"The holographic mobile phone is here—ushering in a technological revolution!"
"The pride of China!"
"Unbelievable! Marching Ants does it again!"
In a scene reminiscent of the company's earliest screen-dominating days, Marching Ant once again stormed the internet. The moment the holographic mobile phone conference ended, the name "Marching Ants" exploded across every major trending list—Weibo, Twitter, global news aggregators—you name it.
Smartphones were already deeply embedded in modern life. Now, with the holographic mobile phone, the world was witnessing a true leap into the future.
Despite its price of ¥28,888, the response was overwhelmingly enthusiastic. The mobile phone's immersive holographic experience was more than just a feature—it was a dream realized, one that captured hearts across the globe.
The next morning, even before store doors opened, long queues had formed outside Marching Ant's offline stores across the country.
Lines snaked around city blocks, hundreds deep. The most surprising part? Mixed among them were many foreign faces.
Unable to wait for the international rollout, tech enthusiasts from all over the world had flown to China just to buy one. This scene was once exclusive to Apple's heyday—but now, it belonged to Marching Ants.
Epoch-making tech was no longer a foreign import.
Now it was Made in China—and leading the world.
While domestic buyers celebrated, international netizens took to forums and comment sections in droves:
"Marching Ants should make their holographic tech open-source. This belongs to all mankind."
"Our phones look like black-and-white TVs compared to this."
"Bad news—the U.S. isn't even on the launch list."
"Einstein was born on Hawking's death day… now Chen Mo rises? Time really is cyclical."
The hype wave only grew stronger as bombshell headlines dropped one after another:
BrandFinance released its annual report: Marching Ants had officially overtaken Amazon as the most valuable tech company in the world.
Morgan Stanley released a financial estimate: the company was now valued at $1.5 trillion, becoming the first tech giant to surpass the $1 trillion mark in history.
Time Magazine declared Chen Mo its cover feature and named him the Most Influential Person of the Year—a true Titan of the New Tech Era.
Fortune unveiled its latest wealth ranking: Chen Mo, with over one trillion in personal wealth, was now the richest individual on Earth.
The world was on fire with Chen Mo's name.
And in a quiet home in Binhai, Chen Mo sat on a couch, watching it all unfold on the morning news—his expression was a mix of helplessness and fatigue.
His name, his image, and his company were everywhere.
"People fear being famous like pigs fear getting fat," he muttered.
It wasn't that he craved obscurity. But this level of fame? This kind of global recognition? It came with too much noise, too many eyes, and no place to hide.
Going outside like an ordinary person? That was fast becoming a fantasy.
"Alright, time for breakfast," Xiao Yu called softly from the dining table.
She had just set down a steaming pot of seafood porridge and filled a bowl for him. Seeing the look on his face—and the news still blaring from the TV—she knew exactly what was on his mind.
"Is it really that bad?" she asked gently.
Chen Mo gave a helpless smile. "I'm not sure whether to be happy or worried."
Xiao Yu sat beside him and rested her hand on his. "It'll pass. Fame and fortune—they're not what you're after. You already had them. This just… made it official to the world."
She wasn't wrong. Deep down, Chen Mo had always been focused on the science—the breakthroughs, the progress. Not the accolades. But now it was all out in the open.
She looked into his eyes, serious but soft:
"If it ever becomes too much… just take a break. You're the boss. Nobody's going to fire you."
Chen Mo chuckled and ran a hand through her hair. "I'll be fine. Just a little rattled. But I'm not slowing down yet. I want to finish the large-scale holographic tech—then we can finally have that wedding… and really take a break."
Xiao Yu smiled, cheeks tinged pink. "I'm already yours. The ceremony can wait. But don't burn yourself out."
"Now eat. I spent all morning on that porridge."
Chen Mo grinned. "My wife's cooking is always top-tier."
"Less flattery. More chewing," she said, eyes twinkling.
For a moment, the whirlwind of global attention faded. It was just the two of them, together, in peace.
After breakfast, the couple headed to the Marching Ant headquarters.
But the moment they approached the company entrance, Chen Mo saw a crowd and laughed.
A mob of reporters surrounded the building—cameras in hand, pressing up against the company's security. It was chaos outside. Everyone wanted a glimpse, a quote, a moment with the man at the center of the global storm.
In the front seat, Wang Hai, Chen Mo's personal driver and bodyguard, glanced at the rearview mirror.
"Boss, should we take a detour?"
Chen Mo shook his head. "No. Let the Black Hawks open the way. We're going in."
Two escort vehicles pulled into formation—one in front, one behind—flanking the main car as it moved toward the gate.
The moment they were spotted, a wave of reporters surged forward. Flashbulbs popped. Voices shouted questions. But before anyone could get too close, the security team swiftly formed a barrier and let the convoy through.
Chen Mo watched it all from inside the car, slightly amused.
"It's madness," he muttered.
Inside, Zhao Min was already waiting.
Her smile was radiant, and for good reason. With the holographic phone and projector selling like wildfire, and cash flow surging, Marching Ant had officially topped the global enterprise rankings.
"You saw the circus out front?" she asked.
Chen Mo nodded.
"They've been there since morning. Camped out, trying to score an interview. I had to squeeze past them myself just to get in."
She paused, then raised an eyebrow.
"Want to meet them? They've waited hours, some flew in overnight."
Chen Mo sighed. "It's insane out there… but they've waited this long. Let's schedule something. It's only fair."