The Storm Is Coming

The order volume for "Boundless" skyrocketed.

The backend data of Yuanlong Technologies surged like a dragon soaring into the sky.

Lin Yuan's voice on the phone trembled with barely contained excitement.

"President Lu, we've already expanded our server capacity twice in an emergency, and now we're facing another critical overload."

"In the seventy-two hours following the launch event, new orders exceeded the total from the past month combined."

Lin Yuan paused, his tone growing even more exhilarated.

"Meanwhile, 'Gale' is reportedly experiencing a massive wave of cancellations. Qin New Energy's customer service lines are being flooded with calls."

"Even Stellar's flagship models are seeing a significant drop in reservations!"

"President Lu, we've won!"

The office was quiet.

Lu Chenyuan stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing at the ceaseless flow of the city below, his expression as calm as ever.

"Have we won?" he asked.

"Yes, President Lu. We've won," Lin Yuan replied emphatically, as if his voice alone could convey his joy.

"No." Lu Chenyuan turned, his eyes settling on the only other person in the room—Mo Qingli.

"This is just the beginning."

He issued a new directive to Lin Yuan over the phone.

"Announce that in one month, we'll host the inaugural 'Yuanlong Ecosystem Developers Conference' at the Jingzhou National Convention Center."

"Establish a 100-million-yuan developer support fund, open to the global market."

Lin Yuan was stunned.

He had thought they could finally catch their breath.

He had assumed the next steps would be routine—expanding production and fulfilling orders.

But Lu Chenyuan's vision always extended three moves ahead of everyone else's.

"So... you're bringing everyone onto our battlefield," Lin Yuan realized instantly.

"Not bringing," Lu Chenyuan corrected. "Inviting."

"I want 'Polaris' to belong to everyone. We'll build the stage and let the world's brightest minds perform on it."

"I understand," Lin Yuan replied, his voice steady and resolute once more.

After hanging up, silence returned to the office.

Mo Qingli had been sitting quietly on the nearby sofa, listening the entire time.

She watched Lu Chenyuan without speaking.

Only when he set down his phone did she rise and walk toward him, her high heels clicking against the floor—clear, measured.

"You never celebrate victory," she observed, as if stating an undeniable truth.

"Because our enemies won't give us the time to," Lu Chenyuan replied naturally, taking her hand in his.

His palm was warm, dry, and firm.

That warmth traveled from her fingertips all the way to her heart.

"Qingli, we're not just running a business," he said earnestly, looking into her eyes.

"I know," Mo Qingli met his gaze. "We're defining an era."

Lu Chenyuan smiled—a genuine, effortless smile.

Only she truly understood him.

This unspoken, instinctive connection, free from explanations or pretense, brought him more peace and fulfillment than any commercial triumph ever could.

At the same time, in the top-floor office of the Qin Group.

Qin Ya stared at the soaring order curve for "Boundless" on her screen, her face devoid of anger.

Only a bone-deep, icy calm remained.

She closed the data report and leaned back into her expensive leather chair.

Li Jinchuan still held the title of General Manager for the "Gale" project, though he had been effectively sidelined.

That man had lost not just a project but also her last shred of trust.

She had once believed his ruthlessness and ambition could be wielded as a blade against Lu Chenyuan.

Now she understood—against an insurmountable technological barrier, brute force was nothing but reckless bravado.

"Make the announcement," she instructed her assistant, who stood nearby.

"Suspend 'Gale's' marketing campaigns and scale back investments in the project. Just maintain its current foothold in the mid-to-low-end market."

Though "Gale" had been utterly outmatched by "Boundless," its early entry into the market and the backing of the Qin Group had given it a solid foundation.

An unexpected silver lining, so to speak.

"Also, establish a new department—call it the 'Resource Strategy Division.'"

"Miss Qin, what will this department's... objective be?" the assistant asked cautiously.

Qin Ya's gaze shifted to the massive world map on the wall.

"South America. Africa."

Her fingers traced lightly over the map.

"Lithium. Cobalt. Nickel."

"Every critical raw material needed for new energy batteries."

A predatory gleam flickered in Qin Ya's eyes.

"Lu Chenyuan and Mo Qingli want to build their ivory tower, their software ecosystem? Then I'll cut off their lifeline."

"If I can't beat you in technology, I'll pull the rug from under you where you least expect it."

Capital of Country A.

A high-level closed-door hearing was underway.

Stellar's CEO, Mark, was presenting a technical analysis report on "Polaris OS" to a group of congressmen.

"Gentlemen, the expansion of 'Polaris OS' is no longer just a commercial concern," Mark declared, his voice brimming with persuasion.

"A closed system from Xia, gathering our citizens' travel data, habits, even emotional patterns at an unprecedented pace—from a national security standpoint, this is an extreme risk."

A senior congressman switched off his screen.

"I understand your position."

"I'll propose a reassessment and recertification of import standards for related smart terminal technologies at the next tech committee meeting."

"Pleasure doing business."

"Likewise."

A new battle over supply chains and international regulations had quietly begun behind the scenes.

Night fell.

Jingzhou, Cloud Peak Residences.

Lu Chenyuan and Mo Qingli stood side by side before the expansive floor-to-ceiling window.

Below them, the city's countless lights shimmered like a river of stars.

"Qin Ya has made her move," Mo Qingli murmured.

The Mo family's formidable intelligence network had already alerted her to the Qin Group's latest internal shifts.

"And Stellar has begun theirs," Lu Chenyuan replied with equal calm.

He hadn't seen any reports, but he could guess.

This was inevitable.

Just as it had happened before—in another world.

"Afraid?" He turned to look at the woman beside him.

Under the soft glow, her profile was elegant, her eyes brighter than the stars outside.

Mo Qingli leaned gently against his shoulder, savoring his warmth.

"Before, I was the only one holding everything up."

"I couldn't afford to lose. Didn't dare to."

She paused, her voice softening.

"Now, I have you."