TuxedoTranslations

Chapter 6

On Monday morning, after the regular meeting, the manager announced the great news that all service center employees’ salaries had been raised a level, and this month’s performance bonuses were doubled.

The entire 16th-floor service center was in a state of euphoria—what’s better than a salary increase and double bonuses?

Nothing!

But why would they suddenly get a raise?

Everyone speculated, but no one guessed the real reason. In the end, they decided it didn’t matter—more money is always good!

Unlike his coworkers, who were thrilled, Zhuang Yanyu was rather calm.

He’d only been human for a little over two months, and he still had a hefty retirement fund from his past life, so he didn’t have the same intense attachment to money as real humans.

To him, the balance in his bank account was just another figure among the many rows of data stored in his mind.

That day, things were quiet in the tech support department, and everyone was chatting about how to spend the extra money.

Most of the department were hardcore homebodies, so many were talking about upgrading equipment or buying new collectibles.

One new intern, however, said that this was his first paycheck and that he wanted to buy a gift for the person most important to him.

Zhuang Yanyu’s ears perked up. Amid all the chatter, he caught that line.

Buying a gift for the most important person?

So, he decided to split his salary into three parts: one for daily expenses, one for a gift for his dad, and the last for a gift for his good friend.

But what would make a suitable gift for a friend?

Zhuang Yanyu was data-driven.

He went online, analyzed a ton of data, and narrowed it down to some popular options: sneakers, electronics, and games—all commonly regarded as ideal gifts for close friends.

But none of those seemed quite right for Wen Chenxi.

He asked Zhou Quan, “What do you think is the best gift to give a good friend?”

Zhou Quan became interested. “Is it for a birthday? Or just a regular gift, no special occasion? Are you giving it to a girl you like?”

Zhuang Yanyu: “Just a regular gift. For a guy. My friend.”

Zhou Quan’s interest waned a bit. “Oh, for a friend… That’s simple. Just think of what he likes or something he mentioned wanting but hasn’t bought yet.”

“He’s never told me what he likes.”

“Then I’m not sure. Maybe try searching online?”

Back to square one, Zhuang gave up on Zhou Quan’s advice.

He then thought back to the Dragonborn hosts he had guided in the past. What gifts had they given to their friends?

In modern settings, Dragonborn would give money, status, houses, cars…

In other realms, they’d gift rare herbs, elixirs…

But Wen Chenxi didn’t need any of that—he already had it all. And this world wasn’t the kind of place where he could obtain rare herbs and elixirs.

Finally, he sought help from Old Comrade Zhuang.

Old Zhuang had been around longer and likely had a better understanding of human preferences.

Sure enough, Old Zhuang’s advice was much more useful. Though he didn’t say what to give specifically, he gave Zhuang a valuable perspective.

He said, “When giving a gift, the point is to convey the giver’s intentions. Expensive or inexpensive, it doesn’t matter, as long as the gesture clearly shows your sincerity.”

Zhuang’s mind raced through his internal processor: “So he needs to know my intentions.”

Old Zhuang replied, “Exactly.”

Zhuang understood. “Got it, thanks, Dad.”

After hanging up, he quickly wrote down a custom plan. He already knew what he wanted to give his friend.

The custom gift was ready in less than five days and was delivered to his home.

But for over twenty days, Zhuang didn’t see Wen Chenxi.

They hadn’t exchanged any messages on WeChat either. At the company, aside from one accidental encounter in the elevator, he hadn’t seen any other executives except the service center manager.

Figuring out how to give the gift was an issue.

The company provided a comfortable environment for introverts, with an automated online office system that meant most employees rarely had to leave their seats, making it difficult for Zhuang to bump into any other execs unless he sought them out.

But to meet with Mr. Wen, he’d have to make an appointment in advance.

As he was mulling over his options, the tech support manager approached him. “Xiao Zhuang, the engineering department wants to borrow you for some assistance. Are you available?”

Since discovering Zhuang Yanyu’s abilities, Manager Xu from the engineering department has frequently requested to borrow Zhuang Yanyu. Starting with software testing, he gradually involved Zhuang in the development and design of public projects, hoping to appeal to him with the sense of accomplishment from advanced tech work. However, this approach had no effect—Zhuang still left promptly at the end of the day.

In fact, to avoid moving to the engineering department and escape Manager Xu’s “persuasion,” Zhuang began to take a more laid-back approach after analyzing the situation. He did exactly what was asked, no more and no less, without attempting any innovation or invention.

But Manager Xu quickly adapted. Noticing Zhuang’s reluctance to work overtime, he started asking for Zhuang’s input on projects, requesting suggestions for upgrades or improvements. If Zhuang said he had none, Manager Xu would sigh and say, “Ah, looks like we might have to work late tonight. Sorry, Zhuang, but it looks like you’ll have to stay late with us.”

Reluctant to work overtime, Zhuang pursed his lips, giving Manager Xu a silent glance. Manager Xu smiled back, making his intentions clear. Finally, after a few seconds of silence, Zhuang analyzed the situation, looked at the code, and said, “Let me check where we can upgrade and finish it before the end of the day.”

Manager Xu’s plan succeeded, and he praised Zhuang, “I knew you could do it!”

Today was no different. As soon as Zhuang and his colleague Zhou Quan arrived, Manager Xu assigned Zhuang to the system design for a public project, with Zhou assisting him. Since this was an open-source project, all data was based on second-stage development and user experience improvements on the source code, so there was no confidentiality risk, and Manager Xu handed the task over with confidence.

Because of Manager Xu’s support, everyone in the engineering department had heard of Zhuang Yanyu.

“Is he the Zhuang Yanyu from tech support?”

“Yes, and I hear Manager Xu wants to transfer him to our R&D team.”

“Transfer directly? That doesn’t seem likely—this is AzureTech!”

“It’s true. Manager Xu spoke to the director about it. I heard he’s only a regular college grad.”

“Tsk…what luck…”

Some admired him, while others felt jealousy. AzureTech, as a leading domestic tech company, was hard to get into, especially in the R&D department. Nearly everyone here had come from top universities with master’s or doctoral degrees and had to pass multiple rounds of interviews to get in. The thought of Zhuang, a graduate from a regular university, transferring so easily stirred resentment. They weren’t against students from regular universities—they just thought it unfair. Some even wondered if Zhuang’s talent matched the position, thinking he only got lucky to catch Manager Xu’s eye.

Their whispered remarks didn’t escape Manager Xu, who noticed their expressions and asked, “What are you all doing standing around? Get back to work, or do you all want to stay late?”

One of the senior techs quickly said, “We’re not slacking off; we’re waiting for the program’s test run.”

Manager Xu replied, “I see. Well, since you’re waiting, why don’t you check on Zhuang? He’s handling the project that Team Three handed off yesterday.”

Shocked, the senior tech said, “The one from Team Three? The really complicated one? You’re letting him handle it alone?”

Everyone was surprised—didn’t Manager Xu value Zhuang highly? Were they setting him up to fail?

That source code was notoriously complex, challenging even for them, so they would need a long time to get through it. Manager Xu’s expression was unreadable. “You’ll understand once you see him.”

Focused on finishing early, Zhuang paid no attention to those gathering to watch him code. So he didn’t notice the group who had earlier dismissed his success as “just luck” now gaping in shock as he typed at high speed, expertly upgrading the system.

When Zhuang finally wrapped up and turned around, he noticed a crowd behind him, looking a bit puzzled. “Do you need something?”

One of them exclaimed, “Wow, Zhuang! Uh, Brother Zhuang, are you really just a regular college grad?”

Zhuang replied, “I am. Is there a problem?”

“No, no problem. You’re just amazing!”

“Were you self-taught?”

When they learned Zhuang had indeed graduated from a regular university, the senior techs grew even more impressed, joining Manager Xu’s camp to convince him to transfer to R&D. However, Zhuang remained unmoved.

When asked why, he simply said that he liked the tech support department.

The R&D engineers were beside themselves—what’s so good about tech support? It involved dealing with difficult clients and complaints; surely development work was better?

But Zhuang was unfazed. As the end of the day approached, he quickly returned to the 16th floor to drop off a gift for his friend at the building’s security office. Since he didn’t know Wen Chenxi’s home address, he left it there, where all incoming deliveries were kept for distribution.

After leaving the gift, he thought for a moment and sent Wen Chenxi a message on WeChat:

“Got a raise this month, so I bought a gift for you. Since I don’t know your address, I left it at the company security office. You should receive it tomorrow.”

—

Ji Family

The Ji family.

The birthday celebration for Ji Zhiyuan, the eldest young master of the Ji family, had begun, and guests were being received.

The Ji family, a dominant media group in the entertainment industry, had attracted an array of actors, singers, directors, and other figures who made up about 80% of the attendees, with the rest being investors.

However, Wen Chenxi, attending as a friend, ended up drawing more attention than the birthday boy himself.

Wen Chenxi had only been standing in the banquet hall for a short while before people, including socialites and industry artists of all genders, were approaching him to start conversations. He was even more popular than Ji Zhiyuan, the host of the event.

Ji Zhiyuan said with jealousy, “Is this my birthday party or yours…?”

Li Xi laughed, “Pfft, well, people say you’re a flirt, with many ‘scandals’ in the industry. Compared to you, Old Wen here, who’s like an iron tree that never blossoms, is much more intriguing.”

Ji Zhiyuan huffed, “Those are just rumors!”

Then he turned to Wen Chenxi with curiosity, “I saw a few artists from my company come over to chat with you, including Xiao Lan, who’s super popular right now, very attractive. Did she catch your eye?”

Wen Chenxi asked, “Who?”

Ji Zhiyuan sighed, “…Guess not, then.” Otherwise, he wouldn’t have asked which one.

Wen Chenxi raised his glass to Ji Zhiyuan, “Happy birthday. I’ll go sit in the back garden for a bit.”

Knowing that he didn’t like these kinds of events, Ji Zhiyuan waved his hand, “Go ahead. I’ll have the staff keep others from bothering you. Next time, let’s skip this and go to a farmhouse retreat instead. I’m missing the fresh fruit from Xiao Zhuang’s place—it’s sweeter than anywhere else! Let’s invite Xiao Zhuang next time too; it’s his family’s farm, after all.”

Wen Chenxi raised an eyebrow, saying neither yes nor no.

Wen Chenxi slipped away from the crowd, sitting alone in the garden and checking messages from his assistant Lin.

Assistant Lin: “The R&D engineering manager received another suggestion from the department head—they’d like to transfer Zhuang Yanyu to the R&D engineering center, not just on loan. A loan doesn’t allow access to core projects, and he’d like Zhuang Yanyu to be involved in core development.”

Wen Chenxi: “Did he refuse again?”

Assistant Lin: “Yes.”

Wen Chenxi let a small smile curl at his lips. “Hmm.”

Assistant Lin pondered what his boss might be thinking.

Ever since he’d been asked to look into this employee named Zhuang Yanyu about two weeks ago, he’d been unable to read his boss’s intentions.

Normally, if someone as talented as Zhuang Yanyu came up, Wen Chenxi would do whatever it took to bring them into the engineering development center with a high salary and good benefits.

But now, the boss didn’t seem interested?

Sitting in the garden, Wen Chenxi finished replying to Lin, but he didn’t close his phone. Instead, he opened Zhuang Yanyu’s WeChat profile.

Zhuang Yanyu wasn’t someone who posted much in his feed; his last post was the one Wen Chenxi had liked.

Their chat was empty, aside from the system notification from when they first became friends.

Oddly enough, despite being bold and forward when asking Wen Chenxi to get to know him better, Zhuang Yanyu had been shy these past twenty days, too hesitant to even send a message.

His high-resolution ID photo was still stored on Wen Chenxi’s computer.

Wen Chenxi had to admit that Zhuang Yanyu’s appearance and aura fit his aesthetic perfectly.

Others’ advances left him unmoved, without a trace of interest.

Only Zhuang Yanyu—he hadn’t seen him in nearly a month, yet he remembered every detail of their last interaction.

His gaze lingered on Zhuang Yanyu’s profile picture for a couple of seconds. He started typing, “Ji Zhiyuan said he wants to go to your hometown again to go fishi—”

But before he finished, a new message popped up from Zhuang Yanyu.

Wen Chenxi’s typing paused. A gift?

He erased what he’d typed and called the head of security.

Half an hour later, the security chief delivered a package that Zhuang Yanyu had stored among hundreds of others, right to Wen Chenxi.

Wen Chenxi unwrapped the gift box and took out a small figurine.

It was a miniature of two chibi-style boys, one of them wearing glasses, holding hands. The base had the words “Forever” engraved on it.

Raising an eyebrow, Wen Chenxi took a photo of the figurine and sent it to Zhuang Yanyu.

Wen Chenxi: “Who are these two?”

Zhuang Yanyu: “One is me, the other is you.”

Zhuang Yanyu responded almost instantly, inspired by his dad’s advice to make his intentions clear.

His feelings were all right here.

Good brothers, hand in hand, forever, side by side.

He’d even wanted to add a music box under the base to play the song *Friends for Life*, but the shop said it was too small to add a music box.

Zhuang Yanyu: “Do you like it?”

Wen Chenxi stared at the words “Forever” on the base, staying silent for a long moment.

—-

Author’s Note:

PS—

Wen Chenxi, who doesn’t want to be that easy to pursue: No need to be this forward…

Zhuang’s dad: Your approach isn’t wrong, but something feels off…

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