123: Chapter 123 Perilous Ambush! Remnants of the Enemy Block the Way with Tricks, Feigning Weakness to Subdue the Enemy and Reveal Brilliance (4)

"Okay, thank you so much, boss," Mu Li said with a smile, his heart filled with gratitude. "Sorry for the trouble."

The boss led Mu Li to the reserved room and pushed open the door. A faint scent of the sea breeze rushed to meet them, fresh and moist.

The room was not very large, but it was clean, tidy, and spotless. It was decorated in a cozy style, with a soft single bed, a small desk, a lounge chair, and a small balcony. Through the balcony window, one could see the azure sea, offering an excellent view.

"Young man, take a look. How is this room? Are you satisfied?" the boss asked with a smile, his eyes full of anticipation.

"Very satisfied, it's excellent," Mu Li nodded, a sincere smile appearing on his face. He walked into the room and gently pushed open the balcony window. "The view is great, and it's very clean and cozy. Thank you, boss."

"As long as you are satisfied, that's good," the boss said with a smile, placing the travel bag on the chair. He handed the room key to Mu Li. "This is the room key, keep it safe."

"I won't disturb your rest. You've been traveling all the way here, so you must be tired. Get some good rest first, then go out for a stroll tonight. The night view by the sea is beautiful, and the snack street is very lively. There are many unique seafood snacks you can try."

"Okay, thank you, boss," Mu Li reached out, took the key, and nodded in thanks with a smile.

After the boss left, Mu Li walked to the balcony, placed his hands on the railing, and leaned forward slightly, looking out at the sea—the azure water stretched endlessly, blending into the blue sky and white clouds at the horizon. The waves gently lapped against the rocks on the shore, making a crisp and pleasant "swish-swish" sound.

On the distant beach, many tourists were leisurely strolling and playing. The laughter of children drifted over on the sea breeze, filled with joy.

Looking at this beautiful scenery, all of Mu Li's fatigue and worries vanished into thin air. He stretched, spread his arms, and let out a long sigh of relief. He decided to get some good rest first, recharge his energy, and then go out for a stroll at night to taste the local seafood delicacies and experience the night view by the sea.

The tranquility in his heart reached its peak at this moment. He hadn't felt this relaxed in a long time, as if all the tension and danger were just a distant dream.

He walked to the bed, lay down gently, and stretched out his body. The soft bedding enveloped him, and fatigue instantly washed over him.

This time, he didn't dream of tense battles or dangerous conspiracies, nor did he worry about the remnants of the Dark Web Phantom or the nuclear fusion power station project. Instead, he quickly fell asleep, dreaming that he was walking barefoot on the white, fine sand, strolling leisurely against the sea breeze, enjoying his own peace and beauty, with a happy smile on his face.

This peaceful sleep was what he had craved most for days, and it was his most genuine relaxation after letting down some of his guard.

He didn't know how much time had passed, but Mu Li was awakened by the sound of the waves outside the window.

He slowly opened his eyes and saw that the sky outside had darkened. The afterglow of the setting sun spilled onto the sea, dyeing the surface a warm gold. It was sparkling and extremely beautiful, like a stunning oil painting.

Mu Li slowly stood up, stretched, and loosened his stiff body. He picked up the casual short-sleeved shirt and shorts from the side, quickly changed into them, then grabbed his phone and key, turned, and walked out of the guesthouse, heading toward the seaside snack street with a light step.

The contentment in his heart spread little by little, along with the sound of the waves.

The snack street was right by the sea, winding along the coastline. It was bustling with people, brightly lit, and lined with various seafood snack stalls. Grilled squid, grilled oysters, grilled scallops, fried fish balls, seafood porridge... The aroma of all kinds of delicacies filled the air, rich and enticing, attracting countless tourists to stop and taste them.

Mu Li walked slowly along the snack street, his gaze scanning the various seafood snacks, a look of anticipation on his face. After his long journey, he was already starving.

At this moment, he just wanted to set aside all his identities and responsibilities, be an ordinary tourist, enjoy the food, and feel this sense of human warmth.

He walked up to a lively-looking seafood barbecue stall. The owner was an enthusiastic middle-aged man who was skillfully grilling various kinds of seafood. The sizzling sound, accompanied by the rich aroma, made one's mouth water.

Mu Li stopped, raised his hand with a smile, and gestured to the owner. He ordered a few skewers of grilled squid, a few grilled oysters, and a bowl of seafood porridge. Then, he turned and found a seat near the sea. He leaned back slightly, able to enjoy the food while admiring the night view of the seaside—it was very pleasant.

The skewers and seafood porridge were soon served. The grilled squid was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, sprinkled with cumin and chili powder, rich in aroma. The grilled oysters were fresh and juicy, paired with garlic and chili, tasting incredibly delicious. The seafood porridge was thick, soft, and glutinous, packed full of fresh seafood, savory and tasty.

Mu Li picked up a skewer of grilled squid and took a gentle bite, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly. As he slowly savored the food, feeling the gentle sea breeze, listening to the sound of waves hitting the rocks, and watching the bright lights and beautiful seascape outside, he felt incredibly content. This was the most relaxed and happy moment he had experienced in a long time.

He picked up his phone, raised it, and took a few photos of the night view by the sea and the food on the table. His fingertips slid quickly across the screen as he sent them to Zhang Hongyuan, Lin Wei, and Zhao Yu to share his happiness and let them know he was safe.

He secretly hoped in his heart that the project would continue to progress steadily, that all the brothers on the team would be safe and well, and that such happy times could continue.

Just as he was immersed in this leisure and contentment, slowly savoring his food, a familiar voice suddenly came from behind him, carrying a hint of surprise and uncertainty: "Engineer Mu? Is that really you? Did I see that right?"

Mu Li froze for a moment, his hand holding the skewer pausing slightly. He slowly turned around and looked in the direction of the voice, only to see a man in casual clothes wearing glasses standing behind him, a look of surprised delight on his face, his eyes full of disbelief.

This man was none other than his college classmate—Zhou Ming.

Like him, Zhou Ming had also majored in nuclear engineering. Back in college, they had a pretty good relationship, often discussing studies and going to the library together. After graduation, Zhou Ming went to work at another energy company, and the two gradually lost contact. Who would have thought they would meet unexpectedly in this remote seaside town?

A surge of surprise and warmth instantly welled up in his heart; this sudden reunion added an unexpected touch of beauty to this trip.

"Zhou Ming? Is it really you?" Mu Li was also very surprised, a delighted smile appearing on his face. He quickly stood up and waved at Zhou Ming. "Why are you here too? I can't believe I'd run into you here!"

"I came here to travel and relax," Zhou Ming said, walking forward with a smile, the surprise on his face still not fading. He looked Mu Li up and down and said with a smile, "Work has been too busy lately, and the pressure is high, so I thought I'd come out to clear my mind. I didn't expect it to be such a coincidence to run into you. Are you here for a vacation too?"

"Yeah," Mu Li nodded, smiling and speaking in a relaxed tone. He gestured for Zhou Ming to sit down. "Things with the nuclear fusion power station project have temporarily come to an end, and those troubles have basically been resolved, so I thought I'd come out to relax and relieve the fatigue of the past few days. I didn't expect to run into you; it's such a surprise and such a pleasant one. It's been a long time. How have you been lately? Is work going smoothly?"

The joy in his heart was hard to hide. In such a strange little town, meeting an old classmate he hadn't seen in years—that sense of familiarity instantly dispelled all sense of estrangement.

[part:gemini-3.0-flash]

"Not bad," Zhou Ming said with a smile, walking over to sit at Mu Li's table. He raised his hand to wave at the barbecue stall owner, ordering a few skewers and a bottle of beer. "Just a bit busy with work. They're all routine energy projects, not very challenging—nothing like your nuclear fusion power station project. That's a key national project with heavy responsibilities and great challenges. By the way, Mu Li, I've heard in the industry recently that your nuclear fusion power station project seems to have run into some trouble. It was targeted by an organization called 'Dark Web Phantom,' and many dangerous things happened. Is that true? I've been worried about you, but I couldn't get in touch."

Mu Li hadn't expected Zhou Ming to know about this. He froze for a moment, then smiled and nodded with a relaxed tone: "We did run into some minor trouble. Those people were indeed cunning and fierce, creating many obstacles and bringing quite a bit of danger. But don't worry, it's mostly resolved now. The main leaders have been caught, and the remnants have basically been cleared out. The project can proceed smoothly now; there aren't any major issues left." He didn't elaborate on the thrilling details, not wanting to worry Zhou Ming or ruin the current leisurely atmosphere, and even less wanting this rare reunion to be disturbed by danger and conspiracies. A sense of relief fluttered in his heart; fortunately, everything was moving in a positive direction, allowing him to enjoy catching up with his old classmate in peace.

"That's good, then," Zhou Ming breathed a sigh of relief, a gratified smile appearing on his face as he reached out to lightly pat Mu Li's shoulder. "I've been worried about you. After all, the nuclear fusion power station project is so important, and you're the core of it. If anything happened to you, it would be a huge problem. Now that you're fine and the project is fine, I can rest easy."

"I know," Mu Li nodded, his tone gentle. "That's why I've been very careful. The brothers on the team have also worked very hard. We fought side-by-side and finally overcame those difficulties and solved those troubles." A surge of warmth rose in his heart. Having someone worry about him and the project made him even more determined to protect it. It made him feel that all the hard work and danger had been worth it.

Soon, the owner brought the skewers and beer Zhou Ming had ordered. The two of them opened their beers and lightly clinked their glasses. With a shout of "Cheers," they each took a gulp. The ice-cold beer slid down their throats, dispelling the slight chill of the night and causing the lingering sense of distance between them to vanish instantly. It was as if they were back in their university days—relaxed and carefree. For once, Mu Li felt no vigilance or wariness, only the ease and joy of reuniting with an old classmate. He picked up a skewer and savored it slowly, wanting only to enjoy this rare moment and temporarily forget all worries and responsibilities.

As they ate and drank, they chatted incessantly about their university days—pulling all-nighters to study, participating in experiments together, walking around campus, and dreaming about the future. Those innocent and beautiful times felt like they were just yesterday. They also talked about their current work and lives, the difficulties and rewards they had encountered, and their classmates and friends. They laughed and joked in a very harmonious atmosphere. Time passed quickly, and before they knew it, it was late at night. The people on the snack street thinned out, tourists left one after another, and the sound of the waves became clearer—gentle and pleasant. Mu Li's heart was full of warmth and comfort. This unexpected reunion made the trip more meaningful and allowed his nerves, which had been tense for days, to completely relax.

"It's getting late," Zhou Ming glanced at the time on his phone and stood up with a smile, his tone carrying a hint of reluctance. "Let's talk more another day. The guesthouse I'm staying at is nearby, not far from here. Let's add each other on WeChat and go out together tomorrow. I know a beautiful beach nearby that isn't crowded and has great views. We can walk around and have a good chat."

"Sure," Mu Li nodded, a smile on his face. "No problem. I didn't know where to go anyway. It'll be perfect with you leading the way." As he spoke, he took out his phone, opened WeChat, and added Zhou Ming as a friend. The two agreed to go for a walk by the sea and visit some scenic spots early tomorrow morning. His heart was full of anticipation for tomorrow's gathering and for finding more beauty and relaxation in this small seaside town.

After they said their goodbyes, Mu Li also stood up and walked slowly toward his guesthouse. Walking along the seaside path, the sea breeze brushed against his face with a slight chill. The ocean in the night was quiet and vast, with distant lights reflecting on the water in beautiful, shimmering ripples. Looking at the sea at night, he felt warm and content. He hadn't expected this long-awaited trip to not only relax his mind and relieve his fatigue but also lead to an unexpected reunion with an old classmate he hadn't seen in years. It was a wonderful surprise that made the journey even more meaningful. His inner vigilance still existed, but it was no longer the dominant theme. At this moment, he was simply enjoying the peace and beauty, cherishing this rare time of relaxation.

Back in his guesthouse room, Mu Li finished washing up and lay in bed. He turned off the lights, leaving only the gentle and soothing sound of the waves coming from outside the window. He reflected on everything that had happened today—from "playing the pig to eat the tiger" on the winding mountain road before leaving to subdue two remnants of the "Dark Web Phantom," to the attack by Gao Kun on the high-speed train where he easily defeated his opponent again, to arriving at Qinglan Bay and meeting his old classmate Zhou Ming. The day had been full and full of surprises—thrills, fatigue, surprises, and warmth. He silently sorted through it all in his mind. After the danger came the relief of eliminating threats; amidst the fatigue was rare relaxation; and within the surprises was the joy of reunion. This day had made him feel so many emotions and helped him understand more clearly that protection and relaxation were never opposites. Only by protecting everything around him could he better enjoy this peace and beauty.

He knew that the rest of his trip might hold more surprises, or perhaps some unexpected minor troubles. The remnants of the "Dark Web Phantom" might not have been completely eradicated; no one knew if there were other stragglers lurking in the shadows, waiting for a chance to strike back. However, he wasn't afraid. After experiencing so many dangers and challenges, he had already become stronger, more composed, and more confident in handling any emergency. His determination never wavered; no matter what trouble he encountered, he would deal with it calmly, thoroughly eliminate the hidden dangers, and protect himself, the project, and this rare peace and beauty.

For now, he just wanted to temporarily set aside all worries and concerns, let down his guard, and fully enjoy this long-awaited trip. He wanted to feel the vastness and gentleness of the sea, experience the beauty and comfort of life, and let his weary body and mind be completely relaxed and healed. When he returned from his travels, he would join Zhang Hongyuan, Lin Wei, and the others to go all out and thoroughly eliminate all remaining forces of the "Dark Web Phantom." He would protect the nuclear fusion power station project, protect his partners, and stay true to his original intentions and mission. He would not fail the country's trust, everyone's confidence, or his own hard work and persistence during this time.

Mu Li closed his eyes, listening to the gentle sound of the waves outside the window. His heart was at peace, free from tension and worry, filled only with contentment and anticipation. That night, he slept soundly, undisturbed by anything. In his dreams, there was still the azure sea, the white sandy beach, and that long-lost peace and beauty. The beautiful expectations in his heart surged gently like the waves. He looked forward to the continuation of his trip, the complete elimination of hidden dangers, the smooth progress of the project, and most of all, for all good things to arrive as scheduled.