22: Lu Chen, something's off with you!

Facing Ye Qingcang's gaze, which was full of "slyness" and anticipation, Lu Chen simply smiled mysteriously and put down the spoon in his hand.

He did not answer.

Because he knew that some "trump cards," once revealed, could not be settled with just Buddha Jumps Over the Wall.

That would require, at the very least... a State Banquet... In a flash, another week passed.

The mass production plan for the graphene battery was proceeding at a terrifying speed, driven by the full force of the state apparatus.

Two production lines, one civilian and one military, simultaneously broke ground at the Kunlun Mountain Underground Base.

And Lu Chen finally received a precious one-day vacation after working non-stop for nearly a month.

Long Weiguo euphemistically called it a chance for him to "relax and return to life."

But Lu Chen knew clearly that this was "letting him out for air."

After all, no matter how important a "national treasure" is, it cannot be kept locked in a cage twenty-four hours a day.

Otherwise, they would surely get sick from confinement.

Thus, on a sunny weekend morning.

Lu Chen changed into ordinary casual clothes and got into a black Volkswagen that looked unremarkable but whose glass and tires were all made of the highest-grade bulletproof material.

Trailing him, neither too close nor too far, were four more equally "unremarkable" black Volkswagens.

Qin Feng personally served as the driver.

"Mr. Lu Chen, where are we going?"

"Let's go back and see the school." Lu Chen said lightly, looking at the familiar yet somewhat strange street view outside the window.

"Okay."

...Jinghai City, Seventeenth Middle School.

It was recess, and the playground was filled with the laughter and chatter of students.

When Lu Chen’s face, which had been "missing" for nearly a month, reappeared on campus, it immediately caused quite a stir.

"Holy crap! Isn't that Lu Chen from Senior Year Class 1? Didn't he take a leave of absence to participate in some 'exchange program'?"

"The missing person has returned! This guy is the legendary figure of our school lately!"

"What legend?"

"You don't know? That post on the school forum a while ago, 'Searching for a Physics Genius,' was supposedly posted by a big shot from the Chinese Academy of Sciences! Later, someone dug up that the post... seemed to be related to Lu Chen!"

"Seriously?!"

Listening to the whispers of the surrounding students, Lu Chen's heart remained completely undisturbed.

He knew that although the Dragon Shield Bureau had erased all his traces.

Some things cannot be erased.

Such as... a legend.

He ignored the curious stares and walked directly to the familiar basketball court on the edge of the playground.

There, a slightly plump figure with dyed yellow hair was sweating profusely while playing three-on-three with a few classmates.

"Peng Zi."

Lu Chen called out softly.

The yellow-haired figure suddenly froze!

He slowly turned his head, and when he saw who it was, the basketball in his hand dropped to the ground with a "patta" sound!

"Chen... Chen Zi?!"

Wang Peng's face first showed disbelief, which was immediately replaced by immense joy!

He didn't care about anything else; he charged over like a wild bull and gave Lu Chen a huge bear hug!

"Damn! You brat, you actually remembered to come back!"

His voice was tinged with a slight choke.

"I thought you'd been kidnapped by aliens and used for human experiments!"

Feeling the familiar scent of sweat on his chest and his brother's forceful embrace, the heart of Lu Chen, which had become somewhat cold from encountering too much "future technology," finally warmed slightly.

"Haven't I... returned?"

...At the familiar "Fatty's Barbecue Shop" behind the school.

It was still that greasy, corner spot.

"So..."

Wang Peng asked indistinctly while frantically stuffing mutton skewers into his mouth:

"What the hell have you been doing for the past month?"

"What exactly is that 'Special Talent Exchange Program'?"

"It's classified." Lu Chen smiled, concise and to the point.

"Hmph." Wang Peng curled his lip, took a large gulp of beer, and then looked at Lu Chen with an extremely complicated gaze.

"Chen Zi..."

He remained silent for a long time, seemingly organizing his thoughts.

"Something... is wrong with you."

"Oh?" Lu Chen raised an eyebrow.

"I don't know how to put it..." Wang Peng scratched his messy yellow hair, and for the first time, a serious expression, uncharacteristic of him, appeared on his face.

"I just feel like... you and us, we're no longer people from the same world."

"Before, even though you were a top student, you still had that 'human touch' about you."

"But now..."

He shivered as he looked into Lu Chen's eyes, which were so calm they seemed almost indifferent.

"When I look at you now, I feel like... I'm looking at... the emotionless Jade Buddha statue in my dad's study."

Lu Chen's hand, gripping the beer mug, paused slightly.

He hadn't expected Wang Peng, this seemingly careless guy, to be so perceptive.

Yes... when your mind is filled with knowledge capable of destroying or creating the world.

When you are surrounded by the nation's most vital assets, and the topics of discussion are those that will affect the future of humanity.

How could you possibly go back to caring about those trivial campus matters?

That immense cognitive gap is insurmountable.

"And another thing!"

Wang Peng suddenly slapped the table, as if remembering something!

"That news screenshot I sent you last time! That so-called physics earthquake! And that post on the school forum!"

He stared intently at Lu Chen, asking word by word:

"Does that matter have anything to do with you?!"

"Don't tell me it's a 'coincidence'! I won't believe it!"

Looking at his good brother's persistent and probing gaze, Lu Chen fell silent.

He knew that some things couldn't be hidden.

Especially not from the person closest to you.

He slowly put down the beer mug in his hand.

Then, he raised his head, looked at Wang Peng, and spoke in an unprecedentedly serious tone:

"Peng Zi."

"What if I told you that what I am doing now is a major undertaking... that might change the entire world."

"A major undertaking... that might even involve life-threatening risks."

"Would you..."

"Still want to know?"