Benton leaned over and kissed Silver Dew’s cheek.

“Stop crying.

You go back first; I’ll come find you later.” Silver Dew gave him a long look, nodded obediently, and said, “Okay, I’ll head back now.” Benton watched her leave, standing there momentarily, lost in thought.

After a long while, he silently turned around just as the door opened from the inside, and five people walked out, laughing and chatting.

He froze slightly.

Alex teased him, “Benton, meeting up with your girlfriend? You won’t even talk to us now.

Clearly, you favor romance over friendship, ha!” Benton managed a dry laugh.

Bobo playfully punched his shoulder, then rested his arm around Benton’s shoulders.

“Let’s go, Benton, time to celebrate.” —Honestly, Benton didn’t really like Bobo.

Bobo was cheerful and generous, easily likable, yet he constantly exuded an unconscious air of superiority, which grated on Benton.

Especially today, in a foul mood, his expression was chillingly cold.

Benton sidestepped his arm.

“Sorry, I have something to do.

I won’t be going.” The words were sure to dampen the mood.

The twins chorused, “Shame on the guy who chooses looks over friends!” Benton offered no explanation and turned to walk away.

Bobo frowned in annoyance and started to move after him, but Li Chunyu stopped him.

“Forget it, it’s fine.” Bobo shot a glance at Benton’s retreating back.

“Buzzkill.

Ignore him.

Let’s go!” After leaving the lab, Benton boarded the airship and headed toward his apartment.

He didn’t want to witness the cheerfulness of the Chu Qiao team, as it would only deepen their pain, and he was even more reluctant to see Silver Dew, for she was the very root of his own agony.

One misstep leads to many; carelessly, he had found himself in an impossible bind.

Should he lay everything bare to Silver Dew, or continue acquiring data for her? It was a choice he simply couldn’t make.

He didn't want to lose Silver Dew, nor did he wish to lose Chu Qiao, that great towering tree.

The more Benton thought, the worse his headache became.

Upon reaching his apartment door, the light behind him cast his shadow onto it.

He looked up, about to open the door, when suddenly, another shadow appeared on the door.

He spun around sharply—a dark figure enveloped him! Ziye and the other four, along with Ling Yin—who they hadn't seen in ages—and a group of girls, partied until midnight.

Bobo was already planning the after-party, but Ziye was utterly exhausted and went home to sleep first.

The next day, she rose early and hurried to the lab to start on the system and clean-up.

Along the way, Little Sprout chirped like a restless bird, “Silly Little Ye, do you still remember Silver Dew?” Ziye, her eyes almost glued shut from sleepiness, yawned.

“Of course, she came to see me a few days ago.” Little Sprout settled on her head and mumbled quietly, “I think there’s something wrong with her.

Last night when she stood at the lab door, I sensed her heart rate was 1.35 times that of a normal person.

Definitely abnormal.” Ziye carefully took the little sprout off and rubbed its head.

“Be good.

They won’t be here that early today.

Can you boot up the system for me first?” Little Sprout nudged her head with its body and spread its wings toward the assembly line terminal.

Ziye smiled and shook her head, boarding the maglev vehicle to follow behind it.

Just as she expected, no one else had arrived yet.

Little Sprout efficiently initiated the optical computer's self-check and opened the light screen.

It rarely used the screen unless specifically showing data to Ziye, but today, it seemed unusually keen, opening all eight screens and arranging them in a circle around itself.

The translucent screens emitted a soft, gentle glow, suspending in the air and centering Little Sprout.

The sight was instantly dazzling, elevating Little Sprout’s presence to near-celestial status.

Ziye mentally gave it a thumbs-up, but then she saw the tiny sprout on top of Little Sprout's head stand straight up: “Wait, the mech is wrong!” Ziye asked, puzzled, “What’s wrong?” Little Sprout flew anxiously toward the mech.

“The engine cannot be detected.” Ziye froze, stepped out of the maglev vehicle, boarded the mech, and opened the armor hatch.

Peering inside, she was instantly stunned! The engine? Where had the engine gone? She circled the area.

There were no signs of forced entry; it was clear someone familiar had taken it.

She ran outside; the door showed no signs of being forced.

The door to this production line used a biometric scan lock.

Entry was only possible with an accurate five-sense scan.

Currently, only the six members of the team could open it.

This meant an insider was responsible? Ziye felt an instantaneous chill permeate her heart.

She frantically sent an urgent transmission to everyone: “The engine is gone.

Get here immediately!” Li Chunyu, having woken up early, had already finished breakfast and rushed toward the lab upon hearing the news.

The twins and Bobo, having partied too hard the night before, were still nestled under the covers.

Hearing Ziye’s words, they leaped out of bed, nearly hitting the ceiling, and instantly sobered up.

Only Benton’s emergency signal went unanswered; his line was dead.

Ziye paced back and forth, alternating between anger, sadness, and anxiety.

Little Sprout burrowed into the mech and suddenly shouted, “There’s another piece missing from here!” What?! Ziye sank weakly to the floor, her heart growing completely cold.

Both were critical components.

They had consumed half a month's worth of effort, and now only half a month remained.

This was clearly intentional sabotage.

She closed her eyes briefly.

“Dou Dou, check the surveillance system for me.” Little Sprout’s tiny sprout stood erect.

“Understood!” It flew back to the center of the light screens to search the monitoring data.

By this time, Li Chunyu had arrived, looking tense.

“What happened?” Just as Ziye was about to speak, Little Sprout reported, “Someone deleted the surveillance records in advance.

A hacker did it.” Li Chunyu remained silent for a long moment.

Ziye noticed his face was stiff and frighteningly taut.

She felt distressed and utterly helpless—what was she supposed to do? At that moment, Li Chunyu slammed his fist heavily onto the mech, creating a loud bang.

“What’s wrong? What on earth happened?” The twins’ voices arrived before they did.

They had rushed over; their hair was messy, sticking up at the ends, and they hadn't had time to fix it.

Ziye’s face was grim.

“Our mech engine is missing!” The twins gasped in shock.

They scrambled into the mech’s interior, and indeed, the space where the engine should be was just a gaping, dark hole, starkly recounting its ordeal.

The twins exchanged a look, revealing expressions of shared alarm and suspicion.

Seeing that no one was paying attention, Little Sprout loudly sought relevance: “But that hacker wasn't professional at all, hmph! I caught their tail, and now I’m going to drag them out.” Everyone immediately turned their heads sharply.

“Hacker?” Ziye signaled Little Sprout to remain silent.

“This must have been premeditated.

We have to figure out a solution.

Benton’s number won’t connect; have you tried reaching him?” Bobo burst in just as Benton’s name was mentioned, roaring, “It’s him? Damn it, I’ll kill him!” Ziye was startled by the sudden surge of hostility.

“I’m not certain it’s him, but there were no signs of prying around the mech, meaning it was someone familiar.

Furthermore, the main door wasn't forced.

It has to be one of the six of us.

And right now, I can’t reach him…” “No need to say more; it’s definitely him.

I know how to draw him out.” Bobo opened his comms, found a number, and dialed it.

“Find Benton from Class Three, Year Two of the Armor Fabrication Department.

Do whatever it takes, but bring him back alive!” After giving the order, he hung up and announced to the group, “I’m going to check which team’s mech he stole the parts and slapped them onto.” His actions were decisive and swift.

The twins nodded secretly; Bobo handled the crisis without losing composure—his psychological resilience was solid! Alex said, “Good.

Now isn't the time for anger or sadness.

We two will go buy materials.

Little Ye…” Ziye immediately picked up, “Don’t worry.

As long as we have the materials, I can build a new one right away.” A hint of a smile touched Alex’s tense face.

“I know you can handle it.” He paused, and Spenser added as an excuse, “Brother Chun, while you’re at it, modify the blueprints.

Regardless of which engine they used, we can’t use the previous set of data anymore.” Li Chunyu’s face was deathly pale.

He stood with his back to them, not saying a word.

Ziye saw his shoulders stiffen and knew he was hurting.

In truth, she felt immense pain too, but having endured something a hundred times more heartbreaking recently had forged a stronger heart in her.

“I’ll handle Benton.

You all go ahead with your tasks.” The twins patted Ziye’s shoulder and left for the material market.

This time, everyone shared a single conviction: they absolutely would not be crushed by the enemy! Ziye walked over to Li Chunyu.

“Let’s see how we can modify the engine.

No matter what, the previous data set is unusable.” Li Chunyu was silent for a long time.

“I’m sorry.

I need a moment to calm down.

You carry on first.” Ziye clenched her fist.

“Okay.

Calm down first.

I’ll wait for you.” Li Chunyu didn't even look back and walked straight out the door.

Ziye frowned deeply watching his retreating back.

Little Sprout suddenly shrieked, “Silly little one, look! Chun’er’s eyes are leaking!” Li Chunyu’s steps faltered momentarily, then he covered his face and fled in haste.

Ziye snatched Little Sprout out of the air and snarled fiercely, “Don’t talk nonsense!” Little Sprout looked wronged.

“I wasn’t talking nonsense! Your eyes leak too!” Ziye suddenly had the urge to wring the little rascal’s neck.

Why pick on Li Chunyu? Among the team, Li Chunyu was the most thin-skinned; he must be mortified with shame and anger right now.

The little rascal struggled in her grip.

“Ahhh, I’m dying, Silly One, let go quickly.” Ziye tossed it into the air without a trace of depression.

Silly One, little rascal—it really classed her as one of its own.

“…Enough chatter.

Let’s modify the engine data first.

As soon as the materials arrive, we can start building.” Little Sprout flipped over mid-air and landed lightly on her head.

“Roger that.” The person and the sprout laid out all the engine blueprints and data.

Little Sprout reviewed it from beginning to end and commented, “Moving one thing affects everything.

Instead of modifying, it’s better to start over.” -(To be continued.)