Chapter 257: Why Did You Suddenly Get Married?

The "dowry" incident beneath Malacca stirred an unspeakable shock and fear among a tiny circle of high-ranking insiders, like a silent tsunami. After confirming that the "Siren" and all its crew were completely lost, Pandora fell into a deathly silence. Lilith locked herself in her room for an entire day without showing her face; no one knew what she was thinking, but the nearly tangible low pressure made all her subordinates hold their breath.

Yet, the external thunderous measures failed to fully purge the creeping filth within New Era. The malicious rumors about Xia Madam and Qin Feng did not subside due to Qin Feng's authority; instead, they intensified in certain dark corners. Some seemed certain that Qin Feng, towering above them, would never care about such ant-like gossip, and grew even more reckless.

This unhealthy trend even showed signs of creeping toward higher levels.

That day, Su Wenqian was processing a backlog of documents in her office when her personal terminal received an encrypted message from a venerable Old Academician of the Science Council. This Old Academician, devoted to research and rarely involved in mundane affairs, was deeply respected by Su Wenqian.

Opening the message, Su Wenqian's brow instantly knitted in frown.

The wording was tactful, but the core message carried a subtle warning and concern: "Assistant Su, I have recently heard unfounded rumors regarding Mr. Qin's personal life circulating among some researchers. Though I know them to be baseless, I fear they may damage Mr. Qin's reputation and internal unity. I hope you will kindly pay attention and set the record straight."

Even the Old Academician, who rarely heard anything outside his lab, had heard the whispers and felt compelled to warn her—this suggested the rumor's spread and impact might be more severe than she had assumed.

A surge of anger rose in Su Wenqian's heart. She knew her master utterly despised such matters, but allowing the rumors to fester would not only harm the innocent Xia family but also plant seeds of doubt about her master's character among ordinary members unaware of the truth—undoubtedly damaging New Era's cohesion.

She had to do something.

But how she did it required careful strategy. Direct administrative suppression might only appear as an attempt to cover up.

As Su Wenqian concentrated on formulating a strategy, a knock came at her office door.

"Enter."

The door opened, and Lei Dong, head of the Security Department, entered. His face was grim, holding a report.

"Assistant Su, our Security Department has also monitored some of the recent rumors circulating internally… regarding Mr. Qin and Engineer Xia's family." Lei Dong handed the report to Su Wenqian, his tone cold. "Should we take action? We can identify and lock down the most active sources."

Su Wenqian quickly scanned the report, which listed several IDs and personnel frequently spreading rumors on internal networks and private gatherings. After a moment's thought, she shook her head: "Arresting them directly won't help—it might even provoke backlash."

She stood, walked to the window, and gazed down at the orderly city below. "The pure will clarify themselves, but the impure must reveal their true form. We need an opportunity—a chance for the rumors to collapse on their own."

Lei Dong looked puzzled. "Opportunity?"

At that moment, Su Wenqian's terminal chimed again—a priority communication request from Evans of the Deep Space Exploration Department.

"Assistant Su! 'Pioneer One' has sent an emergency message!" Evans' voice trembled with excitement and tension. "It's not about the KT-735 Diamond Mine! On its current course, it detected an extremely faint, non-natural periodic signal! Preliminary analysis suggests the source is… a mysterious, suspected artificial object!"

Su Wenqian's spirit lifted! "Pioneer One" had detected a suspected artificial object signal in deep space? This was a groundbreaking discovery!

She immediately ordered: "Encrypt and transmit all data immediately! Activate the highest-level analysis protocol! No one—not even Mr. Qin or me—may be informed until we authorize it."

"Understood!"

After ending the call, a glint flashed in Su Wenqian's eyes. She turned to Lei Dong, and for the first time in days, a slightly relaxed expression appeared on her face.

"Lei Minister, the opportunity may have arrived."

Lei Dong remained confused.

Su Wenqian offered no further explanation. She gathered her thoughts, took Evans' report and Lei Dong's rumor monitoring summary, and returned to Qin Feng's office.

Qin Feng was listening to a progress report on the Quantum Computing Array upgrade. Seeing Su Wenqian return with an unusual expression, he signaled the briefing to pause.

"Mr. Qin," Su Wenqian placed both files before him, first pointing to Evans' report. "'Pioneer One' has made a major discovery: it received a suspected artificial object signal in deep space."

Qin Feng's gaze sharpened instantly. He picked up the report and began reading carefully.

Seizing the moment, Su Wenqian took a deep breath and, in as calm a tone as she could muster, raised the issue she had wished to avoid disturbing him with—but now could no longer ignore:

"Also… Mr. Qin, recent rumors have surfaced internally regarding your personal life, primarily concerning… you and Engineer Xia's wife. The spread has been limited, but the impact is severely damaging—even prompting several Old Academicians to issue warnings."

She finished and carefully observed Qin Feng's reaction.

Qin Feng did not pause his reading for a single moment, as if hearing only idle chatter like "The weather is nice today." Only after finishing the "Pioneer One" report did he look up at Su Wenqian—his face showed no trace of offense, only pure, indifferent detachment toward meaningless noise.

"So?" he asked calmly.

Su Wenqian was momentarily stunned. Her prepared arguments stuck in her throat. She had expected at least a flicker of displeasure.

Qin Feng set down the report, leaned back in his chair, and regarded Su Wenqian with calm eyes that seemed to pierce through all her concerns.

"Wenqian, you seem to care deeply about these voices."

Su Wenqian lowered her head. "I only worry these rumors will harm your reputation and internal stability."

Qin Feng shook his head, his tone carrying a faint, almost imperceptible mockery—perhaps at the rumor-mongers, perhaps at Su Wenqian's concern.

"My reputation does not need to be defined by others' mouths." He paused, then continued, voice low yet radiating absolute confidence and authority: "As for stability… New Era's stability stems from the power we wield and the direction we guide—not from the whispers of those lurking in gutters."

He picked up the rumor monitoring report and casually tossed it into the nearby electronic shredder.

"For matters like this," Qin Feng looked at Su Wenqian and gave his final directive, his tone flat yet unquestionable, "the best response is to ignore them."

"When your gaze remains fixed on the stars and oceans, the cries of ants beneath your feet naturally fade to silence."

"Focus your energy on what truly matters." His gaze returned to the "Pioneer One" report. "Like this signal."

Su Wenqian stared at Qin Feng, at his utterly transcendent posture, treating every slander and defamation as nothing. All her worries and frustrations dissolved in that moment, as if swept away by a gentle breeze.

Yes. Her master was right.

Compared to the suspected alien signal in deep space, compared to the threat of Star Ring, compared to New Era's grand future—what were these rumors from dark corners?

Fixating on them was already a fall, an attachment.

She took a deep breath, straightened her spine, and her eyes regained their former clarity and resolve.

"I understand, Mr. Qin. I know what to do."

Qin Feng nodded, saying no more.

Su Wenqian bowed and exited the office, feeling utterly light. She would no longer waste a single thought on those rumors. She would follow her master's instruction and devote all her focus to what truly mattered.

As for the rumors?

Let them rot slowly in their self-indulgent dark corners.

Before the true sun, the glow of fireflies is laughable.