Chapter 209: This Joke Is Not Funny

Here's the polished version of Chapter 209: This Joke Is Not Funny, edited for smoothness, clarity, Chen Mo sat comfortably on the sofa, facing Xiao Yu's parents—He Zhenghua and Wang Lan. Now that he and Xiao Yu were officially married, the atmosphere between them was much more relaxed. They liked Chen Mo and appreciated his sincerity.

"Dad, Xiao Yu and I are heading back to Binhai soon," Chen Mo began. "I talked with Uncle Zhang about opening a seafood supermarket with a storefront. You and Mom, and my dad too—you can all manage it together. You've both been in the fishing business for over a decade, and you've got the experience and connections. Just think of it as something to keep busy with. Even if there are losses, it doesn't matter."

With their financial situation stable, Chen Mo didn't care about profits—he just didn't want the elders sitting idle and bored all day.

"I actually discussed this with Old Zhang yesterday," He Zhenghua replied, nodding. "I'm planning to sell the boat. Xiao Yu and Xiao Man are grown now, and it's time to rely on you young ones for the future."

Seeing her father agree, Xiao Yu let out a quiet sigh of relief. If she had tried to bring this up herself, her father's stubborn nature would've shut it down immediately. With Chen Mo leading the conversation, things were much smoother.

"Brother, look at this news," Xiao Man said, interrupting from nearby. She had been munching snacks and scrolling her phone but suddenly handed it over to Chen Mo.

"The First Intelligent Robot to Save a Human Life!"

"Marching Ant Robot Rescues Baby from Fire!"

"Robots Are Not the Enemy of Mankind!"

All the headlines on her phone were about the same thing—news about an intelligent robot saving a baby from a fire.

"What is it?" He Zhenghua asked curiously.

"Here," Xiao Man said as she switched on the TV and tuned in to a live news channel. The fire had already been extinguished, but crowds of reporters and onlookers filled the scene. The headline: "Intelligent Robot Rescue Incident."

"Looks like I should head back to the company," Chen Mo said, returning the phone.

That afternoon, after dropping by to speak with his parents and sharing a meal with the family, Chen Mo and Xiao Yu returned to Binhai.

"Editor, pull the surveillance footage from outside the fire scene."

In a news office, reporter Huang Yi reviewed video footage at his desk while talking on the phone.

With his sharp instincts, the moment he arrived on scene he didn't rush to broadcast—it was the surveillance video that caught his attention.

"Do we have a shot of the robot actually saving the baby?" the editor asked eagerly on the other end.

"Yes," Huang Yi replied, eyes locked on the screen. "It ran out of the safety exit with the baby basket. The basket was wrapped in clothing for protection."

It was the perfect angle—the moment the robot rescued the baby. All other photos had been taken after the rescue.

"Upload it now," the editor said, voice rising in excitement.

"On it."

The footage of a robot rescuing a baby in a Hangzhou apartment fire exploded across the internet.

For the first time in human history, an intelligent robot had actively saved a human life.

As the video spread, the story trended globally.

Major media outlets—state-run, private, international, self-media platforms—plastered the headlines across every front page and homepage. The robot rescue had become the most discussed topic online.

One fire. One rescue. And the world stood still.

Across forums, news platforms, and social media, people marveled at what had just occurred: a machine, without instruction or hesitation, had acted on its own to save a human child.

Public opinion began to shift. Negative headlines that had plagued intelligent robots were suddenly drowned out by this single act of heroism.

The Marching Ants' "Enchantress" robot, once vilified for its misuse in underground robot fights, now stood tall as a symbol of hope. The once-cold machine had become a vivid, heroic figure in the public eye.

A new era was arriving—the age of intelligent AI integration.

Back at the Marching Ant headquarters, Zhao Min walked side by side with Chen Mo into Building One.

Even for her—as company president—this building carried an air of secrecy.

"Since the robot rescue went public, our orders have increased by 300 today," Zhao Min reported. "All the previous negative press has been washed away. This could be the real beginning of robots integrating into daily life. I never expected it would turn around this fast."

"It's a good thing," Chen Mo nodded.

He and Xiao Yu had returned late last night. Today was his first day back.

The fire investigation revealed that the blaze had started downstairs. The baby's mother had gone out briefly, leaving the child asleep inside. The robot, detecting danger, had taken action.

Marching Ant Company had already contacted the robot's owner and arranged to bring back the unit for repairs.

"Mo Nu, how's the inspection going?" Chen Mo asked as they walked into the lab.

"Preliminary check complete. The YJ1673 unit's core components are intact. The exterior shell is damaged, but performance remains unaffected," Mo Nu reported.

A robot came forward to lead them toward the repair station.

On the table lay the hero robot, its outer shell blackened by smoke, making it look battle-worn. It stood in stark contrast to the pristine robots working nearby.

"Replace the casing. Repair the damage. Run a full system check too," Chen Mo instructed.

"Understood, Mom," the robot replied.

The maintenance robots quickly disassembled the unit, revealing its internal skeleton.

Zhao Min, unfamiliar with the fully automated process, could only watch in awe.

"What's next on your agenda?" she asked, glancing around and then eyeing the sealed door leading to the lower level.

"Just letting things run their course," Chen Mo replied calmly. "The rescue footage already did what months of PR couldn't. No need to spend a single cent on advertising."

"Yeah, this is just the beginning," Zhao Min agreed. "But I'm curious… what new project are you hiding in the lower levels?"

"You want to know?" Chen Mo asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Of course! I'm the president of the company. Not knowing what we're developing kinda feels like dereliction of duty."

"I'm worried you might get ideas if you find out," Chen Mo teased.

"Relax. I'm not into younger guys," Zhao Min shot back with a smirk.

Chen Mo fell silent for a moment, then looked at her seriously.

"Can I trust you?"

"Yes," Zhao Min said instinctively, without hesitation.

"Come with me."

Chen Mo led her to the secured door. Apart from Xiao Yu, Zhao Min was the person he trusted most in the world. She was the company's backbone, and there were some things she needed to know.

"You're not going to kill me after showing me, right?" Zhao Min joked as they stepped into the elevator.

"You've got quite the imagination."

After palm print and password verification, the doors opened. The two walked through five security gates and entered the next-level lab.

Inside, hundreds of robots worked at various stations. At each workstation was a small device synthesizing material.

Zhao Min gasped in shock at the scale of it.

One robot approached and handed Chen Mo a sealed glass vial containing a fine, gray-white powder.

"This is it."

"What is it?" Zhao Min asked, eyeing the powder curiously.

Chen Mo smiled faintly. "This little bottle could sell for a billion dollars—or even more."

Zhao Min nearly dropped the vial in shock. "Boss, that's not funny."

"I'm serious. This is room-temperature superconducting material."

Zhao Min's face froze.

"What… did you just say?" she stammered.

"Room-temperature superconducting material," Chen Mo repeated.

"…Little brother, this joke is really not funny."

Zhao Min forced a smile, one more strained than cheerful. But the look on Chen Mo's face said it all.

He wasn't joking.

Silence fell.

And the air, for a moment, felt heavy.