Hancheng: There is a door between me and the future

Chapter 210 Storm - Initiation (A long chapter of 10,000 words - please subscribe and vote!)

February 7, noon.

About half an hour after I arrived at the computer room, the takeout arrived.

Lin Xiuyuan and Krystal came down from the second floor and returned to the living room on the first floor.

After bringing in the takeout, the two sat down at the table to eat, continuing their conversation about the explosive developments that had just occurred.

"I plan to find a suitable time in a few days to release the evidence," Lin Xiuyuan said in a low voice, biting his chopsticks, his eyes still burning with a mixture of excitement and vigilance.

Krystal stirred her drink, a hint of hesitation in her voice, "Xiuyuan, have you considered exposing this to Dispatch?"

Lin Xiuyuan looked up, raising an eyebrow slightly. "You mean Dispatch?"

"Correct."

Krystal nodded, then raised her hand and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

"Although Dispatch has become more and more entertainment-oriented in recent years, they never shy away from making things bigger and bigger if there is something sensational and has a touch of 'social justice' in it."

Moreover, they actually have a dedicated line of contacts to handle 'sources that can't afford to go wrong.' On the day of the leak, they'll even have the paparazzi's shooting script written for you."

Then, she paused slightly, her eyes becoming more serious, "And, most importantly, if we let them do this, at least you yourself won't need to show up, saving a lot of trouble and danger."

Krystal was actually very clear about what she was advising.

She wasn't cowardly; it was just that she didn't want Lin Xiuyuan to personally take risks when faced with things that might involve extremely deep and dark matters.

But she couldn't bear to see those girls who had been ruined sink into oblivion, especially that little girl Kim Sae-ron, whom she had met and talked to; she was very cute.

So the best outcome would be if it could help without involving Lin Xiuyuan.

Lin Xiuyuan smiled at her, his voice low and gentle, "Are you afraid I'll get into trouble?"

"I was worried something might happen to you." Krystal's speech slowed down, and her voice lowered.

She paused, then continued, "Although you're dealing with the guy from 2013, I really don't dare bet that the guy who could commit murder in the US in 2025 was already fully capable back in 2013."

Her gaze was fixed on him, earnest and stubborn. "I don't gamble, and I don't want you to gamble either."

Lin Xiuyuan smiled slightly, but his eyes also lost their previous ease, becoming calm and sharp.

Then he nodded, "I understand. I'll make some plans in the next few days. If Dispatch is willing to step in, that would be best. But before that, I need to make the necessary preparations."

"Hmm?" Krystal looked at him.

"For example, flying to several overseas cities."

At this point, Lin Xiuyuan's tone shifted, becoming as calm as if he were recounting a technical exercise: "Find an apartment, rent a place, get a clean computer, and set up a few jump servers. Then, gather a few batches of botnets, assign them local IP addresses, release the evidence, and spend money to hire promoters."

As he spoke, he stirred the soup in the bowl, his eyes gradually turning cold.

But when she looked up at Krystal, her smile and gentleness returned. "Now you don't have to worry anymore."

Then, in a cold tone, he said, "I don't believe that Kim Soo-hyun, no matter how capable, could have extended his reach into so many countries. Besides, in 2013, he probably didn't even have any financial backing, right?"

Krystal looked at him without speaking, but the subtle worry and undisguised pride in her eyes spoke volumes.

After a moment of silence, she asked softly, with a hint of reluctance, "So, according to what you said, Xiu Yuan, you won't be free for the next few days?"

"Ah."

Lin Xiuyuan nodded, "The sooner we handle this, the better, because according to the timeline provided by Kim Sae-ron's family, that bastard should have started manipulating young girls this year or next. The sooner we send him to jail, the fewer victims there will be."

Lin Xiuyuan never considered himself a particularly virtuous or righteous person. But if it was just a simple act that could protect several girls, and perhaps even their futures, then...

Then he naturally wouldn't hesitate to take action.

It's nothing more than clicking a mouse and keyboard online; he's happy to get involved in such a small matter.

This can be considered a small way for me to give back to society after obtaining the "time portal".

Krystal understood his thoughts. She looked at the boy before her, her gaze softening, a hint of indescribable emotion welling up in her eyes.

He stopped eating altogether, put down his chopsticks, and crawled under the table under Lin Xiuyuan's shocked gaze.

In the afternoon, sunlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains, casting dappled shadows on the wooden floor.

After settling Krystal in, Lin Xiuyuan nestled in a swivel chair in the computer room, his fingers flying across the keyboard as he searched for contact information for D Company executives from 2013 on the 2025 internet.

Emails, old Twitter accounts, abandoned interview backstage areas, and even a few vague employee leaks...

Of course, he didn't need to go through the trouble of digging for this information himself.

Lin Xiuyuan only needed to call the AI ​​for deep retrieval, and then the information automatically peeled away a dusty maze for him, calmly and precisely piecing together the path to the "past".

After spending more than two hours, he finally pieced together the most likely link in the chain of communication.

Next, he encrypted and packaged all the clues, uploaded them to a spare USB drive, and then got up and went to the third floor.

Looking at Krystal, who was lying quietly on the bed after they finished, Lin Xiuyuan walked over, leaned down and gently kissed her forehead, then turned and left, returning to his apartment in 2013.

Back here, he quickly packed his luggage and immediately booked the first flight to Singapore.

As night fell, the plane landed in Singapore.

Lin Xiuyuan only brought a backpack and didn't even check in any luggage.

He didn't linger after leaving the airport; he took a taxi directly to the city center.

In an apartment building not far from the business district, Lin Xiuyuan rented a one-bedroom apartment in cash for a long term.

Then, she bought a brand new, slightly flawed laptop from her daughter at a nearby secondhand market before returning to her apartment.

That night, he didn't contact anyone again. He just sat alone in the room, testing the jump server's lines, debugging the anonymous delivery platform, and confirming whether the network encryption was complete.

It was 2 a.m. before I finally fell asleep on the sofa.

……

The next afternoon, July 2nd.

Lin Xiuyuan took another flight to Siam.

He continued to rent a house near the government compound and purchased a brand new SIM card and a spare router anonymously.

He never said much, but calmly completed everything.

In just a few days, Lin Xiuyuan set up at least three anonymous delivery points in Southeast Asia, ensuring that each one was completely disconnected from his real identity.

Lin Xiuyuan wasn't a particularly skilled hacker; he only knew a little bit. With these real jump points for cover, that should be about right.

After all, what he's trying to do isn't to hack into military servers or the Black House database, so there shouldn't be any idle top hackers chasing after him.

……

Lin Xiuyuan's flight arrived in Shanghai on the evening of July 5th.

The airport terminal was brightly lit and bustling with people.

Outside, thunder and lightning raged, and torrential rain poured down.

He didn't have an umbrella, so he picked up his bag and walked straight out of the terminal to call a taxi.

Just then, my phone vibrated in my pocket.

When he took it out and looked at it, he found that it was actually Park Jiyeon.

Lin Xiuyuan knew that Tara and her group had previously promoted mala tang in Shanghai, and he also knew that they had taken on many commercial performances after that day, which is why they hadn't left China until today.

However, he hadn't originally planned to contact Jiyeon, because his trip back to Korea was just to book a place, rent an apartment, and then fly to Seoul.

But when that familiar name appeared on the screen, Lin Xiuyuan still subconsciously pressed the answer button.

"Hey, Jiyeon~"

"Hey, oppa, are you back in Shanghai?" Park Jiyeon's voice was filled with excitement.

She knew a little about Lin Xiuyuan's whereabouts these past few days. Although she didn't know what he was busy with, since they were in the same city, it would be too much of a shame not to meet up for a meal.

After all, she hadn't seen Lin Xiuyuan for a while because of work.

There are many things Park Jiyeon wants to ask her oppa.

Lin Xiuyuan pursed his lips, paused for two seconds, and then replied softly, "Yeah, just landed."

"You haven't even contacted me after landing. Are you planning to sneak back to Seoul as soon as you're done with this, oppa?"

Her tone carried a light, playful complaint, the last syllable drawn out with a hint of mischief, a half-scolding laugh before her tone shifted.

"I'm driving over to pick you up now, can you wait for me a moment?"

Lin Xiuyuan glanced at the night outside the window. Raindrops slanted and densely hit the terminal glass, and the runway was blurred by the wet lights.

He frowned slightly and said, "Isn't it too much trouble? Just give me your location and I'll take a taxi there. It's raining so hard at night; driving is dangerous."

Park Ji-yeon on the other end seemed to notice the subtle change in Lin Xiuyuan's tone, so she didn't insist anymore, only gave a brief reply and hung up the phone.

A few seconds later, a location was sent to his phone.

Lin Xiuyuan glanced at his location, put away his phone, walked out of the airport, got into a taxi, and headed towards the city.

Forty minutes later, the car stopped in front of a high-end hotel located in the city center.

The night rain was still falling, a light, fine drizzle that seemed to be washing the entire city clean.

The hotel lobby is paved with dark marble, and the polished floor reflects the light. Occasionally, there are water stains, which are quickly wiped clean by diligent cleaners, but the dampness of the rainy night is still faintly visible.

The doorman, with a professional smile, led him to the elevator and upstairs.

The elevator takes you directly to the scenic restaurant on the sixteenth floor. The space is small, but it is exceptionally quiet.

Under the soft, warm lighting, the wooden partitions and frosted glass create just the right amount of privacy between the booths.

The window is a floor-to-ceiling window, and Shanghai in the rainy night is like a flowing oil painting, with light and shadow blurring and the colors of the neon advertising screens are dyed into colorful halos in the moisture.

Park Jiyeon and Ham Eunjung had been waiting for a long time in a booth by the window.

"Oppa~ over here."

Park Jiyeon smiled and waved to him, her eyes filled with bright anticipation.

Lin Xiuyuan walked over, sat down opposite them, took off his coat and casually draped it over the back of the chair, and ordered a hot soup and a simple dinner.

Perhaps because of the rainy night, there weren't many customers in the restaurant. Several booths were empty, and Lin Xiuyuan's table was completely deserted, as if the night rain naturally enveloped it in a quiet barrier.

So the food was served quickly, and as the waiter left, Park Jiyeon casually asked about it.

"Oppa~ What's wrong with you these past few days? You've been acting all mysterious and have gone to several places."

Lin Xiuyuan glanced at the two 'cultists' in front of him, without looking away, and said in a low voice, "Set up a few more jump sites, and prepare to send that idiot Kim Soo-hyun to prison."

He didn't say much preamble, but his tone was extremely certain.

When Park Jiyeon and Ham Eunjung heard him say this, they looked at each other, their expressions gradually changing from surprise to astonishment, followed by a hint of barely suppressed excitement.

After all, having traveled to 2025, they also know the ins and outs of Kim Sae-ron's incident.

"Is it...him?" Ham Eun-jung asked in a very low voice.

Lin Xiuyuan nodded.

The two did not press the matter further, as the occasion was inappropriate and the risk was too high.

But the anger and excitement in their eyes were impossible to hide. Both of them understood what Lin Xiuyuan was going to do and knew that this was no joke.

The conversation ended there, and the air was filled with the warm aroma of tea in a brief silence.

A few minutes later, Park Jiyeon broke the ice with another joke, "Oppa, I heard from unnie that you were having an affair with that old woman at the villa, is that true?"

As she spoke, she deliberately raised her hand to rest her chin on her hand and looked at him with a hint of teasing and probing in her eyes.

Lin Xiuyuan, who was drinking soup, almost spat it out with a "pfft," then looked up at Park Jiyeon across from him and asked, "Who...who said that?"

Before he finished speaking, his gaze fell on Ham Eun-jung standing next to him.

Ham Eun-jung lowered her head, pretending to drink water seriously, avoiding eye contact.

After all, what kind of new believer would immediately expose the leader's underwear?

Although she didn't do it on purpose.

"Oh~ so oppa, you mean... there isn't one?" Park Jiyeon smiled mischievously, her eyes narrowing.

Seeing this, Lin Xiuyuan couldn't help but laugh, his tone tinged with helplessness, "That was an accident, just an accident."

It was indeed a bit of a surprise; he hadn't expected the little dragon cub to be so proactive and unrestrained.

A divorced wife, what a romantic fantasy!

Park Jiyeon smiled and shook her head at him, not pressing him for more information. Instead, she reached out her chopsticks and placed a piece of beef on his plate, her tone light yet meaningful.

"Oppa, I'm not saying anything to you, I'm just... worried that you'll eat something bad and get an upset stomach."

Upon hearing this, Ham Eun-jung, who was standing next to Park Ji-yeon, patted her arm with a mixture of amusement and helplessness, saying, "Ji-yeon."

Lin Xiuyuan coughed lightly, pretending not to understand the deeper meaning behind the phrase "eating random things".

Park Jiyeon gave a soft snort, stopped teasing him, and instead began to seriously explain the situation of that "chain mala tang" restaurant to him.

Over the past month, with a massive spending spree, the "Malatang" brand's directly operated stores have rapidly expanded across China.

Thanks to T-ara's popularity, they gained a lot of fans and attention, and queuing for meals became a common occurrence.

So on July 1st, the first franchise store opened successfully, marking the beginning of the return on the heavy investment and the start of profitability.

Although it will be some time before the actual profit sharing takes place, the current momentum is enough to show that this investment was the right one.

For Park Ji-yeon, this is the first step she has taken as a "future female CEO," and she has taken solid steps forward.

After listening to the report, Lin Xiuyuan happily gave Park Jiyeon a big thumbs up, "Amazing, my Jiyeon!"

My Jiyeon~
These words fell lightly, yet they made Park Jiyeon's eyes widen and a soft, proud smile curve her lips. The joy and satisfaction in her eyes were impossible to hide.

"Oh, right, Xiu Yuan~"

Just after Lin Xiuyuan and Park Jiyeon finished discussing work, Ham Eunjung, who was standing next to them, asked softly, "When do you plan to go to Seoul this time?"

Lin Xiuyuan put down his chopsticks and wiped his mouth. "We're leaving tomorrow. I've been running around these past few days just to pinpoint the location. Once we've got it right, it'll be much easier to get in and out in the future."

The two people opposite each other exchanged a glance, and Park Jiyeon's eyes lit up immediately, "Oppa~ We're also flying tomorrow, but it's an evening flight."

"Oh?" Lin Xiuyuan raised an eyebrow. "That's about right. We should be able to travel together."

"Great!"

Park Jiyeon blurted out almost without thinking, her smile bright, "If oppa dares to sneak back alone, I'll really be angry."

Ham Eun-jung nodded and smiled gently, "See you tomorrow then, we're on the same flight~"

Dinner gradually came to an end in a relaxed but not particularly lively atmosphere among the group.

As guests gradually left the restaurant, the rain outside the window continued unabated. Water droplets falling on the glass were gently pushed off by the wind, as if whispering, or as if witnessing some quietly taking shape.

Just as the three were about to get up to pay the bill, Park Jiyeon suddenly stopped, turned around and looked at Lin Xiuyuan, her tone seemingly joking but also serious.

"Oppa, do you think... I should go see that old woman?"

Her expression was calm, but her eyes held a hint of complexity.

It was as if she was asking for his opinion, or as if she was confirming some kind of impulse within herself.

Lin Xiuyuan paused, his gaze falling on her face, and said with a soft laugh, "It depends on the situation. As things stand, there's no need for that."

Park Jiyeon stared at him and suddenly smiled, her eyes sparkling, "Oppa, what are you afraid of?"

"I'm afraid you'll fight each other," Lin Xiuyuan answered truthfully.

Upon hearing this, Park Jiyeon laughed in exasperation, but her eyes conveyed, "You really understand me."

Because she did indeed have this idea: the first thing she would do upon meeting the other person was to find a place to have a practice match, with the loser lying down and watching the winner stand and talk.

After dinner, the three of them left the restaurant together.

The rain was still falling softly outside, washing the streets clean and bright. Neon lights reflected in the puddles looked like shattered dream images.

Lin Xiuyuan was too lazy to go out anymore, so he simply booked a room at the hotel and checked in.

Silent all night.

……

February 6th arrived in the blink of an eye.

The next morning, he walked with an umbrella through several quiet alleys and stopped in front of an old apartment building near the city center.

It's not new, but it has a lively, down-to-earth feel.

Then I signed a long-term lease with the landlord, bought a computer from the second-hand market, moved it into the room, and tested all the necessary network equipment and VPN nodes.

The room was small, with a bed, a table, a lamp, and a piece of equipment.

Clean and efficient, just what he wanted.

By the time all the equipment was set up and ready, it was just past 2 p.m.

After leaving the house, Lin Xiuyuan turned a corner at the alley entrance and sat down at a time-honored pan-fried dumpling shop at the street corner. He ordered ten pan-fried dumplings and a bowl of beef and vermicelli soup, and ate them slowly.

Although it was still raining outside, there were more pedestrians on the streets.

While eating, Lin Xiuyuan looked down at his phone to check his luggage and flight information, then got up to pay the bill and called a car to Pudong Airport.

When they arrived at the airport, Park Jiyeon, Ham Eunjung, and others were already there and waiting in the VIP lounge.

So as soon as she saw Lin Xiuyuan, Park Jiyeon immediately stood up and waved.

"Oppa, over here!"

Under the curious gazes of Park Hyo-min and the others, Lin Xiuyuan walked over and sat down between Park Ji-yeon and Ham Eun-jung.

The three of them didn't talk much, and after the boarding announcement came on, they boarded the plane together.

As soon as she sat down, Park Jiyeon, who was supposed to sit in the front row with the other members, made an excuse to go to the restroom and quietly came back, sitting quietly in the empty seat next to Lin Xiuyuan.

"Hee hee~"

She lowered her voice, like a child who had sneaked out, "Hey oppa, aren't you bored sitting here all by yourself?"

Lin Xiuyuan couldn't help but laugh when he saw the little dragon's adorable expression. "Jiyan, you sneaked over like this, won't Eunjung and the others cause me trouble? Qri and the others must be very curious about my identity."

“I’ll just say we’re friends, whatever you ask, we’re friends,” Park Jiyeon said confidently.

Lin Xiuyuan couldn't help but laugh at her.

As soon as the plane took off, she started talking excitedly about the company's recent developments, as if she had opened a floodgate.

The analysis of expanding overseas activities and future plans was very thorough and logical.

“Oppa, I’m telling you seriously, if you ever want to do anything in the future, whether it’s starting a company, making movies, or creating content, I can help you.” As she spoke, Park Jiyeon looked at him earnestly, her eyes sparkling. “I’m not just good at dancing and singing, I’m pretty smart too.”

"I know you're not stupid," Lin Xiuyuan replied with a smile.

Lin Xiuyuan naturally understood why she was saying all this.

It wasn't just showing off his abilities; it seemed he just wanted to compete for the dragon cub's favor, which made him both laugh and speechless.

Thinking of this, Lin Xiuyuan glanced at her and felt that Park Jiyeon seemed to have matured a lot compared to two months ago.

"What do you want to do?"

"Let me show you what I can do." She blinked.

The cabin lights were soft, and the clouds outside the window rolled, as if another world was slowly approaching.

Lin Xiuyuan did not respond immediately, but simply reached out and pulled the thin blanket in front of him, gently covering Park Jiyeon's legs.

"Don't overthink it. We're on a plane, so behave," he said softly.

Park Jiyeon gave a soft snort and leaned back in her chair. "You're just giving me the runaround again."

"I'm afraid you'll get too tired."

"Liar."

The two were bickering in hushed tones. Ham Eun-jung, sitting in the front row, occasionally turned to look at them with a smile on her lips, but said nothing.

This made her think of the incident with Tian Enjing 25 years ago, and her gaze towards Lin Xiuyuan became even more profound.

The plane flew smoothly, and the cabin was so quiet that time seemed to stand still.

It was already late at night when we landed in Seoul, but Incheon Airport was still packed with people, with people holding signs and gathering at the exit to pick up passengers.

The members of T-ara acted as a unit, quickly packing their luggage under the direction of their manager, preparing to leave.

Lin Xiuyuan followed behind them, carrying a backpack.

As he stepped out of the terminal, he saw a familiar figure sitting in a low-key black sedan, with the window rolled down, waving happily at him.

It's Sherry.

Lin Xiuyuan paused slightly, his gaze sweeping over Park Jiyeon and the other members in front of him.

Park Jiyeon glanced at the car, a slight smile playing on her lips, before realizing it wasn't the right time to leave with Lin Xiuyuan.

The group's official schedule is not yet over, especially since they just finished this overseas trip. The media is still following them, so she really can't make any rash moves.

"Oppa, you go first, don't worry about me."

So he took out his phone and sent Lin Xiuyuan two messages: "I'll contact you after I'm done here."

Lin Xiuyuan glanced at the text message, nodded to Park Jiyeon, and said nothing more.

Then, with a light laugh, he walked past their backs toward the gate and got into Shirley's car.

Inside the car, Shirley was wearing a loose long shirt and her hair was casually tied up. When she saw Lin Xiuyuan get into the car, she turned her head and gave him a gentle smile.

Are you tired, oppa~

"Fortunately."

Lin Xiuyuan replied, leaning back in his seat, "You've been here for quite a while, haven't you?"

"It's okay, waiting for someone isn't tiring." Shirley smiled and started the car.

"Let's go back first."

"Ah."

As Lin Xiuyuan left, Park Hyomin finally couldn't hold back any longer. She glanced between Park Jiyeon and Ham Eunjung twice, then looked at the car that was driving away not far away.

"Jiyeon, what's going on with you guys? What have you been up to behind my back? And Eunjung, she used to be on my side, how come she's siding with Jiyeon now?"

She raised an eyebrow, her tone half-joking, half-serious, "You guys are a clique? You're not including me?"

Park Jiyeon was taken aback, then simply pretended to be clueless: "What? We didn't have any?"

Ham Eun-jung chuckled and took Hyomin's arm. "Don't overthink it, Hyomin. This has nothing to do with the group. It's Jiyeon who's planning to pursue Soo-won, but Soo-won doesn't like her. So I'm helping Jiyeon win over Soo-won right now."

Upon hearing this, Park Jiyeon's eyes widened immediately, thinking to herself: Unnie, this is such nonsense!

Park Hyomin's eyes widened as well. "Wait, Eunjung, are you sure you're not mistaken? That guy doesn't like our Jiyeon?"

“Yes, I really don’t like you.” Ham Eun-jung continued without hesitation, “Soo Won-min made it clear that he likes women with curvy figures like you.”

Ham Eun-jung is really saying anything right now, but she is also very worried that Park Hyo-min will think that she and Park Ji-yeon are isolating her. The shadow of what happened last year is still there, and she doesn't want that to happen to Park Hyo-min again.

So she simply gave Park Hyomin an outrageous excuse, hoping to temporarily stop her from being suspicious.

At this moment, Park Jiyeon, after being given a meaningful look by Ham Eunjung, finally guessed what her unnie was thinking. Coupled with her own little schemes, she also let out a cold snort.

"Yes, unnie, oppa likes your mature and sophisticated style, not my little kid style, so I didn't want to tell you, because I was afraid you would steal oppa away."

"Wow, oh my god, wait a minute, what kind of idol drama are you guys acting in?" Park Hyomin was still a little incredulous, frowning as she looked at them.

As a result, Park Jiyeon made a phone call to Lin Xiuyuan right in front of her, "Oppa, are you free tomorrow?"

Lin Xiuyuan, who was in the car, was taken aback. "Tomorrow? I'm not free tomorrow. Let me finish what I need to do first and then I'll talk to you, okay?"

"Okay, then oppa, you're busy."

After hanging up the phone, Park Jiyeon instantly turned into a pitiful little dragon and looked at Park Hyomin, "Unnie, look, I talked to oppa the whole way, and he still gave me the same answer."

Looking at Park Jiyeon's aggrieved expression and then at Ham Eunjung's nodding beside her, Park Hyomin, who had been harboring resentment for over half a month, suddenly felt a little bewildered.

Her scalp tingled intensely, and she realized that her high IQ seemed to be a bit insufficient. Could this really happen in real life?

Seeing that Park Hyomin was starting to doubt her life, Park Jiyeon smiled and exchanged a glance with Ham Eunjung, finally managing to fool her for the first time.

As for how long this deception can last, let's wait and see.

late at night.

The car returned to the apartment building.

After returning to his apartment, Lin Xiuyuan took a shower and changed into clean clothes.

While he was washing up, Shirley quickly fried rice, prepared a few refreshing cold dishes, and also cooked a pot of hot seaweed soup.

The dishes are home-style, yet they carry a familiar warmth.

After dinner, the two didn't say much.

Lin Xiuyuan quickly returned to his bedroom, closed the door, drew the curtains, placed his laptop on the desk, and turned it on.

His movements were calm and focused; every folder, every screenshot, and every piece of text on his computer was already arranged in order.

During this time, he successfully contacted Liu Yina and persuaded her to provide the information she had recently put in her social media account's drafts.

In exchange, he anonymously transferred a sum of money via cryptocurrency.

Although it cost extra money, it covered the last loophole, so the money was well spent.

Now he started importing all the evidence into the computer, then archiving, categorizing, and packaging it.

All that's missing is a channel for release.

……

2:00 AM on June 7th.

Lin Xiu sat in the dim light of his apartment bedroom, his fingers flying across the keyboard.

He executed command after command in the command line window, and the VPN node frantically switched along the three-stage route of "Siam - Singapore - Shanghai". Each botnet IP was like a fork in the maze, interfering with any attempt to trace the source.

Finally, the instruction was executed.

He took a deep breath and sent out the compressed file named "AK-47".

Target address: D-Company's core email network in 2013, including current senior management and several editors destined for future positions.

Every frame of video, every audio clip, and every psychological diagnosis document in the compressed file is a nail he painstakingly stitched back together inch by inch on the spiderweb of time.

They are cold, sharp, and undeniable, made specifically for executing a beast.

He looked up, took the juice Shirley offered, took a small sip, and his gaze fell on the "sent successfully" confirmation on the screen, his eyes calm and clear.

The storm begins.

At 4:48 AM on July 7th, an anonymously delivered email on D-Company's intranet was decompressed.

The title is concise and cold:

[AK-47: Kim Soo-hyun Case - Evidence Package of the Entire Process of Sexual Assault Against a Minor]

The D-Company systems engineer, who thought it was just another boring leak, casually opened the file. The next second, cold sweat poured down his back, and he felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave.

Three high-definition videos, two phone recordings, dozens of key screenshots, and a meticulously structured, technically dense, and nearly medical-grade "victim psychological analysis report."

An unprecedented whistleblower arrived in the face of their company in the most powerful form.

Early morning in Seoul.

As dawn broke and the fog had not yet dissipated, the entire city seemed to be oscillating between sleep and awakening.

D Company Headquarters.

The editorial department's morning meeting had just begun. A group of editors were yawning, some looking through their drafts, others scrolling through their phones, waiting for their supervisor to speak.

Just then, the system engineer in charge of monitoring the internal secure email system rushed in, looking tense and speaking urgently:

"Minister, there is an anonymous letter that you must look at now."

Minister Kim frowned and took the iPad from the engineer.

The screen displayed an extremely minimalist interface, with a glaringly obvious email title: 【AK-47: Undisclosed Process of Kim Soo-hyun's Sexual Assault of a Minor Girl】

He clicked on the attachment, and his finger stopped as soon as he saw the table of contents.

Video footage (3 segments)
Telephone recordings (2 segments)
Photos of the two chatting
Timeline positioning cross trajectory

Victim's psychological diagnostic scan
PUA (Pick-Up Artist) techniques and behavioral templates

The entire compressed file is arranged in a professional-grade judicial evidence archiving style, with a rigorous structure, clear logic, and even includes legal assessment annotations and timestamps for traceability.

Absolutely no moisture.

Minister Kim's face instantly darkened.

This is a bomb.

And it's not a small bomb, it's nuclear-grade material capable of completely obliterating Kim Soo-hyun, who's on his way to the top.

Even more devastating is one of the videos, which clearly captured Kim Soo-hyun's face and his identifiable interaction with the victim.

In addition, there are multiple conversation logs, voice calls, and psychological reports.

"This...cannot be fabricated," the deputy editor-in-chief said in a hoarse voice.

"Investigate the source," Minister Kim gritted his teeth. "Who received the email?"

"It has already leaked into several internal editing groups, but fortunately our system automatically blocks external synchronization."

“Too late.” Minister Kim’s gaze was icy. “The contents are too complete. Even if we don’t act, someone else will.”

He glanced at the warning attached to the last page of the compressed file:

—Don't wait until the hype dies down; the opportunity is now.

—From a whistleblower of time.

After a moment's thought, Minister Kim turned off the iPad screen and ordered, "Contact the higher-ups immediately; I need to call an emergency meeting."

A dozen minutes later, the editorial department of D-Media urgently assembled.

The atmosphere in the meeting room was heavy and oppressive; you could almost hear a pin drop.

“I don’t care who submitted it,” the editor-in-chief said first, his tone icy. “We have to publish this.”

"The chairman will put pressure on us," the deputy editor reminded him.

“It can’t be suppressed.” The editor interrupted him, slamming a PUA script template onto the table. “This isn’t the kind of blurry footage we’ve seen before. This is the whole chain, all the evidence, even including how he manipulated that girl’s psychological trajectory step by step.”

"If we don't release it, it's like burying this industry with our own hands."

"If it's published, people might die," an editor whispered.

The editor-in-chief was silent for a few seconds, then slowly took off his glasses and looked at everyone. "Well, you still have to die like a journalist."

The room was deathly silent for a full thirty seconds.

Finally, he put on his glasses, his tone steady and firm.

"Follow the D-level distribution process, with distribution in three phases. The first wave will focus on 'interaction records + video screenshots'."

"I want to see the first draft on the table within two hours."

It was already afternoon of July 7th.

The doors to the offices of D Company's top executives were locked from the inside, and all the curtains were drawn, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of a plotted coup.

Video clips played on the screen in turn, and the only sounds in the room were the clicking of mice and the nicotine anxiety mixed with the constant coughing of some people smoking.

Have we identified the victim?

"There is only one piece of evidence, and it has already been confirmed: her mother has left a message agreeing to the release of the audio and requested that her face be blurred."

“This case, along with the psychological diagnosis report, makes the entire chain of evidence…more detailed than the prosecutor’s office’s standards.”

"We contacted two more people later, but they didn't have such a strong chain of evidence, and they were still with the company where Kim Soo-hyun works."

The printer kept spitting out documents, which the executives flipped through, annotated, and compared, like a jury meeting about to begin, or like waiting for the epicenter of a social earthquake to explode.

It's important to understand that even within Dispatch, the leadership isn't a monolithic entity.

So after reviewing all the information, some people suggested testing the waters by only posting partial screenshots.

Some people wanted to contact Kim Soo-hyun's team directly to see if they could "counterbalance with explosive news" in exchange for a bigger exclusive.

And it is in this process of weighing, pulling, and compromising.

Two days passed quietly.

……

On the night of November 7th.

Lin Xiuyuan sat in the dimly lit study, staring at the several anonymous email addresses on the screen that remained silent.

This is the third time he has refreshed the record.

Still no movement.

There was no warning released by Dispatch, nor even a vague leak on a forum.

The situation was so calm that it was as if nothing had happened.

“They’re waiting,” Lin Xiuyuan muttered to himself, his brows furrowing even deeper. “Or… they’ve chickened out.”

……

But the real turning point came the next day.

Early morning on December 7th.

As the pale blue dawn broke, the streets of Jiangnan remained bustling with traffic as always.

Just as the morning rush hour was beginning, Dispatch's official website suddenly updated with a special feature article.

[Exclusive Scoop] Top Male Star Suspected of Sexual Offense Against a Minor; Key Evidence Released.
The homepage cover image is a specially processed screenshot of a chat:

"You can't tell anyone, okay? You and I are secret lovers."

The little girl replied, "But I'm still a student..."

右下角，是那句令人窒息的时间标记：2013年4月19日晚 22:47
Scrolling down further, you'll find the main text of the first phase of the bombing:
Comparative Analysis of Apartment Corridor Surveillance Time
Excerpt from "Dating Conversation Templates".

PUA psychological induction record.

Screenshot of the victim's handwriting statement.

There were no names mentioned, no direct confrontation, but every message was sharp enough to pierce through the silence.

Lin Xiuyuan, who had stayed up all night, sat in front of his computer, his phone vibrating incessantly, but he didn't check it.

He simply opened the Dispatch website quietly, read the entire article, then slowly leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes.

"here we go."

Two days of silence were finally followed by the first thunderclap.

Dispatch didn't drag it out for more than 72 hours.

But the storm has only just begun.

As night fell, the D-Company's editorial office remained brightly lit, the air thick with the smell of coffee and the tension of nerves.

At 7 p.m. that evening, the official website was updated with the second phase of bombing.

Eye-catching title: [Exclusive Footage] "Top Idol Brings Minor into Room Late at Night: Full Process Exposed (Including Hallway Surveillance Footage + Partial Audio)"

The news went viral within minutes of its release, turning social media platforms into a battleground for public opinion.

The first thing to trend on social media was that surveillance screenshot:

At 3:30 a.m., Kim Soo-hyun, wearing a gray trench coat, returned to his apartment. Behind him was a slender girl wearing a baseball cap.

The timestamp and location information have been blurred, but the image is still exceptionally clear.

For the audio portion, Dispatch released a 45-second highlight clip:
Kim Soo-hyun whispered, "I just want to hug you. I love your scent."

The girl's voice was soft: "But I really don't want to... my stomach hurts today..."

In just 45 seconds, the so-called "space for misunderstanding" was completely shattered.

The entire data package was named: "Night of Gray Shadows".

The article concludes with a note: "Two original documents remain unpublished due to privacy concerns of the victims. Their release will depend on subsequent responses."

　The voting for the 10,000 votes has ended. Thank you to all the godfathers for your support and votes.

　　Daily progress report: 63/69.

　　I'm begging for monthly votes, subscriptions, donations, anything!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)