Center.
…
The Blacksmith Technology Tower is a hundred-story skyscraper brimming with modernity.
As a high-tech company well-known in Dongfang Capital and even in Dragon Country, Blacksmith Technology is a leading enterprise in the internet, scientific research robots, and even military equipnt industries.
Also being the largest company in Dongfang Capital, and a major taxpayer every year, the headquarters of Blacksmith Technology is located in the most central area of Dongfang Capital.
By the ti Luo Feixiang drove to the city center, it was already evening.
Although the distance from the dical University to Blacksmith Technology wasn’t far, Dongfang Capital had severe traffic jams.
A 30-minute trip took almost 2 hours.
“Xiao Zhang, are you sure you don’t want to drive you back?”
“No need, I can hitch a ride, and rather than being stuck in traffic, I’d prefer to take the subway!”
Just the ntion of driving made Zhang Wei instinctively fear, his stomach began to churn, and a feeling of nausea crept into his chest.
Traffic jams really are unbearable.
Seeing Zhang Wei so decided, Professor Luo didn’t delay and drove off.
Zhang Wei looked at the hamr logo at the entrance of the Blacksmith Technology Tower and then walked in.
“Hello, may I know who you are looking for?
Please sign in here.”
“Oh, alright, I’m looking for Zhao Qingyan.”
“Old Zhao from the R&D departnt?
Could you wait here, I’ll notify the R&D departnt?”
The receptionist offered a polite smile but asked Zhang Wei to wait in the lobby on the first floor.
The first floor of the Blacksmith Technology Tower was majestic, with many business people coming and going, so they turned the first floor into a large circular showroom, displaying many electronic products.
From small smart ho appliance robots to large industrial chanical arms, there were all kinds of industrial robots.
Zhang Wei felt as though he had walked through two worlds, from the outdoor to the indoor.
Outside was a typical tropolis, while the inside beca a futuristic high-tech space.
Fortunately, the receptionist had already contacted the R&D departnt.
“Zhang Wei, right?
The R&D departnt has gotten back to , Old Zhao is waiting for you at the park on the 25th floor, area 4 near the fountain.”
“There’s even a park inside the company, how unique!”
Surprised by the receptionist’s instructions, Zhang Wei took the non-staff elevator, which could only access specific floors, luckily including the 25th floor.
Soon, the elevator reached the 25th floor, and a huge park brimming with greenery appeared before Zhang Wei’s eyes.
The park was vast, encompassing the entire 25th floor as a scenic area, where nurous business professionals in work attire could be seen conversing on the park benches.
With the aid of so thick load-bearing columns, the park was divided into several areas, each nurturing different vegetation.
“Zhang Wei, over here!”
From afar, Zhao Qingyan spotted him and waved his hand to signal.
Zhang Wei hurried over and t Zhao Qingyan at the seats by the fountain.
“Uncle Zhao, this is the access card you gave ; I’m returning it to you now.”
Zhao Qingyan took the access card from Zhang Wei’s hand and then said somberly, “Zhang Wei, the case you’ve taken on is far from ordinary in terms of difficulty.”
“Uncle Zhao has heard about it too?”
“Isn’t that obvious?
The Councilor and his wife were both poisoned and killed, the entire Dongfang Capital is paying attention to this case!”
As Zhao Qingyan spoke, his fingers tapped incessantly on the chair, “In other words, this ti, your opponents are not just the Procuratorate Headquarters of Dongfang Capital, but also the pressuring public opinion, the dia siege, and those people above…”
Although he didn’t specify, Zhang Wei knew exactly who “those people above” referred to.
After all, Councilor Yang was one of them.
If one day they found themselves under threat, they would take that into consideration, which ans that they would be even less likely to let a criminal off the hook, choosing instead to punish them harshly as a warning to others!
Moreover, it is these individuals whom the law protects, and in this case, they stood on the side of justice.
“Uncle Zhao, I’m actually on the side of justice too, but have you noticed a problem?”
“A problem?” Zhao Qingyan stopped tapping, his expression curious.
“Yes, a problem!”
Zhang Wei looked at him and said with a smile, “Everyone has convicted Wang Yuqing as the murderer, but isn’t there any other possibility?
What if my client isn’t the culprit?”
“Wouldn’t that an that both the Investigation Departnt and the Procuratorate Headquarters would beco the butt of a huge joke?”
“You still have the mood to joke about it, but I’m really worried for you.
This is no ti for jokes.”
Zhao Qingyan shook his head, his face filled with concern, “As far as I know, this case is of great importance, so everything is being expedited, and the trial date has been set, hasn’t it?”
“Yes, the preliminary hearing is tomorrow, Friday, and the trial officially starts next Monday.
If things go quickly, the verdict might even co out before next Friday!”
“So you don’t have much ti left, kid.
But Uncle Zhao is just a developer; I can’t be of much help to you…”
Zhao Qingyan began to doubt whether Zhang Wei could turn the tide this ti.
Even if, as he said, Wang Yuqing might be innocent, how could the power of one person ever overco the joint forces of the Investigation Departnt and the Procuratorate Headquarters?
Zhang Wei, however, was not so pessimistic.
As if he thought of sothing, he asked, “By the way, Uncle Zhao, the security system of the dical University’s laboratory, isn’t it from Blacksmith Technology?
Can you access the entry record data?”
Zhao Qingyan thought for a while, then shook his head, “No, that won’t work.
We’re just contractors.
Although we have the access card used for testing, which is what I gave you, all subsequent modifications are done independently by the client.
Without the client’s own preset managent password, even we can’t query it.”
“So you’re saying, you just provided the system?”
“Right, you can understand it that way.
I rember the client was Professor Tan, the financial backer of that laboratory.
I believe he added special notes to the project, but you’d need to check the project docuntation to know the specifics.”
As just a developer and not the project manager, Zhao Qingyan did not know the exact contents of the contract.
“Then, Uncle Zhao, is there any way to bypass administrative rights and obtain this data by other ans?”
Zhang Wei posed a question, then, as if sothing crossed his mind, he added, “Or is there a possibility that soone entered the laboratory but, through so privilege, erased their own entry and exit records?”
Zhao Qingyan pondered, “Hmm, theoretically, that is possible.
To actually do it, I would have to go to the site to check and fetch so backend data.
But if soone actually did that, unless they were a professional, it would be difficult to detect any clues.”
“Couldn’t be seen by non-professionals?”
“Not to boast, but our R&D departnt at Blacksmith Technology is far more capable than those so-called software experts out there.
The code they write looks like primitive hieroglyphics to !”
“Aweso!” Zhang Wei couldn’t help but give Zhao Qingyan a thumbs-up.
“So what you’re saying is that the computer experts and data retrieval personnel of the Investigation Departnt might not detect any signs of backend data tampering?”
“How could those newbies possibly see through it!”
Upon hearing Zhang Wei ntion the high-tech investigators of the Martial Association Investigation Departnt, Zhao Qingyan showed a disdainful smile, the kind of outright scorn a technical expert reserves for amateurs.
“So, Uncle Zhao, is there a legitimate way you could help check the laboratory’s backend…”
“This might be a bit difficult because we’re just contractors.
Besides, the contract has ended, and without the client’s permission, we can’t access the laboratory’s system, so there’s no legitimate way to do it.”
In other words, any access to the system for queries would be an illegal thod.
For Zhao Qingyan, this would an breaking the rules.
Zhang Wei expressed understanding; he was rely asking, and he wouldn’t force Zhao to do anything difficult.
“All right then, I don’t have any issues either.”
Zhang Wei was about to leave, but Zhao Qingyan suddenly turned her head to look into the distance, muttering sothing under her breath.
“What a pity, my girl could have done it, but who knows where she’s run off to recently, her hacking skills are even better than mine…”
The speaker was unintentional, but the listener took it to heart.
Zhao Qingyan’s words, whether deliberately spoken for Zhang Wei to overhear or just a sigh of frustration at her daughter’s absence, were unclear.
Yet Zhang Wei etched this matter into his mory.
Zhao Xiaoxiao was actually a hacker!
It made sense, though—her WeChat na was “Tianwang Hacker,” which suggested soone with technical prowess.
…
Zhang Wei no longer intended to hitch a ride and, after bidding Zhao Qingyan farewell, he directly left Blacksmith Technology’s tower.
He chose to take the subway, heading straight for his residence at Lin Mansion.
Once there, he went straight to the second floor.
Thump thump thump!
A rapid knocking on the door was followed by an impatient voice from inside.
“Who is it, disturbing again!”
“It’s , Zhang Wei!” Zhang Wei called out, muttering in his heart, “As if I’m your dad!”
A crack in the door opened, revealing a ssy head of hair: “Don’t you know I need to rest, who sleeps during the broad daylight, what do you want?”
“Sleeping in the dayti, and you’re making excuses?”
Zhang Wei was montarily dumbfounded, but recalling the reason for his visit, he swallowed his annoyance, putting on a simpering smile.
“Xiao Zhao, I hear you’re good with computers, is that right?”
When there’s sothing she’s Xiao Zhao, when there’s nothing she’s ‘second daughter’; Zhao Xiaoxiao saw right through Zhang Wei’s character.
Still, she patiently asked, “Who told you that?”
“Who else but your dad.”
“Hmph, don’t ntion him!”
The ntion of Zhao Qingyan made Zhao Xiaoxiao snort in annoyance, like a little wild cat getting angry.
Yet she didn’t deny it and instead said to Zhang Wei, “Spit it out, what do you need?”
“Thing is, I want to hire you to do sothing for , is that okay?”
“Hire ?” Zhao Xiaoxiao’s eyes beneath her disheveled hair flickered with a touch of confusion.
“No need, with all the als I’ve eaten at your place, whatever you need, I won’t charge you!”
“If it’s a freebie, then all the better!”
Hearing there was no charge, Zhang Wei chuckled gleefully and promptly explained his intention.
“You an, you want to check the laboratory’s backend data and the street surveillance footage of a certain area, do you know how much work that is?”
“We can put the surveillance footage on hold until after the preliminary hearing tomorrow.
I’ll get the list of witnesses and evidence then, which should include the marked tis and locations on the surveillance footage, making it easier to search.
Just help get the laboratory data.”
“That’s more reasonable!” Zhao Xiaoxiao sighed with relief when she heard the workload was reduced.
“But that lab’s system is made by Blacksmith Technology, can you hack into it?”
“Who do you think you’re looking down on, the Tianwang Hacker is standing right in front of you!” Zhao Xiaoxiao replied with confidence, lifting her chin proudly.
Unfortunately, half a day passed and there was no feedback, because Zhang Wei wasn’t well-versed in the field and unaware of her notoriety.
“Boring guy!”
Zhao Xiaoxiao muttered to herself and then began to usher him out.
“Okay, okay, Missy here’s got it, you go on with your stuff.
Rember to add two chicken legs to dinner and prepare a midnight snack for at 12 o’clock—that’s my paynt for this task!”
“That’s not a problem, but if you keep staying up all night…”
Bang—
Before Zhang Wei could say anything else, Zhao Xiaoxiao closed the door on him, giving him the cold shoulder.
At the response of his so-called ‘second daughter’, Zhang Wei could only sigh in resignation.
Reviews
All reviews (0)