Chapter 348 - Don’t go and provoke him

In the eyes of all the Computing and IT department's engineers, Xiao Luo was a highly regarded IT expert, and they honored him as a respected teacher. They were undeniably impressed with the "Sixty-four offensive and defensive Program" developed by Xiao Luo and were very interested to understand more about it. The application was highly advanced and capable passively interrogating and studying patterns of intrusive malicious programs, and replicating its codes before redirecting the malware back to its source location.

The engineers had countless questions for Xiao Luo about the architecture and programming protocol for the "Sixty-four offensive and defensive Program," which he patiently explained in full detail. Xiao Luo's program utilized every aspect of his computer knowledge, and the information he provided the engineers were so meticulous that it was as good as giving them a textbook. It would undoubtedly help them understand his program, innovate, and apply it in myriad ways.

Watching Zhou Yuhang and his colleagues enthusiastically posing questions and taking notes, Gu Zhanguo and Dongfang Shuoyu shared a sense of satisfaction with how things had turned out. They were in a jovial mood when they left the premises.

…

What had initially been planned as a brief introduction of "Mie" to the IT department, turned out to be a full-blown programming workshop, and it lasted almost two hours. Xiao Luo was unstinting in providing information and guided the engineers on the various applications of his program. On their part, the engineers were eager students, and they tested and analyzed the program thoroughly. They quickly realized that the coding was more complicated than expected, consisting of layers of inter-dependent sub-programs, which replicated the complexities of the Five Elements and Eight Trigrams. Hence, the deeper they delved, the more convoluted the structure seemed. This only served to spur the engineers on to the point they were obsessed with mastering the many facets of the program.

"I'm assuming this part of the code analyzes and rewrites the codes? But if that is so, then what about this portion of the code… what is it used for?" an engineer inquired.

"No, no, that's not it… it's this portion of the code that's used for that purpose," another engineer said.

"I'm afraid you're both wrong. These sets of codes here are the ones that perform the primary function, they act like the mastermind, and it's the core of this entire program, without which the program will not function," Xiao Luo explained.

"But, how can the core be there, isn't this set right here?" another person asked.

There were a vast number of combinations that could be derived from the 64 sub-programs, and understandably, none of the engineers could comprehend the program in its entirety. Based on the different insights that each engineer had gathered, they were collectively able to re-construct an independent, active defense program. But, even so, it only encapsulated a tiny portion of Xiao Luo's design.

"Mr. Xiao Luo, thank you for the support and your hard work!"

Ji Siying walked over with a glass of water.

"Oh, thank you, I needed this."

Xiao Luo nodded his head politely as he took the glass of water from Ji Siying. It was a welcome drink after the long exhaustive session of continuous explanations to the IT staff. After quenching his thirst, he looked around and asked, "Where did Director Gu, and Director Dongfang go?"

"They've already informed me to bring you to them as soon as you're done with the work here," Ji Siying said with a smile on her face.

Xiao Luo couldn't help noticing her enchanting smile, and every slight expression she gave made his heart skip a beat.

Xiao Luo finished the glass of water and stretched his muscles as he looked at the group of engineers pouring over his "Sixty-four offensive and defensive Program." Raising his eyebrows, he chuckled and said, "Then let's go, I think we're done here."

"Yes, okay."

Ji Siying replied with a nod of her head.

…

"Siying!"

As soon as they stepped out of the Tech Building, a man with a buzzcut called out to Ji Siying. He held on to a bouquet of roses and started running toward them with a broad smile on his face. He looked muscular and robust, and his movements exuded a vigor that came from regular training and exercise. However, compared to his well-built body, he had a disproportionate head and an ashen face. He had dark bags under his sunken eyes, and honestly, if one just looked at his face, he appeared like a sickly man stricken with an incurable disease. He was breathing rapidly; presumably, it was because of the excitement of seeing Ji Siying.

"Ren Maohua?"

Ji Siying muttered under her breath, and a look of disgust washed over her pretty face.

Ren Maohua walked up to Ji Siying and dramatically handed her the bouquet of flowers. "Siying, this is for you," he said, suddenly getting down on one knee, "be my girlfriend!"

Ji Siying took a quick glance at Xiao Luo, then shook her head without hesitation, instantly rejecting his proposal. "The flowers you have here are lovely, but they aren't suitable for me. I think it'd be better if you gave it to another girl."

"Siying, don't tell me you do not understand my feelings? The first time I saw you, it was love at first sight for me. Your smile, your beauty, your everything… they're all deeply imprinted in my mind, and my love for you is beyond words. Please accept me, I'll take care of you for the rest of my life," Ren Maohua confessed, overcome with deep emotions.

Standing beside Ji Siying, Xiao Luo felt a little awkward as he watched the man profoundly expressing his love to her, right in front of him. He did the only decent thing he could think of; he coughed dryly and said, "Well… Miss Ji, I will wait for you up ahead."

Xiao Luo then hurriedly walked ahead. It was all a little too much for him, and he was glad to be out of the way.

Ji Siying was getting exasperated and furrowed her brows as she said, "Mr. Ren, I've already made it really clear that I don't like you. Stop wasting your time on me!"

Without waiting for Ren Maohua's reply, she walked past him and caught up with Xiao Luo. She glimpsed to catch Xiao Luo's expression from the corner of her eye, afraid that he would misunderstand the relationship between her and Ren Maohua.

It was said that suitors could recognize their rivals at a glance, which was precisely the case with Ren Maohua. When he noticed Xiao Luo and Ji Siying walking closely together, he squinted his eyes and immediately set off on a brisk walk after them. In no time at all, he was right in front of Xiao Luo, blocking the way.

He pointed the bouquet of roses at Xiao Luo, as he looked at Ji Siying and asked: "Who is he?"

"Mr. Ren, you don't have to know who he is, please make way."

Ji Siying's tone was cold. As a liaison, although her level was only Grade C, in many circumstances, she had a higher status than a field agent, especially one who did not adhere to the rules.

"If you are not going to tell me, then I'll ask him myself!"

Ren Maohua was brusque, he stared at Xiao Luo and snarled, "I'll give you to the count of three to tell me your name and your warrior level. Otherwise, I'm going to make you kneel on the ground and sing the national anthem until I'm satisfied. Out with it!"

Ren Maohua allowed his emotions to get the better of him and had overstepped his authority.

"Ren Maohua let me remind you, you're not going to like it in the little black house!" Ji Siying warned.

"Siying, if you're willing to go to the little black house with me, then I'd willingly stay there for the rest of my life. Even our child could be conceived there," Ren Maohua sneered.

"You…!"

Ji Siying's face turned red, she felt absolutely disgusted with what he had just said and found his behavior unacceptable. Ji Siying did not have the slightest interest in Ren Maohua, who was now getting on her nerve.

Ren Maohua glared at Xiao Luo, his face inches away, and the smile left his face as he started the countdown down. "One!"

Xiao Luo wiped off the droplets of saliva that Ren Maohua had copiously deposited on his face and said, "It is your right to chase any girl you want, but picking on someone else to make yourself look good is overdoing it."

"Am I overdoing it? Well, that's just the way I like it, so, what are you going to do about it?"

Ren Maohua laughed maniacally. "Two!"

Xiao Luo shook his head and continued to walk past Ren Maohua, unwilling to stoop to his level.

"Ren Maohua, I'm warning you not to provoke him. Even if you're a grade-A soldier, don't provoke him, I'm warning you for your own good," Ji Siying said.

Ji Siying walked away from Ren Maohua to go after Xiao Luo. She had seen Xiao Luo in a rage with her own eyes, and once provoked, he took no prisoners. She could still remember the screams from the head of the Cobra Mercenary Corps that fateful night. This man was a beast!

However, Ren Maohua made light of her warning. He would not be made to lose face in front of the girl he fancied… "Three!"

…