Chapter 20: The Hacker Whose Reputation Had Become Legendary in the Industry

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Secretary Wang gave a cold laugh, folded her arms, and said disdainfully, “Something important? Hmph. I think you’re just trying to climb the social ladder. I’ve seen plenty of people like you. Do you really think dressing up a little will attract President Shen’s attention? Stop indulging in such fantasies. You’d better face reality and leave while you still can.”

The commotion drew curious glances from the people passing by.

Most of them, however, took only a brief look before continuing on their way. They had long since grown accustomed to scenes like this.

After all, their president was one of Haicheng’s most famous wealthy eligible bachelors.

At only thirty, he had inherited the family business and become president of Dake Group.

He was outstanding in both ability and appearance.

Every day, there were quite a few people who tried to approach President Shen under one pretext or another.

So, to everyone watching, the scene unfolding before them was nothing out of the ordinary.

Song Xixi had never expected to be treated so harshly and felt a headache coming on.

Just as the standoff reached an impasse, the elevator doors suddenly slid open with a chime.

A tall, erect figure stepped out.

It was a man dressed in an impeccably tailored suit, walking with steady yet unhurried strides.

The moment he appeared, the atmosphere seemed to change.

Those who had been whispering or casting curious glances instantly fell silent.

The man lifted his eyes and casually swept his gaze toward the reception desk.

“Good morning, President Shen!”

Greetings rang out one after another.

Hearing them, Song Xixi instinctively turned around, her eyes meeting the man’s.

When she saw that the person before her was Shen Anzhi, the man she had come to find, she froze for a moment.

But soon, a confident and graceful smile blossomed across her face.

With polite composure, she greeted him. “President Shen, hello. I’m Song Xixi. We corresponded previously. I came here today because I wanted to discuss in person the matter we mentioned before.”

Shen Anzhi had initially looked somewhat puzzled. Upon hearing her introduction, he was even more taken aback.

Could this young woman actually be—

Before he could respond, Secretary Wang, who had been standing nearby waiting for a show, hurried over in three quick strides.

Her face was covered in a fawning smile as she bent slightly toward Shen Anzhi and said eagerly, “President Shen, I’m very sorry. This woman came here to cause trouble. I’ll have her removed immediately so she won’t disturb you.”

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As she spoke, she shot Song Xixi a vicious glare.

The smile on Song Xixi’s face faded somewhat.

The employees at Dake Group seemed to be rather lacking in manners.

Remaining composed, she said, “President Shen, you were the one who invited me. If you no longer wish to continue our discussion, I’ll leave.”

Damn it. They had been the ones to invite her so warmly, yet now they were acting as though she were the one making trouble.

Her voice was not loud, but it was clear and steady.

In the oppressive silence, each word landed with unmistakable force.

Her words immediately piqued Shen Anzhi’s curiosity.

He had always been meticulous in his work. It was practically impossible for him to invite someone and then have no recollection of it.

Yet the woman before him did not look as though she were lying. Judging by her expression, she seemed entirely certain of herself.

Could she really be the expert he had personally invited?

After a moment’s thought, he raised a hand slightly toward Song Xixi in a gesture of invitation.

“If that’s the case, Miss Song, please come in. Let’s discuss everything in detail.”

Song Xixi secretly breathed a sigh of relief and gave Shen Anzhi a slight nod.

She then followed him toward the president’s office.

As she passed Secretary Wang, she glanced up almost casually.

Their eyes met for an instant, and there was a faint provocation in her gaze.

Secretary Wang’s expression immediately turned ugly.

She opened her mouth, intending to say something to stop them.

After all, if Song Xixi entered the office with President Shen just like that, then all the boasts she had made to Song Yanyan would—

But just as she was about to speak, Shen Anzhi seemed to sense her intention and cast her a cold glance.

That single look was enough to make Secretary Wang fall silent in terror.

The words at the tip of her tongue were swallowed back down.

All she could do was watch helplessly as Song Xixi followed Shen Anzhi into the office.

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She was furious and anxious, yet powerless to do anything.

The other onlookers nearby did not dare make a sound either.

They all knew President Shen’s temper. Anyone who said another word now would only be asking for trouble.

Everyone stared at the tightly closed office door, secretly speculating.

Just who was this Song Xixi that she could make President Shen personally invite her inside?

Could it be that he really had invited her?

Once inside the office, Shen Anzhi inclined his head slightly and said apologetically, “Miss Song, I’m truly sorry that you were treated unfairly outside. The management here failed to do its job properly. I hope you won’t take it to heart.”

Song Xixi raised an eyebrow and answered frankly, “The experience was certainly terrible. I came here sincerely to discuss business, only to be treated as though I were here to cause trouble. It was completely different from what I expected.”

Shen Anzhi paused, then smiled. “Please don’t be angry, Miss Song. It’s just that recently, quite a few people have been using various pretexts to get close to me or the company’s senior executives, so the staff below have understandably become more vigilant.”

Song Xixi sat down with effortless poise.

Shen Anzhi took the seat opposite her. Folding his hands together, he fixed her with an assessing gaze and said, “Miss Song, I’m very interested in the project we discussed in our correspondence. Before we begin, however, there’s something I’d like to confirm.”

Song Xixi looked at him in confusion. “President Shen, please go ahead.”

There was unmistakable curiosity in Shen Anzhi’s voice. “Our company once encountered an extremely difficult security vulnerability. It was later resolved quietly by a mysterious expert, and people in the industry have been saying that a formidable hacker came to our aid. I’ve always wanted to know—was that expert really you?”

Song Xixi was slightly startled, then laughed and asked in return, “President Shen, do you think I’m an impostor?”

Shen Anzhi gave an awkward smile and shook his head. “It’s because you’re simply too young, which is difficult to believe. Of course, that’s only my assumption. I wanted to confirm it with you.”

The confident smile remained on Song Xixi’s face as she nodded lightly. “President Shen, I understand your doubts. There’s a flash drive here containing some of the work I previously carried out in cooperation with your company. You can have your technology department examine it.”

With that, she handed over the flash drive.

At that, Shen Anzhi had more or less arrived at the answer.

Nevertheless, he accepted it and instructed the chief technology officer to verify its contents.

Song Xixi calmly sipped her tea as she waited.

It did not take long for her identity to be confirmed.

Shen Anzhi’s voice rose several degrees without him realizing it. “It really was you? Miss Song, this is astonishing! I never imagined that the mysterious hacker everyone in the industry speaks of as though she were legendary would turn out to be such a young woman!”