Chapter 469: Chapter 469: Shi Ya
Yunding Star.
At nightfall, lights twinkled warmly in every home across the planet, yet the sky above the heavily-guarded Macken Laboratory was pitch black. On the nineteenth floor underground, Shi Ya’s face was cold as she looked at the flamboyantly dressed woman across from her, her dark eyes were as deep and still as water.
Dina raised her eyebrows, hands on hips, "Assistant Shi, are you sure you’ve handed over all your work? Really, without holding anything back?"
Shi Ya’s chilly gaze shifted upwards, and after a few seconds rested on Dina’s eyes. Then, curling the corner of her lips slightly, her tone steady and flat, "The same question, this is the fourth time you have challenged me today. Are you not confident in your own comprehension? Or are you worried that you are not capable enough to take over my work? What do you think I could hide? What could I keep back? Or..."
Shi Ya abruptly stopped, suddenly stood up, and leaned a few inches closer to Dina, her eyes flashing with an icy and bone-chilling chill, "Or— to put it bluntly, you couldn’t even understand an answer I’ve repeated three times, should I suggest you get a new brain instead?"
Dina’s mouth stiffened, and just as she was about to curse out loud, the coldness in Shi Ya’s eyes made her suddenly feel a chill over her whole body...
In that moment, the normally inconspicuous Shi Ya transformed into an unsheathed sharp sword, her presence overwhelming like a rainbow, pressing Dina so hard she couldn’t catch her breath!
Dina’s pupils contracted slightly:
This person, Shi Ya, who usually wouldn’t utter a word more than necessary, would not add a third word if two could suffice. She always seemed like an average researcher, seemingly disinterested in anything beyond Mecha research...
Over the past two months, Dina had made many underhanded moves in secret. On a few occasions, she directly bullied Shi Ya, but Shi Ya didn’t react at all, which emboldened Dina. Relying on Professor McKin’s favoritism, she even cultivated the ambition to seize the new Mecha project from Shi Ya’s hands.
And she had succeeded, much to her delight.
At the same time, Dina’s contempt for Shi Ya grew even more!
With such a soft and weak character, she deserved to be bullied!
But—
Was this formidable Shi Ya really the same person Dina remembered?
Dina felt overwhelmed, but recalling the backing of Professor McKin, her pride swelled. However, she still took a step back before immediately speaking loudly, "Shi Ya! What are you trying to do? This is a command from Professor McKin. Are you planning to resist? I now have reason to suspect that you’ve hidden key data and haven’t handed it over!"
Upon saying this, Dina regained her confidence!
After all, it wasn’t her who was turned away ignominiously, it was this woman called Shi Ya! So, what did she have to fear?
With this thought, Dina’s arrogance grew stronger, and she spoke haughtily, "Hand it over immediately, or—"
"Or what?" Shi Ya asked calmly, showing no fear. On the contrary, she suddenly took a step forward, closing in on Dina, word by word, "Dina, do you think with the title of project manager, you can rest easy? Or—"
Shi Ya paused, her gaze coldly sweeping over Dina, before speaking icily, "Or do you think with your figure and looks, you can keep receiving Professor McKin’s favor? Tch—"
"You managed to stay comfortably by Professor McKin’s side for three years! That is your true competence," Shi Ya said, her tone dripping with disdain.
Dina’s face stiffened, "Shi Ya! No matter what, I am stronger than someone who’s been kicked out the door like you!"
Shi Ya arched an eyebrow, replying indifferently, "You took my project, and you know full well what you’re relying on. Do you really think I can’t take it back? Just an A-level spiritual power, if I were A-level right now, do you believe Professor McKin would immediately hand the project back to me?"
Dina opened her mouth, "You...", her pupils flashed, regaining a hint of composure, "Dream on! You, a C-level weakling, will never rise to A-level in your lifetime!"
Shi Ya smirked, chuckling, "Whether I’m dreaming isn’t something you need to worry about. Just remember, the little thing you’re relying on isn’t enough for you to flaunt your power in front of me."
Filled with unfounded insecurity, Dina wanted to burst into a tirade, but meeting Shi Ya’s icy stare, she inexplicably felt the chill again, her aggressiveness involuntarily softened by several degrees.
Shi Ya asked, "Is there anything else you want to ask?"
Dina took a deep breath and said, "Shi Ya, you’ll regret this."
Hearing this, Shi Ya remained silent, raised her hand, and began to take off the white research coat embroidered with "Macken Laboratory" and carelessly placed it on the table before turning to look at Dina, "Take care of yourself."
Dina watched her leave the studio’s front door and shouted, "Shi Ya, you will regret this. Cross me, and you’ll have no place in the Triangle Zone!"
The so-called Triangle Zone refers to the region where the Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Star Systems converge; a complicated area with planets like Yunding Star and Yun Guang Star under the jurisdiction of the Interstellar Alliance, as well as Beihua Star and Beidai Star under the Galaxy Empire... and several planets that belong to the Blue Light United States...
In short, it’s incredibly complicated.
And Dina boasts, claiming that she can prevent Shi Ya from getting by in this place?
Upon hearing this, Shi Ya didn’t turn her head.
After finishing the handover and being interrogated by Dina for a long while, when Shi Ya finally left the secluded workshop, an entire night and a day had passed.
For the past two months, Shi Ya had been working tirelessly, treating the workshop as both her bedroom and dining room, barely leaving at all. Now, as she left the underground nineteenth floor and saw the lights opposite to her, she squinted her eyes, slightly uncomfortable...
What should be her next step?
Should she go straight back to school?
Or?
The idea of returning to school had just popped up when Shi Ya automatically pictured a smiling face in her mind.
That girl named Ji You, without her extra care, would she still be eating sweet and sour pork ribs twice a day?
...
Thinking of these things, Shi Ya couldn’t help but feel that maybe going back to school was a good idea.
But—
No.
Her eyes darkened slightly.
The moment she was about to step out of Macken Laboratory, Shi Ya thought of something and quickly turned back.
Once she left, she would no longer have access to Macken Laboratory, so Shi Ya hurried her steps, and in less than five minutes, she swiftly returned to the single dormitory assigned by the laboratory.
She opened the door, and aside from a suitcase, there was nearly nothing superfluous inside.
Shi Ya didn’t even glance at the other items and ignored the suitcase tossed aside, focusing solely on checking her mailbox!
However—
It was empty!
Completely empty!
Shi Ya pursed her lips, her eyes fixed on the mailbox, her hands starting to search through the outgoing records.