The towering library was still the same as always. Chen Mo had been here many times, and by now, it felt as familiar as home.
At the center of the library, eight glowing light curtains hovered in a circle around him. Two of them were now blank—he had already completed the materials from the chemical and computer fields. Only six remained: physics, biomedicine, machinery, ecological environment, military technology, and energy.
This next choice would be crucial.
It would determine the primary direction of his research for the foreseeable future.
Chen Mo wasn't planning to touch the energy field anytime soon. That area was far too sensitive. The kind of technology the Science and Technology Library provided wasn't limited to oil refining or solar panels—it could spark a full-blown energy revolution. A powder keg he didn't want to ignite just yet.
Military tech was also off the table. At least for now. It was something to consider only when Marching Ant's influence had grown enough to weather the inevitable storm.
His eyes drifted over the six remaining categories.
Each light curtain represented a lottery ticket—one where every draw was a guaranteed win. The only unknown was what the prize would be.
Every field listed encompassed countless subfields. Whatever technology he received today would only be one piece of a much larger puzzle.
"How to choose…" Chen Mo muttered, knocking lightly on his head.
Eventually, he made up his mind and walked toward one of the curtains.
Applied Physics.
A broad, far-reaching category. It included lasers, optoelectronics, atomic physics, sensors, quantum mechanics, electromagnetism, thermodynamics, and more. It was a wild card.
He had no idea what he'd get.
Stopping in front of the light curtain, Chen Mo steadied himself and reached toward one of the glowing books. Though it looked solid, his palm passed through it like mist.
As soon as his hand made contact, the book began to dissolve—its form shrinking and fading before his eyes.
At the same time, a flood of massive technical data surged into his mind.
His brain throbbed like it was being forcibly stretched.
A wave of nausea rolled over him. He gasped for breath, stumbled, and sank to his knees on the library floor. Compared to the last time with the supercomputer data, this wasn't quite as brutal—but it was still overwhelming.
His head buzzed with pressure, his vision blurred, and his thoughts scattered.
He didn't know how long he stayed like that. Eventually, the nausea passed, and his breathing slowed. He opened his eyes.
The light curtain where he had taken the book was now empty. The data had been fully transferred.
Holographic technology?
Chen Mo's eyes lit up.
Current holographic projection was still immature. Most companies had barely moved past the lab stage. But now, with this…
He had a chance to leapfrog the competition once again.
At first glance, this task seemed simpler than those before it. Holographic projectors already existed, albeit in primitive forms. If he could build a functioning one, even a basic version, it might be enough to complete the task.
But the data said otherwise.
There were three major product lines detailed in the material: micro holographic projectors, medium holographic projectors, and large-scale holographic projection systems.
So that's the challenge, Chen Mo thought. Not just one, but all three.
Still dizzy from the download, he couldn't dwell on it.
Closing the now-empty red book, he took one last look around the endless shelves of the Science and Technology Library, then stepped through the shimmering portal.
—
When Chen Mo returned to consciousness, something felt strange.
A soft hand gripped his, and a gentle touch dabbed at his forehead with a tissue. Slowly opening his eyes, he saw Xiao Yu beside him, her face full of concern.
"You're awake?" she said, her voice filled with relief.
"Mmm." Chen Mo gave a faint nod and leaned into her touch, his heart warming at her presence.
Xiao Yu didn't move away. She let him hold her hand tightly as she continued to wipe the sweat from his forehead.
"You suddenly fell asleep and started sweating a lot," she said gently. "Your face went pale… Were you having a nightmare?"
"Yeah…" Chen Mo chuckled softly. "Dreamed that you left me."
"They say dreams are the opposite of reality. I'll always be by your side. Such a good man… I won't let anyone else have you. And you'd better not think of leaving me either." Xiao Yu's soft smile was filled with love.
"Oh really?" Chen Mo grinned, pulling her closer and kissing her cheek. "Then I'll rely on you for life."
"You must be tired lately. Maybe that's why you had a nightmare. I think you should take a break from research for a few days," Xiao Yu said, gently wiping the remaining sweat from his brow.
"But I don't feel tired. In fact, I feel full of energy. What should I do with it?" Chen Mo gave her a mischievous look.
Feeling Chen Mo's hand sliding around her waist, Xiao Yu's cheeks flushed. Her tone was shy but sweet: "This is the company. I have work to do. How about tonight, hmm?"
She gave him a meaningful glance.
"Deal." Chen Mo laughed and finally sat up, still holding onto her.
"You came to find me—was it something urgent?" he asked.
"Let me go first," Xiao Yu said, gently patting the hand on her waist. Their posture was getting a little too intimate for a business discussion.
"Nope," Chen Mo smirked.
Xiao Yu could only shake her head with a mix of amusement and affection. Chen Mo could be childish sometimes—but only with her. And that side of him was something she secretly cherished.
"Mr. Li came by. He's been waiting for over an hour now," she finally said, glancing at the time.
"Oh?" Chen Mo's expression shifted. Li Chengzhi had to be the one she meant. His brow furrowed slightly. "I've been out that long?"
"You were asleep for about an hour and a half. He arrived after you'd been out for half an hour. I told him you were in the lab, and he said not to wake you. He's waiting in the reception room now," Xiao Yu explained.
"I'll go see him."
Chen Mo got up and gave a command: "Mo Nu, send a robot to bring Li Chengzhi to my office."
"Okay, Brother Mo," Mo Nu's voice responded sweetly from the overhead speaker.
Chen Mo kissed Xiao Yu's forehead, then took her hand as they walked out of the lounge together and headed toward the office.