My online dating circle has millions of followers, why would she put a collar on me?

He went up to the third floor, walked to the door at the end of the corridor that was marked "Technical Department", took out his key, turned the lock, and pushed the door open.

The room was small, with several desks side by side against the wall, and a few monitors and a bunch of tangled cables piled on the desks.

The server rack in the corner was running, emitting a low hum.

Song Mingyuan sat down at the table by the window, took out an access card from his pocket, and taped it against the side of the main unit. The screen lit up and a login interface popped up.

He entered his account and password, and then swiped his fingerprint again.

After successfully logging into the system, he took out a silver data cable and a small dark gray USB flash drive from the drawer.

The USB flash drive is nothing special; its appearance is no different from ordinary storage devices on the market, except that there are no labels or text on its surface.

He first plugged one end of the data cable into the computer's USB port, and then connected the other end to the data interface of Jiang Yi's mobile phone.

The screen flashed and a window popped up, showing that the device had been recognized.

He moved very quickly.

Open the file manager, locate the phone's storage directory, and then insert the dark gray USB drive.

The USB drive automatically ran a program that popped up a minimalist command-line interface, with a few lines of white characters scrolling rapidly on a black background.

He plugged the USB drive into the computer and then looked at the screen—the progress bar was moving steadily to the right.

He stared at the progress bar until it was 100% complete, then let out a long sigh of relief.

Song Mingyuan straightened up, took out his phone from his pocket, found a number without a saved name, and pressed the dial button.

The phone rang twice before being answered.

Before the other person could speak, he lowered his voice and said:

"Mr. J, I've done as you instructed. Could you please delete that file of yours?"

There was a two-second silence on the other end of the phone.

After a sneer, "it" spoke, its voice clearly altered, making it impossible to tell if it was male or female.

"Deputy Director Song, do you really not want to work for me? This powerful director position is yours with just one word from me."

Song Mingyuan was horrified.

Two years ago, after returning home from his usual social engagements, he found a letter tucked into his bedside table.

He opened it, and there was clear evidence of embezzlement written on it. At that moment, he sobered up.

He thought he had done it perfectly and that no one would know, but it still got found out, and it was placed right by his bedside.

He reviewed all the surveillance footage in the area but couldn't find the person.

He didn't sleep a wink that night, simulating countless times the police breaking into the house and taking him away.

But it didn't happen.

Even for the next week, month, year, or two years, nothing happened.

But just when he was about to forget about it, around 7 a.m., a transfer order came and he arrived at this position.

Also arriving was the phone call from someone claiming to be "Mr. J".

He originally thought that this so-called Mr. J would ask him to do something dangerous, but he didn't expect that he would just do one thing for him.

Now, this all-powerful "Mr. J" is actually asking me if I want to do something for him.

He had been in the position of deputy director for ten years, and this person said that he could become the director with just one word from him.

Who wouldn't be tempted?

He swallowed hard.

He said in an almost obsequious tone, "Mr. J, is there anything else you need? Please let me know."

However, Mr. J did not bring up his previous statement again, but instead said:

"I'll handle the documents you embezzled. Just return the phone and pretend you didn't do anything. Do you understand?"

Song Mingyuan's Adam's apple bobbed up and down.

"clear."

The phone hangs up.

He held his phone, sat on the chair for a few more seconds, then unplugged the data cable, removed the USB drive from the computer, and carefully put it into the deepest part of the drawer.

Then he put the two phones back into the two transparent sealed bags, stood up, and walked out of the technical department's office.

When he returned to the lobby on the first floor, his face was once again adorned with that gentle and measured smile.

He handed the two sealed bags back to the receptionist, saying, "Return them to them when they come out," then turned and went into his office, closing the door behind him.

……

Li Zhenghua sat in the reception room, looking down at a case file he had brought with him. Jiang Yi sat next to him, and Su Xiaoyue sat opposite him.

The air between the three people was quiet and heavy.

When the door was pushed open, Li Zhenghua looked up and saw Song Mingyuan standing at the door, holding a tray with three cups of hot tea on it.

"Have you been waiting long?"

Song Mingyuan walked in and placed the tea on the coffee table with a measured touch.

"The forensic doctor's preliminary diagnosis is cardiac arrest, but the detailed report won't be available until tomorrow."

Before Deputy Director Song could finish speaking, Jiang Yi immediately interrupted, "How could that be? My sister has always been in very good health, how could she..."

Deputy Director Song waved his hand.

"Mr. Jiang, you may have misunderstood us because of some things that happened before, but please believe me, I was just transferred here to handle this matter, and I will not take sides."

After saying that, he handed a document from under the tea tray to Jiang Yi and the other two, one for each of them.

He pointed to the documents and said to Jiang Yi, "According to the hospital's records, although Jiang Miaomiao herself has never had any heart problems, you and Jiang Miaomiao's mother have congenital heart disease."

"This type of heart disease is very easily inherited."

Jiang Yi didn't look at the documents because he knew that Deputy Director Song was right.

My mother has suffered from heart disease for many years.

Then everything can be explained.

But he refused to believe that it was such a simple reason.

How could it be such a coincidence?

Deputy Director Song realized that Jiang Yi was unable to communicate, so he looked at lawyer Li Zhenghua.

"Attorney Li, the investigation and review of the case itself are still ongoing."

"After all, Jiang Miaomiao's sudden death has brought new changes to both the original confession and the recantation record. The prosecutor's office has requested a re-examination of the evidence chain, and it will take at least a week to reach a conclusion."

After listening, Li Zhenghua slowly nodded, as if he had already anticipated these words.

"Understood, thank you for your understanding, Deputy Director Song."

Song Mingyuan smiled and waved his hand. After exchanging a few more pleasantries, he got up to take his leave, leaving three cups of tea, almost untouched, steaming on the coffee table.

The meeting room fell silent again.

Jiang Yi sat for a while, then suddenly stood up: "I'm going out for some fresh air."