49: Chapter 49: When the Sparks Flicker

January 28, 2017, Shenzhen.

The winter afternoon sun draped a golden veil over this modern metropolis. On the eastern side of the city, the Shenzhen Bay Sports Center, shaped like a giant white seashell, had already become the focus of the entire city, and even the nation.

At 3:00 PM, the final full-element rehearsal concluded. The general director issued commands via walkie-talkie, and thousands of staff members began final checks like gears in a precision instrument. Lighting, sound, wire work, the massive circular screen... every detail was confirmed repeatedly. Backstage, invited stars were making final preparations in their private dressing rooms, the air thick with a mixture of anticipation and professional tension.

At 4:00 PM, all entrances opened on time.

Crowds began to flow into this ocean of joy from all directions. Over thirty thousand Spark Technology employees, dressed in uniform dark blue hoodies printed with the Spark logo and the words "2017 · Sparks Shine Bright," entered in an orderly fashion according to pre-assigned areas, their faces beaming with pride and excitement. Among them were veterans who had stayed since the early startup days of 2015, their eyes carrying the composure of those who had weathered the storm; young engineers who had stood out during technical breakthroughs, looking around excitedly; and worker representatives from the front lines of production, dressed simply but appearing high-spirited. The entire stands were soon covered by this deep and vibrant "Spark Blue," merging into a boiling ocean of pride.

Meanwhile, the VIP area in the center of the venue welcomed heavyweight guests. Mr. Ren of Huawei, Chairman Li Fu of Geely, the Chairman of Shenzhen Metro, and the helmsmen of business giants like Great Wall, Chang'an, Xiaomi, OP, and VI, sat down with smiles under the guidance of staff. Their presence was not only a mark of respect for Su Chen personally but also a silent tribute to Spark Technology as a powerful ally and potential rule-maker. The "long guns and short cannons" of the media area keenly captured every moment of these tycoons chatting and shaking hands.

At exactly 5:00 PM, the lights across the venue suddenly dimmed, leaving only a single spotlight hitting the center of the stage.

Music began to play softly—an accompaniment to an inspiring and hope-filled corporate song created by Spark Technology itself. Amidst great anticipation, two household names walked calmly into the spotlight: the famous CCTV hosts Sa Beining and Dong Qing.

“Distinguished guests, dear Spark colleagues, good afternoon everyone!” Sa Beining's voice was as steady and resonant as ever, carrying just the right amount of passion.

“Tonight, the starlight shines for us, and the future unfolds before us.” Dong Qing took over, her voice gentle and dignified like a spring breeze blowing through the venue. “We gather here to witness the growth of a miracle, to share a hard-won glory, and to embark on an even more brilliant journey!”

The joint hosting by these two national icons instantly elevated the tone of the annual meeting to that of a national-level gala. Using concise and sincere language, they reviewed Spark Technology's thrilling journey over the past year, leading to the true protagonist of the night.

Amidst thunderous applause, Su Chen stepped slowly onto the stage. He was still wearing his signature simple dark clothing, without a tie, looking approachable and confident. Standing in the center of the stage, his gaze slowly swept across the endless sea of "Spark Blue" below and the faces of familiar and new business partners in the front row.

“Comrades of Spark, distinguished friends,” his voice carried clearly through the top-tier sound equipment to every corner of the stadium, calm yet imbued with immense power. “A year ago today, we were losing sleep over the cutoff of chip supplies, struggling against layers of external blockades.”

The audience fell silent instantly, everyone's thoughts pulled back to those gloomy days.

“But today, we stand here.” Su Chen's tone suddenly became spirited. “We have not only survived, we have used our technology, our products, and our unyielding will to tell the world—Spark cannot be broken!”

“In 2016, we achieved the leap from a single consumer electronics company to a technology group with six core pillars: chips, batteries, optoelectronics, industry, communications, and materials! Our ‘flint one’ chip was successfully powered on; our ‘Divine Travel’ and ‘Bedrock’ batteries gained recognition from the world's top automakers; our ‘Light and Shadow 1.0’ module will redefine mobile imaging; and our Xingchen Heavy Industry is building the solidest industrial foundation for the country!”

With every achievement he mentioned, the audience erupted in warm applause and cheers. These cold business figures were transformed at this moment into the blood-pumping pride of every Spark employee.

“None of this would be possible without the hard work of every colleague here. It is your wisdom and sweat that have forged Spark's glory! Nor could it happen without the full support of our partners; it is your trust that has widened the road ahead!” Su Chen bowed deeply to the audience.

After a long period of applause, Su Chen's gaze became exceptionally soft as he looked toward the front row of the VIP area, at the figure who had been quietly watching him—Lin Wan.

“I also want to give a special thanks to one person here.” His voice was gentle yet firm, carrying an unmistakable deep affection. “Lin Wan.”

The spotlight hit Lin Wan at the perfect moment. She was slightly startled, and then a faint blush appeared on her face. Under everyone's gaze, she felt a bit embarrassed, but her eyes still bravely met Su Chen's.

“Thank you for choosing to believe in me and staying by my side during my most difficult times.” Su Chen's voice wasn't loud, but every word reached everyone's heart clearly. “Thank you for silently bearing countless pressures during the company's rapid development, keeping the trivial and complex matters in perfect order. You are not only Spark's most outstanding COO, but also my... most important pillar.”

He paused, as if gathering courage, and then said solemnly: “In the days to come, I hope we can continue as always, fighting side by side. Not just as the most synchronized partners in business, but also... as each other's only companions on the journey of life.”

“Whoa—!!!”

The venue was silent for a moment, then erupted into the most enthusiastic and sustained applause, cheers, and whistles of the year! This near-public confession pushed the atmosphere to its first emotional climax. Countless employees stood up excitedly, sending their most sincere blessings to their respected President Su and President Lin. Lin Wan's eyes instantly turned red, tears of happiness welling up. She nodded vigorously, everything understood without words.

Afterward, Mr. Ren of Huawei took the stage as a partner representative to deliver a speech. He highly praised Spark Technology's innovative spirit and its role in driving the industry chain, and noted humorously: “Seeing Mr. Su Chen and Ms. Lin Wan reminds me of the hardships and romance of Huawei's early days. I wish Spark Technology, and these two young people, a future path that grows wider and brighter!”

At 6:00 PM, the performance segment officially began, accompanied by the first round of exciting lucky draws.

The music style shifted instantly, the rhythm becoming bright and impactful. Joker Xue took the stage first, igniting the crowd with the song "Actor," followed by a medley of hits like "Ugly" and "Serious Snow," quickly heating up the atmosphere.

Immediately after, Jolin Tsai made a fiery appearance. As the melodies of "Sun Will Never Set" and "Dancing Diva" rang out, her exquisite dance skills and powerful stage presence kept the crowd cheering.

Then, international superstar Drake used his unique melodies and rhythms to perform hit singles like "God's Plan" and "Hotline Bling." The exotic music gave the employees a different kind of audiovisual feast.

During a break in the performances, the first round of the lucky draw was jointly opened by Sa Beining and Dong Qing.

“Next, it's time to witness a miracle!” Sa Beining imitated the classic line as numbers scrolled rapidly on the giant screen.

“Grand Prize, ten winners! The prize is—a top-of-the-line luxury sedan!” Dong Qing announced.

When the names and employee IDs of the ten lucky winners appeared on the screen, the venue erupted in deafening gasps of envy! The winners practically jumped out of their seats, covering their mouths in disbelief as they ran excitedly toward the podium, surrounded by the cheers of their colleagues.

Immediately following was a cash red envelope rain totaling 30 million yuan! It was instantly distributed to the thirty thousand employees via a mobile mini-program! The venue was suddenly drowned out by the notification sounds of incoming red envelopes and screams of wild joy!

The performances continued. Jane Zhang used her ethereal dolphin vocals to perform "Finally Waiting for You" and "Painted Heart," leading the entire crowd to sing along emotionally.

JJ Lin's "Twilight" and "Cao Cao" showcased his powerful songwriting and vocal skills, triggering a mass sing-along of ten thousand people.

And when Justin Bieber held his guitar and sang the classic "Baby," the atmosphere reached another peak, with countless young employees waving glow sticks to the rhythm and singing at the top of their lungs.

The performances took a temporary break to enter the grand honorary awards ceremony. Su Chen, Lin Wan, and other core executives personally took the stage to present major awards such as the "Annual Technical Breakthrough Award," "Annual Market Expansion Award," and "Annual Spark Craftsman Award."

The deeds of each winner were briefly introduced. Among them were engineers who solved chip yield problems, sales teams that opened up new emerging overseas markets, and front-line old masters who pursued excellence in ordinary positions, raising product qualification rates to 99.99%. After-tax bonus checks as high as the million-yuan level were handed to them. This was not just a reward for them personally but a declaration to all employees: at Spark, your every effort will be seen, cherished, and rewarded with excess! The applause was long-lasting, filled with respect and aspiration.

The second round of the lucky draw followed immediately, drawing another 100 first-prize winners (the latest top-spec new energy vehicles) and another round of 30 million yuan in cash red envelopes! The scope of the winners was wider, pushing the employees' sense of happiness to a new height.

At 8:00 PM, the second half of the performances began, and the atmosphere became even more heated.

Dao Lang appeared with his rugged and soulful voice. "The First Snow of 2002" and "The Punishment of Impulsiveness" evoked memories for countless people, turning the entire venue into a nostalgic KTV scene.

Next, Jay Chou's appearance triggered a mountain-shaking tsunami of screams! "Blue and White Porcelain," "Nunchucks," "Nocturne"... one hit after another that had accompanied many through their youth turned the entire stadium into a dreamlike purple ocean (his support color), the sound of the ten-thousand-person choir almost lifting the roof off.

Following that, Utada Hikaru's ethereal and piercing voice performed classic Japanese songs like "First Love" and "Flavor of Life," bringing a different kind of tranquility and emotion.

Finally, Adele took the stage as the finale! When her soul-stirring and powerful voice sang "Someone Like You" and "Rolling in the Deep," everyone was conquered by this world-class soundscape, immersed in unparalleled musical enjoyment.

After the performances ended, Lin Wan, as the representative of the management team, took the stage for the closing remarks. She had changed into an elegant evening gown and spoke with composure, her words filled with gratitude for the team and firm confidence in the future. “The future of Spark is in the hands of each and every one of us. Let us join hands to build an even more glorious tomorrow!” Her grace and wisdom once again won the respect and applause of the entire audience.

Then, Lin Wan initiated the final round of the lucky draw—1,000 second-prize winners (flagship electronic product bundles) and a ultimate cash red envelope pool totaling up to 40 million yuan!

When the last big prize was revealed, the entire stadium was immersed in a massive, shared joy and satisfaction.

At exactly 10:00 PM, all performance and lucky draw segments concluded. The lights dimmed once more, leaving only the glow sticks in the audience flickering like a galaxy.

Just then, the general director's deep and resonant voice came over the broadcast: “Please, all Spark people, look up at the starry sky.”

Everyone, as if by prior agreement, raised their heads to look beyond the open dome of the stadium at the deep night sky.

The finale show—"Spark: An Epic," officially began.

Act I [Sprouting]: At first, the night sky was pitch black. Suddenly, directly above the stadium, a point of light as faint as a firefly lit up stubbornly, flickering in solitude. That was the original spark.

Act II [Soaring]: The point of light suddenly expanded like a chain reaction, instantly evolving into hundreds of luminous drones, precisely arranging themselves into the silhouette of the first-generation "xinghuo no. 1" drone. This silhouette performed climbing, circling, and diving maneuvers in the air with incredible agility.

Act III [Foundation]: The "xinghuo no. 1" graphic suddenly decomposed like dandelions scattered by the wind, then quickly reorganized in the next moment to form the 3D outline of a "spark super energy" battery, with energy seemingly flowing inside. Immediately after, the graphic transformed again into an incredibly detailed and complex circuit diagram of the "flint one" chip, with countless points of light racing along the circuits. Finally, the graphics condensed, and a rigorously structured 3D model of a "Beichen" five-axis machine tool, representing industrial power, took shape majestically in the night sky!

Act IV [Empire]: The battery, the chip, the machine tool... all these foundational graphics began to converge, collide, and merge toward the center! Points of light danced and reorganized frantically, like the creative process of the Big Bang. Finally, a massive, precise, detailed, and brightly lit 3D image of a "Spark Tech City" suspended shockingly above the stadium! In the city, one could vaguely see drones taking off and landing, vehicles shuttling through, chips glowing, and machine tools operating... This was a miniature future world full of life and power, belonging to Spark!

Final Chapter [Acknowledgement]: In the very center of this breathtaking "Tech City" image, eight large characters emerged in brilliant colors:

“Thank You for the Journey, the Future is Promising.”

Silence.

An absolute silence lasting for several seconds.

Then—

“Spark! Spark! Spark!”

Over thirty thousand people, as if sharing a single soul, spontaneously shouted the company's name at the top of their lungs! Applause, cheers, sobs, gasps of wonder... merged into a torrent of emotion that shot straight into the clouds! Many people embraced and wept with excitement, feeling supreme glory for being a part of this great miracle!

This light show, which lasted eight minutes, utilized thirty thousand drones, and integrated the most cutting-edge military swarm control technology, used its unparalleled visual impact, artistic appeal, and technical awe to bring this unprecedented annual meeting to a glorious conclusion, one worthy of being recorded in history.

When the sparks shine bright, glory belongs to everyone who fought for it. This night was not just a feast, but a baptism of the soul and a gathering of strength. The future of the Spark Empire became incredibly clear and firm amidst this brilliant starlight and the tidal waves of cheers.