Ji Yanzhi, in danger!

After searching for days, Ji Yanzhi had already narrowed down the possibilities in his mind.

First, whoever had planted the disc had to be able to enter and leave the old residence freely. Second, the person who planted it was not necessarily its creator, but since he had to operate it, he needed at least some technical knowledge. Finally, after ruling out the servants and bodyguards whose backgrounds the family knew inside out, then eliminating that useless Ji Ting, there was only one possible answer.

At that moment, Xu Ren, completely unaware that he had already been singled out, was still forcing himself to stay calm. "I haven't seen any robot vacuum. I leave every day after tutoring. I haven't gone anywhere I shouldn't."

Even Liao Kai, standing nearby, couldn't help shaking his head at that.

He was still a university student living in an ivory tower, far too green. It was just an ordinary household appliance. Saying he hadn't seen it would have been enough. Why go out of his way to insist he hadn't done anything suspicious?

"Don't be nervous, Mr. Xu. I'm not accusing you of anything. It's just that..." Ji Yanzhi's expression tightened, his features instantly turning cold and severe. "That robot vacuum was actually a spy device. Someone deliberately planted it in my home. Not only did it destroy the central control system, it may also have stolen data from the computer in my study."

"You're an engineering student. You should understand what a leak of Shili Group's research data would mean, shouldn't you?"

A chill instantly swept through Xu Ren. His heart pounded in his throat, and his breathing quickened.

"I..."

He had barely opened his mouth when Liao Kai stepped forward on cue. "Rest assured, Mr. Xu. Mr. Ji has already called in people to trace the signal. To avoid any unnecessary trouble, however, we'd like you to stay here for the next two days. Once the investigation is complete, you'll receive additional compensation."

"Your room is ready. Please come with me."

They gave him no chance to explain. Even the air around him felt oppressive.

Xu Ren's face had begun to pale. He tried to stand as though nothing were wrong, but his numb limbs made every movement stiff.

He followed Liao Kai toward the door, then suddenly clenched his trembling fingers.

Xu Ren spun around. "Mr. Ji, I made Tasmanian Devil No. 1, but I really didn't use it to steal any data. I only, only..."

"Only used it to help Ji Ting play a prank on me, is that it?" Ji Yanzhi asked with a thin smile.

Xu Ren's eyes flew wide, and he shook his head frantically. "No, no! This has absolutely nothing to do with Ji Ting. Really!"

Ji Yanzhi sneered. "It's called Tasmanian Devil No. 1. What other little bastard would come up with a name like that?"

Xu Ren froze. No way. Was Tasmanian Devil actually Mr. Ji's nickname?

Ji Yanzhi's face was icy, and his voice seemed to shed shards of frost. "Did you steal that Unit One from someone else?"

"No, I really made it myself!" Xu Ren took all the responsibility upon himself.

"You made it yourself? Hah."

The moment his suspicions arose, Ji Yanzhi had asked his secretary to send over Xu Ren's background information.

He came from an impoverished single-parent family and had grown up with his grandfather. From middle school onward, he had relied on government subsidies and scholarships to stay in school. He had been admitted to Princeton for graduate studies, but had been forced to give it up after failing to secure a full scholarship.

Ji Yanzhi didn't believe someone in such financial straits would sit on technology worth tens of millions rather than sell it, preferring to endure Ji Ting's foul temper as a private tutor.

Having resolved not to expose Ji Ting, Xu Ren had gained a little courage. "If you don't believe me, Mr. Ji, there's nothing else I can say. But apart from taking a few photos of you, I haven't done anything I shouldn't."

He had taken photos of him, too?

Ji Yanzhi knew without having to think that Ji Ting had put him up to it, but he took a deep breath and restrained himself. "To cut a long story short, I can let everything that happened before slide."

He rose from the sofa and walked toward Xu Ren at an unhurried pace. "On the condition that I get Unit One's chip technology. You should know what Shili is capable of. The licensing fee is negotiable, and if you facilitate this deal, you'll be well rewarded too."

All the threats and incentives served this one purpose. This man was so timid that he would probably contact Unit One's owner tonight.

Xu Ren tried to say something else, but Ji Yanzhi had already walked past him. "Think carefully about your future. Give me an answer within two days."

After he left, Liao Kai took Xu Ren to the guest room.

Xu Ren sat on the edge of the bed, clutching his backpack, consumed by guilt and dejection. Teacher Ji had entrusted him with just this one small task, and he had still managed to give the game away.

What was he supposed to do...?

A little over ten minutes later, the guest room door silently opened a crack.

Xu Ren poked his head out to inspect the corridor. Once he was sure no one was there, he turned sideways and squeezed through the gap.

Watching his movements on the surveillance feed, Liao Kai looked at him as though he were an idiot.

After nearly half an hour of ducking and dodging, Xu Ren finally completed his arduous journey to Ji Ting's door.

Knock, knock, knock.

Looking at the notification on his screen, Ji Ting's brow shifted slightly. Why was Xu Ren here?

He got up to open the door. The moment he pulled it open a little, Xu Ren squeezed inside.

"Teacher Ji, close the door!"

Ji Ting shut the door and turned around. "Didn't you leave ages ago?"

"Teacher Ji..." Xu Ren had barely addressed him before tears spilled down his face. "I-I'm sorry. Your older brother found Tasmanian Devil No. 1..."

He cried harder and harder, apologizing over and over. Ji Ting could only lead him to the small sitting room first.

Ji Ting pulled out a few tissues for him and said calmly, "Once you're done crying, take your time and tell me what happened."

"When I-I left at noon..." Sniffling, Xu Ren started with what had happened at the front gate and continued all the way through being taken to the guest room by the bodyguard.

Ji Ting listened in silence, a thoughtful look in his eyes.

He had wondered before how someone with Ji Yanzhi's extremely unstable mental state managed such a large corporation. Now it seemed the man was not only clever, but highly skilled at manipulating people.

Xu Ren wiped his face and said firmly, "Don't worry, Mr. Ji. I caused this mess. I absolutely won't betray you."

"I'm afraid Ji Yanzhi already knows you came to see me."

Xu Ren jolted, then clutched his head in frustration. How could he be so stupid? How could a mansion like the Ji family's possibly not have surveillance cameras?

"It's fine. Even if Ji Yanzhi knows, he won't read anything into it." Despite how precarious the situation was, Ji Ting's voice remained unruffled. "To him, I'm just an ignorant good-for-nothing. Even if you told him yourself, he'd only laugh at you."

Only then did Xu Ren feel a little better. He pressed his lips together. "Teacher Ji, what should we do now?"

Ji Ting lowered his eyes slightly, quietly weighing the pros and cons.

After a brief moment of thought, he said calmly, "Then let's sell it to Shili."

"Huh?" Xu Ren was quite taken aback by that answer.

Ji Ting's reasoning was simple. As a member of the Ji family, he received a substantial dividend from Shili every year through his non-contributing shares. Starting today, at least he wouldn't be taking that money for nothing.

"Don't register a patent. Sell the entire technology directly to Ji Yanzhi. As for the price..." Ji Ting thought for a moment. "Let's ask for three million."

"Huh?? Isn't-isn't that too low?"

Naturally, Ji Ting had his own considerations. "Unit One is only a half-finished prototype I cobbled together. Charging too much would violate academic ethical standards."

Although he said that, Xu Ren secretly thought, Mr. Ji may not admit it, but he must care about their bond as brothers. Why else would he make such a huge sacrifice?

"I'll start organizing the documentation now. Go back to the guest room and rest. See Ji Yanzhi tonight."

Xu Ren nodded vigorously. "Don't worry, Mr. Ji. I absolutely won't give anything away this time!"

"Mm."

At seven that evening, Liao Kai brought Xu Ren to the study.

"Mr. Ji, I've thought it through."

Ji Yanzhi leaned back in his chair. Considering the change in Xu Ren's attitude, he lowered his voice. "I hope you really have."

Xu Ren spoke in one breath. "I'll sell you Unit One's chip technology. Not a patent license-I'll sell you all the data outright as a package."

Ji Yanzhi's gaze sharpened. Then Xu Ren added, "But I have one condition!"

"Go on."

Xu Ren clenched his fingers, bolstering his courage. "I want you to treat Ji Ting better from now on. Don't keep yelling at him, and don't lock him up anymore."

The moment those words left his mouth, Ji Yanzhi's gaze changed.

He looked Xu Ren up and down, an inscrutable hint of amusement appearing in his eyes. "That's all?"

Xu Ren did his best to straighten his back. "You have to promise you'll do it."

A chuckle escaped Ji Yanzhi's throat. His attitude was unreadable as he said, "Then I'll have to think it over. I'll give you an answer tomorrow."

With that, he looked at Liao Kai. "Tell the butler to have the kitchen take good care of Mr. Xu."

"Yes, sir."

After the two of them left, Ji Yanzhi sat alone for a while, then had someone call Ji Ting downstairs.

When Ji Ting came in and saw Ji Yanzhi, he noticed an unprecedented hint of a smile on his face. He thought silently, So this is what the Tasmanian Devil looks like when he's happy.

Ji Yanzhi instantly felt a squeeze in his chest and nearly choked on his breath.

"Sit down. I have something to tell you." His face turned cold again.

Once Ji Ting sat down, Ji Yanzhi said, "Xu Ren told you everything, didn't he?"

"Mm."

That was all Ji Ting said. His composure surprised Ji Yanzhi, who had expected him to immediately claim credit and insist that Xu Ren had only agreed thanks to his efforts.

"I'm rather surprised you managed to get along with this tutor. It looks like you've even become friends."

Ji Ting was silent for two seconds before rising from the sofa. "I still have things to do. If that's all, I'm going back to my room."

"Wait." Ji Yanzhi had no desire to keep beating around the bush either, so he voiced his thoughts. "I can see that Xu Ren cares quite a bit about you, so I want to know who actually developed Unit One."

There was no logical connection between the two halves of that sentence. Ji Ting frowned slightly. "What do you mean?"

Ji Yanzhi curled his lips in a soft, contemptuous laugh. "I mean, I don't care whether you date Xu Ren or grit your teeth and string him along. I need you to get that person's identity out of him."