King of Technology: A Fresh Start in 1983

"Hey, tell me about your plans..." Zhan Yiling couldn't help but ask.

He Fan swallowed hard: "In 1989, Tim Berners-Lee invented the Global Information Network..."

"In 1991, the Global System for Internet Access (GSA) was officially opened to the public, marking the beginning of the commercialization and socialization of the Internet..."

"You want to get involved in the internet?"

He Fan chuckled: "Got it now? My first and second pots of gold were prepared for this."

"Okay! I'll tell you the details later, I'm so sleepy."

"Then you should go wash up and go to bed!"

"No, I have to go home!"

He Fan stood up. "I can't sleep well here. I'll wake up if you move even slightly."

"I slept soundly at home, and I can sleep in late tomorrow."

"No!"

Zhan Yiling immediately grabbed him, "It's so late, and you're so tired. I'm worried about you on the way."

"Okay, you sleep in the bed, and I'll sleep on the sofa."

He Fan waved his hand: "How are you going to sleep on this single sofa?"

Zhan Yiling continued, "I pull the chairs over and push them together. I always sleep like this when I'm working overtime at the company late at night."

"no."

He Fan shook his head. "If I'm worried that you won't sleep well, I won't be able to sleep soundly either."

"Then I'll walk you home, and then I'll come back. I'm afraid something might happen to you on the way."

"No way! If we get to my house, I'll be worried something might happen to you on the way, and I'll have to take you back. Wouldn't that be endless?"

He Fan laughed and said, "Don't worry! What could possibly happen to a grown man like me?"

Zhan Yiling said worriedly, "Oh dear, what are we going to do now?"

"If I move, you won't be able to sleep well, and then we won't be able to sleep in the same bed anymore."

"How about I go buy another single bed?"

He Fan patted her head: "No need! I'll be fine after a few days of rest, and we can still cuddle and sleep together as usual."

Zhan Yiling saw him to the door, but He Fan wouldn't let her go downstairs.

She held He Fan's hand reluctantly, saying, "Then you'd better get this problem cured quickly. Otherwise, I can't sleep without holding you."

...

The next morning, Zhan Yiling went to the post office near the company and sent the packaged ID card back to Gao Jianmin by express mail.

A thank-you card was also included.

However, she made no mention of IBM's Pengcheng Research Institute or campus recruitment, as she did not want to leave any written evidence.

Two days later, Gao Jianmin called, asking with a grin, "Why are you being so formal? Do you need to thank me?"

"If you really want to say it, you should say it face to face."

"I'm sorry, I've been on business trips to several places these past few days. I was worried about delaying your return of the ID cards to those students, so I had to send them to you as soon as possible."

Zhan Yiling then asked, "No problems were found after checking, right?"

"What problems could there be? I trust you to handle things."

Gao Jianmin said, "Are you going on another business trip in the next few days? You should have time to see me."

After a moment's thought, Zhan Yiling hardened her heart and said, "I'm so sorry, Professor Gao, but a major project needs to be completed by the end of August, which concerns my future. Please understand!"

"Let's get back in touch after I'm less busy, okay?"

Gao Jianmin's tone suddenly changed: "Yiling, what I can't understand is that you were able to see me twice within four days a while ago."

"But once the matter was settled, we were so busy that we never had time to meet again. Is that just a coincidence?"

Zhan Yiling forced a smile and said, "There's nothing I can do. That's how it is in foreign companies; you're not in control of your own destiny."

"I don't think it has anything to do with foreign companies; you're simply not in control of your own mind and body!"

Gao Jianmin snorted coldly, "Because you gave your body and soul to He Fan, am I right?"

Seeing that Zhan Yiling remained silent, Gao Jianmin's tone grew even more somber. "Actually, whether you come to see me or not, it concerns your future at IBM, do you believe me?"

Zhan Yiling was immediately startled: "Teacher Gao, what do you mean by that?"

"You should know exactly what I mean."

Gao Jianmin said coldly, "You asked me to collect so many ID cards, is it really for IBM to set up some research institute in Shenzhen?"

"Do you really intend to use those ID cards to lure IBM to our school for recruitment?"

Zhan Yiling suddenly felt a chill run down her spine!

He replied vaguely, "Thank you for your help. I've done my best, but there's nothing I can do about the follow-up."

"Yiling, I've always thought you're the smartest girl I've ever met."

Gao Jianmin sighed. "But in your eyes, I'm probably both stupid and dumb, right? Do you think I never watch the news?"

"You've probably forgotten that a significant part of my job is keeping track of current events in all areas."

"You think I knew nothing about the big thing that happened in Shenzhen a few days ago?"

"If your so-called IBM Research Institute wasn't just happened to be located in Shenzhen, if you hadn't repeatedly emphasized the importance of Shenzhen ID cards..."

"I may not be sure if there is any necessary connection between them."

"Although I was a little confused at the beginning about why the original ID card was required for registration, couldn't a photocopy be used?"

"But because I trusted you, I didn't think about it at all."

"But once the news of the Shenzhen stock market investors' riot spread, I understood everything."

"Yiling, did He Fan tell you to do this, or did you do it voluntarily for He Fan?"

After waiting for a while without receiving a reply from the other end of the phone, Gao Jianmin pressed on relentlessly.

"It's okay if you don't want to tell me! If I, on behalf of the school, verify this with your company, I'm sure the answer won't be hard to find, right?"

"But you should know very well what the consequences would be."

"So, don't you think it's necessary to explain this to me in person?"

"Even if you don't want to say sorry, shouldn't you at least thank me in person?"

"Even if you don't thank me for helping you get your ID card, you should at least thank me for letting you off the hook, right?"

After hearing Gao Jianmin's words, Zhan Yiling fell silent!

Although I had anticipated this risk, I thought it was only theoretical.

She never believed that this risk would one day become a reality.

She asked coldly, "Gao Jianmin, what do you want?"

Gao Jianmin immediately softened: "I didn't mean anything by it, I just wanted to see you and let you know how I feel about you."

Then, his tone changed again, "Of course, I also want you to know that I hate being used by others the most."

"Anyone who takes advantage of me will have to pay a price!"

At this moment, Zhan Yiling realized that she had no way out.

Now that things have come to this, we have no choice but to take the offensive and fight with all our might.

He tried to keep his voice down, but his tone was firm: "Teacher Gao, you're making baseless accusations. Do you have any evidence?"

"You have absolutely no evidence; this is all just your side of the story!"

"That's right, I'm asking you to help me borrow some ID cards because you know a lot of people."

"But how you borrow it, and what reason you give for it, that's your business."

"I never expected you to fabricate such a bunch of nonsensical claims and then turn around and accuse me."