Sun Ren said nervously, "Mom—"
Although he was a playboy, his intuition told him not to get involved in this mess. No matter what, he couldn't side with that old fox Xu Lang, or he would get himself into trouble.
Zhou Jiayi realized she had misspoke and quickly added, "I didn't mean anything by it, I just wanted to make you more convincing to others."
Aunt Zhou Jiasang, on the other hand, seemed completely unconcerned, continuing to stand in the corner leaning against the wall and watching this spectacular scene unfold.
Xu Yan said, "As Mr. Zhou's estate administrator, I have already taken Ms. Zhou Luming for DNA testing, and the results prove that she is indeed a member of the Zhou family. In addition, I have also investigated Ms. Zhou's alma mater's archives and communicated with her classmates and teachers. They provided information and video footage, all of which can confirm Ms. Zhou Luming's identity."
Xu Yan turned to look at Xu Lang, meeting his gaze across the distance. Facing the mature, steady, and powerful Xu Lang, she did not back down at all, and said righteously, "Compared to the so-called witness testimonies and some materials that may be tampered with at any time provided by Chairman Xu, I believe that the biological evidence and witnesses I provide are more reliable and scientific."
Xu Lang's expression changed: "I don't know where you got this evidence from, but she's not Zhou Luming!"
Xu Yan said, "Then please provide more scientific and reliable evidence."
Xu Lang stared at Xu Yan for a while, then calmed down and said, "Hmph, I expected this. Miss Xu, she couldn't have become Zhou Luming without your help, could she? I have reason to suspect that you two colluded to usurp the Zhou family's inheritance."
Xu Yan raised an eyebrow: "Are you accusing me now?"
Xu Lang nodded: "Do you still need evidence? Unfortunately, I can provide it." He slowly walked to the stage, separated from Xu Yan and the others by a small distance, and announced to the crowd in full view of everyone, "This Miss Xu has a problem with her integrity. She is not a qualified estate administrator and is even suspected of dereliction of duty."
Xu Yan calmly replied, "Please speak."
Xu Lang said, "In addition to accepting Zhou's entrustment to manage her estate, she accepted several other entrustments to manage their estates after returning to China."
Someone assisted Xu Lang by playing slideshow materials.
Xu Lang said, "For example, in the management of the estate of Metaverse Technology, you transferred the shares of a technology company with a market value of tens of billions to an unknown housewife, making her the helmsman of Metaverse. Don't you think that's absurd? Is that really what Li Li's will says? I have already sent people to investigate the authenticity of the electronic will."
"Furthermore, in the investigation of the insurance claim for the missing Singapore Airlines plane, you abused your power for personal gain, allowing a housewife suspected of murder to cover up the truth for her and instructing the insurance company to give her full compensation. I have obtained her written testimony and confessions from other employees as evidence."
"And then there's the matter of Lu Ke from the Lu Group. You instigated so many girls to sue Lu Ke so that Zhou Luming, who impersonated you, could extricate herself from this marriage and allow your plan to proceed. I've also uncovered details of your insider trading, where you used this scandal to manipulate foreign hedge funds to short Lu Group's stock and make a fortune. You can't deny it. What I can tell you now is that Lu Ke is about to be released on parole, and the Lu Group has also issued a clarification stating that all of this is completely fabricated. They also reserve the right to pursue legal action against those who spread rumors and slander."
Xu Lang sneered, "These numerous estate entrustment cases prove your hypocrisy. As the estate administrator, you're just seeking fame and fortune, and now you actually have the nerve to stand here and endorse the fake Zhou Luming?!"
As Xu Lang continued his accusations, the guests turned their attention to Xu Yan, pointing and whispering about her.
Xu Yan understood Xu Lang's intentions: he was attempting to destroy Xu Yan's credibility, and in turn, to destroy Zhou Luming, whom Xu Yan had helped to secure his position. Faced with Xu Lang's frenzied "attack," Xu Yan remained unusually calm.
"Now that things have come to this point, what evidence do you have left? Why don't you take it all out and let everyone see it?" Xu Yan said.
Xu Lang was taken aback. He hadn't expected the girl to remain so calm, as if she, not him, was the one who had the victory in her grasp.
Xu Yan pressed further: "Anything else? For example, were there any flaws in the property case I recently handled involving the Liu family? Or perhaps you're not interested in this matter because the amount is too small, insignificant in your eyes?"
Xu Lang narrowed his eyes: "What exactly are you trying to say?"
Xu Yan: "It's nothing. I just feel that people like you can't understand the hardships of ordinary people, so you shouldn't be allowed to continue to control the Zhou Group. You are too selfish and too opportunistic. You can do anything for immediate gains, even distort the truth and manipulate people's hearts."
Xu Lang sensed something was wrong: "We've come to this point, what else can you do? The guests here are all important people, and there are reporters outside. I can let them in at any time. The news of the imposter Zhou Luming will spread throughout Hai City in no time."
"If this is true, it is indeed very troublesome." Xu Yan said calmly, raising his eyes to stare at the bewildered Xu Lang with a sharp gaze. "I mean, if all of this happened, it would indeed be terrifying. I might really be ruined as you said. But Chairman Xu, do you know what the metaverse is?"
--------------------
Author's Note:
Face the storm, Mr. Xu.
Chapter 90
===================
Xu Lang's smile gradually faded. "What metaverse? Don't try to change the subject." He looked at the people below the stage. "As you can see, the Zhou Luming in front of you is fake, and the so-called estate administrator Xu Yan also has integrity issues; he's a person who seeks fame and fortune. The will left by the old chairman is unclear and still needs to be investigated."
"You still don't understand?" Xu Yan said calmly. "There are no guests here; they are all code symbols. Even the place where you are standing right now is a code symbol. From the moment you got out of the car and stepped into the door of this hotel, you have been in our metaverse."
"What?" Xu Lang was shocked.
Zhou Luming chimed in, a slow smile spreading across his lips, "Chairman Xu, welcome to our new world of young people."
Xu Lang subconsciously touched his head and eyes. For so many years, he had been working in the real economy. He had heard of Yuan Universe but thought it was just a gimmick by a game company. He never expected to get involved with it himself. He even became unwittingly caught up in it. He suspected that Xu Yan was lying to him, yet he truly felt something was amiss.
After he publicly announced that Zhou Luming was a fake, some guests froze, like a television screen stuck in a freeze, they all stood still.
"You're saying they're all fake? But that's not right. I've seen a demonstration of the metaverse. They need to wear special clothes and goggles. I didn't wear anything. Why would I enter the metaverse? That's impossible. Don't try to fool me."
He wanted his assistant to confirm, but found that the assistant was also motionless. He then looked at Scarlett, who was sitting in a chair holding a wine glass, the liquid inside gently swirling.
Scarlett stood up. "I've always found it a bit strange why the sloshing marks in the glass are so abnormal. It turns out it's because we're in a virtual world. Your algorithms are superb, but they can't be made to be exactly the same as the real world. For example, when there's wine in the glass, the refraction of natural light and the sloshing trajectory are still a bit flawed. It seems your renderers and physics sensors aren't perfect yet. This is still a test system."
Xu Yan faced her and said, "Thank you, Miss Scarlett, for pointing out the shortcomings of the system. We will improve it in the future."
Xu Lang: "Scarlett is real too?"
“She came in with you, so of course she really exists,” Xu Yan said.
“Besides me and Chairman Xu, who else is real?” Scarlett asked.
A voice emerged from a corner, "Me too." Zhou Jiasang leaned against the wall, her profile reflected in the floor-to-ceiling glass beside her. She noticed something unusual in the glass reflection and realized she was in a special environment. Sure enough, she had unknowingly entered a virtual world.
Zhou Jiasang glanced at the two people standing there dumbfounded and said, "My eldest sister and nephew are real, right?"
Zhou Jiayi and Sun Ren exchanged bewildered glances, completely confused. They had just been discussing whether Zhou Luming was a fake and whether he could inherit the property, so how did the conversation suddenly veer towards them, debating their authenticity?
Zhou Jiayi said, "What's the difference between truth and falsehood? My son and I are both genuine members of the Zhou family."
Scarlett shook her head helplessly; this sister-in-law was truly foolish.
“Thanks to our Chief Technology Officer, oh, that is, the housewife you look down on—Ms. Wang Anjing—who developed this system, which allows players to unknowingly enter a virtual metaverse world using the most portable devices,” Zhou Luming said casually. “So everything you just did, Chairman Xu, didn’t actually happen. The so-called testimonies of my adoptive parents, the evidence you found from the orphanage, and everything else, are all fantasies.”
Xu Lang's face turned pale and then red. "How could you possibly have predicted that I would find these people to provide these testimonies..."
“The metaverse is an advanced intelligent world with the most advanced development algorithms. To tell you the truth, the moment these two people popped into your mind, I was already constructing their current images and making them appear before us according to your wishes,” Zhou Luming said. “Although this is a bit like reopening old wounds and disgusts me, if I can know your plan, I can endure this disgust.”
Xu Lang was furious, "You...you..."
Xu Yan: "Thanks to you, I realized how many loopholes there were in the inheritance cases I handled before, and I also got the information I wanted. So after returning to the real world, I will deal with those cases one by one, fill in all the loopholes, and not give you another chance to make a move."
"You bastard, is this how you talk to your elders?! Shut down this so-called metaverse right now and let me out!" Xu Lang was furious. "Even if none of this actually happened, everyone present can be a witness. The Zhou Luming on stage is fake, and she cannot inherit the Zhou Group's shares."
"I'm sorry, you can't prove she's fake, but I can prove she's real," Xu Yan said calmly.
Xu Lang was so angry he felt like he was going to vomit blood. Scarlett came over to support him. "Mr. Xu, are you alright?"
Xu Lang shook his head. The most important thing right now was to leave this place as soon as possible.
Zhou Luming: "Chairman Xu, do you really want to go out? Why not stay here and have some more fun? Because it's a virtual world, you can experience things that are impossible in the real world, such as turning back time, skydiving, rock climbing, diving, or even walking in outer space, racing cars, and going back to ancient times to be an emperor. All of these are possible. Do you want to play?"
Xu Lang: "Bullshit, let me leave!"
Zhou Luming shook his head in disappointment. "Chairman Xu, how could you, as an elder, say such vulgar things? Fine, I was originally planning to let you continue to experience it in depth as one of the first beta testers, but since you're so impatient, I think I'll respect your wishes and send you offline."
Xu Lang pursed his lips tightly; experience told him that it wasn't that simple.
Xu Yan said to the air, "Sister Anjing, please see Chairman Xu off."
"Wait—" Xu Lang couldn't help but ask, "What exactly do you want to do?"
Xu Yan remained calm and composed, "You'll find out once you get out of here."
A flash of white light appeared before Xu Lang's eyes, and he found himself sitting on a sofa in the hotel lobby. Guests were coming and going around him, some of them looking at him strangely.
Scarlett was sitting next to her, her phone screen lit up with a large Metaverse logo. She hadn't logged out of the game; she seemed to still be in the Metaverse.
When Xu Lang realized he couldn't wake Scarlett, he called the driver and told him he wanted to leave this awful place.
However, before he could even leave the hotel lobby, police sirens suddenly blared at the entrance, and several uniformed men rushed in, displaying their identification. "Mr. Xu Lang, we have received anonymous tip-offs that you have been arrested on suspicion of money laundering, illegal detention, and bribery. Please cooperate with our investigation."
Xu Lang stared blankly at his name on the arrest warrant for a moment, then exclaimed, "No, this can't be—"
"Please come with us."
“No…this is impossible…” Xu Lang repeated these words over and over. He suddenly remembered Xu Yan’s last words to him in the game, and muttered to himself, “Could she have gotten my account?”
Xu Lang's phone vibrated, and he saw a message on the screen: "We have indeed obtained the dark web account. All your crimes are about to be exposed, and you will receive the punishment you deserve. However, I can give you a chance to atone for your sins, as long as you answer my questions honestly."
Xu Lang replied, "What do you want?"
The other party typed: "The truth about Zhou Luming's parents' deaths."
Xu Lang stared at the words on the screen for a long, long time. He didn't reply to the message, but put his phone away and ignored the other party.
He feared the person's retaliation more than imprisonment or the punishment he was about to face.
But his phone in his pocket wouldn't let him off the hook, vibrating incessantly, this time calling directly. Before the phone was taken away and the connection was cut off, Xu Lang answered the phone: "Hello—"
"Uncle Xu, I am Zhou Luming."
Xu Lang's pupils trembled. "You...you've finally shown up."
"Xu Yi is by my side. I just want to ask you, why did my parents die back then?"
Xu Lang knew that the other party was using Xu Yi as a hostage. After a moment's pause, he finally said, "The answer you are looking for is in the Zhou Group. Don't forget the legacy."
He hung up the phone after saying that, without giving the other party another chance.
Having drifted through most of his life, and come so far, he realizes that besides his son, there seems to be no one else left. As for Scarlett, her talent is exceptional, and her ambition is considerable; perhaps she played a part in his downfall. Even heroes can't resist the charms of a beautiful woman; knowing Scarlett was extraordinary, he still risked keeping her by his side. In vain, all these years have passed, and he's learned nothing, even falling short of these younger people.
That person was right; the new generation surpasses the old, and the old generation is left to die on the beach. He wisely withdrew from the limelight, but stubbornly clung to a position that should have belonged to the younger generation. Now that he has failed, he feels regret, but also a sense of relief.
He had tried to seize the opportunity, but unfortunately, he failed to truly take control of the Zhou family business. However, over the years, he has effectively controlled the Zhou family business, experiencing the honor and power of a leader in the position of chairman.
And these things would be enough for him to reminisce about during his long time in prison.
Meanwhile, the metaverse is in beta testing.
Scarlett asked, "Is it over just like that?"
Xu Yan said, "It's not over yet." She looked at Scarlett, who had long since realized they were in a virtual world but hadn't warned or stopped Xu Lang, indicating that Scarlett had her own plans and schemes. But what Scarlett was doing was none of her business, and Xu Yan wouldn't interfere.
Zhou Jiayi and Sun Ren were terrified when they heard that even Xu Lang had fallen. Even though they had some doubts about Zhou Luming's identity, with Xu Lang's example before them, they dared not act rashly and could only observe cautiously in secret.
Sun Ren whispered, "Mom, look how calm Auntie is. Could she know something?"
Zhou Jiayi said, "Your aunt always has this grumpy face, and even I don't know what she's thinking. Your grandfather likes her quite a bit, but unfortunately she chose to study medicine and has no intention of getting involved in the Zhou family's business."
Sun Ren said, "Mom, let's get closer to Auntie. I think in this kind of situation, you need to cling to a strong patron, and Auntie is that patron."
Zhou Jiayi thought her son was right, so she and Sun Ren silently moved to Zhou Jiasang's side.