Chapter 91: Barbecue Party's Revelry and Sudden Blockade

Inside the newly completed comprehensive experimental building of Longyin Research Institute, a complex aroma of fresh paint, precision machine oil, and… barbecue smell permeated the air.

Exactly, it's the barbecue smell.

To celebrate the institute's large-scale expansion, the full bloom of its three business lines, and the successful move into a new home featuring an independent huge cafeteria and an open-air terrace.

Feng Yan waved his hand, approved the budget, and threw an all-staff barbecue party on the rooftop terrace.

The afterglow of the setting sun dyed the sky a warm orange-red, on the distant apron.

Several units of the "Chengshan" exoskeleton and the "Xiao Bai" platform stood still, reflecting the metal's distinctive cold sheen.

Forming a wonderful symbiosis with the bustling human fireworks before them.

"Brothers! Sisters! Raise your cups in hand!"

"No matter if it's beer, cola, or nutritional fast line!"

Wang Hao stood on an empty equipment box, one hand holding a beer can, the other gripping a sizzling, oil-dripping lamb skewer, his face flushed as if he'd just run five kilometers.

His voice spread across the whole terrace via the temporarily set-up loudspeaker.

"For our Dragon Chant's today! For… uh, for this damned, invincible, boundless future! Cheers!"

"Cheers——!"

Cheers rang deafeningly.

Researchers, security team members, and newly arrived administrative staff all wore heartfelt smiles and relaxation on their faces.

After months of high-intensity nonstop work and immense delivery pressure, this moment brought complete release.

Li Yang leaned on the railing, holding a cup of orange juice.

Gazing at the parking lot below, packed with vehicles from various partners, and then at the distant Phase Two construction site under intense work, his eyes were calm.

His work uniform remained spotless, somewhat out of place amid the surrounding lively relaxation.

"Li Bro, stop fussing over your joint heat sink!" Wang Hao, sharp-eyed, rushed over and put an arm around Li Yang's shoulders.

He shoved a string of fragrant, chargrilled chicken wings into his hand, "Today's off! Mandatory! As Feng Bro said!"

Li Yang frowned, but still took the chicken wings, and said softly:

"The final test plan for the military order still needs optimization on several nodes……"

"Tomorrow! Talk tomorrow!" Wang Hao interrupted him, pointing to the other side of the terrace, "Look at Guangzi—he didn't even bring his terminal out!"

Chen Guang indeed didn't bring a terminal.

He sat quietly in a corner, nibbling at the grilled mushrooms and corn on his plate.

Behind his lenses, his gaze occasionally swept over the distant city's glittering lights, unknown what he was thinking.

A newly arrived, bold female intern tried to strike up a conversation with him, asking about the biomimetic dynamics principle of the "Mechanical Butterfly".

Chen Guang merely nodded occasionally or replied with ultra‑short words, making the atmosphere rather awkward for a moment.

In the end, Wang Hao couldn't stand it, rushed over and "rescued" that girl out.

Feng Yan and Zhao Gong stood together, watching the bustling scene, and exchanged a smile.

Zhao Gong held a thermos cup in the style of an old cadre, filled with strong tea, and took a slow sip.

"Not bad." Zhao Gong rarely commented, his gaze sweeping over those energetic young faces.

"Much better than eating instant noodles in the warehouse back then."

Feng Yan nodded with a smile, picked up a bottle of beer, and lightly clinked it against Zhao Gong's thermos.

"Zhao Gong, you've worked hard. From now on we'll still rely on you to hold the fort—our operation keeps getting bigger."

Zhao Gong snorted, said nothing, but the faint curve at the corner of his mouth showed he was in a good mood.

Just then, Wang Hao somehow produced a projector, connected it to a tablet, and moved the live‑stream directly onto the terrace.

"Folks! Old irons! Look, where is this?"

Wang Hao faced the camera, the background a bustling party and the distant silhouette of high‑tech buildings.

"Longyin Research Institute headquarters rooftop! Celebrating that our 'Knowledge‑Action No. 1' sales have broken five thousand units!"

"Thanks to 'Swift Wind' logistics, and thanks to all you user daddies!"

The live‑stream viewer count surged instantly, and the comments flew by:

【Holy shit! Internal party! Let me see!】

【Is that Li Engineer? So handsome! Just looks hard to approach……】

【Guangzi! A live laser Spider‑Man!】

【Wang Engineer, you're drinking and streaming again! Watch out for a ban!】

【Five thousand units? Awesome! When will my estate get one?】

【May I ask if Dragon Chant is still hiring? Can a 985 master's submit a resume?】

Wang Hao watched the online viewer count and tips skyrocket, his mouth almost splitting to his ears, and began to improvise:

"You see? Our work environment! Our team atmosphere! The key is, there's a future!"

"Not just logistics robots, the 'Chengshan‑Guard' assistive exoskeleton that helps countless elderly stand up again is also ours!"

"Plus the police‑use 'Insect Pack', which has earned great merit! Military‑use…… uh, can't talk about that, but anyway it's awesome!"

"Our Dragon Chant is all about using technology to change life and protect whatever we want to protect!"

His passionate, somewhat Wang Hao‑style exaggerated speech not only exploded the live‑stream,

but also made the terrace atmosphere even more fervent.

Many young researchers gathered around, waving at the camera, faces brimming with pride.

Feng Yan watched this scene, didn't stop it, just smiled and shook his head.

Proper exposure and publicity are good for the institute's brand building and talent attraction, as long as the measure is kept right.

The party lasted until late night before gradually winding down.

The next day, sunlight poured through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, spreading across Feng Yan's much more spacious new office.

He sat behind his desk, looking at the latest brief sent by Director Lin, a smile playing at the corner of his mouth.

"Section Chief Feng, the prepayment for the second batch of two thousand 'Knowledge Action One' units from Speed Wind Logistics has arrived."

"The contract for the first batch of two hundred 'Chengshan Guard' units from the Provincial Rehabilitation Center has been signed."

"The National Cultural Heritage Administration hopes we will conduct technical exchanges regarding the deep‑sea detection modification of the 'Clear Scan' scanner..."

"Moreover, three top investment firms contacted us, expressing strategic investment interest, but I politely declined them all as you instructed."

"Director Lin spoke steadily and clearly, organizing the complicated affairs in orderly fashion."

"\"Well done, Director Lin. \" Feng Yan praised sincerely.

"With a professional administrative team sharing the load, he felt more than twice as relaxed."

"\"Of course. \" Director Lin smiled slightly and handed over another document.

"Moreover, Li Yang has submitted a concept design application for the next‑generation 'Iron Wolf' platform, requiring your preliminary review."

"\"Good, leave it here, I'll take a look later. \" Feng Yan took the document, feeling relaxed.

"Everything was developing in a good direction: the team matured, business expanded, funds were ample, and superiors were supportive."

"It felt as if a sun‑lit broad road lay right before him."

"He picked up the internal communicator and connected to Li Yang's laboratory:"

"\"Old Li, I've seen the concept design—it's bold. Let's discuss it in detail this afternoon… yes, bring Guangzi and Haizi. \""

"After handling a few routine matters, Feng Yan habitually opened the internal technical forum and several mainstream short‑video platforms."

"He wanted to see if there were any interesting folk‑tech developments or new sparks of inspiration."

"On the screen, most were praise and discussion of Dragon Chant products, occasionally mixed with the whimsical ideas of tech enthusiasts."

"Everything seemed so peaceful, so thriving."

"However, just as he was about to close the webpage and get up to go to the cafeteria for lunch,"

"the silver encrypted communicator placed inconspicuously in the corner of his desk, representing the highest‑level authorized contact channel,"

"its indicator light, without warning, instantly switched from standby‑green to a glaring red!"

"and it began to flash wildly at an extremely urgent frequency, as if bearing an invisible weight!"

"Feng Yan's smile froze instantly, his heart feeling as if seized by an invisible hand and plunging downward!"

"He had seen this color and frequency only once before, when receiving a top‑secret national‑level mission alert!"

"Far surpassing the urgency of ordinary communications!"

"It signified the highest‑level alarm and crisis!"

"He drew a deep breath and, almost reflexively, gestured for Director Lin to leave immediately and shut down all nonessential recording equipment."

"The office door was gently closed, leaving only him and that communicator, which continued to emit a sound—though actually silent, the flashing red light seemed to carry its own sound effect."

"He quickly walked to the window, pulled down the blinds, and shut out the bright sunshine and noisy world outside."

"Then he returned to his desk, steadied his slightly racing heartbeat, and pressed the answer button."

"\"I am Feng Yan. \""

"From the other end came a familiar voice, that of the liaison officer from the highest supervisory department."

"But now that voice had lost its usual steadiness, carrying an unprecedented gravity and urgency."

"Even faint, suppressed discussion could be heard in the background:"

"\"Section Chief Feng, this is the highest‑level encrypted channel—please confirm the environment is secure. \""

"\"Environment secure, please proceed. \" Feng Yan's voice was low and steady, even though his palms had begun to sweat."

"\"Emergency bulletin! \" the liaison officer's voice pierced the silence like an ice pick."

"\"According to the top‑secret intelligence we have just received, confirmed via special channels…\""

"He paused, as if choosing his words, yet also as if conveying a message he himself found hard to believe:"

"\"Led by Eagle Country, together with several of its core allies. \""

"\"Three hours ago, it was formally passed and signed—the …… 'Strategic Technology and Equipment Export Control List' targeting our nation's high‑tech sector. \""

"\"That list…… has now taken formal effect. \""

"Feng Yan's pupils contracted sharply!"

"\"The list's contents…\" the liaison officer's voice carried a hint of bitterness."

"\"It precisely covers and heavily blocks…… the few core technology domains on which your Dragon Chant system currently relies most——"

"\"including but not limited to: fifth‑generation and above precision servo motors, and high‑performance computing chips of specific specifications. \""

"\"and…… special aviation alloys for use in extreme environments! \""

"It was as if a thunderclap exploded in his mind, and Feng Yan felt his breath catch violently!"

"Li Yang's mech joint drive, Wang Hao's missile guidance head core processor, Chen Guang's laser heat‑dissipation substrate and mirror material……"

"These key components, listed as lifelines, had their core materials or design sources almost entirely covered precisely by this so‑called 'Glass Cage' list!"

"\"Superior orders, \" the liaison officer's voice pulled Feng Yan from his momentary dizziness back to reality."

"\"Require your department to immediately enter emergency response status, comprehensively assess the potential impact and supply‑chain risks this event poses to all Dragon Chant projects, especially the military‑priority ones! \"

"\"The assessment report must reach the highest level within twenty‑four hours! \"

"\"Section Chief Feng, the situation…… is extremely grave. \""

"\"We…… may be facing the most difficult moment since the project's launch. \""

"After ending the call, Feng Yan slowly set down the communicator, which felt as heavy as a thousand jin, and the office fell into a deathly silence."

"Only his heavy breathing and the faint, muffled sounds of the ordinary world drifting in from outside could be heard."

"He stood rooted to the spot, motionless, for a long time."

Then, he spun around sharply, walked to the floor‑to‑ceiling window that overlooked most of the new research institute campus, and with a swish flung open the louvered blinds.

Sunlight poured in again, stinging his eyes so he squinted slightly.

Below, employees walked toward the cafeteria in small groups, chatting and laughing.

In the distant workshop, the machines still rumbled; the newly planted saplings swayed gently in the light breeze.

A scene of prosperity, bustle, and hopeful promise.

Yet under this bright sun, an invisible, icy cold current, like a massive glass dome, descended from the sky.

It completely shrouded the entire Dragon Chant, together with its freshly unfurled dream.

Feng Yan's gaze sharpened like a blade; they picked up the internal communicator and pressed an emergency frequency that summoned all core members.

The voice was low and clear, without a ripple, yet it held the suppression before a storm:

"Everyone, report immediately to the Number One Emergency Conference Room."

"Repeat, everyone, report immediately to the Number One Emergency Conference Room."

"We... have trouble."