50: Chapter 50 A Joyful Gathering Reminisces About Bygone Days! Old Friends Discuss Hidden Worries, Clues to Power Begin to Emerge (2)

Zhou Ming set down his glass, seemingly casually twirling it in his hand. His eyes inadvertently swept over Mu Li's expression as he asked in a conversational tone, "Mu Li, I heard your project uses the latest Intelligent Operation and Scheduling System, which is highly technical and even leads the way internationally. I wonder what the core technical parameters of this system are? Are there any plans for subsequent commercialization? If there's an opportunity, our company would like to cooperate with you."

The alarm in Mu Li's heart instantly spiked to its peak. Zhou Ming's question hit the core secrets of the project with such precision that it couldn't be explained away as simple curiosity. He lowered his eyes without a word, masking the sharpness within them, and replied in a flat but firm tone, "The technical details and commercial plans of the project are sensitive information and are not convenient to disclose. Please understand; this is a matter of work discipline that I cannot violate."

"Oh, I see. My apologies for being so abrupt." Zhou Ming smiled, masking a flash of displeasure in his eyes, his tone remaining gentle. "I was just curious, since this project is so significant, and I wanted to learn more. By the way, I heard you ran into some minor trouble when you came to Jing City? Like being followed?"

Mu Li's face darkened instantly, and the aura around him turned cold. He had only told Zhang Hongyuan and the staff at the Jing City Public Security Bureau about being followed, and it had been kept strictly confidential. How did Zhou Ming know? Could he be related to the forces behind Wang Qiang? Was he one of the Dark Web Phantom's people, or did he have some other scheme? A series of questions quickly surfaced in his mind, causing his nerves to tighten instantly.

"How do you know about that?" Mu Li's tone carried a hint of coldness as his sharp gaze fixed on Zhou Ming, trying to find a single flaw in his expression.

Zhou Ming seemed not to notice Mu Li's abnormality and continued to smile, saying, "I just happened to hear it from a friend. The circles in Jing City are only so big; a small matter spreads quickly. Don't worry, I know some people in Jing City and have a fairly wide network. If you need any help, just say the word, and I'll do my best to pull some strings for you."

"No need, thank you," Mu Li said coldly, the distance in his tone obvious. "I have protection from the staff of the Jing City Public Security Bureau here, and the security measures are well in place. There won't be any problems. I won't trouble you."

"That's good, that's good." Zhou Ming nodded and stood up tactfully, his face still wearing a formulaic smile. "I won't interrupt your chat with our classmates any longer. I'll head over there to see the others. Let's talk again when we have time." Having said that, he turned and left, walking to a nearby table to exchange pleasantries with other classmates, though his eyes occasionally glanced in Mu Li's direction.

Mu Li watched Zhou Ming's departing back, his heart full of doubt and vigilance. He felt that Zhou Ming's appearance and questioning were far too deliberate and purposeful, likely having a thousand and one connections to the forces behind Wang Qiang. He discreetly picked up his phone, his fingertips tapping quickly on the screen as he sent an encrypted message to Zhang Hongyuan: "Help me check Zhou Ming's background. He is a college classmate of mine, currently working for an Energy Investment Company. He just took the initiative to talk to me, asking about core project secrets and knowing about me being followed. His behavior is highly suspicious. Focus on checking his company's background and his interpersonal relationships."

After the message was successfully sent, Mu Li quickly put his phone away and took a sip of water from the glass on the table, trying to mask his unease. Within a few minutes, Zhang Hongyuan replied: "Engineer Mu, I'll check immediately. I'm contacting the Technical Department and Intelligence Department to verify simultaneously and will give you feedback as soon as possible. You must be careful and try not to have any private contact with him to avoid disclosing any irrelevant information. Report any situation to me in a timely manner. Security personnel are on standby outside the banquet hall and can provide support at any time."

"Understood." Mu Li replied with a simple word, put away his phone, and cast his gaze toward Zhou Ming again, the unease in his heart growing stronger.

Chen Feng had been paying attention to Mu Li's expression. Noticing that his face didn't look right, he asked with concern, "Mu Li, what's wrong? What did that Zhou Ming say to you just now? You don't look well. Did he cause trouble for you?"

"It's nothing." Mu Li shook his head. He didn't want Chen Feng to worry, nor did he want him to be dragged into this danger, so he kept his tone as light as possible. "Just some inconsequential matters. He asked a few things about the project, and I politely declined to answer."

"Is everything really okay?" Chen Feng was still uneasy and lowered his voice, saying, "I think that Zhou Ming is acting quite mysterious, and his eyes don't look right. He doesn't seem like a good person. When he was talking to you just now, he kept observing you secretly. It's clear he's up to no good. If you're in any trouble, you must tell us. We brothers can figure something out together; we can't let him bully you."

"Thank you, Chen Feng. I'm really fine," Mu Li said with a smile, patting him on the shoulder. "Let's continue chatting. Don't let these small things affect the atmosphere of the gathering. It's not easy for us to get together; we should talk more about the old days."

Chen Feng nodded and didn't press further, but he remained uneasy. He quietly kept an eye on Zhou Ming's movements; whenever Zhou Ming showed signs of approaching Mu Li, he would take the initiative to step forward and chat, skillfully interrupting any potential contact and protecting his brother in his own way. Zhao Lei and Sun Hao also noticed something was wrong and cast concerned looks at Mu Li, but Mu Li just shook his head slightly to indicate he was fine.

The gathering continued, moving on to the interactive game segment. The host stepped onto the stage and announced the rules, inviting classmates to participate. The atmosphere became lively again. Classmates eagerly signed up to go on stage for games like "Listen to the Song and Identify the Melody" and "You Draw, I Guess." Laughter and chatter filled the air, occasionally punctuated by bouts of teasing and cheering, making the scene exceptionally bustling.

Mu Li was also pulled onto the stage by Lin Weiwei and several other classmates to participate in "You Draw, I Guess." He was paired with Chen Feng, and the two displayed perfect chemistry. Even when Chen Feng's drawings were abstract, Mu Li could always pinpoint the answer. They cleared several rounds quickly, drawing bursts of applause from the audience. After the game, they won a small gift—a commemorative fountain pen engraved with their alma mater's motto. Mu Li carefully tucked it away, as this gift carried a wealth of youthful memories.

After the games ended, the Class Teacher stepped onto the stage again, picked up the microphone, and said in a warm tone, "Classmates, happy times are always brief. Now we move to the final segment—a group photo. Everyone, please gather in front of the stage and line up by height. Let's capture this unforgettable moment together and freeze this precious friendship in time."

The students stood up and crowded toward the front of the stage, lining up in an orderly fashion by height. Mu Li stood in the middle, flanked by Chen Feng, Zhao Lei, and Sun Hao. The three of them subconsciously leaned toward him in a subtle protective posture. The Class Teacher stood in the center of the front row with a gratified smile. Mu Li looked at the camera, temporarily setting aside his concerns, a bright smile on his face and his eyes full of nostalgia for their youth. With a "click" of the camera and a flash of light, this warm and unforgettable moment was permanently captured.

After the photo, the students began to leave, exchanging contact information and promising to meet again. Mu Li gave the Class Teacher a tight goodbye hug. The teacher repeatedly urged him to stay safe, not to work too hard, and to take care of his health. Mu Li agreed to everything, his heart filled with warmth. Afterward, he walked out of the Academic Exchange Center with Chen Feng, Zhao Lei, and Sun Hao.

"Mu Li, let's have a private gathering tonight, just the four of us. Let's find a quiet place and have a good talk," Sun Hao suggested sincerely. "It's not easy for us to meet. It was too noisy with so many people during the day, and we didn't get to talk properly. I've already booked a restaurant near the school. It has a good environment and great food."

Mu Li was about to agree when the phone in his pocket rang, showing Zhang Hongyuan's name on the screen. His heart tightened, and he quickly answered, walking to a quiet spot nearby. "Engineer Mu, I've checked Zhou Ming's background, and the situation is not simple," Zhang Hongyuan's voice came through the receiver with a hint of gravity. "The Energy Investment Company he works for has the Hongyuan Group as its major shareholder. This Hongyuan Group has always wanted to venture into the new energy field and has participated in several national-level new energy project bids, but they all failed. They have a direct competitive relationship with our nuclear fusion power station project and have held a grudge against us."

Mu Li's gaze instantly became sharp. As he had suspected, Zhou Ming's appearance was no accident. "What else did you find?" he asked in a low voice.

"Furthermore, we found a key piece of information. Wang Qiang was once a temporary worker for the Hongyuan Group, responsible for scaffolding assembly on construction sites," Zhang Hongyuan continued. "This indicates that Zhou Ming is likely the one who instructed Wang Qiang. The Hongyuan Group is the mastermind behind this series of sabotage activities. First, they sent Wang Qiang to sabotage the construction site by loosening scaffolding connectors to cause a safety accident; then they sent Wang Qiang to follow you, waiting for a chance for revenge or to steal information; and now they've had Zhou Ming approach you as a classmate to fish for core project secrets. Their methods are utterly despicable."

"So that's how it is!" A flash of anger crossed Mu Li's eyes, and his tone turned icy. "To stop our project, the Hongyuan Group is truly stopping at nothing, even going so far as to break the law and take such risks."

"Engineer Mu, you must be careful. The Hongyuan Group is powerful with deep roots in Jing City. Their methods are vile, and they're capable of anything," Zhang Hongyuan said with deep concern. "We have already handed over all the evidence we found to the Jing City Public Security Bureau. they stated they will immediately launch an in-depth investigation and conduct a comprehensive check on Zhou Ming and the Hongyuan Group. Additionally, I have arranged for more security personnel to come and strengthen your protection to ensure your personal safety."

"Good, well done," Mu Li said in a deep voice. "I understand. I'll stay safe and try not to go out alone to avoid giving them any opportunities. I'll contact you immediately if anything happens."

After hanging up, Mu Li's face remained solemn, his brow furrowed tightly. Chen Feng, Zhao Lei, and Sun Hao all noticed his abnormality and gathered around, asking urgently, "Mu Li, what's wrong? Did something happen? Is it related to that Zhou Ming?"

Mu Li hesitated for a moment. Looking at the three men's sincere and concerned eyes, he finally decided to tell them the truth. He lowered his voice and said quickly, "That Zhou Ming from earlier—the company behind him is the Hongyuan Group, which is in direct competition with my nuclear fusion power station project. Wang Qiang, who followed me before, was acting on the Hongyuan Group's instructions, and Zhou Ming is likely one of the masterminds. Their goal is to sabotage my project, steal core technical parameters, and prevent the project from successfully going into production."

"What? Such a thing actually happened!" Chen Feng was instantly enraged, clenching his fists as he said excitedly, "That's too much! To use such underhanded tactics and even pretend to be a classmate to get close to you—you really can't judge a person by their face! Mu Li, we must find a way to help you. We can't let them get their way."

"Yeah, Mu Li, don't worry," Zhao Lei echoed, his gaze firm. "I know some people in Scientific Research Institutes in Jing City. Although they aren't big shots, they can help gather some information. If you need any help, just say so."

"Thank you, guys." Mu Li's heart was full of emotion, and his eyes grew slightly warm. In such a moment of crisis, the support and trust of his brothers were his greatest strength. "But don't worry, I've already contacted the Jing City Public Security Bureau. They've started an investigation, and the evidence has been submitted. Plus, I have security personnel protecting me, so there shouldn't be any problems. I won't join the dinner tonight. I'm worried the Hongyuan Group might take further action and don't want to involve you."

"Mu Li, how can you say that?" Sun Hao immediately countered, his tone resolute. "We're brothers who grew up together and walked through the toughest college years side by side. How can you talk about involving us or not? No matter what difficulties we face, we have to face them with you. We can't let you carry it all alone. You must come to the dinner tonight. The four of us haven't had a good gathering in a long time. Besides, with us by your side, it'll give you some courage, and if anything really happens, we can lend a hand."

Chen Feng and Zhao Lei also chimed in, "That's right, Mu Li. We'll face it together and never back down. If you leave, what's the point of this gathering?"

Seeing his brothers' sincere gazes and feeling the weight of their friendship, Mu Li's gratitude was beyond words. He nodded and said firmly, "Alright, then we'll meet tonight."

The four walked toward the school exit side by side. Mu Li subconsciously and vigilantly observed the surroundings. His gaze swept over the cars and pedestrians on the roadside, and he soon noticed a black sedan not far away. it had been following them at a constant distance, its windows tightly closed, making it impossible to see the people inside. Its behavior was highly suspicious. His heart sank; it seemed the people from the Hongyuan Group indeed hadn't given up and were watching him from the shadows, ready to act at any moment.