Reborn in Tokyo: From Heiress to Global Tycoon

Chapter 420 A Dangerous Reward

June 9, 1991, early morning.

Bunkyo Ward, Hongo.

When Satsuki groggily opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was an unfamiliar ceiling.

The bedroom curtains weren't fully drawn, and the morning sunlight of June shone through the gaps, leaving a narrow strip of light at the foot of the bed and on the carpet.

The room was quiet; the air conditioner was so quiet it was almost inaudible, and the person next to me was breathing steadily.

……

Wait, why is there someone next to me?

Satsuki stared at the ceiling for a few seconds before remembering where she was.

Saionji Temple, Kan'in, Hongo: Top floor apartment.

Amy's house.

She instinctively tried to get up, but her body was pulled back after only a slight movement.

Looking down, she saw an arm across her waist and another hand gripping her wrist.

Amy pressed herself against her from behind, burying her face in her hair, and pinning down her legs with one of hers, as if afraid that the person in her arms would escape in her sleep, sealing off even the last gap.

Satsuki looked down at the hand on her waist, then turned her face away with difficulty.

Amy was right there.

She was fast asleep, her long black hair spread out on the pillow, and a satisfied smile on her lips.

Satsuki remained silent for a moment.

Then, she remembered what had happened a few days earlier.

On the experimental line in Odaiba, Amy completed a system that she called a "self-calibrating computational lithography system".

It integrates reverse lithography, phase-shifting masks, optical proximity correction, and post-exposure measurement data into a single calculation process. The system first calculates the offset caused by light passing through the mask, and then corrects the mask pattern and exposure parameters based on the actual results to compensate for the lack of equipment accuracy.

Using this system, Amy was able to etch 0.18 micrometer test lines with just one existing 248-nanometer KrF experimental device, and then fabricated a 0.25-micrometer test chip that could operate stably.

The 0.18-micron wafer is currently only a simple line test, and the 0.25-micron wafer is also small in scale, with yield far from ideal. However, these two results have already proven that existing equipment can be pushed far beyond its original limits. To this end, researchers from Shimomura and the lithography laboratory spent two full days in Odaiba verifying the results.

This means that Saionji can advance processes that would otherwise take years to achieve without waiting for the next generation of lithography machines to arrive at the factory. The lifespan of existing equipment will be significantly extended, and the pilot production line under construction can skip a long catch-up process.

After reviewing the preliminary assessment, Endo wrote only one sentence at the end of the report.

In the first phase alone, it is estimated that tens of billions of yen in equipment investment can be saved.

And this doesn't even include the orders, patents, and industry standing that come with technological leadership.

A few days ago, Satsuki brought Chizuru to Hongo Apartment, originally just wanting to have dinner with Amy and celebrate the success of the experiment.

The cake from the restaurant was still on the table, but Amy, holding the flowers Satsuki had sent, paced back and forth in the living room several times. She first asked Satsuki if her experiment went well, then asked if the result counted as a "great achievement," and finally sat down next to Satsuki, lingering for a long time before speaking softly.

"Satsuki-chan once said that if you achieve something really amazing, you can make one request, right?"

Satsuki had already guessed what she was going to say.

"Speak."

Amy's fingers gripped the hem of her skirt, and her ears gradually turned red.

"I want to... sleep with Satsuki-chan for one night."

After she finished speaking, she immediately added another sentence.

"They just hold on and won't do anything."

Satsuki stared at her for a long time.

Amy, who had initially been full of anticipation, became increasingly nervous under Amy's gaze, until she no longer dared to lift her eyes.

"Can."

Amy was stunned for several seconds.

"real?"

"Only one night."

Satsuki agreed calmly.

She even felt that the reward was too cheap.

Amy's current value surpasses that of anyone else in the Saionji Group—excluding Satsuki herself, of course.

While ordinary technicians can complete a research project for the group, Amy can directly shorten the time it takes for technology to become a reality. Such individuals are not stable enough to be held accountable solely by salary and contracts.

Further consolidating loyalty is a necessary matter.

That's what Satsuki told herself back then.

As for Amy's almost pathological infatuation, she had always known about it. Last night, when she actually lay down in this bed, she was even prepared to lose her virginity.

It seems that Amy is behaving herself.

Satsuki looked down and checked her pajamas.

Her collar and buttons remained exactly as they were when she fell asleep last night. Apart from numbness in her right hand and a significant loss of sensation in her left leg, she hadn't lost anything else of greater importance for the time being.

Satsuki breathed a slight sigh of relief.

Just then, Amy suddenly leaned forward, buried her nose in her hair, and took a deep breath.

"The taste of Satsuki-chan..."

She chuckled twice in her sleep, and the arm around Satsuki's waist tightened around her.

"hey-hey……"

"Hmm!"

Satsuki felt a tightness in her chest, almost unable to breathe.

Amy was a whole head taller than her and much stronger. Satsuki struggled a couple of times, but the person behind her held on even tighter, so she had no choice but to raise her still-mobile left hand and grab the tender flesh on the inside of Amy's arm.

"Emi Suzuki!"

"ah!"

Amy opened her eyes abruptly from the pain.

She was a little annoyed when she first woke up, frowning as she looked at the person in her arms. But when she saw Satsuki's puffed-up face, her annoyance vanished instantly, and her expression became one of bliss.

"Satsuki-chan, thank you..."

Satsuki immediately released her grip, her disdain almost undisguised.

Amy rubbed the red spot where she had been pinched, then looked at Satsuki's disgusted face.

Thank you for your hospitality.

"..."

Satsuki covered her face and slowly crawled out of her arms.

"Good morning, Satsuki-chan!"

Amy sat up with a grin, looking as energetic as if she wasn't the one who had just been pinched.

Satsuki ignored her and prepared to get off the bed, holding onto the edge. The moment her left foot touched the carpet, a tingling sensation shot up from her ankle, causing her body to sway.

Amy quickly supported her from behind.

"Satsuki-chan, watch out!"

"Let go."

"But you can't stand steadily."

Why can't I stand up straight?

Amy thought for a moment, then honestly shut her mouth.

Satsuki sat by the bed for a while, slowly moving her left leg. The tingling and numbness from the renewed blood flow made her frown, and Amy immediately knelt down in front of her, reaching out to rub it for her.

Satsuki warily pulled her leg back.

"What else do you want to do?"

"Help Satsuki-chan recover."

"Stay away from me, I'll recover faster."

Amy had no choice but to kneel on the carpet, looking at her with a wronged expression.

After a few seconds of silence, her gaze drifted back to Satsuki's disheveled pajamas and hair, and a smile slowly returned to her lips.

After Satsuki noticed this, she looked down at herself again.

"You really didn't do anything last night?"

"I'm very trustworthy."

Amy immediately straightened up.

"Satsuki-chan only agreed to let me hold her while I sleep, so I'll just hold her. I won't do anything secretly without permission."

Satsuki looked at her for a moment.

She does believe that.

Amy would secretly take photos, display her life-size body pillow in her room, and try every possible way to find a way to get close to her from a single sentence. But once Satsuki truly drew a line, she never dared to cross it.

"What were you smelling just now?"

Amy's expression froze for a moment.

"this……"

"Um?"

"Smelling it shouldn't count, right?"

Her voice grew softer and softer.

"Satsuki-chan didn't say anything about not being able to smell it last night."

Satsuki reached out and pinched her cheek.

"You dare to explain yourself to me?"

"Ugh...it hurts..."

"Didn't you like it just now?"

"Satsuki-chan's is different from everyone else's."

Satsuki stopped what she was doing, and then, as if she had encountered something strange, immediately pushed her away.

"abnormal."

Amy touched her reddened cheek, but laughed even more happily.

"Satsuki-chan, I was so happy last night."

As she spoke, her voice gradually softened.

"I was always afraid that when I woke up I would find it was all a dream. So when I fell asleep... I might have been holding on a little too tightly."

"That's considered a little bit?"

Despite her initial disdain, Satsuki eventually raised her hand and gently rubbed the top of her head.

"I'm still here."

When Amy looked up, Satsuki had already stood up and was walking towards the bathroom.

"So let me go wash up first."

"I'll join you too."

"You dare to come in and try."

Amy pulled her foot back after taking a step.

Satsuki walked into the bathroom and opened the cabinet next to the sink. Inside, there was a set of unopened toothbrush, towel, and skincare products, all from the same brand as the ones she used at home.

Satsuki picked up her toothbrush and looked back at the door.

"Amy."

"Um?"

"When were these things prepared?"

Amy peeked half her face out from the doorway.

"When we moved in."

"You started preparing back in March?"

"I think Satsuki-chan will live here someday."

Satsuki didn't know what to say for a moment, so she could only close the cabinet door again.

"go out."

"I can comb your hair."

"go out."

Amy then reluctantly stepped aside.

……

Breakfast has been delivered to the small dining area near the floor-to-ceiling windows.

Chizuru stayed in another guest room on the same floor last night. After waking up this morning, she contacted the main house and had someone deliver the clothes that Satsuki needed to change into today.

Chizuru tidied Satsuki's hair and collar. When the two entered the restaurant, Amy was already sitting at the table.

In front of her was a fried egg, toast, and fruit, with a small bowl of yogurt mixed with nuts.

The kitchen was spotless; the instant noodles and nutritional drinks that used to pile up in the corner were gone. There were no disassembled circuit boards on the dining table either. The oscilloscope and other instruments had been moved into the study, with only a few organized experimental documents remaining on the shelf near the window.

Satsuki's gaze lingered on the room for a moment.

"Has the room been cleaned?"

"Um."

Amy forked a piece of fruit.

"Didn't Satsuki-chan say last time that this place was for me to live in, not for storing spare parts?"

"You actually listened to me."

"I've been listening attentively to what Satsuki-chan is saying."

Amy spoke as if it were the most natural thing in the world, and then pointed to the breakfast on the table.

"I've been eating on time lately. The restaurant downstairs sends its menu to the residential terminal every day, so I choose my breakfast for the next day the night before."

Satsuki sat down opposite her and picked up a piece of slightly charred toast.

"What about when the experiments are busy?"

"Stop eating when it's time."

Amy thought for a moment and then added:

"Working for too long makes it easier to make mistakes in subsequent calculations. Lack of sleep can also affect judgment, and you end up having to spend more time rechecking."

As she said this, she straightened her body slightly.

"So now I sleep at least six hours a day and eat on time. A healthy lifestyle allows me to work longer and be more efficient."

Satsuki looked at her, as if she wanted praise.

Amy is indeed less tired than she was a while ago, and her complexion is much better than before. She clearly didn't take Satsuki's previous reminder as a temporary reprimand, but was genuinely trying to change her life.

"There has been some progress."

Satsuki picked up her black tea, a slight smile playing on her lips.

Amy immediately moved closer.

"Is there a reward?"

"Let's maintain this for a month first."

"A month is too long."

"If you think it's too long, we can change it to three months."

"One month is perfect!"

Amy immediately lowered her head and began to eat her breakfast seriously.

Satsuki watched as she ate most of the fruit on the plate before looking away.

"Are Shimomura and the others still in Odaiba today?"

"Yes, the experimental line needs to be redone."

When work is mentioned, Amy quickly becomes serious.

"0.18 micrometers is currently just a set of lines, and the yield of 0.25 micrometer wafers is also very poor. Calculations can correct the exposure pattern, but the photoresist, alignment, and etching will not automatically improve."

"So, the most suitable depth for advancement right now is 0.35 micrometers?"

"right."

Amy nodded vigorously.

"The existing equipment still has spare capacity. As long as the processes of several factories are standardized, and the Jade Box (computing center) continues to make adjustments, a stable small-batch production line can be established within six months."

"What do you need?"

"New mask writing equipment, wafer inspection systems, and more photoresist samples. Tokyo Optical & Precision also needs to modify an exposure device."

"Make a list."

Satsuki picked up the milk.

"Give Endo the equipment, personnel, and budget by this afternoon. Buy what you can, and find other ways to get what you can't."

Amy paused for a moment, then her eyes lit up.

"Satsuki-chan is so good!"

"Don't get too excited yet."

Satsuki glanced at her.

"If the yield is still this low next time you finish a wafer fabrication, you'll have to stay at the factory until it improves."

Amy nodded seriously, then tentatively asked:

"If the improvement is made, is there any reward?"

Satsuki's right hand seemed to be starting to feel numb again.

"Let's get it done first."