39: It seems I can no longer hide the fact that my son has become a scientist.

When Lu Chen's question, filled with 'greed'—"Is that after tax?"—clearly echoed across the tarmac, which had fallen into a deathly silence due to extreme shock.

He froze!

Behind him, the group of big shots, who usually showed no emotion, also had their mouths twitching wildly!

They almost couldn't hold it in!

Good heavens!

So, here we are, bestowing honors, granting power, and getting so emotional we're on the verge of tears!

And all you can think about is... whether or not to pay taxes?!

What... what kind of bizarre thought process is this?!

Long Weiguo, even more so, wished he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into!

He covered his face and let out a desperate groan.

It's over!

He had just managed to portray Lu Chen as a 'celestial being' who was indifferent to fame and fortune, devoted wholeheartedly to the country, in front of the highest echelons!

But now... it was completely shattered by this kid's single, 'money-grubbing' remark!

However... to everyone's surprise.

Instead... "Hahahaha... hahahaha!"

He pointed at Lu Chen and burst into an unprecedented, hearty laugh!

His laughter was loud and filled with genuine appreciation and... indulgence!

"Good! Excellent!"

He was laughing so hard, tears were almost streaming down his face!

"Yes! Absolutely!"

"Not only will it be tax-exempt!"

"I will also have the nation's best financial management team help you manage this money!"

"Guaranteed to make money generate more money, with interest compounding!"

"Absolutely, we cannot let our country's number one hero be... distracted by trivial matters like daily necessities!"

He looked at Lu Chen, his wise eyes, which seemed to see through everything, filled with boundless affection!

Good!

Too good!

I'm not afraid of you loving money!

I'm only afraid of you having no desires!

A god with 'weaknesses' is a good god that can be firmly controlled by the country!

...That evening.

Lu Chen once again received a precious 'vacation'.

Only this time, it wasn't 'letting off steam'.

But... going home.

It was still that unremarkable, bulletproof Volkswagen.

It was still Qin Feng personally serving as the driver.

Only this time, the car's trunk was filled with all sorts of things.

Things like thousand-year-old ginseng and ten-thousand-year-old Polygonum multiflorum... If one didn't know better, they might think Lu Chen had contracted some incurable disease and was going home to make final arrangements.

When the car slowly stopped beneath the familiar, dilapidated residential building.

Lu Chen's heart, which had become as still as an ancient well from witnessing all sorts of 'grand occasions,' felt a ripple for the first time.

He looked at the window upstairs, lit with warm light.

A complex look flashed in his eyes.

He knew.

From the moment he stepped into the pangu.

He could never return to that ordinary yet warm life again.

"Go on up."

Qin Feng opened the car door for him, his voice gentle.

"Your aunt and uncle are anxious awaiting you."

"Mm."

Lu Chen nodded, took a deep breath, and pushed open the familiar yet heavy door to his home.

"Dad, Mom, I'm home."

"Oh, my precious son!"

A voice filled with surprise and tenderness rang out!

His mother, Zhang Hui, was the first to rush out of the kitchen and immediately embraced Lu Chen!

Her eyes instantly reddened!

"You child! You've been gone for three months! I couldn't even reach you by phone! Don't you know Mom nearly died missing you!"

She said, while tenderly stroking Lu Chen's visibly much thinner cheeks.

"You've lost weight! So much weight! You must have suffered out there!"

"Jianguo! Look! Our son has become so thin he's unrecognizable!"

From the kitchen came the clatter of pots and pans.

His father, Lu Jianguo, walked out, carrying a steaming plate of braised pork.

He glanced at Lu Chen's face, which, though thinner, was more vibrant than ever, and gave a stern-sounding hum.

"A man, a true man! Contributing to the country outside! What's a little hardship!"

Though he said so with his mouth.

His quietly reddened eyes completely betrayed his inner pride and... tenderness.

"Quick! Wash your hands! Eat!"

...At the dinner table.

The atmosphere was warm, yet with a hint of awkwardness.

"Son..."

Zhang Hui, while frantically piling food into Lu Chen's bowl, cautiously probed, asking:

"What exactly is that... 'Special Talent Exchange Program' you're in?"

"The teachers at school said it's confidential?"

"Mm." Lu Chen nodded, vaguely saying, "It's just following some scientists to do research."

"Doing research?"

Lu Jianguo put down his wine glass, a hint of suspicion on his face.

"How come I heard... a lot of big leaders came to our city a while ago?"

"Even our factory manager, who's usually so arrogant, had to nod and bow to them."

"And..."

He lowered his voice, speaking mysteriously:

"I also heard that those big leaders... seemed to be looking for you?"

Lu Chen's hand, holding his chopsticks, paused slightly.

His heart skipped a beat.

Darn it.

It seems I can't hide the fact that my son has become a scientist!

"Dad, where did you hear all this gossip?" He could only laugh it off.

"Gossip?" Lu Jianguo's eyes widened!

"This isn't gossip!"

"Today, your Uncle Zhang, Aunt Li, and Old Man Wang all came to ask me!"

"They said they saw you come back in a big Red Flag car with a black license plate!"

"They also said several burly men in black suits got out of the car!"

"Just like the bodyguards they show on TV!"

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

"Son!"

"Tell Dad the truth!"

"What exactly are you doing now?!"

"Are you..."

"Is it true, just like on TV..."

"That you're making... atomic bombs for the country?!"