Hidden identities of the AI Heiress
Chapter 839 - Chapter 839 Chapter 839 She Won Without Fighting

Chapter 839: Chapter 839: She Won Without Fighting Chapter 839: Chapter 839: She Won Without Fighting In the hotel.

Huo Chi sat on the sofa, his expression very serious, as he kept his eyes fixed on his phone.

Suddenly, his phone rang.

Huo Chi hurriedly answered, his voice full of anticipation as he asked directly, “How did it go?”

“Second Young Master, everything is going smoothly; she didn’t manage to get there in time, and our cars are blocking her from leaving.”

“Good, well done.”

Huo Chi couldn’t help but laugh out loud, showing a genuinely happy smile for the first time in days.

With the plan going so smoothly, he relaxed completely, kicked his feet up onto the coffee table, and wore a smug look on his face.

After all the trouble, things were finally going his way, and he suddenly felt confident about the plan. He glanced at Han Luo and warned, “I’ve handled the obstacles you were worried about. Next, I hope you won’t disappoint me.”

In front of Han Luo was a supercomputer, and he adjusted the glasses on his nose bridge: “As soon as there’s any movement from Jiang Jing’s side, I can take action.”

Huo Chi nodded; he didn’t understand the intricacies of the upcoming steps.

He was interested in the outcome, not the process.

Huo Chi sneered and said scornfully, “I knew she would regret it. She passed up Huo Research Institute to choose Tianqi, and now, she can’t get into Tianqi. Heh, I’m waiting for her to come begging to me.”

If he couldn’t have something, he wouldn’t let others have it either.

Moreover, how could he possibly hand over a talent like Qiao Yun to a competitor and strengthen the enemy?

The Huo Family business was vast, and the Huo Research Institute was just a part of their industry; he was still counting on efficiently completing this affair and having Huo Lin hand over the management of the Huo Research Institute to him.

Feeling very pleased, Huo Chi, embracing the thought of disgust, deliberately sent a message to Qiao Yun.

[I’m giving you another chance to enter the Huo Research Institute. Of course, you will have to fight for this opportunity yourself.]

[You didn’t want the favor I offered earlier; now, there’s no such cheap deal.]

Huo Chi waited a while, and a reply came from the other side.

[You’re so annoying, get lost.]

Huo Chi: “…”

Huo Chi stared in disbelief.

Excellent, it was the first time someone told him to get lost!

Qiao Yun didn’t yet know that her being stuck on the road was related to Huo Chi; after telling him not to bother her, she blocked him.

Lu Shiran checked his phone for the time and said anxiously, “There’s only half an hour left; isn’t it too late?”

The police had already been alerted to deal with it, but it wasn’t something that could be sorted out quickly.

Qiao Yun looked thoughtfully at the collapse up ahead and nodded: “Mmm, once the time is up, the entrance will close, and we won’t be able to get in.”

Although she had special privileges, she couldn’t expect everyone to wait for her.

Tianqi had its own rules, and she didn’t want to break them for personal reasons.

But Han Wang wouldn’t care about all that and would genuinely wait for her to arrive.

This wasn’t right; it wouldn’t do.

The rules of Tianqi Research Institute could not be broken.

After a moment of contemplation, Qiao Yun took out her phone and tapped a few times.

Lu Shiran scratched his head: “Are we just going to wait here?”

Li Miao thought for a moment before speaking: “Don’t rush; let me call my brother and see if he has a solution.”

She was used to turning to Li Hanzhou whenever she faced a problem.

“No need, I have a plan,” Qiao Yun said, shifting her gaze from her phone and lifting her clear black and white eyes: “It’s okay to use my privileges occasionally.”

Li Miao: ???

Lu Shiran: ???

…

Assessment arena.

The security checks all the way here were extremely strict, and once inside the arena, you could feel a very serious atmosphere that almost made you afraid to breathe deeply.

There were actually quite a few people who registered for the Tianqi assessment, and if they could pass smoothly, they would be able to formally enter Tianqi. Even though it was external, what if they could enter the core area?

However, even those who registered still had to pass initial exams, so the ones who made it to the arena were the final contestants who had passed some of the earlier tests.

Jiang Jing was one of them, she had prepared for the Tianqi assessment for almost three years, and this time she was very confident.

The only variable was Qiao Yun.

So, as soon as she arrived at the arena, she scanned the crowd with narrowed eyes, until she didn’t see Qiao Yun’s figure, Jiang Jing then flirted with her hair beside her ear and smiled softly.

“Jingjing, what are you smiling about?” Xu Qiao didn’t quite understand her own daughter anymore. She seemed absent-minded on the way here, so why did she regain her confidence as soon as they arrived?

Jiang Jing said gracefully, “Nothing much, just thinking about the bet I made with Qiao Yun. I looked for her just now but didn’t see her; I’m a bit worried she might not come.”

“Definitely scared off,” Xu Qiao said with disdain. “I thought she was something formidable, and yet she chickens out when it counts.”

Jiang Jing pursed her lips and smiled, not explaining that Qiao Yun might not have chickened out, but rather was blocked at the foot of the mountain.

So what?

Luck is also a form of strength.

If Qiao Yun couldn’t arrive on time, losing would mean losing.

No one else to blame.

If you have to leave the circle, then you must leave.

Ever since witnessing Qiao Yun’s capabilities, Qiao Yun had almost become Jiang Jing’s Heart Demon.

She was always worried that she would lose to Qiao Yun and be embarrassed in front of her.

Now that she couldn’t come, Jiang Jing felt like a weight had been lifted off her chest; she could finally focus on the assessment. She said to Xu Qiao, “Mom, you go sit in the observers’ area, I will go ahead.”

“Alright,” Xu Qiao patted Jiang Jing’s hand and whispered, “Once you get into Tianqi Research Institute, if you can meet Professor Qiao, try to make her take you as a student. Wouldn’t that be better than Professor Xu?”

Jiang Jing didn’t say much, just nodded her head.

No matter how much she explained, her mother wouldn’t understand.

She didn’t think Professor Qiao was that easy to meet, although she did wish to become Professor Qiao’s student.

…

For the Tianqi assessment, Shen Qi and Xu Fang, through their relationship with Qiao Yun, got VIP invitations as observers through the back door.

For informal competitions like this, only people within the circle were interested, and most attendees were involved in scientific research.

With Tianqi’s ample funds, the venue was very large. There weren’t many visitors, and the sparsely seated few dozen people were all whispering amongst themselves.

As soon as Shen Qi entered, he saw Li Hanzhou. The man’s presence was so imposing it was hard not to notice.

His eyes lit up, and he immediately dragged Xu Fang over. Arriving beside Li Hanzhou, his gaze flitted all around, “Li, when did you get here? I thought you weren’t interested in these kinds of assessments. And where is Professor Qiao? Didn’t you come together?”

Li Hanzhou sat in a casual pose, replying languidly, “The little friend is still on her way.”

Shen Qi felt a twinge of envy, “I’ve been wanting to say, how does Professor Qiao look anything like a little friend?”

Li Hanzhou’s smile had a teasing edge, “Do you have an objection?”

Shen Qi immediately sat up straight, “Not at all! I wouldn’t dare, even if the sky fell down.”

Li Hanzhou chuckled softly, withdrawing his gaze from Shen Qi.

Shen Qi swallowed, thinking, what’s with this feeling of having narrowly escaped death?

Li Hanzhou glanced at the two of them, “How come you guys are here?”

Shen Qi answered, “Xu Fang’s younger brother is also participating, I’m here with him.”

Xu Fang nodded and pointed to a young man not far away who was maintaining a serious facade, “That’s my cousin. Li Bro, we’re so familiar by now. If he gets rejected, could you maybe…”

Li Hanzhou mercilessly refused, “Cannot.”

Given the kid’s character, pulling strings was absolutely impossible.

Xu Fang wasn’t embarrassed either, he chuckled, “Looks like my cousin can only rely on himself. By the way, will Professor Qiao attend today?”

“She probably won’t.” Shen Qi shrugged his shoulders and said regretfully, “As far as I know, Professor Qiao doesn’t like attending events. She thinks they’re a waste of time.”

Li Hanzhou lightly quirked his lips, speaking leisurely, “She will come.”

“Huh?” Shen Qi was quite surprised, “Professor Qiao is coming to attend the assessment? No, isn’t she afraid of her identity being revealed?”

He lowered his voice when he said the last sentence, fearing others might overhear.

If the people present knew Qiao Yun was Professor Qiao, she couldn’t expect to live an ordinary life.

Li Hanzhou simply said, “As an examiner.”

Shen Qi was startled, then turned to Xu Fang and said, “That’s also possible?”

Xu Fang realized and said, “I just heard there would be two examiners for this assessment; turns out the other one is Professor Qiao. Aren’t we in for a treat then.”

The assessments at Tianqi were not formal competitions, so in past years the person in charge of the assessment acted as the examiner, but this year there was an additional one.

Shen Qi said as if he’d seen a ghost, “This is the first time I’ve seen Professor Qiao taking such an active stance.”

Li Hanzhou spoke with vague significance, “Someone bet her, and she found it amusing.”

Shen Qi: “…”

This… seemed somewhat out of character for the Professor Qiao he knew.

He knew Professor Qiao to be very serious and strict.

Could she actually have such a childish side?

Shen Qi’s mouth twitched and he said with a complex expression, “True to form, Professor Qiao’s thinking really is different from others.”

Li Hanzhou spoke with a doting face, “If my girlfriend wants to play, of course, I have to accompany her.”

Shen Qi: “…”

Xu Fang: “…”

Shen Qi changed the subject, “This is my first time at Tianqi Research Institute, quite an eye-opener.”

The venue they were in was a very large building, with every checkpoint being extremely strict.

Li Hanzhou’s eyes were profound, his voice casual, “If I’m not mistaken, this isn’t the real Tianqi.”

Upon hearing this, Shen Qi couldn’t help but be amazed.

If this place was already so impressive, how splendid the real Tianqi Research Institute must be.

He turned to look at Li Hanzhou with sympathetic eyes and exclaimed, “Li Bro, I suddenly realize that Professor Qiao seems to be richer than you.”

Li Hanzhou: “…”

Li Hanzhou went silent for a moment, then continued, “Why is the kid still not here?”

Shen Qi narrowed his eyes, sensing a change of topic. Definitely a change of topic!

Xu Fang also noticed something and said curiously, “Forget about Professor Qiao, even Professor Han, who is in charge of the assessment, isn’t here.”

Since phones were not allowed inside the assessment venue, Shen Qi looked at his watch, “There are five minutes left until it starts. Isn’t any preparation needed beforehand?”

Li Hanzhou hadn’t felt anything amiss, but upon hearing this, his fingertips moved, and he instinctively wanted to take out his phone to contact Qiao Yun, but he came up empty-handed, then remembered, phones were not permitted.

Shen Qi speculated, “Could it be they won’t come?”

Li Hanzhou frowned slightly and said unhurriedly, “The kid is a very punctual person; she will definitely come.”

He wasn’t worried about Qiao Yun having an accident. In Yuncheng, nobody could cause her trouble.

But what exactly had tripped her up?

Meanwhile, on the other side.

Clad in a white lab coat, Han Wang stood with hands in pockets, her pretty face a mask of indifference. Steaming with coldness, she was stationed at the entrance, “I asked you to receive our guest, where are they?”

The person coming to report nearly froze to death by Han Wang’s chill, chuckled bitterly, “Group Leader Han, the road up the mountain is blocked due to a car accident, the person might still be at the foot of the mountain.”

This person didn’t know that the arrival was Professor Qiao, only that a special invited examiner was coming.

Now that the person is held up below, can the event still continue?

Han Wang’s expression grew even colder, “How could there be a car accident out of nowhere?”

“I… don’t know.”

Han Wang said dismissively, “Forget it, asking you is pointless.”

The person in charge of coordination babbled, “Group Leader Han, it’s about time, you should go in.”

“Yeah, if you don’t get in there, they’ll start making wild guesses.”

“Better go inside and think of a solution.”

Han Wang’s face was visibly agitated, she glanced at her watch; time was short, so she simply sent a message to Professor Qiao.

[Professor Qiao, what is your current situation? Do you need the time to be extended?]

A quick response came from Qiao Yun: [No need to wait, proceed on time.]

Han Wang gritted her teeth and turned to enter the event hall.

Inside the conference room.

Most of the participants who came for the examination were preparing. Shortly, they would be taking the exam here while the event site would be broadcasting their situation in real-time.

Jiang Jing kept her gaze on the conference room door, ready to lock it as soon as the time came.

“I heard there’s a special invited examiner this year; who knows which big shot it is.” The person sitting next to Jiang Jing was a female candidate from Qing University, who had previously competed with Jiang Jing, so they had an acquaintanceship.

Jiang Jing’s expression was indifferent, “Anyone invited to be an examiner is naturally a very formidable person.”

“I’ve never heard before that Tianqi would invite outsiders to be examiners. This person must be highly regarded by Tianqi. I wonder if they are from the inside or the outside.”

As soon as this was said, some people started whispering to each other, asking if anyone knew who the special invited examiner was, or if anyone was acquainted with them.

But the answer they got was that nobody knew anything.

Jiang Jing also felt a surge of curiosity.

After all, it was the first time there was an examination with two examiners.

But now, she had no interest in listening; she looked up at the wall clock.

Two minutes to go!

Jiang Jing’s mouth curled slightly, not quite breaking into a smile, when there was movement at the door.

Her gaze sharpened, and she looked over fiercely.

Someone was coming in.

Jiang Jing held her breath, waiting until that person came in, and her heart settled down again.

It was Han Wang, not Qiao Yun.

It seems Qiao Yun truly couldn’t make it in time.

Had she won without a fight?

Jiang Jing felt complicated. To win without a fight didn’t fit her principles, yet the thought of Qiao Yun losing made her feel pleased.

Just as she was about to sigh,

She saw someone emerge behind Han Wang.

Jiang Jing’s pupils constricted, and she stood up from her chair abruptly, almost exclaiming, “Qiao Yun!”

Qiao Yun lifted her long lashes, her gaze detached, her face as calm as ever.