Secret Plans and Protection from the Shadows

On the way back from the technology center, Lin Chen was more excited than ever.

Although Director Li's report had been packed with technical jargon, he had understood the gist:

Based on the technical fragments of "unknown origin," the company's core algorithm team had made a breakthrough.

They had verified the feasibility of several key theoretical approaches and had already made preliminary contact with the relevant government departments, whose feedback had been "very positive"!

This almost completely confirmed the system's prediction!

It's in the bag! This time it's really in the bag!

Lin Chen sat in the front passenger seat, his fingers trembling slightly with excitement. As long as I start buying Xinghai Technology tomorrow and wait for the news to be announced on Friday, a million yuan in profit will be mine for the taking!

He fought the urge to pull out his phone and place an order immediately, warning himself to be careful. He couldn't draw anyone's attention, especially not that of the remarkably perceptive female CEO beside him.

Yan Qingyue sat in the back seat, apparently resting with her eyes closed, but she had been watching Lin Chen out of the corner of her eye the whole time.

His irrepressible excitement, as though he had stumbled upon a treasure, made the cloud of suspicion in her heart grow thicker.

The good news from the technology center was certainly worth celebrating, but it was a strategic breakthrough for the company.

He was only an assistant. No matter how proud he felt to be associated with it, surely he wouldn't be this excited?

Unless... the good news had a more direct, more personal connection to him?

She recalled the source of the technical materials—the "Macau secondhand stall" Lin Chen had mentioned.

An absurd thought arose in her mind, one she couldn't entirely rule out:

Could this guy really have some kind of incredible "financial luck" or "intuition" that let him strike it lucky again and again?

Back at the company, Lin Chen quickly returned to his desk, using the need to organize the meeting minutes as an excuse.

He took a deep breath, forced himself to calm down, and began carefully carrying out the trading plan he had already drawn up.

Early the next morning, the stock market opened.

Lin Chen sat at his computer handling his work as usual, but his mind had long since flown to his trading app.

He carefully began making his moves during gaps in his work.

He bought only a few thousand shares at a time, placing more than a dozen buy orders at different times, each slightly above the current price, quietly accumulating Xinghai Technology shares.

Throughout the process, his nerves were wound tight. He had to watch the slightest fluctuations in the share price while keeping an eye on his colleagues and Yan Qingyue, terrified someone would notice anything amiss.

Fortunately, the Reserved Demeanor skill seemed to help, and he didn't attract much attention.

By the end of the day, he had successfully bought about 150,000 yuan worth of shares, keeping his costs well under control.

Looking at the shares in his account, he let out a long breath.

This was only the first step. He still had to continue tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Yan Qingyue was also acting in secret.

She hadn't entirely believed Lin Chen's story about the "secondhand stall," and her grandfather's warning still rang in her ears.

While pushing the technical cooperation project forward with all her strength and strengthening the company's security, she called on some of the Yan Family's little-known, covert resources to investigate two things:

First, the origin of the black sedan that had followed them that day.

Second, she sent people to Macau in secret to verify whether the "secondhand stall run by a scruffy, white-haired old man on an old street near the Ruins of St. Paul's" that Lin Chen had described really existed, and whether they could find more clues about the "iron box."

She wanted to know where the potential threat came from and just how many secrets Lin Chen was still hiding.

That afternoon, Yan Qingyue received the first report.

The investigation into the black sedan had run into trouble.

The license plates had been cloned, the vehicle information was falsified, and its trail had gone cold at an abandoned parking lot in the suburbs.

The other side was clearly very professional, with exceptional counter-surveillance skills.

The result made Yan Qingyue's heart sink.

Their opponent might be even more formidable than she had imagined.

The investigation in Macau would take more time.

She stood before the floor-to-ceiling windows in her office, looking out at the city's bustling traffic, and felt an invisible pressure.

The technological breakthrough had brought enormous opportunities, but it had also drawn the covetous gaze of wolves.

And the seemingly harmless assistant beside her might be at the center of the storm.

She glanced at Lin Chen, who was bent over his "work" at his desk outside, a complicated look in her eyes.

Lin Chen, oh, Lin Chen, are you a lucky star or a harbinger of disaster?

Before leaving work that evening, Lin Chen finally received a message from "Little Moon."

"Chenxing~ Have you been busy lately? Feels like you haven't paid attention to me in ages [/aggrieved]"

Normally, Lin Chen would have responded enthusiastically, but right now he was completely absorbed in his "million-yuan gamble." Coupled with his worries about the potential danger, his reply was somewhat distracted:

"I'm okay, just a little busy with work [/wipes sweat]. How have you been lately, Little Moon?"

Yan Qingyue raised an eyebrow as she looked at his perfunctory reply.

Busy with work? Looks like his mind is elsewhere.

She decided to probe a little further.

"I'm doing okay~ I just heard the stock market seems to have been a little volatile lately. A friend of mine lost a lot of money trading stocks [/sigh].

Chenxing, do you trade stocks? Do you have any... insider information? [/snickers]"

The words "stock market" and "insider information" made Lin Chen's heart leap!

Why is she suddenly asking about that?! Could she have noticed something?! Impossible!

He hurriedly denied it. "Huh? I don't trade stocks! They're way too risky!

And I definitely don't have any insider information. I'm just a little assistant. Where would I get any? [/sweating]"

As Yan Qingyue read his reply, the corners of her mouth curved into a meaningful smile.

That reaction was a little excessive... Could it really have something to do with the stock market?

She didn't press him further, replying only:

"Oh, I see~ All right, then~ Get back to work, and make sure you rest [/cute]"

Yan Qingyue put down her phone, lost in thought.

It seemed she needed to have the finance department keep an eye out for any unusual recent movements of company funds, especially... those connected to a certain assistant.

Little Moon's sudden question, meanwhile, had left Lin Chen drenched in a cold sweat.

I'll have to be even more careful from now on! I absolutely can't let the slightest hint get out!

The next day, Lin Chen continued his secret buying plan, taking even greater care.

By Thursday's close, he had successfully converted his entire 700,000 yuan into Xinghai Technology shares over two days and dozens of trades, keeping the average cost at around 8.5 yuan per share.

Looking at the shares filling his holdings list, Lin Chen felt his palms sweating.

Success or failure would be decided tomorrow!

On Thursday night, he tossed and turned, barely sleeping a wink.

He anticipated the enormous profit, feared the unknown risks, and felt a trace of guilt and confusion regarding Yan Qingyue and Little Moon.

Friday finally arrived.

The stock market opened, and Xinghai Technology's share price remained calm. It even dipped 0.5% with the broader market. Lin Chen's heart was in his throat, but he forced himself to stay steady.

Time ticked by, second by second. At three in the afternoon, the stock market closed.

Everything was as usual. Nothing had happened.

Lin Chen sat in front of his computer, his face somewhat pale.

Could it be... the system's prediction was wrong? The news isn't being announced today?

Just as his resolve began to waver and he even felt a trace of despair, his phone suddenly began vibrating furiously!

It was a breaking news alert from his news app!

He tapped it open with trembling fingers, and a huge headline appeared before his eyes:

"Breaking! The Dragon Country National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology have jointly released the 'Guiding Opinions on the Development of Next-Generation Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure,' announcing an investment of hundreds of billions of yuan, with a focus on supporting innovative enterprises that have made breakthroughs in core foundational technologies..."

Immediately afterward, a bright red "limit up" indicator appeared in an instant beside Xinghai Technology (XH30088) on his stock app's watchlist!

The share price shot straight up from 8.45 yuan to 9.30 yuan!

Buy orders at the limit price totaled hundreds of thousands of lots!

He had done it! It had really hit the upper limit!

Lin Chen sprang to his feet, so excited he nearly shouted!

He hurriedly covered his mouth and looked around, only to find that his colleagues were also discussing the explosive news, but no one had noticed anything unusual about him.

He collapsed into his chair, feeling as though all his strength had been drained away, leaving only overwhelming ecstasy and relief!

I did it! I really did it! A million yuan in profit! The system mission is complete!

He wanted nothing more than to throw back his head and howl!

Meanwhile, in the CEO's office, Yan Qingyue had just finished reading the policy announcement.

A smile of relief and ambition appeared on her face.

She had won this gamble!

The company's future was bright!

However, her smile soon faded when her encrypted phone received a new message from the investigation team in Macau:

"Young miss, the secondhand stall in question has been found, and the stall owner's identity has been confirmed.

But regarding the 'old iron box' sold several months ago, the stall owner says he can't remember what the buyer looked like and insists the box contained only ordinary discarded parts, nothing special.

The investigation has reached a dead end.

We also discovered that unknown individuals have recently been making discreet inquiries about this matter. They are suspected of being connected to the vehicle that followed you earlier.

The danger level has risen. We strongly advise you and... the person concerned to remain on high alert."

Yan Qingyue's gaze turned icy and sharp in an instant.

The storm had not ended. Instead, it was drawing closer.

And the "lucky fellow" who had just made a fortune on the stock market was still completely unaware that he had become the focus of multiple forces.

Her gaze turned once more to the young assistant beyond the glass wall, who was grinning foolishly at his computer screen, seemingly still immersed in joy.

A strong urge to protect him welled up in her heart, along with... a trace of indescribable worry.

Lin Chen, how much longer can your good luck last?