Chapter 19 After the soul swap, I switched back.
Si Qi's career and love life are progressing steadily, a picture of tranquility. However, the Si family is plunged into utter chaos due to Si Qi's sudden disappearance.
Although Si Qi provided the blueprints, allowing the Si family's R&D personnel to "follow the blueprints" and gradually work their way up, based on Si's father's understanding of Si Qi over this period, it was clear that since Si Qi had dug such a huge trap for him from the very beginning, he would never actually hand over a treasure to him.
From a rational perspective, there's definitely a problem behind this drawing. While it's unclear where the problem lies in a drawing that runs smoothly in a program, continuing to investigate would be like drinking poison to quench thirst—a self-deceptive exercise.
Mr. Si, who was always decisive in his actions, immediately halted the group's further investment. Many researchers who were deeply immersed in research and development were shocked and puzzled, wondering why Mr. Si would suddenly pull the reins and stop them from continuing when everything was progressing perfectly.
The group's senior management, along with the shareholders, immediately approached Mr. Si, demanding an explanation. They had halted years of ongoing research and development to manufacture the mecha, including experiments that had been running for years and would have been rendered useless if stopped. All human and material resources had been poured into the mecha without regard to cost; the losses were staggering. Yet, Mr. Si was the one who initiated it, and he was also the one who ordered it to stop. Who would willingly accept such an unreliable and inconsistent decision-making?
Mr. Si remained unmoved by the high-level executives who came to demand an explanation. No matter how they tried to persuade him, he only said, "There is a problem with the drawings; we cannot continue."
"Those are the blueprints provided by Young Master Si, what could be wrong with them?" Everyone complained, "Since the blueprints can run smoothly in the program, there must be no problem after they are actually manufactured. Chairman, why don't you tell us where the problem lies?"
Of course, Si's father couldn't explain it. If he knew where the problem lay, he wouldn't have made such a drastic decision to halt everything. Instead, he would have identified the problem and addressed it directly.
Si's father rubbed his temples: "Si Qi is missing. We can't build this mecha on our own."
No one listened to such words. They shouted, "Young Master Si is missing? I know you are very worried about his safety, Chairman, but we can't all just sit and do nothing because he's missing, can we? Such a large group costs a fortune just to maintain the equipment and employees. At worst, we can figure it out ourselves little by little and eventually develop the mecha."
"Yes! You might not like to hear this, but although Young Master Si is missing, the blueprints are still here! Even without Young Master Si's help to answer questions, with so many of our top researchers here, surely we can handle one or two problems?"
"It's too impulsive to just call a halt; there's no need for that."
Everyone chimed in with their own opinions, but the main point was the same: the project couldn't stop. Even without Si Qi, the developer of the blueprints, they could still build the mecha bit by bit using the materials they had.
Mr. Si was thoroughly annoyed by this group of people. He wanted to point out that there was a problem with the blueprints, but they insisted that since the blueprints could run in the program, there couldn't be any problems. When he told them that Si Qi was problematic, they said that Young Master Si and he had always had the best relationship, and that the company would be handed over to Young Master Si in the future, so how could Young Master Si possibly be detrimental to the company?
It wouldn't be appropriate for Si's father to delve into the past grievances between his two sons with these guys, or to talk about soul swapping. Regardless of whether they believed it or not, even if they did, given the large sums of money they had invested, they wouldn't be willing to let everything go to waste. They might even be thinking, "Maybe I can find the problem, maybe Si Qi isn't actually that capable," and stubbornly insist on fighting this mecha to the bitter end.
The result was that Si's father had to step in and forcefully stop it, just like now where no explanation is given.
So Father Si simply said, "I will make the mecha blueprints public to other partner groups. If you are reluctant to give up your investment, you can come along after I transfer the equipment and supplies."
Everyone was stunned and carefully observed Si's father's expression, wanting to see what had gotten into this usually shrewd and decisive businessman today, that he could do something so foolish.
Little did they know that Si's father, who was being stared at with astonishment, was also experiencing indescribable feelings.
Halting projects that had been running for many years in order to focus entirely on mecha research has already cost the group a considerable amount of money.
The massive investment in mechs over the past few months has resulted in an immeasurable amount of money being wasted.
If we make a decisive move and stop in time, returning future research to its original direction, the worst that can happen is that the group will suffer a significant loss of vitality and stagnate for the next few years. But over five or ten years, it can gradually recover.
The problem was that, in the past, Mr. Si was worried that his family couldn't handle such a large project, so he brought together several groups that were no smaller than his own to invest together.
So now things are no longer under his control. So many companies have spent such a huge amount of money, how can he just stop it like that? He doesn't have the power at all.
Therefore, he could only take out the mecha blueprints, which he knew had problems but which no one could give up, and divert attention from the problem.
At first glance, it seems that the Si family group has temporarily escaped the turmoil and is no longer being targeted by those forces.
But when they start studying it and realize something is wrong, they'll definitely be the first to come and cause trouble for the Si family, questioning them about the blueprints.
What could he do? Even if he had told them from the beginning that there was a problem with the blueprints, they wouldn't have believed him, much less let him off the hook. After all, it was the Si family who had dragged them onto this pirate ship in the first place, and it was also the Si family who handed over the blueprints for them to continue studying... No matter how you look at it, it's the Si family's fault.
Now that things have come to this, there is no good solution for Si's father. No matter what choice he makes, it's just a matter of dying sooner or later.
They either continue down a path of no return, exhausting the corporation by researching a mecha destined to fail, or they temporarily hand over the blueprints to escape, only to be besieged and killed by a combined attack from various corporations who realize the dire situation.
Si Qi never left him a way out from the very beginning.
From the very first moment that person's body was replaced, he came with the intention of revenge.
He was blinded by the enormous profits and failed to see the hatred Si Qi had accumulated for him over the years. He also didn't consider that something as powerful as a mecha couldn't be completed overnight; perhaps it was the result of Si Qi's research while he was seriously ill. Because he didn't want to give away something so valuable to his enemy, he preferred to die of illness rather than reveal it.
The reason I'm willing to bring it out now is precisely to get revenge on him...
After dismissing the senior executives, Si Fu slumped back in his chair, covering his face with one hand, like a trapped beast with no way out, letting out a silent roar.
--
It wasn't until her family asked her what happened that Mrs. Si learned that her husband had actually made the mecha blueprints public.
After a brief moment of panic, Mrs. Si quickly understood her husband's thoughts and realized that he was only doing this to divert attention.
Whether to help her husband deceive her family or to tell them directly that there was a problem with the blueprints, Mrs. Si hesitated for only a few seconds before making her decision.
“There’s something wrong with those drawings,” Mrs. Si said. “Don’t continue.”
Si's mother's family members were puzzled: "We have confirmed that the blueprints run smoothly without any problems."
Si's mother: "That's what I thought too, but the blueprints came from Si Qi. Si Qi... he hates us, he wouldn't produce something so good."
Si's mother's family was even more puzzled: "What are you talking about? How could Xiao Qi hate you? At most, they've had some unpleasantness recently, but it's not something he would joke about."
Si's mother bit her lip and remained silent, unsure how to explain to her family what she had done.
"In short, I've already warned you." Mrs. Si stared at her relatives across from her and said seriously, "Don't touch this thing; it's a hot potato."
Si's mother's family was skeptical, and Si's mother made them very uncertain.
Mrs. Si continued to press, "Also, I asked you to help find Xiao Ding, have you found him?"
Si's mother's family said, "We are looking for her, but we haven't found her yet."
As she spoke, the other person looked at Si's mother suspiciously, completely puzzled: "Why have you been so nice to your illegitimate son lately? Could it be that, as the rumors say, he and Xiao Qi have swapped souls? Because Xiao Qi isn't your biological child, you suspect that there's something wrong with Xiao Qi's blueprints?"
Mrs. Si lowered her head, her eyes dim: "Si Qi is my biological child, both in body and soul."
"and you……"
"I won't talk about it anymore." This matter had long been a knot in Si's mother's heart. She couldn't face it and didn't know where to begin. Just thinking about how Si Qi hated her, hated her so much that the very first thing he did after his body was returned was to try and take revenge on her, made her feel suffocated and extremely uncomfortable.
Si's mother listened to what her father said, but she couldn't accept it. Her pride prevented her from bowing her head and admitting that she was wrong.
Now that things have come to this, what's the point of saying anything? The situation has reached its worst point. She has already lost one child, and she can't afford to lose another.
Mrs. Si took a deep breath and said wearily, "Please, help me find Xiao Ding. I'm very worried about him."
"...Okay, got it." The person on the other end said nonchalantly. "Oh, by the way, the college entrance exam results are out, you—"
Before she could finish speaking, Mrs. Si closed her eyes and ended the call.
Now that things have come to this, she has no interest in caring about her college entrance exam results anymore.
--
The students were at school when the college entrance examination results were released.
Knowing that Si Nan had always cared about her brother, her classmates went to check Si Ding's score as soon as it came out. They ran over to Si Nan and said, "President did very well this time! Her score is more than a hundred points higher than my cousin's!"
Si Nan looked dazed for a moment, then said a beat late, "Oh, the results are out."
The sisters around her exchanged glances, all realizing that Si Nan's recent behavior was off. She was either absent-minded all day, staring blankly into space, or her face was deathly pale, as if she had recalled something that had deeply traumatized her, her expression as grim as if someone in her family had died.
...It's practically the same as someone dying.
She swapped bodies with her most admired older brother and the illegitimate son she once despised. That illegitimate son was nearing the end of his life, and her brother wouldn't live much longer either.
Anyone would probably find this unacceptable.
The girls whispered words of comfort: "The president—"
"I don't want to talk about him." Si Nan felt physically nauseous, covered her mouth, and said in a hoarse voice, "Don't bother me."
Knowing how bad Si Nan's temper was, the sisters immediately fell silent and pulled each other away.
"Sister Nan has been acting strange lately." After leaving, one of the girls muttered to herself, "In the past, she would have been more impulsive than anyone else, and it would have been a miracle if she hadn't beaten that illegitimate child to death. And she would have bragged about her grades everywhere the moment she saw them..."
"Who knows? I've also heard another version of the rumor. It's said that Si Ding is actually the real Si Qi. They switched bodies once before, and now they've switched back."
"Huh?? But what I heard is that Si Ding is actually Madam Si's biological son."
"Bullshit! Si Ding and Si Qi are so many years apart in age, how could Madam Si not notice that the child has been switched? Besides, biochips are based on genetic binding, how confused would she have to be to realize that it's not her own child?"
"...I'm so confused by all this back and forth."
"That's right. Sister Nan, who knows the inside story, won't say anything. I can't even get the full scoop. I'm so anxious I'm scratching my head."
"Haha, me too. Why is it so hard to get a complete picture of a melon?"
What is a devastating ordeal for the person involved is nothing more than gossip to satisfy the curiosity of onlookers.
If the old Si Nan had known about this, she would have definitely arrested these so-called sisters and taught them a lesson. But now, she can't even see something so obvious.
She opened the rankings and first looked at the first name, only to find it wasn't Si Qi. She then looked at the second and third, and even searched for candidates by name, but still couldn't find Si Qi.
She turned off the screen in frustration, realizing that the so-called "going to another city to take the exam" was just a lie told by Si Qi.
Often, she can no longer distinguish between what is real and what is fake.
She had seen her parents completely overwhelmed with worry during this time. For several days in a row, she was always the only one at the table during mealtimes.
The two older brothers disappeared, and even when the parents occasionally appeared at home, they would inevitably argue after meeting, each blaming the other for not caring enough about one of their sons.
Even though their daughter was sitting right in front of them, they acted as if they couldn't see her at all, only knowing to search for the two who had disappeared.
The arrogance and self-confidence she once had as the little princess of the Si family, which stemmed from having an outstanding older brother, have all vanished.
Sometimes, when Si Nan looked at herself and thought about it, she would become absent-minded and begin to wonder if she was actually just a ghost. Even when she appeared at home, her parents couldn't see her at all.
Just like that invisible person in the family back then, "Sting".
It clearly exists, but no one cares; everyone only sees the one they care about.
Si Nan lowered her head, and only when she tasted a hint of salt on her lips did she realize that she had been crying.
She finally understood the feeling of being ignored and even cursed when "Siding" appeared in front of her, tried to talk to her, and she wished he would have a sudden onset of his illness and die.
It's really...bitter.
Has the loving older brother from her childhood memories disappeared?
--
"The college entrance exam scores are coming out today." Fearing that Si Qi would be saddened by the news, the researchers lowered their voices and whispered among themselves in a corner.
"If Mr. Si had participated, he would definitely have won first place!" Someone lamented, "Given Mr. Si's meticulousness at work, he might have even gotten a perfect score!"
"That's right, they could have brought honor to their family, but now they can't even get a high school diploma," another person muttered indignantly.
"You're overthinking it. What's this talk about bringing glory to one's ancestors? What kind of background do you think Mr. Si has that he would care about such a small thing?" The researcher next to him glanced at him sideways.
Upon hearing this, everyone snapped out of their daze and finally remembered that on their very first day here, they had heard their leader mention that Mr. Si came from the Si family, a wealthy and powerful family in the province, and was the sole heir of the Si family.
However, this news was quickly dispelled by Mr. Si's vast and unfathomable knowledge shortly after they saw him. They could hardly believe that the gentle and handsome young man in front of them, who seemed to be the incarnation of the god of knowledge, actually came from a wealthy family that was selfish, cruel, and arrogant.
There is absolutely no connection between them.
People habitually categorize Si Qi as one of their own, and when they think about how heartbroken and sad they must be for missing the college entrance examination that could have changed their fate, they forget about something so obvious.
“...Even if you come from a wealthy family, it would still be a regret to miss the college entrance exam.” After a moment of silence, someone else spoke up.
“Isn’t the college entrance examination controlled by our central system? Why can’t we choose to register and take the exam in the research institute, just like those candidates who take the exam temporarily in the hospital because of illness? We can apply to set up a temporary examination room here.”
"Because it needs to be kept secret." Someone who knew a little about the situation said, "Mr. Si has been missing for so long, there must be people looking for him outside. Mr. Si is not a small researcher like us. With his abilities, someone must have already discovered his abilities and is secretly investigating his whereabouts."
"Is that so..." The crowd belatedly realized and said in deep agreement, "I always felt that Mr. Si must have been extraordinary before he entered the research institute, but he was just low-key and never showed it to the outside world."
The people who can create such groundbreaking equipment as mechs must have created other amazing things before; they just weren't at a high enough level to access them.
Mentioning this, many people became excited: "You have no idea what the project I'm working on with Mr. Si is like, it's absolutely groundbreaking!"
Due to confidentiality agreements, the researchers who were working on intelligent combat programs could not disclose their work, so they only talked about what they could: "Mr. Si is absolutely the most amazing expert in the industry I have ever met in my life, without a doubt!"
"Haha, that's because you don't know what I'm researching. This is the real national strategic asset that can change the social landscape." Another scholar researching new energy said proudly, "I don't believe your project can be more important than mine."
"Ha, stop arguing, it's clear that Mr. Si values my project the most." The researcher standing at the far end raised an eyebrow and boasted, "Mr. Si spends at least two hours every day teaching us!"
"Two hours is nothing, we'll go at least three hours!"
The four of us.
"The five of us!"
Like children vying for their parents' favor, the group compared how much effort and sweat Mr. Si had put into their relationship. Suddenly, one of them blurted out, "So, if we calculate it that way, Mr. Si must be working at least a dozen hours a day without a single minute of rest?"
The crowd fell silent, subconsciously calculating the time revealed in their earlier conversation. Then they gasped in disbelief and exclaimed, "That must have been incredibly arduous!"
Anyone who has spent time with Si Qi knows that they are fully prepared every day to face the overwhelming barrage of knowledge that comes with Si Qi's arrival. Their brains must remain highly focused for hours on end just to keep up with Si Qi's pace.
If Si Qi maintains that high-frequency, high-efficiency pace in every research group he joins, how can he keep up?
You have to understand that they are busy day and night, wishing they could live and eat in the lab to make sure they don't fall behind the group's research progress.
"...Mr. Si is indeed extraordinary." The researcher, who was clearly a big fan of Si Qi, shook his head and exclaimed, "I can't believe he's only eighteen years old this year."
"Yes, it's incredible." The others nodded vigorously in agreement.
While this group of people, ostensibly experts but actually fans, were gathered together, engaging in a heated discussion, they were unaware that the cameras above them were recording their entire conversation, frantically jotting down every word of praise in their notebooks, preparing to tell their beloved Si Qi at a more opportune time.
A good romantic partner is one who is good at discovering their partner's strengths and constantly offering praise, so that the other person can have a good mood every day.
Seeing that this group of researchers, who were not good at expressing themselves, could only keep saying "amazing," Chu Feng shifted his observation target. Soon, he discovered another group of researchers who were secretly having a fan meeting during their lunch break. He picked up a pen and paper and carefully wrote down their various and endless compliments...
Huh? Wait a minute, why is someone praising Si Qi as a promising young man and wanting to introduce him to a potential partner?
Chu Feng instantly became alert, scanning the other person's appearance with the camera, quickly pulling up the person's identity, age, and family members, and repeatedly observing the person's child, picking and choosing.
He's of average height, average education, average background, average interpersonal relationships... even his zodiac sign, blood type, and gender are not a good match for Si Qi.
Hmph, nothing compares to something you can customize yourself.
Feeling triumphant, Chu Feng proudly closed the file, thinking that he was no longer the same person he used to be. He now possessed a body that could make Si Qi infatuated and reluctant to part with him, something that these humans could never compare to.
Thinking of this, Chu Feng shifted his consciousness to his body in the room, admiring his new body in the mirror with satisfaction. He turned around, put on his newly bought semi-transparent black lace apron, and quietly knelt at the doorway, preparing to play a nude apron play with Si Qi today. Si Qi would definitely like it.
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Author's Note: --
47: Working hard all day, and then being completely drained when I get home at night, ah, I can't keep up, I can't keep up (raises hand and gulps down nutrient solution).
Xiuxiu (scratching her head): I don't know what's wrong lately, but as soon as my owner goes back to the dormitory, I can't see anything anymore. It's so strange.
#The Unsolved Mystery of Xiuxiu#
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