Chapter 23: Deja Vu?
Chapter 23: Deja Vu?
Chen Mo’s life had returned to calm, but Legion Ant Company was bustling with activity.
After getting the office software, Zhao Min had ordered her team to create a promotion plan as quickly as possible.
The company’s fifty million funds seemed insufficient for entering the mobile phone industry, so they needed to make money with the office software now.
Following Zhao Min’s instructions, the newly formed Legion Ant nest started operating rapidly.
Zhu Li entered Zhao Min’s office with a proposal document.
After the company was established, Zhao Min had asked her to help. Knowing her background well, Zhao Min trusted her completely and put her in charge of the market system management.
The office software was their first product promotion since joining the company, so everyone was fully focused and didn’t dare to slack off.
After receiving Zhao Min’s order, the marketing department immediately began working on the advertising plan, finalizing it as quickly as possible. Today, the ad was finally launched.
“How are the numbers?” Zhao Min asked.
“According to the backend data, as of my report, the free version of the software has over ten thousand downloads, with more than three hundred registered paying users.”
“Not a bad start.” Zhao Min nodded.
Legion Ant Company was newly established, just a small ant with no reputation at all.
For the newly launched office software to gain over ten thousand users in such a short time was already a remarkable achievement.
This office software was all Chen Mo’s work. They released four versions: Home Edition, Small Business Edition, Professional Edition, and Free Edition.
The Free Edition only included basic Word documents, Excel, PPT presentations, and a unique image editing feature.
The price of the software was less than half of Office’s.
Their goals for launching the office software were: first, to increase the company’s visibility; second, to enter the market with low prices and build a good reputation among users; third, naturally, to make money.
The main market for office software was in corporate offices. If they could capture that lucrative segment, Army Ant Office would bring them steady income.
Army Ant Office’s functions were easier to use than Office and WPS, and it included image editing, combining office and photo editing in one. It was uniquely powerful and didn’t take up much memory.
Zhao Min believed that soon, a continuous stream of users would come.
“Release the mobile version too, and send people to promote it to various companies.”
“Okay, General Manager Zhao.”
Zhu Li agreed and left the office.
After Zhu Li left, Zhao Min picked up her phone and called Chen Mo. This chairman was always elusive, which frustrated her. She could only reach him by phone every time.
“Chairman, the office software has been promoted. The market response is good; we have a good start.”
“That’s good.” In the shop, Chen Mo stopped working on his circuit design.
“Do you want to come to the company?” Zhao Min asked.
“I’ll go next time; I’m busy today. I’ll send you the phone’s exterior design and interface design documents later. Have someone make samples and apply for patents.”
“So fast?” Zhao Min’s tone was full of surprise. “Alright, you go ahead. I’ve contacted mobile phone parts suppliers. From my previous job, I still have some connections. Everything is going smoothly, so don’t worry.”
“Okay.”
After hanging up, Chen Mo checked the time, saved the motherboard circuit design file, and closed the shop.
“Young man? Closing so early? Not doing business?” The aunt from the neighboring grocery store asked as Chen Mo stepped out.
“Going out to have some fun.” Chen Mo smiled.
Today was Xiaoyu’s accountant exam, so he took the chance to rest.
The accountant exam was held at the Accounting Practitioners Examination Service Center, not far from Binhai University. It was a fifteen-minute bike ride away.
As Chen Mo arrived nearby, he saw people coming out of the entrance. Soon, Xiaoyu appeared in the crowd and ran towards him, looking happy.
With Xiaoyu on his bike, they left directly, amid envious glances from people around.
After having a buffet, they went to the aquarium, then went shopping and watched a movie.
It was their most carefree day. Both knew such opportunities were rare, so they let go and enjoyed themselves thoroughly. They visited all the places couples usually go.
That evening, they stood side by side by the seawall, quietly watching the dark sea.
Chen Mo looked very relaxed. Recently, he had been studying and researching every day, pushing himself too hard. Being with Xiaoyu made the tightness in his head completely disappear.
Seeing Xiaoyu’s smile filled Chen Mo with a sense of fulfillment. Thinking back to how they met and fell in love, it all felt like a dream.
Suddenly, Chen Mo’s eyebrows raised as he remembered something. Letting Xiaoyu lean against him, he secretly checked his phone, and his expression turned odd.
“I wish it could always be like this.”
“Me too.” Chen Mo chuckled lightly.
“It’s you?”
A voice interrupted them. Chen Mo and Xiaoyu turned to see Liang Zhihang holding a camera, looking at them with surprise.
“It’s you.”
“Yes, it’s me.”
Liang Zhihang quickly shook Chen Mo’s hand.
“What a coincidence. The photos I submitted of you two last time made the shortlist. It’s my first time being shortlisted for a national photography contest. I printed that photo—it’s the best work I’ve done in years. I happen to have it with me; here’s a copy for you.”
Liang Zhihang took out a photo album from his backpack, pulled out a photo, and handed it to them.
“Thank you.” Chen Mo took the photo and nodded.
“You’re welcome. I should thank you. I didn’t mean to disturb you; it was a coincidence. Let’s catch up later. Goodbye.”
After saying that, Liang Zhihang smiled, bid farewell, and left.
“Put it in your bag. We should treasure this photo.” Chen Mo handed the photo to Xiaoyu.
Seeing the moment they kissed captured in the photo, Xiaoyu’s cheeks turned slightly red. Although her phone’s wallpaper was a similar photo, remembering how she felt then still made her shy.
Just as Xiaoyu put the photo away, she felt something was off. She looked up and saw Chen Mo grinning mischievously at her.
Mmm…
After a brief struggle, Xiaoyu gave in, her body going limp in Chen Mo’s arms.
A minute later, Chen Mo let go.
“Happy now? You only know how to bully me.”
Xiaoyu gasped for breath, blushing as she leaned against Chen Mo’s chest. While they were kissing, people had walked by, and now thinking about it made her utterly embarrassed.
This scene felt familiar?
Suddenly remembering something, Xiaoyu blinked at Chen Mo, then quickly took out her phone from her bag.
Seeing the time on her phone, her face fell. Just like last time, there were only five minutes left before the dormitory closed. It was too late to go back now.
Chen Mo laughed heartily, took Xiaoyu’s hand, and headed towards the night market.
“Where are we going?”
“To buy clothes.”
“What for?”
“You can’t go back, and you haven’t showered. We need to buy clothes for you to change into.”
“So you purposely didn’t tell me the time.”
Their voices faded into the distance.