"This is it, this is it!"
In the secretary's office, Yao Yi stared at the live broadcast of Chen Mo's lecture, visibly excited.
Lately, he had been pondering ways to develop the coastal city.
The city lacked defining features. It wasn't the political center of the province, nor was it an economic powerhouse. Even though it was designated as an open city, it never made it into the ranks of first-tier cities.
In recent years, the rise of the Marching Ant Company and the pilot implementation of the city brain project had begun transforming Binhai into a smart city. But beyond that, the city still lacked a distinctive identity.
It had limited cultural landmarks, few scenic attractions, and aside from the Binhai Theatre, no truly iconic buildings. The service industry remained underdeveloped.
What Binhai needed was a unique "business card"—a recognizable symbol that could elevate its image, boost the local service economy, and accelerate development.
Yao Yi had been struggling to come up with an idea for this "business card." When he heard Chen Mo was giving a lecture at Binhai University, he tuned in to watch the live broadcast.
And then, Chen Mo's vision of a holographic city lit a spark in his mind.
If a section of Binhai could be transformed into a one-of-a-kind holographic world, it would instantly become the city's brightest symbol. Such an attraction could draw tourists from across the globe—a huge win for Binhai's economy.
For Yao Yi, this was potentially the most exciting initiative of his tenure.
A holographic world, combined with the city brain, smart public transportation, and autonomous driving—these elements could redefine Binhai as a model for futuristic urban development.
"Secretary Wu, head to Binhai University immediately," Yao Yi said as he strode out of the office.
"Understood."
Secretary Wu didn't quite understand Yao Yi's excitement, but seeing his boss in high spirits put him in a good mood too. He quickly followed, carrying Yao Yi's briefcase.
…
On stage, Chen Mo was moving from one technology to another—holography, intelligent robots, autonomous driving, artificial intelligence.
These were all technologies stored within the Science and Technology Library.
As he explained their potential and applications, he also adopted a more accessible style. He used concise, vivid examples—much like those in popular science novels—to capture the audience's attention and help them understand the concepts more deeply.
Applause and cheers rang out constantly in the auditorium. The crowd listened intently, their eyes filled with admiration and curiosity.
When Chen Mo finally wrapped up his speech, the applause continued for a long time.
His lecture had been packed with information, especially regarding the future applications of holographic technology and AI. The vision he painted of a holographic city—a city of the future—left a lasting impression on many.
This wasn't just idle speculation. The recent unveiling of a large-scale holographic projector by Marching Ant Company had made it all feel incredibly real.
With Chen Mo's words and the demo video, the audience felt like they'd just glimpsed the prototype of a future world.
Then came the Q&A segment—a rare opportunity for the students of Qiaoyuan University to interact directly with Chen Mo. The moment the host announced it, hands shot up everywhere. The energy in the auditorium reached a new high.
"Brother Chen, I'm a student from the Physics Department—one of your junior classmates," said a clean-cut young man who got the first question. "A few days ago, a smart virus incident impacted the global internet, causing massive losses. Do you think something like an AI rebellion, like in The Terminator, could actually happen in the future?"
"Right now, artificial intelligence is still controllable," Chen Mo replied. "Given the current level of industrial development, an AI rebellion is nearly impossible. If needed, humans can always intervene. The chances of a Terminator scenario are extremely low.
"AI is a double-edged sword—just like atomic energy. It can power cities or be turned into a weapon. Ultimately, it's not AI we need to fear—it's human intentions."
"Senior, everyone knows your wedding was amazing!" said the next student, a cheerful girl. "How much did the wedding cost? What material was the wedding dress made from? Was there anything special about it?"
"The dress was made of a new type of fiber that changes color under specific lighting. It's called 'Dream Fiber.' As for the cost… that's not important. What matters is that my bride was happy. As long as there's love, even a simple wedding can be beautiful."
A wave of silence followed.
Hearing Chen Mo describe his extravagant wedding as "simple" definitely had people speechless. Was he trying to be humble, or just showing off?
He was clearly flexing, just in a subtle way.
"Senior Chen, we've heard about the Science Island project in Binhai—a collaboration between Marching Ants and the Academy of Sciences. I want to ask: can nuclear fusion really be achieved? If so, how will it change the world?"
"It's achievable," Chen Mo said without hesitation.
"With successful nuclear fusion, humanity will no longer face an energy crisis. A new energy revolution will begin. Oil will no longer be something nations fight over. Humanity could even enter the age of interstellar travel. At that point, whether it's powering a space station or building a lunar base, nuclear fusion will be the key to sustaining long-term space exploration."
"Senior Chen, you've developed holographic tech—does your lab look as cool as Iron Man's?"
…
"Senior Chen, what are your thoughts on the seismograph and the Nobel Prize?"
…
"Senior Chen…"
One question after another came flying in. Chen Mo could barely keep up. He hadn't expected his juniors to be so enthusiastic—and many of their questions veered into gossip territory.
Still, most of the questions were related to his research, so he answered them earnestly.
Eventually, due to time constraints, the host had to bring the Q&A to an end and move on to the next agenda item: awarding the Ant Scholarship.
After that came the official ceremony where Qiu Guofeng presented Chen Mo with a doctoral degree from Binhai University, along with an honorary professorship.
Though the lecture had been scheduled for two hours, it stretched to nearly three thanks to the students' enthusiasm.
As the auditorium began to empty, Lanxi approached Chen Mo with quick steps.
"Chairman Yao is outside—he's been waiting to meet you."
Since Xiao Yu had taken maternity leave and resigned from her role as Chen Mo's secretary, Lanxi had stepped in. Zhao Min occasionally assigned her to assist Chen Mo directly.
"How long has he been waiting?" Chen Mo asked, a little surprised.
"Over an hour," Lanxi replied. "He saw you were still lecturing and didn't want to interrupt."
Qiu Guofeng and other university staff had also heard about Yao Yi's arrival. After the ceremony, they accompanied Chen Mo out of the auditorium to greet him.
"Secretary Yao, why didn't you let us know in advance? We would've picked you up," Qiu Guofeng said with a smile as he welcomed him.
"It was a last-minute decision. I came specifically to see Mr. Chen," Yao Yi replied. "Is his lecture over?"
"It is," Qiu Guofeng nodded.
"Good. I have something to discuss with Mr. Chen."
Yao Yi smiled and gestured politely. "Would you mind giving us some privacy?"
"Of course, we'll leave you two to it," Qiu Guofeng and the others said before stepping away.
Chen Mo and Yao Yi strolled through the campus together.
"Is it something important?" Chen Mo asked.
"Very," Yao Yi said seriously. "You're usually busy, but since you're here today, I figured I'd take the opportunity to speak with you directly."
"You want to consult me?"
"Yes. About the holographic city you just mentioned in your lecture—is it really feasible?"
"Oh?" Chen Mo raised an eyebrow. "Sounds like you've got something in mind."
"I do."
Yao Yi laid out his proposal.
"Binhai's reputation has grown thanks to the Marching Ant Company, but the city still lacks a strong identity. We don't have the kind of attractions that bring in tourists. The concept of a holographic city really excited me. I want to plan a space where we can implement your idea—a holographic world that becomes Binhai's signature landmark."
Chen Mo's vision had clearly struck a chord. Yao Yi knew this could be the thing that put Binhai on the global map. A unique, immersive tourist destination would attract visitors by the millions and spur local employment and economic growth.
"Where are you thinking of building it?" Chen Mo asked.
"Marina Square," Yao Yi said.
Marina Square sat on Binhai's seafront, near the Dawan District, spanning nearly 500,000 square meters. With a beautiful seaside location and mild climate, it was perfectly situated.
It was surrounded by the financial center, library, museum, children's palace, and gymnasium. Across the water stood the Binhai Theatre. Beneath the square itself was 120,000 square meters of commercial space—home to upscale retail, dining, entertainment, and cultural venues. This was the true heart of the city.
But despite its potential, the square lacked an iconic identity. Turning it into a holographic world would give it soul—transforming it into a landmark that could rival any in the world.
"That location has a lot of potential," Chen Mo said thoughtfully. "But it'll require a major investment."
"Can you give me a ballpark figure?" Yao Yi asked.
"It depends on your design and scale. Without a detailed plan, I can't say for sure. But if we're talking about fully renovating the central square, it'll probably be around ten billion yuan."
"That's fine. I'll have my team draft a proposal. I hope your company can assist with the renovation," Yao Yi said.
A project of that scale was more than worth the investment. The returns—real estate appreciation, tourism growth, and overall economic boost—would be massive.
In fact, most of the funding would likely come from state-owned enterprises. The city wouldn't need to cover much of the cost—just offer policy support and oversight.
Yao Yi and Chen Mo continued discussing the technical and strategic aspects of transforming the square into a holographic world. By the time they finished, it was already 6 p.m.
After bidding farewell to Yao Yi, Chen Mo returned to the Xianglu Villa.
This whole event was just a side note for Chen Mo. His main focus remained the construction of the [Star Ring].
Completing the Star Ring was his top priority.
The next day, Chen Mo returned to Science Island to resume his work.