Chapter 861

Evelyn took a small sip, barely touching her drink, while Dominic downed his with enthusiasm.

Nathan sat silently to the side, his gaze flickering toward Evelyn every so often.

His eyes burned into her, impossible to ignore.

She finally turned her head, unable to take it any longer. What was his problem?

"Why are you staring at me, Mr. Blackwood?"

Nathan lounged in his seat, his posture effortlessly elegant. His collar was slightly undone, revealing the sharp line of his collarbone. His shirt was neatly tucked into his slacks, his long legs stretched out so far they nearly invaded her space.

Their eyes locked.

Nathan's expression shifted, something unreadable flickering in his gaze.

"You were looking at me first," he countered, his voice low and edged with frost.

If you hadn’t been watching me, how would you even know I was watching you?

It was an endless, pointless loop.

Nathan Blackwood was infuriating.

Evelyn exhaled sharply, reminding herself not to engage. Otherwise, she’d lose her sanity before the night was over.

She turned away, forcing a smile for Dominic. "How’s the autonomous driving project coming along?"

Dominic’s face lit up instantly. "We may not have been the first to research this, but our current advancements put us at the global forefront. Some of our core tech is beyond what foreign competitors have achieved!"

Evelyn arched a brow. "Testing phase?"

Dominic nodded eagerly, practically vibrating with excitement. "We integrated cutting-edge AI sensory systems into the chip, syncing it with braking and acceleration."

"I toured multiple automotive research centers abroad—major brands, even race car teams. Their sensors only adjust speed based on obstacles ahead, which can get messy in complex scenarios."

"But if we apply racing-grade braking to standard vehicles, a car going 180mph can still stop in three seconds—without sacrificing stability."

Evelyn and Emily exchanged impressed glances.

Somehow, Dominic made even the most technical details sound thrilling.

He had the energy of a cult leader.

Amused, Evelyn poured him another glass herself. "Impressive work, Mr. Kingsley."

Dominic waved a hand, equal parts proud and modest. "Just doing my job."

(Translation: Paid well enough to make it worth it.)

Nathan swirled his drink, his tone bored. "Applying race car braking to consumer vehicles was proposed thirty years ago."

"So what exactly makes your AI system superior?"

The room went dead silent.

Like a bucket of ice water had been dumped over them.

Dominic shot Nathan a really? look.

He knew Nathan was the hardest person to impress—especially since cars were his passion. Nathan loved them but refused to race, valuing his life too much.

Dominic cleared his throat. "Safety."

He pressed his lips together. "That’s our biggest advantage. We’ve run hundreds of crash tests, installing airbags in every conceivable contact point—both automatic and manual triggers."

"Most importantly, people don’t trust AI to make emotional judgments. So, if the driver touches any controls, full manual override activates instantly, bypassing the AI entirely."

That was their ultimate safeguard.

No matter how advanced the AI, the final decision always rested with the human.

That was the only practical solution.

Emily nodded, jumping in. "Exactly. We also incorporated aviation principles into the chip. In extreme scenarios—like a head-on collision or a cliff fall—the driver’s seat ejects upward for five seconds upon impact. Three meters is our current tested height."