8 Inside the competition hall , there was absolute silence , broken only by the faint scratch of pens on paper . In the monitoring room , Julian and I saw everything clearly . Serena's performance was perfect . She frowned sometimes , paused sometimes , even pretended to scribble on her scratch paper , as if genuinely thinking through the problems . If we hadn't already pinpointed the tiny , sesame - seed - sized receiver nestled in her ear canal , even we might have been fooled by her . " What an actress . It's a shame she didn't go to film school ." Julian snorted . I smiled , my gaze fixed on another screen . That screen showed my parents and Mr. Davis in the VIP lounge . My mom , Eleanor , was excitedly clutching my dad's arm , her hands trembling with emotion . " Richard , did you see that ? Serena is making us so proud ! * This is a true Blackwood daughter ! " My dad didn't say anything , but his lips were curved in a smile , unable to hide his excitement . Mr. Davis , meanwhile , stood nearby , champagne glass in hand , mingling with guests , his mouth full of praise for Serena and congratulations for my dad . 11:59 Sat , Oct 18 นร . ) 87 " Richard , your daughter is a genius , truly blessed ! The Blackwood Group might just have a scientist CEO in the future ! " Everyone was waiting to witness the birth of a " genius ." But they seemed to have forgotten one thing . People can build you up ... but they can just as easily let you crash and burn . I watched Serena write down the last answer , then put down her pen with a sigh of relief , the first to hand in her paper . I knew the show was about to begin . " Julian , ready ? " " Don't worry . " Julian gave me an " OK " sign . " The signal jammer is in place , and all the media outlets have received notice of a ' surprise segment . Not a single one will get away now . " As Serena walked out of the exam room , countless camera flashes and microphones immediately surrounded her . " Serena , congratulations on being the first to finish ! Are you confident about winning the gold medal ? " " As a dark horse , do you have any exclusive study tips you can share ? " Serena was clearly relishing the attention . Her smile shifted from nervous to self - satisfied , and she was about to open her mouth to answer . Just then , the competition host walked onto the stage with a microphone . 11:59 Sat , Oct 18 M 82 " Ladies and gentlemen , esteemed media friends , please settle down ! Given that an exceptionally outstanding contestant has emerged in this competition , we are adding a special impromptu segment ! " The host's voice echoed through the entire venue via the loudspeakers . All eyes immediately focused on Serena . Serena paused for a moment , then her face lit up with surprise . She thought this was a special honor the organizers had prepared just for her . My parents were even more excited , standing up , their faces flushed . Under the admiring gazes of the crowd , Serena was invited onto the awards stage . The huge electronic screen behind her lit up , displaying her name and a massive photo . She stood at the center of the stage , her name and a huge photo displayed on the electronic screen behind her . Mr. Davis smugly raised his glass to my dad , his eyes brimming with barely concealed calculation . Just then , I emerged from the shadows backstage , walking step by step . " Excuse me , may I interrupt ? " My voice wasn't loud , but through the microphone clipped to my collar , it clearly reached everyone's ears . The entire hall fell silent . Everyone stared at me as if they'd seen a ghost . My mom's face instantly drained of all color , and she clapped a hand over her mouth . 11:59 Sat , Oct 18 M < ... " Aspen ? You ... shouldn't you be on your way to the airport ? " Serena's smile instantly froze . She nearly fell off the stage as she looked at me . " You ... why are you here ?! " I didn't acknowledge them immediately . I walked straight to Serena , took another marker from the host . 2 " Congratulations , little sister . " I smiled at her , but my voice was cold and cutting . " I heard you performed exceptionally well . By chance , I've been studying a problem recently . I wonder if you'd be so kind as to enlighten me ? " With that , I turned and swiftly wrote a formula on the whiteboard next to Serena . This problem was a variation of the final , most challenging question she had " solved " in the exam hall . I had only changed one condition , but the entire underlying logic of the solution was now completely different . Serena looked at the problem , and all the color drained from her face . She cast a pleading glance at Brenda Hayes in the audience , then subconsciously reached up to touch her ear . The smile on my lips deepened . Useless . Julian had already pressed the switch on the signal jammer backstage . Now , her " brain " was offline . " What's wrong , little sister ? " 11:59 Sat , Oct 18 M < I feigned confusion , tilting my head . 82 " This problem should be simple for you , shouldn't it ? You just did something similar in the exam , didn't you ? " " ... " Serena's lips trembled violently , unable to utter a single word , cold sweat beading on her forehead . The audience began to whisper , their voices growing louder . " What's going on ? Isn't she a genius ? Why can't she solve a single problem ? " " Look how pale her face is , her hands are shaking . Could it be ... " My parents ' faces also turned incredibly grim . They finally sensed something was very wrong , their bodies tensing . Mr. Davis's brows were tightly furrowed , his eyes glaring at me ferociously , as if he wanted to devour me whole . " It seems little sister is tired ." I sighed and picked up the marker . " No worries , big sister will help you remember . " As I spoke , I wrote down the solution steps on the whiteboard , my voice just loud enough for the entire audience to hear . " For the first step , I'm using the first formula from your scratch paper . You mean you can't even understand that ? " My words were like sharp knives , stabbing at her heart . 11:59 Sat , Oct 18 M ... 17 » ) ) 82 Finally , unable to bear the public outcry any longer , Serena broke down . " It wasn't me ! It wasn't me ! I don't know ! " She shrieked , covering her ears with her hands , collapsing to the floor . The entire hall erupted in chaos ! Brenda Hayes rushed onto the stage like a madwoman , hugging Serena and weeping loudly , portraying a scene of loving mother and daughter . " You're forcing her ! You're forcing her ! My daughter just wanted a good life , what did she do wrong ?! " " She did nothing wrong ? " I scoffed and gestured to Julian in the monitoring room . The next second , the giant electronic screen behind Serena abruptly changed ! What appeared was the high - definition footage recorded in the monitoring room ! In the video , Serena sat in the exam hall . Every time she started to write , there was an unnatural pause . The camera zoomed in : the tiny , flesh - colored micro earpiece in her ear canal was shockingly clear ! Immediately after , the screen displayed the transaction records between Brenda Hayes and the Davis Group , that five hundred thousand dollar sum conspicuously highlighted in a red circle ! Finally , the screen froze on a document - the core evidence of the Davis Group using commercial espionage to steal my dad's company's bid for the Southside project ! Ironclad proof ! 11:59 Sat , Oct 18 M ... < " AHHH- ! " : My mom , Eleanor , let out a scream , clutching her chest , her body swaying , nearly collapsing . 82 My dad's face turned green then purple . He stared at Mr. Davis , his eyes as if he wanted to tear him apart . Mr. Davis's face was ashen . Under the frantic siege of reporters , he desperately tried to flee the scene . Brenda Hayes and Serena were immediately apprehended by security personnel who had rushed in . An elaborately orchestrated scheme of deception and betrayal ended in the most humiliating and disgraceful way possible . 8 After the chaotic scene ended , the Blackwood mansion once again fell into a deathly silence . Serena and Brenda Hayes were taken away by the police for fraud and involvement in commercial crimes . Mr. Davis's company stock crashed overnight due to the scandal , and the Southside project was completely ruined . Everything had settled . That night , my parents and Julian sat on the living room sofa , none of them speaking . Inside the mansion , only the ticking of the wall clock could be heard . I happened to come downstairs for water . 11:59 Sat , Oct 18 82 My mom saw me and , as if having made a great decision , called out . " Aspen . " My mom's voice was hoarse . She stumbled towards me , her eyes red , her lips trembling for a long time before she could utter a single sentence . Suddenly , her legs buckled , and she started to fall to her knees . Julian quickly caught her . " Mom ! What are you doing ! " " I'm sorry , Aspen ... I'm so sorry to her ... " Eleanor gripped Julian's arm , sobbing uncontrollably . " I wasn't a good mother , I almost ... almost ... " My dad also stood up . He looked at me , this man who was always so strong , now his eyes filled only with weariness and regret . " Aspen , Dad was wrong . " I watched them quietly . There were ripples in my heart , yes , but mostly a profound coldness . " It's over . " I spoke softly . " I'm tired . I want to rest ." 12:00 Sat , Oct 18 < :. 82 I didn't say I forgave them , nor did I say I wouldn't . Some cracks , once they form , can never truly be mended . I turned and went back to my room , shutting out the sighs and cries behind me . The next day , the competition organizing committee announced its decision : Serena's results were nullified , and she was banned from competition for life . As for me , for my role in exposing the fraud , and based on my previous results , I directly received the scholarship . My life was back on track . A month later , I received my acceptance letter to the physics department at a top university . Julian held the embossed paper , even more excited than I was , insisting we go out to celebrate . We sat at an outdoor restaurant by the river , the evening breeze carrying the chill of early autumn . " Aspen , what are your plans for the future ? " Julian asked . I gazed at the twinkling lights on the distant river . " Study , do research , live my own life well ." He was silent for a moment . " Mom and Dad ... they're very regretful . They bought you a large apartment downtown , it's already in your name , they say it's compensation . " I smiled , but didn't reply , just raised my glass . Can one apartment erase anything ? " Julian . " I turned to him . " Thank you . " Thank you for standing by me when everyone else wavered . Julian reached out and ruffled my hair , the gesture the same as it had been years ago . " Silly girl , we're siblings . " Yes , siblings . Blood ties can deceive , but eighteen years of growing up together won't . I raised my glass of juice and clinked it against his wine glass , a clear , ringing sound . " To us ." To this hard - won new beginning . To this unique , genius destiny , finally firmly in my grasp . This life , Aspen Blackwood's life , I wouldn't yield an inch . Yesterday