“I didn’t lie to you for any reason,” Xu Cheng immediately defended himself. “Previously, I never considered this situation, which is why I only used her to match with you. It was only today that an intern of mine accidentally reversed the order and discovered it.” He spoke rapidly, both shocked and excited by the discovery. “Not only that, I also tested all her high-match candidates.”
“They’re all different.”
“But there’s one exception.”
“A beta named Mu Yifan—both of them have a mutual match of eighty percent.”
Eighty percent was already a very high value.
Wen Yan fell silent again. This time, his silence lasted longer than usual—long enough that Xu Cheng, having set aside his previous excitement and teasing, became unusually serious: “Don’t be too upset. There could… be some misunderstanding here.”
As someone from the Genetic Management Bureau, Xu Cheng knew better than anyone what a match meant—especially a 100% match.
Though Wen Yan usually acted indifferent, he couldn’t truly escape the effects. Now, knowing that his match with her was 0 from her side, it was natural that he couldn’t accept it immediately.
He already regretted laughing so loudly earlier, and was racking his brain trying to think of a way to console himself, when he heard Wen Yan’s voice:
“Organize all the data. Don’t disclose anything externally, and don’t tell her. I’ll find time to bring her to the hospital for a full examination.”
“This has never happened before—she could be the key to breaking genetic matching.”
“Our research has made no progress for so long; this is good news for us.”
His voice was as calm as usual, as if Qiu Zheng were just an ordinary experimental subject.
Xu Cheng also returned to a professional tone: “Understood, I’ll take care of it.”
“Also, that person with an eighty percent match…” Wen Yan paused for a long moment before slowly continuing, “Send me their data, and do not contact them.”
Hearing this, Xu Cheng, who had been serious, pursed his lips.
If it weren’t for the uncontainable fury and jealousy in Wen Yan’s tone, he might have been fooled by the act.
The Bureau usually notifies both parties when the match is above seventy percent. The recipient clicks a special link to contact the other party. Only when one side agrees does the other side receive the information.
Generally, with a match above seventy percent, most people wouldn’t reject meeting the other person.
Xu Cheng couldn’t resist teasing: “You mean the man whose mutual match with Miss Qiu is eighty percent?”
Sure enough, Wen Yan’s breathing seemed slightly heavier at that moment.
Xu Cheng decided to stop while ahead: “Haha, I got it, I got it, don’t worry…”
Before he could finish, the system sent a notification…
Xu Cheng froze, then yelled at his office staff: “Damn it! Who sent that? Didn’t I say no one was to interfere?”
Wen Yan frowned, realizing this person couldn’t be relied upon at all.
“Useless.”
He hung up and strode inside, his speed almost like the wind was at his feet.
Qiu Zheng was trying to recall what Wen Yan had been rambling about earlier. He was usually so reserved; surely he meant something with his words.
Forget it—she’d just continue eating.
When her phone notified her of a message, she didn’t rush. Few people knew her number, and normally messages were junk or overdue bills.
She leisurely wiped her mouth and decided to check.
Before unlocking, she saw the sender was the Genetic Management Bureau. She didn’t even read the content before a hand reached over and took her phone.
Startled, she turned to see Wen Yan with an unreadable expression.
He glanced at the phone, then back at her. His steps had clearly been hurried; she could sense his irregular breathing.
And his gaze… usually calm and composed, now seemed to churn with emotions, making him appear far from calm.
“What’s wrong?”
Bankrupt WK?
Qiu Zheng was intimidated and tried to stand.
Wen Yan placed a hand on her shoulder, keeping her seated.
“My phone’s dead. I need to finish something—borrow your phone for a moment.”
Oh, she didn’t think much: “I’ll unlock it for you.”
She extended her hand, but he didn’t react.
They stared at each other until she seemed to understand: “The password is six zeros.”
For some reason, Wen Yan’s expression darkened further, as if she had touched a sensitive spot.
What? What’s wrong? Six zeros? It’s easy to remember!
Eventually, he stiffly nodded: “Thanks.”
Then he left.
Qiu Zheng remained seated.
At first, lending him the phone seemed harmless, but as time passed, her unease grew, and her imagination ran wild.
He’s just making a call, he probably won’t check my phone, right?
No, no, he has some sense of propriety.
But what if he needs to search for something important?
She quickly reviewed her recent searches, her face heating up—no, he can’t see that.
And he wouldn’t check her photos, right?
He shouldn’t—who would?
But what if he accidentally taps on it? Her album had the comic her friend Kang Ya sent yesterday, saved by her. The content…
Heavens, she couldn’t sit still.
Handing her phone without a password to someone else was like giving away her lifeline—head can be cut, blood can flow, but her dignity must remain intact!
She got up and moved toward Wen Yan.
There was a lounge area nearby. She crept to a corner to eavesdrop. She didn’t hear him speak.
Wasn’t he on the phone?
Why no sound?
Could he really be looking at her phone?
She peeked around the corner and saw a figure not far off.
Wen Yan leaned against the wall, warm light casting a subtle glow on his face. The usual coldness was gone, replaced by emotions she couldn’t read.
His gaze fixed somewhere yet nowhere, thoughts drifting.
In his hand—her phone.
Qiu Zheng quickly withdrew, not daring to stare. He wasn’t making a call, so why hold her phone?
After a while, she peeked again. This time, her view was blocked by a solid silhouette. She looked up and saw a pair of dark eyes.
Wen Yan had one hand braced against the wall, looking down at her. His tall frame blocked all light.
Caught!
Qiu Zheng was scared—mainly that he would think she was eavesdropping on business secrets.
“I’m not eavesdropping, I just…”
Wen Yan followed her gaze to the phone in his hand.
“Can’t even be apart for ten minutes? Your phone seems important,” he said with a hint of mockery. “Let it match with you—its match probably won’t be zero either.”
Huh?
Qiu Zheng was confused. What match? What zero?
Wen Yan said nothing else and returned the phone.
Back at their seats, he didn’t touch his chopsticks, only quietly watched her.
Even the red wine in front of him, Qiu Zheng drank for the first time.
She was nervous.
She could tell something was off with him.
When leaving, the waiter had said: “Have a good day.”
Qiu Zheng smiled, but a sinister voice immediately spoke beside her: “You like him?”
“Huh?”
“Maybe your match isn’t zero either.”
“Huh?” Qiu Zheng was puzzled.
Wen Yan didn’t speak again, silently following her. She felt a chill behind her, like being haunted.
Until they reached the room, he finally stepped forward and tried the door with the key card.
It didn’t open.
Tried again—still didn’t open.
Qiu Zheng watched, though he appeared calm, she felt that if it didn’t open soon, he might explode.
She hurriedly took the key card.
“Let me try.”
She lightly tapped it—beep—the door opened.
Qiu Zheng awkwardly smiled, trying to ease the tension: “Seems… my hand’s a bit more dexterous, huh.”
Wen Yan looked at her hand, the card, then the lock, and smiled coldly, devoid of warmth: “It is dexterous. Try matching it with genes—maybe it won’t be zero either.”
Zero?
What’s wrong with zero? Did zero offend him?
Indeed, Qiu Zheng realized—he was unusually obsessed with zero today.