47: Chapter 48 Outdoor Road Testing

"Chairman Yu, would you like to try it out yourself?" Zhou Ming summoned his courage to invite him.

Yu Bo pondered for a moment, then shook his head: "No need. The indoor environment is relatively controlled, and the test results are within expectations. I'd rather see how your product performs in a real, complex outdoor environment."

He swept his gaze over the three, who looked slightly disappointed but immediately perked up, and added: "For example, the stretch of road from the entrance of the Disabled Persons' Federation to the nearest subway station or bus stop. Sidewalks, occupied tactile paving, non-motorized vehicles, pedestrians, traffic lights at intersections, temporary construction... these are the real challenges visually impaired people face in their daily commutes. Can your algorithms and hardware handle that?"

This requirement was far more stringent and practical than the indoor test.

Zhou Ming and Lin Yuan exchanged a look, both seeing the gravity in each other's eyes, but more than that, a sense of being awakened and eager to try.

Su Xiaoxiao's eyes lit up, and she immediately said: "Chairman Yu, this suggestion is excellent! We've done a few small-scale outdoor tests before, but we haven't systematically tested on such a 'typical' route. Teacher Li, Teacher Zhang, Teacher Wang, what do you think... would it be convenient for you to test it for us again? We will protect you the whole way!"

The three visually impaired teachers consulted with each other, and Teacher Li said with a chuckle: "Sure, we're heading back anyway, might as well try this new gadget to see if it really works. But young man, you'd better stick close to us, don't let us bump into any trees."

"Don't worry! We will definitely stay close!" Zhou Ming promised quickly.

The group arrived at the entrance of the Disabled Persons' Federation. The sun was shining, but the street scene was indeed complex. The sidewalk wasn't very wide, the tactile paving was intermittent, electric scooters occasionally darted by, shared bikes were parked sporadically along the roadside, and there was a small intersection nearby with traffic flowing.

Zhou Ming readjusted the glasses and earphones for Teacher Li, while Lin Yuan and Su Xiaoxiao followed slightly behind on the left and right, and Yu Bo and Director Wang observed from further back.

"Start outdoor navigation, destination: 300 meters ahead, Subway Exit A." Zhou Ming issued the command.

The glasses' prompt sounded: "Route planning... Planning complete. Proceed straight ahead, note that the tactile paving is interrupted, it is recommended to keep right and proceed slowly."

Teacher Li gripped the white cane, took a deep breath, and began to walk. It went smoothly at first, and the prompts accurately helped avoid a few parked bicycles.

"There is a utility pole five meters ahead, located on the right side of the tactile paving, it is recommended to move half a step to the left."

Teacher Li moved to the side as instructed and passed it successfully.

"Warning, an electric scooter is approaching rapidly from the right, please pause."

As soon as the voice finished, a food delivery scooter sped past Teacher Li, almost brushing against him, creating a gust of wind. Teacher Li was startled and stopped in his tracks. Zhou Ming and Su Xiaoxiao were also frightened into a cold sweat.

"Danger cleared, you may continue straight." The prompt sounded again, as steady as before.

Watching this scene, Yu Bo frowned slightly. The response speed was acceptable, but the lead time for the warning and the urgency of the tone could perhaps be optimized.

Walking to the small intersection, the light was red. Prompt: "Intersection ahead, red light, please wait."

While waiting, a child's ball rolled to Teacher Li's feet. He instinctively wanted to bend down, but the prompt immediately sounded: "Attention to small moving object at your feet, not an obstacle, can be ignored. 15 seconds remaining for the red light."

This detail made Yu Bo nod slightly. Being able to distinguish between different types of objects and provide appropriate advice showed that the algorithm had a certain level of intelligence.

The light turned green, prompt: "Green light, you may proceed. Beware of oncoming traffic from the left."

Under the guidance of the prompts, Teacher Li successfully crossed the intersection and finally stopped safely in front of the subway entrance.

The whole journey took about ten minutes, with no real danger. Teacher Li had some sweat on his forehead, but his expression was excited: "Good heavens, it really works! It's much more thrilling than being inside just now, but it's useful too!"

The experiences of Teacher Zhang and the other Teacher Wang were roughly similar. Although they encountered a few situations where the prompts weren't timely enough or were overly conservative, overall, the glasses' basic navigation and obstacle avoidance functions in a complex outdoor environment were validated, and many pain points that needed improvement were also exposed.

Yu Bo now had a more intuitive understanding of the technical status and challenges of Mingtu Technology. The potential was great, but the road ahead was by no means smooth. He looked at the three of them—Zhou Ming and the others—who were exhausted but had bright eyes, intensely discussing the test details, and he knew that this seed investment would most likely be made.

And in the gap while he was thinking about the investment details, his phone vibrated. He took it out and glanced at it; it was from Shen Nian, with only one line of text: "Chairman Yu, did the inspection go well? I have returned to Jiangzhou. I look forward to your presence and guidance at the internal review meeting for Wing Flight's new products next week."

The light from the phone screen seemed a bit harsh in the slightly noisy street. The text was concise and professional, perfectly matching the tone a business partner should have, as if the woman who had desperately forced a kiss at the hotel entrance last night had never existed.

Yu Bo's fingers gripping the phone tightened almost imperceptibly; his heart was like a lake into which a small pebble had been tossed, and the thoughts that had just temporarily calmed down due to the inspection of Bright Path rippled again, subtle yet impossible to ignore.

He could almost imagine how Shen Nian looked when she typed that line—perhaps on the plane back to Jiangzhou, or perhaps already in the Wing Flight office. Her makeup would be exquisite, her expression calm, having perfectly tucked away all the awkwardness, madness, tears, and that intense kiss from last night beneath that beautiful, capable exterior, leaving only professional detachment.

This was the real Shen Nian. A smart, powerful woman who knew how to adjust her strategy in time and would never easily admit defeat.

Yu Bo had to admit that even after the chaos of last night and this morning's self-loathing and wariness, he still couldn't deny the attractiveness of Shen Nian herself. Her beauty, mature and charming, carried the style and wisdom polished by life's experiences, like a fine wine aged over time, possessing a natural and powerful attraction for men.

Recalling her appearance last night at the hotel entrance, in the dim light, with teary eyes and a determined, forced kiss, besides fear and embarrassment, in some hidden corner of his heart, there actually remained a trace of a man's unspeakable vanity and... a flutter of excitement at being desperately adored by such a beautiful and outstanding woman.

And that full, alluring body pressed against him, those stunning curves and body heat, that desperate and passionate kiss mixed with tears and the scent of alcohol... these sensory memories were like a brand, and they wouldn't easily disappear just because of rational resistance and moral condemnation. They had truly happened and left a mark on his body and in his memory.

What made Yu Bo feel even more conflicted was that he possessed the System as a cheat, and knew some of Shen Nian's unknown secrets—like her pitifully low sexual experience. The number "3 times" and "one short relationship" displayed by the Inspection Skill formed a strong contrast with the mature charm Shen Nian displayed externally and the occasionally revealed, almost clumsy initiative.

This made him realize that her "seductive" actions last night were perhaps not because she was naturally promiscuous, but rather more like a woman who was extremely deprived in love, and perhaps even a bit clumsy, making an all-out, reckless gamble when facing someone she was truly attracted to.

This realization, beyond the displeasure and wariness Yu Bo felt in his heart from being "harassed," inexplicably gave rise to a faint trace of... pity, or rather, a more complex emotion that he himself didn't want to delve into.

A woman so outstanding and beautiful, yet perhaps a wasteland in terms of relationships, not even knowing how to strive for it in a more "clever" way, only able to express it in the most direct and easily botched manner...

This thought made him even more irritable. He shook his head, trying to banish these untimely thoughts.

He could not, and should not, harbor any extra emotions toward Shen Nian beyond those of a business partner. The loss of control last night was already a dangerous signal, proving that Shen Nian had an extraordinary influence on him—not just because of her beauty and temptation, but also because of that seemingly clumsy yet exceptionally persistent, all-or-nothing "affection," and the image she represented of success, independence, and a "partner" striving together with him. These factors, layered together, formed a complex and powerful field of temptation that almost made him lose his way.

He must maintain absolute clarity and distance.

Yu Bo took a deep breath, his fingers tapping quickly on the screen to reply to that message, his tone flat and polite, devoid of any extra emotion: "Received. The inspection went basically well, the 'Bright Path' project has potential. Once the time for the new product review meeting is confirmed, please notify my assistant in advance to arrange the schedule. Wish you success."

Sent.

He put the phone back in his pocket and stopped looking at it. His gaze returned to the three of them—Zhou Ming and the others—who were still excitedly discussing, and the few enthusiastic visually impaired teachers not far away.

This was the field he should be fully focused on—finding valuable projects, helping teams with potential, and creating real social and economic value. Emotionally, he had Yin Tianxue, and that was enough.

What he needed to do was to resist all external interference and temptation, and guard this hard-won peace and happiness.

As for Shen Nian... Yu Bo's eyes turned slightly cold. Let her just be "President Shen." He would treat the "Wing Flight" project with the utmost professional attitude, but that was all. Any probing beyond the boundaries, he would...