My whole family is involved in diplomacy, so you dare to flex your muscles?

He had changed into a sharp suit with a badge representing the State Council pinned to his chest. He looked radiant, a stark contrast to his dejected state in the debate a few days earlier.

The reporter asked him, "Mr. Scott, as one of the main proponents of this sanctions plan, could you tell us why the government is taking such drastic measures at this moment?"

Scott gave the camera a victorious smile.

"This isn't a drastic measure, but a necessary one." His voice was filled with arrogance and smugness.

"Some countries have adopted unfair competitive practices in the technology sector, stealing our intellectual property rights and threatening our national security. We can no longer stand idly by."

He paused, his gaze seemingly piercing through the screen, fixed on his opponent in the distance.

"We must make it clear to the world that the throne of technology can only have one master."

The United States has been, is, and will continue to be the rule-maker.

"As for certain companies, and even nations, that attempt to challenge this order," his smile widened.

"We will prove with facts that their backbone is not as strong as they think."

"We will completely break the backbone of China's technology industry!"

This statement is filled with undisguised malice and humiliation.

The cafeteria was deathly silent.

Everyone stared at the smug face on the screen, their fists clenching unconsciously until their knuckles turned white from the force.

Deceiving too much!

This is no longer a sanction; this is blatant humiliation!

It's an open declaration of war!

"Ring ring—"

Gu Yun's phone rang urgently.

It was my assistant, Xiao Wang, calling.

"Gu Si! Something terrible has happened! You need to check the news! The United States has taken action against China! The stock market... the stock market has crashed! The internet... the internet is exploding!" Xiao Wang's voice was filled with panic.

Gu Yun didn't say anything. He hung up the phone and swiped to unlock his phone.

Push notifications from major news apps popped up like crazy.

Unprecedented! The United States imposes devastating sanctions on China!

Chip supply disruption! Has China's technology sector entered a winter overnight?

Scott: We will break the backbone of Chinese technology!

Social media was filled with lamentations.

Is my Huawei phone going to become a brick?

This is not a sanction, this is war! A technological war!

[Yesterday I was cheering for Gu Shen, and today I was slapped back to reality. It's so frustrating!]

What should we do? Are we just going to let ourselves be slaughtered like this? Where is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs? Come out and say something!

What are you saying? Condemning them? They're practically shitting on your neck, and you're still condemning them?

Anger, pessimism, confusion, helplessness...

The national confidence that had soared to unprecedented heights yesterday due to a diplomatic victory was shattered by the cold reality at this moment.

The immense pressure, like a tsunami, surged from online to offline, from the general public to the highest levels of government, instantly converging on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the spokesperson who had just achieved legendary status.

In the cafeteria, everyone's attention shifted from the big screen to Gu Yun.

They saw Gu Yun standing there quietly, looking at the overwhelming negative news on her phone screen, her expression neither sad nor happy.

No one knows what he's thinking.

That extraordinary calmness seemed somewhat out of place, even... a little eerie, at this moment when the whole country was in turmoil.

A war without gunfire has already reached the city gates.

......

3 PM.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Blue Hall was packed.

The air was thick with a tense and anxious atmosphere, like the deathly stillness before a storm.

Hundreds of journalists from around the world packed the place to capacity.

A forest of cameras and microphones stood side by side, each one like a thirsty eye, fixed intently on the empty blue podium.

The press conference held by the United States, which could be described as a "declaration of war," has drawn the world's attention.

Everyone wants to know how China will react to this sudden and powerful blow, to this "noose" that could almost completely sever a nation's technological lifeline.

Was it an angry retaliation?

Was it a helpless surrender?

Or will they just make a few empty promises with bluster, and then secretly seek negotiations?

"They're here!"

Someone shouted, and all eyes in the room instantly turned to the entrance.

Gu Yun walked in.

He wore a dark suit today, without a tie, and one button on his collar was undone, making him less sharp and more composed than yesterday.

His face was devoid of smiles or anger, as calm as a bottomless lake.

He walked steadily to the podium and stood still.

The flashes from the cameras were even more intense than yesterday, almost blinding people.

But he seemed oblivious, simply standing there quietly, his gaze sweeping over every tense, curious, or gloating face in the audience.

He didn't give any opening remarks, but simply gestured "please" to the audience.

The reporters immediately became agitated.

Hands shot up like bamboo shoots after a spring rain, eager to be raised.

"I'll do it!"

A white Reuters reporter sitting in the front row practically jumped up from his chair to grab the first chance to ask a question.

His questions were sharp and direct.

"Mr. Gu, the United States has completely cut off the supply of chips and technology to Longwei Company."

Some analysts believe this will set back China's high-tech industry by a decade, or even cause its complete collapse. What is your response to this?

Will China be plunged into a severe economic recession as a result?

This problem is like a sharp knife, piercing straight into China's most painful and vulnerable spot.

Everyone held their breath, waiting for Gu Yun's answer.

However, Gu Yun did not answer immediately. He simply nodded to indicate that he had heard, and then turned his gaze to another reporter.

The second person to stand up was a reporter from Fox News, the American news agency, David, who had been thoroughly humiliated by Gu Yun yesterday.

He had clearly come prepared today, and his face showed a hint of vengeful satisfaction.

"Mr. Gu, we have noticed that after the United States announced the sanctions, there has been a strong backlash in Chinese public opinion. Many people believe that it was your overly radical 'wolf warrior' remarks yesterday that ultimately angered the United States and brought about this devastating retaliation."

Do you regret your words and actions yesterday? Will the Ministry of Foreign Affairs adjust its future strategy towards the United States in order to ease sanctions?

This problem is even more insidious than the first one.

It is not only predicting the future of China, but also trying to shift the responsibility for this game between nations entirely onto Gu Yun, instigating conflicts within China, and labeling him a "traitor to the nation."

Some Western journalists in the audience were already showing knowing smiles.

These two issues, one internal and one external, one hard and one soft, form a perfect strangulation formation.

No matter how Gu Yun answers, she will be put on the defensive.

To admit that industry will decline? That's a sign of national incompetence.

Deny it? That's self-deception.

Defending yourself? That's shirking responsibility.

An apology? That would be an even greater disgrace.

In the live broadcast room in China, netizens were on tenterhooks.

These two questions are so vicious! They leave absolutely no way out!

Damn it, these Western journalists are a bunch of hyenas, they come running at the smell of blood!

[Gu Shen, you absolutely must stay calm! You can't afford to panic right now!]

I'm so nervous, my palms are sweaty, how am I going to answer this...?

However, Gu Yun's reaction to this barrage of questions once again surprised everyone.

He still did not answer.

He simply listened patiently, his gaze calmly shifting from one reporter to another.

"Mr. Gu, I am a reporter from the Asahi Shimbun. Will the collapse of Longwei Company trigger a large-scale wave of unemployment in China? How will the government respond to any potential social unrest?"

"Mr. Gu, I'm a reporter from the BBC. Will Long Wei's experience make other Chinese technology companies feel threatened? Does this mean that China's efforts to challenge the US's technological hegemony have completely failed?"

"Mr. Gu..."

One question after another, like cannonballs, rained down on the podium.