Tomb raiding: A mere 20 is nothing!

A gentle breeze swept by, bringing moisture to the lake.

Shen Mingchao sat on the bench, gently turning the pages of the book in her hand. She was completely immersed in the world of the book and did not even notice that someone was quietly sitting at the other end of the bench.

After finishing a short chapter, she felt a little tired and looked up to gaze at the lake to relax her eyes. That's when she inadvertently met a pair of dark eyes.

The man was momentarily stunned when he saw her looking over, but quickly recovered and greeted her softly.

"Ming Dynasty, long time no see."

Shen Mingchao's face lit up with joy, somewhat surprised: "Brother White Snake, didn't you say you wouldn't arrive at Wushan Residence until tonight?"

After she got a cell phone, she would occasionally communicate with Wu Xie and the others, and the White Snake was no exception.

This guy is probably genuinely busy; it takes a long time to get a reply to my messages. The White Snake felt sorry about this and said she understood; it's normal to be out of contact for a day or two in this kind of work, and she doesn't expect everyone to reply instantly.

Shortly after she left Wushanju at noon, her phone started buzzing.

Upon opening it, I found a message from the White Snake, saying that his work was finished and he could return to Wushan Residence tonight.

Shen Mingchao never expected that only two hours after the conversation, she would see him in person.

"Did you activate the teleportation array?"

This was a joke that the White Snake could understand. What Shen Mingchao really wanted to say was, "Since you're getting into Hangzhou so quickly, why don't you pick up a package for me at the Cainiao Post Station on your way? Thanks."

But the White Snake definitely wouldn't get the joke.

The White Snake smiled and explained, "The work ended earlier than expected, so I rushed back earlier."

lie.

In reality, his worldview completely collapsed after his conversation with Wu Xie!

Immortality? Are you kidding me?!

After finally calming down, he immediately skipped work, didn't even ask for the final payment, and took the high-speed train back home.

He didn't know what he was in such a hurry for, but at that moment he really wanted to see Shen Mingchao.

When he finally saw the person, a gust of wind extinguished his impulse. He sat quietly on one side of the bench, not wanting to disturb the tranquil scene.

Seeing Shen Mingchao looking over, the white snake immediately took out a jewelry box from her pocket.

"The tiramisu last time was delicious. This is a token of my appreciation, a return gift."

The White Snake deliberately kept her voice steady and her expression appropriate, as if it were just a gift exchange between friends.

Shen Mingchao didn't respond for a moment. Looking at her trembling arm, she couldn't help but think.

Is the White Snake nervous? Why?

Are you afraid you won't accept it?

Is that all?

Perhaps to verify a certain idea in her mind, Shen Mingchao suddenly looked up and, upon finding the other person's eyes, the other person turned their head away in alarm.

—They dodged it.

Shen Mingchao smiled slightly, not wanting to embarrass the other party, and reached out to take the jewelry box.

Without even opening it, the logo printed on the box already indicates the value of the contents.

Her aunt's family was wealthy, and she had grown up surrounded by such influences, so she knew some international brands. The brand that the White Snake gave her was quite expensive.

Shen Mingchao could accept such a gift, but he couldn't accept it without a reason.

You need to figure out the meaning behind the gift.

"If it's just a return gift, then I'll accept it."

"But I still have a question."

"Is the sentiment behind my gift the same as the sentiment Brother White Snake is referring to?"

The White Snake never expected Shen Mingchao to be so direct. From that moment on, her heart was out of control, and some words rushed to her lips, but she swallowed them back.

This is clearly not a good time to be honest.

After brainstorming for a long time, the White Snake realized that she couldn't even say a decent word.

After a few breaths, only a long silence remained.

Seeing the White Snake's slightly embarrassed expression, Shen Mingchao's smile deepened. The answer was already given; there was no need to test him further.

She spoke first: "It's definitely different, isn't it? Brother White Snake, some of your reactions and behaviors are quite obvious. Even if it's just politeness, it's a bit over the top."

Shen Mingchao couldn't help but laugh out loud, feeling rather helpless.

"Don't treat me like an innocent child. I can feel it and I can see it."

With just a few casual words, the White Snake was rendered speechless.

He'd been thinking a lot lately, trying to clarify his feelings, but he realized it was something he just couldn't distinguish, couldn't trace back to its source, and couldn't find its origin. So he simply gave up, deciding it was easier to just follow his own heart.

If he continues to remain silent now, it would be a very poor choice.

"I didn't intend anything, you don't need to worry about it."

He knew his identity was dishonorable, that he had been doing dangerous work for years. And people like them, who walk on the edge of a knife, were inherently shunned by the light of day.

Shen Mingchao's meaning was crystal clear: if it was merely a return gift in the name of friendship, she would accept it. But if he had ulterior motives, she couldn't accept it.

Just as the White Snake thought this, the jewelry box was placed in his hand, clearly indicating that the other party had refused him.

"Brother White Snake, thank you for your interest, but I really don't have any plans in that regard right now. I can only apologize and say I can't accept this."

She is, after all, from another world, and in the world of Daomu Biji, without some strength, it's best not to play the game of love.

The white snake lowered her eyes, her fingers gripping the box tightly, and said forlornly, "Not even friends? Just friends, I'll keep my distance."

...Is this a self-inflicted injury ploy?

Shen Mingchao narrowed his eyes, unable to utter any hurtful words.

The breeze over West Lake still blows gently; silence is often the best answer.

Outside Shen Mingchao's sight, the corners of the white snake's mouth subtly turned up, and a dark current surged deep within its inorganic pupils.

I rejected him? No problem.

Since no one can take over right now, what's the rush? There's plenty of time; he can wait.

The conversation ended there, and the White Snake, being very perceptive, took the initiative to leave, saying that she would not disturb her enjoyment of the scenery.

However, the weather can change in an instant.

Shen Mingchao didn't get to see the sunset; instead, she was greeted by a light drizzle. San San rubbed against her feet, restless and anxious.

Realizing the situation was bad, she quickly put the book back into her bag and was about to find a place to take shelter from the rain when she suddenly caught sight of a familiar figure out of the corner of her eye.

In the hazy rain, the person walked quickly, holding an umbrella, and the hem of their clothes fluttered, carrying the fragrance of fresh grass.

Shen Mingchao looked up and met a pair of dog-like eyes.

These eyes are truly amazing; a blend of world-weariness and innocence works together seamlessly.

It goes without saying who the visitor is.