Sheng Jiangchen was a person of great initiative. After deciding on a location and developing recruitment software, people were soon clocking in at the new office building in the high-tech zone.
However, these employees had no idea what they were supposed to be doing.
Sheng Jiangchen spent more than half a month preparing everything. After reporting to Zhu Nian, he invited her to visit the new company.
The company was named "Future Stars," reflecting Sheng Jiangchen's aspirations for his own technology empire. Yet, to the new employees who had been lured in, it all seemed like unrealistic pie-in-the-sky promises.
Zhu Nian had anticipated this situation. She had exchanged several conversations with Uncle Sheng during this time, and the research institute had decided to send a few people over for exchange and learning. With the endorsement of these researchers, who held significant titles, the employees finally listened as Zhu Nian painted her grand vision.
Finally, Zhu Nian addressed them, "Everything you have heard today will become reality within the next few decades. I know it all sounds distant to you, much like people on horseback in the Qing Dynasty two hundred years ago and people in Western cars at that time. While living in the same era, they seemed a century apart. You might think I'm just making empty promises, but how can you know that one day, the 'pie' I draw can actually be picked up and eaten?"
As she spoke, she reached out to the 3D projector in front of her, and a tripod that had been projected moments ago appeared in her hand.
The crowd watched, dumbfounded, thinking it was real. But then she put it back, and with a few quick taps on the projection, a highly abstract object appeared. It was a three-dimensional spatial structure, shaped somewhat like a thermometer, narrow at the top and wide at the bottom, with different layers inside, accompanied by the corresponding substances for each layer.
"This is the first thing we will be researching: an energy detector that can sense people's negative emotions. The project duration is 45 days. I hope everyone works hard."
The crowd: "..."
They were completely in the dark.
But when two researchers broke down everything in front of them, they found it so logical and simple, as if they could have done it themselves immediately. Sudana Novel Network.
Of course, that was just wishful thinking.
Giving tangible form to invisible energy was an inherently complex process. Some suggested using sound, others color, and some the intensity of light...
Zhu Nian let them deliberate.
Sheng Jiangchen asked, puzzled, "Shouldn't we be researching robots? Why are we working on that thing? It sounds so complicated."
Zhu Nian, unfazed, continued to persuade, "We are going to research robots, and robots that can think independently. We want them to have emotions and be able to communicate with people without barriers. Of course, the prerequisite for that is researching human emotions. What's the problem with that?"
Sheng Jiangchen thought for a moment and shook his head, "No problem."
"Let them speculate freely. Any suggestion could become reality. These 45 days are also their probation period. After 45 days, we will have our first batch of employees."
Sheng Jiangchen replied in a muffled voice, "Got it."
"Are you unhappy?"
"I feel like I can't help much."
Zhu Nian pondered for a moment, "You can work on designing robot models. What kind do children like? What kind do adults like? And what kind should care for the elderly?"
Sheng Jiangchen's eyes lit up, "That's right! I'm going to design a Superman robot for myself!"
Zhu Nian: "..." As long as you're happy.
---
"Cut!"
The director shouted through the megaphone, "Prepare for the next scene, touch up the actors' makeup."
They were currently filming the scene where the female lead, played by Tang Moer, is killed by the male lead. This scene demanded high acting skills from both actors. The male lead, under duress and with no other choice, kills his wife to "prove his path," while the female lead, heartbroken, awakens her innate talent and enters the path of detachment.
Zhu Chongyan sat on a small stool nearby, watching. Seeing the two actors quickly immerse themselves in their roles and complete the scene in two takes, he felt a sense of inadequacy.
He knew he hadn't reached that level yet.
Acting required both talent and acquired effort. He had some talent, and his face was a gift from heaven, but he had never systematically studied acting. More often than not, he had to rely on his own exploration, making him no match for those who had been in the industry for over a decade.
Just as he was feeling dejected, Zhu Nian's hand landed on his shoulder.
"What's wrong?"
"You're back!"
His sense of inadequacy vanished. Seeing Zhu Nian, he couldn't help but feel happy. "Weren't you at the new zone?"
"I was, and I'm back," Zhu Nian said, pulling him up. "Have you eaten?"
"Yes."
She pulled him along, "I haven't yet. Come with me."
"Then wait a moment, I'll tell the director."
Zhu Chongyan hurried over to inform the director. The actor playing the male lead's master had joined the cast, and they were reshooting his scenes for the past two days. Zhu Chongyan's character had little interaction with the male lead, and he had only heard of this new actor's reputation, with no direct scenes together.
So, the director waved him away.
The two left the film set hand in hand.
Zhu Chongyan was wearing a casual t-shirt and jeans, while Zhu Nian was in the formal attire she had worn to the morning meeting. The contrast between their outfits was jarring. Thus, when a photo of them appeared online, it sparked numerous comments about a "female entrepreneur keeping a younger man."
Zhu Chongyan had only recently gained a bit of popularity due to a previous incident, and with the high buzz surrounding the "Immortal Fate" drama, he was frequently trending. Such a photo, though it didn't reach the top spot, made it into the top ten.
Zhu Chongyan was almost cursed to death.
The person who leaked the photo likely feared Zhu Nian and had no intention of implicating her, focusing the entire narrative on speculation and guidance about the young man from the recent scandal being kept by a middle-aged female entrepreneur.
Even Sheng Jiangchen would have coughed up three liters of blood upon seeing it.
With Zhu Nian's permission, her assistant posted a frontal photo of Zhu Nian from her meeting that day, circling her waist in the online photo which had been deliberately enlarged, and comparing it to her normal picture.
The accompanying text read: "This should be a female CEO. Our President Gu's waist isn't that thick. Next time, do not maliciously photoshop her. A lawyer's letter warning against damaging President Gu's reputation! Also, when will President Gu send the wedding candies she promised? The gift money is ready."
Zhu Nian retweeted her assistant's Weibo post and responded: "Soon."
As soon as the principal party appeared, the rumors instantly crumbled. Those who had previously made wild speculations were met with mockery and sheepishly deleted their comments.
However, just as this matter was concluding, Gu's father made an appearance. He directly used the official Weibo account of Gu Corporation to post a statement, explicitly telling Zhu Chongyan not to pester his daughter and not to harbor any delusions of becoming a phoenix by climbing onto a branch. He stated that Zhu Nian would inherit Gu Corporation in the future, and he was nothing.
Zhu Nian instantly wished she could kill him.
She also retweeted Gu father's Weibo post with the caption: "I am currently at @FutureStars and have no plans to switch jobs. The 13% shares in @GuCorporation given to me by my mother, I will sell them all and donate the proceeds to six charitable organizations including the A City Hope Light Association for the Disabled. Charity, together with you!"