Tomb raiding: A mere 20 is nothing!

The street scenes outside the car window were becoming increasingly familiar. Shen Mingchao wanted to pick up a package, so he told them to just park the car at the entrance of the residential area and not to deliver it inside.

"Understood," came Zhang Qianjun's reply from the front seat.

Unlike the hustle and bustle of the first half of the journey, the last ten minutes or so were unusually quiet inside the car.

Even the most talkative one turned his head to look out the window and fell silent. His long eyelashes drooped, obscuring his dark pupils.

And the others are even less talkative.

The closer it gets to parting, the more depressed and melancholic people become.

Using the excuse of retrieving something has already helped them steal a lot of time; even if we're reluctant, we can't be greedy.

Oh well, it's okay. Even if we're apart, we'll always meet again someday.

They comforted themselves with this thought.

In the ensuing silence, the car finally came to a stop.

Shen Mingchao deftly opened the car door, jumped out, and instinctively reached for his umbrella, only to be surprised to find that not a single raindrop had fallen on him.

The drizzle had stopped sometime earlier.

"The rain has stopped," she murmured unconsciously.

"Okay." Zhang Haixia followed her out of the car, carrying a bag in his hand.

It was the time of parting.

Shen Mingchao hadn't been unaware of the Zhang family's kindness along the way. Now that she knew they were about to go to a dangerous place, she couldn't leave, both for her own sake and for the greater good.

She turned around, her gaze sweeping over everyone in the car. The previous awkwardness and resentment temporarily set aside, and a gentle warmth spread across her face as she softly offered her words of advice:

"I have faith in your abilities, but please be extremely careful in everything you do."

"I'll say it again: no grudge is more important than human life. If it really comes to that, I won't stand by and watch someone die."

The rain stopped, and the girl's voice became clearer, carried by the evening breeze into everyone's ears, washing away the sorrow of parting.

very nice.

Their intentions were seen, acknowledged, and they were pleasantly surprised to receive a response.

But if that's the case...

What if I don't want to leave anymore?

What if those messy love rivals take advantage of the situation when they're away?

No.

Those people will definitely not stop.

This is a consensus among several people.

Why are they so free? I really want to drag them underground too.

Or should we find them something to do?

Zhang Haike pondered, a plan forming in his mind. He looked up and saw a graceful young woman standing outside the car, the streetlights casting their light upon her, making her impossible to look away from.

His brow relaxed, and he smiled broadly: "Thank you."

"Don't worry." These words came from Zhang Qilin, spoken in a light tone, yet they conveyed a strong sense of security.

Zhang Qianjun waved to the outside, his eyes pure and quite dashing, but what he said was quite shocking.

"With your words, even if I only have one breath left, I will crawl back to the Ming Dynasty!"

"...Can't you even think about your own well-being for once!"

Shen Mingchao put his hands on his hips, deliberately feigning a serious expression, and added sternly, "Let me make this clear from the start, this isn't free! I don't do unprofitable deals, so you should worry about whether you can afford the price."

Of all the people in the circle, only Zhang Haiyan remained silent with her eyes lowered.

This is very unusual.

Shen Mingchao felt strange, but didn't think much of it. He had already said enough, so he said "Until we meet again" and then pulled on Zhang Haixia's sleeve. The two of them turned around and were about to leave.

But before they had taken more than a few steps, a voice suddenly came from behind them, urging them to stay.

"Wait a moment!"

The voice sounds like Zhang Haiyan.

This sentence was short and urgent, as if it had been agonizing and hesitating for a long time before being shouted out in a moment of impulse.

The person next to him paused slightly, and Shen Mingchao also stopped in his tracks.

Has Zhang Haiyan finally discovered something?

As she thought this, she couldn't help but feel a little worried, but things had already come to this point, and she couldn't just run away from it. The Zhang family members were all shrewd and experienced, and they weren't easy to fool.

That's fine, we'll deal with whatever comes our way.

She turned around, a perfectly timed hint of doubt appearing in her eyes, and asked calmly, "Is there anything else?"

"I..." Zhang Haiyan glanced at her, then tilted her head to indicate, "I have another question I'd like to ask Mr. Shen, is that alright?"

So it really is coming for Zhang Haixia?

That's quite perceptive.

Shen Mingchao's heart sank; he really had no idea what Zhang Haiyan was up to.

No wonder he was so silent in the car earlier.

Her knuckles unconsciously curled up, gripping the fabric in her hands tightly.

At the same time, Zhang Haixia clearly felt a slight pulling sensation. He quietly reached out his other hand and covered Shen Mingchao's hand.

He gently touched the other person with his slender index finger.

It conveyed only one message: there is no need to worry.

He then stepped forward, his gaze calm, and looked at his former comrade, opening his lips: "What do you want to ask?"

Seeing how straightforward and calm this person was, Zhang Haiyan also curled her lips: "It's not a difficult question to answer, I'm just curious if you've changed your name?"

Zhang Haixia raised an eyebrow slightly, feigning ignorance as she asked, "Don't you find this question strange?"

"Uncle, Uncle."

The last three words were spoken slowly and deliberately.

Zhang Haixia never felt that this title was difficult to say; on the contrary, he felt that those who were called "uncle" were more upset.

If we don't call out to them now, we won't be able to do so when we have the chance to recognize each other in the future.

Sure enough, as soon as he finished speaking, Zhang Haiyan's face darkened.

Zhang Haiyan felt extremely uncomfortable hearing this address. He took a deep breath and suppressed the razor blade that was itching to strike in his mouth.

"Okay, let me put it another way. Have you really been called 'Shen Xia' since you were a child? Or did your father ever marry into another family?"

Zhang Haiyan never dismissed the idea that the other party was a descendant of Zhang Haixia.

That feeling doesn't lie.

In terms of appearance, they don't look alike at all, but for him, they look too much alike.

Even if the surname isn't Zhang, there are many possible interpretations.

Zhang Haixia understood perfectly. He could guess Zhang Haiyan's thoughts and knew the purpose of his question.

Or is it a test?

The Zhang family members are stubborn; once they've made up their minds about something, they'll stick to it no matter what.

Therefore, if we don't give them an answer now, they certainly won't let it go.

Zhang Haixia remained completely calm.

The perfume's name was supposedly inspired by a sudden inspiration, but is that really the case?

Didn't he anticipate this when faced with Zhang Haiyan's questioning?

Of course he thought of that.

Moreover, they had already thought of a countermeasure.

Zhang Haixia stood with his hands clasped, looking at his fellow clansmen in the car, his tone relaxed and peaceful.

"I didn't have this name since I was a child. I was born abroad and always had an English name. This Chinese name was given to me later."

"As for why he's called Shen Xia..."

He turned his head casually and met Shen Mingchao's gaze. A faint smile appeared on his face as he slowly uttered a highly damaging sentence.

"Just consider it as me taking my wife's surname."