564: Chapter 559 I dream of

A nearly manic light flickered in Shen Yan's eyes.

"We will create another 'Connoisseur' AI. Its task won't be to judge if a painting looks good, but to judge its 'novelty'."

"The AI painters in the swarm will submit their works to the 'Connoisseur'."

"The more unique the work, the more it breaks through existing styles, the higher the score it receives."

"Painters with high scores will receive more computing resources. Their 'style genes' will be copied and mutated, giving birth to new little 'painters'."

"As for those who only imitate and repeat, their computing power will be stripped away, and they will eventually be eliminated by the system."

"This is a self-evolving, self-iterating, and never-ending creative ecosystem."

"What you need to do is not teach the AI how to paint."

"But rather, create a brutal Roman Colosseum for them, where countless Van Goghs and Picassos can be born!"

The whiteboard was already covered with complex structural diagrams and frantic arrows he had drawn.

The entire conference room was silent.

Everyone was completely shocked by the grand and crazy vision Shen Yan described.

Before, they were thinking about how to optimize a machine.

But Shen Yan wanted to create a civilization.

Clack.

The marker was tossed back onto the table.

Shen Yan looked around at the group of technical geniuses who stood there dumbfounded.

"Do you understand?"

"Un... understood!"

The project lead's voice was trembling, his eyes filled with unprecedented fanaticism.

Shen Yan regained his composure.

"Guang Ke will send you the specific framework. I'll give you one month to create the prototype of the 'Zhenge Protocol'."

"One month?" Wu Ya said with some concern. "Isn't... isn't that too tight?"

"My money can't wait that long."

Shen Yan's single sentence shut down all further questions.

He glanced at his watch.

"Meeting adjourned."

The project team members seemed to wake from a dream. With a sense of pilgrimage, they excitedly rushed out of the conference room, not wanting to waste another second.

The glass door closed, leaving only Shen Yan and Wu Ya in the room.

Wu Ya looked at Shen Yan with a complex expression.

There was awe, admiration, and a hint of a feeling that only she understood.

"President Shen... truly, thank you so much."

She composed herself and put on a professional smile.

"I've arranged for dinner at Tinglan Pavilion tonight as a welcome for you, and also..."

She hadn't finished her sentence.

"No need."

Shen Yan picked up his coat and interrupted her flatly.

"I have another appointment."

After saying that, he didn't give Wu Ya another glance, pulling open the door and walking straight out.

Wu Ya's outstretched hand froze in mid-air.

She watched Shen Yan's retreating back as he disappeared through the door. Only after a long while did she slowly lower her hand.

The glass wall still reflected the disappointment on her face that she hadn't had time to hide.

Shen Yan walked out of the office building.

The night wind, carrying the humidity unique to T City, blew against his face.

He didn't have his driver pick him up.

An ordinary ride-hailing car was already waiting by the roadside.

The door opened, and Shen Yan bent down to get in.

No destination was given.

The driver simply started the car and merged into the city's traffic.

Ten minutes later, the car stopped at a quiet alley entrance.

Deep in the alley, an elegant lantern hung.

Three characters were written on it.

Jingsi Pavilion.

This was a private tea house not open to the public.

Shen Yan pushed open the heavy wooden door, and the scent of sandalwood wafted toward him.

A man wearing a traditional button-down shirt was already waiting in the foyer.

"Mr. Shen."

The man bowed slightly and led him through a winding corridor.

In an elegant tea room, a figure immediately stood up.

Wang Haidong.

He looked much better than the last time they met.

The gloom that once sat between his brows had been replaced by a sense of stability and a healthy glow.

"President Shen, you're here."

He kept his posture low, showing obvious respect.

Shen Yan nodded and sat down across from him.

"President Wang, I hope you've been well."

"Thanks to you, everything is fine, everything is fine."

Wang Haidong personally lifted the purple clay teapot from the table and poured a cup of tea for Shen Yan.

The tea was a clear yellow, with a crisp fragrance.

"This is this year's Mingqian Longjing. Please, have a taste."

Shen Yan picked up the teacup but didn't drink.

He just watched the steam rising from the cup.

"I've looked over the company's accounts."

Wang Haidong's movement paused for a moment, then he smiled.

"It's alright. There's a steady income every month, and the team has mostly gelled together."

"Steady?"

Shen Yan repeated the word.

His tone betrayed no emotion.

"Steady means there are no surprises."

"It also means the ceiling is right there—visible and within reach."

The smile on Wang Haidong's face stiffened.

He understood the meaning behind Shen Yan's words.

This young helmsman seemed dissatisfied with the current situation.

"President Shen, you mean..."

Shen Yan set down the teacup, the bottom hitting the table with a soft click.

"I'll ask you a question."

"Your trade line currently has a monthly turnover of roughly nine figures."

"Do you want to add another zero to the end of that?"

Wang Haidong's pupils suddenly constricted.

Add another zero.

What did that mean?

From a hundred million to a billion.

This wasn't just doubling; it was a tenfold increase.

His hand holding the teapot shook uncontrollably.

A few drops of scalding tea splashed onto the back of his hand.

Yet he seemed not to notice.

His breathing became somewhat hurried.

"President Shen... you're not joking, are you?"

"Do I look like I'm joking?"

Shen Yan's expression was as calm as the night in T City.

Wang Haidong looked at him.

There wasn't a single ripple on that young face.

He knew Shen Yan never made such jokes.

This man either didn't do something at all, or he built it into a behemoth beyond anyone's imagination.

Wang Haidong's Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed hard.

"Yes."

He practically forced the word through his teeth.

"Of course I do!"

"I dream of it!"

Only then did a nearly imperceptible curve appear at the corner of Shen Yan's mouth.

"Good."

"Then let's talk about the Elder Family in Country M."

Wang Haidong was stunned.

"The Hosen Family?"

"That giant entrenched on the West Coast of Country M, controlling Ocean Shipping and warehousing logistics?"

"They are involved in legitimate international trade."

"Compared to the Hosen Family, the business he currently had in his hands was like child's play."

"They weren't even in the same league."

"President Shen, the Elder Family... I'm afraid they're out of our reach, aren't they?"

"Head-on, of course they are."

Shen Yan's fingers tapped lightly on the table.

"But what if we don't go head-on, but instead become a part of them?"

"Or rather, become an inseparable part of their body."

Wang Haidong was even more confused.

Shen Yan stopped being cryptic.

"Your current model is point-to-point trade."

"Buying from point A, shipping to point B, and selling for a profit."

"This model is too ancient."