Out of guilt, Chen Mo subtly pushed the snacks he had just bought forward.
He nudged them to where the person beside him could easily reach.
Then…
He continued reading while snacking—sometimes eating spicy strips, sometimes chips, and sometimes spicy beef jerky.
The crisp sound of his teeth crunching through the snacks echoed lightly in the quiet library.
He knew Su Qin was a rather introverted person, possibly even struggling with social anxiety.
So he didn't pressure her to take his snacks.
Instead, he gently pushed them even closer toward her side of the table.
Su Qin, watching Chen Mo eat, couldn't help but swallow hard—her mouth was practically watering.
She was a foodie by nature. Now, the person sitting next to her kept snacking nonstop. The aroma of the food drifted into her nostrils and exploded in her taste buds, instantly dominating her thoughts.
It smelled so good!
How could she possibly resist?
So annoying!
Why did the guy next to her have to eat snacks in the library?
It's tempting me so badly!
Hmph…
He even stole my snacks before. Should I return the favor and sneak some of his?
Once that thought entered her mind, it clung like a nightmare, refusing to go away.
She stole a quick glance at Chen Mo. Seeing that he wasn't looking her way, she nervously reached out with her right hand, snuck a spicy strip from the already-opened bag, and popped it into her mouth. As the flavor hit her, a blissful smile lit up her face.
So delicious!
Spicy Prince brand spicy strips!
Her favorite snack!
She normally didn't dare eat spicy strips in the library. But now? Well, she couldn't be blamed.
Blame the boy next to her!
He started it.
Su Qin licked her lips and wiped the oil from the corners of her mouth with her hand… a down-to-earth gesture, despite her usual reserved demeanor.
After taking NZT, Chen Mo's body potential had been activated. Even without switching into overclock mode, his hearing and eyesight were far sharper than normal. Naturally, he saw all of Su Qin's little movements and couldn't help but smile inwardly.
What an adorable girl.
Usually she was known as a campus beauty, an ice-cold goddess, and a top student.
But who would've thought such a perfect woman had social anxiety, avoided contact with strangers, and even had a bit of a silly side?
Her IQ was top-tier…
But her EQ might just be bottom-tier.
After snacking a bit more, Chen Mo seemed to have thought of something. He quickly tore a sheet from his notebook and wrote a line:
"You accepted my shared snacks, so we're friends now."
"Let's get to know each other. I'm Chen Mo."
Once he finished writing, he slid the note toward the middle of the table between them and signaled with his eyes for Su Qin to take a look.
Su Qin noticed his gesture, and her face flushed instantly. Her heart began to race.
What… another note?
Su Qin's heart pounded, her cheeks grew red, but curiosity got the best of her. She took the note, opened it, glanced at the message, and then quickly hid it, nervously glancing around to see if anyone noticed. Seeing that no one was watching, she carefully unfolded it again and, with delicate handwriting, wrote back:
"Su Qin."
Chen Mo took the note back and saw only two words—Su Qin?
Talk about minimalist.
Did Su Qin never interact with guys? Even passing notes made her so guarded.
Still…
She took the note back and responded.
That was already a big step forward.
Chen Mo then wrote a technical question related to aerospace on the note and passed it to Su Qin, testing her knowledge and seeing whether she had the potential to join Black Domain Research Base as his assistant.
But…
He waited until the library closed and still didn't get a reply.
He felt a little let down.
Was it that she couldn't solve it?
Or was she just too shy?
…
After leaving the library, Chen Mo went back to his dorm to check in and say hello to his roommates, then left again. The dorm was still a mess—cigarette butts, stinky socks, and the sound of online gaming filled the air. A complete waste of time.
He didn't want to waste any more time, so he drove back to the nuclear power station.
He activated the thermal generator and began the recharging process, allowing his body and mind to relax.
His energy level was now at 30%.
Keep going!
Just a little more, and he could reach into a movie again.
Half an hour later, his phone rang.
He checked the caller ID—it was Tian Tian.
Tian Tian was the public CEO of Black Domain Technology and his proxy. She had always been very disciplined and never called him this late. What could be going on? Something must have happened.
Chen Mo firmly pressed the answer button and picked up the call.
"Hello, Tian Tian?"
One second.
Two seconds.
Three seconds.
Still no response. Only faint, slow breathing came through the line. It sounded like a sigh—tired and helpless.
"Say something?"
"What happened?"
"If it's about Black Domain Tech, don't worry. I'm here—nothing will collapse." Chen Mo smiled gently, trying to ease her mind and encourage her to speak up.
"It's not about the company," Tian Tian's voice came through with a sob.
"Oh? Then it's personal? Seeing as you're my employee, I'll help you with any private matter—unless it's about having my child. In that case, you're on your own. Unless you insist, of course."
"Who wants to have your child? So shameless!" Tian Tian blushed and muttered angrily, but her voice was louder now, and some of the sadness seemed to lift.
"If you've got the strength to argue with me, then you must be fine. Which means you don't actually need my help," Chen Mo chuckled.
"...Who says that?"
"So what's going on?"
"Chen Mo… I might have to resign." Tian Tian hesitated for a moment, then finally voiced the words she had been holding back. She didn't want to leave—she loved being CEO of Black Domain—but she had no choice.
Tian Tian's words were like a bolt of lightning in Chen Mo's heart.
Tian Tian, resign?
Impossible!
She was his proxy, the second most important person at Black Domain Technology. He couldn't afford to lose her.
"Why?" Chen Mo asked calmly, doing his best not to pressure her.
"Because… because my parents want me back in the Imperial Capital. They say there's something important I have to do," Tian Tian said softly.
Her parents were true elites in the capital. Their biggest asset was the Dihao Group—a Fortune Global 500 company involved in real estate, high tech, internet, and many other sectors. She'd received news from the capital earlier that afternoon: either return and accept her fate, or the family would move against Black Domain Technology and erase it from existence.
Black Domain Technology was still a fledgling company and stood no chance against the established Dihao Group. So… to protect Black Domain, Tian Tian had decided to resign.