Professor Xie, isn't this a case of forcing customers to buy products that don't match the

Shang Song really did spend the two weekend days leisurely wandering around Xishan.

Without the pressure of working overtime, he slept like a log, sleeping until the sun was high in the sky before slowly getting up and wandering to the main courtyard to eat a meal with Xie Jing that was hard to define as either breakfast or lunch.

In the afternoon, Xie Jing would usually sit in his room, sometimes reading ancient books, sometimes reading thick academic journals.

Shang Song would sometimes wander aimlessly in the garden, feeding the fish; other times he would curl up on the sofa next to Xie Jing, playing games and scrolling through his phone.

Without any deliberate arrangements or necessary conversations, the two days passed by idly.

On Monday morning, Xie Jing still drove him home.

The car came to a steady stop in the usual spot.

Shang Song unbuckled his seatbelt but didn't get out of the car immediately. He said, "You don't need to pick me up this week. I'm not working overtime here either, and my commute is convenient. Why don't you go back to Xishan and pick me up again Friday night?"

After he finished speaking, he looked at Xie Jing with bright, sparkling eyes, his expression slightly coquettish.

He didn't want Xie Jing to feel uncomfortable living in the Cloud Top because of him.

Xie Jing looked at him quietly for two seconds, and finally just nodded and replied, "Mm."

"Then I'm off!" Shang Song smiled immediately after receiving permission, leaned over and quickly kissed Xie Jing on the cheek, then grabbed his backpack, opened the door and got out of the car.

He walked briskly towards the Qingguo Building.

The two days of complete relaxation over the weekend have greatly restored his energy. Although he hasn't come up with a good solution for Shen Yan's matter yet, he plans to discuss it further when his second brother comes to deliver food today.

He had barely pushed open the office door and hadn't even reached his workstation when Zhao Xiaowei darted in front of him, her face practically contorted with excitement: "Brother Song! You're here! Big news! Huge news!"

Shang Song's arm tightened around his hand. "What's wrong? Did the public beta crash again?"

He thought the public test data had made a new breakthrough.

"No! It's even more explosive than that!" Zhao Xiaowei glanced around, lowered his voice, but his excitement was practically explosive. "The mole! We caught him!"

Shang Song's heart skipped a beat, and he subconsciously looked at Shen Yan's workstation.

empty!

"It's not Shen Yan!" Zhao Xiaowei immediately added, his expression turning mysterious. "It's the deputy director of the operations department! Old Ma! Ma Hongda!"

"Old Ma?"

Shang Song vaguely remembered this person; he was an old man from Qingguo.

He has extensive experience, but it is said that he has been stuck in the position of deputy director for many years without moving. He is usually quite tactful and seems to have good relationships with various departments. He is responsible for channel liaison and data analysis support, and he does have access to a lot of internal data of core projects.

"It's him!" Zhao Xiaowei nodded vigorously, his voice even lower and his speech rapid: "I heard that this time they managed to catch him, either because the higher-ups got some expert guidance or they hired outside help; the investigation was incredibly fast and accurate!"

"It seems they've uncovered suspicious financial dealings between him and a mid-level manager at 'Phantom Blade,' and following the trail, they discovered he leaked our data more than once! He also secretly sold the channel test data for 'Legend of Sword and Fairy' and 'Chaos Chronicles'! He's profiting from both sides!"

As Zhao Xiaowei spoke, she made a throat-slitting gesture: "This morning! He was taken away right there in the office!"

"It was him..." Shang Song muttered to himself, relieved that it wasn't Shen Yan.

He looked at Shen Yan's workstation again. Shen Yan had just returned from Boss Wang's office and was working on his computer, seemingly oblivious to the gazes cast upon him, whether overt or covert.

Shang Song did not go over to disturb him immediately.

When Zhao Xiaowei saw other colleagues come in, she rushed over and loudly and vividly recounted the story again.

As soon as Shang Song sat down, he turned on his computer, logged into WeChat, and saw a friend request.

Added through the work group.

It was Shen Yan. Shang Song clicked "accept".

Almost immediately, Shen Yan sent a message: "Did you ask your boyfriend for help?"

Shang Song stared at the message, his fingers pausing on the keyboard for two seconds.

Did Xie Jing make it?

It should not be.

He hadn't told Xie Jing about Shen Yan.

He typed back: "No. I didn't contact him, and he didn't know about your situation. The company must have found out themselves."

There was a moment of silence before a reply came: "...Oh."

Shang Song thought for a moment, then sent another message: "Anyway, the mole has been caught, and you're innocent. At least you don't have to rush off, right?"

This time, Shen Yan's replies were even more frequent, so long that Shang Song thought he wouldn't reply at all, before the message popped up: "Thank you, Shang Song. But he won't let me off the hook. If this isn't the end of it, he'll create something new."

Shang Song stared at the line of text, momentarily at a loss for how to reply.

Comfort seemed inadequate, assurances were powerless, and directly asking Zhou Xu'an what other methods he might use would likely only deepen Shen Yan's anxiety.

As he was carefully considering his words, the project manager walked to the center of the office, smiled, clapped his hands, and signaled everyone to be quiet.

"Everyone, quiet down for a moment. I have three pieces of good news to announce!" His voice boomed. "First, the mole incident has been thoroughly investigated. Ma Hongda from the operations department has been apprehended with irrefutable evidence and handed over to the authorities! The company's senior management is extremely satisfied with our project team's handling of this incident and their follow-up work!"

A slight commotion and murmurs immediately arose in the office.

He continued, "So, the second piece of good news! The higher-ups have decided to give all members of our project team an extra year-end bonus! As for Shen Yan..."

He looked at Shen Yan's workstation, "Although Shen Yan just joined our team and didn't receive a year-end bonus, his abilities are evident to everyone. The company has specially applied for an extra bonus and subsidy for him!"

All eyes turned to Shen Yan, filled with envy, congratulations, and apologies for the previous misunderstanding.

Shen Yan remained seated, his face slightly flushed, and said softly, "Thank you, Mr. Wang, thank you to the company."

The project manager waved his hand and laughed, "This is what you deserve. And the biggest news is..."

He paused deliberately, building everyone's suspense, before announcing loudly, "Given the overwhelming success of the public beta data, the company has decided to give our project team a perk—paid leave during the Spring Festival, from the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month until the 10th day of the first lunar month!"

"Wow--!!!"

"Mr. Wang is awesome!!"

"Long live the company!!!"

The office erupted in cheers, table-pounding, and whistling that nearly lifted the roof off.

Shang Song couldn't help but laugh too. He looked at Shen Yan and noticed that Shen Yan seemed to have breathed a slight sigh of relief as well.

"Alright, alright, quiet down!" The project manager smiled and gestured for everyone to quiet down. "A long holiday is a good thing, but we can't be careless about finishing up the work before the New Year! Everyone, perk up, get these last few days done well, and then have a happy New Year! Meeting adjourned!"

Cheers erupted again, and the office was filled with lively conversation as people discussed their holiday plans in small groups—New Year's goods, travel, going home… the topics kept coming.

Shang Song glanced at the calendar on the corner of the computer desk.

The nineteenth day of the twelfth lunar month.

Xie Jing said that he would go back to worship his ancestors on the 24th of the twelfth lunar month, and should be able to return on the 25th or 26th.

So, at twenty-eight, he can take Xie Jing home?!

He thought to himself with a smug smile, the corners of his mouth unconsciously turning up.

The morning flew by in this relaxed atmosphere, and as lunchtime approached, a message from the second child popped up:

"I'm downstairs with your lean pork knuckle and your poor colleague's. Come quick!"