Besides the first female judge who went up to try, several other judges took the plunge. It seemed they wanted to test this so-called high-tech invention; it was a valuable tool, and if they didn't try it, they might have to pay for it later.
Zhao An wasn't surprised at all. "That concludes my explanation. This is my invention. Thank you everyone." He finished with a humble bow, a standard procedure he followed after every performance, further enhancing his image.
A round of applause erupted from the audience. Zhao An stepped off the stage amidst the applause, took out his phone, and pressed a button. The balance scooter followed him perfectly, appearing intelligent and like a loyal follower. The scene was somewhat flashy; practicality aside, it was undeniably exciting to watch.
Bai Junlin was incredibly excited. She felt like she could already see first place. Winning her first award after taking office was crucial for her. After that, she just needed to continue the smooth transition. At least with Zhao An around, she didn't need to worry about anything for the next three years.
After saying his leave, Zhao An returned to the lounge, where he relaxed backstage, smoking and eating something, while also checking for any strong competitors.
The subsequent inventions weren't particularly outstanding. Being students, they mostly involved connecting circuit boards and creating some diode lights—nothing more. They weren't exactly inventions, but they were certainly creative.
Zhao An had essentially secured first place. The key to success in an invention competition is the inventor's ability to accurately explain the underlying principles. Simply presenting something and claiming it as your own is clearly against the rules and wouldn't pass the review. The judges weren't fools; this competition was broadcast live, and they were acutely aware of any cheating.
Besides Zhao An, two other students from No. 2 High School also participated, one a second-year student and the other a third-year student.
The third-year student was Lu Meifang, whom Zhao An had previously collaborated with. They had been quite close, but he had forgotten about this senior student due to various commitments. He had originally intended to pursue her, but Lu Meifang's mother intervened, causing him to abandon the idea. With so many women, it's easy to forget about Zhao An.
Actually, Lu Meifang had been restrained by her mother and focused on her studies, so she hadn't sought out Zhao An.
Now that she finally had a chance, she naturally wanted to rekindle their old flame. Otherwise, at this rate, she wouldn't even have a chance.
Lu Meifang's invention was just a small gadget, using the principle of electric current to enhance a magnetic field. It wasn't exactly a new invention; it was simply an amplification of existing inventions, showcasing the unique properties of magnetic fields.
Zhao An, sitting backstage, watched the television in front of him, his eyes slightly narrowed, lost in thought.
Although Zhao An's grand finale at the beginning made the later inventions seem less significant, the judges still focused on scoring. There would be a public demonstration later, where selected audience members would try out the new inventions and cast their votes. The highest-scoring invention would be combined with the judges' votes to determine the winner.
Zhao An's balance scooter was already on display in the exhibition hall, and many people couldn't resist trying it out. Some merchants have also started inquiring, clearly indicating that this product can be sold. A price of one or two thousand yuan isn't expensive, nor cheap; it's within their budget, and the vast majority of consumers can afford it.
The company's phones are ringing off the hook, but even the receptionist doesn't know what's going on and can only register customers before making a decision.
In fact, Zhao An had already made preparations before this invention, starting production orders. This time, he produced everything himself, without outsourcing. His logistics network was already in place, and nationwide free shipping would be provided. He wouldn't sell to unsuitable or low-quality customers; he personally screened them, only serving reputable clients.
"I'll leave the rest to you. I'm a little tired; I'll go to the hotel to rest first," Zhao An said to Lin Cui, the team leader. He could send a teacher to replace him for the explanations.
Lin Cui nodded, smiling broadly. "Okay, go ahead. Get plenty of rest, don't overwork yourself!" Her words were clearly pointed. Even before she was pregnant, she knew how beastly Zhao An was, seizing every opportunity to sleep with her. She also always believed that because she had taken Zhao An's virginity, her feelings for him were the deepest.
Zhao An returned to his room. His phone kept ringing; everyone wanted to cooperate. Huang Yu, the eldest son of the Huang family, Lin Xiao, the heir of the Lin family, and others were all interested in collaborating with him. Confrontation didn't mean isolation; at least the Huang family was quite peculiar, simultaneously having Huang Meng oppose Zhao An while also sending people to cooperate with him. They were trying to both win him over and suppress him.
Knock, knock, knock. There was a few knocks on the door. Zhao An opened the door.
Lu Meifang, a beautiful and youthful senior high school student, walked in. She had finally seized her chance. "Zhao An, I missed you!" she said, then embraced the man and passionately offered him a kiss.
"Hmm, going to take a shower, you're just in time!" Zhao An had just been thinking of finding a woman to have sex with, and since Lu Meifang was here, he wouldn't hold back!
"Okay, Zhao An, wait a minute." Lu Meifang obediently changed into slippers, took off her clothes outside, and went into the bathroom to shower. In the past, her family background would never have allowed her to do such a lewd thing to Zhao An.
Things were different now. Zhao An's growth had been incredibly rapid, far surpassing hers. He had already directly cooperated with the provincial capital, and her father seemed almost irrelevant. This made Lu Meifang feel a sense of crisis, so she used her connections to secure a spot in this competition, hoping to get closer to Zhao An.
Zhao An was still on the bed, making phone calls and giving instructions. This time, he was handling it himself, without involving anyone else; this was just a small part. In the future, he would outsource the processing and production to someone else, conveniently, Qian Yuling's eldest son, Tang Bing. The Tang family used to be arrogant and domineering, but now they've fallen on hard times and are no longer even considered a Tang family. They're as docile as dogs, relying entirely on Zhao An for survival.
Circumstances dictate their actions; they can't be assertive even if they wanted to. Without money, even the most powerful tools are bent and cannot be straightened. Even after Qian Yuling became Zhao An's woman, she didn't help her two sons, treating them as if they didn't exist—there was no need, no obligation.