Open Source?

With Zhao Min at the helm, the company had gradually gotten on track. After taking over the company from Chen Mo, she began gathering some of the capable employees from before.

Together with the newly recruited staff, they could barely keep the company running after just ten short days.

Zhao Min sat in her office, carefully reading the documents in her hands. Across from her stood a pretty woman dressed in formal business attire.

"Xiao Li, notify Director Li. We'll recruit more people at the job fairs held by major universities, but they must strictly meet the company's hiring standards."

Zhao Min handed the documents back to the female office worker. "Also, we're still short-staffed right now, so go help out in administration for the time being."

"Understood, President." Xiao Li took the documents and left the office.

Only after Xiao Li left did Zhao Min rub her brow and take a sip from the teacup beside her.

The company had only just started up, and there were plenty of troublesome matters to handle.

Chen Mo, the chairman, did not manage anything at all and had dumped every responsibility on her.

Zhao Min was suffering and enjoying it at the same time. There was a lot of work now, but she had the final say in company affairs and no longer had to hold herself back as she once did.

Knock, knock, knock! Not long after, there was a knock on the door. Chen Mo entered the office with a backpack on his back and a document in hand.

"What a rare sight, Chairman."

The surprise in Zhao Min's eyes was obvious when she saw Chen Mo.

Chen Mo had come by once when the company rented its office space, but she had not even seen his shadow these past few days. The two had only communicated by phone, so she had not expected him to come in person today.

"Is the company very busy?"

As soon as Chen Mo entered, he placed the documents in his hand before Zhao Min.

"Obviously. We've just started, and we don't have enough staff. The company's data center, servers, recruitment—do you think everyone is as idle as you? We're preparing to visit major universities to recruit fresh graduates." Zhao Min took the documents Chen Mo handed over and flipped through them.

"Honestly, I haven't been idle either. I've been working on the second product," Chen Mo said.

The moment Chen Mo finished speaking, Zhao Min immediately perked up.

"When will it be finished? We can't release the mobile operating system yet. The company isn't big enough, and we're seriously short on talent. If we release it now, we'll be an easy target. If we have another product, we can release that first. Once the company gains a foothold, the mobile operating system can send us soaring."

"That's exactly what I thought, so I've been rushing to finish the second product these past few days."

"What is the second product?" Zhao Min asked.

"Office software." Chen Mo placed a USB drive in front of Zhao Min. "It's completely finished. Its features are similar to WPS and Office, but it also has a simple image-processing feature. All the materials are inside."

Over this period, Chen Mo had spent every day hiding away and coding the office software and designing its interface. Fortunately, he was only copying things. If he had needed to design every interface himself, it would have been quite troublesome.

"Really?" Zhao Min asked skeptically.

"This is my company. What do I gain by lying to you?"

Chen Mo was amused by Zhao Min's reaction. He plugged the USB drive into her office computer and directly took over her seat.

Before long, a piece of software appeared on the desktop, its icon a cartoon ant.

"Ant Office?"

Zhao Min's eyes lit up as she looked at the icon and opened the software.

The office software was similar to WPS, differing mainly in its interface, but it had more functions than WPS. It supported conversions for formats such as PDF. It also included an image-processing function, like a simplified version of Photoshop with slightly more functions than Meitu. That feature was particularly eye-catching.

The interface layout was very pleasing to the eye, and anyone who had used WPS or Office could get the hang of it easily.

"You made this?" Zhao Min pointed at the computer.

"Yeah. Hurry up and praise me."

Rattle, rattle... Zhao Min opened a drawer and rummaged through it, making Chen Mo blink. "What are you doing?"

"Looking for scissors."

"What do you need scissors for?"

"To praise you."

Chen Mo's hair stood on end in fright. "Calm down! Even if you don't want to praise me, there's no need to get this worked up, right?"

"Did you really develop this?" Zhao Min still found it hard to believe.

"Don't make such a fuss. There'll definitely be more products than just these in the future," Chen Mo said.

"Let's talk business. I'll report on the company's work and expenses now." Zhao Min sat down on the office sofa as well.

"No need. I trust you," Chen Mo said. "You have the final say in company matters."

"Those words are really touching. Aren't you afraid your girlfriend will find out that her boyfriend says things like that to another woman?" Zhao Min said with a half-smile.

"It's fine even if she knows. I didn't come here to listen to your work report. I came to deliver the product."

Chen Mo pointed at the USB drive on the desk.

"This office software is already mature. It has both a PC version and a mobile version. The key is how you promote it. We can use this time to stabilize the company and lay the groundwork for the mobile operating system's release."

"As for the Army Ant System, I've entrusted an agency to apply for international patents. Will you license it, enter the mobile phone market, or open-source it?"

"Not open-source," Chen Mo said.

Umbrella Corporation had opened the source code of the Android System. Because of open-source licensing agreements, it was now losing control over the Android System. Domestic phone manufacturers had continually optimized their products based on Android, and Umbrella Corporation had publicly criticized third-party customized systems such as the Da Mi System for damaging the Android ecosystem.

Seeing Apple make a fortune from the Apple System, Umbrella Corporation's newer Android System updates were gradually tightening its control over Android.

The latest version of Android had already consolidated the fragmented system and imposed strict modularization. The goal was to gradually reclaim control over the Android System.

If the Army Ant System were open-sourced as well, its unique architecture would certainly attract developers' interest. Some might even develop computer operating systems based on the Army Ant System.

Once the Army Ant ecosystem spread out, even if it defeated Android, reclaiming control in the future would definitely be troublesome. That was why Chen Mo had never considered open-sourcing it.

"Then we'll enter the mobile phone market," Zhao Min said. "Our mobile operating system is better than the Apple System. With high specifications and low prices, we have a certain advantage."

"That works." Chen Mo thought for a moment. "Leave the phone design to me."

"Can you handle it?" Zhao Min looked at Chen Mo skeptically.

"Can a man ever say he can't?"

"That's hard to say. After all, you're just a little brother." Zhao Min teased.

Chen Mo's face darkened. He was certain Zhao Min had done that on purpose.

"Since you say you can handle it, I'll leave the phone design to you. I need to recruit people. The company is still too small, and we don't have enough talent," Zhao Min said before Chen Mo could respond.

After Zhao Min got busy with company matters, Chen Mo headed back to school alone.

He was very reassured about Zhao Min. Since she was willing to help him manage the company, he would naturally trust her completely.

He made his way back to the library.

Xiao Yu was already seated inside the library. The accountant certification exam was drawing near, and whenever she had free time, she came here.

After browsing the shelves for quite a while, Chen Mo carried over a stack of telecommunications books and sat down beside Xiao Yu.

"You're here."

Only after Chen Mo sat down did Xiao Yu raise her head and give him a sweet smile.

"I came to keep my girlfriend company," Chen Mo said with a smile.

"I'm sorry. I need to prepare for the accountant certification exam during this time, so I won't have much time to spend with you." Xiao Yu looked at Chen Mo apologetically.

"Instead of apologizing, why not give me something more practical?" Chen Mo whispered in her ear.

"Sit properly. This is a library." Xiao Yu blushed, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. "Once this busy period is over, I'll give you a surprise."

"Really? What surprise?"

"You'll find out then." Xiao Yu glanced at the books on Chen Mo's desk. "You were reading physics books last time. Why are you reading telecommunications books now?"

"Once I learn enough, I can repair your computer."

At the mention of repairing computers, Xiao Yu chuckled softly. The incident with the virus on her computer last time had caused such an absurd misunderstanding that it was still funny to think about.

After chatting quietly for a while, Chen Mo turned his attention to his books. Xiao Yu watched his focused profile, and her gaze softened.