When they spotted the same gold coin in three different surveillance footage videos, the very natural conclusion was that the trigger causing the subsequent series of events was the same person.
Gu Nianzhi’s eye flickered briefly. She didn’t say it was the handsome young man she saw wearing a double-breasted black uniform.
Yin Shixiong sighed regretfully. “How could that person not get recorded? What a shame!”
Gu Nianzhi shook her head and spun around in Huo Shaoheng’s chair. Crossing her hands before her chest, she looked up at the two tall male gods before her and squinted. She replied calmly, “Actually from a legal perspective, there is no difference whether they were recorded or not.”
“Please elaborate.” Yin Shixiong appeared like he was ready to listen carefully. Huo Shaoheng also regarded her intently.
Gu Nianzhi held the cursor and pointed to the paused gold coin on the screen. “That person didn’t do anything but throw a gold coin. What can you do to him?”
Huo Shaoheng was speechless.
“What would you charge him with? Littering? From a legal perspective, a gold coin isn’t considered garbage. Instead, it is a valuable item.” Gu Nianzhi sighed. “The enemy is very smart. He actually calculated precisely that even if we discover him, there is nothing we can do.”
No court would approve their theory. The truth was, these algorithms and formulas were only supplementary from a legal perspective. They could be used to solve the case but were completely useless when it came to filing the case or bringing charges.
“That’s terrible!” Yin Shixiong balled his hands into fists vehemently and struck down hard. “This is clear provocation!”
This was the egotistical attitude of, “I did it, so what?” That’s why Gu Nianzhi didn’t mention the young man in black. What was the point of talking about him, anyway? Huo Shao would definitely investigate him, but if the enemy hadn’t broken any laws at all, wouldn’t Huo Shao be violating military law if he did that?
Gu Nianzhi knew that the senate and cabinet were extremely vigilant about the Special Operations Forces’ domestic activities due to them wielding so much power. She didn’t want to cause him trouble, let alone become a hindrance in his career.
Gu Nianzhi seemed to have her own plans for this person. This person was targeting her, so he would most definitely appear around her once again. If she remembered correctly, she seemed to have met him that day at the library entrance.
Huo Shaoheng folded his hands behind his back and kept his gaze on the pale gold floor-to-ceiling velvet curtains. He replied dryly, “Their target is Nianzhi, so they will continue with this as long as Nianzhi is alive. Therefore, we don’t have to rush, as they are bound to reveal themselves.”
Gu Nianzhi was speechless.
Right? He had the same thoughts as she did, so it was even more reason for her to not say anything.
…
Gu Nianzhi returned to her own bedroom thoughtfully and sat on the couch in a daze. The algorithm from earlier refused to leave her mind. There was something that urged her to give it a try, as if it wanted to leap out to express itself.
Holding her hand over her wildly thumping heart, she curled her curvy lips and said quietly, “If the law can’t punish you, then we’ll compete fairly to see who has the better algorithm.”
Gu Nianzhi knew that her idea was very crazy. However, if the enemy really wanted to silently put her to death without bearing any legal consequences, then she was sorry to say she couldn’t swallow her anger.
She didn’t want to sit idle, let alone wait for the enemy to set the next trap so she could only flee under someone else’s protection. Because as soon as the enemy triggered another “domino effect” again, it would be more well-crafted and intense than before. When that time came, they would only be using one life in exchange for another, even if Huo Shaoheng could deploy personnel to discreetly protect her.
Gu Nianzhi didn’t want her side to see anymore sacrifices, especially those sacrificing themselves for her. She was very grateful that they were using their own lives to protect her, but she also felt the burden of it. It was so heavy, she could scarcely breathe. Also, she was accumulating anger in her heart and needed to vent.
Everyone only has one life, so how dare that person assume he was high above others, transcending above the law and wielding power that dictated the life and death of others?! If he wanted to become god, he also needed to check if he actually had that ability. Gu Nianzhi thought this as she dazedly returned to her desk. Turning on her computer, she also began a series of calculations.
Late that night, Huo Shaoheng’s day of work had temporarily concluded. Shutting down his computer, he rubbed his forehead before walking around his office twice to relax his muscles. Finally, he went to Gu Nianzhi’s room.
Gu Nianzhi was typing on her computer and still seemed to be calculating. But this time, Gu Nianzhi shut down her computer as soon as Huo Shaoheng came in. She turned around somewhat awkwardly and mustered a weak smile. “Why hasn’t Huo Shao gone to bed yet?”
“I should be asking you that question.” Huo Shaoheng walked behind her. “Why did you turn off your computer as soon as I came in?”
Gu Nianzhi didn’t know how to answer, so she muttered, “That’s my privacy.”
Huo Shaoheng raised a brow. “Privacy? You?”
“Of course I have my own privacy.” Gu Nianzhi turned around and saw that Huo Shaoheng was giving her a suggestive look. Her embarrassment suddenly turned into rage, and she stood up. “You must respect my privacy. I need to sleep now, please leave.”
Huo Shaoheng smirked and put his hands in his trouser pockets. His sharp gaze regarded her from top to bottom, slowly looking her over completely. Suddenly, Gu Nianzhi felt as if she were naked before Huo Shaoheng.
Seeing that Gu Nianzhi was about to explode in anger, Huo Shaoheng finally retracted his gaze and patted her head. “Fine, I respect your privacy. Go to sleep.” As he spoke, he turned around to leave Gu Nianzhi’s room.
He left so quickly that Gu Nianzhi ended up being the one to feel suspicious. However, she didn’t run after him, she only stood in the middle of the bedroom with a frown. She watched Huo Shaoheng’s figure disappear outside her door.
She deadbolted her bedroom door then crawled into bed. Holding her phone, she continued her calculations. Her phone wasn’t as powerful as her computer, but her algorithm didn’t require too much memory. After optimization, the phone’s core should be able to handle it.
Gu Nianzhi tucked herself in her blankets and kept tinkering with various permutations and combinations. In the end, she didn’t even know when she finally fell asleep.
When she woke up the next day, she noticed her phone’s battery was completely drained.
She only stayed one day at Huo Shaoheng’s official residence. That morning, she began begging and forcing Huo Shaoheng to let her return to campus. Huo Shaoheng still had several meetings after breakfast, and because it was the year’s end, he was extremely busy.
He couldn’t handle Gu Nianzhi hassling him. It gave him a headache, so he finally agreed. However, he made her promise that she wouldn’t leave the sight of the field personnel.
Gu Nianzhi’s large, reflective eyes blinked as she replied very earnestly, “Huo Shao, it’s almost the Lunar New Year, so we’d better think of how we want to celebrate. I can graduate before the year ends. Will you attend my graduation ceremony?”
As soon as she said this, Huo Shaoheng’s thoughts shifted to what would happen after Gu Nianzhi graduated. He patted her head. “Study hard and once you graduate, you can start by resting for half a year.”
Gu Nianzhi smiled without answering. She waved at him then called He Zhichu to ask him to take her to campus.
Huo Shaoheng was a bit absent-minded during the meetings, but he finally composed himself when it was lunch time. He had somehow been tricked by Gu Nianzhi… She didn’t even directly answer his question but instead changed the topic to her graduation. She completed shifted his attention. Huo Shaoheng understood it now, so he chuckled and continued his meetings after lunch.
He Zhichu drove his car to pick up Gu Nianzhi, and she was waiting outside the yellow line at the main entrance of the Special Operations Forces base. Gu Nianzhi got in the car as soon as it arrived and said, “Professor He, can you first drop me off at the apartment I bought?”
“Aren’t you going back to campus?” He Zhichu was perplexed.
Gu Nianzhi paused before laughing. “Yes, but I want to only attend school for these last three weeks. I’ll stay in my apartment in Hepingli.”
