The Rise of a Special Forces Soldier Abandoned by a Wealthy Family

The air seemed to freeze for a few seconds in the office of Yan Yazhi, the vice president of Beijing University of Technology.

As Yan Ruge looked at Zeng Lingyu, who was pleading desperately and on the verge of collapse, a ridiculous yet increasingly clear thought drove her forward.

She took a deep breath, turned to her aunt, and spoke with unprecedented seriousness:

"Auntie, you know Xiaoyu's personality best. She is definitely not the kind of person who would make trouble or cause a scene."

"Her insistence this time, even to the point of being somewhat out of control... perhaps there really is a major hidden story behind it that we are not yet aware of."

"Could the school's official statement be worded more vaguely, and its release postponed for two days?"

"Let's just say it's to give all the teachers, students, and the public who are concerned about this matter the impression that 'the school attaches great importance to this matter and is conducting a comprehensive and in-depth investigation.' This will also make us appear more meticulous in our work, won't it?"

Yan Yazhi's gaze shifted between her niece's earnest pleading face and Zeng Lingyu's eyes, which were filled with despair and expectation.

As the vice president of Peking University, political sensitivity and the ability to weigh pros and cons are fundamental skills for her.

But at this moment, a deeper intuition was reminding her.

Zeng Lingyu's identity is extraordinary, and her willingness to protect an "ordinary" student at all costs is itself highly unusual.

Considering the recent upheavals within the department, and the vague hints from within the family...

She had a vague feeling that she was standing on the edge of a huge vortex, the energy of which far exceeded that of a simple campus public opinion storm.

She hesitated for a full minute, her fingertips unconsciously tapping the smooth mahogany tabletop, before finally speaking slowly, her tone still maintaining the official caution expected of her:

"Alright, Ling Yu, considering Ru Ge pleaded for you, and the school really needs a more comprehensive evaluation."

Zeng Lingyu's eyes lit up instantly, as if a drowning person had grabbed onto a piece of driftwood.

Yan Yazhi continued:

"I can hold off on the final decision for now, and when I release a statement, I will emphasize that 'the incident is complex and there are many doubts.'"

"A more detailed and impartial investigation and verification needs to be conducted jointly by multiple parties."

"but--"

She emphasized her words, her gaze sharp as she looked at Zeng Lingyu:

"I can only give you a maximum of 48 hours."

"If you can't find any convincing evidence that can substantially reverse public opinion within 48 hours, then there's nothing I can do. The school must give an explanation."

"48 hours is enough! Thank you, Aunt Yan! Thank you so much!"

Zeng Lingyu burst into tears of joy, thanked Yan Ruge repeatedly, grabbed her hand, and rushed out of the office like a gust of wind.

Her mind was now completely focused on finding Hao Shuai and Wang Ziteng immediately to discuss how to make the most of these precious two days.

In the office, Yan Yazhi sat down alone, looking out the window at the lush campus, her brows slightly furrowed.

She picked up the intercom and instructed her secretary to postpone the release of the announcement and to draft a new statement according to her requirements.

After hanging up the phone, she fell into deep thought.

Zeng Lingyu's unusual behavior, Li Weiguo's suspension, the Chen family's active maneuvering, the Zeng family's strange silence...

These fragments swirled in her mind, gradually piecing together a picture of turbulent undercurrents.

She realized that her decision might not only have been helping a student, but might have also inadvertently chosen a side.

Meanwhile, the storm in the online world, driven by the frenzied actions of the mastermind behind the scenes, reached a new peak of madness.

The trending topics list was almost entirely dominated by related topics:

Background Exposed of Zeng Long, a Student at Beijing Tsinghua University with a History of Organized Crime

"We demand that a certain minister be severely punished for abusing his power for personal gain."

"Zeng Long may have already fled the country, and the police are preparing an international arrest warrant..."

Various so-called "insider revelations"

"Screenshot of internal document".

"Anonymous allegations by alumni."

It spread like a virus.

The online trolls are fanning the flames around the clock, and their words are becoming increasingly vicious and sharp.

They even began to systematically dox, harass, and intimidate ordinary netizens and students from Beijing and Tsinghua Universities who dared to speak up for Zeng Long or express their doubts in the comments section.

They attempted to create a chilling effect, completely suppressing any dissenting voices.

Jinglong Club, top-floor private room.

Chen Yifeng slumped lazily into the sofa, enjoying the "feast" he had orchestrated on the computer screen.

Seeing the rising negative buzz and the overwhelming condemnation in the comments section, he wore a smug smile, as if he had already seen the end of the road to victory.

He elegantly raised his glass, took a sip, picked up the phone, and issued new instructions:

"Increase the firepower! Focus on exaggerating the minister's abuse of power, forgery of classified documents, and cover-up of criminals!"

"I'm going to make sure the hashtag 'This minister resigns' is firmly pinned to the top of the trending searches! I'll ruin his reputation so he can never recover!"

He was full of confidence. As long as Li Weiguo, this pillar of support, fell.

Second Uncle Chen Jianjun successfully took the position of acting minister of the Ministry of State Security. With the "prestige" he had accumulated through this operation and the "support" from all sides, his official appointment was almost a certainty.

At that time, the power of the Chen family will reach an unprecedented peak.

As for that little Zeng Long?

He was merely a pawn in his grand scheme, easily discarded. Once the storm had passed, there would be countless ways to make him "reasonably" disappear from this world.

However, Chen Yifeng would never have imagined this.

All his current smugness, every insidious order, every transfer of funds.

Every encrypted communication with the backers or executors behind the scenes...!

Even the confident smile on his face was seen through the "eye of God" hidden in the depths of the digital abyss.

Record, analyze, and archive clearly and completely.

Security Department, Ninth Special Intelligence Analysis Department.

This is an absolutely secret department whose existence is unknown even within the Ministry of Security.

It is not subordinate to any regular hierarchy and reports directly to the minister (or higher).

It possesses the ability to retrieve, analyze, and execute tasks beyond the scope of normal permissions.

Li Weiguo was only authorized to learn about and take over this department a year after he took office.

At this moment, inside the underground bunker of Unit 9, a massive stream of data was flowing like a waterfall on a huge screen.

A dozen or so intelligence analysts, their expressions stern and their eyes focused, flew across their keyboards, their fingers moving so fast they were barely visible.

The air was thick with a tension that was also tinged with the excitement of a hunter.

A middle-aged analyst codenamed "Black Abyss," with an unlit cigarette dangling from his mouth (in a no-smoking area), scanned several key monitoring screens with hawk-like eyes, his tone carrying a hint of cold amusement:

"Target 'Kite' (Chen Yifeng's codename) has increased its activity frequency, and the command level has been raised..."

"IP tracing completion rate 100%..."

"The entire fund chain is locked, and the intermediary accounts are clearly identified..."

"The communication network relationship map is 98% complete..."

He was like a patient spider, watching its prey dance wildly in its meticulously woven web, tightening its grip more and more.

"The minister was right... the stronger the storm, the clearer the marks it leaves behind."

"Let them perform to their heart's content... all the noise will eventually become their own elegy."

The chess game inside the Zeng family courtyard continued, but the atmosphere was completely different from the previous leisurely atmosphere.

After listening to Zeng Lao's cryptic remarks about "not competing is competing," Mr. Yan Fushan was deeply moved.

I took a closer look at Li Weiguo—the person at the center of the storm who had just been suspended from his post.

Far from being dejected, he remained calm and composed, with a faint, enigmatic smile playing on his lips.

The doubts in Mr. Yan's mind not only remained unresolved, but instead grew bigger and bigger like a snowball.

He knew Old Man Zeng well; the old man was known as "Thunderbolt" in his youth, always seeking revenge and never one to swallow his anger.

Such eerie calm must be hiding a devastating plan!

He simply pushed the chessboard aside, leaned forward, and spoke in a very low voice, almost inaudible to the three of them:

"Old Zeng! Stop playing games with me!"

"Give me the inside scoop right now, what earth-shattering plan are you plotting?"

"What exactly is the attitude of those at the highest levels regarding the Wei Kingdom matter?"

"We can't just stand by and watch that kid Chen Jianjun step on Wei Guo's shoulders and take control of such an important department as the Ministry of State Security, can we?"

Grandpa Zeng slowly sipped the fragrant tea in his cup, his gaze seemingly fixed on the old crabapple tree in the courtyard that had weathered countless storms, his tone elusive:

"Old Yan, you're getting on in years, why are you still so impatient?"

"Those at the highest point stand higher than us, so naturally they can see farther than we can."

"The reason they haven't made a clear statement yet is because they're waiting."

"Wait? Wait for what?" Yan Fushan asked eagerly.

"Waiting for an opportunity. Waiting for... an ironclad result that will allow everyone to see clearly who the loyal ministers are and who the traitors are, that will silence all the doubters, and that will make them determined to rectify the situation with swift and decisive action."

Grandpa Zeng's eyes suddenly became incredibly sharp, like a sleeping lion opening its eyes.

"It's nothing for Weiguo to suffer a little injustice for now."

"Giving up the spot for now is fine."

"The important thing is to take this opportunity to stir up all those scoundrels, those who form cliques, those who spread rumors and sow discord, and expose them to the light of day! Let's clean up the pond!"

He turned to Li Weiguo: "Weiguo, over there, have you cast all the nets? Are you prepared to ensure everything goes smoothly?"

Li Weiguo nodded calmly, his eyes gleaming with a wise light that suggested he had everything under control.

"Don't worry, Chief. The surveillance network of Unit 9 has completely covered all key targets."

"The technical support provided by Comrade Xiaoya (the first time he mentioned this person to outsiders) gave us irrefutable evidence of almost all of their communications and financial transactions."

"The more enthusiastically they dance and the more energetically they perform, the more irrefutable and indisputable the evidence they leave behind becomes."

"Now, we're just waiting for the right opportunity to strike, then we can sweep them all away!"

"East Wind? Xiaoya?" Yan Fushan caught this key phrase, seemingly lost in thought. "The East Wind you're referring to is..."

"It's this operation in the Middle East," Old Master Zeng interjected, his voice low but carrying an indescribable pride and unwavering conviction.

"Wait until news of our children fighting bravely for our country overseas, demonstrating the might and prestige of our nation, and achieving great feats of valor reaches us!"

"Let's see who in the country still has the audacity to use fabricated, despicable charges to smear a decorated war hero and his mentor!"

"At that time, the distinction between loyalty and treachery, between what is of paramount importance to the nation and what is petty scheming, will be self-evident!"

"All the silence, concessions, and unjust treatment we've endured will, in that moment, transform into an unstoppable, thunderous counterattack!"

"That is the mighty east wind that can truly sweep away all evil influences."

Yan Fushan was deeply moved, but upon closer reflection, he still felt that some key points remained unresolved:

"But... what exactly is the connection between this and Wei Guo's case? After all, they are two separate matters..."

Grandpa Zeng waved his hand, interrupting him, a mysterious smile appearing on his face:

"Old Yan, it's not time to reveal all the details yet."

"All I can tell you is that it's extremely relevant, and it's the most crucial link."

"As for the rest, when the time is right, those above will naturally come to explain everything to you and to all of us old comrades."

"Now, all we need to do is wait patiently, trust our soldiers, and believe... that the east wind will surely come!"

Looking at his old friend's incredibly confident expression, and then at the unfathomable Li Weiguo, Yan Fushan felt a strange sense of peace, even though his doubts had not completely dissipated.

He had a vague feeling that a huge storm was quietly brewing, and its ultimate direction might completely change the fate of many people and the existing situation.

He sat up straight again, no longer asking any questions, but his eyes became even more profound.