Rebirth 2010: I taught Mr. Lei how to make a mobile phone

Chapter 1008 The lone brave man!
[Three days until the hearing]

On the other side of the ocean, at TT headquarters, Zhou Shouzi slept soundly after successfully graduating from the 'special training camp'.

His most important task in the next few days is to rest. Only by ensuring sufficient rest can he face the upcoming severe test in the best mental state.

He forced himself to put down all his work, and for a workaholic who usually only gets six hours of sleep, he slept for a full twelve hours for the first time ever.

When he woke up, he looked at his somewhat disheveled self in the mirror, but a sharp light had rekindled in the depths of his eyes.

A professional styling team had been waiting for a long time. They tailored a dark blue custom suit for Shou Zi Chau. The suit was well-tailored, exuding both the competence and composure of a business elite, while also subtly revealing a formidable edge.

Meanwhile, the hashtag #SaveTT# continues to gain popularity on the global internet.

Everyone realized that the outcome of this hearing would determine the fate of a platform with hundreds of millions of users.

[Hearing Countdown: Two Days]

When Shouzi Chew reappeared on his TT account with a brand new image, the entire platform was abuzz, with countless netizens rushing into the comments section to show their support.

In the video, he looks directly into the camera, his voice calm yet powerful: "Two days from now, I will fight for TT, I will fight for freedom!"

The scene then switches to a meticulously crafted animated short film—based on him, set against the backdrop of the TT incident, and accompanied by a background music song called "The Lone Warrior."

They said they'd stitch up your wounds, that nobody loves a clown.

"Who says someone covered in mud isn't a hero?"

"I love you walking alone in the dark alley, I love your unyielding spirit, I love you facing despair head-on, I can't bear to cry!"

This exquisite combination of film, sound, and event elements instantly ignited the emotions of users worldwide.

"The Lone Warrior" immediately soared to the top of music charts in various regions, igniting the world!
The seeds sown in each state were ignited at this moment.

TT users, who value freedom and creativity, stepped out of their homes, campuses, and factories, like streams flowing into the ocean, and gathered in the heart of each state.

This grand scene was even more bustling and crowded than popular tourist attractions during the National Day holiday in China.

The crowd marched in uneven steps, waving homemade signs and chanting unified and loud slogans.

Some young people even carried subwoofers and played their high-energy battle song, "The Lone Warrior," on repeat.

Spirit boost +100%, Momentum +9999%!

They spoke freely; they were unrestrained.
Even if the Avengers were to assemble, they would be fearless!

This scene attracted follow-up reports from local media and radio stations.

Such a lively and entertaining event was not to be missed by the Chinese media; it was far more interesting than reporting on burst water pipes or spreading wildfires.

While watching the drama unfold, Chinese netizens typed out words of support, their words barely concealing a hint of envy.
[Hearing Countdown: One Day]

When TT first appeared, everyone just thought of it as a piece of entertainment: scrolling through funny videos, watching song and dance performances, and killing time.

At the time, no competitors took it seriously—not Twitter, YouTube, or Facebook, let alone the local authorities.

The seriousness of the matter only became apparent when this "little thing" grew into a big business that could support hundreds of thousands of people and benefit tens of millions of users.

TT has generated over $100 billion in revenue for small business owners, self-employed individuals, and livestreamers, supporting more than 170 million people.

What does this mean? It's like literally digging out a new gold mine from within the local economic system.

Those beauty bloggers, fitness coaches, and food gurus are making a very good living by leveraging TikTok's traffic to take on ads, sell courses, and run online stores.

If it were a president with a sane mind, such a thing that promotes the economy, stabilizes employment, and ensures growth would be cherished and protected with utmost care, as if it were something to be feared to melt in the palm of one's hand.

Unfortunately, they encountered a madman who acted arbitrarily and did whatever he pleased.

"They think it's unsafe, so they want to shut it down?" This logic seems absurd to ordinary people, but that's exactly what they think and do.

Isn't this a joke?
Destroying someone's livelihood is like killing their parents.

When rumors of a ban on TT spread, the internet immediately exploded, with various "#SaveTT" protests erupting in various places, one after another, and reaching their peak in the past few days.

A well-known developmental psychologist even publicly mocked someone: "Never compare this guy to a child. Even a child knows better than him how to seek advantage and avoid harm. You are insulting children."

However, only a few people know that this is not a simple business competition. Under the guise of 'data security,' the other party is wielding the big stick of sanctions, attempting to strip TT of its Chinese ownership. While illicit profit is one objective, the core algorithm possessed by TT is the key to this conflict.

Whoever masters the most advanced algorithms will hold the initiative in the future information age.

This is a dialogue concerning the future "digital sovereignty" and "rule-making power" between the East and West coasts.

TT is like a child swaggering around with a gold ingot in his hand, conquering the mobile phone screens of young people around the world with its algorithms, but unfortunately becoming the most conspicuous card on this high-stakes gamble.

To everyone's surprise, when the child saw someone trying to rob him, he transformed into a demon, put down the gold ingot, and pulled out an AK47 from somewhere, which really terrified everyone.

At a regular press conference held that day, the spokesperson, in a rare departure from their previous calm tone, made a statement regarding the TT incident:
"We hope that the other party can provide an open, fair, and non-discriminatory business environment for overseas companies and work with us in the same direction, rather than going against us."

Don't open Pandora's box recklessly, or you'll only suffer the consequences!

[On the day of the hearing]

Night fell, the stars disappeared, and dark clouds swirled up in a fierce wind that whistled through the air.

Perhaps due to certain factors, the House Rules Committee unusually scheduled this hearing for midnight, and it is expected to continue into the daytime.

Clearly, even so, it couldn't stop the noise from outside.

An hour before the meeting was scheduled to begin, the area around the parliament was already packed with people who had come to show their support.

This situation forced the hearing to be delayed by half an hour for the first time in its history, because the person in question was still blocked on the outside and had not yet entered.

When a black sedan finally came to a stop at the entrance and the door slowly opened, Zhou Shouzi appeared in front of everyone.

With his handsome looks, tall and slender figure, and a dark blue suit that accentuated his capable demeanor, he exuded confidence and competence.

As soon as he appeared, the media's flashbulbs went off one after another, making it as bright as day.

A thunderous roar of cheers erupted all around, as if people were welcoming their hero.

Two rows of security personnel struggled to hold back the agitated crowd.

Shou-tzu Chew remained expressionless and did not answer any reporters' questions. Instead, amidst cheers and the sound of camera shutters clicking, he ascended the steps under the guidance of his staff.

One step, two steps.
Just as they reached the last step, the council doors burst open, revealing a dark and narrow passageway, its depths obscured, like a gaping maw ready to devour anyone.

Just as Zhou Shouzi was about to make his move, he inexplicably stopped, then suddenly turned around, raised his arms, and shouted: "For Freedom!"

The next moment, a response came like a mountain collapsing and a tsunami crashing down.

At the bottom of the steps, a quick-thinking reporter captured this moment perfectly.

In the footage: the night is as dark as ink, with dark clouds looming over the city, buildings appearing stark white from the intense sunlight, and the American flag fluttering precariously in the wind above.
The man at the center of the composition stands proudly, his face resolute, head held high, arms raised, shouting, exuding American heroism.

On either side of the frame, two security personnel suddenly entered the shot, reaching out to forcibly pull him back. Due to the rapid movement, they were exposed as two menacing shadows, like claws reaching out from a dark abyss.
All the elements collide at this moment, weaving together to create a still image full of epic grandeur, dramatic tension, and visual impact.

The next second, Shouzi Zhou suddenly turned around and deftly broke free from the restraints on both sides.

"Please don't touch me." His voice wasn't loud, but it was as clear as ice cracking. "I can walk by myself."

He raised his hand and carefully straightened the collar and tie that had been slightly wrinkled from the earlier tugging, each movement slow and solemn.

Without further hesitation, he straightened his back and, alone, resolutely stepped into the unknown, thick darkness ahead.

In the square, the battle song "The Lone Warrior" still echoed, and countless people sang along, waiting for the hero's return.

"Go? Do you deserve it? That tattered cloak~"

"War! War! With the humblest of dreams!"

"To the sobs and roars of the night!"

"Who says only those who stand in the light are heroes!"

The door slammed shut, cutting off everything from the outside world.

(End of this chapter)