Nothing Out of the Ordinary

While Liu Caifu was exchanging pleasantries with Xiang Kun, Zhou Rui, who was standing at the door, suddenly saw Li Yang sitting at the stone table in the courtyard, fiddling with tea utensils. He paused for a moment, then couldn't help but take two steps into the courtyard and say:

"Professor Li?"

Li Yang paused for a moment, looked at Zhou Rui, and smiled, "You're a student at our school, and you've taken my classes? Sorry, I'm probably getting old, my memory isn't very good."

"It really is you!" Zhou Rui's face lit up with surprise, and he took two steps closer, saying, "I'm not a student in your major, but I often audit your classes, uh... most of the time I watch online lectures. I really like your two books, I've read them several times. I actually thought about changing my major when I was a freshman... Oh, by the way, my undergraduate major is..."

Like a devoted fanboy seeing his idol, Zhou Rui talked on and on about his admiration. Then he introduced himself, recounting his enrollment date, major, experiences during his undergraduate years, research projects during his postgraduate studies, articles he had published, books he had co-authored, and so on.

Unbeknownst to him, Zhou Rui had already sat down at the stone table next to Li Yang. Professor Li even used the tea set that Xiang Kun had just found to make him a cup of tea.

In this situation, Liu Caifu didn't need to explain anything further. Xiang Kun also invited Li Shiping and Ye Chong, who were standing at the courtyard gate looking at each other, to come in and sit down.

Xiang Kun could judge Zhou Rui's true emotions from his physical reactions and various sensory information—he and Lao Xia knew this guy's personality and style of doing things all too well.

Therefore, Xiang Kun knew that Zhou Rui's behavior was not feigned or deliberate, but truly from the bottom of his heart.

Zhou Rui knew Professor Li Yang. Xiang Kun had already guessed this when he first found out about him online through clues in his dream—the university Zhou Rui attended was the same one where Professor Li worked, and even the same college.

Later, after Alice took control of the secret network of "Shenxing Technology" and controlled the electronic devices and home computers of all the members of Fang Pingfang's investigation team, she also learned that Zhou Rui's computer contained Li Yang's online course videos and that JD's purchase records contained Professor Li Yang's books, making it possible for her to recognize Li Yang.

After talking for more than ten minutes and drinking three cups of tea, Zhou Rui finally steered the conversation back to the Research Base under construction, asking, "Professor Li, is your visit related to that aquaculture Research Base over there? Is our university involved?"

"Oh, no, I came to Chongyun Village with my daughter to visit a friend. The Research Base you mentioned was built by my brother Xiang..." Li Yang said with a smile as Xiang Kun to Zhou Rui.

Xiang Kun greeted Zhou Rui warmly, and then adopted an attitude of being open and honest, answering all of Zhou Rui's questions in a very "sincere" and "detailed" manner.

Xiang Kun will have many more "big moves" in Chongyun Village, and Fang Pingfang's investigation team will focus on the Chongyun Mountain and Wushu Mountain area. Naturally, they will not turn a blind eye to these "moves". Xiang Kun needs them, Mr. Liang, and other people from "Shenxing Technology" who are paying attention to this area to think in the way he needs, so he simply guides them to make "discoveries".

In his conversation with Zhou Rui, Xiang Kun attributed the emergence of the idea for the "breeding Research Base" to the "Youlong Restaurant" that he and You Meng co-founded in Tongshi Town. Originally, the farm was simply set up to provide the restaurant with higher-quality and more affordable rabbit meat. However, he later incorporated some new concepts and ideas based on his experience as an internet professional. With the encouragement of other friends, including Liu Caifu, the "Research Base" was born without him even realizing it.

When Xiang Kun recounted these events, he deliberately limited his "knowledge base" to the scope of a 30-year-old internet professional, programmer, cooking enthusiast, and "foodie." When it came to topics related to genetic engineering and molecular biology, he intentionally spoke in a very confident tone, expressing flawed and biased views. With Liu Caifu and Li Yang occasionally correcting or agreeing with him, his words seemed even more credible.

Not to mention Zhou Rui, even Li Yang, Liu Caifu, and Xia Tianhuo who was listening nearby all felt that these were Xiang Kun's true thoughts.

Zhou Rui had never met Xiang Kun, unlike Liu Caifu and Li Yang, who naturally perceived him as reliable, steady, and capable. No matter what Xiang Kun did, Zhou Rui would add a layer of "reliability" to his image.

Therefore, judging from this brief chat alone, Zhou Rui felt that Xiang Kun was an idealist who was enthusiastic, had ideas and creativity, but lacked sufficient understanding and knowledge of what he was going to do.

However, Xiang Kun doesn't seem to lack money. He can just hire professionals to do the work. If this kind of Research Base can get approved, it must have relevant academic institutions to cooperate with. Xiang Kun is also Li Yang's friend, so he won't lack these connections. There's no need to worry. Of course, if they can't continue operating in the future and are acquired by "Shenxing Technology" and become their backup laboratory for related tasks in the Chongyun Mountain Region, that would be fine too.

After learning that "Youlong Restaurant" was also set up by Xiang Kun and his group, Zhou Rui's goodwill towards them increased significantly. He hoped that this breeding Research Base wouldn't take up too much of their funds and wouldn't affect the restaurant. He was really craving the rabbit meat there, and now whenever he had free time, he would try to persuade Dr. Fang to let the investigation team have a meal at "Youlong Restaurant" on public funds.

Because they still had to go into the mountains, Zhou Rui and his group didn't stay there for too long. After sitting for about an hour, they said goodbye and left. However, before leaving, Zhou Rui added Professor Li Yang and Xiang Kun on WeChat.

While Xiang Kun was having tea and chatting with Zhou Rui, Li Yang, Liu Caifu and others, Yang Zhen'er, Tang Baona and Little Apple were playing cards on the other side of the courtyard. The courtyard was large and the two sides were far enough apart that they would not disturb each other.

The deck of cards they used was specially made, with a tactile marking on one corner of the front, allowing blind people to play together. Tang Baona bought it on Taobao in advance after learning that Little Apple was coming, and it just arrived yesterday morning.

When playing cards, they would also say the information about the cards to help Little Apple make a judgment—although Little Apple can now actually "see the cards" through Alice's help with the camera in the yard.

After Zhou Rui and the others left the courtyard, Yang Zhen'er whispered, "Those three people are probably suspicious."

Tang Baona asked curiously, "What's the problem? Isn't that person Professor Li's student? He doesn't seem to have any issues."

"Didn't you notice that Chef Xiang's serious demeanor when he spoke to them was exactly the same as when he was trying to fool me?" Yang Zhen'er said softly, squinting her eyes.

Tang Baona laughed and said, "I didn't think so."

"Nana, you're still too young and naive!" Yang Zhen'er shook her head, glanced at Xia Libing sitting at the living room door, and said, "Not only Chef Xiang, didn't you notice? When those three people first came in, Lao Xia was looking at his tablet and didn't even look up!"

"So what? Don't even mention Lao Xia, I'm not used to greeting strangers either..." Tang Baona laughed. "We've been playing cards the whole time, haven't we?"

"It's different. Before, when we took Lao Xia out, although she didn't talk much, she would always observe any new people first. So, if I wanted to know what someone was like, I could just ask Lao Xia. But with these three people, Lao Xia didn't even bother to look at them. Either it means she already knows these three people and understands them, or it means there's something wrong with these three people! Lao Xia definitely couldn't know these three people, so it can only mean that there's something wrong with these three people!" Yang Zhen'er said with a furrowed brow and an expression that showed she had seen through everything.

"Your logic is flawed. If you think there's something wrong with these three people, shouldn't Lao Xia observe them more closely?" Tang Baona said.

"Because... because... Lao Xia thinks they're acting, it's not real! Observing them is useless!" Yang Zhen'er said, "Think about it, what normal person would come to Chongyun Village for some research? These three even want to go into Chongyun Mountain, it's too suspicious! And look at that person... as soon as he entered the courtyard, he couldn't wait to curry favor with Professor Li, clearly he came prepared, definitely with an ulterior motive! I reckon they're trying to get in touch with Chef Xiang because our game is so popular, they found out he's rich, and they want to use the Research Base to connect with Chef Xiang and swindle him! But Chef Xiang has already seen through all of this, so he's deliberately fooling them, fishing for them, waiting to gather enough evidence to send them to jail! And Lao Xia knows Chef Xiang has already seen through them, so he's too lazy to observe, because there's no need..."

Tang Baona couldn't help but laugh, "Well, Yang the Third, you've been having such wild ideas all this time, no wonder you keep making mistakes!"

Xia Tianhuo, who happened to be walking over to watch them play cards, overheard their conversation. He turned around with a smile and said to Xiang Kun, who was chatting with Li Yang, "Xiang Kun, Yang the Third said you saw through Mr. Zhou and the other two as fraudsters."

"A fraudster? What fraudster?" Xiang Kun was completely bewildered—of course, he had heard every word Yang Zhen'er said.

Although the final judgment was off, Yang Zhen'er's method of judgment was not entirely wrong. However, Lao Xia did not look up at them, not because she was too lazy to observe, but because she had already been notified by Alice in advance and was using a tablet to look at the secret files inside "Shenxing Technology" that Alice had sent her.

Zhou Rui and the others certainly had no idea that while they were chatting with Xiang Kun in the courtyard, a pretty girl with a ponytail a few meters away was looking at their detailed information and various data they had recently uploaded on a tablet.

Hearing this, Xiang Kun was acting, but Li Yang said seriously, "How could Zhou Rui be a fraudster? He just showed me their graduation photo; he really was a student at our school. That can't be faked. I can confirm it immediately with a little investigation and questioning."

Yang Zhen'er was a little embarrassed. She glared at her cousin and quickly said to Xiang Kun and Li Yang, "I didn't! I didn't say that! It wasn't me! I'm playing cards here, Big Guy is slandering me! Right, Little Apple?"

Little Apple laughed and said, "I only heard Zhen'er say that Uncle Xiang is very good at fishing. I guess she wants to eat fish. Uncle Xiang, didn't you say there's a pond here where we can fish?"

She actually agreed with some of Yang Zhen'er's judgments. With the information transmitted by Alice, she knew that these three people were no ordinary individuals; they had deployed drones to conduct a high-altitude patrol as soon as they entered the village. Moreover, from Xiang Kun's conversation with them just now, she could also tell that Xiang Kun was deliberately showing off his incompetence in many things, perhaps even trying to deceive them.

"There are places to fish, come on, come on. Brother Chu and I have been thinking about opening a farmhouse restaurant recently. We have a few locations to choose from, you guys can help me take a look. Anyway, whether we catch fish or not, we can have fish for lunch. Of course, if Brother Xiang is willing to cook, we'll all be in for a treat!" Liu Caifu said with a smile.

"Cooking is no problem of course. Would you like grilled fish, fish soup, or boiled fish?" Xiang Kun asked with a smile.

No one objected to the suggestion of fishing, since they had come to Chongyun Village to have fun. So everyone started preparing their fishing gear. Liu Caifu would provide the fishing rods, but they would have to bring their own other things.

Xia Tianhuo watched as Lao Xia put away his tablet and went to talk to Little Apple. Thinking about what Yang Zhen'er had just said, although he knew that Yang the Third was overthinking it, he suddenly had some inspiration.

Compared to before, it seems Lao Xia is less curious about his kidnapping experience in Myanmar?

Normally, given the numerous suspicious points and bizarre events, Lao Xia should be more proactive in investigating and should ask him, as someone who experienced it firsthand, more questions, right?

Perhaps Lao Xia has already reached a fairly certain conclusion about this matter, but just doesn't want to tell you yet?

Lao Xia hadn't answered the last question this morning when Yang Zhen'er suddenly appeared and interrupted him. It seems we'll have to find another opportunity to ask her again later.

He still felt that Lao Xia must know something about his inexplicable escape from the kidnapping.

The rumors of the sea monster illusion and the Eight-Armed Eight-Eyed Giant illusion filled him with a faint sense of anticipation.

After saying goodbye to Xiang Kun and Li Yang, Zhou Rui and his two companions headed towards Chongyun Mountain as planned.

"I didn't expect to run into a professor from my old school here. Hey, Lao Li, I didn't say anything about violating the confidentiality agreement, did I?" Zhou Rui said, asking Li Shiping was clearing the way ahead, with some concern.

"No," Li Shiping replied simply.

Zhou Rui nodded in relief, then asked Ye Chong behind him, "Little Ye, I saw you holding a tablet and searching as soon as we left the yard. Did you find anything?"

Ye Chong shook his head and said, "No, the people in that courtyard, except for a few whose identities are temporarily uncertain and for whom no relevant information has been found, including Xiang Kun, Li Yang, Li Jun, and Liu Caifu, all have normal records."

"I think so too," Zhou Rui said. Ye Chong's inquiry was just routine. They didn't think there was anything wrong with Xiang Kun, Li Yang, or the "breeding Research Base." Their focus was never on the people involved.

He also had a good impression of the bald, bespectacled guy, not only because he was Professor Li Yang's friend and thus loved him, but also because of his attitude towards speaking and acting.

However, there were too many people in the courtyard who caught his attention. Whether it was Professor Li, whom he greatly admired, Mr. Xia, who was over 1.9 meters tall, the ponytail beauty who was playing on her tablet and didn't even glance at them, or the two pretty girls playing cards with Professor Li's daughter, none of them seemed like people who would appear in this mountain village. Compared to them, Xiang Kun was much more ordinary. Apart from his bald head, he didn't have much to stand out.

Zhou Rui was unaware that the information Ye Chong had accessed about Xiang Kun had actually been filtered and reworked by Alice.

Although there were no obvious problems with Xiang Kun's information to begin with, just to be on the safe side, Xiang Kun still had Alice make some revisions. For example, his photos before the mutation last year, his travel records for certain periods after the mutation, and records of the various books and equipment he purchased online, to ensure that there were no suspicious points that would arouse their attention.

Of course, even if there were doubts, even if they had any suspicions, Xiang Kun wasn't worried, because he could still use Lao Xia's "Dream Within a Dream" at night to subconsciously influence and hypnotize them, forcibly "smoothing out" all their doubts.

Given their initial contact with him as "Shenxing Technology," and with their judgment as a guarantee, even if something happens later, "Shenxing Technology's" "attention" will not linger on him.

It is precisely because of this framework, built upon the "Super-Sensing Item System," which grants Alice such strong control and influence over the digital world and Lao Xia over the dream world, that Xiang Kun is so confident in conducting a "clinical trial" of the "Shenxing Technology" operating mechanism in Chongyun Village and Wushu Mountain.