Prepare for a rainy day

The top-floor conference room of Yuanlong Technologies was steeped in solemnity.

Only four people were seated in the room today: Lu Chenyuan, Lin Yuan, Ren Qian, and Zhang Qi. This was the innermost decision-making circle of Yuanlong Technologies.

Lu Chenyuan’s fingers tapped lightly on the table.

"Li Jinchuan is just the beginning."

His opening words sent a chill through the other three.

"He represents an outdated way of thinking—one that relies on information asymmetry, personal connections, and ruthless tactics."

"That model is being phased out."

Lu Chenyuan’s gaze swept across the room.

"The battles of the future will be fought with technology, with standards, with entire industrial chains."

His eyes finally settled on Ren Qian.

"Ren Qian."

"Here, Chairman Lu." She straightened immediately.

"I’m establishing a new company—Hanqing Technologies."

"You will serve as its CEO."

"At the same time, you’ll be promoted to co-CEO of Yuanlong Technologies, working alongside Lin Yuan to oversee daily operations."

Ren Qian was stunned.

"Chairman Lu, I—"

"I believe in your capabilities," Lu Chenyuan cut her off.

"Hanqing Technologies’ goal isn’t profit."

"Its sole purpose is fundamental scientific research—recruiting and nurturing talent."

"I want you to spend the next decade, or longer, sparing no expense, tackling the toughest challenges."

"Chip design, lithography technology, foundational algorithms..."

"There’s only one condition." His voice turned grave.

"Hanqing must be prepared, at any moment, to sever all ties with Yuanlong—structurally, financially, and in terms of intellectual property."

"It is an ark. A safeguard against the worst possible future."

Silence filled the room.

Lin Yuan and Ren Qian both understood the gravity of Lu Chenyuan’s words.

This wasn’t just about business competition—it was a deep, unshakable foreboding.

A grim prediction of the global landscape to come.

"I understand, Chairman Lu." Ren Qian took a deep breath, her resolve hardening.

"I won’t fail."

Lu Chenyuan nodded, then turned to Lin Yuan.

"Lin Yuan, you’ll also be founding a new company—Lianshan Technologies."

"Lianshan’s mission is the opposite of Hanqing’s."

"I want you to do everything possible to integrate, adapt, and entrench yourself within the existing global supply chain."

"We must become the most indispensable link in the worldwide industrial network."

Lin Yuan grasped the strategy instantly.

Hanqing was the hidden card, the contingency plan.

Lianshan was the weapon, the fortress.

One prepared for the worst, while the other thrived in the best of times.

"Understood. A dual approach—strengthening within and expanding outward," Lin Yuan said.

"Good." Lu Chenyuan was pleased.

Finally, his eyes shifted to Zhang Qi.

"Zhang Qi."

"Chairman Lu."

"You’re no longer my special assistant."

"I need you on the front lines."

"Yuanlong will establish a Strategic and Public Affairs Division, under your leadership."

"You’ll liaise with government bodies, analyze policies, and handle the group’s highest-level legal and compliance matters."

"Hanqing and Lianshan need a solid foundation. You will be its anchor."

Zhang Qi was silent for a moment.

He knew what this role entailed.

He would step out of Lu Chenyuan’s shadow and become Yuanlong’s shield.

"You can count on me," he said firmly. "I’ll hold the line."

Lu Chenyuan stood.

"The plan begins today."

"Remember—move quietly, but with absolute conviction."

"Get to work."

The three rose, nodded to him, and left the room.

---

Mo Group, CEO’s Office.

Mo Qingli hung up the phone, her expression a mix of solemnity and calm.

The call had been from Lu Chenyuan. Yuanlong had begun its preparations—which meant Mo Group could now do the same.

She walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing at the city’s relentless flow below.

After a moment, she pressed the intercom.

"Notify all core executives—a top-level strategy meeting in thirty minutes."

Half an hour later, the atmosphere in Mo Group’s conference room was equally tense.

Mo Qingli sat at the head of the table, her demeanor unreadable.

"There’s only one agenda today."

"Drafting the group’s contingency plan for ‘deglobalization.’"

The room erupted in murmurs.

A senior vice president couldn’t hold back. "CEO Mo, global trade is at its peak. Isn’t this... premature?"

"Premature?" Mo Qingli smiled faintly.

"It’s never too early to prepare for rain."

"Effective immediately, all critical operations must establish backup supply chains."

"All overseas core assets require risk assessments and exit strategies."

"A dedicated fund will be created to invest in domestic alternatives for key technologies and suppliers."

Her directives were sharp, decisive, and brooked no argument.

Though Mo Qingli had always held absolute authority in Mo Group, today’s decisions were beyond anything the executives had anticipated.

Unlike previous meetings where her proposals were met with immediate compliance, this time, dissent filled the air.

"CEO Mo, the costs are prohibitive. This will devastate this year’s profits."

"This is pure paranoia. There’s no sign of globalization reversing."

Even those who stayed silent wore skepticism in their eyes.

Then, the conference room door opened.

Mo Zhenbang walked in.

The executives froze.

Though he still held the title of Mo Group’s chairman, Mo Zhenbang had ceded decision-making to his daughter years ago.

But everyone in this room had lived through his iron-fisted era.

As his gaze swept across them, an invisible pressure snuffed out all resistance.

He took the seat to Mo Qingli’s left and spoke mildly.

"Don’t mind me. I just came to stretch my legs—the house was getting musty."

His tone was casual, but the veterans remembered all too well how fiercely he had championed his daughter during her succession.

With the "emperor emeritus" suddenly reappearing, no one dared believe he was here to side with the executives.

The room fell deathly silent.

The meeting proceeded without further objection, concluding exactly as Mo Qingli had outlined.

Once the others had filed out, she finally spoke.

"Dad."

Her eyes, no longer those of an unyielding queen, softened with warmth.

Mo Zhenbang looked at her with pride and trust.

"Go all in."

"The Mo family can afford losses—but never shortsightedness."

And so, the colossal machinery of Mo Group began its quiet pivot toward a future that still seemed distant to most.

Qin Corporation.

Qin Ya frowned slightly as she reviewed the reports in her hands.

One detailed the ripple effects of the Li Jinchuan case.

Qin New Energy's stock had taken a minor hit but quickly stabilized.

Another was the quarterly report from the Distant Horizons Foundation.

Lu Qianqian had performed exceptionally well, expanding the project's influence steadily.

The last was a confidential market intelligence brief.

It outlined recent internal personnel shifts and capital movements at Abyss Dragon Tech and the Mo Group.

The changes were subtle, yet Qin Ya sensed something unusual brewing.

Her mind drifted back to the failure of the "Windrider" project.

That time, she had lost to Lu Chenyuan's "Polaris OS."

Lost to a technological ecosystem she couldn't comprehend.

Now, that familiar dread of being left behind by the times crept in again.

Lu Chenyuan and Mo Qingli—her two greatest rivals—seemed to be orchestrating another strategy beyond her grasp.

"What is he planning?" Qin Ya murmured to herself.

Unlike Mo Qingli, she lacked direct insights from Lu Chenyuan.

But as a top-tier strategist, she trusted her instincts.

She recalled her last meeting with Lu Qianqian.

The girl no longer spoke of designer bags or parties but of clean water and education in impoverished regions.

Then there was Huangfu Chengshi.

With code and models, he had stirred storms in the capital markets.

These individuals represented a new wave of influence.

Suddenly, Qin Ya understood.

She might not decipher Lu Chenyuan's exact playbook, but she recognized the trend.

Picking up the phone, she dialed her assistant.

"Connect me with the largest lithium mining company in Continent A—I need to speak to their CEO."

"Also, assemble a strategic research team. Their sole focus: global geopolitics and potential tech embargoes."

"Budget? Unlimited."

She wasn’t certain this was the right move.

But intuition told her that following Lu Chenyuan’s lead might not guarantee dominance, but it would at least keep her from drowning when the next wave hit.

Just like the Windrider project—even as a failure, its early alignment with Lu Chenyuan had secured a foothold.