With a creak, a truck loaded with old computers stopped behind the Ford sedan. Zhang Chunjiang jumped out of the truck, followed by Xiao Qian. It turned out they had finished loading the goods.
Seeing that Zhao Qiang was covered in dust, Zhang Chunjiang realized that while the three-proof shirt could protect against fire, electricity, and water, it couldn't keep out dust. The iron rod that hit Zhao Qiang didn't cause pain but left rust marks. In Zhang Chunjiang's eyes, this scene made him think that Zhao Qiang had been beaten countless times. He chuckled smugly, "Zhao Qiang, how does it feel?"
Zhao Qiang was still savoring the effects of the pair of soft, fleshy mounds on his back when he casually replied, "Not bad."
Xiao Qian laughed: "Zhang Chunjiang, your colleague is quite interesting. Looks like he hasn't had enough of being beaten up."
Luo Xiaowei's face was flushed with anger: "Did you bring those people just now?"
Xiao Qian laughed even harder, "You guessed right, beautiful lady. This guy surnamed Zhao is completely incapable of protecting you. How about becoming my secretary? Don't worry about the salary. As long as I'm happy, I can give you four thousand a month without any problem."
Luo Xiaowei snorted: "Which company do you work for? You're so powerful."
Thinking Luo Xiaowei was interested, Xiao Qian quickly said, "Xinhua Computer Company, the most powerful IT company in Donghai City. My name is Qian Duole, which means 'I'm very happy to have a lot of money.' What's your name, beautiful lady?"
Luo Xiaowei turned around, opened the car door, and said as she got in, "You don't need to know. I just need to know who you are."
Zhao Qiang stared longingly at the old computer on the truck, and Luo Xiaowei called out to him, "Let's go, Zhao Qiang."
Zhao Qiang reluctantly got into the car. The stones had already been moved, and the Ford sedan sped away. Qian Duole smacked his lips and said, "That girl is not bad. Zhang Chunjiang, where is she from? Is she Zhao Qiang's classmate?"
Zhang Chunjiang didn't recognize Luo Xiaowei as the beautiful woman who had asked him to conduct research before. That time, Luo Xiaowei was wearing makeup and glasses, and had the image of a mature white-collar woman. But this time, she had a stronger student vibe. Zhang Chunjiang said, "It should be. You know Zhao Qiang hasn't been working at Home Inns Computer Company for very long, so I don't know much about him."
Qian Duole said, "How come that kid doesn't seem to have been hurt at all? What happened? Did your men not work hard enough? I gave him two thousand yuan, don't try to cheat me out of my money."
Zhang Chunjiang quickly explained, "I wouldn't dare to ask for less money. I saw that Zhao Qiang was covered in mud and dust, so he must have been tortured. I'll call and ask right away."
The call connected, but was disconnected after less than ten seconds. Qian Duole asked, "What's going on? Did they call or not?"
Zhang Chunjiang looked a little embarrassed: "They said they hadn't eaten breakfast and were drinking soy milk, and asked me not to disturb them."
Qian Duole cursed, "Damn it, you took my money to buy soy milk, Zhang Chunjiang, what a mess you've made!"
Zhang Chunjiang wanted to retort, "But the dust on Zhao Qiang's clothes..."
Qian Duole said, "You idiot, it couldn't have been him and that pretty girl messing around on the ground that got there. Give me back my two thousand yuan!"
Zhang Chunjiang looked embarrassed: "Qian is short, and once the money is given to them, it can't be taken back. Why don't we wait until they finish eating before we go after Zhao Qiang?"
Qian Duole opened the car door and got in: "Then you stay here and wait for them to finish eating!"
As Luo Xiaowei drove, she asked Zhao Qiang, "Do you really want those old computers?"
Zhao Qiang glanced at Luo Xiaowei's thighs, remarking on their length and shapely shape. "Junior Sister Luo, are your legs alright while driving?"
Luo Xiaowei chuckled: "Are you afraid I'll lose control of the brakes and kill you? Don't worry, I told you I didn't sprain my ankle, I'm all better now. But you're really strong and have amazing stamina. You carried me for so long and still had the energy to fight them. I really admire you."
Luo Xiaowei blushed as she spoke, probably thinking about how Zhao Qiang had touched her buttocks behind her back. Zhao Qiang was also distracted. He had no intention of pursuing Luo Xiaowei or Xu Xiaoya, but if a man didn't react when a girl and a boy were intimate, then he wouldn't be a man.
The atmosphere in the car was slightly awkward, so Luo Xiaowei quickly continued the topic of the old computers: "I know the power bureau has a batch of old computers to dispose of. You can go and talk to them."
Zhao Qiang said, "Junior sister, don't tease me. What kind of organization is the power bureau? Would they leave their computer for me?"
Luo Xiaowei said, "How will you know if it will work if you don't try? Just try your luck."
Zhao Qiang shook his shirt, "But my clothes are too worn out, and I also need to optimize your computer. Let's talk about it later."
Luo Xiaowei chuckled sweetly, "What are you afraid of? Are you afraid of losing your status as Boss Zhao?"
Zhao Qiang retorted defiantly, "What status do I have? At worst, I'll just get kicked out."
Luo Xiaowei continued driving for less than two minutes when she suddenly realized, "Oh dear, I forgot, it's Saturday, the power company is closed. Looks like I really need to optimize my computer first."
Volume 1 [065] At Luo Xiaowei's House
Luo Xiaowei was also a local of Donghai City. She lived in an ordinary neighborhood. When Zhao Qiang arrived, no one was home. Luo Xiaowei found a pair of men's slippers for Zhao Qiang to change into. It was an ordinary three-bedroom apartment, but the atmosphere was very warm and cozy. Every piece of decoration showed the owner's high taste in life.
Luo Xiaowei pointed to the bedroom: "The computer is over there. I'm going to change my clothes and make lunch in a bit."
Zhao Qiang was a little reserved on his first visit: "Don't go to so much trouble, it will be optimized in half an hour, I can just go back to the company to eat."
Luo Xiaowei chuckled: "Are you worried that your class monitor won't let you come out for dinner? She's not here today either. You're not refusing me anymore. You helped me optimize my computer and carried me all that way. I should at least show my appreciation. Besides, I had dinner at your house last time. I should at least repay you this time."
"Our class monitor? She can't control me anyway. Okay, then stay and try your cooking." Zhao Qiang checked the time. After finishing the optimization, he really didn't have time to go back for dinner. Junior Sister Luo was so enthusiastic, and it wasn't that he didn't like staying at her house, so having a meal wouldn't hurt.
The bedroom was decorated in a light pink color scheme, and a fresh scent filled the air. There was a large plush toy on the bed with big, dark eyes that looked a bit like Luo Xiaowei. This was Zhao Qiang's first time entering a girl's bedroom, not counting the one at Shunfeng Technology Company.
A 19-inch LCD screen, marked with a Dell brand logo, was displayed. Zhao Qiang didn't dare to look too closely at the things in the bedroom, afraid of seeing something he shouldn't. He lowered his head, turned on the computer, and watched intently as the system entered the desktop, then inserted a USB drive to begin optimization. It was an incredibly simple process: enter the password and press the start button.
"Here, have a glass of water." Luo Xiaowei, who had changed into a casual T-shirt, brought in a glass of hot water.
Zhao Qiang waved his hand: "I'm not thirsty."
Luo Xiaowei said, "You ran that far, how could you not be thirsty? Don't be so polite with me."
Zhao Qiang could only take the cup and take a small sip. It tasted quite fragrant, not from the water, but from the rim of the cup, where Luo Xiaowei's fingers had just touched.
"What do you like to eat?" Luo Xiaowei asked.
Zhao Qiang said, "Whatever, I'm not a picky eater."
Luo Xiaowei said, "Okay, I'll cook the rice first, and then I'll stir-fry a couple of dishes. But my cooking skills are just so-so, so you're not allowed to laugh at me."
Zhao Qiang said with a self-deprecating smile, "I'm already envious and happy that you can cook rice and dishes. I usually just buy steamed buns or cook instant noodles."
Luo Xiaowei asked in surprise, "Oh, what about Xu Xiaoya? Doesn't she cook?"
Zhao Qiang's tone was slightly disdainful: "Her? Sometimes she even steals my instant noodles."
Luo Xiaowei covered her mouth and chuckled, "Your class monitor is quite cute. Of course, that word isn't quite right to describe Senior Sister Xu, but sometimes she really is like a little kid. For example, she chased you to your house for the midterm exam score..." Luo Xiaowei suddenly stopped because she realized that she herself had also run to Zhao Qiang's house. She had always thought she was very mature, but in reality, she was just a child.
"By the way, how's your cousin's preparation going?" Zhao Qiang changed the subject.
Luo Xiaowei said, "It's almost done. Sales should start on Monday. The promotional work started two days ago, and so far it's going quite well. But don't have too high expectations. My cousin said that because the price is a bit high, the first sales won't be very successful. Sales will only peak when people gradually realize the power of this optimization software."
"Hehe, it's nothing, I was just asking casually." Zhao Qiang had already set up the repair company and stocked up on all the goods, so his need for funds wasn't that high. He just wanted to raise some cash to use for buying old computers.
"I'll go cook." Luo Xiaowei turned and left the bedroom. Zhao Qiang stood up and followed. "I'll help you. Just let the system optimize itself."
Luo Xiaowei didn't refuse: "Okay, you help me wash the green peppers and celery, and I'll rinse the rice."
After washing the green peppers, they need to be broken into pieces by hand. The celery leaves need to be removed before washing. Zhao Qiang was breaking the green peppers while talking to Luo Xiaowei. The harmonious atmosphere had a faint warmth. Unlike Xu Xiaoya's fiery temper, Luo Xiaowei made you feel more calm and peaceful. Even when she chased after Zhao Qiang to his house, her attitude was completely different from Xu Xiaoya's.
"I have to thank you for my cousin's matter."
Zhao Qiang dared not take credit: "No need to thank me, it's a win-win situation. My friend entrusted me with the management of the software, but I didn't have the ability to operate it. Your cousin's appearance actually helped me. I should thank you for being the matchmaker."
Luo Xiaowei started cooking rice and began picking celery with Zhao Qiang. "Hehe, I remember you didn't admit to being 'Dark Night Legend' at first, which made me investigate behind your back. Don't be angry." Luo Xiaowei was giving him a heads-up, afraid that Wang Yidong would eventually reveal that she had bought the surveillance video.
Zhao Qiang shook his head: "No, everyone has curiosity, but I'm not really that ID in the true sense, so even now I won't admit it, because I know my own limitations." In fact, Zhao Qiang already knew that Luo Xiaowei had bought the surveillance video from Wang Yi. He had long forgotten about Luo Xiaowei's attempt to seduce him with her beauty to make him admit that he was 'Dark Night Legend'. A grown man like him wasn't that petty.
After breaking the green peppers, Luo Xiaowei took the meat out of the refrigerator and cut it into shreds. Then she turned on the stove, added oil, and heated it up. Zhao Qiang was chopping and washing the celery. Luo Xiaowei scooped the shredded meat into the pan. Whoosh! A burst of steam sprayed up and was quickly sucked away by the range hood. Hearing the sizzling sound of the stir-fry was like a perfect kitchen concerto.
"My cousin is a bit ambitious and always wants to make a name for herself. Later, I don't know what got into her, but she chose to build a website and even planned to become a hacker. However, she has no reputation in the industry at all. Although the website is backed by a strong team, few people pay attention to it. Ever since you posted that scan screenshot, my cousin thinks her time to rise has come, so she asked me to contact you. Now she has super optimization software, and since the promotion started two days ago, the website traffic has increased dramatically, and its popularity in China has skyrocketed. She's overjoyed and keeps asking me to find an opportunity to express my gratitude to you."
Zhao Qiang laughed and said, "No need for that. Taking 80% of the profits is already taking advantage of your cousin."
Luo Xiaowei chuckled: "Senior Brother Zhao, you're such a kind person. Actually, Senior Sister Xu was right during the negotiations. Even if my cousin had to pay you extra, it would be justified. Because no matter how well the software sells, her website will become famous throughout the industry after the Super Optimization Software goes live. Its intangible value will increase by tens or even hundreds of times, and the advertising revenue it brings will be immeasurable. Her total investment in the website was no more than five million, but it is estimated that in the two days of promoting the Super Optimization Software, the website's value has already reached fifteen million. On the day the software goes live, it will double again, exceeding thirty million. And when people realize the powerful effects of the Super Optimization Software, the website's intangible value will immediately exceed one hundred million. All of this is because of you!"
Volume 1 [066] Lunch
Zhao Qiang was somewhat surprised. He truly hadn't expected the "idiot-proof" optimization software, which Hu Qian had renamed "Super Optimization Software," to be so powerful. If his hardware hadn't been inadequate, the software should have been able to run on its own. However, this thought only flashed through Zhao Qiang's mind, because he wasn't foolish enough to ignore the industry's doubts. He simply didn't possess the qualifications to develop such software, and he wouldn't be able to explain its origins. But Hu Qian wasn't worried about these issues.
Zhao Qiang appreciated Luo Xiaowei's frankness and joked, "Junior Sister Luo, you've revealed your cousin's business secrets to me. Be careful, she might scold you."
Luo Xiaowei turned down the stove. The green peppers were almost cooked. The next dish was celery stir-fried with mutton. There were mutton slices in the refrigerator. Luo Xiaowei took them out and washed them in warm water. She continued chatting with Zhao Qiang: "No, she owes me a lot of favors now. Okay, senior brother, go sit outside for a while. The food will be ready soon."
Zhao Qiang couldn't help, so he went out of the kitchen to check on the computer that was being optimized. It was finished. He unplugged the USB drive and restarted the system. The Dell brand machine, which already had a high configuration, now had an overall speed increase of 120%. Of course, you wouldn't notice it when opening ordinary files or browsing web pages.
Zhao Qiang dialed up and opened Baidu, searching for the keyword 'super optimization software'. He was unaware of the recent advertisements and now wanted to know just how valuable the software Xiao Wei had given him really was.
"The first security software touted as the terminator of viruses has been released"—this is a boast about an online antivirus version.
The claim that "the era of Microsoft's dominance in operating system platforms has arrived" is a boast about fixing system kernel errors. In reality, the super optimization software only corrects a few system design flaws and cannot replace Microsoft's operating platform at all.
"The spring of the overclocking era has arrived, and the potential of hardware will be fully developed!" This is a boast about software correcting CPU error algorithms. After CPU overclocking, it is easy for algorithm errors to occur and cause crashes. However, an optimized CPU and operating system can improve overclocking performance by many times.
Because the software hasn't been released for sale yet, there's no actual data to test. Many posts are just guesses based on the promotional slogans released by the black website. Zhao Qiang logged onto the black website to check and found a breaking news item: tonight, a testing team of over ten software testing experts will release their results at 8 AM tomorrow. The day after tomorrow at 8 AM, the black website's super optimization software experience platform will launch its trial operation for the first time. At 8 AM sharp, the free download of the standard version will be available; at 10 AM, online antivirus and vulnerability patching will be available; and at 12 PM, registration for the premium member area will open, allowing premium members to use CPU and system kernel error correction functions.
The most valuable piece of news among these is the evaluation of the super optimization software by more than ten software review experts tonight. Putting aside the evaluation results, the size of the evaluation team alone is astonishing. The fact that these expert elites could be invited means two things: first, the black website has a powerful background; second, this software has attracted the attention of experts. Software that can be valued by them can't be bad.
"Senior brother, what are you looking at? Come out and eat." Luo Xiaowei called out as she stood at the bedroom door, wiping her hands.
Zhao Qiang closed the webpage. Whatever, as long as he got paid, that was all that mattered. He also hoped that Hu Qian would keep her promise and not expose him. However, in order to make her website famous, Hu Qian would probably never reveal the true designer of the software, perhaps even fearing that he would step forward and steal the software's authorship.
There were four dishes on the restaurant table: stir-fried shredded pork with green peppers, stir-fried mutton with celery, a plate of canned yellow croaker that was already being heated in the microwave, a bowl of canned pineapple mixed soup, rice, and two bottles of Tsingtao beer.
Luo Xiaowei reached for the beer, but Zhao Qiang refused, saying, "I have work this afternoon, don't drink."
Luo Xiaowei asked to confirm, "Really not going to drink?"
Zhao Qiang checked the time: "Look, it's already past 12:30, and I'm starving."
Luo Xiaowei put down her beer and served Zhao Qiang rice. "Okay, let's eat right away."
Leaving aside the two ready-made dishes, Zhao Qiang's favorite was Luo Xiaowei's stir-fried celery and mutton slices, which were also served with sweet sauce. The taste was really good. He ate three bowls of rice in a row, without any of the restraint one would expect when visiting a female classmate's house for the first time. In fact, this was because Zhao Qiang had a good mindset. He didn't have any feelings for Luo Xiaowei, so there was no need to pretend to be a gentleman. Since it was delicious, he should eat more. It wouldn't be worth it to starve himself.
Luo Xiaowei ate very slowly and carefully. Zhao Qiang had finished three bowls of rice before she had even finished her own. Just then, her phone rang. Luo Xiaowei went to the side to answer the call, and Zhao Qiang could vaguely hear the gist of it.
"Xiao Wei, give me some money." A male voice said in a very forceful tone.
Luo Xiaowei frowned: "Xiaohai, what do you need the money for? Has something happened?"
"Why are you asking so many questions? Just tell me if you have any money."
Luo Xiaowei said, "I have 20,000." She did indeed have 20,000 in her bag; she had originally planned to use it to buy Zhao Qiang an old computer.
"I'm coming to your house right away." *Beep beep*, then the man hung up.
Zhao Qiang had already finished eating, and it was none of his business if someone asked Luo Xiaowei for money. He stood up and said, "Junior Sister Luo, thank you for your hospitality. I think I should go back now. If you have any problems with the computer, feel free to contact me."
Luo Xiaowei nodded and took out her wallet: "Thank you, I'll pay you how much it costs to optimize the system."
Zhao Qiang quickly waved his hand: "No, I'm your senior brother after all, it's only right that I do this. Besides, I even got to eat lunch. I'm not trying to flatter you, but this dish is really well cooked."
Luo Xiaowei smiled happily and didn't insist on giving Zhao Qiang any more money. She could foresee the future sales volume of the super optimization software, and Zhao Qiang had already entered the ranks of those who were not short of money.
Zhao Qiang wanted to take the bus by himself, but Luo Xiaowei was still worried about the man who was supposed to come and collect the money later, so she didn't insist. However, after dropping Zhao Qiang off at the entrance of the residential area, just as the two were about to say goodbye, an Audi A6 sped towards them from a distance. Zhao Qiang was so startled that he quickly moved to the side of the road. The A6 screeched to a halt right next to the curb. Before the car had even come to a complete stop, the door opened, and a young man with a middle parting got out of the driver's seat. He looked to be no more than 23 years old, tall, and very energetic.
"Why are you coming out to greet me? Where's the money?" He looked like the man who had just borrowed money from Luo Xiaowei. "He's quite handsome," Zhao Qiang commented after taking a look. "At least his designer clothes are something I can't compare to."