Forgotten something?
No.
Lu Shaojun thought about it very seriously and was sure he hadn't.
Seeing this, the one hundred and twenty bionic robots looked at Lu Shaojun pitifully, with innocent expressions.
Lu Shaojun instantly shuddered.
Just as he was about to call the System for support, the bionic robot from before spoke up, reminding him, "Boss, you haven't told us our wages yet."
What?
What the heck?
Are you kidding me?!
You're a bunch of robots, what do you need wages for?
Aren't you free labor?
I was even thinking of having you work twenty-four hours a day!
A dumbfounded Lu Shaojun called out the System.
"System, what's going on? These robots want wages?"
System: "Of course, they do. Bionic robots are almost indistinguishable from humans; they also need to eat and rest."
Lu Shaojun asked warily, "They need to rest too?"
System: "Bionic robots operate on an eight-hour workday, and their daily overtime cannot exceed two hours."
The System continued, "The System recommends the Host set the bionic robots' salaries between 6,000 and 8,000, with overtime paid separately."
Damn it.
In that case, I might as well hire a bunch of college students for 3,500!
Lu Shaojun took a deep breath and said, "Monthly salary, 8,000."
The one hundred and twenty bionic robots beamed with joy and said in unison, "Thank you, Boss."
Just as Lu Shaojun was about to turn and leave, he was stopped again.
"Boss, have you forgotten something again?"
Damn it, is this never going to end?
"What other issues do you have?"
"We currently have no money, we need a six-month advance on our salaries."
Lu Shaojun expressionlessly handed over a bank card.
"The PIN is six sixes."
The bionic robot took it with a smile and then said, "Boss, you need to send technical personnel to the factory to learn the installation and maintenance of the brain-computer interface."
Lu Shaojun asked doubtfully, "The virtual brain-computer interface needs installation? Isn't it just producing a helmet?"
This bionic robot explained, "The virtual brain-computer interface (BCI) is divided into a display component and a processing component. The helmet you mentioned, Boss, is the display component. The processing component is similar to a computer's main unit."
Lu Shaojun rubbed his chin, thought for a moment, and figured it made sense. A simple helmet wouldn't be enough to run a virtual world.
On the way back to the company, having recovered his composure, Lu Shaojun called Xu Zhijun.
"Old Xu, once the internet cafe acquisitions in Wudu [Fog City, likely Chongqing] are complete, come back. We need to move up the launch plan for the virtual BCI."
On the other end of the line, Xu Zhijun sounded somewhat surprised, then excited, "Mr. Lu, has production of the BCI started?"
Lu Shaojun chuckled, "You'll see when you get back. Game development should also be finished soon."
Xu Zhijun asked, "Mr. Lu, what about the remaining internet cafe acquisition plan? Should we hire a specialized agency to handle it for us, or...?"
Lu Shaojun already had a plan for this: "After the virtual BCI is released, we'll seek franchise partners externally. I've thought about it carefully; we're a high-tech company, we can't pour too much energy into the internet cafe market itself."
Xu Zhijun nodded slightly, then remarked with emotion, "Mr. Lu, perhaps the internet cafe industry will find new life because of us."
Lu Shaojun just smiled.
He firmly believed that in the foreseeable future, Chaowei Technology wouldn't just save one industry, but would change the entire world.
After hurrying back from Wudu, Xu Zhijun didn't go home to rest but came straight to the company. After searching around, he finally found Lu Shaojun in the game department.
At the doorway, Xu Zhijun could hear a lively discussion inside.
"...No, we absolutely cannot introduce firearm systems into the game. You need to understand, our virtual world is one hundred percent real."
Lu Shaojun looked very serious. "It's equivalent to having an avatar of ourselves in the virtual world. The knowledge this avatar learns will be transferred to the real world."
Finished speaking, Lu Shaojun rubbed his temples. As he turned, he happened to see Xu Zhijun.
"Old Xu, you're back."
Xu Zhijun walked over, his eyes darting around.
"Mr. Lu, where's the virtual BCI?"
"Come with me."
Lu Shaojun led Xu Zhijun to another office area. Inside, every employee was reclining in a chair, wearing something like a motorcycle helmet on their head.
Xu Zhijun's eyes lit up. He picked up a BCI unit from a nearby shelf and began examining it.
While Xu Zhijun was experiencing the virtual BCI, Lu Shaojun walked around and reviewed the data recorded by the employees. When he returned, Xu Zhijun still hadn't taken off the BCI.
After waiting for half an hour, a speechless Lu Shaojun had to call him out of it.
Xu Zhijun looked at Lu Shaojun with a resentful expression.
Lu Shaojun's mouth twitched. "Alright, once we're done discussing business, you can experience it however much you want."
CEO's Office.
Lu Shaojun handed a phone number to Xu Zhijun.
"Old Xu, handle the approval process for the virtual BCI quickly. Try to get it done in the next few days. If you run into any difficulties during that time, you can contact this person."
Xu Zhijun held the number and asked cautiously, "Mr. Lu, who is this?"
"My old man. A somewhat capable, middle-aged 'greasy uncle' type."
Xu Zhijun carefully put the number away, relieved. Next, Lu Shaojun took out a business card.
Written on it was: Zhang Xun Yuan — Deputy Editor-in-Chief, Science and Technology Daily.
Xu Zhijun said in surprise, "Mr. Lu, your connections are that strong?"
Lu Shaojun shook his head and said calmly, "A friend of my dad's. An elder who held me when I was a child."
Lu Shaojun continued, "In today's world, even the best wine fears a deep alley (good products still need publicity). Next Monday, Science and Technology Daily will interview you. You need to appropriately disclose information about our virtual BCI."
Xu Zhijun nodded in agreement, then looked expectantly at Lu Shaojun.
Lu Shaojun paused.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Mr. Lu, do you have any more business cards like that?"
Lu Shaojun's mouth twitched again. "If you have problems, just call my dad. Tell him you have his son, and if he doesn't solve the problem for me, I'll 'tear up the ticket' (a dark humor threat)."
Xu Zhijun didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
Lu Shaojun chuckled. "Alright, the new version of the Chaowei Smart Control Software updates tomorrow. Follow up on that today."
Xu Zhijun nodded, "Rest assured, Mr. Lu."
...
On August 15th, an interview published by Science and Technology Daily shot up the trending charts at astonishing speed.
The interviewee was Xu Zhijun, General Manager of Chaowei Technology, and one particular exchange from the interview garnered significant attention and discussion.
Interviewer: "After the Chaowei Smart Control Software stunned the mobile phone industry, everyone has high expectations for Chaowei Technology. Does your company have any new development plans?"
Xu Zhijun responded: "Of course. Our company's next step is to enter the Metaverse. Furthermore, our Metaverse product has already been successfully developed and will be officially released soon."
Interviewer: "May I ask how your company's Metaverse product differs from those currently on the market? What are its advantages?"
Xu Zhijun answered very seriously: "Our product will lead humanity into a true virtual world. The virtual worlds depicted in science fiction movies will no longer be fantasy; they will become reality."