Chapter Forty-Nine: Avoid Falling into the Self-Fulfilling Trap

Unexpectedly, the other party did not answer.

Wen Jianan did not call again, guessing that Liang Yuxiu might be busy.

She had acted impulsively once more.

Shortly after arriving at the company, they saw online news announcing the official opening of the South China Technology Expo.

Quantum chose not to withdraw at this critical moment; instead, they faced the challenge head-on, opting to confront Xinrui directly.

Wen Jianan kept a close watch on the real-time developments.

Sure enough, soon online discussions began to circulate, accusing Quantum Technology of plagiarizing Xinrui Technology.

Quantum’s public relations team remained silent on the matter.

However, Liang Yuxiu responded in person at the expo.

Because the reporters on-site confronted him directly with close-up shots.

Liang Yuxiu, as the mysterious and elusive mastermind behind Quantum, had never made a public appearance domestically before. His debut already stirred great anticipation, and the surrounding online controversy alongside the reporters’ intense scrutiny sparked a huge commotion.

Several trending topics emerged almost simultaneously.

Watching the live broadcast from the scene, Wen Jianan felt so anxious she could hardly breathe.

But Liang Yuxiu merely glanced at the reporter, then smiled gently, unafraid, looking straight into the camera.

“We welcome questions from all sectors and accept supervision from all parties. Of course, we are not afraid of scrutiny. If anyone believes our products have plagiarized Xinrui Technology, please provide evidence. We will not blindly prove ourselves. Moreover, if Xinrui Technology feels their intellectual property rights have been infringed upon, we welcome their legal counsel to contact us. We will let the law decide.”

As his words fell, Wen Jianan felt a sharp jolt in her chest.

She had been nervous since last night, anxiety overwhelming her whenever she closed her eyes—worried about what would happen if Quantum was truly exposed for plagiarism, worried about Feidu and their team being implicated for leaking secrets.

Her worries were countless, robbing her of sleep.

Yet she had not expected Liang Yuxiu to remain so calm and composed, orchestrating everything with such poise.

It seemed he did not treat this incident as a crisis at all.

In her impression, he had always been this way—nothing ever seemed to ruffle his temper or reveal his emotions.

Sometimes she wondered whether he was born this way or cultivated it over time.

In any case, Wen Jianan felt she was far from reaching such a realm.

The interview footage quickly spread online.

Every industry has its own circles, and the tech world is no exception.

As the situation escalated, Xinrui Technology swiftly issued a public statement, declaring they would never stoop to plagiarism; after all, they were an established brand with ethical business leaders.

In short, their brief statement cast doubt on Quantum.

Quantum, being a foreign enterprise, lacked the domestic recognition and credibility that Xinrui enjoyed.

Xinrui’s move only fueled the flames further.

Wen Jianan was furious but refrained from making any rash moves at such a critical moment.

She looked up and scanned the room, noticing that Zhang Yufei had not been seen all morning.

Wen Jianan asked Xiao Jiang, who whispered, “It seems she was called into Director Wei’s office.”

Wen Jianan frowned, sensing an ominous premonition.

At that moment, in Wei Ming’s office.

Zhang Yufei was arguing her case firmly.

“I don’t agree with pinning all the blame on Wen Jianan, especially without evidence.”

Wei Ming rubbed his forehead in frustration; he hadn’t expected Zhang Yufei to be so stubborn. He regretted calling her back.

Not long before, Quantum’s legal team had contacted Feidu, indicating they would pursue the matter relentlessly.

So Wei Ming immediately sought out Zhang Yufei, intending to reveal that Wen Jianan had leaked company secrets during work, especially since she had already submitted her resignation to Feidu.

Whether to find a new position or for other reasons, she had every motive to betray.

But Zhang Yufei rejected his approach, insisting the investigation was incomplete and accusing Wei Ming of trying to scapegoat Wen Jianan—a move she deemed self-destructive.

She argued that if such an incident damaged the company’s credibility within the industry, what trust would remain in their employees?

Wei Ming settled into the boss’s chair, tapping the desk with his fingers.

“Then what do you suggest we do?”

“I will conduct a thorough investigation as soon as possible.”

“How soon is ‘as soon as possible’?” Wei Ming’s tone grew more pressing.

Zhang Yufei found it odd but had no time to dwell on it.

“Three days,” she said.

Wei Ming considered briefly and agreed, but with conditions.

“If you can’t identify the leaker within three days, then you must do as I say.”

“Fine.”

—

In the afternoon, Wen Jianan was summoned again.

Zhang Yufei coaxed and threatened her with veiled warnings.

But Wen Jianan was no novice; though not hardened, she wasn’t a naive rookie powerless against such tactics.

She remained indifferent.

Zhang Yufei slammed her palm on the table.

“Are you still refusing to tell the truth? How long do you think you can hide it? It’s better to confess now—for everyone’s sake—and maybe you’ll get leniency.”

Wen Jianan thought she was insane and couldn’t help rolling her eyes.

“Which eye of yours saw that it was me? Show me the evidence, or stop slandering me. Keep it up, and I have the right to hire a lawyer.”

Reflecting carefully, Wen Jianan found Liang Yuxiu’s advice sound—never fall into the trap of self-incrimination.

So instead of panic, she was calm and composed.

Zhang Yufei was puzzled by her demeanor.

She then revealed to Wen Jianan what Wei Ming had told her.

Immediately, Wen Jianan’s expression flashed disbelief, quickly shifting to resigned indifference, then to uncontrollable fury.

She sneered, no longer fearing a fallout with Wei Ming.

“Tell him this: I never did it. If he dares to push me out as a scapegoat, don’t blame me for showing no mercy. No one will get off easy.”

Having said that, she paid no more attention to Zhang Yufei and rose to leave.

Stepping into the corridor, Wen Jianan stood there, gazing at the office area—the place where she had fought so hard for years.

Once, she had been deeply hurt in love, and Wei Ming had painstakingly convinced her to join the company. During that time, she channeled her sorrow into work, devoting all her energy and time here. She once held a deep affection for this place, but now only coldness remained.

Wen Jianan didn’t understand why Wei Ming would make such a decision but then thought, perhaps it was inevitable—he had changed long ago.

She shook her head and smiled silently.

Just as she intended to return to her desk, her phone vibrated softly.

She glanced at the screen wearily and saw it was a call from Liang Yuxiu, instantly sharpening her spirits.

She hurried out of the office to the hallway to answer.

“Mr. Liang?” Wen Jianan’s voice was soft, lacking its usual bold strength, now fragile like a wounded bird.

Liang Yuxiu responded with a low, steady tone.

“You called me this morning. What’s the matter?”