Chapter 25 – Whispers in the Code
The tech lab beneath Bai Corp's main tower was silent, save for the rhythmic tapping of Meng Zhihao's fingers against the keyboard. A dozen monitors cast a bluish glow across the dim room, code streaming like rainfall.
"Encrypted again," Zhihao muttered, pushing up his glasses. "Same signature as the last message."
Mo Chen stood behind him, arms folded, eyes narrowing at the screen. "Can you trace it?"
"Already on it. Whoever this 'Y' is, they're smart. Bouncing signals through five countries and a private satellite server."
"Private satellite?" Xueqing echoed, stepping in with a folder in hand. "That's not cheap."
"Exactly," Zhihao said, swiveling in his chair. "This isn't just petty revenge. Y has money. Serious money."
She placed the folder on the table. "Financials from the board's last six months. I found discrepancies. One of our internal investors has been funneling money into a shell company. That company is linked to a satellite provider based in Country B."
Mo Chen raised an eyebrow. "You think Xu Yanshang is funding this through one of our own?"
Xueqing nodded. "And I think he's enjoying every second of it."
Just then, Lin Nuo burst into the lab, looking out of breath but triumphant.
"Qiao Lan cracked," he said, waving a recording device. "Said there's someone else inside. Someone closer. Feeding Yanshang not just data—strategies, personnel files, movements."
"A second mole?" Zhihao groaned. "Why can't we ever get just one villain at a time?"
Xueqing's voice dropped, icy and controlled. "She said who?"
Lin Nuo paused. "She didn't know a name. Just a nickname."
He pressed play.
Qiao Lan's panicked voice echoed: "They called her Canary. Always listening, always singing when no one's watching…"
Mo Chen's expression darkened.
"That's military slang," he said. "Used for intelligence operatives planted long-term."
Xueqing stepped back, her thoughts spinning. Someone had been watching her, not just from the shadows—but from within.
"Cross-reference every recent hire, transfer, promotion," she ordered. "I want to know if anyone's flying too far under the radar."
Zhihao grinned. "You got it, boss."
As the room came alive with motion, Mo Chen leaned close to her.
"Canary might be clever," he said. "But birds sing sweetest right before the silence."