Binhai Commercial Street.
Chen Mo was being dragged through the bustling street by Xiao Yu and Zhang Xinxin. It was clear who was in charge today.
To avoid being recognized, Chen Mo had changed his usual look—his trademark appearance was gone. He now wore an ordinary coat, a scarf wrapped neatly around his neck, a pair of black-rimmed glasses, and no mask. Unless someone knew him well, they wouldn't connect this man to the founder of the Marching Ant Company.
Today was all about relaxing. They had visited the racetrack, the amusement park, the marine aquarium, even rented a yacht to go out to sea. Now, to wrap up the day, they were out for a little nighttime shopping.
"Brother, when are you finally going to marry Sister-in-law?" Xinxin asked with a grin. She was clearly in high spirits—this had been one of the happiest days she'd had in a while.
"You're not the one getting married. Why are you in such a hurry?" Chen Mo said with a smile.
"Of course I'm in a hurry. I'm waiting for you to have a baby so I can be an aunt!" she teased.
Chen Mo couldn't help but laugh. He reached over and tapped her on the head. "Is a baby a toy for you to play with?"
Realizing she'd exposed herself, Zhang Xinxin stuck out her tongue and rubbed her head where he had knocked her. On the side, Xiao Yu's face turned a soft shade of red, but the warmth of the moment made her smile.
"Sister-in-law, what skincare products do you usually use?" Zhang Xinxin quickly shifted topics.
"Nothing special. Just a hydrating mask once in a while," Xiao Yu replied casually.
"No way! You look even more radiant than before. You're not wearing any makeup, and your skin is still glowing," Xinxin said, leaning closer and examining her face with admiration.
Xiao Yu glanced at Chen Mo. She wanted to mention the effects of the potential-enhancing drug but held back—it was classified. She simply smiled.
"Ohhh, I get it. It's all thanks to my brother," Zhang Xinxin said, giving her a knowing look and a mischievous grin.
Xiao Yu's face turned even redder, slightly embarrassed by the misunderstanding. Thankfully, the noisy street covered up their conversation, and Chen Mo—who was walking ahead—didn't catch a word of it.
"Brother, I'm going to pick out some skincare stuff!" Xinxin said.
"Alright," Chen Mo replied, following them into a nearby cosmetics store.
The rest of the evening passed in a blur of shopping. By the time they were done, Chen Mo was carrying several shopping bags—clothes, shoes, cosmetics, skin care products. Some were for Xinxin, some for Xiao Yu.
Wang Hai and Black Hawk followed behind, each carrying two large boxes filled with snacks, essentially reduced to pack mules for the day. Their bodyguard duties had momentarily turned into baggage-handling assignments.
Since Xinxin started university in Binhai, Chen Mo had barely been able to visit her, let alone spoil her. This birthday outing was a way to make up for it. Xinxin had a bank card from him and could buy whatever she needed, but some gifts meant more when they came directly from her brother.
Once the bags were loaded into the car, the three of them climbed in as well.
"After you get back, make sure to call me or Xiao Yu if anything comes up. If you're free on the weekends, come hang out with us. Go shopping with your sister-in-law, have some fun—but don't stay out too late. And don't turn off your phone. If you see something you like, buy it. Don't save money unnecessarily. And forget dieting, eat what makes you happy…"
"Okay, okay, I get it, Bro!" Xinxin cut him off with a smile. "You're worse than Mom when you nag."
Despite her words, she was clearly touched by his concern.
"Don't think just because you're in college I won't worry. Xiao Yu asked me to keep an eye on you."
"Alright, alright. I'll be good," she promised.
"When you make friends, don't worry about their background. Focus on whether they're kind and sincere. If anyone ever bullies you, or if you run into trouble, call Wang Hai or Bai Zhu—either one of them will come immediately."
"Got it." Xinxin nodded seriously.
After dropping her off at her dormitory, Chen Mo and Xiao Yu returned to the villa. They had invited Xinxin to stay over, but she'd refused—her roommates were planning a surprise birthday celebration for her back at the dorm.
Chen Mo didn't insist. He could give his sister the best life imaginable, but that didn't mean she had to live it his way. She had her own circle and her own pace. Unless she truly needed him, he wouldn't interfere. All he ever wanted was for her to be happy.
—
On the way home, Xiao Yu asked, "Have you always been that fond of her?"
Chen Mo smiled. "When I was a kid, I went out early to earn money, so I didn't see much of her. I remember once, I saw her staring at another kid eating candy. She came over, tugged at my shirt and said, 'Brother, I want candy too.' That was the first time she called me brother. Ever since then, I saved whatever little pocket money I had to buy her treats. She was a total candy hoarder."
—
Meanwhile… across the Pacific.
Office of Science and Technology Policy, United States.
A middle-aged man with an eagle-sharp nose and piercing blue eyes strode briskly into a sleek office building. He carried a briefcase and walked with practiced authority.
His name was Michael Sios, Deputy Chief Technology Officer of the U.S. Office of Science and Technology Policy.
Technically, he held the highest authority in the office right now—because the current president, unconventional as he was, hadn't appointed a chief technology officer in over a year. Michael also served as the President's unofficial tech advisor.
Previously, Michael had sat on Facebook's board of directors and served as the chief of staff at Tell Capital, under billionaire investor Peter Thiel—one of the president's key campaign backers.
Now, Sios was one of the few people responsible for keeping tabs on cutting-edge global technological developments. His job: advise the president and shape policies to maintain America's tech dominance.
The U.S. was still a global tech leader, but China's rapid growth in recent years had them on edge. In several fields, China was catching up—or worse, pulling ahead. The rise of Marching Ant Company in particular had alarmed them.
From AI to robotics, seismographs, and now holographic technology, the Chinese company seemed to be in a league of its own.
The U.S. had already mobilized resources to reverse-engineer their products, but with minimal success. The algorithms, hardware, and encryption were unlike anything their researchers had seen. They couldn't crack it. The frustration was growing.
Sios had just come from a meeting at the presidential office. He now had new orders.
Sitting down at his desk, he picked up the phone.
"Anna, book me a trip to China. I need to visit several high-tech parks—including the Marching Ant Company."
"Yes, Mr. Sios."
After hanging up, Sios opened his laptop and pulled up information on Marching Ant Company.
From obscurity to a global tech unicorn in just over two years. A near-mythical rise.
And at the heart of it all—Chen Mo.
Sios stared at his photo.
"Time to meet the man behind the miracle."