TuxedoTranslations

Chapter 56

Zhuang Yanyu had no idea what kind of bomb he had just dropped.

After stating that he wouldn’t be like the boss’s wife in the building next door—or the male boss’s wife two buildings over—he simply started working.

First, following company procedure, he submitted a project application for the firewall and listed the companies interested in collaborating.

Since the project already had a partner, it basically meant there was a fixed buyer lined up.

Once the application was entered into the backend system, it would be approved quickly.

The only thing left to negotiate was how much the program was worth.

Seeing him begin working as if nothing had happened, Supervisor Xu and Chen Kang—who had just been blown away by the “bomb”—stood there in disarray for quite a while before finding their voices again.

“X-Xiao Zhuang, you’re not joking, are you?” Supervisor Xu felt that either his ears were malfunctioning or Zhuang Yanyu was playing a joke.

Chen Kang thought the same. “Aren’t you two good brothers??”

Without lifting his head, fingers flying across the keyboard as he typed the project report, Zhuang Yanyu replied calmly, “Can’t good brothers be together?”

Supervisor Xu & Chen Kang: “……”

Chen Kang suddenly said, “No wonder…”

Zhuang Yanyu looked up. “No wonder what?”

Chen Kang looked at him with a complicated expression. “Do you remember what I told you when we went on that Haigang Group business trip? I told you to stay a little further away from your ‘brother.’”

“I remember.”

Chen Kang stomped his foot; even his belly jiggled with the motion. “I suspected back then that your brother was trying to hit on you!”

Zhuang Yanyu: “?”

Chen Kang said in exasperation, “Think about it! What normal person’s wish is to be a steel rebar?! Wasn’t he clearly talking about a straight-as-rebar man like you?”

He even wanted to poke Zhuang Yanyu’s head to make him wake up a bit.

But just as his hand reached out, it froze midair.

He couldn’t poke him now!

This person wasn’t just the big boss’s good brother anymore—he was the big boss’s boyfriend!

Zhuang Yanyu finally understood. “So ‘steel rebar’ refers to a person.”

Chen Kang: “What else could it refer to?”

“I’ve only heard ‘willpower like steel’ used to describe a person’s resilience. I didn’t know rebar directly represented a person.”

Chen Kang: “……”

Zhuang Yanyu asked again, “Do I look very straight?”

Supervisor Xu & Chen Kang: “……”

The two of them were completely speechless.

He already had a boyfriend—how was he still this straight?!

But thinking it over carefully, they had both observed Zhuang Yanyu’s character during this time.

At the very least, they didn’t need to worry that he would turn the company upside down like the neighbors next door—or two buildings over.

Still, they couldn’t help worrying a little.

They had both seen Zhuang Yanyu’s background file. They knew he came from a rural family. Though he possessed unimaginable talent, there was still a world of difference between him and a wealthy family like the Wen family.

With such a huge gap in status, could this relationship really last?

Would the Wen family truly accept a male “daughter-in-law”?

And what if, in the future, the Wen family demanded an heir to carry on the family business—pushing President Wen into a political marriage or asking him to have a child with someone else?

What would happen to this kid then?

A powerless, unsupported young man—if he were bullied someday, where could he go to complain?

It wasn’t that they doubted Wen Chenxi’s character. It was just that the disparity in status made it hard not to overthink.

Chen Kang gritted his teeth and spoke bluntly to Zhuang Yanyu. “Xiao Zhuang, let’s not beat around the bush. If you two are really together, make sure you get as much as you can. House, car—if he doesn’t offer, you ask! Cash is fine too! Pride doesn’t matter. What’s in your hands is what’s real. Otherwise you’ll lose both the person and the profit—waste years of youth and end up with nothing. Got it?”

Zhuang Yanyu had already stood up. “Why must I ask for those things?”

Chen Kang looked ready to explode again. “Are you silly?! A man earns money to spend on his wife! To use for the family! If he’s not spending it on you, he’ll spend it on some other little wife! On some other family!”

Zhuang Yanyu asked, “Do you have a little wife?”

Chen Kang froze. “I don’t. I just—”

“President Chen, I wasn’t asking you,” Zhuang Yanyu said calmly. “I was asking A-Xi.”

Only then did Chen Kang notice that Zhuang Yanyu’s gaze wasn’t on him—but behind him.

Chen Kang’s body stiffened instantly.

He forced a shaky smile. “X-Xiao Zhuang… don’t scare me like that…”

Unfortunately, fate was unkind. A cool voice drifted from behind him:

“I didn’t know I had a ‘little wife.’ President Chen, why don’t you tell me—where exactly is this little wife of mine?”

Chen Kang: “……”

He wanted to cry.

In his entire life, he had only badmouthed the big boss twice behind his back—and both times the boss had heard it. What kind of cursed luck was this?!

Very carefully, Chen Kang turned around. Sure enough, Wen Chenxi’s expression didn’t look good at all.

Chen Kang was certain that if Zhuang Yanyu weren’t present, President Wen would already be making an example of him.

Chen Kang forced a miserable smile. “President Wen, I-I was just joking…”

Wen Chenxi let out a cold laugh. “Very funny.”

His expression, however, did not look amused in the slightest.

When the top boss personally came down to the Engineering Department, everyone was curious but didn’t dare slack off. They could only keep working while sneaking glances over.

However, most people assumed the big boss had simply come down with President Chen and didn’t think much else of it.

No one knew that Wen Chenxi had come because he was worried about Zhuang Yanyu. In the end, he couldn’t resist coming down to take a look. He had even asked Assistant Lin to prepare a soft cushion, afraid that Zhuang Yanyu might be uncomfortable sitting.

Chen Kang could only complain inwardly; his round belly even seemed to deflate a little from anxiety.

Zhuang Yanyu glanced at Chen Kang, then shifted his gaze to Wen Chenxi, slightly frowning. “Since you don’t have one, then don’t be angry. Being angry is bad for your health.”

Wen Chenxi immediately said, “Of course I don’t.”

Zhuang Yanyu nodded. “President Chen is worried I’ll be deceived. If you don’t deceive me, none of this will happen.”

“How could I ever deceive Yu Yu?” Wen Chenxi replied.

Only then did Zhuang Yanyu turn to Chen Kang. “You heard him. A-Xi said he won’t.”

Chen Kang almost wanted to wipe away tears. Was his year-end bonus saved? Would he avoid losing it because his belly reached the door before he did?

What kind of angel was Xiao Zhuang?!

Chen Kang hurriedly said, “Absolutely! We all know what kind of person President Wen is! Honestly, I never noticed before, but Xiao Zhuang, you and our boss are truly a match made in heaven—perfectly suited for each other! I can’t wait for you two to get married tomorrow so I can attend the wedding banquet!”

Wen Chenxi said expressionlessly, “Why are you still standing here?”

“Leaving immediately!”

Chen Kang grabbed Supervisor Xu and rushed out.

“Wait,” Zhuang Yanyu called after them. “I submitted the project approval application. I hope it can be processed quickly.”

“I’ll go review it right now!” Chen Kang said.

The two hurried out. Only after they were out of sight of Wen Chenxi did they slow down.

Chen Kang patted his chest. “Bonus saved.”

Supervisor Xu also felt lingering fear. “Good thing you were speaking up for Xiao Zhuang, and he knew you were worried about him. Otherwise…”

“Exactly! Xiao Zhuang is a good kid!”

Supervisor Xu sighed. “I really thought they were just good brothers.”

Who would have thought there was no pure friendship even between “good brothers”?

Back in the Engineering Department—

With President Chen and Supervisor Xu gone, Wen Chenxi didn’t stay long either, so as not to attract attention. Lowering his voice, he told Zhuang Yanyu that if he got tired, he could go upstairs to rest in his office.

Zhuang Yanyu nodded. “Got it.”

Wen Chenxi then left.

As soon as he was gone, several engineers gathered around.

“Xiao Zhuang, was President Wen talking to you just now? What did he say?”

“Is there another new project? I think I heard you mention project approval. Did President Wen come down because of that?”

“Another new project? Don’t you already have several partner companies waiting on your QZD system?”

Everyone fired off questions one after another, clearly curious.

Zhuang Yanyu was busy and didn’t have time to explain much, so he simply nodded. “There’s a new project. It’s under approval.”

Hearing that, everyone felt a bit envious, but more than that, impressed.

How long had Zhuang Yanyu even been in the Engineering Department? And he was already about to have two projects under his name.

No wonder Supervisor Xu had insisted on transferring him in despite opposition—he truly was on another level.

Someone wanted to get in on the new project and asked, “Xiao Zhuang, what field is the new project related to? Do you need manpower? Think I qualify?”

Their entire floor belonged to the Smart Building Engineering team, all focused on construction-related projects.

They naturally assumed Zhuang Yanyu’s new project was similar.

But Zhuang Yanyu said, “It’s about building a firewall. Do you have experience?”

“Uh… no.”

Wait—that wasn’t the point, was it?

Firewall development wasn’t even under the Smart Building Engineering Department!

Why could someone from the construction division apply for an information security engineering project?

Yet not only had Zhuang Yanyu applied—his project approval moved faster than anyone expected.

Because even before the firewall system was built, it already had fixed buyers.

One of the buyers included Azure Technology itself.

At the project approval meeting, Zhuang Yanyu did only two things.

First, under Wen Chenxi’s instruction, he spent five minutes unlocking all of the company’s internal systems, accessing all data—including materials for projects currently under development.

In truth, he didn’t even need five minutes. Two would have been enough.

But this was A-Xi’s company. To give A-Xi some face, he deliberately slowed down to five minutes.

He thought that was already a fairly normal speed. But when he looked up, the executives all had drastically changed expressions, as if they had seen a ghost.

“…That fast?”

Zhuang Yanyu: “……”

That was fast?

If he’d known, he would have taken ten minutes.

He felt a little aggrieved.

Who would have thought that life was already hard enough—and now he even had to pretend to be stupid?

Playing dumb was really difficult.

The second thing was also at Wen Chenxi’s request.

He introduced how he had tracked down hackers at Ji Zhiyuan’s company and assisted the police in freezing overseas accounts.

Only then did everyone understand why the Ji family had already been waiting to purchase the system before it was even developed. At this point, they wished the firewall could go live immediately.

The project was approved at record speed. Upper management hoped Zhuang Yanyu would start working overtime right away to complete the firewall as soon as possible.

The thought that their developing designs were exposed to top-tier hackers made them deeply uneasy.

But making Zhuang Yanyu work overtime?

That was impossible.

When he joined the Engineering Department, one of his conditions was no overtime.

Upper management had personally agreed to it, so there was nothing anyone could do.

Of course, there were inevitably some jealous employees who complained to the Engineering Department manager about this “unfair treatment.”

The manager had only one response:

“If you have his skills, I’ll let you work one day and rest one day, pay you the same salary, and even give you paid leave—as long as you finish the project.”

The complainer left in defeat.

After all, if he really had that level of skill, he wouldn’t need to be jealous.

Although Zhuang Yanyu didn’t work overtime, he didn’t make people wait long either.

In fact, he finished writing the system in less than a week.

But this time he had learned his lesson. He deliberately dragged it out for more than twenty days before submitting it.

Just to make himself look a little more “normal.”

However, in everyone else’s eyes, launching a brand-new system in just over twenty days was still something almost inhuman.

After all, during that time there had to be various rounds of testing and adjustments to determine whether a system was truly viable.

For now, the system wasn’t being sold externally, meaning it wouldn’t go live on any platforms. Only Azure Technology would use it internally. Later, it would be sold to the Ji Group.

On the day the system was switched over, Zhou Quan and Qin Yiyuan had just returned from nearly a month-long business trip to H City.

Having not seen Zhuang Yanyu for almost a month—and now hearing about his impressive achievements—Zhou Quan started clamoring for him to treat them to dinner.

They hadn’t even decided where to eat yet when Zhou Quan, scrolling on his phone, suddenly blurted out, “Holy crap!”

He said angrily, “Brother Zhuang! We’re screwed! Something happened!”

It was almost quitting time, and Zhuang Yanyu didn’t have anything urgent to do, so he asked, “What happened?”

Zhou Quan fumed, “Some idiot posted about you on a major hacker forum! The guy said you once boasted that no one could break your firewall. Now more than ten hackers have signed up to attack our company’s system! And the number keeps growing!”

Zhuang Yanyu looked puzzled. “There’s a forum like that?”

Qin Yiyuan nodded. “Yes. It’s not open to the public. But for people with real technical skills, even if it’s closed, they can find a way in.”

Zhou Quan wasn’t part of the forum, but in the company group chat, several people had already shared screenshots—forwarded from another department.

Zhuang Yanyu took the phone and looked at it.

The screenshot showed a post titled:

“There’s a little cutie who says no one can break the firewall he built. Big shots, what do you think?”

The title alone didn’t seem like much, but the original post was dripping with sarcasm.

If this “little cutie” is actually some big shot’s alt account, then pretend I didn’t say anything, okay? I’m just genuinely curious. This system went from development to launch in less than a month… Not to be rude, but was this system even properly tested? Is it really effective? Azure Technology is such a big company—yet they swapped systems just like that. It’s honestly baffling.

I remember Azure has quite a few big names from our forum, so I asked around among the experts I know. Guess what? Not a single one of them participated in the project! That means this system was entirely created by someone completely unknown…

And apparently this person even bragged that no one could break his system. Of course, again—if this “little cutie” is just a forum big shot in disguise, then ignore everything I said!

Reply 1: Wow! That’s some bold talk! Could it be KKK?

Reply 2: Impossible. 3K is working for a classified government unit right now (shh).

Reply 3: If not 3K, then it must be HER. Other than those two, I don’t buy it!

Reply 4: Less than a month? That insane? I have to go see this!

Reply 5: Count me in. I want to see what’s so amazing about something built in under a month.

Reply 6: That confidence is wild. Even 3K never dared to say no one could break his system, right?

…

With someone setting the tone, the entire thread’s momentum snowballed. It quickly became a trending post.

At first, everyone suspected that this “little cutie” might be a big-name expert using an alternate account.

But over a hundred replies later, both KKK and HER personally appeared, stating that they had not participated.

The thread instantly exploded.

On that forum, the two universally acknowledged top experts were KKK and HER.

Their legends and records were still pinned as hot posts, unbeaten to this day.

And both of them had since been recruited by classified national units.

Once it was confirmed that this wasn’t an alt account from a top expert, people on the forum began questioning whether Azure Technology had lost its mind—actually replacing its system like this!

Reply 666: Whether the system works or not, we’ll know if we try it. (Note: try, not invade.) —KKK

After leaving that sentence, KKK disappeared.

Immediately, a crowd gathered in the thread, all replying that they were going to “try out” Azure Technology’s new system.

The post was soon forwarded into Azure Technology’s internal group chats.

Quite a few employees were forum users themselves. Seeing so many “hackers” preparing to collectively test their company’s system left them with very complicated feelings.

“Over ninety people have signed up already! Holy crap, this is massive. I’m scared, brothers!”

“Is our system actually solid?! I heard even 3K is going to test it!”

“If the system can’t handle it, are we going to be humiliated?”

“Of course we will! This is Azure Technology!”

“Why are you all still standing around? Prepare immediately! Who’s the system lead? Where’s the detailed program data?”

“The lead isn’t from our department. I think it’s from Smart Building Engineering.”

“……”

“…………”

“………………”

Zhuang Yanyu hadn’t even finished reading the chat log when his phone rang.

The urgent ringtone was almost like a summons, displaying the caller’s anxiety.

He answered.

The person on the other end was a stranger, but clearly too impatient to introduce themselves. They jumped straight to the point about the forum: “They’ve already started. We’re preparing manual defenses, but you—”

Zhuang Yanyu interrupted before they could finish: “No need for manual defenses.”

There was a pause. “What?”

“The system will defend itself. They won’t get in.”

“…You’re not joking, are you?”

“I’m serious.”

“….”

The person on the line was momentarily speechless, unsure where Zhuang Yanyu’s confidence came from, and even more unsure how to respond.

Zhuang Yanyu simply said, “Just watch the backend. Everyone who tries will leave traces.”

He added that he was about to leave for a dinner with colleagues and hung up.

After hanging up, he turned to Zhou Quan and Qin Yiyuan. “Have you decided where we’re going for dinner?”

Neither of them answered. They just stared at him, eyes wide, mouths agape.

Zhuang Yanyu frowned. “Is there something on my face?”

Qin Yiyuan shook his head. “…No.”

Zhou Quan picked his chin up off the floor. “No, Brother Zhuang… can you really leave now? You’re not going to watch? So many people are attacking our company’s system, this…”

That forum was packed with the top hackers from across the country!

Zhuang Yanyu nodded calmly. “It’s fine. Shall we go?”

Zhou Quan: “Oh… oh, let’s go then…”

They both glanced at Qin Yiyuan.

Qin Yiyuan: “Let’s go.”

He pressed down hard on his heart, willing himself not to move. The “heavenly crush” can’t move!

But… how could someone be so powerful?

His taste is just too good!

Someone like this, so naturally competent without showing off—it’s impossible not to be captivated.

Meanwhile, over in Information Security Engineering…

As the backbone of the department, the moment he hung up, several technicians immediately asked, “Yu Ge, how is it? What about Zhuang Yanyu?”

Yu Ge paused before replying, “He’s off work.”

“What? Off work?!”

“At this time, he actually left work?”

“What’s he doing off work? Doesn’t he know what’s happening?”

“He knows,” Yu Ge said. “He said he’s going to dinner with colleagues.”

Everyone was speechless. “….”

Yu Ge then had an idea. He directed a technician to open the firewall backend.

Almost as if to verify Zhuang Yanyu’s claim, the backend opened, revealing rows and rows of IP addresses.

And these IP addresses were constantly flashing, almost every few seconds a new one popped up—some new, some repeats.

The technician gasped. “This is…”

Yu Ge said in a low voice, “The IPs trying to attack our system.”

“Holy sh—!”

And it was even being tracked and recorded?

Without looking closely, the repeated IPs were obviously failures—people who tried once, didn’t give up, and tried again.

Among them, a technician named Xiao Liao quietly picked up the thank-you letter the police had sent him.

“You don’t understand anything. Zhuang Yanyu was once just an online repairman!”

A few minutes later…

The mysterious hacker forum posted a new thread.

“My front gate is always open, accommodating heaven and earth—”

Original post:

I strongly advise everyone to stop testing Azure Technology’s firewall. As an employee, I have to tell you… your doors are wide open QAQ.

[Images][Images][Images]

The images were all IP addresses, blurred for privacy.

For a moment, everyone who was preparing to test—or was already testing—froze, hands trembling.

Who the hell called this big-shot a “little cutie”!

This “little cutie” hadn’t even fought and had already become a legend. Everyone was now guessing who he could be.

Azure Technology’s employees, of course, knew—after all, Zhuang Yanyu had never tried to hide anything.

But most people tacitly kept quiet.

Some wanted to speak, but dared not.

They were certain that anyone leaving a trace about this “little cutie” online would soon have the “little cutie” show up in person for a “chat.”

No one dared provoke a technical genius.

Of course, someone determined to dig for information could still find bits and pieces.

In truth, this was something even Wen Chenxi hadn’t anticipated. He had only wanted to swap out the system.

After learning what happened, Wen Chenxi felt uneasy. It was too conspicuous, and he worried that Zhuang Yanyu might become a target.

Even though he had been sending bodyguards to protect Zhuang Yanyu secretly, he still couldn’t fully relax.

It wasn’t until evening, when Zhuang Yanyu returned home, that Wen Chenxi finally felt slightly at ease.

When Zhuang Yanyu opened the door, he saw Wen Chenxi standing behind it and froze. “Ah Xi, going out?”

Wen Chenxi shook his head. “Not going out. The bodyguard said since you’re back, just wait here.”

He smiled, opening his arms toward Zhuang Yanyu. “Welcome home, little cutie.”

Zhuang Yanyu was about to step forward to hug him, but hearing the words “little cutie” made him stop immediately, frown, and glare: “I’m not a little cutie.”

Wen Chenxi: “Hmm, big cutie.”

Zhuang Yanyu: “….”

Wen Chenxi: “Do you realize your name is about to become a legend in the circle?”

Zhuang Yanyu: “That exaggerated?”

“Not exaggerated at all.” Wen Chenxi looked amused, walked over, picked him up, and sat down with him on the living room sofa, sighing: “How is my Yuyu so amazing? I’m really afraid I can’t hold on to you.”

Zhuang Yanyu comforted him: “You don’t have to hold on. I’m not going anywhere.”

Wen Chenxi looked at him deeply: “I’m not worried about other companies poaching you. I’m worried about…”

Zhuang Yanyu: “Worried about what?”

Wen Chenxi sighed: “Worried about the higher-ups poaching you.”

Their company had already lost one talent that way.

The legendary KKK had once been nurtured by him, only to be handed over to the state.

Of course, there were benefits—because of it, they gained face with the higher-ups and secured several military-civilian cooperation projects.

But it still hurt a little.

Now, thinking of Yuyu, Wen Chenxi felt a twinge of worry, always fearing that his boyfriend might be “taken away by the state.”

Zhuang Yanyu didn’t quite understand: “Higher-ups?”

Wen Chenxi didn’t answer—he just lowered his head and kissed him.

Caught off guard, Zhuang Yanyu’s hands went to his chest, mumbling: “I smell like hotpot all over.”

Wen Chenxi pressed closer, smiling: “Mm, and in your mouth too.”

Zhuang Yanyu’s breathing quickened. “I want to shower first.”

Wen Chenxi whispered: “Together?”

Zhuang Yanyu had initially wanted to refuse, but thought better of it and nodded: “Okay.”

Wen Chenxi lifted him up again and headed upstairs.

Zhuang Yanyu added: “I think I’ve learned enough. Tonight, I’ll handle it.”

Wen Chenxi froze, almost dropping the “fish” in his arms: “…You’ll do it?”

Author’s Note:

PS—

The fish is ready to strike: I’ve learned enough! Except for time, I think I can do it!

Wen Chenxi: TAT, honey, are you serious?

(In this context, the firewall test isn’t a real hack—it’s more like an external technical challenge. It’s not ethical, but not illegal, though participants might get warnings. Don’t try this in real life!)

Feel free to buy me a coffee/show your support on ko-fi! Thank you ❤