"Since they falsified the external conditions, is there something wrong with the project's internal data?" Ning Nanxue walked towards the computer. "Do you still have a backup of the technical documents submitted for the project?"
Jiang Tingchen immediately took out his tablet and swiped his fingertips across the screen. "I have backups of all the files."
He quickly pulled up the project's technical report, and the two of them reviewed the data side by side. The only sounds in the room were the soft hum of the electronics and their breathing.
"Wait." Jiang Tingchen suddenly pressed the screen, "There's a problem here."
He pointed to a set of data graphs. "This is the battery performance degradation curve in low-temperature environments. Look here, it's completely inconsistent with our company's usual technology path."
Ning Nanxue frowned and examined it carefully. "Are you sure?"
"I'm absolutely certain," Jiang Tingchen said firmly. "I consulted Mr. Li from Huayun Group. Huayun has done similar projects. This low-temperature attenuation curve clearly violates the laws of physics. It's actually impossible to achieve the performance shown in the report."
"Someone tampered with it." Ning Nanxue said softly.
"And it was an insider," Jiang Tingchen added. "It's hard for outsiders to notice these kinds of technical details, let alone make precise modifications."
Ning Nanxue was silent for a moment, then picked up the phone. "Immediately lock down all computers and servers in the project team, claiming system maintenance. Also, review all records of personnel entering and leaving the technical department over the past two weeks."
After hanging up the phone, she turned to Jiang Tingchen: "The truth is becoming clearer and clearer."
Jiang Tingchen's phone suddenly rang. He glanced at the screen, his expression becoming complicated. "Fu Chen and Howard are connected. I'm afraid he helped Howard with this, and Xu Zhao was also involved."
"Howard?" Ning Nanxue chuckled. "It seems Fu Chen wants to go down the route of intellectual property dispute."
"That makes sense. He previously tried to snatch the cooperation rights from you but failed," Jiang Tingchen nodded. "If our project is suspected of patent infringement, coupled with environmental issues, it will almost certainly fail."
Ning Nanxue walked to the window, the cityscape unfolding before her. "Have the legal team prepared to handle any patent disputes Howard might raise. Tingchen, I need you to contact Huayun's technical experts to prepare an independent technical assessment report."
"I'll make arrangements right away." Jiang Tingchen stood behind her and said in a low voice, "Xu Zhao is more dangerous than we thought. He's using multiple approaches."
"It's dangerous, but also stupid." Ning Nanxue turned and looked at him. "This plan is too hasty."
Jiang Tingchen picked up his phone and dialed a number. "Engineer Chen, please immediately organize an independent assessment team to conduct a comprehensive technical review of the new energy laboratory project, focusing on the low-temperature performance testing."
After hanging up the phone, Jiang Tingchen immediately turned and walked towards the spare workstation in the corner of the office.
His long fingers tapped the keyboard rapidly, launching a hidden remote access program.
"When did you put a backdoor on the Fu Group's server?" Ning Nanxue leaned beside him, her voice filled with surprise and admiration.
"As early as three months ago." Jiang Tingchen didn't even look up, concentrating on the code scrolling on the screen. "Huayun Group's security protocol can easily bypass Fu's firewall."
Ning Nanxue gently stroked his shoulder, "Tingchen, how many surprises are you hiding from me? You're always thinking about me."
Jiang Tingchen turned his head and smiled at her, "Xue'er, this is not only for you, but also for us. The search has begun, and it may take some time."
Dense data began to flow on the screen, and Jiang Tingchen started a professional-grade data recovery program, trying to extract the original battery test data of the past three months from Fu's backup server.
"We need to find out who tampered with the equipment, when, and how." Jiang Tingchen said calmly, "With this evidence, the problem with the Environmental Protection Department will be easily solved."
At the same time, in Fu Chen's office, he had just completed a fund transfer, with 20 million flowing from the company account to a private account under his control.
This money, which was originally intended to be paid to a long-term partner, has now become his lifeline to plug the loophole.
Fu Chen threw his phone on the desk and sank heavily into the leather chair.
"Ah Chen, you are too tired." Xu Zhiru walked over from the door with a cup of hot tea in her hand. "Drink some tea and relax."
Fu Chen took the teacup but didn't drink. He just let the warm cup warm his palms. "Xu Zhao's asking price is too high, and too urgent."
Xu Zhiru sat down beside him and massaged his shoulders considerately. "Although Zhao has an impatient personality, he's very capable. Didn't he say that he needs to manage the relationship with the Environmental Protection Department and appease Howard?"
"But 20 million..." Fu Chen frowned. "Howard only agreed to consider cooperation and didn't even make a clear commitment."
Xu Zhiru's fingers gently pressed on his tense shoulders. "Ah Chen, you should trust Ah Zhao. He has accumulated a lot of connections during his time abroad, and Howard is his friend."
"Friends?" Fu Chen sneered, "Where are there real friends in the business world?"
"But at least it's more reliable than Ning Nanxue's." Xu Zhiru said softly, "Azhao did help us create the environmental protection problem, didn't he? This proves that he is capable and sincere."
Fu Chen was silent for a moment, and finally nodded, "I hope so."
He glanced at his watch. It was less than an hour before Xu Zhao called again. The twenty million felt like a mountain weighing on his chest, and every minute it weighed on him, his guilt and anxiety grew.
At this moment, Jiang Tingchen made a key breakthrough in data retrieval.
"Xue'er, look here!" He pointed to an unusual record on the screen. "Three weeks ago, at 11:47 PM, the night before the final project submission, someone logged into the system using an internal account and modified the core parameters of the low-temperature performance test."
Ning Nanxue immediately moved closer to the screen, "Whose account is this?"
"It should be a system maintenance account, but strangely," Jiang Tingchen quickly pulled up another set of data, "according to the Fu Group IT department's shift schedule, there was no system maintenance work scheduled that night."
"Track the login IP of this account." Ning Nanxue gave the order decisively.
Jiang Tingchen's fingers danced, and after a few seconds, an address appeared on the screen. "Interesting, this IP address is from the Fu Group headquarters building, but not the technical department floor."
Ning Nanxue's eyes flashed with a sharp light, "Check the entry and exit records of the building that night."
A few minutes later, Jiang Tingchen found the key information. "Around 11 o'clock that night, only three people entered the building: a security guard, Engineer Liu from the technical department, and..."
"Who?" Ning Nanxue asked.
"Fu Chen." Jiang Tingchen turned to look at Ning Nanxue, "He entered the building at 11:20 and left at 1:07 in the morning."
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