148: Chapter 148 Wang Chengsi's Hidden Recording Reveals Shocking News

The temporary press conference hall at the Jiangcheng International Exhibition Center felt as tense as a tightly wound spring. At exactly 3:00 PM, the hall was packed. Cameras from over thirty media outlets were aimed at the center of the stage, and the live stream comments were scrolling by at a rate of thousands per second.

Chang Yuan's "pity-seeking press conference" was still fermenting. Everyone was waiting to see how Zhang Fan would respond to the accusation of being a "tech thief." Some hoped to see him crash and burn, while many others held their breath, hoping this myth of a rising domestic game wouldn't shatter right here.

A commotion suddenly erupted at the side door of the stage. Chang Yuan, with his arm around Gu Feifei, swaggered in surrounded by reporters, deliberately sitting in the most conspicuous seats in the front row.

He sneered at the cameras, toying with the forged "R&D log" in his hands. "If Zhang Fan has no evidence, stop wasting everyone's time. Admit to stealing the technology and apologize to me and the players!" Gu Feifei took out her phone and started taking pictures toward the stage, her smugness impossible to hide.

At 3:05 PM, Zhang Fan, wearing a dark suit, walked onto the stage with Liu Ruyan and Wang Chengsi. Without any unnecessary opening remarks, he took the tablet from Liu Ruyan and connected it directly to the big screen. His tone was calm but carried an unquestionable strength: "Regarding the accusation of 'Star Core Engine infringement,' I won't waste words. I'll present the evidence directly."

The first thing to pop up on the big screen was the GitHub code repository page. The page showed that the "Star Core Engine Core Code Repository" was created on March 15, 2022. The earliest commit record was at 2:17 AM, submitted by Liu Ruyan, with the note: "Initialize dynamic lighting algorithm V1.0."

Liu Ruyan stepped forward and pointed to the timeline on the screen. "From March 2022 to October 2023, we submitted code 1,872 times. Every modification has a timestamp, the modification content, and the signature of the participant. All records are publicly queryable on GitHub and cannot be tampered with."

She swiped the screen to pull up another set of comparison images. On the left was what Chang Yuan claimed to be the "Sok Engine core code" (taken from Blue Whale Games' old public documents), and on the right was a code snippet from the Star Core Engine. The red-highlighted differences accounted for 92%.

"Sok Engine uses a 2018 linear rendering framework, while the Star Core Engine uses a self-developed dynamic lighting framework. The underlying logic and data structures of the two are completely different, and even the versions of the programming languages are different—Sok uses C++ 11, while Star Core uses C++ 20. The so-called '90% similarity' is purely forged."

A murmur of discussion broke out in the audience. Tech reporters immediately took out their laptops to check GitHub. After confirming the code records were real, the suspicion in their eyes gradually turned to astonishment. Chang Yuan's face changed, but he still bit the bullet and shouted, "Code records can be faked! GitHub can be changed too! If you have the ability, bring out official evidence!"

"Of course I do." Zhang Fan signaled for Liu Ruyan to switch pages. The big screen showed the official document from the National Intellectual Property Administration—the "Star Core Engine Self-Developed Certification Report." The document number was clearly visible, dated May 2023, and stamped with a bright red official seal.

"These are the 37 core patent applications we submitted, including dynamic lighting algorithms, AI scene generation technology, etc. Each one has undergone substantive examination by the Patent Office, confirming there is no risk of infringement. Mr. Chang, your so-called 'Sok Engine patent' expired back in 2022 due to non-payment of annual fees. How can there be any talk of 'infringement'?"

Cold sweat broke out on Chang Yuan's forehead. Gu Feifei shrank behind him, her phone almost dropping to the ground.

Just then, Zhang Fan suddenly looked toward the side of the stage, his voice raised a few notches: "Mr. Chang, you just said that evidence can be faked. Then let me bring out another witness—Wang Chengsi, a former employee of the Blue Whale Games Technology Department and also a witness to the 'star path project' back then."

Wang Chengsi walked to the center of the stage holding a black digital voice recorder, his eyes looking coldly at Chang Yuan. "Chang Yuan, do you still remember the Blue Whale Games project meeting on July 15, 2021? That day, just after you fired Zhang Fan, you bragged at the meeting that you had 'stolen his code and slept with his girlfriend,' even saying, 'He's just a loser, I can fire him with any excuse.'"

He pressed the play button on the recorder, and Chang Yuan's arrogant voice immediately spread throughout the venue: "That Zhang Fan, he really thinks he's something? I determined the core concept of 'star path.' The bit of Sok Engine code he modified, I just took it and tweaked it, and it's mine! And his girlfriend Gu Feifei, she was crying to me yesterday saying she couldn't live without me. A woman like that, just for fun..."

The voice in the recording was crystal clear, and one could even hear the agreement of other meeting attendees at the time.

The audience exploded. Reporters' flashes went off like crazy, and the live stream comments boiled over: "Holy crap! So it was Chang Yuan who stole the code!" "Gu Feifei is actually this kind of person? She pretended to be the victim before!" "Zhang Fan is so pathetic, he got his code stolen and was cheated on!"

Who would have thought it? The usually honest-looking, thick-browed Wang Chengsi actually kept a recording as evidence from that meeting.

Chang Yuan's face turned as pale as paper instantly. He lunged up to grab the recorder but was stopped by security.

He pointed at Wang Chengsi, his voice trembling: "You... you actually recorded it! You bastard, you set me up!"

"One must always be on guard against others. With the things you've done, Chang Yuan, who wouldn't be worried? I just kept the evidence." Wang Chengsi took out a printed copy of the meeting minutes, which included the signatures of those present at the time. "In these minutes, you admitted yourself to 'modifying and appropriating Zhang Fan's code achievements.' There are also signatures from three colleagues as witnesses. Now, they are all willing to testify in court. Chang Yuan, back then, you relied on being the technical director to bully interns and misappropriate others' achievements. Now you still want to shift the blame? It's laughable!"

Gu Feifei couldn't hold on any longer. She covered her face and tried to sneak away, but was surrounded by reporters: "Ms. Gu, is what was said in the recording true? Did you really betray Zhang Fan back then?"

"Was your previous testimony all fake? How much money did Chang Yuan pay you?"

She was trembling all over and couldn't say a word. Finally, she only managed to escape under the escort of security. Chang Yuan slumped in his chair, his eyes hollow, muttering to himself: "Impossible... I clearly cleaned everything up..."

Zhang Fan picked up the microphone and said to the camera with a sincere tone: "I know this turmoil caused many people to doubt Singularity and the Star Core Engine. But I want to say that Chinese technology companies don't need to steal or rob to create world-class technology. Every line of code in the Star Core Engine embodies the hard work of our team; every plot in 'star path: reboot' is filled with our love for games. In the future, we will continue to invest in R&D and prove ourselves with more good products."

After the press conference, public opinion completely reversed.

#Zhang Fan's Counterattack#

#Chang Yuan's Code Theft Confirmed#

#Gu Feifei Lying# and other topics quickly rushed to the top of the trending list.

Netizens who had previously scolded Zhang Fan apologized one after another: "I'm sorry, Mr. Zhang! I was misled by a villain before!" "Star Core Engine is awesome! Support original work!"

Overseas publishers also sent new cooperation inquiries, and the previously suspended financing resumed its process. Singularity Technology's valuation not only returned to 1.5 billion, but some capital even took the initiative to propose additional investment.

In the meeting room of Yunqi Technology, Lu Qingping watched the replay of the press conference, his expression complex.

Lu Qingyan sat next to him and handed him a document: "Big brother, this is the private agreement between Polaris Capital and Chang Yuan. They promised Chang Yuan a 'technical advisor' position and also had him forge evidence, without consulting us at all. Now that Chang Yuan has fallen, Polaris will definitely distance themselves. We need to cut ties with them as soon as possible, otherwise, we will be dragged down."

Lu Qingping took the document, his fingers trembling slightly. He looked at the composed Zhang Fan on the screen and thought of his previous "protectiveness over his sister," filled with guilt: "I was too impulsive before, almost harming Wanyi and harming Yunqi. Qingyan, make arrangements, I want to have a formal talk with Zhang Fan. Perhaps... we really should join forces."

At Singularity Technology, Zhang Fan was celebrating the end of the crisis with his team. Liu Ruyan held the notification she had just received from the Patent Office and said with a smile: "Mr. Zhang, our Star Core Engine has added two new international patents, and game companies from Europe and America are coming to inquire about licensing!" Wang Chengsi also added: "Chang Yuan and Gu Feifei are suspected of defamation, and we have already filed a lawsuit. The court will file the case soon."

Zhang Fan looked at the lively scene in front of him, but his heart was very calm. He knew that the resolution of this crisis was just the first step in confronting Polaris Capital. The real challenges were still ahead, but as long as the team was united, plus the potential allies from the Lu family, he was confident that he could defend Singularity and defend this pride that belonged to Chinese original creation.