Chapter 158: Dog Bites Dog

Shitou Chuan Ying handed the USB drive to Yasuhara Shin, then sat down silently in the opposite seat. Because Legion Ant Company spoke out about the impact of salvaging the Seismograph, their government now faced even bigger trouble.

Originally, disaster relief was already giving them enough headaches. If the Seismograph matter wasn’t handled properly, they could fall into a political crisis. The opposition had long coveted the leader’s position.

“Are all the photos here?” Yasuhara Shin pulled the USB drive from the computer and said calmly.

“Yes, sir.” Shitou Chuan Ying nodded.

Yasuhara Shin adjusted his glasses, his face still expressionless. “Were there any fishing boats nearby when the United States salvaged the Seismograph?”

“It seems there were two fishing boats.” Shitou Chuan Ying lowered his head and thought for a moment.

“Keep this matter confidential. No one else can know, or you understand the consequences.” Yasuhara Shin’s tone was icy, carrying a warning.

“Understood.”

Shitou Chuan Ying guessed what Yasuhara Shin intended to do and immediately nodded. After receiving Yasuhara Shin’s permission, he left the Office. For the next period, he needed to take a vacation. Because he was the one who salvaged the Seismograph and the earthquake happened afterward, there were many conflicts. He inevitably became the focus of public attention and attacks.

Not long after Shitou left, a man with a cold expression entered Yasuhara Shin’s Office.

“Post these pictures online, taken by fishermen.” Yasuhara Shin handed the USB drive to the man.

“Yes, sir.”

The cold-faced man took the USB drive without asking any questions and turned to leave.

In the hall.

While Chen Mo was looking at his phone, Xiaoyu came out of the room.

She wore the same floral dress from their first date, her long hair flowing down her back, just like before.

Now, Xiaoyu looked very confident. Often staying close to Zhao Min and meeting different people had subtly changed her demeanor.

“Come with me to the beach.” Xiaoyu’s eyes shone with joy, pleased by Chen Mo’s gaze.

Chen Mo checked the weather and said, “It’s raining outside. Still want to go out?”

“With you here.”

Her soft smile made it impossible for him to refuse. He simply couldn’t say no to this sensible and understanding girl. Seeing Chen Mo’s reaction, Xiaoyu immediately linked her arm with his and walked out.

On the seawall outside the Villa community, Chen Mo held an umbrella while Xiaoyu clung to his arm as they walked quietly.

Chen Mo felt very content. It had been a long time since they had gone out for a walk like this, and it was their first time strolling in the drizzle. After a period of busyness, this kind of tranquility felt especially relaxing, a rare moment of leisure to enjoy.

The moist sea breeze lifted Xiaoyu’s floral dress. She appeared very calm, occasionally smoothing her wind-tousled hair.

Gazing at the sea under the night sky, Xiaoyu gradually became lost in thought. Then she clasped her hands together and closed her eyes.

Chen Mo didn’t disturb her, quietly watching Xiaoyu. It was the first time he had seen her with such a devout expression.

Not long after, Xiaoyu opened her eyes again and nestled into his embrace.

“When I was little, I always liked going to the beach to wait for my dad to return from fishing. Once, I heard that a villager’s boat had an accident at sea and never came back. That day, I ran to the beach alone, crying and making a wish, hoping my dad would return safely from the sea.”

Chen Mo felt a pang of heartache and held her tighter. This was the first time Xiaoyu had told him about her childhood.

“Later, when my dad came back and saw me sitting on the sand crying like a mess, he gave me a gift—a colorful seashell he had found at sea. It was very beautiful.”

Xiaoyu opened her hand, revealing a small, colorful seashell. Its patterns were intricate, the surface rough, and its vibrant colors not hidden even by the night.

“This was the first gift my dad gave me. When I was little, my sister always tried to take it to play with, so I hid it and have kept it ever since. Back then, my dad said the seashell could hear the ocean’s voice. Since then, every year on this day, I bring this seashell to the beach to make a wish.”

Thinking of a little girl seriously making wishes to the sea, Chen Mo wanted to laugh, but he didn’t dare.

Hearing Xiaoyu talk about her childhood was quite amusing.

“Even now, I still like bringing this little seashell to the beach to make wishes,” Xiaoyu said.

“Over ten years now? What kind of wishes did you make?” Chen Mo asked.

“When I was little, I always wished for my dad to return safely from the sea, for good grades in school, and for my dad to buy me pretty dresses and toys.”

As she spoke, Xiaoyu laughed.

“What did you wish for just now?”

“I won’t tell you for now. I’ll tell you later,” Xiaoyu said with a playful expression. “Let’s go back. I’m a bit cold.”

Early the next morning, Chen Mo took Xiaoyu to the company. Now that the Seismograph matter was on track, Zhao Min would handle the rest, so he only needed to focus on his research.

“Brother Mo, the Island Nation people exposed the United States salvaging the Seismograph,” Ink Girl reminded him as soon as Chen Mo entered the Office.

“The Island Nation people exposed it?” Chen Mo said in surprise. “When did this happen?”

“Last night.”

Chen Mo immediately opened the news and indeed saw pictures of the United States salvaging the Seismograph.

This was unexpected. He hadn’t thought the Island Nation would secretly have someone release these pictures. But now, these matters were just for observation; they no longer concerned him.

“Island Nation Fishermen Reveal U.S. Military Salvaged Seismograph.”

“News About the Second Seismograph.”

…

Among the recommended news were many such messages. It was revealed by Island Nation people on Twitter last night.

The United States salvaged the second Seismograph?

This topic was now very hot, successfully taking over the headlines from the Island Nation earthquake.

Some had initially doubted Chen Mo’s words since he had only said it was possible and no one had seen the Seismograph being salvaged. Now, with the pictures out, the evidence was clear, and Chen Mo’s guess was correct.

This news gave the boiling public anger in the Island Nation an outlet.

On Twitter, Island Nation people were already fiercely cursing the United States. They believed that the United States salvaging the Seismograph led to the disaster not being accurately predicted.

Now, Twitter was a battlefield, with netizens from both countries engaging in an unprecedented war of words.

The focus in the Island Nation shifted from the earthquake to the United States salvaging the second Seismograph. With the earthquake, tsunami, and ongoing aftershocks, the public’s resentment had no outlet. Now, with this opportunity, it wouldn’t easily calm down.

The online feud between the two sides instantly escalated.

Unlike the two countries, netizens in their own country were gloating. Reports of the master betraying the dog and now the dog biting back, with both sides cursing each other, thrilled the domestic netizens.

Inside the Office, Chen Mo watched the news with great interest. This time, it was killing two birds with one stone. He was very pleased to see them digging their own graves—this was the consequence of salvaging the Seismograph.

Now, in the Island Nation, because of this major disaster, social conflicts had intensified. Combined with the government’s insufficient disaster response, protests were everywhere, and the Island Nation government was already in a political crisis.

The news that the United States had salvaged the second Seismograph successfully diverted public attention, shifting the people’s anger toward the United States. The Island Nation government no longer had to bear such heavy public pressure. An invisible hand in the Island Nation was guiding the direction of public opinion.

Now, netizens from both sides were cursing each other, which could only be considered a civil dispute, unrelated to the officials, and the news wasn’t “officially” released.

These two countries had always been friendly on the surface but at odds internally. This situation perfectly fit the Island Nation’s way of doing things. The Island Nation had played this move very well.

But these matters had nothing to do with Chen Mo, the mastermind behind it all.