The door was closed.
The high-ranking leader left in anger. The team that was the pride of their Internet Surveillance Bureau, from its leaders to its subordinates, were all full of lies! Check them, check all 16 of them! Actually, everyone knew that it was only a matter of time before they found out who it was. The most dangerous hacker in the world was definitely one of those 16 people.
"Who could it be?"
"If they don't find the person, we won't be able to go back?"
"Don't do that. Teacher Zhang's first concert will be starting in a few days."
"Yeah, and I've already bought tickets too."
"As if you bought them with your own money? Didn't you get them for free from Teacher Zhang?"
"Didn't you also get yours from Teacher Zhang!"
"Hai, forget about the concert, none of us will be able to go and watch it."
"Why do I feel like their investigations are heading in the wrong direction?"
"Yeah, that's what I actually think as well. All of us have worked together for so long, so surely we'd have a sense of how good each of us is? We definitely know everything about each other. If you say that there's a hacker among the 16 of us, I'd believe that. We all have the technical skill for that. But if you say that one of us is the world's best and most dangerous hacker, I won't believe that no matter what. Have a look at each other. Which of us looks like we're a legendary hacker? None of us! Therefore, didn't they get something wrong?"
Everyone sized each other up.
He looked at her, she looked at him.
Then they nodded in unison. None of them looked like one.
But who could it be?
Could there really be other suspects then?
But there weren't any. It was only the 16 of them.
Even at this point, they did not think of Zhang Ye. The war had occurred so long ago most of those at the First Department had forgotten about it. At that time of the Sino-Korean Hacker War, it wasn't only the people from their department who were present in the office. Someone else was with them.
…
The next day.
Shanghai News.
"The Public Security Department is actively investigating the matter and have already locked on to the possible suspects."
…
On the third day.
Beijing Television.
"There is now global attention on the identity of Hacker 2. We'll be bringing you the latest updates surrounding the case."
…
On the fourth day.
Central TV Department 1.
"Zhang Ye's 'The Final Concert' will be held at Olympic Stadium tomorrow evening. With Fan Yingyun, the leader of Zhang Ye's Fan Club, the main suspect in the hacking case, the attention surrounding Zhang Ye's debut concert has been soaring."
…
Online.
"The concert is approaching!"
"I'm so looking forward to it!"
"Haha, I've already gotten my hands on the tickets!"
"Previous poster, you're such a showoff! I didn't manage to get any tickets!"
"It was too difficult to buy them."
"I'm on the train from Xining to Beijing to catch the concert. I'm a true fan!"
"The Final Concert, this name really gets to you."
"Yeah, those who don't know might even think that Zhang Ye is really going to bid farewell to the entertainment circle for good."
"What farewell? Isn't he just staying home to wait for his wife to give birth? He'll only be gone for a while. After that, this fellow will definitely reappear and stir up trouble again!"
"Pfft, everyone seems to understand Teacher Zhang so well?"
"Of course, that guy's always been this way."
"I hope tomorrow arrives quickly. I can't wait much longer!"
"Have the investigations into Hacker 2's case reached a conclusion yet?"
"I doubt they can find him. He's such an awesome and legendary hacker. Unless he steps forward by himself, no one can find him."
…
In the evening.
A lot of places received a letter.
It was Zhang Ye's resignation letter.
When the people of Peking University saw this resignation letter, they were dumbfounded.
What was going on?
What was this about?
Resignation?
Dean Pan of the School of Mathematical Sciences immediately called Zhang Ye on his cell phone. "Professor Zhang, what's with that? Why are you resigning?"
Zhang Ye laughed and said: "You received the letter?"
Dean Pan said in a speechless manner: "Don't joke around."
"I'm not joking." Zhang Ye said: "I'm going on a break for some time, so I've decided to resign from all the positions that I hold."
Dean Pan said: "You didn't come to lecture at Peking University all this while anyway. Just go on your break and keep the position at the school."
Zhang Ye said: "That won't do. I cannot be a dog in the manger."
Soon after, a vice president from Media College also called.
"Professor Zhang, what's going on here?"
"President Sun, it's a personal decision."
"No, I won't agree to it."
"I've already decided, so please just allow me to go on break."
"You can go on your break if you want, but why do you have to resign? Are you really thinking of staying home all your life to take care of your child? Isn't it only going to be for several months? Or at most a year?"
"President Sun, I thank my alma mater for the trust it has in me. But I've really come to a decision. I've been working so hard all these years, so please do a good deed and allow me to relax a little."
"Come on, this is way too sudden!"
Then the Asian Charity Association called.
One call.
Three calls.
Five calls.
On this day, Zhang Ye had resigned from all the positions that he held.
Without an exception, he submitted his resignation for all of them.
In fact, he was quite reluctant to do so. Math Department professor, Chinese Department professor, the Asian philanthropic ambassador, all of these roles held very precious memories for Zhang Ye. But this was a decision that he had to take, and it was also something that he had considered for some time. Even the hardest decision had been made, so what else was there that he couldn't do? This matter was something that Zhang Ye had to take responsibility for by himself. He couldn't drag down others for what he did. Tomorrow was going to be the final concert. After that, Zhang Ye could do what he needed free from anguish. He could leave his worries behind.
The news broke.
The news spread.
The people were also stunned and bewildered.
"What?"
"Zhang Ye resigned?"
"He resigned from both Peking University and Media College?"
"What is he trying to achieve?"
"Is he really going to stay at home to take care of his child?"
"I'm wondering about that too. If it's just taking care of his child, surely there isn't a need to resign from all of his roles, is there? I heard that this fellow has never lectured at Peking University and Media College anyway."
"Who knows what Zhang Ye is thinking."
"That fellow has relapsed again."
"Haha, ignore him, he often gets convulsions like this. We're used to it."
There was just one day remaining.
Only 24 hours left.
His staff.
His family.
His work.
He had done all that he could for them.
Everything that needed to be arranged had been arranged.
With all of his burdens unloaded, Zhang Ye felt completely relaxed. He did not go back home to his parent's place, nor did he go to Old Wu's place. The closer he was to saying farewell, the more he did not know how to face them. Zhang Ye went out onto the streets and walked aimlessly. He wandered around in the alleys.
He walked very slowly.
Without a purpose.
The streets in the common places of Beijing were not very nice. A lot of trash, old buildings, and illegally parked cars were everywhere. But Zhang Ye felt very peaceful and calm.
Lightly I leave,
as lightly I came;
I gently wave goodbye,
to the rosy clouds in the western sky.
Quietly I leave,
as quietly I came;
I flutter my sleeves softly,
not taking any wisps of the clouds away.
Good night.
Beijing.
After tomorrow's farewell, let's meet again another day.