All eyes were on Chen Mo.
Some news outlets had already started livestreaming. For the first time, the mysterious founder of Marching Ants was stepping into the spotlight.
If this had been months ago, Chen Mo would've been nervous. But now, with everything he'd experienced and the perspective he'd gained, the stage didn't feel so daunting.
As he stood on the small podium, he took a breath and scanned the crowd of students, faculty, and flashing cameras. Then, he began.
"Hello everyone, I'm Chen Mo. I assume you're all here just to hear a few words from this little guy."
Laughter erupted across the square. The playful jab at himself—and Principal Qiu's earlier speech—instantly warmed up the crowd. Applause followed.
"Before today, I was like many of you," he continued. "I'd never been on a podium. Never spoken to so many people. I used to imagine what it'd be like to stand on stage. Now that I'm up here... well, that fantasy is gone."
More laughter rippled through the crowd.
Chen Mo lifted a hand, gently signaling for quiet. The ease in his demeanor surprised many—he looked completely at home.
"I heard the principal say earlier that he hopes one of you becomes the next Chen Mo. Well, take it from me—don't.
"You are you, and that's more than enough. Each of you is unique. You don't need to be the next Chen Mo, or the next anyone."
He paused, then added with a grin, "Of course, I know why the principal said that. He's hoping you'll donate to the school someday, just like I did."
The crowd exploded in laughter again—this time louder and accompanied by another wave of applause. Even Principal Qiu chuckled and clapped along.
"Alright, that was a joke. Don't take it too seriously," Chen Mo said. "But seriously—it's okay to be different. Actually, it's better."
"I won't preach too many rules. Most of you know more about student life than I do at this point," he added. "In college, you really just need to focus on one thing—do what you love."
"If you like literature or art, call it your dream. If your dream is to be a so-called 'loser,' then outdo Zhang Yida. He's already won one lawsuit—why can't you win two?"
The students cracked up again at the reference. Even the professors were smiling.
"No matter your major or focus, pick something you love—and stick with it. That's really it. The word persistence is easy to say but hard to do."
He paused for a beat.
"There's not much difference between humans and ants. We're alive, and so are they. The only real difference is that our lives are... a little more complicated."
"True!" someone shouted from the crowd.
Applause thundered again. The metaphor struck a chord. Everyone could relate to the idea—striving, surviving, building—just like ants.
Chen Mo continued once the square calmed.
"You're all about to step into society. Think of yourselves as ants just emerging from the nest. The good food near the entrance? Already taken—by the other ants who got there first."
"In the world out there, those ants are giant corporations, entrenched systems, and old money. The familiar roads have been explored. The remaining paths—the new opportunities—are few and far between."
"If you want to feast, you've got to go farther, explore deeper, and maybe even risk more. You need to be like a lone pioneer, carving a new trail through unknown fields."
"In school, if you focus on one thing, you can become an expert. Out there, you'll realize that around every piece of meat, there are only a few ants. If you've honed your skill, you can join them and earn your share."
"I founded Marching Ant because I was once just another ant leaving the nest. I was lucky enough to build a team. One ant to lead, another to manage—and together we became something more."
"Now, Marching Ant stands at the top of the food chain. But like every company, we all started the same way: small."
Chen Mo's speech was simple, no more than five minutes. He didn't lecture. He just told a story. A relatable one.
When he paused, the square stayed silent for a beat—then the applause roared again.
His metaphor hit home.
They were all ants in some way—small, ordinary, and trying to survive in a competitive world. But what Chen Mo had shown them was that even an ant could change everything, if it dared to explore far enough.
"Sorry," Chen Mo said with a wry smile. "I got a little carried away bragging."
That line alone made the audience burst into laughter again.
After the applause settled, the host stepped forward.
"We'll now open the floor for questions. Students, this is your chance."
Instantly, hands shot into the air across the crowd.
Before the host could pick, a girl with a ponytail ran from the crowd and reached the front of the stage. She was a little chubby, with a cute, youthful face—still carrying a hint of baby fat.
Chen Mo smiled. "Well, I guess this teaches us that action beats hesitation. The first question goes to this brave schoolmate."
The girl was shy, holding the mic with both hands. "How… how can I become a better version of myself?"
Chen Mo looked at her and answered warmly. "You just did. You were the first to grab the mic. In that moment, you were already ahead of everyone else. Want something? Fight for it. It's the doing that transforms you."
"Thank you, Senior Chen," the girl said quietly, then walked back with a little bounce in her step.
Before the host could intervene, more than twenty students rushed the front of the stage—some jogging, others sprinting.
Chen Mo chuckled. "Okay, so the lesson is: be the first to eat the crab. I'll take the next person here, but the rest of you? Looks like you're in a competition now."
He patiently answered question after question. Most were small things—career plans, advice, confusion about the future. Chen Mo answered as honestly as he could.
The Q&A went on for nearly an hour.
When it finally ended, Chen Mo left the stage to more cheers and applause.
As the crowd began to disperse, a wave of reporters surged forward. Cameras, microphones, phones—all pointed at him.
"Mr. Chen Mo, what's your vision for Marching Ant?"
"Why haven't you expanded into Europe?"
"What's the next product you're developing?"
Security quickly stepped in to hold the crowd back.
Chen Mo raised a hand and smiled politely. "Sorry, everyone. I can't answer those questions right now. But I promise—one day, I'll tell you all everything."
With that, he turned and left the square, walking briskly back to his car. Finally, out of the spotlight, he let out a breath of relief.
Being the center of attention… was exhausting.
Online, the buzz was unstoppable.
Clips of Chen Mo's speech spread like wildfire.
"The first public speech by Marching Ant's mysterious founder!"
"Chen Mo: A New Generation Legend?"
"Behind the Tech Giant—Meet the Real Chen Mo"
Forums, news outlets, and social media feeds were flooded with highlights. His metaphor—humans and ants—sparked debate and admiration.
And just like that, Chen Mo—once an invisible founder—became an internet legend.