Mingyan Capital
Mingyan Capital.
These two words were like a ray of light, instantly piercing through the fog in Jiang Mo's heart, only to cast an even deeper shadow. Shen Huaiming, the founding partner of "Mingyan Capital." This coincidental naming made her almost certain that it was related to Shen Zhiyan, but what exactly was the relationship? Father and son? Uncle and nephew? Or something else? More importantly, the other party placed this investigation document at her door, their intention was all too clear—to sow discord, or to issue a warning.
She didn't contact Shen Zhiyan immediately. This matter was like a tangled mess of thread; pulling on it rashly would only make things worse. She photographed the documents for her records, kept the originals safe, and sat alone in the living room until late at night. The city lights meandered beneath her feet, but they couldn't illuminate the doubts in her heart. The other party's move had precisely struck at a potential Achilles' heel. If Shen Zhiyan had close ties to "Mingyan Capital," then what role did he play in this turmoil? A pawn caught in the crossfire of family interests? A knowing bystander? Or...?
She dared not think too deeply about it.
The next day in the lab, Jiang Mo tried her best to maintain a calm demeanor, but the fatigue in her eyes and a hint of scrutiny betrayed her unease. While performing a series of precise operations requiring high hand-eye coordination, her fingertips trembled almost imperceptibly, causing a crucial parameter setting to malfunction twice in a row.
“Stability.” Shen Zhiyan’s cool voice came through the internal communication system as he monitored the situation in the control room. His criticism was as direct and emotionless as ever, as if he were simply pointing out that an objective technical parameter was not up to standard.
Jiang Mo took a deep breath, closed her eyes for a moment, and readjusted her mind. She knew that here, no slight abnormality could be hidden.
During lunch break, she invited Shen Zhiyan to a quiet reading area in the central library under the pretext of discussing the follow-up to the "foundation's endorsement." The tall bookshelves cast shadows, creating a relatively private space.
“Linda replied to the foundation, saying she needs to know more details,” Jiang Mo leaned against the bookshelf, her voice low. “They seem very dissatisfied, implying that we are ‘not appreciative.’” As she spoke, she carefully observed Shen Zhiyan’s expression.
He stood opposite her, his gaze fixed on a row of heavy reference books on the bookshelf, his profile appearing somewhat hard under the overhead light. "An expected reaction. When probing is rejected, applying pressure is a common strategy."
His calmness sent a chill down Jiang Mo's spine. She hesitated for a moment, then decided to take another step.
“I had Linda investigate the foundation’s main funding sources,” she said slowly and carefully, “and found that they ultimately pointed to an investment firm called ‘Mingyan Capital.’” She paused deliberately, uttering those four words clearly, and then stared intently into his eyes.
Shen Zhiyan's fingers, which were resting on the bookshelf, twitched almost imperceptibly. This subtle movement was so quick it was almost an illusion, but his aura of absolute rationality did indeed freeze for a fleeting moment. He didn't respond immediately, and only the low hum of the central air conditioning filled the reading room.
A few seconds later, he turned back, his gaze calm as he looked at Jiang Mo, his eyes as deep as a still pool, revealing no emotion whatsoever. "So?"
His counter-question was brief and forceful, revealing no hint of panic at being exposed, but rather a calm that bordered on provocative. This reaction was unexpected for Jiang Mo. She had anticipated his denial, explanation, or the slightest hint of unease, but never this almost tacit, detached calm.
"So?" Jiang Mo repeated, the warmth she felt from fighting side by side gradually cooling down. "Don't you think this coincidence is a bit too deliberate, Teacher Shen? 'Mingyan Capital'." She deliberately emphasized the last four words.
Shen Zhiyan adjusted his glasses, his gaze behind the lenses as sharp as ever: "The operation of the capital market involves a large number of complex connections based on interests and relationships. A coincidence of a name is insufficient to constitute any valid inference." He paused, his tone still calm, yet carrying a cold hardness that drew a clear line, "My research work has no direct connection with any commercial capital institution. You can verify this with the center."
He stripped himself bare, using the official tone of "verification" to shut down any further questions she might ask based on personal relationships. Looking at him, Jiang Mo suddenly realized that this man was far more enigmatic than she had imagined. He was like a fortress, data and analysis his walls, and now, the gates of those walls were slowly closing before her.
The atmosphere was tense when Researcher Zhou and Xiao Chen arrived at the library, seemingly looking for a document. Seeing them, Researcher Zhou greeted them with a smile, "Professor Shen, Ms. Jiang, so diligent? Even during your lunch break you're looking up information?"
Xiao Chen keenly sensed the unusually low atmosphere between the two, and stood somewhat awkwardly behind Researcher Zhou, not daring to speak.
"Let's discuss the data processing plan for the subsequent experiments," Shen Zhiyan explained without changing his expression, his tone instantly returning to its usual professional normal, as if the undercurrents in their conversation had never happened.
Researcher Zhou, unsuspecting, enthusiastically began discussing a technical challenge they had encountered in the experiment with Shen Zhiyan. Taking advantage of the situation, Xiao Chen leaned close to Jiang Mo and whispered quickly, "Ms. Jiang, Professor Shen... actually doesn't like others prying into his private affairs." His tone carried a well-intentioned reminder, but also a hint of barely perceptible helplessness.
Jiang Mo's heart skipped a beat, and she looked at Xiao Chen. Xiao Chen, however, had already looked away, pretending to look at the bookshelf.
Researcher Zhou and Shen Zhiyan discussed for a few minutes, then suddenly remembered something and said to Shen Zhiyan, "By the way, Professor Shen, didn't someone from 'Mingyan Capital' contact the center before, wanting to discuss the donation of that joint laboratory? What happened after that?"
The reappearance of the name "Mingyan Capital" was like a stone thrown into stagnant water. Jiang Mo's heart skipped a beat.
Shen Zhiyan's expression remained unchanged, and he simply replied, "The center has a strict review process for cooperation, and the other party's proposal does not meet the requirements."
Researcher Zhou simply said "Oh" and didn't ask any further questions.
Jiang Mo, however, gleaned a crucial piece of information—Mingyan Capital's attempt to collaborate with the center had been rejected by Shen Zhiyan for "not meeting the requirements." This seemed to confirm his earlier statement that there was "no direct connection," but... was this enough to clear him of all suspicion?
On their way back to the lab from the library, a subtle silence hung in the air among the four. Researcher Zhou was still pondering technical issues, Xiao Chen walked with his head down, Shen Zhiyan remained silent as always, while Jiang Mo's mind was in turmoil.
Shen Zhiyan's attitude, Xiao Chen's reminder, the information inadvertently revealed by Researcher Zhou... these fragments, pieced together, not only failed to help her see the truth, but also made the relationship between "Mingyan Capital" and Shen Zhiyan even more perplexing.
She realized that it would be difficult to get a clear answer directly from him. The data fortress was more heavily defended than she had imagined.
That evening, she texted Linda:
"Focus your investigation on Shen Huaiming of 'Mingyan Capital' and his specific relationship with Shen Zhiyan. Also, investigate Mingyan Capital's recent investment activities, especially those related to the entertainment and technology sectors."
She needs more "data" from the outside to analyze the complex "black box" that is Shen Zhiyan.
Late at night, Linda sent the preliminary investigation results, her tone grave:
"MoMo, we've found out. Shen Huaiming is Shen Zhiyan's biological father. Moreover, 'Mingyan Capital' has recently been secretly acquiring upstream equity in several marketing companies we previously suspected of being involved in smearing you... This is a very deep pool."
As Jiang Mo looked at the text on her phone screen, she felt a chill run down her spine.
So, could Shen Zhiyan's father be indirectly manipulating the attacks against her while simultaneously extending an olive branch to her through the foundation? And what role does Shen Zhiyan play in all of this? Was his "suggestion to refuse" out of protection, or another form of... drawing a line?
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