Huo Chengdong inexplicably popped up and highly admired: “Hacker? Little brother, are you preparing to fight Hanxi University next door?”
Qiao Ying asked Qiao Yi: “Fight what?”
Huo Chengdong was quicker to speak, answering on behalf of Qiao Yi: “Sister Ying, you haven’t heard yet? The computer competition!”
“There are two reasons. First, last year in the basketball game, those grandsons from Hanxi were too badly abused by Sister Ying, so they want to regain face this year.”
“Second, it's still because of Sister Ying. You are now the promotional image for Capital University’s admissions brochure. In previous years, Hanxi was always trying to poach students from us, but they definitely can't do it this year, so they came up with this computer competition to try to salvage things."
Qiao Ying looked at Qiao Yi: “Are you going to participate?”
Qiao Yi smiled shyly: “It doesn’t seem like the freshmen have a spot. Besides, there’s a mixed-race guy among Hanxi’s new freshmen who has lived abroad. I heard he had some hacker master teach him a lot, so he’s probably pretty good. I’m no match for him. The school is also quite cautious about this. A lot of juniors and seniors have signed up and are still competing for spots."
Qiao Ying: “Hacker master teacher? As skilled as a hacker?”
Qiao Yi had no doubt: “That’s impossible.”
Qiao Ying: “Qin Hanyue and I haven't taught you less. Not even competing yet you’re already chickening out. Boys gotta have some momentum, it's good for your health."
In this regard, Qiao Yi did have quite some talent. Qiao Ying knew his current level wasn’t bad.
Of course he couldn't compare with real hackers.
Huo Chengdong: “Sister Ying is right. We gotta teach those Hanxi grandsons that don’t know their place a lesson. Looking to be abused, might as well give them what they came asking for."
Qiao Yi: “Then sister, are you signing up?”
Qiao Ying: “You go.”
Huo Chengdong: “Don’t do that Sister Ying, give it your best! Wouldn’t it be great if brother and sister went into battle together? From what those Hanxi grandsons were bragging about, that mixed breed definitely isn’t as good as you.”
Huo Chengdong had witnessed Qiao Ying’s precision maneuvers before. He wouldn’t be able to learn those sleights of hand if he practiced his whole life.
Qiao Ying casually showed mercy: “Can’t bully others too much.”
Huo Chengdong smiled awkwardly: “Kinda gives me the creeps hearing that from Sister Ying’s mouth.”
After Huo Chengdong left, Qiao Yi quietly asked Qiao Ying: “Sis, that thing with Xiao He last time that paralyzed the entire internet, was it Brother Qin who got someone to do it?”
Or did Qin Hanyue take action personally?
Qiao Yi didn’t even consider that it could have been Qiao Ying’s doing. He knew Qiao Ying was skilled with computers, but she had only started learning in her last year of high school.
Even if she secretly studied more, time would still limit her.
No matter how talented, it couldn’t be that freakish right?
It wasn’t just hacking one or two systems, the entire country was shaken. The government was probably alerted too.
His classmates all said so back then.
It wasn’t something one or two people could pull off.
Considering Qin Hanyue’s capabilities and age, it was more probable. Although he didn’t know Qin Hanyue's true capabilities, he was definitely formidable.
Maybe on par with professional hackers.
Qiao Ying: “What’s your guess?”
Qiao Ying’s seemingly smiling but not smiling expression left Qiao Yi confused.
Qiao Yi still went to sign up in the end.
A freshman who had just started learning about computers defeated a bunch of upperclassmen to qualify for the competition spot.
Qiao Yi first showed his talent in Capital University.
President Zhang said competition came second, friendship first.
He chatted amiably with Hanxi’s president. Brotherly love.
But after sending off Hanxi’s president, with whom he had a love-hate relationship, he immediately went to find Qiao Ying, hoping she would shine glory on the school.
It had to be said, competitive spirit was still quite strong despite his age.
Hearing that Qiao Yi qualified, Zhang Chengyong felt relieved.
He figured since the sister was so formidable, the brother couldn’t be too shabby either. At least they wouldn’t lose too badly.
Apparently Zhang Chengyong had also heard about Hanxi having an impressive new student.
The competition location was at Hanxi University next door.
A lot of Capital University students went to cheer Qiao Yi on that competition day.
Since the two schools were close, Qiao Ying didn’t go.
She sent Sack to accompany him.
It was Qiao Yi’s first time competing in such a big competition.
The clamor from the stands instantly piled on the pressure.
Sack: “What’s there to be nervous about.”
Before Qiao Yi could respond, an arrogant male voice cut in mockingly: “Daydreaming without sparing his tongue.”
A mixed-race guy walked past Qiao Yi, bumping his shoulder. He rushed ahead of Qiao Yi with his computer, the first to get on stage.
The arrogant words didn’t come from that mixed-race guy, but from his lackey. That mixed-race guy didn’t even glance at Qiao Yi, acting all high and mighty.
Sack frowned, directing unfriendly gazes their way.
He didn’t know if it was intentional or not, but Hanxi chose to host a computer competition in an indoor basketball court.
This was probably the mentality that they fell here so they will climb back up from here. Regaining the face they lost here.
"Brother, go for it!"
Outside the basketball court, Huo Chengdong held up a big red banner in his hand, yelling at the top of his lungs even louder than those holding horns next to him. His neck veins strained from the effort, single-handedly rivaling a whole cheer squad.
Qiao Yi was "moved to the point" of lowering his head.
There were four participants on each side sitting apart, randomly seated. A countdown clock was in the middle.
Qiao Yi sat at the furthest edge, also the only freshman among the four from Capital University. The other three were upperclassmen.
The competition rules were simple. Both sides had a time limit to give problems to the other side, find loopholes, patch up loopholes.
After both sides finished setting problems, they would be randomly redistributed to the opposing side.
The equipment underwent professional inspection before the start of the competition.
Within the time limit, Qiao Yi finished writing a string of buggy code. After that he randomly received code from the opposing side.
He didn’t match up with that mixed-race guy in the first round. Qiao Yi successfully advanced. This round eliminated the two students who failed or took the longest time.
There were three pairs left on stage.
Keyboard clacking sounds filled the competition venue as things heated up.
The spectators held their breaths.
Qiao Yi hadn’t matched up with that mixed-race guy yet. He kept advancing through superior capabilities, killing his way into the finals. He finally encountered that mixed-race guy.
Only Qiao Yi and that mixed-race guy were left on stage, one-on-one.
The Capital University students were elated to see it was the freshman who made it to the finals to face off against that mixed-race guy.
Thanks to his superior looks and status as Qiao Ying’s brother, Qiao Yi drew attention from day one of enrollment.
On the forums, on the confession walls, he had a place.
His classmates tried hard to get to know him even if they didn’t want to.
The Capital University students cheered hard for Qiao Yi, figuring since sister Qiao Ying was so outstanding, the brother must have hidden depths too.
It was obvious both sides kept their ultimate moves for the very end. After exchanging custom problems and solutions, the silent battle began.
Seeing Qiao Yi’s code, the mixed-race guy disdainfully sneered.
In the previous three rounds, that mixed-race guy was always the first to finish among the participants. His speed was staggering compared to the rest.
After getting the opposing side’s code, Qiao Yi knew the gap between himself and that mixed-race guy. He was no match.
The mixed-race guy slowly clacked on the keyboard, not even lifting his head to arrogantly state: “Might as well quit now instead of embarrassing yourself.”
