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

Every question is filled with pessimistic assumptions and malicious speculation.

Together they weave a vision of the apocalypse: a vast nation, its technological lifeline severed, is on the verge of collapse, turmoil, and regression.

The entire press conference almost turned into a "global trial" of China.

Gu Yun, sitting in the dock, remained silent throughout the entire proceedings.

He just listened quietly.

Ten minutes have passed.

Fifteen minutes have passed.

The reporters in the audience, their throats dry from asking questions, gradually went from being aggressive to being confused, and even... a little uneasy.

What exactly is this person doing?

Why didn't he refute it? Why didn't he defend himself? Why wasn't he angry?

That extreme calmness, in the current highly tense atmosphere, exudes a chilling power.

It's like a martial arts master facing a group of menacing henchmen. He doesn't make a move, but simply watches them quietly, letting them use all their skills while he remains unmoved.

This silence is more oppressive than any harsh words.

Finally, the questions gradually thinned out.

The entire Blue Hall fell into an eerie silence once again.

Everyone looked at Gu Yun on the stage, waiting for his answer.

Gu Yun raised his hand and gently adjusted the microphone in front of him.

This subtle movement made everyone's heart skip a beat.

He was about to speak.

His gaze slowly swept across the entire audience, taking in every face below the stage—worried, expectant, or gloating.

"I have heard all your questions."

His voice, transmitted clearly through the microphone, resounded throughout the entire hall and across the world.

"I have heard your worries, your doubts, your...expectations."

He paused, and just when everyone thought he was about to start refuting each point, a subtle, unreadable smile suddenly appeared on the corner of his mouth.

That wasn't a sneer, nor a bitter smile.

It was a smile that appeared only when someone had seen something extremely interesting, a smile with a hint of amusement.

This smile, in stark contrast to the heavy, iron-like atmosphere, created an incredibly eerie contrast.

Everyone was stunned.

What...what is he laughing at?

Reuters reporter Peter felt a chill run down his spine. Shouldn't the Chinese people be angry, protesting, or making serious representations as they used to?

What does laughter mean?

Gu Yun placed his hands on the podium and leaned forward slightly. This posture made him look less like he was being interrogated and more like he was giving a lesson to the "students" below the stage.

"Just now, my friend from Reuters asked if we would collapse if the United States were to break our backbone."

Gu Yun's voice was very soft, but it traveled through the microphone throughout the venue and even reached Scott's office across the ocean via the live broadcast signal.

"Before answering this question, I would like to ask everyone here, especially our friends from the United States, to pass on a message to Washington for me."

Peter clenched his fists instinctively.

Gu Yun held up one finger and shook it gently: "Please be sure to pass on my message: Thank you."

The entire audience erupted in uproar.

The translator was stunned, almost thinking he had misheard.

Thanks?

When others are about to smash your pot, you're still going to say thank you?

Is he scared out of his wits or has he gone mad?

"No doubt, thank you."

Gu Yun withdrew his finger, his gaze becoming profound, and his tone shifted from relaxed to an extremely calm statement: "To be honest, before yesterday, quite a few people in our country still held onto illusions."

They believe that in a globalized division of labor, it's better to buy than to manufacture, and better to rent than to buy.

As long as we follow the rules and are willing to humble ourselves, the West will accept us, and high-tech products will be sold to us continuously.

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the few Western journalists who had just been gloating.

"This kind of fantasy is like a slow poison, numbing our senses. It makes us feel that independent research and development is too tiring, too difficult, and too expensive, and it's more comfortable to just buy ready-made products."

"but--"

Gu Yun's tone suddenly changed, and although his voice was not loud, it carried a metallic quality.

"Thank you, United States, and thank you, Mr. Scott, for shattering their last shred of unrealistic illusions with a single ban, using the most ruthless and unreasonable means!"

"Your sharp rebuke has thoroughly awakened the Chinese scientific community, which was previously dozing in lukewarm water!"

The live stream chat froze for a moment, then erupted with a frenzy of comments that multiplied exponentially.

Holy crap! This angle! Absolutely stunning!

[It gave me goosebumps! That's right! That's exactly the kind of "fight to the death" spirit we need!]

Is this the mindset of a great power? I won't curse you; I thank you for making me face reality!

I used to think manufacturing chips was difficult, but now it seems like not manufacturing them means certain death, so let's manufacture them as hard as we can!

On stage, Gu Yun did not stop.

He looked at the Reuters reporter with no fear in his eyes, but rather a burning flame that made the reporter dare not look him in the eye.

"Do you think that cutting off the supply chain and blocking the technology will make us kneel down and beg for mercy?"

"Seventy years ago, we were on the banks of the Yalu River, facing your steel torrent, with only rifles and fried noodles in our hands. Were we afraid?"

Sixty years ago, the Soviet Union withdrew its experts and tore up its blueprints. We were left to gnaw on the sand in the Gobi Desert, creating a mushroom cloud. Did we ever retreat?

Gu Yun laughed, this time a cold laugh, with a pride etched into his bones.

"The Chinese nation has one major characteristic."

The more we are blocked and suppressed, the tougher we become, and the more terrifying the power we unleash.

What you have brought us is not a noose, but the flame that will allow us to rise from the ashes.

"From today onwards, 'Longwei' will not fall; it will become a banner."

Behind it, tens of thousands of Chinese technology companies will no longer have any illusions.

We will embark on a path of complete autonomy and independent control.

Gu Yun straightened up, adjusted his collar, and calmly announced to the camera:

"Here, I would also like to share some news with you."

In response to these sanctions, relevant national departments have officially launched the "Breaking the Barrier" program.

We will pool the resources of the entire nation, regardless of cost or upper limits, to overcome all "bottleneck" technologies, including lithography machines, high-end chips, and industrial software.

"We used to want to do business with everyone, but since you want to overturn the table, fine."

Gu Yun spread his hands, making an extremely elegant yet incredibly domineering gesture.

"Then let's build our own table."

As for whether the people at the old table still have food to eat, that's not something we need to worry about.

After speaking, he looked at the Reuters reporter, who was completely stunned, and asked gently, "Are you satisfied with this answer?"

Peter opened his mouth, but his throat felt like it was stuffed with cotton, and he couldn't utter a single word.

He felt as if he were not interviewing a diplomat, but facing a giant who had just awakened.

The giant was not frightened at all; on the contrary, he opened his terrifying eyes because of the pain.

The press conference has ended.

Gu Yun did not use the employee entrance, but instead walked directly through the lobby.

Chinese journalists along the way spontaneously stood up. No one asked questions; they simply watched him silently, their eyes filled with respect.

Backstage, Xiao Wang, who had been on edge the whole time, slumped onto the sofa, his back already soaked in cold sweat.

"Gu Si... your 'reverse gratitude' tactic is too ruthless." Xiao Wang wiped his sweat as he handed over a water glass.

"We just received a message from the public opinion monitoring team that the online sentiment has completely changed."

Everyone's posting "Thanks to our American friends for the assist!"

Gu Yun took the water glass, took a sip, and her tense shoulders finally relaxed a little.

He unbuttoned the top button of his collar and let out a long sigh: "This is just empty talk; the real battle is yet to come. Our technological foundation is indeed weak, and this hurdle will be difficult to overcome."

As they were talking, the door to the lounge was pushed open.

The Director of the Information Department walked in, a half-smoked cigarette between his fingers, his face bearing a complex expression—a mixture of relief, worry, and a resolute determination to go all out.

"I just got a call from above." The director stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray and looked at Gu Yun.

"The leader is very satisfied with your response."

He said that since the facade has already been torn off, there's no point in hiding it anymore.

"Get ready, the Ministry of Commerce will be issuing a joint statement in half an hour, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will need to coordinate its response."

Gu Yun raised an eyebrow: "A countermeasure?"

The director nodded, his eyes sharpening: "It is impolite not to reciprocate."

Do you really think we have no cards to play?

Since they've invoked the Emergency Regulations, our Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law isn't just for show.

Gu Yun put down her water glass.

"Scott is probably still popping champagne right now, I hope it suits his taste."