The Favored Heiress
Chapter 572: Ideals Follow Where the Senses Lead

Chapter 572: Chapter 572: Ideals Follow Where the Senses Lead

Qiu Huan completed the information exchange, and the time had just passed forty minutes.

Sitting on the judges’ bench, Cheng Mo also finished watching the replay of Li Qiao’s operation.

He adjusted his glasses on the bridge of his nose, said "Wait a moment," and stepped out of the information room.

At this time, Qiu Huan rolled his swivel chair over to Li Qiao, glanced over her split-screen monitors, and silently gave her a thumbs-up, "Girl, your skills are really something."

Being able to hack the enemy’s computer in a short time, this move was truly dominant.

The reason he had failed the previous two times was due to excessive interference from the enemy, which prevented him from delivering the information to the designated recipient within the allotted time.

Even if Qiu Huan didn’t want to admit it, he had to face reality, he was indeed outskilled.

Li Qiao curled up in her chair, half closing her eyes, seemingly very sleepy. Hearing Qiu Huan’s compliment, she tugged at the corner of her mouth without much expression, "You flatter me."

Seeing her tepid reaction, Qiu Huan slapped his thigh, clicking his tongue in amazement, "Don’t be so modest. I couldn’t have passed the assessment without you. I’ve got to properly thank you."

At this, Li Qiao cast a glance at him, "Are you sure the assessment will be passed?"

"What do you mean?" Qiu Huan’s smiling face froze, looking puzzled at her, "The progress bar is at one hundred percent, how could it not be passed?"

Li Qiao twisted in her seat to find a comfortable position, cushioning her head against the chair’s backrest, and said lazily, "I violated the rules."

Using a Trojan horse virus to hack the enemy’s computer during the information exchange was already a breach of the principles of information exchange.

And she had always been one for results, unconcerned with the process.

But Cheng Mo seemed to be a stickler for rules, and since he hadn’t announced the results immediately, he must have had his own judgment.

Qiu Huan was stunned for a second, and quickly remembered the rules of the Secret Hall’s evaluation. His originally cheerful expression also lost much of its brightness, "Girl, this..."

It was like heaven one second, hell the next.

In contrast, Li Qiao spoke lightly, "Didn’t he set out operational norms before the test began?"

Qiu Huan’s train of thought was led astray, and after thinking earnestly for two seconds, "Hmm, he really didn’t."

A smile formed on Li Qiao’s lips, her gaze lightly sweeping over the surveillance camera in the corner of the wall.

What she bet on was that this assessment didn’t specify operational norms in advance.

Even if it’s a violation, she was ’innocent due to ignorance.’

...

At the same time, the conversation between Li Qiao and Qiu Huan was being transmitted live to Cheng Mo and others via surveillance.

Including the members watching the live broadcast in the media room, they were all exchanging perplexed looks.

"Did Hall Master Cheng really not set out operational norms just now?"

Someone nodded and whispered in agreement, "He really didn’t, but the rules of information exchange, shouldn’t everyone know that?"

"What are you talking about? Miss Li is a recent college graduate, not a computer professional. How would she know such rules?"

"That makes sense!"

The others cast their eyes upon him, expressions animated.

This group of programmers, who spent all day holed up in the Secret Hall coding and programming, didn’t have much understanding of social niceties, but their sense of aesthetics was absolutely on point.

In an age where aesthetics often dictated principles, no matter what Miss Li did, it was always excusable.

Because she was beautiful.

Most importantly, she didn’t cling to the constraints of rules, didn’t care whose computer it was—if it needed hacking, she hacked it. So damn cool.

...

In the surveillance room, Cheng Mo heard Li Qiao’s words, lowered his head, the corner of his mouth twitching, at a loss for words.

He Chen crossed his ankles, wiggled the tips of his shoes, and teased with frivolity, "Sister-in-law’s point is well taken."

At this moment, Shang Yu’s eyes and brows were downcast, his lips slightly curved in a thoughtful, profound demeanor.

He Chen turned his head to look at him, bending his knee to nudge him with his shoe, "Aren’t you going to respond?"

The man lazily opened his eyelids, looking at Cheng Mo’s obscure expression, "What do you think?"

Cheng Mo furrowed his brows and replied earnestly, "Her technique is exquisite, and her proficiency isn’t bad either, but..."

He seemed hesitant, falling silent halfway through his speech.

Shang Yu’s thick brows raised slightly, his voice deep, "Speak plainly."

Seeing this, Cheng Mo thought carefully before adding, "Miss Li’s computer skills seem to be of her own making. They are not commonly seen among domestic hackers or international hacker organizations."

He Chen pondered for a few seconds, his eyes full of interest as he looked at Shang Yu, "How did you figure out she embedded a virus in the code just now?"

The man lowered his head to roll his fingertips, his handsome face sporting a slight smile, softening his sharp edges, and he spoke in a deep and straightforward tone, "Probably because of... a kind of tacit understanding."

He Chen gave him a look that said there was no end to his words, wondering, speak if you want to speak, why the hell are you showing off your love!

After a pause, Cheng Mo stepped forward and tentatively asked, "Master, about Miss Li’s assessment results..."

"You decide," said Shang Yu as he stood, adjusting his shirt, his voice rich and deep.

Cheng Mo pursed his lips, his gaze drifting towards He Chen, somewhat undecided.

He Chen lifted his long leg onto his knee, slightly tilting his head back, "Still having doubts? She completed the exchange of information; regardless of the process, isn’t a pleasing result all that matters? With her skills, however many times you assess her, there won’t be any difference. Cheng Mo, don’t be too rigid, the future Lady of the Hall Master has plenty of abilities."

Thus, Cheng Mo lowered his head, chuckling awkwardly, "Brother Chen is right."

Seeing Shang Yu about to leave the surveillance room, he asked again, "And Master Qiu...?"

The man did not reply, pulling open the door and heading to the adjacent information room.

Cheng Mo was not a man without opinions, yet due to Li Qiao’s involvement, there were too many unforeseen events during the assessment.

In his view, if not for Miss Li, Master Qiu would still have no chance of passing this time.

He Chen sat in the chair without moving, his eyes briefly passing over the monitors in front, his tone dismissive, "The Lady of the Hall Master wanted to give him a hand; you could have done him a favor and been done with it. Hemming and hawing, are you a woman?"

The hemming and hawing Cheng Mo: "..."

...

Five minutes later, Li Qiao and Qiu Huan received the final approved assessment results.

Qiu Huan’s tense expression suddenly relaxed, not particularly overjoyed, since it was a favor from Li Qiao after all.

Soon after, Cheng Mo informed the two of the methods to utilize the forces of Secret Hall.

And he also created advanced accounts for them to access information on the internal network system.

Before 9:30 in the morning, the group left Secret Hall.

Li Qiao was so exhausted she could barely keep her eyes open.

She had been busy till late the night before, and then woke up early for the assessment, walking beside Shang Yu listlessly, her eyelids drooping as if she could fall asleep at any moment.

Qiu Huan followed a few steps behind with He Chen, and as they left the bomb shelter, Qiu Huan looked at him sceptically, "You’ve been to Secret Hall before?"

He Chen, with a cigarette in his hand, scoffed, "Surprised?"

Qiu Huan did not know the nature of West City He Chen’s private relationship with Shang Yu and took him for someone just along for the ride, pulling a face in jest, "Of course, I thought you were only interested in casinos."