Tomb raiders: You stole my little Qilin?

Wang Yueban lived near Panjiayuan. By the time the car turned the corner, it was already completely dark.

The streetlights cast a dim yellow glow on the street, and several antique shops were still open, their windows displaying porcelain and bronze artifacts with a warm luster under the lights.

Fatty Wang patted the back of the driver's seat: "This is it. I'll walk the rest of the way back myself, no need to trouble you guys."

He pushed open the car door, jumped out, and pulled a crumpled piece of paper from his pocket.

A phone number was scrawled crookedly on the seat and placed on the driver's seat.

"If you need anything, just let me know, Fatty. We're practically brothers in arms."

"Fatty, be careful on the road." Wu Weichong waved to him.

Black Bear carefully put away the note and stuck his head out of the car window:

"Remember to contact me when you sell those bronze horses. I'll help you negotiate the price, and I'll take 20% of it."

"Don't even think about it!" Fatty Wang gave the middle finger without turning his head, and his figure quickly disappeared into the alley of Panjiayuan.

He restarted the car and turned the steering wheel into a quiet alley.

Wu Wei originally thought he would find a hotel to drop him off, but the car took many turns and finally stopped in front of a courtyard house.

The gate was made of old elm wood, with several faded patterns carved on the lintel, indicating that it had been there for many years.

"What is this?" Wu Wei got out of the car and looked around the courtyard in front of him.

"This is where I live with the mute." Black Bear took out his key and opened the door.

Reaching out from the wall, I found the light cord and pulled it, and the yard lit up.

Wu Wei stepped into the courtyard and, by the light of the lamp, saw the whole scene clearly.

This courtyard house isn't very big, but it has a square layout, with blue bricks and gray tiles. There's also a pomegranate tree in the courtyard, and stone tables and benches are placed under the tree.

There is a courtyard like this inside Beijing's Second Ring Road. It would be an enviable asset no matter the era.

"Brother Hei, you really have a lot of money," Wu Wei exclaimed sincerely.

"It's all from years of hard work," Black Bear said smugly, pushing up his sunglasses.

"My motto is to seize every opportunity to make money, and to accumulate wealth gradually."

Zhang Qiling walked past him, casually remarking, "He's stingy."

Black Bear immediately objected: "Dumb Man, you need to speak with conscience! Who bought you that windbreaker? Who paid for the maintenance of your black gold ancient sword? And that—"

Zhang Qiling had already gone inside, showing no intention of listening at all.

Hei Xiazi swallowed the rest of his words and led Wu Wei into the main hall of the courtyard.

"Please make yourself at home. I'll go tidy up a room and bring it out."

This courtyard house is usually inhabited only by Hei Xiazi and Zhang Qiling, and there are no guest rooms prepared.

Wu Wei tried to push open the door of an unused room.

The room was fully furnished with tables and chairs, but there was a thin layer of dust on the tabletops, and the bed was empty without any bedding.

Just as he was thinking that he would probably have to make do for the night, Zhang Qiling appeared behind him without him noticing.

"Stay with me today."

Black Bear poked half his body out from the next room, holding a rag in his hand. "Dumb, are you serious?"

Zhang Qiling nodded expressionlessly: "Live with me."

Without waiting for Hei Xiazi's reaction, he took Wu Wei's backpack, turned around, and went into his room.

Hei Xiazi turned to look at Wu Wei, his expression behind his sunglasses one of shock, his tone filled with disbelief:

"We've lived under the same roof for so long, but I've barely even been inside his room!"

Wu Wei smiled but didn't say anything.

Hei Xiazi asked again, "You don't object at all?"

Wu Wei shook his head innocently.

Anyone who knows the Tomb Raider Chronicles, how many of them wouldn't like Zhang Qiling?

He had a natural affinity for Zhang Qiling and naturally wouldn't reject her.

"It's true what they say, birds of a feather flock together. It's a waste of all the time I cleaned your room..." Black Bear muttered to himself.

Wu Wei couldn't help but interrupt him.

"Hey Blackie, do you have anything to eat?"

Upon hearing this, Black Bear immediately perked up and stopped muttering.

He tossed the rag aside, crossed his arms, and struck a professional pose:

"Then you've come to the right person. My cooking is top-notch and reasonably priced."

Wu Wei knew his personality all along.

He calmly pulled out the credit card Wu Erbai had given him from his pocket and waved it in front of Hei Xiazi.

Black Bear's gaze followed the card from left to right, and he patted his sleeves to make a "yes" gesture: "Please wait a moment."

Wu Wei was amused by him and, while Hei Xiazi was busy in the kitchen, took out his phone and called Wu Xie.

The phone rang twice before being answered, and Wu Xie's familiar voice came from the other end: "Brother?"

"Xiao Xie, are you home yet?"

"We just arrived. Bro, did you guys get into trouble on the way too?"

Wu Xie's tone was clearly anxious.

"Also?" Wu Wei's heart tightened.

"On our way back, we encountered several unlicensed taxis that followed us for quite some time. Fortunately, my third uncle had arranged for people to intercept them halfway, preventing a fight from breaking out."

Wu Xie spoke quickly, "Are there people waiting for you over there too?"

"Yes, but it's been resolved. I'm fine," Wu Wei reassured her.

"Your brother hasn't lost a single hair."

Wu Xie's breathing came through the microphone.

After a long while, he finally said, "Brother, be careful and come back soon."

Wu Wei lowered his voice: "Okay, go to sleep early."

After hanging up the phone, I casually replied to a few text messages on my phone, waiting for Hei Xiazi to call me to eat.

Hei Xiazi was indeed quick; he served three dishes in less than half an hour.

One was his signature dish, shredded pork with green peppers, and the other was scrambled eggs with tomatoes and chicken with potatoes.

It was placed on the table with rice, emitting a steaming aroma.

Wu Wei and Zhang Qiling were already sitting at the table with their chopsticks, one on each side, obediently waiting for the meal to begin.

Black Bear took off his apron and draped it over the back of the chair, waving his hand dismissively: "Let's eat!"

Wu Wei picked up a piece of tomato and egg with his chopsticks and put it in his mouth. The saltiness was just right, with a slight sweetness that made it irresistible.

"Hey, Mr. Blackie, your cooking is amazing!"

Zhang Qiling also picked up a piece of chicken, put it in her mouth, and nodded.

Black Bear was beaming with pride from their praise, his chin held high.

"I've been in this business for so many years, if I didn't have some skills, would that mute have been working with me for so long?"

After finishing his meal, Wu Wei put down his chopsticks, looked at the three clean plates on the table, and breathed a satisfied sigh.

He raised his head, his peach blossom eyes appearing exceptionally soft under the light, carrying the contentment of someone who had eaten and drunk their fill: "Thank you for your hospitality, Mr. Black."

As Hei Xiazi looked into those eyes, he suddenly remembered the smile that had stunned him in the car that afternoon.

"Alright," he waved his hand, his tone unusually serious and generous.

"For your sake—" He paused halfway through his sentence, carefully considering his words.

Finally, he only vaguely added, "Considering you're a member of a mute tribe, I won't charge you today."

Wu Wei raised an eyebrow, a smile playing in his eyes, and continued, "Then thank you, Master Hei."

For the first time ever, Zhang Qiling raised her hand and gave him a thumbs up.

"The blind man was very generous today."

Black Bear rolled his eyes, got up and started collecting the bowls.

"Stop with the nonsense. Finish your meal and go to sleep. I have to take you two to find Wu Erbai tomorrow."