51: Chapter 51 A Joyful Gathering Reminisces About Bygone Days! Old Friends Discuss Hidden Worries, Clues to Power Begin to Emerge (3)

"Mu Li, look at that black sedan, is it following us?" Chen Feng had also noticed the sedan; he lowered his voice, his eyes fixed vigilantly on the car, and subconsciously leaned closer to Mu Li.

"Hmm, it should be people from Hongyuan Group." Mu Li nodded, his tone calm. "But don't worry, my security personnel are nearby, all disguised as passersby. They will protect our safety and won't let them easily make a move. Let's walk normally and don't show anything unusual, so we don't alert the enemy."

As they spoke, the black sedan suddenly accelerated and sped past them. The car window rolled down, and the man in the driver's seat was none other than Zhou Ming. He turned his head to look at Mu Li, a cold, sinister smile appearing on his face, his eyes full of threat and provocation, before he drove away rapidly, disappearing into the traffic.

Alarm bells rang in Mu Li's heart; Zhou Ming's smile was full of unbridled provocation, clearly showing he had nothing to fear. He knew that Hongyuan Group would likely take more drastic actions in the near future and would never give up easily. He had to return to Ji Province as soon as possible and get back to the project site, where there were better security measures that could better protect the project's safety and avoid being put in a passive position here.

"Chen Feng, Zhao Lei, Sun Hao, I want to return to Ji Province early." Mu Li stopped walking and said in a grave tone, "People from Hongyuan Group have been watching me, and it's too dangerous to stay here. I'm worried they will stop at nothing and do something to harm you. I don't want to drag you into this because of my affairs."

"No way, you must at least finish attending the dinner tonight before leaving." Sun Hao said immediately, his tone resolute. "I've already booked a private room at the restaurant; the environment is safe and private, and security personnel can also be deployed around it. It's hard for us to get together, how can you leave so soon? With us and the security personnel there, there won't be any problems."

"That's right, Mu Li, it's rare for you to come back, how can you leave in such a rush." Chen Feng also said, "You must attend the dinner tonight. The four of us will have a good chat, just like we did back in the dorm. Besides, we can help you keep an eye on the surroundings; an extra person means an extra layer of protection."

Mu Li hesitated for a moment, looking at his brothers' firm gazes, and finally nodded: "Alright, I'll leave after attending the dinner tonight, and set off to return to Ji Province first thing tomorrow morning."

The four of them arrived at an artistic cafe near the school gate. When the wooden door was pushed open, it rang with the crisp sound of wind chimes. Warm yellow light washed over the vintage leather sofas and the yellowing books on the shelves. The air was filled with the mellow aroma of freshly ground coffee beans and a faint hint of caramel sweetness, quiet and healing. They chose a corner seat by the window; the sofa was soft and comfortable. Outside the window, it faced the school's sycamore-lined avenue, where branches and leaves swayed gently in the wind, casting broken light and shadows onto the glass vase on the table, where a few small daisies bloomed fresh and tender.

A waiter approached with a menu, waiting to take their order with a soft tone. Chen Feng spoke first, familiarly saying: "I'll have an Americano with a double shot of espresso, the stronger the better. Running around with you guys these past two days has made my head feel a bit heavy." Zhao Lei pushed up his glasses and added with a smile: "I'll have a latte, with extra milk foam and some cinnamon powder, the usual." Sun Hao ordered a hand-drip Mandheling coffee, specifically instructing the waiter to control the water temperature at 88 degrees and not to exceed two minutes for extraction, showing he was quite knowledgeable about coffee.

When it was Mu Li's turn, he paused, scanned the menu, and finally said: "Then I'll have a cappuccino, please." He rarely had the opportunity to sit down and enjoy a cup of coffee like this. In the past, it was either instant coffee at the project site or a quick meal with a drink while on the road; this kind of leisurely moment felt somewhat long-lost.

The coffee was soon served. Exquisite porcelain cups held the warm drinks; the latte's milk foam was decorated with a beautiful leaf pattern, the Mandheling's aroma was rich and lingering, and the Americano's burnt bitterness mixed with the caramel scent lingered at the tip of the nose. Sun Hao picked up his cup and took a sip, sighing contentedly: "I discovered this shop by accident. The taste is very authentic, and the environment is quiet, especially suitable for us to chat like this."

The conversation naturally drifted back to their college days. Chen Feng put down his coffee cup, slapped his thigh, and laughed: "Do you guys remember? During the basketball game in our sophomore year, Mu Li made a buzzer-beater in the last thirty seconds, and our class beat the Computer Science department. That night, we pooled money in the dorm to buy beer and braised dishes, drank until two in the morning, and the next day at the 8:00 AM class, we were caught red-handed by Professor Zhang and the whole class was made to stand in the hallway as punishment."

"How could I forget!" Zhao Lei continued with a smile, his fingertips unconsciously rubbing the side of the cup. "That day, Mu Li's jersey was soaked with sweat. When he came back to take a shower, he accidentally bumped into the door frame, leaving a big bruise on his arm, yet the next day he still led us to the library to cram for exams. There was another time, the three of us pulled two all-nighters in the lab to help Mu Li finish a scientific research report, and in the end, Zhao Lei fell asleep right on the keyboard, and his drool wet a corner of the report."

Sun Hao laughed out loud upon hearing this: "That's right, in the end, it was Mu Li who stayed up all night to redo that page and even helped clean Zhao Lei's keyboard. Come to think of it, back then Mu Li was always soaking in the lab, and we all joked that he would spend his whole life with the instruments. I didn't expect that he would really become a research leader now, and be in charge of such a huge project."

Mu Li listened to his brothers' teasing, his face showing a relaxed smile, his eyes filled with gentle warmth. The tension, vigilance, and fatigue of the past few days gradually dissipated in this familiar laughter. He picked up his cappuccino and took a small sip; the dense milk foam wrapped around the mellow coffee, and the warmth slid down his throat into his stomach, spreading throughout his body. He subconsciously glanced out the window, and after confirming there was no unusual movement, he finally let his guard down completely and threw himself into this long-lost conversation.

They chatted about embarrassing things in class, about the late-night talks in the dorm—from their confusion and longing for the future to secretly discussing female classmates; they talked about the nervousness during graduation defense, and about hugging goodbye at the train station on the day they left school; thousands of words were hidden in these fragmented memories. Mu Li occasionally interjected with a few words, his tone relaxed, his eyes full of nostalgia. He clearly knew that such moments of pure, warm gathering, far away from conspiracies, were too rare. Perhaps the road ahead was still fraught with crises, but at this moment, having his brothers by his side and memories for company was enough to give him the strength to confront everything.

Meanwhile, in the interrogation room of the Jing City Public Security Bureau, the lights were stark and blinding, and the atmosphere was oppressive. Wang Qiang was handcuffed to the interrogation chair, his head down; his hair was messy, his face full of exhaustion and panic, and his clothes were still stained with some dust. The interrogator sat opposite him and asked in a serious tone: "Wang Qiang, tell us honestly, who instigated you to sabotage the construction site of the Ji Province Nuclear Fusion Power Station, and who instigated you to follow Mu Li? Explain the ins and outs of the matter clearly, and do not hold anything back."

Wang Qiang remained with his head down, silent, his lips tightly pursed, his hands clenched unconsciously, his knuckles turning white. Only the ticking of the clock remained in the interrogation room, and the atmosphere became increasingly heavy.

"Wang Qiang, you need to know that resistance leads to severe punishment, while confession leads to leniency." The interrogator's tone grew heavier, his eyes staring sharply at him. "If you confess honestly and cooperate with our investigation, exposing the mastermind and accomplices, we can treat you with leniency. If you continue to resist and conceal the truth, what awaits you will be severe legal punishment, and your life will be completely ruined. Think about it carefully yourself: will you resist to the end, or strive for lenient treatment?"

After a long time, Wang Qiang slowly raised his head, his eyes vacant, his voice hoarse and dry, carrying a trace of despair: "It's... it's Zhou Ming who made me do it. He is a project manager at Hongyuan Group; he found me and said that as long as I do things for him, he would give me a sum of money, enough for my family to live without worry."

"Explain specifically, what did he make you do?" The interrogator immediately followed up, taking out paper and pen to record.

"He gave me a deposit and made me disguise myself as a temporary worker to sneak into the construction site of the Ji Province Nuclear Fusion Power Station, loosen the connections of the scaffolding, cause a safety accident, and delay the project's construction progress." Wang Qiang's voice grew quieter. "Later, when there was no accident at the project, he made me follow Mu Li to come to Jing City to look for opportunities and find a suitable time to take action against him."

"What action did Zhou Ming ask you to take against Mu Li? What was the specific plan?" The interrogator continued to press, his tone serious.

"He asked me... to look for an opportunity to create an accident, to let Mu Li get injured, preferably to let him be seriously injured so he could no longer be in charge of the project." Wang Qiang buried his head lower, his voice trembling slightly. "If creating an accident failed, I was to find a way to kidnap him and force him to hand over the project's core technical parameters. He also said that as long as I got the job done, he would give me the rest of the money and would help me arrange a way out, letting me stay far away from Jing City and Ji Province."

"Do you have any other accomplices? Does Hongyuan Group have any other plans targeting Mu Li and the nuclear fusion power station project? What other secret connections do Zhou Ming and other Hongyuan Group executives have?" The interrogator continued with a barrage of questions, not letting go of any detail.

"I don't know, I really don't know anything else." Wang Qiang shook his head, his tone urgent. "Zhou Ming only told me this; he didn't tell me anything else, nor would he let me ask. I'm just an errand boy; whatever he tells me to do, I do. I don't know if he has any other accomplices, and I don't know if they have any other plans."

After the interrogation ended, the interrogator immediately reported the results to his superiors. The superiors attached great importance to it and immediately issued instructions to launch a comprehensive investigation into Zhou Ming, freeze his bank accounts, monitor his whereabouts, and at the same time, join forces with the Ji Province Public Security Bureau to conduct an in-depth investigation into Hongyuan Group, thoroughly investigating all their illegal activities targeting the nuclear fusion power station project. At the same time, they strengthened security for Mu Li, dispatching additional personnel to guard him 24 hours a day to prevent Hongyuan Group from taking further action.

In the evening, Mu Li and Chen Feng, Zhao Lei, and Sun Hao arrived at the restaurant booked by Sun Hao. The restaurant was luxuriously and elegantly decorated, with soft and warm lighting, creating a cozy atmosphere. Sun Hao had booked a private room, which was very private, and there were security personnel secretly guarding the entrance. The four sat in the private room and ordered a table full of sumptuous dishes, all of which were the dishes everyone loved back then, full of memories.

"Mu Li, come, let's toast to you. Wishing you a safe journey, a smooth return to Ji Province, and wishing your project success and commissioning soon, to give Hongyuan Group a slap in the face!" Chen Feng raised his glass, his tone sincere, his eyes firm.

"Cheers!" Zhao Lei and Sun Hao also raised their glasses and clinked them heavily with Mu Li's glass, the crisp clinking sound full of brotherhood.

Mu Li drank it down in one gulp. The spicy liquor slid down his throat, but his heart was full of warmth and strength: "Thank you, guys. Having brothers like you is the greatest luck of my life. When the project is successfully commissioned, I will definitely come back, and we will gather again to celebrate properly."

During the meal, the four chatted a lot, from their ignorant and green college days to their current individual struggles, talking about their expectations for the future, and setting a time for their next reunion. They deliberately avoided the topics of Hongyuan Group and the project, just wanting to let this last bit of gathering time be full of warmth and laughter.

After the dinner ended, Chen Feng, Zhao Lei, and Sun Hao insisted on seeing Mu Li back to his hotel. When they arrived at the hotel entrance, Chen Feng patted Mu Li on the shoulder and said with concern: "Mu Li, you must be careful on the road. When you get to Ji Province, remember to report your safety to us immediately. If you encounter any difficulties, no matter how late it is, call us; we are always here."

"Don't worry, I will." Mu Li nodded and hugged them each tightly. "Thank you for your company these past two days; I'm really happy. I will always keep this friendship in my heart."

"Why are you being so polite with us." Sun Hao said with a smile, but his eyes held a trace of reluctance. "Take good care of yourself and be safe. When the project goes well, you must report the good news to us."

Mu Li watched the three leave until their figures disappeared into the night, then turned and walked into the hotel. He returned to his room and immediately began packing his luggage, carefully stowing away important documents and items, preparing to return to Ji Province early tomorrow morning. He knew that the threat from Hongyuan Group still existed, and this game was not over yet. He had to return to the project site as soon as possible and make full preparations to deal with any unexpected situations that might arise and protect the project's safety.

Just then, his phone rang; it was a staff member from the Jing City Public Security Bureau. "Hello, Mr. Mu." The staff member's voice was steady. "We have already obtained the results of the interrogation. Wang Qiang is indeed acting under Zhou Ming's instigation, and Hongyuan Group is the mastermind behind this series of illegal activities. Zhou Ming is a core member of Hongyuan Group, responsible for the sabotage plans against you and the project. We have launched a comprehensive investigation into Zhou Ming, monitoring his whereabouts, freezing his related assets, and at the same time, we have strengthened the security forces for you to ensure your safety."

"Thank you. I will return to Ji Province early tomorrow morning and go back to the project site." Mu Li said.

"Okay, Mr. Mu. We will coordinate with the Ji Province Public Security Bureau and arrange for dedicated personnel to escort you to the high-speed railway station to ensure your safety on the return trip. At the same time, we will accelerate the investigation into Hongyuan Group and bring all involved personnel to justice as soon as possible to give you and the project justice." The staff member said.

"Thank you for your hard work." After thanking them, Mu Li hung up the phone, feeling a little relieved. Although the threat from Hongyuan Group still existed, at least the mastermind had been identified and key evidence had been obtained. With the subsequent intervention of the Public Security Bureau, the situation would gradually become controllable.

He lay on the bed, thinking back on the class reunion of the past two days. Although it was full of twists and turns and dangers—being followed, being tested, and being fraught with crises—the reunion with his classmates made him feel a long-lost warmth and strength. Those pure friendships from school days were the light in the darkness, supporting him to bravely face all difficulties. He knew that no matter how many storms and challenges lay ahead, as long as he had the support of his brothers, the side-by-side fighting of his team members, and the protection of the Public Security Bureau, he would definitely be able to overcome all hardships and obstacles, successfully commission the nuclear fusion power station project, contribute all his strength to the country's energy cause, and not let down everyone's trust and expectations.