Chapter 343
The reporters couldn't interview Rong Yu herself, so they swarmed Rong Wangtian with a frenzy of questions.
Rong Wangtian stood there dumbfounded, unable to utter a single word in reply.
Shen Lin stepped forward in time, picked up a microphone, and spoke with a smile: "Hello everyone, I'm Rong Yu's stepmother. Let me answer some questions on her behalf. Rong Yu lived with her biological mother until she turned eighteen. The credit for her excellent upbringing goes entirely to her biological mother – she was a remarkable woman..."
"Now Rong Yu is studying at Huagu University in the capital and works at the Aerospace Institute as the Chief Designer of Eagle Eye One. This is the greatest honor in the history of the Rong family. On behalf of the Rong family, I announce—"
Shen Lin raised her glass: "The Rong Corporation will donate ten million yuan in full to the Fourth Aerospace Institute!"
Rong Wangtian, brimming with excitement, declared: "I also announce that we will allocate a portion of the Rong Corporation's quarterly profits to support the advancement of China's aerospace industry!"
Rong Ruoyao covered her mouth in disbelief.
Ten million was already a huge sum – enough to buy a large house in Haicheng. And donating part of the quarterly profits meant the Rong Corporation would be funneling funds to the Aerospace Institute indefinitely… wouldn't that drive the company into bankruptcy!
The guests present, inexplicably stirred up, began shouting one after another.
"President Rong is a true champion! My Li Family Garment will donate one million to the Fourth Aerospace Institute!"
"My Zhao Family Supermarket Chain donates five hundred thousand!"
"My Wu family, two hundred thousand."
"The Chen family..."
Song Huai spoke up: "Mom, the Song family should donate too."
Madam Song pursed her lips: "Why bother? It's pointless. It just makes Rong Yu look like she's so great."
"Mom, Rong Yu is genuinely great." Song Huai stepped forward and announced loudly, "On behalf of the Song family, I donate five million!"
The invited guests eagerly lined up to announce their donations publicly.
Shen Lin quickly had someone record the names and amounts. Turning around, she saw her daughter Rong Ruoyao standing in a corner, twisting her fingers together. She sighed softly.
She walked over and whispered, "Yao Yao, are you thinking the Rong family isn't exactly a major elite dynasty, yet we're donating so much to the Aerospace Institute in one go? Is it hard to let go?"
Rong Ruoyao nodded quietly.
"Look at the news." Shen Lin pulled out her phone. "Rong Yu has taken over the trending searches, and because we led the way in donating, the Rong Corporation has secured a spot on the list too. Don't underestimate that trending spot; it means the Rong Corporation is now deeply tied to Rong Yu. As long as she continues contributing to our country, the Rong Corporation will always have a place in China."
Rong Ruoyao nodded, half understanding.
The news of the Rong Corporation's leading donation was covered widely, triggering a chain reaction. Many large corporate groups, riding this wave of publicity, began donating enormous sums themselves. Director You of the Fourth Aerospace Institute was grinning from ear to ear.
With all this funding, Eagle Eye Two could proceed smoothly.
"Something terrible!" the assistant suddenly rushed into the office. "Director, a major crisis!"
Director You shot up, brow furrowed: "What happened?"
The assistant handed him a tablet. The screen showed an international news broadcast—
CNN Headline: 〈U.S. Operational Satellite Cleared as Space Debris by Eagle Eye One: What Is China's Objective?〉
BBC Breaking News: 〈ISSC Emergency Meeting: China's Eagle Eye One May Trigger a Space Disaster〉
The assistant opened the news, which showed a UN spokesperson speaking grimly: "The International Space Safety Committee (ISSC) and the Global Orbital Management Alliance (GOMA) jointly demand that China immediately cease operating Eagle Eye One and submit all technical data, or face space sanctions."
Rong Yu had stayed up all night and was sleeping.
She slept for thirteen hours before waking up. Out of habit, she grabbed her phone, and the moment she turned it on, news notifications flooded in.
Foreign ministries on various public platforms issued stern condemnations of Eagle Eye.
The U.S. said: "The Eagle Eye system incorrectly cleared our satellite. Please compensate for substantial losses!"
Japan declared: "Eagle Eye One is not yet perfected and poses a major threat to space safety. Please recall the Eagle Eye system immediately."
Britain called out: "I urge all countries to unite in boycotting Eagle Eye One..."
Rong Yu shot upright in bed.
That's impossible!
The Eagle Eye system had passed thousands upon thousands of validation tests. It absolutely could not have actively captured an operational satellite.
She walked out of her dormitory to find Cui Xiao.
Sheng Qingyan was stationed outside the door. With a quiet, gentle tone, he said, "Ah Yu, Chief Engineer Cui and Professor Lin and the others are in an emergency meeting."
Rong Yu tied her ponytail as she walked: "Why didn't you wake me to join them sooner?"
"Chief Engineer Cui said you were too exhausted and needed more rest," Sheng Qingyan said softly. "Don't rush. Have something to eat first."
Rong Yu looked at him: "You must be tired too. Go get some rest."
Sheng Qingyan straightened his back and said: "Orders from the organization: round-the-clock protection for Chief Designer Rong. I'm not going anywhere."
Rong Yu relaxed slightly: "Alright then, let's go to the cafeteria first. We'll charge up and then get to work."
Meanwhile, the meeting room was thick with anger.
Cui Xiao's voice was ice-cold: "Everyone should be clear on the situation. The U.S. is teaming up with the ISSC and GOMA, pretending our system mistakenly targeted their satellite, to force us to hand over our Eagle Eye technology."
Engineer Zhao Mingzhe sneered: "Most of the space debris out there was created by the U.S. We put in tremendous human, material, and financial resources to clean up space, and now they're turning the tables on us!"
"Eagle Eye could never have captured a live U.S. satellite," said Lin Rang, sitting in a wheelchair, his voice cold. "Only two possibilities: either the U.S. deliberately destroyed its own satellite to trick Eagle Eye into capturing it, or..."
"Or the satellite was already beyond use," Rong Yu strode in. "I'm leaning toward the second option."
The meeting room was collectively exasperated.
"Using a defunct satellite to demand massive compensation—are the Americans kidding?"
"They've basically perfected the art of pulling a hoax."
"Do they still think they're the ones calling the shots on the global stage?"
"Everyone!" Rong Yu spoke up. "This is no time for outrage. We need to prove ourselves with evidence, and shut the whole world down."
She quickly laid out task assignments on the whiteboard.
"Chief Engineer Cui, personally head to the International Space Safety Bureau to request the global satellite orbit database for the last three months, focusing on orbital decay rates."
"Colleague, extract the full-cycle operational logs of the Eagle Eye system to prove it only captured internationally recognized space debris."
"Engineer Jiang, Engineer Zhao, you lead your teams in handling this part..."
"I want all evidence chains closed within 48 hours." Rong Yu looked around the room. "Any questions, everyone?"
Lin Rang turned his wheelchair, the first to respond: "The orbit calculation team will have the report ready in 18 hours."
The lights at the base control center stayed on for two full days and two nights.