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The total contact time was less than 48 seconds. If someone could precisely predict when Quan Shaoqing’s meeting would end, as well as account for his departure time, they definitely had accomplices.

Gu Xiaoxi quickly took screenshots of the video and backed them up before shutting down the computer.

At that moment, all thousand computers in the command center resumed operation. For an entire hour, the news shook the entire Military Department, and everyone knew someone had hacked into their computers.

The foreheads of everyone in the Information Department were beaded with sweat as they scrambled to identify the mastermind, but they were led astray by a network black hole.

By the time they realized what had happened, the computers had returned to normal.

There was no malicious attack on the computers, no files were lost, no viruses had infiltrated, and even the Military Department’s firewall had not registered any disturbance.

All computers miraculously stopped working for over an hour? The adversary’s methods were clever and exquisite, they even set a trap for the Information Department.

Because of this incident, Lin Mi’s phone was almost blown up with calls.

Gu Xiaoxi, carrying Yeh Bai’s computer, opened the door to his room.

At this time, Yeh Bai was in Quan Shaoqing’s hospital room.

Lin Mi’s phone was blowing up with calls, and naturally, Quan Shaoqing wasn’t faring much better. Still connected to an IV, he lay in bed answering calls.

"Superior officer, just now. Our command center’s computers all went dark for one hour and twenty minutes. To this moment, we haven’t discovered any reason for it." Lin Mi was overcome with a desire to die.

Right then, Gu Xiaoxi entered with Yeh Bai’s computer, boasting to Quan Shaoqing, "I found the culprit."

Quan Shaoqing’s face darkened, already suspecting why the Military Department’s computers had gone dark for an hour.

Thus, with a voice filled with rage, he yelled into the phone, "Just now I was merely testing the Information Department, but I didn’t expect them all to be useless. Now, demote everyone in the Information Department by one rank. Anyone whose skills aren’t up to par, get out of my military."

To be honest,

Having the Military Department’s computer network blown by Gu Xiaoxi, even he felt humiliated.

Like a man who had taken gunpowder, Quan Shaoqing put down the phone and then looked at Yeh Bai, "Help me sit up."

"Superior officer, your injury shouldn’t..."

Yeh Bai, frightened by Quan Shaoqing’s cold stare, quickly stepped forward, grabbed a couple of pillows, and grudgingly helped him sit up, leaning against the pillows.

Gu Xiaoxi stepped forward, still unaware of her mistake.

Instead, she appeared to be seeking commendation, opened the computer, handed it to Quan Shaoqing with a grin, "I found the culprit. You have to keep your word."

Quan Shaoqing glanced at her, and at that moment, he didn’t want to speak unnecessarily. He would deal with her later.

After looking at the computer monitor, his brow furrowed instantly, "Someone who can calculate my schedule this precisely definitely means there’s a mole around me."

Gu Xiaoxi clapped her hands, stood up, and beamed a radiant smile, "That’s right! I’ve completed the preliminary task. It’s up to you to investigate the mole. Hurry up and promote me and give me my award!"

Yeh Bai twitched the corner of his mouth. Gu Xiaoxi actually dared to ask Quan Shaoqing for a reward?

Not to mention, her task was to secretly take care of Quan Shaoqing, something that couldn’t be made public, thereby lacking any justifiable reason for rewards and promotions.

Furthermore, the mistake she made, hacking into the military network on her own initiative, if not for Quan Shaoqing shouldering the blame for her, finding an excuse to dismiss the matter, she would have been arrested as a spy by now, to be presented before a military tribunal.

The command center was no place for someone to tamper with lightly...

"First, tell me, how did you find this video so quickly?" Quan Shaoqing stared at Gu Xiaoxi expressionlessly, his dark eyes flickering uncertainly.

Gu Xiaoxi felt an undercurrent of anger in his tone, but she had not provoked him, so she said with a touch of pride, "Of course, it’s because of my superior hacking skills.

By controlling all of the Military Department’s computers simultaneously, I conducted a carpet search, filtered out your appearances, then focused on the videos when the cars started moving, and finally zeroed in on the surveillance footage when the car stopped.

That’s how I narrowed it down... I’m smart, right! Reward, reward!"

She happily ran to him and stretched out both hands, like a child expecting candy.

Yeh Bai covered his face. Did Gu Xiaoxi not see the fury about to erupt from Quan Shaoqing’s eyes?

"Hmph!" Quan Shaoqing coolly glanced at Gu Xiaoxi’s hands extended in front of him, those slender fingers, fair and delicate, the knuckles clean and appealing, not resembling those of a soldier subjected to rigorous training.

With a dark expression, he ignored her hand, looked up to stare at her face, and seeing her eyes filled with triumph, he really didn’t have the heart to punish her. Yet, "Unauthorized intrusion into military networks causing panic. Tell me, do you still think you deserve promotion?"

"why?"

Gu Xiaoxi immediately grasped Quan Shaoqing’s hand, her expression turning slightly agitated, "You can’t go back on your word!"

"Still unaware of the severity of your mistake, are you? Give me two hundred push-ups, then I will slowly explain to you what mistake you’ve made," Quan Shaoqing’s commanding presence radiated from him.

Gu Xiaoxi was utterly bewildered! She helped him find the culprit, yet he was saying she made a mistake?

Instantly releasing Quan Shaoqing’s hand, Gu Xiaoxi planted her hands on her hips, standing in front of him, indignation bubbling within her, "You’re trying to welch on me, aren’t you!"

"Gu Xiaoxi, get ready for push-ups!" Quan Shaoqing just coldly stared at her, his deep pupils as if they swept in tiny shards of ice, immediately sending chills to wash over Gu Xiaoxi head on.

Damn it!

It was that look again; she remembered how intimidated she was the first time, when he handed her some fake money, causing her to be chased all over the streets.

There was a momentary suspension in the air, and Gu Xiaoxi felt as if she had forgotten to breathe in that instant. It was the domineering pressure emanating from the man.

Fine!

She conceded!

Gu Xiaoxi lay on the ground and began doing push-ups. It was just two hundred, as easy as drinking water.

However, after doing four or five, she couldn’t help but feel indignant and asked, "Tell me, what did I do wrong?"

Quan Shaoqing watched her show of compliance and only then slightly narrowed his eyes, reining in the cold light within them, and said in a stern voice, "You hacked into the Military Department’s network without authorization.

It affected everyone’s work. Even though your intentions were good, you used the wrong method. "

"I did it to find the murderer for you as quickly as possible!" Gu Xiaoxi defended herself.

"You used so many computers that you caused panic. No need to say any more; a promotion is definitely out of the question. Two hundred push-ups is already a form of punishment. Don’t be so reckless again in the future."

Quan Shaoqing finished speaking.

Gu Xiaoxi stopped doing push-ups altogether. Instead, she crossed her legs and plopped down on the ground, looking up at Quan Shaoqing on the bed, "I’m on strike!"

Damn, she had just done something thankless.

Yeh Bai secretly gave Gu Xiaoxi a thumbs-up, "Impressive, my Xiao Xi!"

Who would have known that Quan Shaoqing saw this...

The man casually glanced at him, "Go outside and do four hundred push-ups!"

"Why!" Yeh Bai’s eyes widened, in disbelief! He hadn’t done anything wrong?

"No electronic devices other than mobile phones are allowed in here! Who let you lend her a laptop?" Quan Shaoqing glared at him.

Yeh Bai: "..."

He accepted it! But, why the hell did he get four hundred while Gu Xiaoxi only got two hundred?

He wanted to go on strike too, but alas, he didn’t dare!

Yeh Bai sulked off to the doorway!

Before long, counting sounds came from outside: "One, two, three, four..."

"Doctor Yeh Bai. You counted to six, but only did three push-ups, skimping on the job, so that’s an extra hundred," Quan Shaoqing’s faint voice came from inside the room.

Yeh Bai immediately shivered, "Does this guy have eyes like a hawk? Too scary."

So, he obediently accepted his punishment.

Inside the room, Quan Shaoqing and Gu Xiaoxi stared each other down.

Gu Xiaoxi stood up, dusting off the dirt from her clothing. She wasn’t about to just obediently follow his orders...

She was on strike, determined to never feed him again.

"Gu Xiaoxi, if you disobey an order, that’s an extra two hundred!" Quan Shaoqing said with a stern face, fuming inwardly, this brat is getting cocky!

Gu Xiaoxi gave him a cold glance, nonchalantly sat down on the stool with a carefree and rebellious manner, "Go ahead and add it! Just penalize me a thousand while you’re at it. Anything less feels like no punishment at all!"

Quan Shaoqing swallowed, almost choking on his own breath, she even complained that it was too little.

"You think I don’t dare, don’t you? Gu Xiaoxi, by using reverse psychology, you’re only shortchanging yourself. I’ll count to three, and you’d better start doing four hundred push-ups. Otherwise, it’ll be a thousand."

"One"

"Two"

"Three"

Gu Xiaoxi glared with her dark eyes, frozen in place, not moving a muscle, as if challenging him, and even fluttered her long lashes.

For quite some time, she didn’t even move a fingertip.

Quan Shaoqing’s face turned red with anger. Trembling, he stretched out his injured hand, pointing at her, and roared, "Get out! A thousand push-ups!"

This time, Gu Xiaoxi stood from the stool, turned around stylishly, hands in her pockets, and walked out whistling.

Watching her leave, Quan Shaoqing was left utterly bewildered.

However, by noon, he finally understood why she would rather do a thousand push-ups.

Two nurses came in cautiously holding the lunch tray, "Superior officer, here’s your lunch."

Quan Shaoqing furrowed his brow and asked, "Where’s Gu Xiaoxi?"

The nurse glanced outside before quietly responding, "She’s doing push-ups with Doctor Yeh Bai! Not done yet?"

Quan Shaoqing’s face darkened, "Have her come in and feed me!"

"Superior officer, Miss Gu said she can’t do anything else during punishment; that’s the rule in the military."

Quan Shaoqing’s complexion began to turn a shade of ashen-blue, "That’s an order!"

The nurse, almost in tears, continued with Gu Xiaoxi’s original words, "She said the punishment was also your order. And it was your first order, so it must be completed first."

Quan Shaoqing: "..."