Ming Zheng remained unmoved, a hint of mockery spreading across her features. "You all actually believed Ming Zhi Rou?"
Ming Yan Lun's raised hand froze slightly. "We... we have no other options."
This wasn't a matter of believing Ming Zhi Rou.
It was that they had no choice.
Just as he was now sitting in front of the computer.
They were all being pushed out by the Ming family, the final trump card.
"Calling you stupid would be an overestimation," Ming Zheng's red lips curved into an even more contemptuous arc. "Does Ming Zhi Rou, with her brain, really think of any way to save the Ming family?"
Ming Yan Lun's expression shifted slightly.
Ming Zheng continued, "After getting the plan, you didn't even bother to check who Ming Zhi Rou had been in contact with these past few days, and you just went ahead with it? It's no wonder you've been played like fools by Ming Zhi Rou."
Ming Yan Lun subconsciously shook his head. "Impossible, Ming Zhi Rou wouldn't lie to us."
After he spoke, as if realizing he was defending Ming Zhi Rou again, he quickly explained, "What I mean is... although we are very disappointed in Ming Zhi Rou, but... Rou'er is, after all, a girl raised by our Ming family. She would absolutely not harm the Ming family, deceive the Ming family, or do anything detrimental to the Ming family."
Although Ming Yan Lun no longer had rose-tinted glasses for Ming Zhi Rou, and felt that Ming Zhi Rou was not the kind and pure sister in his memory.
But in his heart, he still regarded Ming Zhi Rou as one of his family.
How could family harm family?
Ming Zheng let out a soft scoff from her heart, the smile in her eyes tinged with extreme coldness.
Look at them.
These were the Ming family members who claimed not to care about Ming Zhi Rou.
But if Ming Zhi Rou was truly questioned,
The Ming family would definitely find ways to make excuses for her.
However...
For her, this was not important.
Ming Zheng tilted her lips, her casual smile adding a touch of alluring beauty to the corners of her eyes. "Is that so? How about we make a bet."
That smile sent a premonition of unease surging through Ming Yan Lun's heart.
But when he met Ming Zheng's mocking gaze.
He nodded. "What do you want?"
-
Ten o'clock in the morning.
Ming Yan Lun was woken up by the Ming family in the computer room. He opened his exhausted eyes.
His head was still throbbing.
The discomfort of a hangover washed over his entire body.
He felt nauseous.
He reached out to push away the person in front of him.
But his father's anxious face blocked his view. "Fifth, how is it? How is it? Tell me!"
The voice was so close to his ear.
It made his eardrums ache.
He frowned irritably, pinching his brow as his gaze swept over his father and the group of people following behind him.
Finally, his gaze fell on Ming Zhi Rou, who was standing behind his mother, looking as sweet and lovable as the little princess she used to be.
Perhaps she didn't expect him to look up.
Ming Zhi Rou's expression at that moment held a hint of tentative eagerness.
As if she was anxious to get his answer.
The moment their eyes met.
Ming Zhi Rou blinked, then quickly flashed a sweet smile and said, "Fifth Brother, why are you sleeping here? You must have worked really hard last night."
As she spoke, she carefully squeezed forward, wanting to put her arm around Ming Yan Lun's shoulder. "It's okay if it didn't succeed, Fifth Brother. If you're willing to continue, I can stay tonight to accompany you."
Ming Zhi Rou's words were clearly a test.
A test to see if he had succeeded.
But Ming Zhi Rou's hand had not yet touched Ming Yan Lun.
Ming Yan Lun suddenly stood up as if overreacting, avoiding her hand.
But as he stood up.
His whole body felt weak, and he swayed, falling back onto the chair.
Startled, his brothers nearby quickly reached out to support him.
Ming Zhi Rou's hand froze in mid-air, her beautiful eyes widening in astonishment, staring blankly at Ming Yan Lun.
A few seconds later.
She seemed hurt, slowly retracting her fingers one by one.
She even managed to evoke the image of a short film heroine being hurt by the male lead.
But at this moment, no one paid any attention to Ming Zhi Rou's emotions.
They only cared about—
"What happened? Just say it!"
"It's just a word to say whether you succeeded or not!"
"Fifth, say it! Hurry up and say it!"
All they cared about was whether Ming Yan Lun had succeeded last night, and whether they could truly get a chance to save the Ming family.
The table full of wine bottles and cigarette butts.
And his pained expression upon being woken up from his hangover.
No one cared or was concerned.
Ming Yan Lun felt unwell.
His heart was even more pained and unbearable.
He couldn't understand why...
His family, which was once so loving and highly praised in high society circles.
Why had it become like this?
Did they no longer have family affection in their hearts?
Was it only profit that remained?
Ming Yan Lun leaned against the computer desk, taking several deep breaths before recovering.
He said hoarsely, "...I succeeded."
As he spoke, his voice, hoarse from drinking all night, felt like fire.
He endured the burning sensation, took a breath, and said again in a hoarse voice, "I've already transferred all the data to this USB drive."
He pulled a USB drive from his pocket and handed it to Ming Ting Xu.
The Ming family members immediately showed expressions of ecstatic joy.
One by one, they looked at the USB drive that Ming Ting Xu had taken, their eyes filled with excitement.
Ming Father slapped Ming Yan Lun's shoulder heavily. "I knew you could do it! It wasn't a waste of money to send you to study this technology since you were young! You've helped your father a lot!"
"As expected, you are the Ming family's trump card!" Ming Ting Xu also patted his other shoulder, his tone full of pride.
Ming Yan Lun's throat already felt like it was burning, making him extremely uncomfortable.
With the slaps from his father and elder brother.
He almost coughed up blood.
Even now, not a single person had brought him a glass of water or shown any concern.
Their attention was entirely focused on the USB drive.
Ming Yan Lun's eyes slightly darkened, filled with disappointment.
Ming Ting Xu, holding the USB drive, turned to leave.
Ming Yan Lun, recalling Ming Zheng's words, subtly glanced towards Ming Zhi Rou out of the corner of his eye.
Ming Zhi Rou was staring intently at Ming Ting Xu, a strange depth in her eyes.
"Big Brother..." Ming Yan Lun's eyes flickered, and he suddenly grabbed Ming Ting Xu's arm, opening his mouth in a hoarse voice, "We must act again tonight."
Ming Ting Xu frowned. "Why?"
Ming Yan Lun said, "I hacked into the Wang family's system and cracked their core technology. The Wang family will inevitably strengthen their security."
"Then... shouldn't we sell this technology immediately?" Ming Father asked.
Ming Yan Lun shook his head. "If we act now, the Wang family will definitely know that we hacked into their system and will surely enrage them."