In a quaint, quiet office, two elderly men sat facing each other.
If anyone else had seen this scene, they would instantly recognize them—two of the most senior figures at the core of China's leadership, the helmsmen steering the ship of the nation.
At this moment, a report sat in their hands—the same report Li Chengzhi had brought back from the Institute of Plasma Physics. The information Chen Mo provided had already triggered alarms at the highest level.
"What do you think of this?" the man in the tunic suit asked calmly.
"This young man... he can really do anything. It's almost unbelievable," the bespectacled elder beside him replied, his scholarly demeanor radiating quiet wisdom and a trace of admiration in his eyes.
"It truly is." The man in the tunic suit smiled peacefully. "Perhaps he's the giant our modern era has been waiting for. We haven't seen anyone of that magnitude in China in decades. His emergence might be the sign of a true national rise."
"What's even rarer is his sense of national responsibility. From artificial intelligence to earthquake detection, and now medical breakthroughs—he's always thinking long-term. Mature, decisive, and visionary far beyond his years. That's incredibly rare."
"If others knew you spoke so highly of him, they'd be shocked," the bespectacled elder chuckled softly, before nodding in agreement. "Still, he understands his position. That this cake is too big, and it must be shared. But… the taller the tree, the greater the wind. He will draw attention."
"Then let us be the windbreak," the elder in the tunic suit said firmly. "We must protect the pillar before it's shaken. I want to see whether he can become a true builder of modern China. Old friend—I'm handing this to you."
Chen Mo, naturally, had no idea he'd already alarmed the highest levels of government.
Even if he did, he wouldn't be surprised—after all, nuclear fusion technology was far too revolutionary to ignore.
But as he immersed himself in research, a long-lost acquaintance arrived unexpectedly—Alexander.
With the wedding approaching, Chen Mo had contacted him weeks ago to help source a truly remarkable piece of jewelry for Xiaoyu. There'd been no news since—so this sudden visit caught him off guard.
And Alexander didn't come alone.
One was an elderly man with white curly hair and a flowing beard, wearing gold-rimmed glasses—a man who carried the air of a seasoned investor. The other was a middle-aged Westerner with a hooked nose, sharp blue eyes, and pale skin.
"Long time no see, Mr. Alexander," Chen Mo greeted him warmly, stepping forward.
"Indeed, long time," Alexander replied with a smile. He turned toward the white-haired man. "Let me introduce my friends. This is Mr. Richard—a discreet gemstone collector and art investor."
"Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Richard," Chen Mo said in fluent, lightly accented English, offering a polite smile.
"Likewise, Mr. Chen." Richard studied him closely. This young man, so composed and accomplished at such a young age, was truly impressive.
"And this is Paul," Alexander continued, gesturing to the middle-aged man beside him. "Also a collector, and one of the hidden shareholders of the Duke Group."
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Paul."
"The pleasure is mine, Mr. Chen."
Once the pleasantries were over, the group took their seats.
"These are the two friends I mentioned last time," Alexander explained. "Mr. Richard owns the 'Angel's Eye,' and Mr. Paul here holds the 'Tear of the Mermaid.' It took some serious persuasion to bring them here. But when they heard the purpose—your wedding—they agreed. They also wanted to meet the young legend I told them about."
"Then I thank you both," Chen Mo said sincerely.
"Let me show you something first," Paul said.
At his gesture, his assistant stepped forward and placed a secure case on the coffee table. Opening it revealed a stunning necklace centered with a massive, pear-shaped blue diamond. It was sea-blue, flawless, and glimmering under the lights—each facet crafted to perfection.
A woman who saw it might scream from sheer awe.
"This is Tear of the Mermaid," Paul said. "It was found in an abandoned diamond mine, a rough stone weighing 78.83 carats. I had it cut and polished down to 38.85 carats."
He paused, admiring the gem. "That perfect blue—it's divine. I named it the Tear of the Mermaid. I've never shown it publicly. Only Alexander knew about it… I'll forgive him for betraying me since he shared a good drink afterward."
Everyone laughed—clearly understanding his jest.
"I heard you're getting married, Mr. Chen," Paul continued. "I'll part with it—reluctantly—as a token of friendship, so that others may see its beauty."
"Thank you," Chen Mo nodded after listening to the robot translator.
"If the price of $160 million is acceptable, then it's yours."
Chen Mo glanced at Alexander, who gave a subtle nod—affirming that the price was fair. The piece was rare and likely would have fetched even more at auction. Although it wasn't as well-known as the Hope Diamond, its purity and cut made it a treasure.
"Deal," Chen Mo said without hesitation. He didn't know much about gemstones, but he trusted Alexander.
"You're very decisive, Mr. Chen. Your fiancée is truly fortunate," Paul said, a bit surprised. Few people would agree to such a price without blinking.
"Thank you. Please give me your account details—I'll transfer the funds now."
"Certainly."
After the transaction was finalized, Chen Mo turned to Richard.
"Now, let's see your treasure."
Richard's assistant stepped up with another case. Inside were two vivid, blood-red diamonds—each about the size of a fingernail, cut identically. Their olive-shaped form and pure red hue sparkled brilliantly under the light—clear, bold, and mesmerizing.
Even Paul couldn't help but exclaim: "Perfect. Absolutely perfect. Makes me want to steal them."
Laughter followed his dramatic flair.
"Angel's Eye," Richard said. "The rough stone came from a unique source—two conjoined red diamonds, weighing 38 carats in total. To preserve weight, I had them cut into twin olives. Each one weighs 8.62 carats, with 68 facets. They're perfectly symmetrical—the largest pair of red diamonds in the world."
He paused, casting a look at Alexander. "Only five people in the world knew about them. Alexander betrayed me, but I suppose I'll let it slide."
Alexander smiled innocently but said nothing.
"I understand Mr. Chen is eager to use these for the wedding. In your culture, we'd say it's to 'complete the happiness of others.' I'll let them go for $70 million."
Chen Mo didn't hesitate. He bought them on the spot.
After both deals were done, Chen Mo smiled and stood. "Since it's your first time visiting our company, let me give you a tour."
With that, he led them out of the office, ready to show them the world behind the legend they'd heard so much about.