CHAPTER 2 : 2 BIRDS ,1 CONSPIRACY
The bell's shrill ring ripped through the lingering tension in Lecture Hall 302, a jarring sound after the professor's chilling pronouncements. Students scrambled, collecting their notes, their hushed murmurs swelling into a wave of relieved chatter. Professor Meng, however, remained a silent, unmoving figure at the lectern for a beat longer, his glacial black eyes scanning the now-stirring crowd, as if searching for a specific anomaly, before he finally gathered his slim leather folder.
He exited with that same controlled, predatory grace, leaving behind a sudden, palpable vacuum of power.
Emma exhaled slowly, a long, quiet breath she hadn't realized she was holding. Her mind, usually a fortress of calm, was buzzing, a strange mix of exhilaration and a deep, unsettling unease swirling within her. He saw something. He definitely saw something. Beside her, Lily stretched dramatically, a theatrical groan escaping her lips.
"Well, that was an experience," Lily declared, her voice a low, stage whisper, her eyes twinkling as she watched the last of Meng's retreating form. She leaned back in her chair, pushing a stray strand of sleek black hair from her face. "Definitely not the 'boring-intense' I worried about. More like… 'soul-crushing-existential-crisis-inducing-intense.' My jaw is still hanging somewhere near the floor after your verbal sparring match, Em."
Emma allowed a small, wry smile to touch her lips, though her brow remained thoughtfully furrowed. "He's brilliant, undeniably. Like a perfectly crafted algorithm of legal prowess. But utterly devoid of warmth. And that gaze…" she shivered faintly, remembering the almost surgical precision of his stare. "It's like he's looking through you, not at you. Analyzing every flaw, every weakness, not as a teacher assesses a student, but as an engineer assesses a component. Did you feel it? That cold, almost clinical dissection?"
"Oh, I felt it, alright," Lily confirmed, pushing herself up and slinging her designer backpack over one shoulder. "Like I was undergoing a spontaneous, mental MRI. But his challenge about loyalty… that was the real kicker, wasn't it? He's not just teaching law; he's setting a tone. It's an ideological battleground, not a lecture hall. And that 'first assignment' felt less like a hypothetical case study and more like a direct order from a high-stakes intelligence agency. What do you think he really means by 'safeguarding the future'?"
"Exactly! 'Safeguarding the future' with specific national tech sovereignty issues," Emma echoed, rising from her seat and joining Lily in the now rapidly emptying aisle. "It's all so loaded. And the way he singled me out… that wasn't just a professor picking on a front-row student. It felt… deliberate. Targeted." Like he already knew who I was, what I represented.
"Oh, it was beyond deliberate, Em. It was a classic power play, masterfully executed," Lily asserted, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial murmur as they merged into the stream of students spilling into the wide, bustling corridor. "But you handled it like a boss. 'Dual approach, injunctions, forensic audit' – total mic drop. I saw a few jaws hit the floor. And the flicker in his eyes when you finished… he was more than impressed. He was intrigued. But with a man like Meng, intrigued feels less like admiration and more like 'identified a valuable asset for my strategic objectives'." Definitely an asset. I wonder what he's planning.
Emma allowed herself a small, almost imperceptible nod of acknowledgment. "He definitely knows how to pick his targets. Or rather, his pawns." And I wonder if I'm a pawn, or a player he's trying to elevate. She paused, her gaze distant, reflecting on the encounter. "Still, I can't shake the feeling he was testing the waters. Not just with me, but with the entire class. He wants to see who bites, who challenges, who simply accepts. But there was something else in his eyes when he looked at me, almost… recognition. Or expectation. It was unsettling. Like he knew something, or expected something, that had nothing to do with a first-year law lecture. Like I was part of a larger equation he was already solving."
They joined the cacophony of excited chatter in the corridor, a mix of awe and trepidation over their new professor filling the air. Whispers of "Meng family," "ruthless," and "spy-like" followed them like a shadow. But Lily, her ears finely tuned to the undercurrents of the elite circles they moved in, heard more than just the surface-level gossip. She plucked fragments of hushed speculation from the air: "…youngest professor ever… barely twenty-five… they say he came out of nowhere three years ago… military-industrial background, not academia…." Interesting. Very interesting. The pieces are starting to connect.
Lily's expression grew intensely serious, her usual playful demeanor replaced by a keen analytical glint. She pulled Emma slightly aside, towards a quieter alcove by a towering window overlooking the university's ancient ginkgo trees. "Emma, that wasn't just a lecture. That was a performance. And it felt incredibly targeted. His whole profile – twenty-five, from that Meng family with the military-industrial ties, suddenly becoming a law professor, and then that veiled threat about 'loyalty redefined' and 'safeguarding the future' with specific national tech sovereignty issues? It screams deeper game. A non-academic game, actually. My gut, and you know my gut is usually right about people, is screaming that there's a meticulously laid trap here. And we might just be walking into it." And honestly, a part of me can't wait.
Emma's eyebrows arched, her initial dismissiveness dissolving under Lily's palpable conviction. "A trap? That's a strong word, Lily. What makes you say that? Other than his unsettling intensity, of course."
"Beyond his unsettling intensity, Em, it's the peculiar timing and his unique history," Lily explained, her voice quickening with the force of her deductions. "He's ridiculously young to be a tenured professor at Beijing Law, even with his family name. The Mengs don't just 'teach' unless there's a strategic reason. Their reputation isn't built on academic pursuits. And his personal story – the hushed rumors about his sudden appearance three years ago after a lengthy stint abroad, some say in very… unofficial capacities. My father's intelligence network, limited though it is to tech, often brushes against the Mengs, and believe me, they operate on a different level than even our families. The official story is he went into Corporate Law, but the whisper network, the ones who know the real score, they say he's been deep under cover as a MSS operative for three years before this, using his corporate law expertise in the field. Imagine that, Em – a covert operative, fluent in the intricate dance of international corporate law, infiltrating hostile networks." It all fits too perfectly. This isn't coincidence, it's design.
Lily leaned in closer, her voice dropping to an almost inaudible whisper. "And then, there's the Meng family's own recent history. There are persistent whispers about a profound family tragedy linked to an international corporate cyberattack a few years back – something devastating that personally impacted them. It's all too neat, Emma. He's not just here to teach us. He's here because this university, this very course, is a strategic fulcrum for something much, much bigger. He's a young, long-tenured professor from a military-industrial family, and the rumors about his sudden entry into academia all point to a carefully constructed facade. A master strategist who just happened to appear when specific national security implications are at an all-time high." This is bigger than anything we've seen before. And Emma's at the center of it.
Emma listened, her mind racing to connect the fragmented pieces. Lily's sharp, intuitive senses often picked up on currents others missed, currents that ran beneath the polished surface of their privileged world. The possibility of Professor Meng being a deep-cover operative, even at the tender age of twenty-five, aligned disturbingly well with his cold, calculating demeanor, his intense focus on national interests, and his uncanny ability to cut straight to the core of power dynamics. And his peculiar, strategic interest in her… it suddenly felt less like academic rigor and more like a precise, tactical maneuver in a much larger game. Could he be targeting my family? Or protecting us? Or both? And if he is an operative, telling my family is just going to complicate things.
"You think this 'covert mission' of his, as you call it, is somehow connected to my family, or the Itzuzara/Walker conglomerate?" Emma asked, a strange, undeniable draw to the mystery surrounding him beginning to take hold. It was a terrifying thought, yet exhilarating. Her own family history, with its deep international ties, immense wealth, and constant strategic maneuvering, suddenly felt like a massive, glittering target, perfectly positioned for such a game. If he's an operative, and his family was hit by a cyberattack... the Walkers and Itzuzaras are always at the forefront of global tech. We'd be a natural target for hostile networks, and a natural ally for someone like him.
"Logic dictates it, Em," Lily stated with absolute conviction, a triumphant glint of excitement in her eyes despite the gravity of her words. "Meng's unique profile raises too many flags. He's too young, too brilliant, too focused, and his timing is too perfect. And the way he singled you out after you demonstrated that kind of strategic thinking in a case that screamed corporate espionage, a case that has national security implications tied to foreign corporate networks… he wasn't just assessing a student. He was assessing a critical piece for his covert mission. A critical piece for dismantling an espionage network that perhaps, once personally devastated his family, and which might now be dangerously entangled with ours. We, Emma, are likely caught in the preliminary stages of a very sophisticated game, a game with national security implications far beyond the classroom." Lily's sharp intuition drove their initial curiosity, and Emma, intrigued despite herself, found herself pulled deeper into the enigma, an unsettling sense that she was merely a carefully chosen pawn in a much larger, more dangerous game. This is going to be epic.
The last of the students had cleared out, leaving the two friends with the echoes of their own escalating theories. They continued their discussion as they exited the grand law school building, the cool autumn air a stark contrast to the heated intensity of their conversation. Emma glanced at her watch.
"It's time to face the music," Emma sighed, a knowing look passing between them. "The daily inquisition awaits."
"Ah, yes. The 'How was school, dear?' extended interrogation," Lily quipped. "My driver's here." Just then, Lily's sleek electric blue Tesla, piloted by her equally discreet driver, glided up to the curb, its tinted windows offering a glimpse of the luxurious interior. "See you tomorrow, Em. Keep those beautiful brain cells churning on Professor Ice Man."
Emma gave a small wave as Lily disappeared into the Tesla, which smoothly pulled away. Moments later, her own ride arrived. The black Mercedes S-Class, impeccably polished, was a familiar sight, a symbol of the seamless transition from the intellectual rigor of university to the luxurious comfort of her family's private estate. Wei, her family driver, a stoic man who had served the Walkers for two decades, opened the door with a practiced, silent gesture.
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At the Walker Estate
The moment Emma stepped into the grand foyer of the Walker estate, the air of academic intrigue was swiftly replaced by the familiar hum of family power and expectation. Her mother, Wendy, ever graceful, was already there, holding a delicate porcelain teacup, her serene exterior belying the sharp mind beneath. Her father, Arthur, emerged from his study, tablet in hand, his brow furrowed in thought from a recent call to his London office. But it was Ethan, her eldest brother, who greeted her first, leaning against a towering marble column, a subtle, almost imperceptible smile playing on his lips. Michael, her second eldest, was already perched on a sofa, scrolling through financial reports on his phone, but his attention snapped to her entrance. Samuel, the youngest of her three brothers and the family's meticulous chartered accountant, had just finished a call in the adjacent drawing-room, a crisp suit jacket draped over his arm.
"Emma, darling. First day at the esteemed Beijing Law," Wendy greeted, her voice a calm ripple. "How did Professor Meng's introductory lecture strike you? Worth the hype?"
Arthur chimed in, his tone pragmatic. "Precisely. Was he as… unconventional as the whispers suggest? We've heard quite a bit about him."
Ethan, ever the strategist, pushed off the column, his eyes, sharp and assessing like their father's, fixed on Emma. He saw the faint tension in her shoulders, the almost imperceptible flicker in her usually composed gaze. Something is definitely different. She's not just tired; she's... activated. And guarded. "More importantly, what did you glean, Emma? Did he confirm the rumors of his 'unique' pedagogical approach? And his family's… interests?"
Michael looked up from his screen, a faint smirk. "Or did he just bore you with legal jargon about mergers and acquisitions? Though, if it's Meng, I doubt 'boring' is in his vocabulary."
Samuel, always the practical one, added, "And was the campus Wi-Fi up to standard? Crucial for those late-night research sessions."
Emma took a deep breath, appreciating the collective analytical power directed at her. This wasn't just idle curiosity; it was a debriefing. She returned Ethan's steady gaze, a subtle signal passing between them, a shared understanding of the game afoot. "It was... illuminating," she began, her tone measured, deliberately downplaying the full extent of her unease and Lily's theory. "And definitely 'worth the hype.' He's as formidable as they say. He focused on International Corporate Law, but framed it as a battle for national tech sovereignty. Very keen on strategic defense against 'exploitation' by foreign entities. He actually singled me out during the lecture, and I outlined a dual approach for the hypothetical case." They don't need to know about the MSS theory yet. Let me confirm more first.
Wendy's eyes sharpened. "Singled you out? How intriguing. And you responded admirably, I assume."
"She always does," Arthur interjected, a flicker of paternal pride in his eyes. "But Ethan is right. Meng is not one for purely theoretical pursuits. His family's corporate interests, particularly the Meng Corporation, are deeply intertwined with national strategic goals, especially regarding the new smart-city project in Shenzhen. You remember our discussions, Emma, about the vulnerabilities in supply chains that our own renewable energy projects faced last quarter."
"Indeed," Ethan affirmed, his gaze intense. He watched Emma closely, seeing the underlying current of unease she tried to mask, recognizing the intellectual challenge shining beneath. She's hooked. This Meng has truly captured her attention, in a way no other professor has. And she's holding something back. That's new for her in a debriefing. "My sources indicate the Meng Corporation is making aggressive plays there. His academic interests and family business endeavors are rarely disconnected. He's looking for leverage. For talent. For weaknesses. And given the nature of his lecture, he might be looking for a particular kind of 'talent'."
Emma relayed her own observations about Meng's background – his youth, his military-industrial family ties, his sudden academic appearance, and the family tragedy linked to a cyberattack (carefully omitting Lily's direct "MSS operative" conclusion, instead presenting it as a logical inference she was considering). She watched her family absorb the information, their expressions shifting from keen interest to guarded concern. They're taking this seriously. Good.
"A deep-cover operative," Michael murmured, picking up on Emma's subtle phrasing, his fingers flying across his tablet, already cross-referencing Meng family data against market anomalies. "That would explain a lot. His market movements are incredibly precise, almost surgical. There's a ruthlessness that transcends mere corporate ambition. I've been tracking some unusual patterns in foreign-owned entities linked to past tech firm failures, precisely the kind of targets a state operative might be interested in dismantling."
"And if his family suffered a cyberattack, that gives him a very personal motive," Samuel added, adjusting his glasses. "Revenge isn't typically taught in law school ethics, but it's a powerful driver."
"So, he's not merely teaching law," Wendy concluded, her voice calm but with an undercurrent of steel. "He's recruiting. Or, perhaps, searching for something. Or someone. And given the Itzuzara/Walker conglomerate's global footprint, particularly in sensitive tech and energy sectors… you, Emma, are uniquely positioned."
"Precisely," Arthur said, his expression grave. "Observe, Emma. Analyze. Report. You're now on the front lines of a different kind of intelligence gathering. Your legal mind, combined with our family's vast network, makes you invaluable. Be aware, but do not provoke. Play the student, but think like a strategist."
Later that evening, after a light dinner, Emma retired to the private family lounge, a more relaxed space with deep leather armchairs and a sprawling view of the illuminated gardens. She found Ethan, Michael, and Samuel already there. Ethan was pouring a selection of rare Chinese baijiu, Michael was idly sketching complex market graphs on a notepad, and Samuel was organizing his collection of vintage fountain pens. It was their unspoken ritual, a time for unwinding and often, for the subtle exchange of more candid thoughts.
"So, little sister," Michael began, a playful glint in his eyes, "first day of pretending to be a commoner over? Time to celebrate survival with something stronger than tea." He held up a glass of baijiu for her, offering one to each of his brothers as well.
Emma laughed, accepting the glass. "Survival, indeed. You'd think after years of Itzuzara-Walker board meetings, a law lecture would be a breeze. But Professor Meng… he operates on a different plane." One I'm barely beginning to understand.
They all drank, the potent spirit warming the atmosphere. The conversation flowed, light and teasing at first, about campus life and funny anecdotes. Samuel regaled them with stories of a particularly eccentric economics professor he'd once had. Michael shared a ridiculous incident from the trading floor.
After her second glass, Emma felt a pleasant warmth spreading through her veins, blurring the edges of her earlier tension. Her brothers, seeing her relax, subtly shifted their focus. Ethan, in particular, watched her, his sharp gaze missing nothing of her slight flush or the slight easing of her usual guardedness.
"Come on, Em," Ethan said, his tone casual, but his gaze sharp. He refilled her glass, then topped up his own. "Let's be honest. That Meng lecture rattled you more than you let on, didn't it? Even for a Walker. What was it about him that truly stood out, when you weren't trying to sound like a perfect corporate defense attorney?" She's ripe. She'll tell me what I need to know now. She's been withholding.
Emma, feeling a rare looseness, chuckled, taking another sip. "Rattled? Maybe a little. It was less about the lecture itself, Ethan, and more about… him. He's not just brilliant; he's dangerous. Like a predator disguised in a bespoke suit. And he looked at me, really looked, as if he knew something, or saw something, that no one else ever has. It wasn't just a teacher assessing potential; it was... a hunter assessing prey. Or an ally." Her voice dropped to a near whisper, the baijiu dissolving her filters. "He's here for something much bigger than grading papers. I think he's looking to dismantle a specific espionage network, and he's identified me as... a key piece." I'm still not telling them 'MSS operative' directly. That's a card I hold close for now.
Michael whistled low. "A key piece. That's quite a theory, little sister. But it resonates with the aggressive patterns I've observed in the tech market. His family has been moving with a very deliberate hand. If he's hunting, he's hunting big game." She's still being cautious, but the core of it is there. And it's compelling.
Ethan's expression remained impassive, but a flicker deep in his eyes acknowledged her words. He'd known Emma was sensitive to undercurrents, but her candidness now, fueled by the baijiu, was revealing a depth of insight beyond simple academic observation. He also knew his sister, known her since she was a defiant, sharp-witted child. He could tell, beneath her usual stoicism, that this Professor Meng had genuinely stirred something significant in her, not just intellectual curiosity, but a profound sense of intrigue, even danger. It was clear this wasn't just a professor; this was a catalyst. So, he's identified her. And she's rising to the bait. Excellent. She's being selective with her information, which means she understands the stakes. Good. She's learning.
"A key piece, you say?" Ethan repeated, his voice soft, almost conversational. "Interesting. We'll need to keep a very close eye on Professor Meng then. And on you, my dear little sister. You have a knack for finding yourself in the eye of the storm." He gave her a rare, genuine smile, a mix of brotherly affection and strategic calculation. He knew his sister well enough to realize that being considered a 'key piece' by someone like Meng would only fuel her formidable intellect and defiant spirit. This could be exactly what she needs to truly understand the family business. A real-world apprenticeship, disguised as law school.
Samuel, who had been listening intently, finally spoke, a rare thoughtful frown on his face. "If he's hunting an espionage network, especially one tied to cyberattacks, the financial trails could be incredibly complex. We'll need to be extremely careful. Our family's digital footprint is immense."
The quiet grandeur of her home, however, did not offer true respite. The game was always on, and Professor Meng's words echoed in her mind: "Your intellect will be tested. Your assumptions, shattered. Your loyalty, perhaps, redefined." Her own sharp insights, combined with Ethan's strategic directives and her parents' subtle probing, cemented a chilling conviction. This was not just about passing a course. This was about proving her worth, not just to Professor Meng, but to her family, and to herself, in a world where every move had consequences far beyond the academic. The first day was over, but the real challenge had only just begun.
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At the Zhu Manor
Meanwhile, across Beijing, Lily Zhu's return to the sprawling, hyper-modern Zhu Manor was met with an equally intense, though perhaps more technologically-infused, debriefing. Her elder brother, Kenji Zhu, a brilliant software architect and visionary behind several of the Zhu Corporation's most disruptive AI ventures, was waiting in the sleek, minimalist living area, already projecting a holographic display of market trends onto the glass coffee table. Her mother, Madame Anli, a renowned art patron and venture capitalist, was meticulously arranging a rare jade sculpture, her sharp eyes missing nothing.
"My little disruptor!" Madame Anli greeted, a rare, genuine smile gracing her lips as Lily walked in. "How was your baptism by fire? Did Professor Meng live up to his terrifying reputation?"
Kenji, without looking up from his projections, quipped, "Or did he just confirm he's another overhyped academic? Though, given his lineage, I doubt it. Did he talk about IP law pertaining to biotech patents, Lily? I have a meeting tomorrow on that new CRISPR startup." Kenji, like Ethan, had a knack for seeing past surface emotions. He noticed Lily's heightened energy, the way her fingers fidgeted with her phone, a tell-tale sign that something truly significant had occurred. She's practically vibrating. This isn't just about a new professor. Something's captured her, body and soul.
Lily tossed her backpack onto a plush sofa, a mischievous grin playing on her lips, though her eyes held a deeper, more thoughtful glint than usual. "Terrorizing reputation? Oh, Mama, he exceeds it. And Kenji, you'd love him. He's like a walking, talking, supercomputer of corporate strategy. Not 'overhyped' at all. More like… a weaponized legal genius. And yes, he spoke about tech sovereignty. Specifically, how to dismantle foreign entities exploiting national tech. It was almost… a directive." They'll get it. They always do.
Madame Anli paused, her fingers hovering over the jade. "National tech sovereignty? Interesting. That aligns perfectly with the current policy directives coming out of Shenzhen. Ethan Meng, isn't it? His family holds significant sway in military-industrial complexes. And his sudden turn to academia was always… curious." More than curious. Calculated. I wonder what Lily thinks.
"Curious is an understatement, Mama," Lily declared, plopping onto the sofa, pulling out her own tablet. "I think he's a deep-cover MSS operative. He's too young, too sharp, too focused on our specific national interests. And there are whispers, very specific whispers, about his past three years abroad, and a family tragedy linked to a massive corporate cyberattack. It's all too convenient. He's here for something much bigger than grading papers." And I've never been more excited.
Kenji finally tore his eyes from his projections, a look of genuine surprise on his face. He watched Lily, the intensity in her eyes confirming his earlier suspicion that this wasn't just a regular "first day of class" anecdote. "MSS? Seriously? That's a bold claim, Lil. But if it's true… it would explain a lot. His family's recent market activities have been subtly aggressive, focused on tracing specific foreign-owned entities linked to past tech firm failures. It's almost like he's trying to reverse-engineer a specific kind of market disruption. I've seen the data, and it's… peculiar. Uncannily precise, almost too perfect for an open market player." My little sister just brought home a bombshell. And she's not wrong often. This changes everything.
"It's not just a claim, Kenji. It's a deduction," Lily countered, her eyes sparkling with intellectual fire. "And if he is, then Emma and I just walked into the middle of his covert mission. He singled Emma out, practically challenged her. And she responded with brilliance. I think he's looking for strategic assets. People who can think like him. People who can help him dismantle this network, whatever it is. And he's a master at identifying latent talent, just like you, Kenji, see the potential in a startup before anyone else." He's a disruptor, just like us.
Madame Anli, ever the venture capitalist, saw the opportunity beneath the danger. "Strategic assets… Yes. His objectives, whatever they may be, clearly involve the intersection of law, technology, and national security. The Zhu Corporation, with our advancements in AI and biotech, is a prime target for both protection and, regrettably, for espionage. Your insights, Lily, will be invaluable. Observe him. Understand his methodologies. And if he is an operative, learn how to leverage that knowledge. Your technological intuition is unparalleled; use it to decode him. Analyze the system, Lily, don't just react to it." This could be a significant advantage, if handled correctly. A new frontier for strategic investment, perhaps.
Kenji, now fully engaged, leaned forward. "If what you say is true, Lily, then this isn't just about law school. This is about national defense, corporate intelligence, and protecting our family's assets. And your friendship with Emma Walker… that's a powerful asset in itself. Her family's reach, combined with ours… it's an unprecedented alliance for intelligence gathering. We need to analyze this, dissect it. Perhaps I can run some background checks, dig into these 'whispers'. Use my network to corroborate your deductions, Lily. This is the kind of puzzle I live for, and you just handed me the first piece." A puzzle worthy of the Zhu name.
Lily nodded, a thrilling sense of purpose settling over her. Her first day of law school had plunged her into a world far more complex and dangerous than she had ever anticipated. This wasn't just about grades or internships. This was about national security, family legacy, and a dangerous, enigmatic professor who might hold the keys to a vast conspiracy. The game was truly afoot. Let's play.
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