The Smell of Gunpowder

By the time the major antivirus companies were preparing to urgently develop antivirus software, Tang Yi and the others had already uploaded a simple antivirus program to various websites.

The account they used, "Bald Is Stronger," instantly set the entire internet ablaze!

The virus had only just appeared, and even the major antivirus companies had yet to make a move, yet someone had already created an antivirus program for it!

The account "Bald Is Stronger" was immediately dubbed the "World Savior" and "World Living Lei Feng" by internet users.

If they found out that this Living Lei Feng was the very culprit who had made them bleed money and reinstall their computers, who knew whether they would be furious enough to cough up blood.

"Boss, how are you planning to spend this money?" Tang Yi rubbed his hands as he came up behind Tang Shizhe, who was staring at his account.

Tang Er through Tang Jiu, whom he led, all hoped to upgrade their computing equipment as soon as possible. Only then could they make better use of their abilities.

Tang Shizhe did not even raise his head. All his attention was focused on his phone. The string of numbers behind his mobile banking balance made him dizzy. He had never seen so much money in his life. If they had had this much money back then, perhaps his father would not have died!

At that thought, Tang Shizhe's eyes reddened. However, after a moment, he gently shook his head and came back to himself. The past was the past. People had to live in the present.

"This money is obviously meant to be spent. We can give our base a proper renovation. Take five million to renovate the base and purchase equipment. Save the fourteen million for now, and don't touch it." As Tang Shizhe spoke, he casually opened the Autohome app on his phone.

"Then what about the remaining eleven million?" Tang Yi asked curiously.

"Five million of that has another purpose, and six million is the personal income tax we need to pay." Tang Shizhe sighed softly. A twenty percent tax rate really hurt. He would have to learn some accounting when he had the chance and figure out how to legally reduce his taxes.

"Understood." Tang Yi sighed helplessly. They had just gotten thirty million, and after spending it so casually, only fourteen million remained.

Monday morning.

Tang Shizhe was still deep in a pleasant dream when a ringing phone abruptly woke him.

With his dream interrupted, Tang Shizhe answered the call in annoyance, ready to lose his temper. Instead, Yan Yanran's pleasant voice came through the phone.

"Classmate Tang, you promised I could treat you to a meal. You should have time at noon today, right?" Yan Yanran's lovely voice instantly cleared Tang Shizhe's groggy mind.

"Ah, I'm free. Where are we eating? Just send me the address." Tang Shizhe sat up and rubbed the sleep from the corners of his eyes.

"Do you want me to pick you up?" Yan Yanran knew about Tang Shizhe's electric moped. The weather was so cold, and riding in a car would be much more comfortable.

"No need, I can get there myself!" Tang Shizhe shook his head and refused. If he let a girl pick him up, where would his dignity go?

"Alright, I'll text you the address." Yan Yanran did not press the matter and hung up before sending Tang Shizhe the address.

Tang Shizhe leaped from his bed onto the carpet. This was the first time in his life that a girl had invited him out for a meal. He had no idea what she looked like, and there were no photos of her online, but she probably was not ugly, right? After all, people called her the Campus Flower of Science and Engineering.

Wait, what if that was sarcasm? Tang Shizhe suddenly realized that back in high school, ugly girls were often called the class beauty as a joke!

But after thinking it over, she was treating him to a meal anyway. Her looks did not really matter.

After casually digging out two relatively new pieces of clothing and putting them on, Tang Shizhe grabbed his keys and walked out of his two-story house.

Riding his secondhand electric moped through the biting wind, Tang Shizhe wobbled his way to the hotel Yan Yanran had chosen.

At that moment, Yan Yanran's white Porsche had just pulled into a parking space. The attendant directing traffic hurried over and opened the Porsche's door for her.

Tang Shizhe, who was locking his own vehicle nearby, curled his lip. The corruption of capitalism! Of course, he had no idea that the security guard was only being so attentive because he had spotted a beautiful woman.

As the car door opened, a pair of long legs clad in flesh-colored stockings extended from the vehicle.

Tang Shizhe clicked his tongue. Was she not cold wearing only stockings in weather like this? Even with his enhanced physique, he would not dare wear so little.

"Long time no see." Yan Yanran carried her handbag over to Tang Shizhe.

For some reason, Yan Yanran was not wearing sunglasses today. The sight of that face, beautiful enough to topple nations, made Tang Shizhe's heart skip half a beat.

When the security guard saw the stunning beauty who had stepped out of a Porsche walk up to a young man riding a beat-up electric moped, his expression turned as ugly as if he had swallowed a fly.

"I never had a concrete impression of what it meant for a flower to be stuck in a pile of cow dung. Today, I finally saw it." Watching the two walk into the hotel side by side, the guard sighed. Why had no one taken a liking to him? He had an electric moped too.

Feeling inexplicably awkward the whole way, Tang Shizhe followed Yan Yanran into the private room she had booked in advance.

The two sat across from each other at the table.

"Come, have some hot tea and warm yourself up. You must be freezing after riding here, right?" Yan Yanran picked up the teapot and filled both cups, then lifted her own cup and took a small sip.

"Here is the menu, dear guests." A pleasant female voice broke the silence in the room.

An "old acquaintance" walked in carrying a menu.

Tang Shizhe nearly sprayed out the tea he had just swallowed.

The waitress was none other than Yin Qi, the "Shamate Classmate" from his class!

Yin Qi had changed her hairstyle again. Her long hair was coiled up behind her head and firmly secured with two hairpins. Her fitted black work uniform perfectly outlined her graceful figure.

"Why are you working here as a waitress?" Tang Shizhe asked in surprise.

"You know her?" Yan Yanran frowned slightly. She had not expected Tang Shizhe to know this "archenemy" who had mocked her.

"Yeah, we're in the same class." Tang Shizhe nodded.

What Tang Shizhe did not know was that Yin Qi was equally shocked. She had never expected Tang Shizhe to be so close to the goddess of the science and engineering campus that they were even having a meal alone together! She simply could not imagine two people from completely different worlds having any connection at all!

Thinking of Tang Shizhe's long disappearance some time ago, the many computers he had purchased, and now his relationship with Yan Yanran, Yin Qi could not help becoming intensely curious about him.

"Classmate Yin Qi, since you're working, you should put your work first." Yan Yanran gritted her teeth as she spoke to Yin Qi.

"Yes, esteemed guest." Yin Qi narrowed her eyes and smiled at Yan Yanran. Even from so far away, Tang Shizhe could smell the gunpowder in the air!