?Chapter 120:


    Haven’t I Answered My Own Question?


    Vincent still couldn’t shake the feeling that TS was somehow connected to Katelyn. Everything that had happened seemed too perfectly smooth, and upon reflection, the recent phone call was also suspicious—someone always intervened just in time to divert suspicion from Katelyn.


    Katelyn managed to conceal any visible emotion and feigned curiosity. “Can we really verify someone’s identity from such minor details? I think coding styles tend to ovep somewhat.”


    Jaxen responded with a knowing smile, wagging his finger in front of her. “You don’t fully grasp it, do you? It’s like design. Everyone has unique thinking patterns and stylistic nuances that might not be evident at first nce.”


    Katelyn appeared to have an epiphany and nodded, as though she had just understood aplex concept. “I see.”


    While engaging Jaxen in conversation, she covertly slid her hand beneath the table, out of sight, and sent a program she had prepared earlier to Briar. This program, crafted during a sleepless night, proved useful.


    She kept her thoughts well hidden, managing to deceive even Vincent.


    Vincent paused, then looked away, knowing that without concrete proof, Katelyn wouldn’t confess. He nced back at the screen just as a new batch of codes appeared. Briar had just gone online and promptly began using the program Katelyn had sent.


    Jaxen, observing the new codes, expressed his puzzlement. “These codes that just appeared seem to be TS’s work. But what about the earlier ones? Could it be that he’s trying to alter his style a little, yet finds his original method more fitting?”


    g???????ν??????.??0??; ???????????? ??????????


    Jaxen was left wondering about the inconsistencies.


    Vincent was shocked by what he heard. He moved closer, pointed at the screen, and asked softly, “Which part is TS’s style?”


    Jaxen urately identified the transition between two different coding styles. Although the top part of the program was wless, it still appeared wed whenpared to the section that followed.


    Katelyn, watching Jaxen, clenched her fists inside her sleeves without realizing it. She suddenly grasped the extent of the fanaticism among fans, which was all too familiar to her. If this continued, her secret might be revealed.


    Vincent pinpointed the crucial issue and asked directly, “Did the style change after you mentioned that the coder might not be TS?”


    It was another uncanny coincidence. Vincent’s suspicions deepened as he observed Katelyn silently.


    At that moment, Katelyn was focused on her design work, seemingly oblivious to the conversation. Nervousness caused sweat to form on the palms of her hands; she silently hoped that Jaxen would stop discussing the matter. She felt Vincent’s renewed suspicion, rendering the phone call pointless.


    Reacting to Vincent’sment, Jaxen excitedly pped his thigh and eximed, “Yes, it changed right after I mentioned it. Do you think I’m linked to TS? He probably altered his style intentionally after hearing my thoughts.”


    Hearing this, both Vincent and Katelyn were left speechless. Jaxen’s naivety was apparent.


    Meanwhile, Briar continued coding tirelessly. Soon, he had established the initialyer of the firewall. Thisyer was not just the first line of defense but also the most crucial. Typically, a high-securitywork would have at least a thousandyers to deter hackers.


    Jaxen, admiring the code, whispered to himself, “He’s truly deserving of my admiration. I never imagined someone could craft code as sublime as art. If I ever get the chance, I’ll ensure he epts me as his student, no matter what.”


    Katelyn concealed the turmoil in her eyes and acted as if she hadn’t heard anything. She had prepared enough code for Briar to get through the morning’s requirements. She nned to write additional code herselfter that evening.


    As she reassured herself, Katelyn’s tense body began to rx. She was focused on her drawing and didn’t notice Vincent approaching silently from behind.


    Katelyn’s hair was untied, cascading softly down her back, allowing Vincent to catch the subtle scent of gardenia as he drew near.


    He spoke suddenly, his gaze intense. “Miss Bailey, do you believe what just transpired was merely a coincidence?”


    Caught off guard, Katelyn flinched and instinctively clutched at her chest.


    “Mr. Adams, why are you so quiet when you move? You frightened me terribly.”


    She had heard his question but pretended as if it hadn’t registered.


    Vincent, seizing the moment to probe further, loomed over her with a daunting presence.


    Seated, Katelyn felt the weight of his scrutiny intensify. The familiar panic of being trapped resurfaced.


    Vincent watched her with a slight smile, pressing further.


    “Miss Bailey, you still haven’t answered my question.”


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