The Binhai Grand Theatre was packed.
From the street to the front rows, a flood of people had gathered, their attention locked on the biggest product launch in Marching Ant Company's history.
The scale of the event was unprecedented.
It wasn't just another tech launch—it felt more like a concert for a global superstar. Every major domestic media outlet had been invited, along with top foreign media giants. Cameras, smartphones, and broadcast vans filled the lot outside. Inside, reporters, bloggers, fans, and industry analysts filled every seat—each of them brimming with anticipation.
The Marching Ant Company had evolved into a global tech powerhouse. Whenever they moved, the world paid attention.
And this time, the hype was louder than ever.
Whispers had already spread—the company's third-generation smartphone would be unveiled today.
That alone had drawn a sea of die-hard fans and mobile tech enthusiasts. The Public Security Bureau of Binhai had even deployed personnel to maintain order.
But Binhai wasn't alone.
Paris, Mumbai, and Bangkok were also hosting synchronized press conferences. Four global venues, all live at the same time. The manpower and logistics needed for this were massive—and Marching Ant Company had pulled it off with military precision.
This was more than a product launch.
It was a statement.
Backstage, Zhao Min stood before a large holographic control screen, coordinating the event across four cities.
"This is the moment to show the world our strength," she said, her voice calm but firm. "And to signal our official large-scale entry into the global market. Everything must be perfect."
"All systems go in Paris."
"India is ready."
"No issues in Bangkok."
One by one, the regional coordinators checked in via holographic projection. Everything was green.
"All right," Zhao Min said. "Let's begin."
The lights dimmed in the Binhai Grand Theatre.
At that exact moment, the lights dimmed in Paris, Mumbai, and Bangkok as well. A hush fell over each crowd as the atmosphere shifted.
Then, under the soft spotlight, a graceful woman walked onto the stage—Huang Minmin, dressed elegantly and poised.
The audience stirred slightly, then quieted as her voice echoed through the hall.
Simultaneously, the exact same scene played out in all four venues—same stage, same lighting, same host.
But sharp-eyed viewers noticed something strange.
"She's… the same everywhere?"
"Wait a second—that's a hologram!"
Realization swept through the crowd like wildfire.
Marching Ant wasn't just launching a product—they were using live holographic projection technology to host the event across four cities at once.
Gasps, murmurs, and impressed whistles followed.
"That's insane… a real-time holographic host?"
"Their tech is light-years ahead!"
"Imagine concerts or film premieres using this tech… they're rewriting the playbook."
Huang Minmin's voice cut through the awe with practiced calm:
"Good evening, everyone. I'm Huang Minmin, and I'd like to thank you all for taking time to attend tonight's global product launch."
Her warm tone soothed the remaining tension in the room. Despite her nerves—this was, after all, the biggest event she'd ever hosted—she eased into the rhythm. Her beauty, poise, and experience from university events helped her find her footing quickly.
"Let me share a little secret," she continued, smiling. "This is a true global press conference. I'm currently hosting four events simultaneously—in Binhai, Paris, Mumbai, and Bangkok."
The audience rippled with confusion and curiosity.
Some frowned, not quite understanding what she meant.
"To prove it, let's bring up live feeds from the other venues."
The massive screen behind her split into four panels—showing her image at each location. Every stage. Every movement. Every word—identical.
The reality clicked.
This wasn't a broadcast. It was live holographic projection, conducted with flawless precision.
"The host is a hologram!"
"They've really mastered this tech…"
A quiet buzz built in the crowd, a mixture of admiration and awe.
"If they can do this at a press conference, imagine what this means for global education… or entertainment."
"It's like she has four avatars. Insane!"
Eyes quickly returned to the stage as Huang Minmin continued.
"As you can see, holographic projection has matured enough for real-world applications. And tonight, we're using it to synchronize these four global venues. But that's not the only surprise. The product we're unveiling is unlike anything we've released before."
She turned toward the screen behind her, smile bright.
"And now, I'll turn the stage over to the man you've all been waiting for. Please welcome the chairman of Marching Ant Company—Mr. Chen Mo."
Applause erupted.
From backstage, Chen Mo stepped calmly onto the platform—confident, focused, and understated as always.
His figure materialized simultaneously in all four venues.
The four crowds, in unison, turned their attention to him. For some, this was the first time seeing him in person. For others, he was a symbol—the mind behind the march of technology.
The volume dropped as his voice filled the hall:
"Hello everyone, I'm Chen Mo."
Silence.
Respectful. Intense. Focused.
He continued.
"Before this press conference, I saw a lot of online speculation about the new smartphone. Some of the guesses were creative, and some were… well, interesting."
Light laughter rippled across the venues.
"I know you've all been waiting, so I won't drag this out. Let's take a look at a short video first. I think it'll answer your questions better than I can."
He raised his arm.
The lights dimmed once again as the stage transformed into a living display of holographic immersion.
A story began to unfold.
Two figures—a man and a woman—stood in mirrored scenes. One in a bustling urban jungle, the other in a distant, tranquil wilderness. They were in the same world, yet apart—separated by an unseen wall, like different timelines or parallel realities.
City life pulsed on one side—shopping, food, laughter.
Nature whispered on the other—mountains, grasslands, solitude.
They moved through life alone—her sipping wine at a window, him trekking over peaks.
Then, in perfect sync, they paused.
She set down her glass. He dropped his bag.
They ran.
She dashed through crowds.
He sprinted across mountains.
Backgrounds flashed by in a blur. The city. The sea. The sky. Their speed intensified—until, at last, they broke through the invisible barrier.
The two embraced.
And the moment froze.
Then, slowly, a massive holographic smartphone rose from the center of the stage, with the two of them hovering above it—united.
The audience was silent.
Then—applause thundered through all four venues.
Gasps, cheers, disbelief.
Marching Ant had done it again.