Going Home!

Chen Mo rode his bicycle furiously toward the school dormitory area. Quite a few students carrying luggage hurried along around him.

The exams had ended yesterday, and Binhai University was officially on break. Xiao Yu had booked a ticket for tonight as well. When they had gone out last night, he had already promised Xiao Yu that he would see her off today. He had nearly missed the time, luckily remembering to check it at the last moment.

He sped into the dormitory area on his bicycle and spotted Xiao Yu waiting in the cold wind from afar.

"Xiao Yu, I'm sorry. I got too busy and almost forgot the time." Stopping in front of her, Chen Mo took Xiao Yu's ice-cold hand and enclosed it in his own.

"I was wondering how I should punish you."

Xiao Yu let Chen Mo hold her hand. She had been somewhat angry, but the sight of his distressed expression made it vanish instantly, and a sweet smile appeared on her face.

"Punish me however you want."

Chen Mo took the suitcase from Xiao Yu and pulled her toward the school gates.

"Ride me there."

Xiao Yu pointed at Li Ruoxi's little scooter nearby, took out the keys, and handed them to Chen Mo.

"It's cold. Taking a taxi means you won't have to face the wind."

"I'm not cold. My punishment is for you to take me there, then ride back in the cold wind by yourself." Xiao Yu smiled.

"Fine, I accept my punishment."

Chen Mo took the keys from Xiao Yu, placed her small suitcase in the front, and had barely sat down when Xiao Yu climbed on behind him and wrapped her arms tightly around him.

"Hurry up. If I miss the time, you're dead."

Xiao Yu buried her head against his back, her voice carrying a threat. What Chen Mo could not see was that her eyes had curved into crescents.

"Hold on tight."

Chen Mo gave her a reminder, started the little scooter, and headed out of the school.

Winter had long since arrived. Cold winds swept through the streets, and with night approaching, pedestrians out shopping were all wrapped in thick down jackets.

Xiao Yu nestled against Chen Mo's back, her entire body pressed close to his.

"Once I get home, you should head back early too."

"Okay." Chen Mo nodded. "After you get back, call me if you miss me."

"As if I'd miss you, narcissist." Xiao Yu tightened her arms around Chen Mo's waist. "After New Year's, I'll mail you your surprise."

"You said it, so I'll remember it. Can you tell me in advance what the surprise is?" Chen Mo asked.

"You figure it out yourself."

"When you go home this time, don't let your family drag you off on blind dates."

"Do you want to die or not?" Xiao Yu laughed at Chen Mo's teasing and gave his back a hard slap. "A blind date would be great. I'll find someone taller, richer, and more handsome than you."

"I admit there are plenty of people taller than me. But someone more handsome than me? That might not be easy to find."

"Shameless." Xiao Yu lay against Chen Mo's back, giggling. "Then I'll find someone richer than you."

"Someone richer than me would be even harder to find."

"So, are you a millionaire or a multimillionaire?"

"As long as I have you, that's enough. You're priceless. I wouldn't sell you for any amount of money." Chen Mo grinned.

At those words, Xiao Yu's face instantly turned bright red. Her face resting against Chen Mo's back wore a sweet smile. "I've noticed you've become quite the smooth talker. Everything you say is so cheesy. Do you say things like that to other girls too?"

"How could I? I only say them to you."

"Shameless."

The wind on the road was bitter, so Chen Mo slowed down. By the time they arrived at the station, his face was practically frozen stiff. Xiao Yu, however, was fine, her cheeks even a little rosy.

After collecting the ticket, the two headed to the waiting area.

"There are still ten minutes before boarding. You got lucky this time and made it in time." Xiao Yu checked the time, took a black-and-white scarf from her bag, and wrapped it directly around Chen Mo's neck. "This is your gift. Be careful on the way back and don't let yourself freeze. I'm going now."

"Call me when you get home."

Only after Xiao Yu passed the ticket check and boarded the train did Chen Mo return to the school to give Li Ruoxi back her little scooter. By the time he returned to his rental apartment, it was already evening. After taking a quick shower, he turned on his computer and continued the research from that afternoon.

Many people worried that the maturity of Artificial Intelligence would bring great chaos to the modern world. Many feared scenes from movies in which Artificial Intelligence controlled the world would come true, and some even called for Artificial Intelligence research to be stopped.

But Artificial Intelligence was a trend in the future development of technology. That trend would not stop because of some people's worries. Nor would any country abandon Artificial Intelligence research.

The next day, after dressing neatly and putting on the scarf Xiao Yu had given him, Chen Mo left his rental apartment.

Zhao Min sat in her office, handling documents.

Although the company had faced considerable obstruction some time ago, it had responded promptly and the matter had now settled down. The remaining minor nuisances could not stir up any real trouble.

With the end of the year approaching, things had quieted down considerably.

The company had now entered a period of rapid growth, and its scale was constantly expanding. There would be even more troublesome matters in the future.

"President Zhao, a gentleman is here to see you." As Zhao Min was handling documents, an employee knocked and entered.

"Let him in."

Zhao Min put down the documents in her hand and rubbed her brow. The moment she looked up, she saw Chen Mo walk in, dressed casually with a scarf around his neck.

Seeing Chen Mo, Zhao Min's face filled with surprise. "Chairman, did the sun rise in the west today? You actually came to the company?"

Since the company had been founded, Chen Mo had only come a few times in total. Even now, the company's employees did not know what their chairman looked like. Even the management had never met him.

Zhao Min had never expected Chen Mo to come by today.

"That outfit looks quite handsome on you." Zhao Min gave Chen Mo a quick once-over.

"Thanks." Chen Mo sat down on the sofa. "I'm planning to go home for a while, so I came to check on the company before leaving."

"Perfect timing." Zhao Min smiled and handed the documents on her desk to Chen Mo. "Take a look at the company's financial statements, as well as this market feedback and Butterfly Eye sales report."

Chen Mo flipped through them briefly before handing them back to Zhao Min. "The company is on track now, right?"

"It's in a period of rapid development. I've leased the top ten floors of Phoenix Building as the company's temporary offices. Your office and laboratory will be on the top floor. It should all be ready after the New Year."

"Mm." Chen Mo nodded. "I came this time to see how the company was doing, and it looks pretty good now. Since year-end is here, take out twenty million and give it to the employees as year-end bonuses. As for how it's distributed, that's up to you."

"What a great boss." Zhao Min smiled. "Then I'll thank you on their behalf."

"If there's nothing else, I'll head back. Call me if anything comes up."

At noon that day, Chen Mo left carrying his suitcase.

Only after confirming that the company had no major issues for the time being did Chen Mo feel at ease returning home. His hometown was not far from Bin Hai City, in the same province, and the journey only took five hours.

After taking in the scenery along the way, he arrived at his front door and saw his mother's busy figure. Chen Mo let out a deep breath and smiled. "Mom."

The busy figure stiffened. When Chen's Mother turned and saw Chen Mo, a smile immediately appeared on her face. Her son had called yesterday to say he would be home today, but she had not expected him to arrive so soon.

"You've gotten thinner. Go inside and wait. Dinner will be ready soon."

"How have I gotten thinner?" Chen Mo smiled. Every time he returned from outside, people would say he had lost weight. "Where's Dad?"

"He's still at work and hasn't come back. I'll call your aunt."

The moment Chen Mo heard that, he sensed something was off. He had come home for break, so why was she calling his aunt? But Chen Mo did not think much of it. After putting away his luggage, he sat in the living room and watched television.

After being busy for so long, coming home was what truly allowed him to relax.

Not long afterward, Chen's Mother came in with a broad smile. "Amo, come with me to your aunt's house tomorrow."

"You'll find out when the time comes." Chen's Mother gave a mysterious smile, then turned and headed to the kitchen to continue working.