Nobody Messes with the Code Master

Peter patted Jason on the shoulder, and the two of them stepped into the elevator together.

Oliver let out a sigh and pulled me aside into a corner.

"Rex, you were too impulsive. You offended Peter—there's nothing I can do to protect you now."

I shook my head with a bitter smile.

"Oliver, you know that project was mine. Why didn't you stand up for me?"

He glanced around and lowered his voice. "This is reality. You have to accept it. How about this—I'll give you some compensation privately. Just stop making trouble, all right?"

A wave of nausea rose in my chest.

"No need, Oliver. I understand now. In this place, skill is worthless. Connections are the real currency."

That night, I met a few friends from the tech circle for drinks and poured out everything that had happened.

"This kind of thing is everywhere," one of them said. "Same at our company. The well-connected get high pay for doing nothing, while we tech guys work ourselves to death and get treated like tools."

Another friend raised his glass. "That's the IT industry. Rank crushes people. Just endure it, man."

I drained my drink in one gulp. "So that's it? My year of work just gets handed over for free?"

They exchanged looks. Finally, one of them patted my shoulder. "Why don't you find a connection of your own? It's job-hopping season. I can help refer you."

The next day, a message popped up in the company group chat: [Tonight at seven, celebrating my Technology Innovation Award. All tech department staff are invited to dinner. @Everyone]

Another message followed immediately: [@Rex (outsourced) isn't invited. Trash like you isn't on our level. Don't embarrass yourself.]

I stared at my phone screen, my fingers trembling.

At the afternoon project meeting, Jason sat in the main seat, looking smug.

"Next, work assignments. Rex will handle basic code cleanup and documentation."

I looked up, hardly believing my ears.

"Jason, documentation isn't my responsibility. I handle core algorithm development."

Jason let out a cold laugh.

"I'm the project lead now. You do whatever I tell you. Outsourced workers do the dirty, exhausting work. Got a problem? Not happy? Then get out."

The meeting room fell silent. Everyone kept their heads down.

I took a deep breath and stood up.

"In that case, I'd like you to explain the latest code you submitted, so everyone can learn from it."

As I spoke, I projected the code Jason had submitted the day before. It was riddled with errors—so bad it couldn't even pass basic syntax checks.

"This is the level of our Technology Innovation Award winner. He can't even write a simple loop correctly, yet he's the project lead."

An uproar broke out in the room. Someone couldn't help laughing.

Jason's face flushed red. He jumped up and slammed the table.

"Rex! I'm telling you, you're finished! Today, I'll have the company terminate your outsourcing contract!"

I looked at him calmly. "Do whatever you want. You already took my code and my algorithms. I have nothing left to lose."

He trembled with rage. "You think this is over? I'll make sure you can't survive in the entire IT industry! My uncle knows executives at every major company!"

I smiled faintly and turned to leave the conference room.

Back at my desk, I opened my computer and logged into the company intranet, my heart pounding so hard it felt like it might burst out of my chest.

The flaw I had discovered by accident last night was enough to bring the entire system down within three days. All data would be completely lost—irretrievable.

My fingers hovered over the keyboard, hesitating for a single second.

Should I do anything about it?

In that instant, countless images flashed through my mind: a year of overtime and sleepless nights, my stolen achievements, Jason's arrogant face, and my father's disappointed gaze before he died…

I took a deep breath and finally made my decision.