Chen Mo stepped out of the car, adjusted the black-rimmed glasses on his face, and straightened his simple, casual outfit. Holding Xiao Yu's hand, the two blended seamlessly into the weekend crowd, dressed like any ordinary couple out on a shopping date.
Trailing behind them at a discreet distance were Wang Hai, White Pearl, and a few other security personnel, all in casual clothing, making sure not to draw attention.
Given Chen Mo's current level of influence, one phone call could have any item delivered straight to his villa. But that wasn't the point of today. He wasn't out to buy—he was here to experience, to share a normal day out with Xiao Yu. That's what mattered.
It was the weekend, and Marina Square was packed. Women of all styles strolled the wide concourses—heels clicking, bags swinging, laughter ringing. The entire shopping district pulsed with energy.
Marina Square was the most bustling commercial hub in Binhai City. A massive shopping mall took up the core, surrounded by flagship stores of every major luxury brand. If it was high-end, it was here.
Chen Mo scanned the plaza with mild curiosity. It had changed quite a bit.
During this past stretch, he'd been consumed by research. His routine had become a blur of labs, offices, and tech breakthroughs. Now that he had a moment to breathe, he finally noticed how much Binhai had transformed.
Thanks in large part to Marching Ant Company, Binhai was no longer a second-tier city. It had rapidly evolved into one of the most vibrant tech centers in the country.
The city's smart infrastructure project—jointly developed by the municipal government and Marching Ant—was well underway. AI systems now managed traffic flows, and intelligent transport networks had drastically eased congestion. With tech giants like Marching Ant as its backbone, Binhai's economy had taken off.
It was no exaggeration to say that the company had reshaped the entire city.
Back in the plaza, Chen Mo's gaze swept over several storefronts—and landed on something familiar.
Holographic projectors.
Positioned just outside high-end fashion stores, they displayed vivid holographic ads—some showcasing popular endorsers, others featuring professional models wearing the season's latest.
The imagery was crisp, lifelike, and beautiful—if not for their translucent glow, one might forget they weren't real. Some passersby still did a double take. Though the novelty had worn off for locals, the tech remained a spectacle for tourists and newcomers.
Holographic advertising had exploded in popularity. At first, it had been a traffic-stopping gimmick—every store with a holographic model had drawn crowds. Now, it was standard practice in upscale retail.
"It looks like holographic projector sales are doing well," Chen Mo said, smiling at the familiar hardware on display outside a luxury boutique.
"Domestic supply can basically meet market demand now," Xiao Yu replied, glancing at the nearby ads.
Since she worked closely with Zhao Min, she kept up with the data.
"That's great."
"But the international expansion isn't going as smoothly. There's been a lot of resistance."
Chen Mo chuckled and gave her a light pat on the head. "No work talk today. Just shopping."
"Okay."
Xiao Yu smiled and leaned closer, focusing on the plaza and its glittering storefronts.
As they walked, a few quirky interactions made them pause. One man lingered near a holographic model and reached out... right to her chest. His hand passed through the light, but he stood there grinning, completely unfazed by the stares of nearby shoppers.
"…Huh," Chen Mo blinked. "People actually do that?"
With a mischievous look, he reached out toward a nearby projection—curious, just to test it.
Smack!
Pain suddenly shot through his waist. He sucked in a breath.
"Don't act like a perv in public," Xiao Yu whispered beside him, her fingers firmly pinching his side.
Across from them, a couple walked by, giving Chen Mo a strange look.
"I was just curious!" Chen Mo said quickly. "I mean, I developed this tech! I didn't know people were using it like… that."
"And? How was it?" Xiao Yu asked sweetly, eyes narrowed, her fingers once again poised on his waist.
"…Air. All air. No feeling at all!" he answered instantly.
"Strong survival instinct," Xiao Yu said with mock approval, finally letting him go and slipping both arms around his.
"Let's head to Jewelry Street first and design the ring."
"Mm."
They soon arrived at Jewelry Street, a section of the mall lined with world-famous and domestic high-end jewelry brands. From globally iconic names to boutique custom shops, every window glittered with luxury.
Behind the glass displays, sparkling rings, necklaces, and earrings shimmered under carefully tuned lights. Pedestrians passing by all slowed their pace, eyes drawn to the beauty inside—even if most could only admire it from a distance.
After browsing for a bit, Chen Mo led Xiao Yu toward a top-tier custom jewelry shop.
Not far away, Sun Haoyuan stepped out of a nearby jewelry store with a wide grin on his face, a small ring box tucked in hand.
Today was his girlfriend's birthday. He had ordered this custom ring weeks ago, and the timing couldn't be better. He could already imagine the look on her face when she saw it.
As he stepped outside, his eyes caught sight of a couple entering the jewelry store across from him.
Wait a second…
Was that—Chen Mo?
He squinted. The man was wearing black-rimmed glasses and dressed plainly, but the face… It looked a lot like the man dubbed China's most promising genius, the face plastered across magazines and tech news.
Could it really be?
Sun Haoyuan hesitated, but then shook his head. "No way. Chen Mo wouldn't just be walking around a shopping plaza like this."
Still…
He quickly pulled out his phone, snapped a few photos, and zoomed in on the couple. Whether or not it was the real Chen Mo, it couldn't hurt to post about it.
He uploaded the clearest shot to Weibo with a caption:
"Ran into someone who looks just like Chen Mo today!"
Sun Hao grinned. "Who knows? Maybe it'll go viral. Those celebrity lookalike accounts blow up all the time. Why not one for Chen Mo?"
He hit "post," closed the app, and walked off with a spring in his step—completely unaware that he'd just captured the real deal.