No Wife, No Life Chapter 255

Harper's eyes flickered as she looked at Dominic, her voice steady, "Mr. Hall, I need to know the deadline for this project. There has to be a time limit."

Dominic crossed his arms, "One month."

"Whoever can develop the better system within a month will win the bid."

Chloe raised her eyes and arched an eyebrow at Harper, her tone challenging, "Harper, you up for this?"

She wanted to see who would come out on top.

Chloe continued, "In one month, we'll each optimize our own systems. Whoever perfects their product first wins the bid."

She paused, then added slowly, "If, and I mean if, neither of us succeeds, then we can consider collaborating."

Chloe was smart. This way, she showed respect for Dominic's suggestion and left herself a backup plan. If all else failed, they could still work together.

Harper understood her intention and nodded, "I agree with Chloe's suggestion."

Chloe sneered, "Do you really get what I mean? I mean we each take on this optimization task alone. I won't rely on my researchers, and you can't depend on Manuel."

Chloe's words were clear. She wanted to strip Harper of Manuel's help.

Harper wasn't reliant on Manuel, was she? Now Chloe was taking that crutch away. It would be a one-on-one battle to see who was stronger.

Manuel chuckled softly, indifferent.

Did she think everything at FusionX was designed by him alone?

How laughable! Harper's skills were undoubtedly formidable. In fact, many of the constructive plans were proposed by Harper.

Even without Manuel, Harper could manage.

Harper smiled, "Alright, Chloe, as you said, we'll each rely on our own abilities."

Chloe had initiated the challenge. It remained to be seen who would come out on top in a month.

...

The bidding meeting ended without selecting a collaboration partner, giving a one-month timeframe. After a month, they would choose between FusionX and the Lavien Group.

Online, many were eagerly waiting to see who the final winner would be.

Chloe returned to her lab to work. Harper also went back to her lab at FusionX. This was their first battle.

Harper was already researching Chloe's intelligent system. She had a rough idea and began writing data codes.

Suddenly, the lights in the room started flickering, and the computer screen kept going black. This continued for about half a minute before the computer seemed to return to normal.

Harper then saw data rapidly being written on the screen, a series of complex codes forming quickly into formula chains, and sustainable research data being typed out, presenting the flawless proposal right on the screen.

Harper was stunned and immediately guessed that this was Alvina's doing.

No one else could hack her computer and rewrite the data so quickly.

It meant Alvina was watching everything.

Harper started typing on the keyboard to trace the intruder.

She couldn't understand why, after all this time, Alvina still wouldn't leave her alone. Why did she keep monitoring her?

Harper's fingers flew over the keyboard. Alvina had set up too many data traps, and one wrong move could spell disaster.

Her expression grew colder, but she knew deep down that she couldn't keep up with Alvina's speed.

She had noticed that recently, Alvina seemed to be deliberately training her. Every time Harper managed to hack into Alvina's system, she would find some data, sometimes exactly what Harper needed, as if someone had casually organized it.

It felt like Alvina was remotely guiding her. Harper could sense it.

But why? After all these years of neglect, was Alvina suddenly overwhelmed with maternal love, trying to fulfill her duties as a mother?

Harper still looked at the data and sent it to Dennis, though she was puzzled.

Since it was left by Alvina, Dennis needed to know too.

It seemed like a game to Alvina. The game would only end when she decided it was over.

[What do you want?] Harper asked coldly.

She stopped typing and stared at the screen, where the data had stopped moving.

The codes gradually disappeared.

The computer desktop automatically opened a page displaying surveillance footage.

This time, Alvina herself had given up the game and intended to guide Harper into a conversation.

Finally, Harper saw Alvina on the other end.

Months had passed since she last saw Alvina.

The last time, Alvina had a hint of worry in her eyes, but now she looked vibrant, almost younger.

Harper had to admit they looked very much alike. They have the same eyes and nose. For a moment, she felt like she was looking in a mirror.

"Harper, long time no see."

Alvina's smile was gentle, still with that air of nonchalance.

"That's not right. I haven't seen you in a long time, but you, I think you've been watching me." Harper said politely, but her tone was clearly mocking.

Of course, Alvina had been monitoring her. If not, Alvina wouldn't have known about the bid so quickly or typed out those complex codes.

She was almost teaching Harper to cheat.

The one-month deadline Harper and Chloe set was no issue for Alvina, like a simple game.

Alvina showed no reaction to Harper's words. She played with a small robot figurine, a faint smile on her face, "With the data I gave you, you can easily beat Chloe."

She paused, her smile growing brighter, "Chloe said Manuel couldn't help you, but she never said I couldn't. So we're not breaking any rules."

She indeed knew everything. "I don't want it!" Harper refused decisively.

Her expression was calm, without any joy from receiving the data. She quietly met Alvina's gaze.

Harper claimed, "I don't need your help. I can do it myself, so I don't need your interference."

"I'm just helping you, and it's within the rules. What's wrong with that?" Harper, sometimes you can accept a little help from me. I won't let you lose."

She was telling Harper that she would always support her and be her eternal backup.

"How do you know I'll lose? In a month, I'll compete fairly with her and win the collaboration openly."

Harper had absolute confidence in herself.

"I won't beg you!"