This time I won't pretend even if I'm beaten to death

This was Lin Yuan's first night staying at Xia Ye's place.

He had fantasized countless times about how intense the first night would be, but now he completely lost interest.

Xia Ye was nestled in his arms, sleeping soundly.

But Lin Yuan's mind was filled with confusion over Good Group's strange operations, which completely dispelled any thoughts he had about Xia Ye.

In order to raise money for Song Xiaoxiao, Lin Yuan naturally thought of Good Group, and then he fell into this fog.

Whenever he faced complex problems, Lin Yuan would choose to return to basics. Just like when he was stuck on a complex algorithm, he would always grasp the core principles of the algorithm.

So Lin Yuan began his analysis from Good Group's fundamental needs.

Good Group is a commercial company, and its primary goal must be profit.

Iterating the delivery algorithm could help them profit; the direct way was to reduce delivery costs. In terms of soft power, it could improve their social image, and a company's social image is very important in the long run.

So his delivery algorithm was focused on these two points.

But the current situation completely contradicted this deduction.

After coaxing Xia Ye to sleep, Lin Yuan kept browsing the internet on his phone, checking the recent public opinion about Good Group on various forums, especially focusing on reviews from Zijin City.

Public opinion was almost universally condemning the delivery platform for its inhumane practices.

Moreover, Lin Yuan had visited Da Zhang's home before going in, and he clearly stated that deliveries had been difficult recently. Furthermore, Lin Yuan was still undercover in several old delivery groups. He scrolled through the chat records of various groups, and it was clearly a scene of widespread lament.

Thus, Good Group's two channels for profiting from his delivery algorithm were clearly blocked in reality.

Yet Good Group not only gave him the best quarterly performance review but also showed concern for him after he came out.

But Lin Yuan had personally experienced what kind of company Good Group was since his time as a delivery rider. Good Group doing good deeds? Come on, wake up.

So, what was the truth of the matter?

There was only one possibility then—Good Group wanted to profit from his delivery algorithm, but the channels for profit were not the two obvious ones. Instead, there was a hidden path beneath the surface.

Lin Yuan deeply realized why Dean Li wanted to talk to him about Tai Chi Bagua Yin-Yang rotation.

Good Group's current actions were nothing but a mix of truth and falsehood, like looking at flowers through a fog. Lin Yuan seemed to see the outline, but he just couldn't see the whole picture clearly.

'What exactly is Good Group's path to profit?'

Lin Yuan was in thought when Zhang Yan actually sent him a message late at night.

It was already past 11 PM, and Lin Yuan was not used to chatting with another girl while cuddling his girlfriend at this hour.

Then is it a ghost replying to my message?

Going to sleep soon.

I have a case with no leads, can you help me take a look?

'F*ck!' Lin Yuan cursed inwardly. This person really took him for an elder senior, even bringing cases to ask him.

Well, actually, I can't really be considered your senior. I'm just an ordinary graduate student.

Lin Yuan almost blurted out: When I was inside, to have someone to chat with, and also to get information from you, I just went along and admitted I was your senior.

But now Lin Yuan was out, and Song Xiaoxiao's matter had also been resolved, so he didn't plan to continue playing the role of a senior.

As for whether Zhang Yan would resent him because of this, based on Lin Yuan's superficial understanding of Zhang Yan, he thought that with her straightforward temper, at most she would just come over and beat him up. Given her uniform, she probably wouldn't go for a fatal blow.

So, at worst, he'd just get beaten up.

Senior, my good senior. We still need to cooperate in the future, so please help me.

Comrade, I really don't have the qualifications to be your senior. I'm just a student, I swear to God.

Lin Yuan didn't think he was very smart, which was why he had forged an admission letter and foolishly thought he could keep his identity a secret from Song Xiaoxiao and Xia Ye.

As a result, both incidents landed him inside, and the second time, he even dragged Song Xiaoxiao in with him.

A Saint Seiya must never fall in the same place twice. So Lin Yuan was determined not to pretend anymore this time. Who knew what consequences pretending to be Zhang Yan's senior would bring.

Senior, it's boring for you to say that.

After some nonsensical talk, Zhang Yan still didn't believe Lin Yuan was just a student. Because Lin Yuan couldn't explain how he had pulled out Old Mo's nail that day.

Do you believe I'm a person of destiny?

Lin Yuan almost told her he was a cheat.

I'm still the Tathagata Buddha. If you don't help, then forget it, stingy, hmph!

I really didn't refuse to help. My major is computer science, and I know nothing about your field.

Really?

I swear on my household registration book.

Zhang Yan was silent for a while.

Senior, are you from a completely different training system?

Damn, looks like you still don't believe me.

My master even told me and Old Mo to cooperate well with you. If you were just a student, how could my master instruct that?

Lin Yuan really wanted to tell her his guessed truth—your good master and my two good masters are probably in cahoots, going rogue behind the higher-ups' backs. Who knows if they even reported the full scope of the matter to the higher-ups.

They probably just want to catch a big fish and get a huge credit. So, your master doesn't care about my identity. He only cares if I can help him fish.

However, this obviously couldn't be casually told to Zhang Yan.

Speaking such words would be like putting his own neck on the chopping block of the big shots. Such words are truly heart-killing.

Hey, I'm telling you. In case, I mean in case.

If you find out later that I'm not your senior, you can't blame me.

Okay. I definitely won't blame Senior.

Speechless

Haha. So can Senior help me with the case now?

So Lin Yuan sent a link over.

What is this?

ChatGPT. I think asking it is more reliable than asking me.

Bomb, Dagger, Angry

Alright, no more chatting. Senior really can't help, if you don't believe me, you can ask my master another day.

Okay, I believe you. It seems Senior isn't from the same profession as me. Senior, tell me secretly, were you secretly recruited when you were very young?

Yes. I am a spy sent by the Trisolarans to Earth.

What is Trisolaran?

Alright. It's too late, I need to sleep, bye-bye.

Senior, no! Please save your junior sister, the higher-ups are pressing hard. Are you living with Xia Ye? Or should I come over now?

Zhang Yan had dropped off Xia Ye before, so she naturally knew where she lived.

Come over your ass. Wandering around late at night, what are you thinking?

Pity, Question. Isn't it normal for those in our line of work? If there's an urgent matter, they'll go to a colleague's house even at two or three in the morning.

No matter how busy work is, you should have your own life. Browsing online shopping, watching dramas, Senior really needs to sleep.

How do I have time to watch dramas? Is Senior's life so leisurely? Crying. No matter how hard I try, I can't keep up with Senior's pace.

As an undercover agent, I must have the same life rhythm as ordinary people. So, I'm going to sleep.

This was naturally Lin Yuan joking; at this moment, he just wanted to hug Xia Ye and sleep.

Okay then, I also really want to go undercover like Senior and live an ordinary life. Longing.

Lin Yuan recalled that guy's usual boisterous demeanor, how she dared to chat with him in the detention room, ignoring the cameras. Relying on her master being the Deputy Director in charge of investigations in QinHuai District, she entered and exited the bureau as if it were her own home.

If you went undercover, you wouldn't survive three episodes.

So, am I destined to be a corporate slave?

Work hard, and remember the weight on your shoulders. If you're hungry, you can order takeout. Senior is going to sleep first.

Is Senior speaking human language?

Aren't you very busy? Why do you still have time to chat with me?

Ah, ah, ah. I'm not doing it anymore, at worst I'll get scolded by Master tomorrow.

Congratulations on awakening. Now close the case file, quickly take a shower and go to bed. Bye-bye, Senior is out of here.

To prevent her from sending more messages and disturbing him, Lin Yuan directly set her to message do not disturb.

On the other end, Zhang Yan put down her phone, her face full of distress.

A striking red label was attached to the case file folder in front of her—Major Public Opinion Hazard Warning.

'Master said that takeout concerns the livelihoods of many people, and this kind of case is most suitable for my training. But how would I know anything about it?'

"That bastard senior won't help again, it's infuriating."

"Why did Haotuan Waimai have to trigger some public opinion hazard, making me work overtime late at night?"

Zhang Yan really wanted to throw the case file aside, but seeing the badge on her cap, she suddenly felt as if a subtle weight had been added to her shoulders.

"Sigh, so many people's livelihoods. If I don't organize it properly, Master will say I'm unreliable again."