244: Chapter 243 Returning to Work Warms Hearts! Love Blossoms Day and Night, Together They Plan Their Wedding (1)

More than two months had passed since the conclusion of the Antarctic crisis, and the Xuanguang Base had long since shed its former tension and solemnity, regaining its orderly bustle. The morning sun streamed through the office building's floor-to-ceiling windows, gently blanketing the floor in soft, dappled patterns of light. The air was filled with the faint scent of Xuanguang Energy, mixed with the refreshing fragrance of greenery from outside, making it exceptionally invigorating. Mu Li stood by the window, his posture as upright as ever. The old injury on his ankle had completely healed, and the gravity of the past had faded, replaced by a gentle warmth in his eyes. He watched the staff hurrying to and fro within the base, taking in the familiar equipment and scenes. A long-lost sense of belonging surged in his heart—this was not just a battlefield where he upheld his mission, but the harbor where his soul found peace. Today was his first official day back at work.

"Engineer Mu, you're finally back!" The office door was pushed open gently, and the Technical Team Leader walked in quickly, a genuine and joyful smile on his face. He held a stack of neatly organized folders in his hands. "While we kept an eye on things at the base during this period, it felt like we were missing our backbone. We had to second-guess everything we did. Now that you're back, our hearts are completely at ease."

Mu Li turned around, a faint and warm smile playing on his lips. He reached out and patted the man's shoulder with just the right amount of force, a gesture of long-held familiarity. "You've all worked hard during this time. I've heard everything; after the crisis, everyone not only repaired the equipment but also upgraded the defenses. You did a very good job." He walked over to his desk and sat down, his gaze sweeping across the surface. The clean and tidy desk was already neatly arranged with summary reports of recent base operations, xuanguang equipment performance data, and even a cup of warm tea—clearly prepared in advance by his assistant. Every small detail was full of warmth. "First, tell me about the follow-up repairs of the damaged xuanguang equipment worldwide, as well as the specifics of the protection system upgrades."

The Technical Team Leader opened the folder in his hand and reported in a steady, meticulous tone, "Engineer Mu, rest assured. All damaged Xuanguang Energy stations and power supply equipment have undergone full repairs. After more than twenty rounds of repeated debugging, the operating parameters are all stable within normal thresholds without any abnormal fluctuations. Additionally, based on the code logic and attack characteristics used by the Aurora Alliance this time, we have performed a comprehensive upgrade on the security protection systems of all xuanguang equipment globally. We've added three new emergency Defense Barriers and optimized the response speed of the anti-attack programs. Even if we encounter an attack of the same intensity again, it will hold out longer, buying us enough time to respond."

Mu Li nodded slightly, a look of approval in his eyes. He tapped his fingertips gently on the desk and said in a deep voice, "Well done. Security and protection are always the top priority; we cannot afford the slightest lapse. By the way, have all the research materials left behind by Professor Zhang been properly organized and sealed?"

At the mention of Professor Zhang, the Technical Team Leader's expression darkened slightly, and his tone became more solemn. "Everything has been organized. We assembled three core technical personnel to conduct a comprehensive review of all his research materials. We found that most of them were wild concepts regarding the activation of the ancient energy source, as well as some malicious modification plans for Xuanguang Technology. If these were leaked, the consequences would be unimaginable. We have already applied the highest level of encryption to these materials and sealed them in the base's dedicated high-security warehouse. We've also arranged for two elite security personnel to guard them 24 hours a day. There will absolutely be no leaks."

"Good, that was handled appropriately," Mu Li's tone remained steady. "In the future, those dangerous research materials must have their sealed status checked regularly every month, and detailed records must be kept. We absolutely cannot allow anyone to use them to harm our Home or Xuanguang Technology."

"Understood! We have already established a detailed inspection process and will strictly enforce it," the Technical Team Leader responded solemnly.

As they were speaking, the office door was pushed open again. The faint sound of a cane tapping the floor preceded Zhao Gang as he walked in, accompanied by several members of the Security Team. Zhao Gang's shoulder injury was recovering well; although he still needed the aid of a cane to walk, he was in excellent spirits. A bright smile hung on his face, showing no trace of his former exhaustion.

"Engineer Mu, welcome back to the team!" Zhao Gang said with a smile, his voice full of joy. Though his steps were slow, they possessed a certain briskness. "The few of us came specifically to see you and, while we're at it, report on the recent security work—and maybe catch some of your good luck."

Mu Li quickly stood up and gestured for them to sit, then pressed the intercom to ask his assistant to bring in a few cups of hot tea. "Zhao Gang, how is your injury? How much longer does the doctor say you need to recover before you can fully heal and ditch the cane?"

"Much better!" Zhao Gang moved his injured shoulder, a confident smile appearing on his face. "The doctor said if I rest for another month, I can throw away the cane and walk normally, and even rejoin the front-line security work. Don't worry, even while I haven't been on the front lines, the security work hasn't slackened. I've been following up remotely every day. I've personally verified every sentry post and every piece of monitoring equipment in the base."

Subsequently, Zhao Gang gave a detailed report on the recent security work: After the Global Energy Summit ended, they immediately redeployed security forces around the Convention Center and the Xuanguang Base. They increased the density of the perimeter sentry posts and tightened the screening of personnel and vehicles entering and exiting, strictly prohibiting unauthorized persons from approaching the Core Area. Regarding the remaining members of the Aurora Alliance, they collaborated with international law enforcement agencies to launch a comprehensive manhunt; the remnants have basically been purged, with no one left at large. At the same time, they also performed an intelligent upgrade on the base's internal security system, adding smart surveillance, body-sensor warnings, and other equipment, achieving all-around, zero-blind-spot monitoring of the base to ensure the absolute safety of the facility and its core technology.

Mu Li listened intently, nodding in response from time to time and occasionally offering a few supplementary suggestions with a tone of full approval. Once Zhao Gang finished his report, Mu Li's lips curved upward as he said softly, "The security work has been very thorough; you've all worked hard. We must continue to maintain high vigilance, especially while we are preparing for the wedding. There must be no lapses, and we cannot give those with ulterior motives any opportunity to strike."

"Wedding?" Zhao Gang's eyes lit up, and he instantly became energized. He said with a laugh, "Engineer Mu, does this mean things are finally coming together for you and Dr. Xia? That's fantastic! Don't worry, the security during the wedding is on me. Even if I haven't fully recovered, I will personally oversee the deployment to ensure everything is foolproof. I won't let anyone disturb your wedding!"

The other members of the Security Team also laughed and offered their congratulations, their tones sincere and enthusiastic. The atmosphere in the office instantly became relaxed and pleasant, shedding the seriousness of work for a touch of warm, human connection. Mu Li smiled and waved his hand, his tone gentle: "The specific date for the wedding hasn't been set yet. Once it's confirmed, I'll notify everyone immediately. When the time comes to prepare for the wedding, I'll need everyone to lend a hand."

"No problem! Just say the word, Engineer Mu, and we'll go through fire and water for you!" everyone said in unison, their faces filled with sincere smiles.

After chatting for a while about work details and joking a bit about the wedding, Zhao Gang and the others tactfully took their leave. They urged Mu Li not to overwork himself since he had just returned to his post, and to take his time getting familiar with the work again, telling him to reach out whenever he needed anything. Silence returned to the office. Mu Li opened the summary report on his desk, his fingertips brushing over the familiar text and data. Although he had been away from his post for over two months, picking up these materials again felt natural, with no sense of being out of practice. However, as he read, his thoughts involuntarily drifted to Xia Wan—at this time, she should be busy at the hospital, right? He wondered if she had managed to eat breakfast this morning, or if she was neglecting her rest because she was too busy with work.

Mu Li put down the report and took out his phone. His fingertips tapped gently on the screen as he composed a message: "Busy? Remember to eat breakfast on time. Don't overwork yourself, and take care of yourself." Not long after the message was sent, the phone vibrated. Xia Wan's reply came quickly, her words full of tenderness: "Just finished rounds and heading to the staff cafeteria for breakfast. What about you? Are you getting used to being back at the base? Don't rush your work; adapt slowly and don't tire yourself out."

Seeing Xia Wan's gentle reminders, a surge of warmth filled Mu Li's heart, like a warm current flowing through his soul, dispelling all his fatigue. He quickly replied: "Don't worry, I'm fine. Everyone is taking good care of me. I'll pick you up at the hospital tonight. We'll go to the market together, and I'll cook dinner for you at Home."

"Okay!" Xia Wan's reply carried obvious joy, accompanied by a cute smiley face emoji. "I haven't had your sweet and sour pork ribs in so long. Just thinking about it makes my mouth water."

Setting down his phone, Mu Li refocused on his work, a faint smile remaining on his face. After a busy morning, he had essentially clarified the key priorities for the near future and gained a comprehensive understanding of the base's various situations. He also chaired a brief coordination meeting to define the subsequent tasks for each team. At noon, instead of eating at the base's staff cafeteria, he specifically drove to the hospital where Xia Wan worked—he wanted to have lunch with her and see her with his own eyes to confirm she was doing well.

Xia Wan was eating lunch in the hospital's staff cafeteria. Her simple white nurse's uniform made her complexion look even more gentle. Her long eyelashes fluttered slightly as she focused on the food on her plate. When she looked up and saw Mu Li walking in, a look of surprise and joy immediately appeared on her face. Her eyes lit up instantly, and she quickly put down her chopsticks, waving at him: "Mu Li, what are you doing here?"

Mu Li walked over quickly and sat down across from her, his gentle gaze resting on her as he said with a smile, "I missed you, so I came to see you and have lunch with you. What are you eating? It looks pretty good."

"Just some Home-style dishes: tomato and egg stir-fry, sautéed seasonal vegetables, and a bowl of pork rib soup. They're the cafeteria's specialties." Xia Wan pointed to the food on her tray, her tone a bit excited. "Have you eaten yet? If not, I'll have the cafeteria auntie get you a portion. The taste is actually quite good."

"I haven't eaten yet. It's perfect to eat with you," Mu Li said, his eyes so tender they seemed they could melt into water.

Xia Wan immediately stood up and hurried to the service window. She soon returned carrying a portion identical to hers, carefully placing it in front of Mu Li. She even thoughtfully set out his chopsticks for him. "Hurry and eat, or it'll get cold in a bit."

The two sat across from each other, eating and chatting in a warm and cozy atmosphere. The medical staff around them all knew Xia Wan and were aware of her story with Mu Li. Seeing them so close, many cast kind glances their way, and some even quietly smiled and nodded at them. Xia Wan's cheeks turned slightly red, but she didn't shy away. Instead, she proactively placed a piece of pork rib into Mu Li's bowl and said softly, "Eat more to nourish your body. You've just returned to work; it must be very tiring."

"Okay." Mu Li ate the rib, his heart full of happiness. He also placed a portion of green vegetables into Xia Wan's bowl, his tone gentle: "You should eat more too. Don't always be so busy taking care of patients that you neglect your own health. It would worry me."

After lunch, Mu Li walked Xia Wan back to her department. With about fifteen minutes left before the afternoon shift began, the two sat down in the department's break area to chat. Sunlight streamed through the break area's window, falling upon them with a comforting warmth.

"How was your first day back at work? Do you feel tired? Is there anything you're not used to?" Xia Wan asked with concern, reaching out to gently brush a speck of dust off Mu Li's shoulder, her movements natural and tender.

"It's fine. It's just that I haven't sat and handled work for a long time, so my shoulders are a little stiff. I'll get used to it slowly," Mu Li said with a smile as he moved his shoulders. "By the way, tonight let's make your favorite sweet and sour pork ribs and steamed fish. We'll also stir-fry two vegetable dishes you like. How does that sound?"

"Yes, yes!" Xia Wan clapped her hands happily, her eyes full of anticipation. "I haven't had your sweet and sour pork ribs in so long. The last time was before the crisis. Just thinking about it makes me nostalgic."

Mu Li smiled and reached out to ruffle her hair, his tone doting. "Then I'll make extra tonight so you can eat your fill until you're satisfied."

They chatted a bit more about mundane things. Seeing that it was almost time for her shift, Xia Wan had to start preparing for her afternoon work. Mu Li stood up to leave, gave her a gentle hug, and said softly, "Don't work too hard. Call me anytime if something comes up. I'll come find you as soon as I'm finished."

"Mm, I know. Be careful on the road." Xia Wan stood on her tiptoes and gave him a light kiss on the cheek. Her face instantly turned beet red as she turned and hurried toward the ward area.

Mu Li watched her shy retreating figure, the smile on his face growing even more tender. Only after her figure disappeared at the end of the corridor did he turn to leave the hospital and return to the Xuanguang Base. The afternoon work remained busy. Mu Li chaired a joint meeting between the Technical Team and the Security Team, making detailed deployments and arrangements for future work, with a heavy emphasis on the daily maintenance of xuanguang equipment and the base's security vigilance. After the meeting, he communicated individually with several core members regarding work details, resolving a few minor issues that had arisen recently to ensure all tasks could proceed smoothly.

As evening approached and the sun began to set, the golden afterglow bathed the buildings of the Xuanguang Base, coating them in a warm halo. Mu Li left work on time, packed his things, and drove to the hospital to pick up Xia Wan. Xia Wan was already waiting for him at the hospital entrance. She had changed out of her nurse's uniform into simple casual wear, her long hair draped loosely over her shoulders. A hint of fatigue touched her face, yet it could not hide her refined beauty. Seeing Mu Li's car, she immediately broke into a gentle smile.