Grandpa's Warning and the Eyes in the Shadows

Huake Capital's AI investment seminar was a high-profile event, attended by industry leaders and capital market titans.

Throughout the morning, Lin Chen listened intently as the major figures shared their insights, working to absorb cutting-edge knowledge and information and occasionally lowering his head to take notes.

He noticed that although Yan Qingyue also seemed to be listening attentively, her gaze would occasionally go distant, her fingertips unconsciously rubbing the edge of her phone. Clearly, she had a lot on her mind.

During the intermission, Yan Qingyue excused herself to get some air and walked alone onto a quiet terrace.

She took a deep breath of the cool air and looked out at the bustling city below, but the turmoil in her heart was hard to calm.

The technical summary had been far too shocking, its impact going far beyond that of any business project.

She needed to talk to someone, to hear the opinion of someone truly reliable and experienced.

And there was no one better suited than her grandfather.

She took out her encrypted phone and dialed Old Master Yan's private number.

The call was answered quickly, and the old master's robust voice came through, tinged with concern:

"Qingyue? Calling at this hour? Is the seminar not going well?"

"Grandpa,"

Yan Qingyue's voice carried a barely perceptible trace of fatigue and gravity. "The seminar's fine. I'm calling because there's something very important, possibly even... very tricky, and I wanted to hear what you think."

Hearing his granddaughter's unusually serious tone, Old Master Yan set aside his lighthearted manner.

"Oh? What could make my iceberg of a granddaughter think it's tricky? Let's hear it."

Yan Qingyue gathered her thoughts and, in as calm and objective a tone as she could manage, selectively told her grandfather about the AI technical material she had received from Lin Chen, whose "source was unusual and whose contents were extraordinarily advanced."

She left out the part about Little Moon coaxing information out of him, saying only that Lin Chen had stumbled upon it through a "special channel" and handed it to her for evaluation because he thought it was unusual.

"...Grandpa, I took a preliminary look. Its core ideas and architectural concepts completely surpass every technological approach currently known, by at least ten years."

Her voice trembled slightly with excitement. "If it's real, and we can digest and absorb it, you know very well what that would mean."

A long silence fell on the other end of the line.

Old Master Yan was evidently shaken by the information as well.

After quite a while, the old master's voice came through again, unusually grave and solemn:

"Qingyue, are you sure the material is reliable? And... does this Lin Chen know what exactly he gave you?"

"I've already had Director Li initiate the highest level of confidentiality procedures to verify its authenticity and technical value. As for Lin Chen..."

Yan Qingyue paused, her tone complicated. "He seems... not to fully understand its true significance. He just thought the ideas were somewhat novel."

"Foolish!"

Old Master Yan's voice abruptly turned stern. "Pies don't just fall from the sky! Technology this advanced must have an extraordinary source!

"Either it's a top-secret leak from some national laboratory, or the work of a top-tier team we don't know about, or even... something worse!

"This thing is a hot potato. Mishandle it, and a blessing will turn into a calamity!"

Yan Qingyue's heart tightened.

"Grandpa, what do you mean?"

"I mean, immediately, right now, keep the source of this material under the strictest secrecy! Keep the circle of people who know as small as possible. Not a word can leak out!"

Old Master Yan's tone was resolute. "Secondly, you need to reassess this Lin Chen! He's definitely not as simple as he appears!

"There's certainly a story or... a force behind him that we don't know about.

"You need to find a way to learn exactly what 'special channel' he got this from, without alarming him!"

The old master's words were like a bucket of cold water, instantly extinguishing Yan Qingyue's excitement at obtaining the technology and bringing her fully to her senses. She even felt a chill down her back.

That was right. How could something so important have been "accidentally" obtained so easily by an ordinary assistant?

The risks hidden behind it might be far greater than she imagined.

"I understand, Grandpa."

She took a deep breath. "I'll handle it."

"Mm."

Old Master Yan's tone softened a little, though it remained grave. "Qingyue, opportunity often comes with enormous risk. In this matter, you must be as cautious as can be.

"If you need any resources or support, tell me anytime. The Yan Family hasn't fallen yet, and these old bones of mine can still shield you from the wind."

After hanging up, Yan Qingyue leaned against the railing, feeling even heavier of heart than before the call.

Her grandfather's warning had shown her the enormous shadow lurking behind the opportunity.

She returned to the venue, her eyes unconsciously searching for Lin Chen.

He was talking to a young man who looked like a first-time entrepreneur, listening attentively as the man explained his product concept, a sincere, slightly guileless smile on his face.

He looks... so ordinary, even a little foolish.

Yan Qingyue's gaze was complicated. But this is the man who casually handed over something that could change the shape of the world. Who is he, really?

After the seminar ended, Yan Qingyue remained quiet on the way back to the company.

Lin Chen noticed that she seemed to be in an even worse mood than on the way there and was even less inclined to speak. The atmosphere in the car was so oppressive it was hard to breathe.

The car entered the city and stopped at a red light.

Yan Qingyue looked absently out the window, her gaze sweeping over the sidewalk.

Suddenly, her pupils contracted sharply!

At an outdoor table at a corner café, a man in a baseball cap and sunglasses appeared to be leisurely drinking coffee, but the angle of his gaze... seemed to fall precisely on their car!

It was an intensely purposeful stare, the kind that came from professional training!

He was definitely no ordinary passerby!

Yan Qingyue's heart clenched!

She abruptly pulled her gaze back, her body stiffening almost imperceptibly.

Are we being followed?!

When did it start? After we left the seminar? Or even earlier?

Is it because of the technical material?! How could it have happened so fast?!

An icy fear gripped her in an instant.

She forced herself to stay calm and showed no immediate sign that anything was wrong, but cold sweat had already beaded on her palms.

She quickly looked again out of the corner of her eye. The man seemed to notice her attention and naturally lowered his head to fiddle with his phone, a perfect disguise.

But Yan Qingyue was almost certain it had been no illusion!

"Old Wang, turn right at the next intersection and take a detour. Go back to the company by Riverside Road."

She suddenly gave the driver the order, keeping her voice as calm as possible.

"Yes, President Yan." Though somewhat puzzled, the driver did as she asked.

Lin Chen was taken aback as well.

A detour? Isn't Riverside Road a little congested right now?

The car turned right and entered another road.

Yan Qingyue watched the road behind them closely through the rearview mirror.

A few minutes later, an inconspicuous black sedan turned in after them, following at a distance that was neither too close nor too far.

Her heart sank to rock bottom.

They really were being watched!

Who was it? A business rival?

A foreign power?

Or... some mysterious force connected to the source of the technology?

Was all of this connected to the seemingly innocent man beside her?

She turned her head and shot Lin Chen a gaze as sharp as a knife.

Startled by her sudden icy stare, Lin Chen felt every hair on his body stand on end.

*Wh... what is it now, President Yan?! I didn't do anything!

Why are you looking at me like I'm a dead man again?!

Yan Qingyue looked at the pure, bewildered terror on his face, which did not seem feigned. The doubts and fear in her heart grew even more tangled.

Was he an unwitting "lucky one," or... a "dangerous individual" with superb acting skills?

The crisis had already arrived.

And they all seemed to have become pieces on a chessboard caught in a whirlpool.

Yan Qingyue clenched her fist, her nails digging deep into her palm.

Whoever the other party was, whatever role Lin Chen played, she had to protect the company and protect... this fellow who might bring disaster or might bring a miracle.

At least until she had gotten to the bottom of everything.