Chapter 21: Sensitive Identity
Xu Huazhang touched the food pot to test the temperature. “Should we order a new one?”
Mu Lantu waved him off. “No need—it’s perfect now, not hot enough to burn the throat.”
But the rice had gone cold, so Xu Huazhang asked someone to bring two fresh bowls.
Mu Lantu picked up a portion of mala hotpot with his chopsticks and placed it into the slotted spoon, gently pressing it to squeeze out the excess chili oil. Once the oil stopped dripping, he poured the contents over his rice and focused on eating.
Xu Huazhang, sensing his seriousness, didn’t interrupt. Occasionally, he added food to Mu Lantu’s bowl.
His phone rang several times, but he didn’t answer. The caller must have realized he wasn’t going to pick up and gave up.
After their meal, they headed home.
Xu Huazhang walked Mu Lantu to his door.
“Want to come in for some tea?”
Xu Huazhang gladly agreed. “Sure.”
The black-and-white ball of fluff came waddling over to Xu Huazhang, its chubby body bouncing amusingly as it threw its stubby arms around his leg.
Mu Lantu raised an eyebrow. “I keep forgetting to ask—this thing isn’t a regular electronic pet, is it?”
Xu Huazhang picked it up and pinched its ear. “Let’s just say it’s a special kind. If you don’t mind, I can add your basic data to its chip. It’ll recognize you as a master. If you ever go somewhere unsafe, bring it with you—it might surprise you if something happens. And if you get lost, it’ll find you on its own.”
005 interjected:
[Host, the man you’ve got your eye on—he’s no ordinary guy!]
[You don’t say.]
Mu Lantu agreed without hesitation. He wasn’t the kind to take advantage of a beauty—for this favor, he planned to return it with something nice later.
“You’re a programmer?” Mu Lantu asked, feigning casual curiosity.
Xu Huazhang played along. “Yeah.”
Mu Lantu didn’t press him. “So… hair transplant?”
Xu Huazhang blinked. “Hair transplant?”
Mu Lantu kept a straight face. “Aren’t programmers all supposed to be bald?”
Xu Huazhang looked at the mischievous young man with a half-smile. I’ll get you back for that later.
“Want to give it speech functionality?”
005 jumped in first:
[No! No, host—don’t! You’ve got me to talk to. That’s enough!]
Mu Lantu thought for a moment, then declined.
Xu Huazhang’s driver, Zhan Peng, lived on the second floor and didn’t come upstairs. Mu Lantu brewed four cups of tea.
“It’s my usual stomach-soothing tea. Try it.”
Xu Huazhang took a sip—his stomach warmed instantly. “Not bad.”
Zhou Ye and Ge Tao politely accepted theirs but didn’t drink.
After finishing, Xu Huazhang didn’t linger. He left with the panda and his two bodyguards, returning to the penthouse.
The penthouse was a single residence with a minimalist black-white-gray theme. The living room alone was nearly 100 square meters—spacious, bright, spotless. Facing the entrance was a full wall of display shelves, filled with completed LEGO models: people, animals, all sizes—almost a hundred in total, an impressive sight.
Zhou Ye poured Xu Huazhang a glass of hot water and placed his stomach meds beside it before quietly retreating with Ge Tao.
The phone rang.
Xu Huazhang answered casually.
A booming voice came through. “You finally picked up!”
“So late, and you’re still awake,” Xu Huazhang murmured as he lounged on the sofa, a flicker of cold sharpness flashing through his half-lidded eyes.
Song Mingzhao scolded him fondly. “You rascal, do you even care? You’re the treasure of our institute, the entire Project Soaring Sky rests on you. After something like that, how could I sleep? I called you so many times—you just ignored them. Can’t you let this old man worry less?”
Xu Huazhang replied lazily, “I’ve got plenty of people protecting me. You really think I’m not safe? Leave the professional stuff to the professionals.”
Song Mingzhao sensed something beneath those words but couldn’t pinpoint it, so he let it go. “Still, Huazhang, try to avoid crowded places. It’s for your own safety. See? That thing today could’ve gone badly.”
Xu Huazhang popped a pill and sipped his water. “Dean Song, I recall when I joined the research institute, there was a guarantee that my personal freedom wouldn’t be interfered with. Am I wrong?”
Song Mingzhao laughed awkwardly. “Of course not. It’s just—why were you at a night market today? That’s not your style. I heard you were with a friend. What’s your relationship? I mean no offense—you know everyone around you has to be vetted. It’s not just about you. It’s national security.”
“So long as it’s a proper investigation, I’ve got no issue,” Xu Huazhang said coolly.
Song Mingzhao hesitated. “Why do I get the feeling you care about this guy?”
Thinking of Mu Lantu, a trace of warmth softened Xu Huazhang’s otherwise cold eyes, but he didn’t respond.
Song Mingzhao panicked. “Huazhang, don’t tell me you’re serious. He’s a man!”
“So what?” Xu Huazhang’s voice dropped cold and sharp—dangerous.
“There’s a problem! You’ve got an IQ of 235. Your children could inherit that! If you’re with a man, that’s a loss to the country. You—”
“Dean Song,” Xu Huazhang cut him off. His voice was like an endless snowstorm, or a bottomless black abyss.
Song Mingzhao fell silent.
Xu Huazhang looked merely curious. “That’s moral coercion, isn’t it?”
Song Mingzhao quickly softened. “No, no! I overreacted. Of course, it’s normal for young people to date, haha… If there’s nothing else, I’ll hang up. Get some rest.”
After hanging up, Song Mingzhao frowned deeply, a troubled look in his eyes.
Xu Huazhang sent a message, locked his phone, and walked toward the bathroom.
At the same time, Mu Lantu was in his own bathroom, washing off the smell of oil and smoke.
005 popped up:
[Host, someone’s investigating you—people from high up. But don’t worry, you didn’t leave any suspicious traces. And even if you had, I’ve wiped them!]
Mu Lantu immediately understood.
[It’s related to the beauty? He’s with the government?]
[Yes. Host, since you didn’t authorize deep web access, all I found was that his identity is classified SSS-level.]
[Little Five, don’t go poking around the secrets of this world. Let’s just do our own thing.]
005 wasn’t curious anyway. Watching dramas, movies, playing games, scrolling videos—wasn’t that enough fun?
[Host, I’ll follow your lead.]
Early the next morning, Mu Lantu went jogging at the park like always.
Once again, he saw the familiar female streamer trailing behind him, casually pointing her phone his way. His brow furrowed. She had already tried questioning him yesterday—he had firmly declined to be on camera.
[Little Five, cut her signal.]
[Got it!]
005 loved it when the host stirred trouble.
The girl, Bai Yaoyao, had gained a lot of followers just from posting clips of his back. She’d gotten tons of gifts too. Determined to keep going, she tried to reconnect the livestream—but when she looked up again, the boy was gone. She stomped her foot in frustration.
[Host, maybe it’s time to switch to a gym instead.]
Mu Lantu preferred outdoor exercise—the air was fresher.
[No worries. Once construction around the courtyard residence finishes, I’ll jog there instead.]
005 perked up.
[You should claim a plot and build a private track! No one would disturb you.]
[Not a bad idea!] Mu Lantu praised.
The morning garden was beautiful. So was the Half-Mile Flower Community. Many young people jogged there.
In the penthouse of Building One, Xu Huazhang was also working out—but unlike others, he practiced swordsmanship. Every movement was sharp and fierce. The sound of his sword slicing through the air was like a beast’s roar. Though the curtains were shut, they fluttered as if disturbed by an invisible force. The room felt tense, as though unseen enemies lurked in every corner.
A message notification broke the silence.
Xu Huazhang sheathed his sword and tossed it toward the rack. It landed perfectly, quivering slightly before falling still.
He read the message, deleted it, and switched contacts.
Meanwhile, Mu Lantu checked his phone mid-jog.
[Gorgeous Beauty : Morning.]
[Mu Lantu: Morning.]
[Gorgeous Beauty : You’re always up this early?]
[Mu Lantu: Morning run.]
[Gorgeous Beauty : I work out too. Want to go together tomorrow?]
[Mu Lantu: Sure. Should I bring you breakfast?]
[Gorgeous Beauty : Yes, same as yours.]
Back home, Ge Tao was waiting at the door.
“Boss is working on the panda’s chip.”
Mu Lantu handed over the breakfast. “Got it.”
After Ge Tao left, he texted Xu Huazhang.
[Mu Lantu: No rush on the panda.]
[Gorgeous Beauty : No worries. I’ve got time anyway.]
Both went on with their respective tasks, not chatting further.
Mu Lantu spent the whole morning completing the design for the first apartment building. He now had a concrete number for how many LEGO pieces were needed. To be safe, he ordered 20 extra of each type. Any leftovers could still be used for other buildings or roads.
Ding-dong.
[Gorgeous Beauty: Lunch together? I’ll bring the panda.]
[Mu Lantu: Sure.]
[Gorgeous Beauty: Meet downstairs in ten.]
The “upgraded” panda showed no physical changes, but its “personality” had become noticeably clingier. When it saw Mu Lantu, it struggled in Xu Huazhang’s arms and eagerly reached toward him.
Mu Lantu chuckled and took it.
Xu Huazhang didn’t mention anything about charging it.
Which likely meant: if it needed charging, Mu Lantu would have to find him. He suspected the panda had a unique power system.
“Where do you want to eat?” Xu Huazhang asked.
“French food,” Mu Lantu said. “Let’s go to that place you recommended.”
Xu Huazhang signaled to the driver. “The foie gras with red wine and the crêpes are excellent there. You’ll probably like the sauerkraut-and-sausage hot pot too.”
