Chapter 179: The Twins Are Born, Gu Yunfan Becomes a Father
"Honey, what's the situation? You've stepped down as the president of The Group and gave another 22% of the shares to Gu Yunfan. What kind of move is this? The news reports say you're retreating behind the scenes. Is that true?"
Seeing no one else in the office, the Mayor of Jing Cityspoke frankly, "I know you and Gu Yunfan secretly registered and got married, but there's no need to retreat behind the scenes. You're in your forties, in your prime. The two of you, one old and one young, would make a perfect duo. Wouldn't it be better to conquer the world together?"
"Wait! What do you mean 'one old and one young'? Do you even know how to talk?"
"Haha~ Let me interview you. What's it like to have a little husband who's 25 years younger than you?"
"What? Are you jealous? Should I introduce one to you later?"
"Get out of here! You think I'm like you? Robbing the cradle like that~"
"Hey, I have a short fuse! Are you here today just to provoke me?"
Jiang Yujun rolled up her sleeves aggressively. "Who are you mocking? You were the one who egged me on to take him, saying something about 'the son paying the father's debt.' I finally mustered the courage to break through my own limits, and now you're here making sarcastic remarks. What kind of person are you!"
"Haha... just a joke~"
"Let me tell you! My Gu Yunfan is about to develop a biological medicine that can rejuvenate and grant eternal youth! Don't you dare be jealous then! I won't sell it to you!"
"Tsk tsk tsk~ Who are you trying to fool~"
The Mayor of Jing City didn't take it to heart at all and brought the conversation back to the main topic. "Quickly, tell me why you're stepping back to the second line? This isn't like your style. In my mind, you're an ambitious entrepreneur. Why the sudden abdication?"
"You're the recognized Iron Lady of the political world, meticulous and extraordinarily wise. Why don't you take a guess?"
"You flatter me, you flatter me~"
The Mayor of Jing City had thought of many possibilities on her way over. The factor that could make Jiang Yujunretreat behind the scenes must be absolutely extraordinary, something she had no choice but to do.
Her gaze fell on Jiang Yujun's lower abdomen, and she asked tentatively, "You... aren't pregnant, are you?"
Jiang Yujun gave her a thumbs up. "Impressive! You guessed it in one go!"
"Oh my god... You're really pregnant??"
The Mayor of Jing City was full of surprise. "You're not joking with me, right? I was just saying it randomly!"
"It's absolutely true. On the plane back to the capital yesterday, I used a pregnancy test kit. My husband even checked my pulse, and today a private obstetrics and gynecology medical team came to the house for an examination. I'm over four weeks pregnant~"
"Gosh... You're amazing, my sister..."
"Let me tell you a secret. Gu Yunfan also said there's a high probability it's twins~"
"Twins??"
"Shh, shh, shh... Don't make a sound... Our whole family has signed a confidentiality agreement... I trust you... so you don't have to... but you must help me keep the secret..."
"Understood..."
The Mayor of Jing City finally understood the reason for Jiang Yujun's retreat. After a moment of daze, she asked again, "By the way, why did you run away from home? What conflict happened between you two? When I came just now, I saw Gu Yunfan and Xi Xi being quite intimate. Are they dating behind your back?"
"Mhm..."
Jiang Yujun expected her Older Female Cousin would ask about this. They were both members of the Jiang Familyand Best friends, so there was no need to hide it. Even if she tried, she could only hide it for a while. So, she briefly and concisely told her what Gu Yunfan had done.
The Mayor of Jing City was shocked and deeply surprised after hearing it. However, having navigated the political arena for decades, she had long since become accustomed to such things. She had seen things even more outrageous than Gu Yunfan's actions.
After a long while, she sighed, "Since ancient times, heroes have always had a weakness for beautiful women... and vice versa... Ultimately... it's because this kid is just too strong..."
"Alright, I'm done chatting with you. I'm going back to nurture the pregnancy. From today on, I'm a hands-off boss. Regarding corporate development, you can interface directly with Gu Yunfan in the future~"
Jiang Yujun took Little Jun Jun and her assistant home.
The Mayor of Jing City looked for Gu Yunfan to talk about the production bases for robots, chips, and lithography machines. The country had opened a green channel for him, giving him land and resources as requested, with fast approvals and rapid progress, striving for mass production as soon as possible.
Several months passed.
Gu Yunfan led the Jiang Group, focusing on four major projects: aviation engines, robots, chips, and lithography machines. Meanwhile, he secretly prepared the eternal youth biological medicine and Controllable Nuclear Fusion Spaceship projects.
Summer turned to autumn, flowers bloomed and withered. Jiang Yujun's belly grew larger day by day. She lived in seclusion, peacefully nurturing the pregnancy at home... March 12, 2027.
The spring breeze was warm, and the willows swayed. A pair of magpies stood on the branches of the Jiang FamilyCourtyard House, chirping incessantly.
The seven sisters—Shen Yinuo, An Lingran, Wei Zixia, Amiya, Zhao Siqing, Murong Yan, and Jiang Ruoxi—along with the Mayor of Jing City, stood outside the second-floor delivery room door, waiting anxiously.
"Ah... it hurts so much... Hubby, save me—"
"Wife, don't be afraid! Follow my rhythm and take deep breaths!"
Hysterical screams from Jiang Yujun came from inside the delivery room, making the Mayor of Jing City and the seven sisters knit their brows in distress.
Murong Yan paced back and forth, checking the time on her phone. "It's been... over ten hours since last night... and the babies still haven't been born... Sister Junjun will be okay, right?"
"Pah, pah, pah!" Zhao Siqing patted Murong Yan's mouth. "Don't talk nonsense, you jinx! Heaven helps the worthy; Sister Junjun will definitely have a safe delivery!"
Jiang Ruoxi nervously picked at her palms. She already knew about her origins and that her biological mother had passed away due to a difficult labor. She was very worried about Jiang Yujun.
The Mayor of Jing City comforted them calmly, "Everyone, don't be anxious. Natural labor takes a long time; ten-plus hours is quite normal. Your Sister Junjun is an older mother, it's her first time giving birth, and it's twins, so it will naturally take even longer."
Zhao Siqing complained, "Sister Junjun shouldn't have gone for natural labor. Why suffer like this? Wouldn't a C-section have been better?"
Amiya said helplessly, "We all tried to persuade her beforehand, but she wouldn't listen. She insisted on experiencing the feeling of natural birth, saying that only by experiencing the pain of childbirth can one better understand the mystery of life and the meaning of being a mother."
"She's not wrong to say that, but she just has to suffer more."
Wei Zixia turned her gaze to Shen Yinuo's large pregnant belly. "Eldest Sister, do you plan on a natural birth or a C-section when the time comes?"
Shen Yinuo said apprehensively, "I was originally planning on a natural birth... but hearing Sister Junjunscream all night... her voice is even hoarse... it's made me a bit scared..."
"Ha~" An Lingran smiled faintly, looking down at her own abdomen. She was only two months pregnant, and her belly was just slightly bulging.
"Wife, keep going! We're in the final sprint!"
"I'll sing a song to cheer you on!"
"The wind is howling~ the horses are neighing~ The Yellow River is Roaring~ The Yellow River is Roaring..."
???
The seven sisters outside the delivery room were full of question marks.
What on earth is he doing??
This guy is too abstract... Before long, a clear and powerful cry echoed through the delivery room, "Waa, waa, waa..."
"Oh yeah!! They're finally born!!"
Murong Yan jumped up in joy. "Boy or girl?? I can't tell!!"
"I feel like it's a girl!!" Zhao Siqing pressed her ear against the door excitedly to listen closely.
One could find out if it's a boy or a girl at three months of pregnancy, but Jiang Yujun wouldn't let the doctors tell her or the family. Knowing in advance would ruin the surprise.
"Waa, waa, waa..."
Soon, a second cry was heard.
Chapter 180: The eldest shall be named Good Morning, and the second Good Night. What do you think?
"Congratulations, President Gu, on your two little princesses. Both mother and daughters are safe and healthy~"
The female obstetrician had been working for over ten consecutive hours and finally felt a sense of relief. Having spent months together, the medical team had long known that the children Jiang Yujun was carrying belonged to Gu Yunfan. Initially, they were naturally shocked, but as time passed, they gradually accepted and got used to it.
Gu Yunfan possessed god-level medical skills and had long ago detected that the twins Jiang Yujun was carrying were girls. Jiang Yujun knew that he knew, but she never asked, nor did she let him tell her.
"Hubby... quick... let me see our little princesses..."
Jiang Yujun lay on the delivery bed, weak and powerless, her long hair long since soaked with sweat. After 'unloading' the weight, she felt a noticeable sense of lightness throughout her body.
"Wait a moment..." Gu Yunfan watched blankly as the nurses cleaned the two babies while measuring their height, weight, and head circumference.
"Waaah, waaah, waaah~~"
The two babies kept their eyes closed, each crying more vigorously than the other.
"President Gu, congratulations!"
A young nurse picked up the Eldest Baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and said with a smile, "Here, you hold her~"
"Um..."
Gu Yunfan rubbed his hands together and raised his arms stiffly, looking a bit at a loss.
Jiang Yujun pursed her lips and smiled faintly. "Idiot... didn't you practice this usually..."
Phew—
Gu Yunfan took a deep breath and, as if receiving a bomb, carefully took the Eldest Baby into his arms. The crying gradually stopped.
"Eh? She stopped crying!" Gu Yunfan said excitedly. "She must know I'm her daddy!"
"Shh... don't wake her up... bring her over and let me see her..." Jiang Yujun was so anxious she wanted to sit up, but she couldn't muster even a bit of strength.
Gu Yunfan approached the bedside holding the Eldest Baby.
Jiang Yujun gazed quietly at the Eldest Baby, the corners of her mouth slowly curving upward, her eyes overflowing with deep maternal love. "Ha~ so cute... I'm finally a mother..."
"Haven't you been one for a long time?"
"Go away... this time it's for real... quick... put the babynext to me... I want to hold her..."
"You got it~" Gu Yunfan gently laid the Eldest Baby down.
"Waaah, waaah, waaah~~" The Second Baby was still crying, seemingly jealous and vying for attention.
Gu Yunfan went to pick up the Second Princess, and she also stopped crying instantly.
From outside came the calls of Murong Yan, Zhao Siqing, and the others.
"Hey, hey, hey, is everything okay?"
"Is Sister Junjun all right? Is it a boy or a girl?"
"Hurry and open the door to let us see!"
"Yan Yan, Siqing, don't be in such a rush. There's still a period of observation in the room after delivery."
About an hour later, it was confirmed that both Jiang Yujun and the infants were safe.
Gu Yunfan pushed the maternal transport gurney, while two nurses pushed the infant incubators, coming out of the delivery room together.
The Mayor of Jing City and the seven sisters excitedly crowded around.
"Dear! Are you okay?" The Mayor of Jing City helped push the gurney.
Murong Yan leaned over the incubator, her deer-like eyes wide. "Oh my god! They're so small! Like two little elves! Newborns are usually not that good-looking, but these two are an exception!"
"Shh, shh, shh... keep it down..." Shen Yinuo looked at the incubators from both sides. "They have such delicate features... are they both girls?"
The doctor pulled down her mask and nodded with a smile. "Yes, a pair of daughters. The elder is 5.2 pounds, and the younger is 5.1 pounds~"
"They're both girls? Good, good, good, I like girls!" Zhao Siqing lowered her voice to complain. "Boys are too mischievous. Having one Gu Yunfan in the family is already distressing enough; girls are much better~"
"What are you saying? Step aside. A good pig doesn't block the road~"
Gu Yunfan pushed Jiang Yujun toward the master bedroom.
"You're the pig!" Zhao Siqing gave him a punch from behind, then turned to follow the baby carriage, grinning from ear to ear. "So cute... who do you think they look like? I can't tell..."
Jiang Ruoxi observed with furrowed brows. "They seem to look a bit more like Sister Junjun..."
"I don't think so... I feel they look more like their father..." Wei Zixia said as she walked and watched.
Amiya looked at the two babies. "Maybe half and half..."
An Lingran smiled. "The babies were just born; their noses and eyes haven't fully developed yet. Usually, you can't tell exactly who they look like."
"That's right~" Shen Yinuo, with her large pregnant belly, added, "We'll have to wait until after the first month when their features fill out a bit more to be able to tell."
The group entered the bedroom.
The doctor gave a few instructions: the mother's primary task was to rest, sleeping mainly on her side to reduce pressure on the pelvic floor muscles and facilitate breastfeeding. She could eat two hours after delivery, prioritizing light liquid foods like millet porridge or soft noodles.
After birth, newborns spend most of their time sleeping. If they cry, it's basically because they're hungry, and they usually need to be fed every two or three hours.
The household had a professional postpartum care team, so the family didn't really need to worry about these things; the doctor was just giving them a general idea.
"Hubby... give our two babies some names..." Jiang Yujuntook a few sips of warm water through a straw.
Gu Yunfan blurted out, "The eldest shall be named Gu Demǎoníng (Good Morning), and the second Gu Denàisī(Good Night). What do you think?"
"Get out of here... Gu your head..." Jiang Yujun's eyes shot daggers at him.
Haha... Everyone burst into laughter.
"Waaah, waaah, waaah..."
The two babies in the incubators wailed loudly.
Murong Yan slapped Gu Yunfan. "Look at those terrible names you picked; the two babies are angry!"
Zhao Siqing raised her knuckles and rapped Gu Yunfan on the head. "Be serious! Pick some good names!"
Gu Yunfan turned back to look at the seven sisters and said slowly, "You all will have babies in the future. As the older sisters, the two babies need to have the dominance and magnanimity of an elder sister. I hope they can be like your Sister Junjun and become powerful queens in the future. So, I want to continue using the character 'Jun'. And since your Sister Junjun's favorite flower is the rose, the eldest shall be named Gu Junqiang, and the second Gu Junwei. How about that?"
"Gu Junqiang... Gu Junwei..."
"Quite good, quite good... I agree..."
"Eh? Who did you say was going to have babies? Gu Yunfan, let me tell you, I'm only 22, and Xi Xi is only 20. Don't you dare get any ideas about us. We have no plans to have babies for now. Eldest Sister and Second Sister have already fallen for your tricks. If you're still not satisfied, go bother Third Sister, Fourth Sister, or Fifth Sister!"
"Haha..."
Laughter rang out everywhere.
Newborn babies can't smile yet, and they can't even open their eyes, but it was as if they could understand, showing expressions that looked like half-smiles.
The female doctor said with a smile, "President Jiang and the babies need to rest now. Everyone, please head out and let them sleep properly. The nurses will provide 24-hour care, so there's no need to worry."
"Alright~" Gu Yunfan leaned down and kissed Jiang Yujun's forehead. "Wife, you've worked hard. I'll go make you a nutritional meal~"
"The company is busy... the medicine you're developing has also reached a critical stage... why don't you go to the company? There are so many people at home..."
"How can that be? No matter how busy the business is, it's not as important as you and the babies. This month, I'm not going anywhere; I'll stay home and take care of you. Sleep peacefully~"
"Ha... thank you, hubby... love you..."
Exhausted, Jiang Yujun fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.
Chapter 181: Annual National GDP Growth Rate Doubles, Everlasting Youth Oral Liquid Successfully Developed
The Mayor of Jing City followed Gu Yunfan into the kitchen and asked curiously, "Your wife just said that the medicine you're developing has reached a critical stage. Is it that Everlasting Youth Biopharmaceutical thing she mentioned last year?"
"That's right~"
"Heavens! That project actually exists? Why didn't you report it to the city? I thought she was just joking with me back then."
"Sigh, Aunt, you're so busy with a myriad of affairs; there was no need to disturb you with such a small project~"
"A small project? This project doesn't sound like a small one at all... Wait, what did you just call me?"
"Oh no, look at my mouth. I'm so used to calling you that, I keep forgetting to change. It's'Sister' who is busy with a myriad of affairs~"
"You little rascal~" The Mayor of Jing City smiled faintly and asked again, "So, when will this project of yours be successfully developed?"
"Soon, in about a week."
"A week?? That fast??"
"This is actually considered slow. It's already been half a year since the project started. Since I took over as the CEO of The Group last year, I've mainly been working on aviation engine, robot, chip, and lithography machineprojects. Otherwise, it would have been developed long ago."
"Impressive, impressive... How do you know so much about high technology..." The Mayor of Jing City looked completely incredulous. "Does this medicine of yours really have the miraculous effect of enhancing beauty and maintaining everlasting youth?"
"Once it's successfully developed, how about you be in the first batch to try it?"
"Are you using your sister as a guinea pig? It won't disfigure me, will it?"
"Forget it, don't try it. You're the Mayor now. After taking my medicine, you'll look at least twenty years younger. If the leadership sees you looking too young, it might not fit the image of a mayor, and they might demote you to a small clerk."
"Haha~ If you put it that way, I really have to try it now."
"Today is March 12th. We plan to launch it on May Day. By then, Jun Jun will have finished her postpartum recovery period, and we'll hold a product launch conference together. I sincerely invite Great Mayor Jiangto attend the launch."
"Sure~ I'll definitely go if I have time. The market value of the Jiang Group has already surpassed a terrifying 20 trillion, ranking sixth in the world. Your net worth as President Gu is as high as 5.4 trillion, firmly holding the second spot in the world, with only a gap of over a trillion from the worlds richest person. If the medicine you developed really has the miraculous effect of rejuvenation, the title of worlds richest person will soon be yours~"
"Keep it low-key, keep it low-key. What's the worlds richest person? Our goal is the sea of stars."
"Tsk tsk, you're not humble at all." Hearing the words'sea of stars', the Mayor of Jing City suddenly remembered something. "By the way, Jun Jun mentioned to me before that you are still secretly researching a spaceship and said something about using controllable nuclear fusion technology. Is that true?"
"That's right. This project has been in preparation for over half a year and will officially enter the research and development phase this June."
"My god! Controllable nuclear fusion?? Are you sure??"
"Just wait and see~"
"Crazy, crazy... You kid are truly crazy..."
The Mayor of Jing City was left stunned.
Behind her, Shen Yinuo slightly curled the corners of her mouth. She was in charge of the preparation work for the Controllable Nuclear Fusion Spaceship. She had been in a daze every day; even now, she couldn't believe the project was real.
An Lingran was in charge of the Everlasting Youth Biopharmaceutical research project. She was still a doctor at Xiehe Hospital, just not as busy as before.
Last year, Gu Yunfan customized a batch of neurosurgery artificial intelligence robots for her. They had extremely high surgical precision and were also proficient in traditional Chinese medicine, which could assist her well in treating patients. After the successful experiment, medical institutions across the country and overseas flocked to purchase them.
In addition, Amiya also took the lead in piloting artificial intelligence robots with the police. They were proficient in everything from clue analysis and suspect identification to grappling and interrogation breakthroughs. They could exhaust a criminal while chasing them and break their psychological defenses during interrogation.
The military was even more notable; the artificial intelligence robot Special Operations Team built by Wei Zixia shook the world. Countries that were unfriendly to the Dragon Kingdom all started behaving themselves.
Since Gu Yunfan released the aviation engine, robot, chip, and lithography machine last year, earth-shaking changes had occurred in the Dragon Kingdom's aerospace, electronic communications, automotive and shipbuilding, traditional manufacturing, service industries, exports, and various other fields.
In January this year, the GDP for 2026 was announced, with a year-on-year growth of up to 10.3%, a growth rate twice that of previous years.
The GDP for the first quarter of this year hasn't been announced yet, but everyone can feel the nationwide prosperity. If development continues at this rate, it's only a matter of time before the Dragon Kingdom catches up with and surpasses the United States... Over a month passed after this.
Gu Yunfan stayed at home every day taking care of Jiang Yujun and the two babies. Newborns do nothing but eat and sleep. When they slept, Gu Yunfan would work remotely. If he wasn't busy, he would help Jiang Yujunwith Acupuncture and Chinese Therapeutic Massage to help her recover quickly.
Natural labor allows for faster recovery, and with Gu Yunfan's careful conditioning, Jiang Yujun returned to her pre-pregnancy state in just one month. Recently, she had been exercising daily to lose fat while also testing the miracle medicine developed by Gu Yunfan. Taking one bottle of the oral liquid every day, the effects were remarkable.
"Hubby, hubby! Look quickly, doesn't my skin look more hydrated than yesterday?"
On May 1st, Labor Day, Jiang Yujun got up early and stood in front of the mirror to observe the changes in her condition.
"Shh... stop being so vain... the babies are going to be woken up by you..."
Gu Yunfan lay on his side and gently patted the little bottoms of the elder and younger babies.
The two adorable babies were sleeping soundly, with long eyelashes and skin as white as milk and as tender as silk. Compared to when they were first born, they had filled out a bit. People say daughters take after their fathers, but these two looked like they were carved from the same mold as Jiang Yujun.
"Just take a look..."
Jiang Yujun lowered her voice and turned her head to point at her cheek.
Gu Yunfan squinted his eyes: "Is there a change? Your skin was already good... From the time I met you until now... you've always looked like you're in your twenties..."
"Haha~ stop it~ I can feel it myself. It's not just the skin; my energy and spirit have changed too. Yinuo, Lingran, and the others also said the changes are very obvious~ Yinuo and Lingran are pregnant and don't dare to drink it for fear of affecting the fetal development, but Zi Xia, Yaya, and Siqing have recently started drinking it too. Yan Yan heard the effects were great and even asked me to mail her two boxes."
"Two boxes? She certainly has a big mouth. What you're testing is the 'Supreme Collection'. One box of oral liquid is priced at 999,999. Tell her to transfer 200 million, and I'll send her two boxes."
"Aha~ tonight's product launch is bound to be subversive again. If nothing goes wrong, President Gu is going to cause another sensation in the world~"
"You haven't shown your face for half a year. How about it? Are you ready? Are you sure you want to make a public appearance and join me for the live broadcast of the launch?"
"Of course. You named the oral liquid brand 'brand name, derived from jiang yujun'. It wouldn't be appropriate if I didn't show up. Besides, if you just use your mouth to describe it, it won't be convincing enough. As soon as I appear, everyone will be able to feel my changes~"
Jiang Yujun patted her chest and said smugly, "With me, the asias number one goddess, as a trust endorsement, won't sales double?"
"Alright then, welcome back to the scene, Great Beauty Jiang~"
Gu Yunfan looked Jiang Yujun's figure up and down. Her figure had recovered very quickly, and compared to before she was pregnant, there wasn't much difference. One couldn't tell she had given birth to babies.
Chapter 182: Reaching the Top as the worlds richest person, the Global Number One Tech Giant
7:00 PM.
National Convention Center.
With over 20,000 people in attendance, Gu Yunfan sat in the center seat of the first row. To his left were Jiang Yujun, the Mayor of Jing City, and other officials and guests. To his right sat the fifth sister Zhao Siqing, the seventh sister Jiang Ruoxi, and group executives.
The other sisters did not attend. Shen Yinuo was about to give birth, and An Lingran's pregnancy was very obvious, making it inconvenient for them to appear.
Wei Zixia had gone to the troops to guide the training of the artificial intelligence robot Special Operations Team. Amiya had taken robots to other regions to solve cases, and Murong Yan was away filming.
Live stream rooms on media platforms such as TikTok, Toutiao, Baidu, and Scarf were opened simultaneously.
The host took the stage for the opening remarks: "Respected President Gu, President Jiang, distinguished leaders and guests, dear colleagues and friends in the live stream, good evening. Today is May 1st, Labor Day. On this special day, we welcome the product launch of the 'yujun brand youth forever biological oral liquid' developed by the Jiang Group. On behalf of the Jiang Group, I would like to express a warm welcome and sincere thanks for everyone's presence and the netizens' attention~"
Clap clap clap... As the world's second-richest person and asias richest person with a net worth of over 5 trillion, Gu Yunfan's fame and prestige were no longer what they used to be. Just on the TikTok live stream, over 60 million netizens flooded in right after it started.
[What did the host just say? yujun brand youth forever biological oral liquid? What's this thing for? It sounds like a health product. When did the Jiang Group start making health products?]
[One look and I can tell you're not a fan of God Gu or Goddess Jiang. They've been warming up on TikTok and Scarf for a week. As the name suggests, drinking this oral liquid allows you to maintain beauty and stay young forever.]
[Is that so? To be honest, it's likely a stupidity tax. It's essentially the same as those once-popular Dada Oral Liquid, Black Chicken White Phoenix Pills, or Naobaijin. It won't kill you, but it's useless.]
[+1. Isn't God Gu specialized in high-tech research and development? aviation engine, robot, chip, lithography machine—every product is incredibly impressive and popular worldwide. These high-tech products have brought huge profits to the Jiang Group, with its market value exceeding 20 trillion. His personal wealth has reached a terrifying 5 trillion. After being quiet for over half a year, I thought he was preparing a big move. How did he end up with a health product?]
[Don't look down on this product. This is heaven-defying top-tier high technology. I've seen the promotional video. It's a divine medicine developed by my husband using the most advanced gene-editing technology. Drinking it can rejuvenate you, strengthen your physique, and prolong your life. Which woman doesn't want to stay young and beautiful forever? Who doesn't want to have a healthy body?]
[Exactly! We women have zero resistance to this medicine. I've been looking forward to it for a long time. No matter how much it costs, I'm buying it!]
[Rejuvenation? Prolonging life? Bragging! I won't believe it even if you kill me!!!]
[Stop your damn yapping! My husband is taking the stage!! I haven't seen him in so long!!]
Clap clap clap... Gu Yunfan stepped onto the stage amidst the applause. Compared to last year, he had matured a lot, and his aura was even more powerful. The former little milk dog college student had gradually transformed into a domineering CEO.
"Respected guests, partners, media friends, and netizens, good evening. The last time we held a product launch was on Children's Day last year, nearly a year ago."
"This year, the four businesses of aviation engine, artificial intelligence robot, chip, and lithography machine have advanced together, achieving remarkable results. On behalf of the Jiang Group, I would like to thank everyone for your long-term attention, trust, and support."
Applause—
"The torrent of the times rolls forward. In this competitive era, enterprise development is like sailing against the current; if you don't advance, you retreat. Therefore, this year, we haven't stood still. While managing old projects, we've also been secretly developing new products."
Gu Yunfan pointed to the large screen behind him: "The new product is 'yujun brand youth forever biological oral liquid.' The original intention of developing this project is actually related to President Jiang, Ms. Jiang Yujun."
"She once told me that she missed her parents who passed away due to illness. It would be great if everyone could have a healthy body. She also told me she was afraid of getting old and even more afraid that one day she would leave this world because there are people she loves in it..."
Hearing this.
Jiang Yujun, sitting below the stage, couldn't help but be touched.
So this kid developed the divine medicine because of me... My husband is so thoughtful... He remembers even the things I said casually so clearly... In fact, Gu Yunfan was just looking for an excuse. The technology was a reward from the system. Did you really think he could develop it out of thin air?
"Let the traces of time slow down, let natural vitality last longer, and let the quality of life be higher. This is our original intention for developing this product."
Gu Yunfan spoke eloquently to the audience and the live stream: "I have been following and studying biopharmaceuticals since elementary school. At that time, it was just an interest. After taking over as the President of Jiang Group, once funds, resources, and other conditions matured, I began to take action."
"From the initial screening of anti-aging biological factors to the repeated optimization of genetic engineering recombination technology, from the precise expression of host cells to the breakthrough in enteric-coated delivery technology, and then to thousands of activity tests and safety verifications, we assembled a top expert team in biopharmaceuticals, dermatology, nutrition, and more. We overcame the core problem of oral absorption of bioactive ingredients and finally brought this product, which combines cutting-edge biotechnology with precise anti-aging needs, to everyone."
"This Eternal Youth Biological Oral Liquid uses high-activity recombinant anti-aging peptides as its core, paired with multiple natural antioxidant factors and collagen synthesis boosting ingredients. Through biopharmaceutical-grade purification and formulation processes, it ensures that the active ingredients can bypass gastric acid destruction and be efficiently absorbed by the human body, achieving multi-dimensional regulation from the inside out."
"It can effectively activate skin collagen regeneration, improve dullness, fine lines, sagging, and other aging issues, while regulating the body's metabolism, letting vitality emanate from within, truly achieving 'internal regulation and external nourishment, freezing youth'."
"In my view, 'Eternal Youth' has never been just a slogan, but a gentle empowerment of life by biotechnology. It is not a forced demand against nature, but using the power of science to let us keep the most beautiful state in our lives."
"Whether it's good or not depends on the curative effect. After the product was successfully developed, our President Jiang, Ms. Jiang Yujun, was the first to volunteer for product trials. After taking the oral liquid for just two weeks, she underwent comprehensive changes. Now, please welcome President Jiang to the stage to share her trial experience."
Clap clap clap... The camera cut to Jiang Yujun.
The whole venue suddenly erupted in an uproar!
Over a hundred million netizens in the live stream were shocked at the same time!
[Holy crap!! President Jiang really seems to have become younger!!]
[Since President Jiang stepped behind the scenes last year, this is her first time appearing in the public eye. She's still so stunning! But there really is a change!]
[Yes! She's in her forties. She used to look around thirty, but now she feels like she's 25 at most! She's returned to her peak state!]
[Right! This is what the asias number one goddess in my memory looks like!]
[My god! Is it really that magical???]
[I finally understand why she stepped behind the scenes! She must have been secretly in charge of the R&D of the Eternal Youth Oral Liquid!]
[Correct! God Gu prepared a super big move!!]
Jiang Yujun took the stage with a box of oral liquid and shared her experiences and changes in vitality in detail. In fact, she didn't even need to share; just by showing her face, the audience could naturally sense the effect.
Finally, Jiang Yujun and Gu Yunfan drank two vials of oral liquid in public to increase the audience's trust.
"The world's second-richest person, who is wealthy enough to rival nations, and asias number one goddessboth drank it! What are we afraid of? How much is it? I want to buy it now!!"
"The effect is so divine, it must be very expensive, right? Can I afford it with a monthly salary of over 10,000??"
"President Gu, President Jiang, stop demonstrating! Hurry up and announce the price!!"
Under much anticipation.
Gu Yunfan had Jiang Yujun announce the price.
There were three versions in total.
Basic Version: 9,999 RMB/box
Advanced Version: 99,999 RMB/box
Deluxe Version: 999,999 RMB/box
One box contains 30 vials, enough for one month.
The Basic Version targets ordinary working-class people, the Advanced Version targets the middle and upper-middle class, and the Deluxe Version targets the wealthy. You get what you pay for; the more expensive it is, the better the effect. However, for people under 30, the Basic Version is sufficient.
The first batch of the Basic Version had 300,000 orders, the Advanced Version had 80,000 orders, and the Deluxe Version had 10,000 orders. All required pre-orders, with shipping scheduled within a month.
The pre-order link on the official website showed "Sold Out" just one second after being posted.
A single product launch raked in 20.999 billion!
A day later, when the stock market opened on Monday, the Jiang Group's stock price hit the daily limit again at the opening. After three consecutive days of hitting the limit, Gu Yunfan's net worth reached 7.18 trillion, surpassing Musk's 6.6 trillion, and he reached the top as the worlds richest person!
After more than ten days of skyrocketing, the Jiang Group's market value reached 45 trillion, surpassing the US company NVIDIA's 44 trillion, strongly becoming the world's number one tech giant!
The whole country celebrated!!
The world was shocked!!!
Chapter 183: Maiden Flight of the Controllable Nuclear Fusion Spaceship, Manned Mission to Mars!
"Daddy, Qiangqiang and Weiwei want to ride the Spaceship too. Can you take us, please?"
"Daddy, Mommy said the Spaceship can fly to the moon. My sister and I want to see the moon. Please take us with you~"
Two years later, on an island in the ocean of Island City, within the Jiang Group Commercial Space Launch Base, the sisters Gu Junqiang and Gu Junwei pleaded while pulling Gu Yunfan's hands from both sides.
Hearing about riding the ship to see the moon, the third baby, Gu Zhimo, excitedly slid down from Shen Yinuo's lap, while the fourth baby, Gu Zhixuan, holding her milk bottle, broke free from An Lingran's embrace and waddled like a little penguin toward Gu Yunfan.
"Dada! Momo wants to see the moon too~"
"Dada... Xuanxuan... moon..."
The fourth baby, Gu Zhixuan, was only one year and eight months old, and her speech was not yet very fluent.
Ever since the "Everlasting Youth Biological Oral Liquid" hit the market two years ago, Gu Yunfan had devoted all his energy to the research and development of the Controllable Nuclear Fusion Spaceship.
The core reaction material for nuclear fusion comes from seawater. To facilitate research and testing, he established the Nuclear Fusion Base on an island in his hometown, where the supporting commercial space launch center was also built.
After two years of intensive research, the world's first Controllable Nuclear Fusion Spaceship has emerged and is scheduled for official launch tonight at 8 PM.
Gu Yunfan bent down to pick up Dabao and Second Baby: "So you all want to ride the ship to see the moon? Alright, when you grow up, Daddy will take you there, okay?"
"No! Qiangqiang is already grown up! Qiangqiang wants to go now~"
"Weiwei wants to go too. Please, Daddy, you're the best~"
The sisters threw their arms around Gu Yunfan's neck, acting spoiled.
The third and fourth babies hugged his legs and began to wail loudly.
Click!
Jiang Yujun captured this scene: "Ha~, President Gu, let me interview you. How does it feel to have your daughters swarming around your knees?"
Shen Yinuo smiled gently: "Doesn't it feel wonderful?"
An Lingran curled her lips: "Isn't it super joyful?"
Zhao Siqing gently stroked her large pregnant belly: "Your Fifth Princess will be born soon. You'll be even more happy and joyful then~"
"Ahem..." Gu Yunfan looked awkward: "I say, you guys don't just stand there watching. Quickly comfort Dabao, Second Baby, Sanbao, and Sibao. We need to prepare for boarding."
"Pfft~" Jiang Yujun clapped her hands toward Dabao and Second Baby: "Qiangqiang, Xuanxuan, come, Mommy will hold you. It's not that Daddy doesn't want to take you, it's that you're too small. You can't go to space until you're 18, otherwise, Daddy will be arrested by the police. Do you want Daddy to be taken away?"
This reasoning actually worked. Dabao and Second Babyimmediately stopped making a fuss and obediently let Jiang Yujun pick them up one by one. The crying of Sanbao and Sibao also came to an abrupt halt.
Dabao looked up and asked cutely, "Daddy, how long will you be gone?"
"180 days. By New Year's Eve this year, we will be back home."
"180 days? That's so long..."
Dabao was two years and five months old and already had a general concept of time. Learning that her father would be away for 180 days, she couldn't help but feel reluctant, her face showing disappointment.
Second Baby then asked, "Daddy, are you going to the moon? Mommy said there's Chang'e and the Jade Rabbiton the moon. Can you bring a few bunnies back for us?"
"Daddy isn't going to the moon, but to Mars. Mars is much further from Earth. If Daddy meets any Martians, I'll invite them to Earth to be your friends, okay?"
"Okay, okay! Oh yeah! I want to be friends with Martians!"
Second Baby danced with excitement.
Dabao, Sanbao, and Sibao were all very excited upon hearing this.
"President Gu, it's about time. We should go prepare for boarding," Secretary Jiang Ruoxi reminded him.
"Alright~" Gu Yunfan opened his arms to hug Jiang Yujun. "The babies are still small and can't be without their mother, so I won't take you this time. We'll go test the waters first, and next time I'll take you to roam through space~"
"It's a deal. I wish you a triumphant return."
Jiang Yujun hugged Gu Yunfan tightly, a sense of sadness welling up: "Promise me and the babies... you must return safely..."
"Don't worry, when have I ever failed?"
Gu Yunfan then hugged Shen Yinuo, An Lingran, and Zhao Siqing, kissed the foreheads of the four babies, and then led Jiang Ruoxi, Murong Yan, Amiya, and Wei Zixiato the aerospace dressing room to change.
Jiang Ruoxi had dreamed of space since she was a child and had undergone rigorous systematic aerospace training with Gu Yunfan, making her a qualified astronaut. The other three sisters would join the expedition as space tourists.
In addition, there were 12 professional astronauts and a space technology team of over a hundred people, including dozens of artificial intelligence robots.
Before this, mainstream manned spacecraft only had a passenger capacity of 4 to 7 people.
The Controllable Nuclear Fusion Spaceship developed by Gu Yunfan was an ultra-large spacecraft that could easily accommodate over 100 people, and it also featured a transport bay for transporting extraterrestrial mineral resources.
Actually, former worlds richest person Musk's Starship could also carry over a hundred passengers, but because the technology was not yet mature and safety standards were not met, all Starships launched so far have been unmanned test flights.
The ultimate goal of Musk's Starship is "Marscolonization."
However, the Starship's flight capability is still at the Low Earth Orbit class, about 200 kilometers high. Meanwhile, the distance between Earth and Mars is at its closest about 55 million kilometers and at its furthest about 400 million kilometers, with an average distance of about 225 million kilometers. The Starship's technical level is far from sufficient to support a voyage to Mars.
But—
The Controllable Nuclear Fusion Spaceship developed by Gu Yunfan can!
7:30 PM.
Central Media, TikTok, Toutiao, Baidu, Scarf, and other official and online media synchronized their live broadcasts. Foreign media like CNM and BBG, along with the global version of TikTok, broadcasted it worldwide.
Jiang Group Chairperson Jiang Yujun and the project's head of preparations, Shen Yinuo, sat in the launch base's control center for the live broadcast.
The Director of the National Science and Technology Administration, the Director of the National Energy Administration, the Director of the National Space Administration, the Mayor of Jing City, the Mayor of Island City, and other officials, along with nuclear energy and aerospace experts, were all present as guests in the live broadcast room to witness the aerospace miracle.
"Respected leaders, guests, dear aerospace workers, fusion energy scientific researchers, and the global audience before your screens, good evening everyone~"
Facing the camera, Jiang Yujun's voice could not hide her excitement, yet it remained steady and powerful.
"This is the maiden flight launch site of the Dragon Nation's manned Controllable Nuclear Fusion Spaceship. At this moment, we gather at the Jiang Group Space Launch Center to witness a milestone moment where human aerospace history and energy history intertwine, and to welcome a brand new step taken by Dragon Nation's Intelligent Manufacturing into the vast deep space!"
"This Spaceship was developed under the leadership of President of Jiang Group Gu Yunfan and is named 'Shenlong No. 1'. Its first expedition carries three core missions: 1. Gu Yunfan will personally lead the mission to achieve a manned landing on Mars; 2. Explore Martian mineral resources and transport them back to Earth; 3. Launch a controllable nuclear fusion deep space probe to carry out interstellar exploration."
As soon as the TikTok live broadcast room opened, over 100 million online users flooded in.
[Holy crap!!! God Gu really developed a Controllable Nuclear Fusion Spaceship?? There was news online last year! I freaking thought it was still in the experimental research stage! I didn't expect that in the blink of an eye, it's actually launching!!]
[Asking because I don't know, what is controllable nuclear fusion? It sounds super impressive.]
[A simple explanation: controllable nuclear fusion mimics the principle of how the sun produces light and heat. On Earth, isotopes of hydrogen are heated to hundreds of millions of degrees to become plasma, letting them collide and fuse into helium. This process releases a massive amount of clean energy, the raw materials are inexhaustible, and the product is pollution-free!]
[What are you babbling about? I didn't understand a word!]
[You can think of it as an 'Artificial Sun.' It can stably release massive amounts of energy for power generation and supply. This is the universally recognized 'Ultimate Energy' for humanity! If successful, it will have a disruptive and profound impact on human society, fundamentally solving a series of global challenges like energy, environment, and development!]
[Let me give you the simplest example. If a car were equipped with controllable nuclear fusion fuel, that car could last a lifetime. Of course, a car is too small and probably couldn't fit a fusion reactor; as I said, I'm just giving an example.]
[Holy sh*t!! If you put it that way, then I get it! This is way too awesome!!]
[So! God Gu put an Artificial Sun in the Spaceship?? It can fly as far as it wants??]
[In theory, yes! But... whether it can actually be done depends on the situation after launch~]
[Brothers! Let's not talk about nuclear fusion for a second. Did you hear what the Great Goddess Jiang just said? God Gu is going to do a manned landing on Mars! And even explore minerals to bring back to Earth!]
[So what? Is a manned Mars landing that hard?]
[Is it hard?? Truly, the ignorant are fearless! Do you know how far Mars is from Earth?? The closest distance is 55 million kilometers! That's over 140 times the distance from the Moon to the Earth!]
[Yet so far, only the United States has achieved a manned moon landing! Of course, there's international controversy over whether they really landed on the moon. In short, the difficulty factor of a manned Mars landing is beyond human imagination! It's at least 30 times harder than a manned moon landing!]
[Exactly! The moon is only 380,000 kilometers away at its closest, and a ship can get there in 3 days with real-time communication with the ground. If you're going to Mars, the one-way trip takes at least 7-8 months, and communication between the ground and the ship has delays or can even cut out. It's extremely dangerous!]
[The key is that the Mars landing step is 'Hell' difficulty. The moon has no atmosphere, so you can land by slowly decelerating. Mars has a thin atmosphere; you have to drop from a speed of 20,000 kilometers per hour to zero within seven minutes while enduring high friction temperatures of thousands of degrees. The whole process relies solely on the ship's autonomous operation. This step is called the 'Seven Minutes of Terror.' Humans have only succeeded with unmanned probes; a manned landing is impossibly hard!]
[In summary, it's long distance, long duration, difficult communication, dangerous landing, and harsh survival. The requirements for technology, supplies, and life support are all maxed out. Every step hides a life-and-death ordeal.]
[Holy mother of God! So that's how it is! I was truly looking at the sky from the bottom of a well. God Gu has been silent for two years just to pull off such a massive ultimate move!!]
[Dragon Nation is awesome! God Gu is awesome! Waiting for 'Shenlong No. 1' to launch! The moment to witness history has arrived!]
Chapter 184 Finale: The King Returns, A Grand Reunion on New Year's Eve
"10, 9, 8..."
"3, 2, 1—Ignition!"
Boom—
At 8:00 PM on August 6th, in the live broadcast, following the command from the control center, scalding flames erupted from the diversion trench beneath the launch platform. The orange tongues of fire, accompanied by an earth-shaking roar, broke the stillness of the sea, causing the entire island to tremble slightly.
Four heavy chemical boosters ignited simultaneously. The massive thrust instantly broke free from the shackles of gravity, pushing the giant "Shenlong No. 1" slowly into the sky. The water mist on both sides of the tower was vaporized by the flames into a sky full of white fog, swirling around the ship like a fairyland.
"Booster thrust normal, Spaceship attitude stable, altitude 500 meters... 1,000 meters..."
The red tail flames dyed the pitch-black seawater into a golden red. The distant ships and buildings on the island appeared small and blurred in this light.
Jiang Yujun, Shen Yinuo, and officials and experts including the Director of the National Science and Technology Administration, the Director of the National Energy Administration, and the Director of the National Space Administration watched the large screen tensely.
The live broadcast room was silent. Billions of netizens held their breath. According to Jiang Yujun and Shen Yinuo, "Shenlong No. 1" is the world's largest Spaceshiptoday.
With a height of 150 meters, a diameter of 12 meters, and a pressurized cabin volume of about 1,200 cubic meters, it can accommodate more than 120 people and uses a two-stage structural design.
The first stage, the "Super Heavy Booster," is responsible for thrust output from the ground to low Earth orbit. It is 80 meters high, equipped with 10 self-developed rocket engines, has a takeoff thrust of over 10,000 tons, and can be recovered and reused after completing its mission.
The second stage is the actual Spaceship carrier. It is 70 meters high and equipped with a controllable nuclear fusion engine and fuel. It can stay in orbit independently, perform missions to celestial bodies such as the Moon, Venus, and Mars, and support manned deep-space voyages.
The designed flight speed far exceeds current world levels. The conventional speed in low Earth orbit is 85,000 km/h, the Earth-Mars transfer cruise speed is 452,000 km/h, the Earth-Mars transfer peak speed is 776,000 km/h, and the deep-space cruise top speed is 1.1 million km/h.
Compared to Apollo, Voyager, and the SpaceX Starship, its speed is 3 to 10 times faster.
Boom, boom, boom—
"Shenlong No. 1" moved faster and faster, breaking through the white mist and speeding toward the deep firmament.
Soon, the Spaceship reached the predetermined altitude. The boosters completed their mission and issued a crisp separation command. The four boosters slowly detached from the hull and fell into the vast sea along the predetermined trajectory, kicking up waves several meters high; they would later be salvaged and recycled.
Immediately after, the nuclear fusion engine at the stern officially ignited. There was no ear-piercing roar or thick orange flames, only a wisp of pale blue plasma tail flame, steadily and continuously emitting from the nozzle.
Inside the cabin, Jiang Ruoxi, Amiya, and Wei Zixia, dressed in spacesuits, looked through the porthole at the shrinking Earth below, too excited to speak.
"Oh yeah—"
"Shenlong No. 1 has successfully launched—"
"It's so spectacular! Yunfan has once again created a human miracle—"
At the launch base on the ground, Jiang Yujun and Shen Yinuo were moved to tears and hugged each other tightly. The control center erupted in thunderous applause and cheers.
The silent live broadcast room was flooded with comments again!
A wall of bullet comments:!!!!!!
Billions of viewers witnessed the historic moment, seeing humans ride a Controllable Nuclear Fusion Spaceshiptoward the vast deep space for the first time.
The live broadcast camera cut to the inside of the Spaceship cabin.
Gu Yunfan, who was staring at various data on the instrument panel, looked away and waved at the camera.
"Hello everyone, thank you very much for the attention from friends all over the world. All data for Shenlong No. 1 is normal, so please rest assured.
This is the official maiden flight of Shenlong No. 1. Marsis considered one of the most suitable planets for human survival besides Earth. Therefore, adhering to the original intention of seeking humanity's future, we have set the destination of our first voyage to Mars.
The round-trip voyage will take 180 days. According to the plan, it will take 80 days to reach Mars, where we will perform three core missions: manned landing, resource exploration, and the launch of deep-space explorers, before returning..."
Blah blah blah... Gu Yunfan briefly introduced the mission and duration of "Shenlong No. 1," then explained the various technologies of the Controllable Nuclear Fusion Spaceship, essentially conducting a public promotion under the gaze of the entire world.
Scientists from all over the world were shocked and paled upon hearing this!
"Shenlong No. 1" is a completely epoch-making and disruptive aerospace product. In its presence, all other spacecraft pale in comparison, like a pile of scrap metal!
Whoosh—
The pale blue tail flame stretched out in space. "Shenlong No. 1" was like a brilliant star cutting through the darkness, heading toward the distant galaxy to fulfill its mission... Since then, heads of state from all over the world have lined up with luxurious delegations to visit the Dragon Kingdom. The successful launch of "Shenlong No. 1" symbolizes that the Dragon Kingdom has comprehensively surpassed the United States in the field of science and technology, becoming the world's number one scientific and technological power.
In the economic field, the Dragon Kingdom's GDP growth in the first half of the year was as high as 22% year-on-year, and the gap with the United States is narrowing. If it can maintain 22% in the second half of the year, it will be basically on par with the United States.
Judging from the current international situation, the GDP growth rate in the second half of the year will definitely not be lower than 22%. The Dragon Kingdom is only one step away from the top of the world!
Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, it was October 25th.
In the ink-black deep space, a wisp of pale blue tail flame slowly narrowed. After 80 days, "Shenlong No. 1," like a hovering giant silver-winged ship, parked steadily in Mars' low orbit.
In zero gravity, Murong Yan looked out the porthole and shook her head in amazement: "Oh my god... it's all red... so spectacular... it's even more shocking than the Marsscenes in movies..."
Having sailed for 80 days, the four sisters—Murong Yan, Wei Zixia, Amiya, and Jiang Ruoxi—did not feel it was long at all, as they admired the cosmic beauty every day.
Due to the great distance from Earth, the communication and navigation signals were weak. Therefore, Gu Yunfanfirst ordered the technical staff to launch communication and navigation satellites exclusive to Mars. This would allow them to maintain good contact with Earth and support operations such as on-site exploration and mineral transport after the manned landing.
After the successful launch, Jiang Ruoxi called the Earth launch center and successfully connected. Upon learning that they had safely arrived in the designated orbit of Mars, the ground staff cheered wildly, and Jiang Yujunand Shen Yinuo wept with joy.
With everything prepared, Shenlong No. 1 opened the live broadcast room again to broadcast the manned landing on Mars to Earth.
"Shenlong No. 1 reporting to ground. We have arrived at the Mars parking orbit. Orbital parameters are stable, nuclear fusion engine is on standby, and all landing module checks meet standards. Requesting to start the manned landing procedure."
"Landing procedure authorized. Good luck to everyone!"
As the command was given, the side hatch of the Shenlong No. 1 hull slowly opened. A silver-gray landing module, equipped with small nuclear fusion auxiliary power, slowly emerged and dived toward Mars' crimson atmosphere like an arrow from a bow.
This is the "Houyi" landing module, specifically designed for Mars landings. Its heat shield is covered with high-temperature-resistant material, capable of withstanding thousands of degrees when passing through the Martian atmosphere. Inside the module, Gu Yunfan, Jiang Ruoxi, and six astronauts were advancing toward this unknown crimson land.
[Oh my god!! A live broadcast of a manned landing on Mars??]
[Is this something I'm actually allowed to watch?? God Gu, please take my knees!!]
[It's like watching a sci-fi movie! No! This scene is a hundred times more shocking than a Hollywood blockbuster!!!]
[Oh my! It looks so scary. The landing module looks like a fireball rushing toward Mars. If it crashes into the ground, can they even survive??]
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—
The outer wall of the landing module rubbed violently against the thin atmosphere. Orange flames ignited outside the pale blue plasma shield, wrapping it in a crimson coat of fire as it drew a dazzling trajectory across the Martian sky.
The live broadcast switched to the inside of the landing module. Gu Yunfan lightly pressed the control keys, his eyes fixed on the landing coordinates, while Jiang Ruoxiand the other astronauts performed their respective duties.
"Altitude 100 kilometers, atmospheric friction normal, heat shield temperature controllable."
"Altitude 50 kilometers, opening parachute, attitude stable."
"Altitude 10 kilometers, nuclear fusion retro-engine started, beginning hover deceleration."
The giant parachute opened in the Martian sky, pulling the landing module down slowly. At low altitude, the parachute detached, and the retro-engines at the bottom of the landing module emitted a soft pale blue airflow, precisely counteracting Mars' gravity. The landing module began to hover and translate slowly toward a flat area.
At this moment, the eyes of the world were focused on the live broadcast screen—
On the crimson land of Mars, red sand and soil rose and fell. Scattered craters cast shadows in the sunlight, and distant dunes were carved into smooth patterns by the Martian wind.
"Altitude 100 meters, landing spot confirmed, no obstacles."
"Altitude 50 meters, 30 meters, 10 meters..."
"Retro-thrust adjusted to minimum, preparing to land."
At the final moment, the retro-airflow kicked up a circle of fine dust on the sand beneath the landing module. Then, with a soft "click," the landing struts firmly touched the Martian soil.
Gu Yunfan, Jiang Ruoxi, and the other astronauts looked at each other and smiled, letting out a breath of relief after the lingering fear.
The hatch opened slowly, and a breeze carrying the unique scent of Martian sand brushed against their faces. Gu Yunfan, wearing a white spacesuit, took the first step and stepped onto the crimson sand.
Gu Yunfan planted the national flag in the soil and solemnly announced through the communicator: "This is the Dragon Kingdom's Shenlong No. 1 manned landing team. On October 25, 2029, we successfully landed on Mars. From this point on, human deep-space exploration enters the nuclear fusion era!"
The voice traveled through the Martian atmosphere, across hundreds of millions of kilometers of deep space, and reached Earth—
Boom—
The whole country erupted in joy!!!
A global earthquake!!!
...February 2, 2030 AD, New Year's Eve on the lunar calendar.
"Shenlong No. 1" completed its mission, and the return module landed steadily on the recovery ship's dedicated buffer deck at sea.
Excited staff rushed forward, unlocked the hatch latches, and deployed the protective ladder. The sea breeze outside, carrying a salty and damp scent, drifted into the cabin. That was the smell of Earth, the scent of home etched into their bones and blood.
Gu Yunfan stepped out of the return module, took off his space helmet, and smiled slightly. His tired eyes held an irrepressible joy.
"Daddy! My daddy is back!!"
"Ho ho! My daddy is a space hero!!"
In an unguarded moment, Dabao pulled Second Baby and rushed out of the crowd toward Gu Yunfan. Seeing this, Sanbao and Sibao also ran over.
Jiang Yujun, Shen Yinuo, and An Lingran did not stop them. Gu Yunfan had discussed it with them; from now on, they would live their lives openly. With his current international status and contributions to humanity, there was no longer a need to hide. The world is always tolerant toward the strong.
Zhao Siqing, holding her five-month-old baby, said excitedly: "Wake up, baby... your daddy is back~"
Jiang Yujun led the sisters along with the Director of the National Science and Technology Administration, the Director of the National Energy Administration, the Director of the National Space Administration, the Mayor of Jing City, and the Mayor of Island City to greet them excitedly.
Click, click, click... the shutter sounds of major media outlets from home and abroad rose and fell.
"Hubby~, welcome home~"
Jiang Yujun, with tears in her eyes, publicly called him her husband.
"Wife, it's been a long time~" Gu Yunfan picked up Dabaoand Second Baby with his left arm, and Sanbao and Sibaowith his right, and walked forward slowly with the three sisters: Jiang Ruoxi, Wei Zixia, and Amiya.
The family came together and accepted an interview facing the live broadcast camera.
The CCTV reporter's eyes shone: "Congratulations on your triumphant return, President Gu! Is there anything you would like to say to the national and overseas audiences?"
"Friends of the Dragon Kingdom, Happy New Year to everyone~"
Gu Yunfan said calmly: "Friends from all over the world, hello. Only after leaving Earth does one realize how beautiful it is. Here, I would like to make a wish as a deep-space explorer.
May humanity have no more wars. May gunfire no longer tear through the firmament, and may smoke no longer obscure the starry sky.
May there be more tolerance and collaboration between nations, and less estrangement and conflict. With common dreams, let us explore the mysteries of the universe hand in hand.
May we all protect this blue planet, so that her azure glow will always shine among the stars, and human civilization will continue to thrive through exploration!"
...The End: Thank you very much, dear readers, for your love and companionship throughout this book. The author's skill is limited, and I hope you will be patient with any shortcomings. This little author will continue to work hard and strive to create even better stories.
Finally, I wish all you handsome guys a Happy New Year~. I hope everyone is safe and healthy, successful in their studies, and gets rich overnight in the coming year!