Noon.
Shen City, Qingning Technology Building, 42nd floor.
In a small meeting room not open to the public, the atmosphere is relaxed.
Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows is the shimmering, vibrant modern landscape of Shen City Bay, and inside there is only a small round table.
A few half-drunk cups of coffee and some draft papers filled with casual doodles (algorithm formulas, architecture diagrams) are scattered on the table.
Liu Qingning and several colleagues are sitting together, bursts of lighthearted laughter echoing occasionally.
"...The new pork knuckle rice at the cafeteria is amazing! Fatty but not greasy, melts in your mouth, I sincerely suggest you all try it."
"Agreed! I ate two servings yesterday!"
"The results of last week's company 'code marathon' competition are out, Mingzhu took third place, tonight we should have her treat us."
...
