Can't afford to pay for the takeout? Stunning CEO: Then pay with your body!

Chapter 521 Remember to let me know you're safe!

"Is it over?" she asked.

"Hmm." Zhang Yan rubbed his temples. "Is there anything else you'd like to add?"

Nie Qingcheng walked to the large screen and looked at the twelve points of light on the solar system model.

"The Jupiter orbit interception battle is expected to end in one and a half hours."

"After it's over, will you stay near Jupiter's orbit, or return to Earth?"

"Stay in Jupiter's orbit," Zhang Yan said. "The main body will arrive in forty-two days. It's safer for me to wait for it in Jupiter's orbit than to wait on Earth."

"Then you'll need to establish a temporary base in Jupiter's orbit."

"I've already told Qin Xiao."

"He will mobilize military resources to establish supply depots and repair docks on several of Jupiter's Galilean moons."

"The Ink Soldier Array also needs maintenance; dismantling those Black People will definitely result in losses."

Nie Qingcheng nodded.

She walked back to her chair, sat down again, and opened the paper book.

Zhang Yan glanced at the cover; it was a gardening guide.

"Why are you looking at this?" he asked.

Nie Qingcheng turned to a page with instructions on how to care for a certain type of green plant.

"The plant on the balcony is called 'Moon Shadow'. I bought it yesterday; I heard it's difficult to care for. I'll see how to take care of it."

Zhang Yan remembered the plant she had brought back from the market yesterday.

The leaves are silvery-gray with finely serrated edges, and they look a bit like mint, but are firmer.

"Why did you buy this?" he asked casually.

Nie Qingcheng did not look up.

"Because it has a nice name."

Zhang Yan walked to the worktable and began writing the tactical program for the Ink Soldier Formation.

The code needs to be written with great precision.

The movement trajectory, attack timing, communication frequency band, and camouflage protocol of each Ink soldier must be set in advance.

Guan Xing sat beside him to assist.

The two remained silent, with only the sound of keyboards echoing in the laboratory.

The program was completed at 3 PM.

Zhang Yan encrypted the file and sent it to Qin Xiao, then leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes to rest.

Guan Xing stretched and stood up from his chair.

"I'll go and compile this data into a formal report and archive it," she said, walking towards the door before stopping again.

"Oh, right, there's something I forgot to mention."

Zhang Yan opened his eyes.

Guan Xing stood at the door, his back to him.

"The ancient text I mentioned yesterday records that the community remembers the face of the first person to harm it."

"I did some more research."

"That's not just an ordinary 'remembering'."

"The memory of collective consciousness is like an imprint, which is equivalent to writing the data of that face directly into the deepest layer of the core consciousness."

"For 30,000 years, that data has been repeatedly reinforced, strengthened, and recorded."

"Its 'memory strength' of that face may now exceed its cognitive strength of its own structure."

The faces of the first-generation maintainers are a wound that can never be healed for the community's mother.

A source of pain that has lasted for 30,000 years.

"You mean, if it sees that face again, it might have an extreme reaction?" Zhang Yan asked.

"It's not just possible, it's certain." Guan Xing turned around.

"The core logic of group consciousness is survival and expansion."

"But the memory of that face has formed a separate, unalterable 'abnormal data area'."

"The very existence of that region consumes its core computing power."

"If this data area is reactivated—it's like someone directly attacking its most sensitive nerve."

"This information is useful," Zhang Yan said.

"I'm thinking that when the ultimate formula is released, if you simulate the facial features of the first-generation maintainer at the level of consciousness, it might cause its anger level to exceed the theoretical limit."

Guan Xing cautioned, "But the risk is that it might enter a defensive state prematurely, hiding its core nodes even deeper."

"It's worth a try."

Guan Xing nodded, then turned and left.

The laboratory fell silent again.

Zhang Yan sat in the chair, then stood up and walked to the window.

It was already dark outside the window.

He took out his phone and sent a message to Nie Qingcheng: "Tomorrow is Saturday. You said you wanted me to spend the day with you."

The reply arrived in ten seconds.

"The day after tomorrow. I have a meeting at the company tomorrow and won't be back until tonight. You continue practicing your synchronization."

Zhang Yan replied, "Okay."

He put away his phone and left the lab.

As the elevator ascended, he opened the system panel and checked his consciousness synchronization rate curve.

2.4, stable.

Starting tomorrow, I'll aim for 2.5.

In the living room, Nie Qingcheng had already returned and was cooking in the kitchen.

Zhang Yan went inside and saw two clay pots on the stove.

One dish was stewing pork ribs, and the other was simmering mushroom soup. The aroma was wonderful.

"Wash your hands and get ready to eat." Nie Qingcheng said without turning her head.

Zhang Yan washed his hands and set out the bowls and chopsticks.

The two sat at the dining table eating, without saying much.

The pork ribs were stewed until very tender, melting in your mouth. The mushroom soup was sweet and delicious; Zhang Yan drank two bowls.

After the meal, Nie Qingcheng washed the dishes.

Zhang Yan stood beside him and wiped it dry.

The sounds of running water, clinking dishes, and wiping the table all mingled in the kitchen.

"We'll practice synchronization tomorrow. There are a few things to keep in mind," Nie Qingcheng said while washing up.

"First, each training session should not exceed two hours."

"Second, if your heart rate exceeds 120, stop immediately."

"Third, you must rest for more than three hours after training, and you cannot do anything that requires a high degree of concentration during this period."

Zhang Yan agreed to all of them.

Nie Qingcheng turned off the tap, dried her hands with a rag, and turned to look at him.

"There's one more thing."

"After the Jupiter orbit interception battle is over, regardless of the outcome, you must contact me immediately."

"Just let me know you're safe, even a single word will do."

"it is good."

Nie Qingcheng stared at him for a few more seconds.

Then she reached out and pressed down a stray lock of hair that was sticking up on his forehead.

"Go to sleep. Tomorrow's training schedule is packed."

Zhang Yan went back to his bedroom and lay down.

Nie Qingcheng turned off the light and lay down beside him.

In the darkness, her foot reached out and touched his calf again.

Zhang Yan grasped it and held it in his palm.

Her feet were warm this time.

"The day after tomorrow." Nie Qingcheng's voice rang out in the darkness.

"You promised to spend the whole day with me. You can't go back on your word."

"No regrets."

"That's good."

Her breathing gradually became calm.

Zhang Yan held her feet until she fell completely asleep. Then he quietly got up and went to the study.

The computer screen's standby light glowed a faint blue in the darkness.

He sat down and opened the system panel.

The twelve spindle-shaped black specks of light have crossed Neptune's orbit and are moving inward at a constant speed.

It is expected to arrive at Jupiter in seven days.

Zhang Yan turned off the control panel and leaned back in his chair.

Seven days.

Then came the interception battle.

Then there are forty-two days.

Then comes the mother.

He closed his eyes, sat in the study for ten minutes, then got up and went back to his bedroom.

When she lay down, Nie Qingcheng didn't wake up, but her script instinctively leaned closer again.

Zhang Yan grasped it and closed his eyes.