Shencheng, Huawei Technology headquarters.
Mr. Yu, famous for his "big mouth" and never conceding to anyone, sat in his office, staring at the screen in silence for a full five minutes.
The screen was paused on the instant Friday had seized Wang Qiang with one hand.
That perfect combination of power and precision made his prized Harmony Intelligent Mobility look like a baby that had only just learned to walk.
"Light-years ahead... now this is what being light-years ahead really means."
Mr. Yu gave a bitter chuckle, then his gaze turned razor-sharp.
He pointed at the screen and roared at the R&D director behind him, "You're still working on cockpit interaction? They've already built a damn Gundam!"
"Get the car ready! We're going to the airport!"
"No matter what it costs, we have to get this robot's core data! Even if all we can do is see it in person and touch the material of its casing!"
Across the ocean, in Silicon Valley, America.
Tesla headquarters.
"Iron Man" Elon Musk watched the video being shared like mad on Twitter, his brow deeply furrowed.
His prized Optimus robot still walked like a Parkinson's patient, while the thing in this video could already perform military combat drills.
His fingers flew over the keyboard as he posted a one-word tweet:
"Impossible."
Then he picked up the satellite phone on his desk and called his flight director.
"File a flight plan. Destination-Yicheng, Huaxia."
One robot had set the entire world in motion.
And at the center of the storm, on the curb outside the Chen Family Village Resort in Yicheng.
Wang Qiang spat a blade of grass out of his mouth and glared venomously at the distant "Chen Family Village" sign.
His designer suit was covered in dirt, his tie crooked. He looked