Tomb raiders: You stole my little Qilin?

After arriving in Beijing, Wu Wei greeted Wu Sansheng, and the two groups went their separate ways.

Under Wu Sansheng's gaze that seemed to say, "You're not going back?", he returned to the courtyard house with Zhang Qiling and Hei Xiazi.

Wu Wei got out of the car at the gate and looked at the pomegranate tree that was peeking over the wall at the gate of the courtyard. Several fruits were already hanging on the branches.

"Finally back."

I stretched and loosened my back, which had stiffened from sitting in the car, and then took out my keys to open the gate to the yard.

Zhang Qiling, carrying a backpack, followed him into the courtyard.

Black Bear walked last, and habitually closed the gate behind him after entering.

Got home.

A thin layer of dust settled in the courtyard, the deck chair under the eaves was blown askew by the wind, and fallen leaves piled up in a small heap in the corner.

Hei Xiazi walked straight down the corridor and instinctively reached for the broom, but Wu Wei grabbed his shoulder.

What are you doing?

"Sweep the floor."

"Why are you sweeping the floor? Go sit down." Wu Wei pointed to his arm, which was still wrapped in gauze.

Hei Xiazi looked down at his arm, thinking that this injury was nothing.

But Wu Wei had already pushed him to the recliner and pressed his shoulders to make him sit down.

"Don't move."

After Wu Wei finished speaking, he picked up a broom from the storage room, rolled up his sleeves, and began sweeping the fallen leaves and dust in the yard.

Zhang Qiling fetched a basin of water, wrung out a rag, and began wiping the countertops in the room.

The two of them worked together quite well, one sweeping and the other wiping, but the yard became even dustier.

Hei Xiazi sat on the recliner, watching Wu Wei chase after the fallen leaves with a broom.

Zhang Qiling came out of the house to change the water, and Wu Wei casually added, "Keep an eye on him, don't make him do any work."

Zhang Qiling nodded, and when he passed by Hei Xiazi, he actually stopped and looked at him.

Black Bear was both amused and exasperated by his gaze, and raised his hands in a gesture of surrender:

"Fine, fine, I'll be the boss today."

Wu swept the fallen leaves into a pile and then went to get a mop to mop the floor.

When he dragged the mop to Hei Xiazi's feet, he nudged the sole of his shoe with the mop and said, "Lift your foot."

Hei Xiazi lifted his foot and watched Wu Wei rub the mop under his feet. "Pretty professional, actually."

"Of course."

Wu Wei straightened up, shoved the mop into the bucket, and said, "I've improved."

After tidying up the yard, Wu Wei leaned the broom and mop against the wall, washed his hands, and came out to find the yard deserted.

Zhang Qiling had just poured out the last basin of dirty water and sat down on another recliner on the porch.

"Where did he go?" Zhang Qiling asked.

Black Bear shook his head.

Not long after, the courtyard gate was kicked open.

Wu Wei's hands were full of things, and he had a paper bag handle in his mouth.

Zhang Qiling stepped forward and took the paper bag from Wu Wei's mouth.

"What is all this?"

"fast food."

Black Bear raised an eyebrow at him: "Why did you suddenly think of eating this?"

"I'm hungry from cleaning, but I don't want to cook."

Wu Wei stuffed the hamburger into Hei Xiazi's hand and handed Zhang Qiling a crispy chicken wing.

He picked it up himself, tore open the wrapper, took a big bite, and mumbled, "Eat it quickly, it won't be crispy when it gets cold."

Zhang Qiling looked down at the golden chicken wing in her hand, tentatively took a bite, and then slightly widened her eyes to look at Wu Wei.

Wu Wei puffed out one cheek and asked Zhang Qiling, "Is it delicious?"

Zhang Qiling nodded seriously and took another bite.

Hei Xiazi chuckled as he watched Wu Wei eat until his cheeks were bulging, and then opened his own portion.

Wu Wei put straws in all the Cokes and handed them to them, raising his glass and shouting, "Cheers!"

"...Cheers."

……

Because of Wu Sansheng's arrival, Wu Wei returned to Wu Erbai's place after finishing his training the next day.

When the car stopped in front of the house, the guard jogged over to open the car door for him.

Wu Wei handed the car keys to the other party and walked across the courtyard toward the main hall.

The door to the main hall was half-open, and you could hear people talking inside even before you reached the door.

The sound was unclear, but the atmosphere didn't seem very relaxed.

Wu Wei pushed open the door and went in, seeing Wu Erbai sitting in the main seat with a face so dark it could be wrung out.

Wu Sansheng sat to his left, arms crossed, chin slightly raised, with a look of utter defiance.

The air between them was thick with tension, and the two cups of tea on the coffee table had long since gone cold.

"Dad, Third Uncle," Wu Wei spoke first, his gaze sweeping back and forth between the two men.

When Wu Sansheng saw him, his gaze immediately fell upon him, his eyes filled with a certain expectation.

Wu Wei received his third uncle's signal and then looked at Wu Erbai's tense face.

He paused for a second, then decisively looked away and touched the teacup.

"The tea has gone cold. Shall I make you both a fresh cup?"

Wu Sansheng's eyes widened, his lips moved, and he silently said to Wu Wei, "You brat."

Wu Wei pretended not to see it, his expression remaining unchanged.

In the midst of this awkward atmosphere, Erjing walked in from outside, quickly went to Wu Erbai's side, and whispered something.

Wu Erbai's expression softened visibly, and he nodded: "Please let him in."

Erjing returned shortly after leaving with someone.

Wu Wei looked and saw that it was Xie Yuchen.

He was wearing a light-colored casual suit today, carrying a file folder in his hand, and walking with a relaxed pace.

After entering, he glanced around the main hall, first bowing slightly to Wu Erbai and calling him "Second Uncle Wu," then turning to Wu Sansheng and nodding, "Third Uncle Wu."

Finally, her gaze fell on Wu Wei, a hint of a smile in her eyes, "Brother Wu Wei."

Wu Weichong nodded to him, which was considered a greeting.

Xie Yuchen's gaze lingered on his face for a few more seconds before shifting away.

"Yu Chen is here, please have a seat."

Wu Erbai gestured for him to sit down on the chair next to him, his tone much gentler than when he had spoken to Wu Sansheng earlier.

Xie Yuchen sat down in the chair, placed the file folder on the coffee table, and naturally turned her gaze to Wu Wei: "When did you get back, Brother Wu Wei?"

"yesterday."

Wu Erbai snorted from the side, his gaze shifting to Wu Wei, his tone clearly pointing fingers:

"Look at Yu Chen, she comes to see me every few days, chats with me, and talks business. What about you?"

Wu Wei spread his hands innocently: "Didn't you tell me to go back and practice my skills when I came back last time?"

Wu Erbai's voice was a little louder than before: "So I told you not to come back?"

Wu Wei immediately stood up from his chair, clasped his hands together, and his attitude was extremely sincere:

"It's my fault, it's my fault. I'll definitely come back more often in the future. Dad, please calm down, getting angry is bad for your health."

Seeing how readily he admitted his mistake, Wu Erbai snorted and waved his hand, gesturing for him to sit down.

Watching Wu Wei's smooth and methodical apology, Wu Sansheng muttered under his breath:

"You're like this yourself, yet you dare say you're on my side..."

Wu Wei turned his head and gave his third uncle a sad smile.

Wu Sansheng rolled his eyes, picked up the herbal tea, and took a sip.