"Nice to meet you, Mr. Chen Mo."
"Me too, Princess Siveli."
"Congratulations on your award, Mr. Chen Mo."
"Thank you."
Xi Weili spoke in slightly unpolished Chinese, while Chen Mo responded in equally non-native English. The short exchange was awkward on paper, but the two shared a tacit understanding and exchanged polite smiles.
Wearing a gem-encrusted crown and a royal purple dress, Princess Xi Weili carried the noble bearing of royalty. With her blonde hair, porcelain skin, and striking Nordic beauty, her elegance made her hard to ignore.
The hour-long awards ceremony had ended. Now, everyone had gathered at the City Hall. In the Golden Hall, the King and invited guests mingled with various partners and dignitaries.
"Mr. Chen Mo, I've always been curious about you back in China, but I haven't had the opportunity to visit," Xi Weili said.
"There will be chances. China has many beautiful places. You're always welcome to come visit," Chen Mo replied in somewhat clumsy English.
"I'd love to visit your company headquarters someday. I heard it's the most technologically advanced place in the world, with all kinds of incredible tech. Your company's holographic phone is my favorite—it's just unbelievable.
"I also saw your wedding video—it was like a fairy tale. So beautiful. I hope to have a wedding like that someday. It's a shame I didn't know you back then and couldn't attend."
After their brief introductions, Xi Weili grew animated like a fan meeting her idol.
"Is your wife's wedding dress custom-made? When I get married, I'd love to wear something that beautiful."
After Chen Mo's wedding video was released, it became the dream wedding for countless women. But only Chen Mo could actually pull off something that extravagant. Now, with the man himself standing in front of her, Xi Weili didn't want to miss the opportunity.
"It's not available for custom orders right now. The materials and techniques were ones I developed myself," Chen Mo said with a polite smile. "Maybe in the future, depending on the situation."
Xi Weili looked momentarily disappointed, but quickly recovered her poise.
At 7 PM, the sound of a pipe organ filled the hall. Two student volunteers carried the national flag down the stairs, followed by the King and Queen making their ceremonial entrance.
Xi Weili gently took Chen Mo's arm as they descended the staircase together.
Some reporters, seeing the two of them appear side by side, immediately began snapping photos.
Xi Weili was the youngest and most beloved daughter of the King. Her mere attendance at the ceremony made headlines. Now, standing next to Chen Mo—youngest Nobel laureate, tech icon, and media darling—the pair instantly drew attention.
All cameras on the scene focused on them. Of all the people present, none stood out more than Chen Mo and Princess Xi Weili.
The Blue Hall, ironically not blue at all, wasn't very large. Yet it hosted more than a thousand guests seated at long, tightly packed tables.
A massive main table ran the length of the hall, connecting everything. Every aspect of the dinner—from seating arrangements to the cutlery—was planned down to the finest detail. Each place setting was worth a small fortune. The Nobel banquet was known as the "most crowded luxury dinner."
Guests found their designated seats and began chatting with those around them. Due to the limited space, there was no room for casual mingling.
The hall overflowed with the sights and scents of elegance: dazzling dresses, candlelight, perfume, and fresh flowers.
Intimate. Extravagant. Luxurious.
It was also one of the most prestigious social events in the world. Everyone here was either rich, influential, or a prominent figure in their field. It was a rare chance to network and build powerful relationships.
Dinner consisted of three exquisite courses—starter, main, and dessert. Though the portions weren't large, the meal lasted three hours, interspersed with musical performances and entertainment.
"Mr. Chen Mo, how do you find the food?" Princess Xi Weili asked, now more relaxed after hours of chatting.
"Do you want the truth?" Chen Mo smiled.
"Of course."
"Not enough."
Xi Weili blinked in surprise, then burst into laughter.
She hadn't expected such a candid answer, but it was honest—and accurate. High-end dining emphasized etiquette and atmosphere, not quantity. At such elite banquets, the food was more about refinement and socializing than satisfying hunger.
Chen Mo's manner was polite, yet not overly formal. His occasional casual remarks made him feel refreshingly different from the stiff upper-class norms.
"You should give a speech next," Xi Weili said with a grin.
"Then I'll go embarrass myself."
As the dinner neared its end, the host's announcement came. Chen Mo stood up slowly and made his way to the stage. Over 1,300 pairs of eyes followed him. Every media lens in the room turned in his direction.
Many held varying expressions—curiosity, admiration, jealousy, surprise. There was no doubt that Chen Mo was the most talked-about figure tonight. A young Nobel laureate, a rare Chinese face on this international stage—he was the center of attention.
Yet Chen Mo remained composed.
"Honored King and Queen, members of the royal family, ladies and gentlemen, I am truly honored to stand on this stage."
The audience stirred.
Chen Mo had chosen to speak in Chinese. Most people in the hall didn't understand it, which caused some surprise. Usually, speeches here were given in English. Chinese had only been used a few rare times in Nobel history.
But after a brief commotion, the hall quieted again. Simultaneous interpretation was available, and the audience quickly adapted.
"When I found out I had won this year's award, I was in the lab doing experiments. I was genuinely surprised. I hadn't expected that publishing a paper would lead to such results and influence.
"That paper was something I had thought through carefully. But when I first submitted it, I was rejected by several scientific journals. I faced skepticism, ridicule, and unexpected resistance.
"Sometimes, truth blooms like a flower after the storm. Other times, the truth gets buried in a mudslide and never sees the light of day. I was relatively lucky.
"But in the 21st century, the world's tolerance for unknown basic science is still too fragile. That's not progress.
"When quantum mechanics first emerged, Schrödinger himself questioned it. He even designed a thought experiment—his famous 'cat experiment'—hoping to disprove it. Ironically, that experiment became the most iconic illustration of quantum mechanics.
"We're still in the early stages of exploring the physical universe. There are too many unknowns waiting to be discovered. I hope society will show more tolerance and understanding toward basic science.
"It's okay to question unverified theories. But mocking or dismissing them outright—without experimental evidence—is not helpful. It only hinders scientific advancement. That is not skepticism—it's persecution."