48: Chapter 48 The Aftermath of Breaking the Code! Reunion in an Old Place Rekindles Memories, While a Secret Sentinel Lurks, Danger Lurks (2)

"Mu Li! Over here! This way!" Chen Feng's voice pierced through the bustling crowd, carrying the joy and sincerity of a reunion.

The two quickly approached each other and shared a firm hug, patting each other on the back. The warmth from their palms dispelled a bit of the unfamiliarity and travel fatigue, while also awakening pure memories of their youth. Chen Feng naturally took his backpack and teased him familiarly, "Not bad, Mu Li! You're now the head of a national project. I heard that Nuclear Fusion Power Station you're working on even got a special report on CCTV? Looks like those nights you spent pulling all-nighters in the lab weren't in vain. All of us brothers are proud of you!"

Mu Li smiled and avoided the core of the topic, his tone relaxed. "Stop teasing me. It's all thanks to the team; I just did what I was supposed to do. Where are Zhao Lei and Sun Hao?" He deliberately shifted the conversation, not wanting the joy of the reunion to be tainted by the shadows of work, and even less wanting his brothers to be dragged into the dangers of the 'Dark Web Phantom'. They were the purest connections to his youth. He was fighting with all his might to protect the project not just out of responsibility, but also to safeguard this peaceful reunion. For a moment, he just wanted to be that pure student again, pulling all-nighters and laughing with his brothers, keeping all the danger and maneuvering at bay.

"The two of them are already waiting at the old restaurant by the school gate. They specifically asked the owner to make your favorite braised pork ribs and Kung Pao chicken using the recipe from ten years ago, and they even prepared the orange soda we used to drink back then." Chen Feng hooked an arm around his shoulder as they walked out, his tone full of nostalgia. "Let's take a walk around campus first. We'll check out our old Room 302 and that dilapidated basketball court before we meet up. It's a good chance to show you the changes at our alma mater; the playground has been upgraded to synthetic tracks. It's much better than in our day."

Just as they stepped out of the high-speed rail station's ticket gates, the danger warning device in Mu Li's pocket suddenly vibrated slightly. The subtle sensation, like an ant crawling across his skin, instantly tightened his nerves. This was equipment he had specifically asked the technical department to upgrade before he left; it could precisely track the movements of suspicious personnel and abnormal electronic signals within 500 meters. With its extremely high sensitivity, it was his personal 'safety alarm'. Without showing any emotion, he slowed his pace, his gaze seemingly sweeping the surroundings at random before finally locking onto a corner of the crowd. A man in a black jacket with his hat pulled very low was pretending to look down at his phone, but the corners of his eyes frequently flicked toward Mu Li. His posture was stiff, and his hands were shoved deep into his pockets, making him look completely out of place among the hurried, relaxed travelers around him. He was clearly trying to hide his movements, and his target was Mu Li.

"Is it someone from the 'Dark Web Phantom'? Or one of Wang Qiang's accomplices?" Alarm bells rang in Mu Li's heart, and a chill ran down his back. There was still no lead on Wang Qiang's arrest, yet the opposition had already followed him to Jing City. Clearly, they had planned this well in advance, which made him suspect whether his itinerary had been leaked long ago. On the surface, he remained calm, a faint smile still on his lips, but he quietly leaned closer to Chen Feng and spoke in a voice only the two of them could hear: "Let's walk a bit faster. I have something urgent; I want to see the brothers sooner."

Chen Feng didn't notice anything unusual and replied with a smile, "Sure thing! It's the perfect time to show you our old broken playground. It's all synthetic tracks now. And that canteen we used to go to—it's actually still open! The owner probably still remembers you as the 'instant noodle tycoon'!"

As the two walked side-by-side toward the subway entrance, Mu Li deliberately quickened his pace while keeping the man in black locked in his peripheral vision. Sure enough, the man followed, maintaining a distance of about twenty meters—not too far, not too close, like a piece of stubborn plaster. The scrutinizing gaze was clearly felt even through the crowd. Mu Li's palms sweated slightly, and his fingertips unconsciously clenched. He calculated silently: the opponent was only tracking and testing for now and wouldn't take drastic action yet, but he had to lose him as soon as possible. He couldn't let this person interfere with the gathering, and he certainly couldn't bring danger to his brothers.

"It seems the 'Dark Web Phantom' is determined not to let me have any peace during this trip to Jing City," he thought to himself. Taking advantage of the moment Chen Feng looked down to scan his subway ticket, Mu Li quietly took out his phone and opened an encrypted communication app. His fingertips flew across the screen as he sent a message to his contact at the Jingshi Public Security Bureau, attaching his precise location and a description of the suspicious person: "South Station exit, male in black, approx. 1.75m tall, wearing a black baseball cap and a black windbreaker, suspected of tailing me, requesting backup." After the message sent successfully, he quickly put his phone away, his expression returning to normal as if he had just sent a common greeting.

On the subway, the carriage was crowded and noisy. Chen Feng talked excitedly about their classmates' recent situations, his words flying with emotion. "Zhao Lei is now working at the CAS Institute of New Energy Materials. He's still the same, completely devoted to his experiments. I heard he's almost thirty and still hasn't found a girlfriend; his mom is going crazy with worry, asking everyone to introduce someone to him. And Sun Hao—you know him, he loved messing around with the Student Union back in college. Now he's opened a cultural media company and is making a fortune. He's the one who initiated and sponsored this reunion, even covering the venue and meal costs. Everyone is really looking forward to seeing you. They've been curious about the daily life of a 'Great Country Artisan' for a long time and want to hear the stories of your nuclear fusion power station project. That's the pride of our class!"

Mu Li smiled and chimed in, nodding from time to time with genuine nostalgia in his eyes, but his mind remained suspended as he kept a firm eye on the subway doors, fearing the man in black would follow. He knew that with the Public Security General Administration involved, the danger would likely be neutralized, but as long as the opponent remained in the shadows, he couldn't relax in the slightest. He let out a soft breath, trying to suppress his anxiety. At this moment, he just wanted to temporarily set aside the burden of work, catch up with his brothers, and relive those carefree days of youth.

Arriving at the gates of his alma mater, Mu Li immediately saw the familiar school gate and the two stone lions standing there. Ten years had passed, and the lions' manes had been weathered by wind and rain, their corners showing some wear, yet they still exuded the same majesty as before. The overall layout of the school hadn't changed much. The tree-lined paths were still lush, with sunlight filtering through layers of leaves to cast mottled shadows on the ground. The air was filled with the fresh scent of grass and soil, mixed with a faint aroma of books, instantly pulling him back to those passionate and pure college days.

Just as he and Chen Feng entered the campus, they saw Zhao Lei and Sun Hao waiting by the nearby basketball court. Zhao Lei was still wearing those black-rimmed glasses, the lenses clean and bright. He wore a faded plaid shirt and held a thick professional book, with a pen between his fingers as he occasionally looked down to make notes, his eyes carrying the unique calmness of an academic researcher. Sun Hao was the complete opposite, wearing a well-tailored suit with his hair slicked back and a limited-edition luxury watch on his wrist. Every movement exuded capability and success; he clearly looked like someone who was doing very well for himself.

"Mu Li!" The two shouted in unison and walked quickly to meet them. The four men hugged tightly, patting each other's backs with hearty and sincere laughter, dispelling most of the gloom and vigilance in Mu Li's heart.

"Long time no see!" A warm current surged through Mu Li's heart. The high pressure and tension of the past few days loosened slightly at this moment. He temporarily let down his guard and chatted about college memories with his arms around his brothers' shoulders. The four walked side-by-side down the tree-lined path, reminiscing about the persistence of pulling all-nighters in the lab for a single piece of data, the passion of grabbing rebounds and sweating on the basketball court, the scramble for the last portion of sweet and sour pork in the cafeteria, and the dreams they discussed in the dorm after lights out. Their constant laughter drew frequent glances from passing underclassmen, whose eyes were full of envy.

Just then, the danger warning device in Mu Li's pocket vibrated again, more strongly than before, like an urgent warning. The vibration traveled through his skin to the depths of his heart. His heart sank instantly. He swept his gaze across the surroundings without showing any emotion, and sure enough, under the shade of a camphor tree not far away, he saw that familiar black figure. The man in black had actually followed them onto campus and was hiding behind a thick tree trunk, holding a telephoto camera aimed in their direction. The reflection from the lens was particularly piercing in the sunlight. He was clearly taking secret photos, attempting to record their movements.

"I can't let him affect the gathering, and I certainly can't let the brothers notice anything unusual and worry," Mu Li decided quickly. He said to Chen Feng nonchalantly, "I'm going to the restroom. You guys go to the old restaurant first; I'll be there shortly. Don't wait for me, go ahead and order. The food won't taste good if it gets cold."

"Alright, we'll wait for you in the private room at the old place—the same one where we had our graduation dinner! We specifically booked it to get that old feeling back!" Chen Feng and the others didn't think much of it. With their arms around each other, they walked straight toward the restaurant by the school gate, not forgetting to look back and remind him, "Hurry up, don't dawdle!"

[part:gemini-3.1-flash-lite]

Mu Li turned and walked toward the restroom. His pace appeared slow and leisurely, but in reality, he was quickly observing the terrain, finally stopping at a corner hidden from view and shielded by low walls on both sides.

He took out his phone and sent a message to his contact at the Public Security General Administration: "Suspicious individual taking photos at the corner of Camphor Road on campus, requesting immediate support."

After sending the message, he leaned against the cold wall, turning slightly to keep his eyes fixed on the man in black. His fingers clenched unconsciously until his knuckles turned white, and his aura instantly sharpened, ready to handle any sudden situation.

In less than two minutes, two plainclothes patrol officers wearing school uniforms and masks emerged from the nearby teaching building. Pretending to be students studying in the morning, they used books to shield their figures and walked lightly toward the camphor tree, forming a pincer movement from the left and right. Their movements were stealthy and professional, attracting no attention from those around them.

Mu Li felt a slight sense of relief, knowing the danger would soon be neutralized.

Soon, the man in black followed. Just as he reached the corner and before he could raise his camera to adjust the angle, he was swiftly grabbed by the shoulders by the two plainclothes officers from either side. They pinned his hands behind his back and pressed him firmly against the wall with crisp, efficient movements, giving him no opportunity to resist.

Taken by surprise, the man let out a muffled grunt, and the camera in his hand hit the ground with a "clatter," its lens cracking.

"Don't move! Get down!" The patrol officer's voice was low and powerful, carrying an irresistible authority that instantly shattered the campus tranquility, causing several students nearby to look over curiously.

Mu Li stepped forward and looked at the man pressed to the ground, his face against the cool floor tiles. His eyes were cold, devoid of any warmth, as he asked in a chilling voice: "Who sent you? What is your objective? How long have you been following me?"

His tone carried suppressed anger. The other party had not only followed him but had tracked him into this campus filled with youthful memories, attempting to interfere with his reunion with his brothers—this had crossed his bottom line.

The man kept his head down, his cap brim obscuring most of his face. His mouth was pursed tightly, his jaw locked, and he said nothing, only emitting a muffled grunt from his throat. His eyes were full of resistance and malice; clearly, he was well-prepared, intending to resist to the end and refusing to leak any information.

The patrol officer took out handcuffs to secure him, then skillfully searched his pockets, retrieving a camera and an encrypted mobile phone. After quickly powering them off, he placed them into an evidence bag for safekeeping.

One officer patted Mu Li on the shoulder, his tone firm: "Mr. Mu, we will take him back to the bureau for detailed interrogation, use technical means to crack his devices, and extract the information inside. We will notify you as soon as there are results. Rest assured, we have already deployed security forces around the restaurant where you are meeting and your hotel, protecting your safety in every aspect and ensuring no suspicious individuals can get near."

"Thank you for your hard work." Mu Li nodded in gratitude. Watching the back of the man being escorted away by the patrol officers, the stone in his heart dropped slightly, but he did not fully relax.

He knew clearly that this was just a small pawn sent by the "Dark Web Phantom," and the core forces behind it had yet to surface. This contest regarding technology and security was far from over.

When he arrived at the old restaurant, Chen Feng and the other two had already ordered a table full of dishes. Besides braised pork ribs and kung pao chicken, there were also shredded pork with garlic sauce and sweet and sour pork tenderloin—all dishes they often ordered back in university, bright in color and fragrant.

On the table sat several glass bottles of orange soda, the familiar patterns printed on the bottles, with fine beads of condensation clinging to the glass—it was full of memories of youth.

"Why did you take so long? Did you get lost? Although our school has added a few buildings over the years, the general layout hasn't changed!" Sun Hao joked with a smile, pouring a glass of bubbling orange soda for Mu Li and pushing it in front of him. The water droplets on the glass wet the tabletop. "Come on, have a drink first to quench your thirst! It's still the taste from back then; I specifically asked someone to find this old brand—you can't buy it just anywhere!"

"Ran into a small hiccup, but it's been resolved." Mu Li didn't mention the follower, not wanting this warm gathering to be overshadowed by danger. He picked up his glass, a look of relief on his face, and clinked it gently against the other three. The glasses made a crisp sound as they collided. "Come on, let's drink and talk about our experiences over the years. No work talk today, just catching up!"

Amidst the clinking of glasses, the four of them sat together, chatting about their respective work and lives. The atmosphere was warm and lively.

Mu Li briefly introduced the progress of the nuclear fusion power station project, saying only, "The technology has entered the trial operation phase and can provide stable, clean energy for residents and businesses, which is of great significance to national energy security." As for the thrilling intrusions, sabotage, and life-and-death struggles, he said nothing.

He didn't want his brothers to worry about him, nor did he want to drag them into this dangerous whirlpool.

"You really are the pride of our class!" Zhao Lei raised his glass, his eyes slightly reddened, his tone full of admiration. "Doing such a huge project for the country and solving the energy crisis—from now on, our country won't have to rely on anyone else for its energy needs!"

"It's all thanks to the team; I just did what I had to do." Mu Li responded modestly, though a wave of bitterness welled up inside him. He thought of his team members fighting side-by-side on the project, the days of staying up late on guard and struggling in life-and-death battles against Overseas Forces, and he also thought of the "Dark Web Phantom" still lurking and watching like a tiger. The burden on his shoulders felt heavy.

He raised his glass in gesture, his tone sincere: "When the project officially goes into production, I will definitely invite you to visit the site, see our own nuclear fusion reactor, and let you see our achievements with your own eyes."

After the dinner, the four of them strolled through the campus together. The night grew deeper, and the streetlights lit up with a soft, warm yellow glow, illuminating the familiar dormitories and teaching buildings. The evening breeze, carrying the scent of grass, blew past, whisking away the day's heat and evoking endless emotions.

Occasionally, students returning late hurried past, chatting and laughing. The aura of youth rushed toward them, adding a touch of melancholy at how things had changed.

"I really wish I could go back to university days. Life was so good back then—no so many worries, no need to rush around for work, no need to bear so much pressure. Every day, I only thought about experiments, exams, and my brothers." Mu Li gazed at the dormitory windows, his eyes full of nostalgia, his tone carrying a trace of imperceptible fatigue.

The high-pressure work and the encroaching dangers of this period made him particularly yearn for the purity and stability of those years.

"Yeah, it's a pity that time never returns." Chen Feng patted his shoulder, his tone carrying a hint of wistfulness. "But it doesn't matter. We can get together more often in the future, once every year, just like today—setting aside all our worries and just being the people we were back then."

Upon returning to the booked hotel, Mu Li had just finished showering, his hair still wet, when his phone received an encrypted message from the Jingshi Public Security Bureau: The captured follower was named Wang Qiang, the very suspect who had previously loosened the scaffolding connectors in an attempt to sabotage the project's construction. According to preliminary interrogation, he confessed to being instructed by the "Dark Web Phantom" to follow Mu Li, with the objective of finding an opportune moment to retaliate and seizing the chance to steal core project information. He also revealed the names of several accomplices, and arrest operations were already underway.

"It really was them." Mu Li understood clearly, his eyes instantly becoming grave.

The capture of Wang Qiang, while rooting out a small stronghold, also meant that the "Dark Web Phantom" would not give up and might take even more frantic actions later.

He immediately sent an encrypted message to Zhang Hongyuan: "Wang Qiang has been captured and confirmed as an offline operative for the 'Dark Web Phantom.' Future interrogations should focus on breaking through for information on core organization members and funding sources. The project site must strengthen security, especially in the core equipment areas and data centers. Increase patrol personnel, encrypt all data transmissions, and activate the highest-level protection plan. We must not give the other side any opportunity."

After freshening up, Mu Li lay on the bed, and exhaustion instantly washed over him, to the point where he barely had the strength to lift his hand.

He tried to call the system again, his voice tinged with a hint of anticipation: "System, has the energy reserve increased?"

[Current energy reserve is 3.6%, low-power mode continues. Detected host has left high-intensity work environment, vital signs are stable, energy recovery efficiency increased by 8%. It is recommended to maintain a regular routine and reduce mental tension to accelerate energy recovery.]

The mechanical voice remained faint, but Mu Li saw hope.

An energy reserve of 3.6%, while still low, was at least steadily recovering.

He closed his eyes, thinking no more, letting the exhaustion wash over him—for tomorrow's class reunion, he wanted to temporarily let down all his guard, shed all his burdens, and properly relive those carefree days of youth.

As for the threat of the "Dark Web Phantom," he already had a contingency plan, and he believed that under the strict protection of the security department and the security team, he would certainly be able to get through this trip to Jing City smoothly.

Yet he knew clearly in his heart that this stability was ultimately temporary; upon returning to the project site, what awaited him would be even more arduous challenges and struggles.