"...What?!"
Upon hearing this, Chen Mo suddenly let out a startled cry, his eyes widening in shock. Even the dizziness caused by the beer moments earlier vanished in an instant. His body jolted, and he immediately sobered up.
Then...
He couldn't help but stand up, his lips trembling slightly.
The military had finally taken the bait.
Excellent!
Truly wonderful.
He had been waiting for this moment for a long time.
For Black Domain Technologies to make the leap and transform into an arms dealer, it first had to obtain a military production license. Now that the military had taken the initiative to reach out, could that license still be far behind?
"Chen Mo, why are you jumping around like that all of a sudden?"
Tian Tian frowned slightly, looking up at him before lowering her head again to continue eating barbecue. In one hand she held a chicken drumstick, in the other a grilled squid skewer. Beside her was a half-drunk bottle of beer, and her lips were greasy with sauce.
It didn't look elegant.
But she did seem adorably gluttonous.
This was the first time Tian Tian had ever shown such an unladylike side, though she didn't even seem to notice.
"I'm just happy," Chen Mo said with a smile.
"Because of the barbecue and beer? Well, I'm happy too." Tian Tian's cheeks were flushed. She set down her squid skewer, grabbed the beer bottle, and raised it high.
Clink!
Chen Mo raised his beer to clink with hers, his eyes lingering on her rosy cheeks.
Why do I feel like something's off?
Why is her face so red?
Just then, the calm, mechanical voice of Red Queen rang through his earpiece.
"Master. I suddenly think there's no need to return to Black Domain Technologies so soon. You could just stay at a hotel tonight."
"…Why?" Chen Mo turned his head slightly and spoke softly into the wireless earpiece.
"Because your personal life is important. Based on my data analysis, there is a 90% chance Tian Tian is interested in you. Now that she's been drinking… As the saying goes, alcohol leads to poor decisions. If you were to take her to a hotel now, the probability of success is 100%."
"Shut up! Tian Tian and I have a very professional superior-subordinate relationship!"
With a snort of annoyance, Red Queen tactfully disappeared from his ear.
Chen Mo collected himself and looked at Tian Tian. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes slightly dazed—like a bashful girl. Something really did seem off about her.
Damn.
What am I even thinking?
She's your teacher, for crying out loud!
Chen Mo forcefully pushed those thoughts aside, though he still couldn't help sneaking glances at Tian Tian's black stockings.
"..."
This is all Red Queen's fault for planting weird thoughts in my head.
Originally, Chen Mo had wanted to eat a bit more barbecue before heading back. But now, he thought better of it. Both of them were like dry wood and fire—if they lost control and did something they'd regret, it would be a mess.
So Chen Mo half-dragged Tian Tian back to Black Domain Technologies. He'd thought about taking her back to her dorm, but he didn't even know where it was. In the end, he brought her straight to the company building.
After all, it had everything—offices, rest areas, beds, and people to look after her.
When He Xiaoxiao saw Chen Mo and Tian Tian return, she immediately came to greet them. Her eyes took on a strange expression as they landed on the two of them.
Chen Mo's clothes were neat—nothing unusual.
But Tian Tian... what the heck?
Her clothes were rumpled, her face red, eyes dazed, and she was leaning entirely on Chen Mo. A faint smell of alcohol lingered on her.
Drinking?
Could it be that…?
Tian Tian was the company's CEO, and she had never been involved in any rumors. Always aloof and untouchable.
Had she just been… claimed by Chen Mo?
"..."
So envious!
The boss and the CEO.
They actually looked like a perfect match—made for each other!
He Xiaoxiao's heart soured with jealousy.
…
At that moment, Chen Mo's calm voice rang out.
"Help Tian Tian to a room to rest."
"Huh? Oh!"
He Xiaoxiao nodded dumbly, but as if suddenly remembering something, she quickly added:
"Don't worry, Senior Chen. I won't tell anyone what happened between you and Miss Tian!"
"..."
What the hell!
What misunderstanding is this?!
Nothing happened between me and Tian Tian!
Chen Mo was filled with frustration. He wanted to explain, but He Xiaoxiao had already taken Tian Tian away. In the end, he could only give up. Situations like this were impossible to clarify—the more you explained, the worse it sounded.
Chen Mo returned to the ninth-floor experimental building. With a wave of his hand, Red Queen's hologram appeared, alongside a virtual display window.
"Red Queen, where are the military personnel now?" Chen Mo asked calmly.
"They've entered Haicheng."
As Red Queen spoke, the screen immediately displayed a video feed of the military team. Deep black custom jeeps with license plates starting with "Army V." In the lead vehicle sat two men and a woman.
The two men were in the back. The woman was driving.
Red Queen had helpfully added labels beside each person's image.
As Chen Mo watched the video, he could see each person's identity.
On the left was an older man, probably in his fifties, with sharp, intelligent eyes. Chen Mo recognized him from past documentaries and films.
That was Li Aiguo, director of the 404 Military Research Institute.
On the right was a soldier in uniform, whose shoulders bore so many stars that they could barely fit.
Clearly, a high-ranking officer.
According to the floating ID tags, he was Long Zhan, commander of the Eastern Theater Command.
Chen Mo's body stiffened, his scalp tingling. One was the director of a major military research institute, the other was a top military commander. These were the kinds of people he could only dream of meeting in the past.
But now, they were personally coming to visit him at Black Domain Technologies.
Damn!
They really were taking him seriously.
A single prototype of the ultra-intelligent robotic arm had drawn these two giants out.
Chen Mo silently cursed, then steadied his emotions. No matter what, he was no longer that insignificant nobody. From now on, he would be dealing with more and more major players. As long as he kept his composure, it would be fine.
After all, we're all human.
No need to fear anyone.
And when Black Domain Technologies rose to the top of the world, it would be everyone else looking up to him.
Finally, he turned his gaze to the woman driving—the only female in the jeep. According to Red Queen's data, her name was Long Yue'er, and she held the rank of Major.