An Awakened Marching Ant

Army Ant Company.

Zhao Min was looking over the financial reports, her expression calm.

Thanks to the office software, the company had earned over two million yuan in revenue over the past two months. Feedback from users had also been excellent. At the very least, it offered a more comfortable and smoother experience than other office software.

Office software could only serve as a transitional product. Though its features were stronger, the competition was too fierce. Many people were already used to their current office software and would not switch anytime soon.

The company's next source of profit would lie in smartphones. As long as the phones sold well, money would not be a problem.

She was currently using one of the newly produced phones. Even she had fallen in love with its exquisite appearance at first sight. It was soft yet elegant, appealing to both men and women.

She believed that once the phone and its operating system hit the market, they would definitely be well received.

Preparations for the Army Ant System and smartphone launch event had begun five days ago. By her calculations, the setup should have been completed today.

While Zhao Min was reviewing the financial reports, her assistant, Xiao Li, knocked and entered.

"President Zhao, Minister Li sent word that preparations for the product launch are complete. It can begin tomorrow."

"Alright."

Zhao Min set down the financial reports in her hand and dialed Chen Mo's number.

Ever since taking over Army Ant Company, she had been preparing for the product launch. A brand-new smartphone operating system was no ordinary product. If handled properly, the company would become famous overnight.

And now they also had the Army Ant smartphone. Barring any surprises, these two products would be enough to get Army Ant into the smartphone market.

At first, she had not chosen to release the phone system immediately.

The market was a place that devoured people without even spitting out their bones. If they released it rashly without adequate preparation, they could very well be blocked by major capital, making every step of their development difficult.

"Chairman," Zhao Min said after the call connected.

"What is it?"

In the shop, Chen Mo put down his pen and stretched.

"The Army Ant System launch event is ready. It will be held at the Marriott Hotel tomorrow. Do you want to go onstage and give a speech? This is a chance to show your face. Becoming renowned far and wide would not be an exaggeration," Zhao Min said.

"I'll pass. I'll just watch you from below. I'll leave the launch event to you," Chen Mo said.

"Why?"

"I don't like having so many people paying attention to me. Otherwise, it'll disrupt my rhythm."

"Alright then. See you tomorrow, low-key Chairman." Zhao Min was not surprised by Chen Mo's answer. Over this period, she had gained a rough understanding of his style.

After hanging up, Chen Mo lowered his head and continued researching computer programming languages.

Two months had already passed since he obtained the book on creating programming languages.

During that time, Chen Mo had spent his days researching. Every day, he came to the shop to design the characters for the Chinese Character Programming Language.

Whenever someone came by to have a phone repaired, he would stop and work on it for a while, balancing work and rest.

Researching computer programming languages was no simple field of study. The foundations of any discipline appeared simple, but were actually extremely complex, especially for its pioneers.

The design of a single keyword required consideration from many angles. Sometimes, he could not come up with even one keyword in an entire day.

What made it even more troublesome was the intricacy of Chinese characters, whose expressions and combinations were endlessly complex.

To better design the characters and expression methods of the Chinese Character Programming Language, Chen Mo had even gone through books on Chinese language and literature.

The design of keywords, along with complete data types and calculation methods, required all kinds of complex settings to be woven through Chen Mo's mind.

Once he entered the zone, all sorts of keywords, characters, and phrases flashed through his mind.

The notebook beneath his pen was also filled with complicated lines. It contained all kinds of writing that looked chaotic, yet faintly followed a certain pattern.

Before a keyword could be included in the keyword list, its meaning and function first had to be defined.

After an unknown amount of time, Chen Mo's thoughts were interrupted by Xiao Yu's voice. When he looked up, he saw Xiao Yu walking into the shop with a lunchbox in her hand.

Seeing Xiao Yu, Chen Mo smiled knowingly.

"Time to eat. You skip meals every time. Are you made of iron? It's almost seven already." Xiao Yu's tone carried a hint of reproach.

"I knew you'd bring me food."

"So if I don't bring it one day, are you planning to starve to death?"

"Could you bear to let that happen?"

"You smooth talker."

Xiao Yu laughed. She could do nothing about Chen Mo, so she could only sit beside him and pick up her chopsticks to eat as well.

"Xiao Yu, how about moving out and living with me?" Chen Mo said while eating. He had been considering this for a long time and was only bringing it up now.

"You really want me to move out?" Xiao Yu asked with a smile.

"Of course. I dream about it. I don't even know when to eat my three meals these days. I need someone to remind me." Chen Mo's eyes lit up. The fact that Xiao Yu said this meant there was a chance.

Xiao Yu merely smiled at Chen Mo's expectant gaze and did not give him an answer.

From Xiao Yu's expression, Chen Mo knew it was not happening for now. But since she had not rejected him outright, there was still plenty of hope. Maybe one day, she would agree to move out.

After dinner, Chen Mo packed up, closed the shop, and left with Xiao Yu. This had become their usual routine lately. Whenever people saw them together, they were filled with envy.

"Xiao Yu, I have something to do tomorrow. I'm taking the day off, so the shop won't open."

"Mm," Xiao Yu replied.

"You're not going to ask where I'm going?" Chen Mo asked.

"You're not going off to rob and murder people, are you?"

"How could I? With such a smart and virtuous girlfriend, why would I still go robbing and committing arson? Only someone with a problem in their head would do that."

Xiao Yu wrapped her arms around Chen Mo's waist and leaned against his back. "Smooth talker. Take me for a walk by the sea."

"Aren't you afraid we'll lose track of time again?"

"In your dreams."

The next day, Chen Mo spent some time researching the Chinese Character Programming Language in his rented apartment. In the afternoon, he changed into a casual T-shirt, slung his laptop bag over his shoulder, and left.

Today was the official public release of the Army Ant System. Though he, the chairman, would not be going onstage, he still had to go take a look.

The Marriott Hotel was one of Bin Hai City's five-star hotels. Its prices were not low, but Zhao Min had chosen it for the sake of a respectable launch event.

The release of the Army Ant System and smartphone was no small matter. It needed a more formal venue.

Chen Mo took a taxi to the Marriott Hotel and checked the time.

The launch event was scheduled for two o'clock, with twenty minutes remaining. Chen Mo saw people filing into the Marriott Hotel one after another. Quite a few were reporters carrying cameras and bags.

Chen Mo followed them inside and soon arrived at the launch venue.

There were not many people at the venue. Of the more than five hundred seats, fewer than half were occupied, and there were quite a few staff members as well. The event had not officially begun yet. Some reporters were adjusting their equipment, while others were simply playing mobile games.

An Awakened Marching Ant!

A line of large calligraphic characters was displayed on the screen, its light and dark strokes blending together with controlled elegance. Combined with the futuristic technological backdrop behind it, the fusion of calligraphy and technology was pleasing to the eye.

This was the theme of the launch event.

After glancing at the screen, Chen Mo's eyes lit up. He found a seat in a corner and quietly waited for the event to begin.

Happy Mid-Autumn Festival, everyone.