Chapter 229 Launch of the New Project

Chapter 229 Launch of the New Project

Frank froze for a moment, his face darkening. Looking at Geraldo's mocking expression, that feeling of unwillingness surged up inside him again.

"Fine, I'll ask." He picked up his phone, scrolled to Maggie's number, and dialed.

The phone rang a few times before she answered.

Maggie's voice carried a hint of surprise: "Frank? What's up?"

Frank took a deep breath, trying to make his tone sound casual.

"Maggie, I heard Evelyn recently got divorced. Do you know who she was married to? How come I never heard about this?"

There was silence on the other end for a few seconds.

When Maggie's voice came through again, her tone was awkward.

"Frank, this... this is Evelyn's private matter. I know a little bit, but it's not really appropriate for me to say too much. If you really want to know, you could ask Evelyn yourself."

Frank gripped his phone, his fingers tightening.

He could hear the hesitation and evasiveness in Maggie's tone, and that uncomfortable feeling crawled through him like insects.

He'd helped her so many times, and she wouldn't even tell him this small thing?

He took a deep breath, said "forget it then," and hung up.

The private room fell silent for a moment.

Eugene lowered his head to sip his coffee, pretending not to notice Frank's expression.

"So? Did Maggie tell you?" Geraldo's tone was light, as if asking casually.

Frank tossed his phone on the table, his voice stiff.

"She didn't say. She said it was Evelyn's private matter, not convenient to share."

His voice suddenly dropped, "I've helped her so many times, and she won't even tell me this. Does she... does she even consider me one of her own people?"

Geraldo smiled slightly, "Outsiders see clearly, those involved are confused. What you see is all surface-level. Only by understanding deeply can you know a person's true character."

"Frank, you should spend more time getting to know what Maggie is really like, don't just look at the surface."

Frank's face completely darkened.

He stood up, grabbed his coat, his tone carrying some impatience.

"Fine, I can see you've all been fooled by Evelyn. Whatever I say, you won't listen. I'm done talking to you guys, I'm leaving."

He pulled open the door to the private room and strode out.

The door closed behind him, his footsteps gradually fading down the hallway.

Eugene set down his coffee cup, looked at the closed door, and shook his head, "His temper is getting stranger and stranger."

Geraldo didn't respond. He looked out the window, lost in thought.

That day, the conference room at OmniFront Labs was packed.

Brandon had come too.

Evelyn stood in front of the projection screen, with a large display behind her showing the AI project feasibility report she'd worked on through the night.

After finishing her presentation, Evelyn sat down in an office chair.

"I recommend that OmniFront Labs officially launch the AI project."

Evelyn said: "In the future market, AI isn't an elective, it's required. If we don't do it now, tomorrow we'll be left behind. Now, I'm asking all core employees to vote on this decision."

Jasper was the first to raise his hand in support.

Qiana nodded as well.

The other core employees exchanged glances and raised their hands one after another.

Finally, by show of hands, it passed unanimously.

After the meeting ended, people gradually dispersed.

Brandon didn't leave. He sat in his chair, flipping through Evelyn's report. When he reached the last page, he stopped and looked at it for a few seconds.

"The AI robot part, how do you plan to approach it?" He closed the report and looked at Evelyn.

Evelyn leaned back in her chair, her fingers tapping lightly on the table.

"I want to pursue two tracks. First is AI software that creates an intelligent operating system that integrates with our brain-computer interface technology to enable thought control. Second is AI robots, starting with home service types that can help with household chores and care for the elderly and children."

As she spoke, her gaze became more serious, "The aging population is getting worse. Many elderly people live alone at home, with their children working elsewhere, and can only visit a few times a year. If we could have robots stay with them, help them cook, clean, talk with them, it would provide both companionship and emotional value while reducing the burden on their children. This is a huge market, and it's also meaningful work."

Brandon nodded, thinking for a moment.

"Good direction. But the flexibility of human joints and muscles, with current technology levels, we still can't replicate human movements one hundred percent. To make robots walk naturally like humans, grasp objects, go up and down stairs requires very precise control systems and micro motors. The R&D investment in this area will be huge, and the timeline will be long."

Evelyn lowered her eyes: "I know."

Then she picked up the water glass on the table, took a sip, set it down, her tone firm:

"Money isn't a problem. After the project is established, I'll officially start fundraising. OmniFront Labs' brand effect and Sentience BioTech's clinical data are enough to attract investors. On the technical side, we can recruit globally, spare no expense."

No matter what, she was determined to make this project happen.

Brandon watched her expression as she said this, a bit more appreciation in his eyes.

He was silent for a few seconds, then when he spoke again, he changed the subject: "Are you free tonight? Want to grab dinner together?"

Evelyn glanced at the time on her phone and shook her head.

"Not today, I promised Andy I'd go home to be with him. Tomorrow I'm taking him to the amusement park."

She paused, suddenly remembering something, and turned to look at Brandon.

"Tomorrow at the amusement park, do you and Joanna want to come along? Didn't you say before that Joanna missed me?"

The corner of Brandon's mouth curved up, "Sure. I'll tell her when I get back, she'll be so happy. See you tomorrow then."

"See you tomorrow."

Brandon walked out of the conference room.

The next morning, the weather was beautiful.

Evelyn set out early with Andy.

"Mom, are you ready yet? Let's go, let's go!" As soon as they left the house, Andy was jumping up and down excitedly, pulling Evelyn's hand toward the exit.

Evelyn locked the door and took his hand as they got in the car.

The car pulled out of the residential area and merged into traffic.

Andy sat in the back seat, buckled in his seatbelt, his legs swinging back and forth, humming some unknown children's song.

At the amusement park entrance, Brandon had already arrived.

He wore a dark gray casual jacket, standing to one side of the main entrance, holding the hand of a small figure in pink.

Joanna was dressed up today, wearing a fluffy dress with small flowers embroidered on the hem, her hair tied in two pigtails, each one decorated with a small flower clip.

She had been looking down, kicking a small stone on the ground, but when she heard the car engine, she looked up. Seeing Evelyn get out of the car, her eyes lit up instantly.

"Ms. Thomas!"

She let go of Brandon's hand and threw herself into Evelyn's arms.

She wrapped her arms around Evelyn's neck, buried her face in her shoulder, her voice soft with a hint of pleading.

"I missed you so, so much. Daddy said you were very busy and wouldn't let me call you, so every day I looked at the calendar, counting when you could come out and play with me."

Evelyn hugged her and patted her back, saying: "I missed you too."

Andy got out of the car and saw Joanna clinging to Evelyn. The smile on his face immediately faded a bit.

He stood to the side, pressed his lips together, and said nothing.