“Almost finished.” Liu Yi’an’s tone was calm.
“What kind of research are you doing?”
“Something related to materials.”
The man’s eyes lit up. “That sounds pretty impressive.”
Liu Yi’an said nothing more.
The elevator reached the first floor.
She stepped out, while the man pressed the button for the third floor.
Liu Yi’an left the building and turned into the small alley beside it.
Rapid footsteps sounded behind her.
She quickened her pace and stopped at the corner.
A few seconds later, the “cleaner” caught up.
He had his phone in his hand and was making a call.
“Young Master Fu, she’s left. I’m going upstairs now… What?”
“Not taking pictures anymore?”
“Why?”
“…All right, I understand.”
The man hung up and turned around, cursing under his breath as he walked away.
Leaning against the wall, Liu Yi’an’s eyes flashed with surprise.
Fu Yanchen had actually decided not to have anyone steal the materials?
Interesting.
She took out her phone and sent Zhou Yuping a message:
“The plan has changed. Fu Yanchen may not make a move after all.”
The reply came almost instantly:
“What about Wei Qing?”
Liu Yi’an thought for a moment before replying:
“She will.”
“Do you need me to send someone to protect you?”
“No.” Liu Yi’an typed. “Let her steal them. I’ll be waiting.”
Her phone vibrated.
Zhou Yuping sent back a question mark.
Liu Yi’an smiled.
“Like Jiang Taigong fishing those who are willing will take the bait.”
Early the next morning, Wei Qing appeared at the entrance of the research institute with a pair of red, swollen eyes.
She wore a mask and sunglasses, covering herself from head to toe.
Old Zhang, the security guard, poked his head out of the guardhouse.
“Researcher Wei? You’re here so early?”
“I need to pick up some materials,” Wei Qing said in a lowered voice.
Old Zhang didn’t think much of it and pressed the button to open the gate.
Wei Qing hurried into the building and went straight to the third-floor laboratory.
The corridor was deserted.
She pulled out a key.
It was a master key she had paid a hefty sum to obtain from a cleaner the previous night.
With a click, the laboratory door unlocked.
Wei Qing pushed the door open and quickly scanned the room.
Liu Yi’an’s workstation was beside the window, and a thick stack of documents sat on the desk.
She walked over and opened the top file.
The title immediately caught her eye:
“Optimization Plan for the High-Temperature Resistance of Aerospace Materials (Draft)”
Wei Qing’s eyes lit up.
This is it.
She pulled out her phone and began taking pictures frantically.
One page. Two pages. Three pages…
Her finger moved faster and faster over the shutter button.
Suddenly, footsteps sounded in the corridor.
Wei Qing froze and held her breath.
The footsteps drew closer and finally stopped outside the door.
She tightened her grip on the phone, her palms drenched in sweat.
A few seconds later, the footsteps faded away.
Wei Qing breathed a sigh of relief and continued taking pictures.
Ten minutes later, she photographed the final page, quickly put the documents back in order, and turned to leave.
The corridor was still quiet.
She quickened her pace and rushed toward the staircase.
Just as she pushed open the emergency exit, a hand suddenly reached out from the side and stopped the door.
Wei Qing spun around.
Zhou Yuping stood behind her in his military uniform, his face completely expressionless.
“C-Commander Zhou?” Wei Qing’s voice trembled.
“Researcher Wei, what brings you to the institute so early?” Zhou Yuping asked calmly.
“I I came to get some documents…”
“Documents?” Zhou Yuping glanced at the phone in her hand. “You took pictures of them with your phone?”
Wei Qing’s face turned deathly pale.
“Come with me.” Zhou Yuping stepped aside and gestured for her to proceed.
Wei Qing bit her lip. “I haven’t done anything illegal.”
“Whether it’s illegal or not, we’ll know after we investigate.”
Another voice came from behind them.
Liu Yi’an walked down the stairs, holding a document in her hand.
“You…” Wei Qing’s eyes widened. “What are you doing here?”
“Waiting for you.” Liu Yi’an walked up to her. “Researcher Wei, could you show me those pictures you just took?”
Wei Qing instinctively hid her phone behind her back.
“Not willing?” Liu Yi’an smiled. “Then I’ll have no choice but to call the police.”
“How dare you!” Wei Qing screamed. “I only took a few pictures! I didn’t steal anything!”
“Taking pictures doesn’t count as stealing?” Liu Yi’an raised an eyebrow. “Then what does it count as? Academic exchange?”
Wei Qing was speechless.
“Hand over the phone.” Zhou Yuping extended his hand.
Wei Qing clutched her phone tightly. “I’m not giving it to you.”
“Then we’ll treat this as theft of research materials.” Zhou Yuping took out his radio. “Deputy Chen, bring the men up.”
A few minutes later, two soldiers in uniform rushed upstairs.
“Commander Zhou.”
“Take her back and confiscate the phone.”
“Yes, sir.”
The two soldiers approached Wei Qing.
“You can’t arrest me!” Wei Qing backed away. “I’m an official employee of the research institute. What right do you have to arrest me?”
“Because you stole confidential research materials.” Liu Yi’an raised the document in her hand. “This is the institute’s confidentiality agreement. You signed it.”
“It clearly states that photographing or copying another researcher’s materials without authorization constitutes a serious disciplinary violation.”
“At the very least, you could be dismissed. At worst, you could face legal consequences.”
Wei Qing’s face went deathly pale.
“I I didn’t mean to…”
“You didn’t mean to?” Liu Yi’an sneered. “You came here first thing in the morning, used a master key to open my laboratory, and took dozens of photographs. And you call that unintentional?”
Wei Qing opened her mouth, but no words came out.
“Take her away,” Zhou Yuping ordered.
The two soldiers stepped forward and grabbed Wei Qing, one on each side.
“Let go of me!
Wei Qing struggled desperately. “Yanchen! Yanchen, where are you? Save me!”
Her screams echoed through the corridor.
Liu Yi’an stood where she was, watching as Wei Qing was dragged away, her expression cold and detached.
“Did you get the materials?” Zhou Yuping asked.
“I did.” Liu Yi’an waved the phone in her hand. “Every photo she took had already been marked by me beforehand.”
“As long as she sends those photos to someone, I’ll be able to trace the recipient.”
A hint of admiration flashed in Zhou Yuping’s eyes. “You thought of everything.”
“I learned it from you.” Liu Yi’an smiled.
The two of them walked downstairs side by side.
A crowd had already gathered outside the research institute.
Deputy Director Li stood at the front, his face ashen.
“Commander Zhou, what happened?”
“Wei Qing was caught red-handed stealing research materials,” Zhou Yuping said calmly. “Deputy Director Li, how does the research institute intend to handle this matter?”
Sweat appeared on Deputy Director Li’s forehead. “Th-this…”
“Or does the research institute intend to cover for her?”
“Of course not! Of course not.” Deputy Director Li hurriedly waved his hands. “Rest assured, Commander Zhou. We will deal with this matter seriously.”
“Good.” Zhou Yuping turned and walked away.
Liu Yi’an followed behind him.
The crowd automatically parted to make way for them.
Everyone looked at Liu Yi’an with a newfound sense of awe and respect.
At the Fu family residence, in the study.
Fu Yanchen sat in his chair, holding his phone.
On the screen was the last message Wei Qing had sent him:
“Yanchen, I’m going to get the materials. Wait for my good news.”
The timestamp showed 6:00 a.m.
It was already 9:00 a.m.
She still hadn’t returned.
A sense of unease rose in Fu Yanchen’s heart.
He called Wei Qing.
No answer.
He called again.
Still no answer.
Fu Yanchen stood up, grabbed his coat, and rushed out of the study.
The butler was downstairs. Seeing him hurry down, he quickly asked, “Second Young Master, where are you going?”
“The research institute.”
“But the Master said you weren’t supposed to leave the house today…”
Fu Yanchen ignored him and rushed straight out the front door.