Persuaded

As the tense negotiations continued, Mary, Shi Tian, and Vanessa found themselves in a high-stakes digital standoff with Brad, the manager of the StellarVision Media channel. 

The delicate balance of trust and suspicion hung in the air.

Shi Tian, with his persuasive words, had managed to convince Mary to take a significant step – sending back a portion of the hacked data to the other party as a show of goodwill. Mary reluctantly agreed, trusting Shi Tian's instincts and experience in such matters.

In this message, Shi Tian offered the remaining data they had obtained, essentially returning it to StellarVision Media for free as a sign of goodwill. 

It was a strategic move to build trust and show their sincerity in wanting an amicable resolution.

With the message sent, they settled into a tense waiting game. Vanessa continued to wipe the sweat off Shi Tian as they observed the situation.