Chapter 66 — The World in Motion
The next morning, the plaza outside XB Corporation was already buzzing with anticipation. Cameras, microphones, and reporters crowded every corner. Even before the doors opened, whispers ran through the crowd: "The girl genius is showing something new today," "I heard it's a camera that records video — but it's supposed to be impossible."
Inside, the tech department had been transformed into a demonstration hall. Lights gleamed off polished tables, a television had been mounted on the wall, and the prototype camera — sleek, compact, and slightly futuristic — rested under a velvet cloth at the center.
Bai Xia entered calmly, carrying her folder. Every head turned. Even seasoned journalists, used to press conferences and product launches, could not hide their curiosity.
> "Thank you all for coming," Bai Xia began, her voice steady, carrying effortlessly across the room. "Today, you are not just seeing a device. You are seeing a vision — one that brings motion into the future of memory."
She nodded to Stella, who stepped forward and pulled the velvet cloth away. The camera gleamed under the lights, its black body elegant, familiar yet undeniably advanced.
> "It looks like a camera," one reporter murmured, almost to himself, "but there's something… different."
> "Exactly," Bai Xia replied, smiling faintly. "This is not just for pictures. This camera records time itself — videos, clear and uninterrupted, instantly playable on its screen. Every detail, every movement captured as you see it, editable, transferable, deletable — all in your hands."
A murmur rippled through the crowd. Reporters scribbled furiously, cameras clicked, and a few editors whispered to each other in disbelief.
> "Demonstration," Bai Xia announced. She picked up the camera, adjusted the lens, and aimed at a small fan spinning lazily in the corner. She pressed the record button, and the screen mounted behind her flickered to life.
The room went silent. On the television, the fan rotated in perfect detail. Each shadow, each glint of sunlight on the blades, appeared in fluid motion. Then, a piece of paper fell to the ground — every fold, every flutter captured perfectly in real-time.
Gasps erupted.
> "It actually works!" someone shouted.
"No film? No delay?" whispered another, eyes wide.
"This… this is revolutionary," murmured a seasoned journalist, his hands trembling slightly as he typed notes.
Bai Xia nodded and continued the demonstration. She pressed a small button, pausing the video mid-motion. The crowd leaned forward, watching the suspended movement like it was magic. Another button, and she played it back instantly — the paper landing, the fan spinning, perfectly smooth.
> "Every frame," she explained, "is stored as data. You can rewind, pause, delete, or transfer it to another device. This camera lets you capture life as it happens — and control it."
Questions flew immediately. Reporters shouted, trying to be heard over each other.
> "How long can it record?"
"Over an hour," Bai Xia answered without hesitation.
"Can it store multiple clips?"
"Yes, and they can all be played back on the camera itself."
"Transferable to a computer?"
"Absolutely."
"Editable?"
"Yes."
"Film required?"
"Not at all."
"Is it safe for professional use?"
"It's more than safe — it's precise."
"What about lighting conditions?"
"It adapts automatically."
"And the price?"
"For now, that will be announced officially once production is ready."
Every answer caused another ripple of whispers and typing. The older photographers in the back leaned in, squinting at the device as if trying to see through the impossible. Young reporters could barely contain their excitement.
Finally, Bai Xia allowed a volunteer from the press to hold the camera and test it themselves. The moment the screen lit up, showing the moving image with perfect clarity, everyone erupted into astonished chatter. Some clapped, some laughed in disbelief, others simply stared.
> "We've brought the future into the present," Bai Xia said softly, almost to herself. "And now, the world can see it too."
The demonstration lasted nearly an hour. Every test, every playback, every new clip confirmed the impossibility of what they had built. By the end, reporters were clamoring for interviews, technicians from other companies were taking notes secretly, and the buzz outside the building had grown to a roar.
Outside, the city streets filled with conversation. Headlines were already forming:
"Genius Girl Invents Video Camera of the Future!"
"No Film, No Delay — See Motion Captured Instantly!"
"China's Young Innovator Stuns the Tech World Again!"
Bai Xia stepped back from the table, letting Stella manage the crowd and the equipment. For a moment, she simply watched. Faces lit with awe, cameras snapping incessantly, and journalists whispering about the possibilities.
> "Tomorrow," she told Stella quietly, "we begin limited production. The first batch must be perfect. Every camera, every circuit, every screen."
Stella nodded, already making mental notes.
> "And after that?" she asked softly.
Bai Xia's eyes shone with a rare spark, a mixture of pride and foresight.
> "After that… the world will know that this is only the beginning. Motion, memory, life itself — we've just started capturing it."
And with that, she allowed herself a small, satisfied smile, already planning the next chapter in a revolution that had only just begun.