TuxedoTranslations

Chapter 9

After setting the meeting time and location, they just had to wait until after work to go to the designated pickup spot at the freight station.

To avoid working overtime, Zhuang Yanyu finished his tasks early.

However, plans don’t always go as expected. With about 30 minutes left before the end of the workday, a technician rushed over, saying there was a minor issue with an engineering program that urgently needed an engineer’s help.

The Engineering Department was short-staffed, with each person already overloaded, or they wouldn’t have had to keep borrowing staff from other departments.

Most engineers were working on their own projects, and the malfunctioning system was part of the port’s intelligent control system. The original project lead was assigned elsewhere, and most of the team was out of town.

Only one engineer who was familiar with the project was still around, and after assessing the issue, he said it was a minor problem that could be fixed, but it would require some overtime and an assistant.

That’s where Zhuang Yanyu and Zhou Quan came in.

“Xiao Zhuang, Xiao Zhou, I’m really sorry about this. You both know how short-handed we are in Engineering. Don’t worry, though, your overtime pay here will definitely be generous!” Supervisor Xu apologized sincerely.

Zhou Quan didn’t mind, as he enjoyed working there and agreed readily.

Supervisor Xu was mostly worried about Zhuang Yanyu.

He hadn’t even officially transferred to Engineering, and they were already asking him to work overtime, which might scare him off.

If they weren’t truly short on staff this time, he wouldn’t have asked.

Although Zhuang Yanyu didn’t want to work overtime, he knew that if the port’s program malfunctioned, it could lead to major issues, like cargo piling up unprocessed. This would eventually affect Wen Chenxi’s company.

With that in mind, Zhuang Yanyu agreed immediately.

“Where is it? I’ll head over right now,” he said without hesitation.

His quick agreement left Supervisor Xu surprised. “You…you’re just agreeing like that?”

More eager than even the supervisor, Zhuang Yanyu promptly identified the engineer involved and headed straight for him.

Supervisor Xu murmured, “Xiao Zhuang is exceptionally proactive today.”

Zhou Quan chuckled. “Supervisor, better hurry and tell us what to do.” 

Supervisor Xu snapped back to attention. “Right, yes, go to the engineer Xiao Zhuang just approached. I’ll have the technician explain the details—you’ll likely need to head to the port.”

Then he felt relieved: “Good thing it’s local.”

Most ports now use fully automated container intelligent control systems, involving critical technologies like system architecture, model calculations, testing, and maintenance. This particular project was a significant collaboration between Azure Technology and the government. The current issue was minor, but even small issues were treated with the utmost seriousness in the Engineering Department, as if they were major ones.

Zhuang Yanyu and Zhou Quan, along with Engineer Qin Yiyuan, hurried to the port to inspect the system. In the rush, Zhuang Yanyu forgot to inform Wen Chenxi.

At the end of the workday, Wen Chenxi dismissed his driver, choosing to wait in the parking lot for Zhuang Yanyu. To ensure he could find the reserved parking space, Wen even had the driver write out the directions and sent them over to him.

However, half an hour passed, and there was no reply on WeChat.

At first, Wen Chenxi assumed it was just crowded elevators delaying him. But after half an hour, with no sign of him, he made a call to Lin Lin: “Is the Engineering Department working overtime?”

Lin Lin, who hadn’t left yet, replied, “Overtime is normal for Engineering. Shall I check for you?”

Wen Chenxi: “Please do.”

Lin Lin promptly called the Engineering Department manager. The manager had gotten used to these calls—previously, he and the president’s assistant hardly spoke outside of project meetings, and even then, there were several managers present. Recently, however, calls kept coming up because of a certain junior employee.

The Engineering Department manager couldn’t help but ask, “Lin, are you looking for someone again?”

Lin Lin confirmed, “Yes, Manager Zhang, could you check if Mr. Zhuang Yanyu has left yet?”

The manager wasn’t on-site, so he responded, “I’ll need to make a call to check… But Lin, could you be straightforward—who exactly is this Zhuang Yanyu?”

He didn’t say it outright, but the implication was clear: what was so special about this Zhuang Yanyu that even the president’s assistant kept looking for him?

Lin Lin replied with a knowing tone, “The boss has a keen interest in him.”

Just that line was enough for the experienced manager.

He reflected on how, in the past, whenever he’d eyed a talented candidate, it hadn’t taken much effort to recruit them. After all, Azure Technology was the best place to work. If he couldn’t secure the candidate himself, he just needed to report it to upper management, and President Wen would send a professional recruiter to offer the ideal package.

But he’d waited months this time without success.

It seemed that President Wen’s interest wasn’t just in the guy’s technical skills—he must be interested in the person himself.

The Engineering Department manager called Supervisor Xu, got an update, and promptly informed Lin Lin.

In just under three minutes, Wen Chenxi learned that Zhuang Yanyu was at the port and would likely be tied up for a while.

Lin Lin cautiously asked, “So, shall we still attend the dinner with the Xiao Group board member?”

Their president had specifically set aside the evening for this, only to be stood up.

Silently admiring Zhuang Yanyu’s nerve, Lin Lin wondered if all tech guys were so bold—this was Wen Chenxi they were talking about.

Wen Chenxi declined, “We’re going to the port.”

Lin Lin, momentarily taken aback, understood it meant he should come along, and quickly replied, “Understood, I’ll be there right away.”

The automated intelligent control system at the port did indeed have some minor issues, though these were anticipated beforehand with contingency measures in place. The fixes were straightforward but time-consuming.

Zhuang Yanyu noticed that even the current technology seemed a bit basic, lacking the necessary speed.

He asked Qin Yiyuan, “Is this the fastest it can go? Can it be faster?”

Proudly, Qin Yiyuan, who’d followed this project closely, puffed out his chest. “No, this is already fast. Every five minutes, we can arrange containers across a 150-kilometer stretch, which is more than ten times faster than the previous port speed.”

Zhuang Yanyu: “It can’t go any faster?”

Qin Yiyuan looked at him curiously. “You’re kidding, right? This is top-tier speed. No company but Azure Technology could achieve it.”

As the country’s tech leader, Azure Technology was unmatched; if they couldn’t do better, no one could.

Zhuang Yanyu looked thoughtful.

Not realizing Zhuang Yanyu had been temporarily assigned to the Engineering Department, Qin Yiyuan, like an older brother, patted his shoulder. “Xiao Zhuang, you clearly have a keen interest in engineering. Tell you what—whenever I’m in the office, feel free to come by. I’ll teach you whatever I can.”

Nearby, Zhou Quan looked like he wanted to say something, wanting to tell Qin, “Do you not realize the Engineering Department manager has already tried recruiting him?”

Lost in thought, Zhuang Yanyu casually replied, “Oh, thanks.”

Qin Yiyuan continued, “How about I treat you to dinner after work?”

Zhou Quan jumped in eagerly, “Yes! Is Senior Qin treating us?”

Only then did Qin Yiyuan notice Zhou Quan.

Tall with well-defined features, though a bit tanned and with a slight jockish air, Zhou Quan had a goofy smile like a big, lovable lunk who clearly hoped for a free meal.

How odd—he was such a tall guy, yet he somehow managed to overlook him just now!

Qin Yiyuan’s mouth twitched; he was too embarrassed to say that he had originally only intended to invite Zhuang Yanyu, so he cheerfully said, “Sure, let’s all go together.”

Hearing the dinner plans, Zhuang Yanyu suddenly remembered he had plans with a close friend. He checked his phone and saw multiple messages from him!

Ignoring everyone else, he quickly responded, saying he was working overtime.

Then, WeChat rang—it was Wen Chenxi calling.

Wen Chenxi: “Off work yet?”

Zhuang Yanyu glanced at the system screen and said, “It might take a bit longer.”

Wen Chenxi: “Alright, I’ll wait.”

Zhuang Yanyu felt a bit guilty. It was already 7:30; they had clocked out at 5:30, and he had kept his friend waiting for two hours!

Zhuang Yanyu: “I’ll come find you as soon as I’m done.”

Wen Chenxi: “No need. I’m right here at the port.”

Zhuang Yanyu visibly brightened up. “You came?”

Wen Chenxi: “Yes, at the customs checkpoint. Come over once you’re done.”

After hanging up, Zhuang Yanyu found it hard to sit still.

He analyzed his feelings—he was eager.

So this is what impatience feels like, he realized. It was something he’d never felt back when he was just a system. His eyes sparkled with newfound understanding.

When he returned to the others, Qin Yiyuan noticed he seemed to radiate a different energy, his normally striking features now flushed with a faint blush of joy.

Thinking Zhuang Yanyu looked exceptionally handsome, Qin Yiyuan couldn’t resist asking again, “Yanyu, still up for dinner after work? You probably haven’t eaten yet?”

Zhuang Yanyu declined. “I already have plans.”

Qin Yiyuan sighed regretfully. “Ah, well, next time then.”

The final system page finished loading, and all intelligent controls were back to normal. Seeing that everything was resolved, Zhuang Yanyu quickly said goodbye to the others and hurried off.

As Qin Yiyuan was about to leave, he heard Zhou Quan beside him ask, “Uh, senior, are we… still doing dinner?”

Qin Yiyuan turned and saw Zhou Quan looking at him expectantly, swallowing hard—it seemed he was really hungry.

Qin Yiyuan: “…”

Zhuang Yanyu jogged to the customs checkpoint and spotted the familiar car.

As he approached, the car door opened, and Wen Chenxi stepped out in a perfectly pressed suit.

“All done?” Wen Chenxi asked.

Zhuang Yanyu took a deep breath and nodded. “Yes.”

Wen Chenxi: “Let’s get in the car, then.”

They both got into the car, and Wen Chenxi checked the time—nearly 8:00, well past a junior employee’s regular hours.

Wen Chenxi: “I thought you didn’t like working overtime? You’re in technical support; if you don’t want to stay late, the engineering department won’t force you.”

Zhuang Yanyu shook his head. “This time was different.”

Wen Chenxi: “Different?”

Zhuang Yanyu explained, “The port’s intelligent control system is complex. If something goes wrong, it affects the company—and you too.”

Compared to his friend, what was a little overtime?

Wen Chenxi glanced at the young man beside him. Engineering had offered Zhuang Yanyu generous benefits to transfer, yet he had declined just to avoid overtime.

And here he was, working late voluntarily just to prevent any inconvenience for him?

Hearing this answer, Wen Chenxi suddenly felt that the two hours of waiting were worth it.

Feel free to donate for earlier/bonus chapter releases! Thanks for supporting me and enjoy reading 😀