novelhk Chapter 3 Ripples of Self-Proof
Chapter 3 Ripples of Self-Proof
Even with Yu Chen's intervention, the original plot continued to move forward quietly.
Zhuang Xu submitted Nie Xiguang's resume to Sheng Yuan.
The interview invitation from Shengyuan Group was like a stone thrown into a pond; instead of ripples of congratulations, it stirred up a vortex of doubt in Nie Xiguang's dormitory.
The sound of Ye Rong slamming the door and leaving still echoed in the corridor, and a thick silence fell over the dormitory.
With his back to his three roommates, Nie Xiguang could clearly feel their gazes.
She has gone to Shengyuan and received extra care because of her father's connections.
She didn't like it, so she refused.
Furthermore, she made it clear to her roommates that she would not go to Shengyuan.
But just half an hour earlier, in the hallway in front of many classmates, Ye Rong questioned her sharply: "Nie Xiguang, you clearly received a call from Sheng Yuan informing me that we would be interviewing together, why didn't you tell me? Were you afraid I would compete with you?"
Nie Xiguang was completely dumbfounded.
She had no idea there was a telephone.
What made her feel even more uneasy was the way Zhuang Xu looked at her afterward.
He stopped her downstairs, the setting sun casting a long shadow. His tone was familiar to her, a complex blend of concern and moral judgment: "Xiguang, if it really was your family... who used some connections, you should at least let Ye Rong know. This isn't fair to her."
He didn't directly accuse anyone, but every word he said painted a vague yet embarrassing picture.
A vested interest who subtly and quietly squeezes out others by leveraging their family background.
She wanted to explain that she had no idea Zhuang Xu had "casually" sent her resume to Sheng Yuan, that she was just as surprised when she received the call, and that she had not received any information about bringing Ye Rong to the interview.
But seeing the look on his face that said, "I understand your predicament, but this is ultimately not a good thing," all the words stuck in my throat.
Explanations, when faced with a preconceived stance, are as pale as a piece of brittle paper.
---
The stalemate in the dormitory was broken by a knock on the door.
The girl who came was from the next class. She peeked at Nie Xiguang and said, "The counselor wants you to go to the office. It seems to be about your thesis."
Nie Xiguang felt as if he had been granted a pardon, grabbed his phone, and hurriedly left.
The moment she closed the door, she could faintly hear Si Liang's hushed voice behind her: "...It shouldn't be that bad, right?"
The eldest brother gave a vague response, and Siliang let out an almost inaudible sigh.
The corridor was dimly lit.
She leaned against the cold wall, taking a deep breath, but couldn't inhale any relief. Her phone screen lit up; it was a text message from her father, inquiring about her graduation thesis progress and subtly mentioning again that she should work at their company.
She didn't reply, turned off the screen, and her fingertips were cold.
That familiar feeling of isolation, separated by a glass dome, returned. People outside could see her, but they couldn't hear her voice, nor did they believe what she made.
Zhuang Xu's suspicion was like a fine needle, precisely piercing the calm she had been trying to maintain during this period of time.
She needs to breathe, she needs to do something, she can't just be nailed to the cross of "suspect" like this.
Almost instinctively, she thought of Yu Chen.
That errand boy who talked eloquently about the photovoltaic industry at the job fair and instantly searched for documents using his self-built database in the library.
His world seemed to consist only of clear problems and solutions, devoid of these sticky suspicions.
She walked to the public phone booth downstairs in the dormitory building, inserted the card, and dialed the number on the "Jiangda All-in-One" notice.
"Hello, 'Lightning Delivery'." Yu Chen's voice came quickly, with some background noise, and the faint sounds of bicycle bells and basketballs bouncing in the distance could be heard.
She paused, trying to keep her voice steady, "I'd like to ask... if someone wants to prove they didn't receive a certain phone call at a specific time, besides call logs, what other possible evidence or approaches are there?"
There was a two-second silence on the other end of the phone.
"Senior," Yu Chen's voice became clearer, and the background noise seemed to have subsided, as he had probably moved to a quieter spot, "Are you worried about the Sheng Yuan interview notification?"
Nie Xiguang was shocked. She hadn't expected Yu Chen to recognize her just by her voice, nor had she expected him to be able to pinpoint her weakness so accurately.
"After the job fair, while organizing information on nearby companies, I also paid attention to Shengyuan's Wuxi branch. They started their campus recruitment late this year, and their HR department seemed to be understaffed, with many complaints about the chaotic processes."
He spoke at a steady pace, as if stating an objective fact: "In addition, purely from a logical point of view, when a company's HR notifies you of an interview, especially in the early stages of campus recruitment, they rarely contact you solely by phone without sending an email or text message to confirm."
"If it's an important interview but there's only one phone call, and the person answering the phone isn't the person in question, the probability of a miscommunication is much higher than the probability of someone deliberately concealing information."
He didn't mention any names or comment on anyone; he simply provided information and a calm, logical deduction.
But Nie Xiguang instantly grasped the key point—
The person who answered the phone was not the person in question.
Yup!
She kept thinking that she hadn't received any calls asking her to accompany her to interviews, but what if the call came to her dorm and someone else answered?
Who was in the dormitory at the time?
"I understand... thank you." Her thoughts became clearer.
"You're welcome. To prove an 'alibi' or 'no contact,' finding corroborating evidence and objective third-party records is often more effective than self-defense."
Yu Chen's voice remained calm and pragmatic. "For example, where were you during that time period? Are there any other witnesses or physical evidence? Surveillance footage from public places, library borrowing and returning records, computer server login logs, and even the timestamps on supermarket receipts can all serve as time anchors."
Library borrowing and returning records!
Nie Xiguang's eyes lit up. She had been at the library all yesterday afternoon!
"I... I know what to do. Thank you very much."
Best of luck.
The call ended. A busy signal rang.
Holding the receiver, Nie Xiguang stood in the cramped space of the phone booth and suddenly felt his heart start beating strongly again.
Yu Chen didn't comfort her or sympathize with her; he simply calmly helped her broaden her thinking and pointed out the direction for finding evidence.
This kind of support, based purely on reason and problem-solving, is far more powerful at this moment than any pale consolation.
She turned and walked quickly toward the library.
---
Meanwhile, in the back alley of the snack street in the eastern district of Jiangning University, Yu Chen had just locked up a second-hand bicycle.
In front of him was a book rental stall, which also sold photocopying services and a public telephone. The call he had just made was made from there.
In his mind, the system's notification tone calmly sounded:
"Key plot point detected: 'Interview misunderstanding'. The target is experiencing an interpersonal trust crisis, with a strong sense of isolation and a strong need to prove themselves."
"Analysis of intervention methods: Provide support for 'information verification methodology' to guide the target towards objective evidence collection, rather than direct emotional reassurance. This aligns with the role of 'toolbox provider'."
Reward: 200 Achievement Points
Yu Chen paid the phone bill and nodded his thanks to the stall owner.
He certainly knew how this case was ultimately resolved in the original work, and he also knew that Nie Xiguang had successfully proved himself with his clear and logical reasoning.
What he wanted to do was not to solve the problem for her, but to hand her a map and a compass when she was most confused and helpless, so that she could find her way out of the fog herself.
This is the true meaning of "standing shoulder to shoulder".
Believe in her own power and unleash it.
He looked up at the sky; it was early summer evening, and the sunset painted half the sky.
At this moment, Zhuang Xu may be making final preparations for his final interview at the bank, or he may still be troubled by the "injustice" between Nie Xiguang and Ye Rong.
And he, Yu Chen, the errand boy from "Lightning Delivery," had just quietly reinforced a brand new possibility in Nie Xiguang's world with a phone call and a few logical analyses.
This power is quiet, yet it possesses its own sharpness.
---
Nie Xiguang sat down in front of the computer in the library.
She pulled up her borrowing records from yesterday, and the screen light illuminated her beautiful yet determined face.
The book "International Accounting Standards Explained" was borrowed at 2:15 PM.
She remembers clearly that after borrowing the books, she went directly to the reading area on the third floor by the window and stayed there until the closing music started at 5:30 p.m. before leaving.
That spot faces the window; if the teacher at the management desk looks up, they should be able to see her.
She needs to find the teacher on duty, or other classmates who also study in that area and might remember her.
It wasn't easy, but she had to do it.
She also recalled that around 3 p.m. yesterday, she had briefly logged into the school's internal BBS using the library's computer to check for a notice about an academic lecture.
Perhaps... the server keeps login logs?
One possible clue after another emerged and connected in her mind. The errand boy was right; getting caught up in "who is lying" is an emotional quagmire, while searching for "evidence over time" is a rational high ground.
She stood up and walked towards the library's management desk.
Their steps were no longer hesitant.
She knew that even if she proved her innocence, the subtle atmosphere in the dormitory and Zhuang Xu's disappointed "concern" might not disappear immediately.
But some things are different now.
She is no longer a passive victim of suspicion, but an active participant in clarifying the truth.
More importantly, she knew that beyond the scrutiny and suspicion, there was another way to look at problems and offer support.
Calm, rational, and focused on solving problems.
Just like Yu Chen.
As night deepened, the library lights gradually came on. Nie Xiguang moved between the bookshelves and reading area, asking questions, taking notes, and verifying information.
Her back was straight, her eyes were clear, like a crane preening its feathers alone, preparing to face the wind and rain.
She must win this battle to prove herself.
The battle itself will leave something more important in her heart than the outcome.
Yu Chen's "toolbox" has been delivered to her. Now, it's her turn to put it to use.
Nie Xiguang's sharp and ambitious growth officially began on this evening filled with grievances.