Tomb raiders: You stole my little Qilin?

Boss Qian realized that Xie Yuchen was there to support Wu Wei, and he raised his hand and lightly slapped his own mouth.

"It was my fault for being so blunt, for not knowing how to speak properly. Young Master Wu, please be magnanimous and don't hold it against me."

Wu Wei leaned against the windowsill, tapped the juice glass in his hand, and waited for him to finish before slowly speaking:

"Boss Qian is really flexible and adaptable."

Boss Qian continued to apologize, "No, no, it's really my fault for speaking out of turn. I'll definitely reflect on it when I get back."

Wu Wei placed the cup on the windowsill, the bottom of the cup making a soft sound as it hit the marble table. "Then remember not to bite things everywhere next time."

Boss Qian's expression finally changed, revealing a hint of barely suppressed anger.

However, he didn't dare to turn against the Wu family in a business meeting, let alone lash out in front of Xie Yuchen.

He swallowed his anger, bowed and apologized twice, and then slunk back into the crowd with his two companions.

Wu Wei watched him walk away, then turned around, took a glass of juice from a passing waiter's tray, and handed it to Xie Yuchen: "Thanks."

Xie Yuchen took the cup, her gaze still fixed on the direction Boss Qian had left in: "Is Brother Wu Wei going to teach him a lesson?"

"What do you think I would do?" Wu Wei raised an eyebrow.

Xie Yuchen withdrew his gaze, thought for a moment about the scene when Wu Wei risked his life to save him when they were children, and tentatively asked, "...Forgive me?"

Wu Wei lowered his head and took a sip of juice, a smile curving his lips: "Don't think of me as so kind, Xiao Hua."

"I have an easier way."

"What?"

Wu Wei raised his chin in the direction Wu Erbai had left and said frankly, "To tattle."

Xie Yuchen was stunned for a moment, then burst out laughing.

When he smiles, his eyebrows and eyes relax, and his calm demeanor reveals a youthful vivacity.

Xie Yuchen looked at Wu Wei with curiosity and admiration in her eyes.

"If you want to get into the business world, I can help you. The Xie family has some influence in Beijing; it won't be difficult for them to pave a few paths for you."

Wu Wei immediately waved his hand: "No, please."

He looked at Xie Yuchen earnestly: "I appreciate your kindness, but it's really not necessary."

Xie Yuchen looked at him with some confusion.

Wu Wei sighed, "Xiao Hua, you are very capable to have secured a position in the Xie family at such a young age, but I don't think I have that ability."

"I'm used to being carefree and easygoing, and I can't handle the future of a whole family. It's enough for Xiaoxie to worry about this kind of thing."

"As for me, I just want to travel around, go on trips, and occasionally take on adventures."

Xie Yuchen felt that Wu Wei was different from the symbol of kindness she had in her childhood.

He was also unlike anyone he had met over the years.

He is surrounded by self-important people who, even if it's just to save face, will pretend to be tolerant and magnanimous, only to retaliate behind the scenes.

Who would openly admit to others that they would tattle on someone?

But Wu Wei spoke so matter-of-factly, without trying to hide anything.

This kind of freedom and spontaneity is something Xie Yuchen longs for but cannot obtain.

"If I have the chance, I'd like to go out and run around with you."

When Xie Yuchen spoke, his tone didn't sound like he was joking.

Wu Weichong smiled at him, his peach blossom eyes curving into two beautiful arcs: "Okay, welcome, Little Flower."

"Just call me Wu Wei, it always sounds awkward to call me 'brother'."

Xie Yuchen nodded with a smile.

Not long after, Wu Erbai came down from the second floor.

He spotted Wu Wei and Xie Yuchen standing side by side in the corner at a glance, a hint of surprise flashing across his face:

"How did you two end up together? I was worried that we wouldn't recognize each other after so long."

Wu Wei blurted out, "We're destined to meet, we bumped into each other yesterday."

Xie Yuchen bowed slightly to Wu Erbai, showing perfect manners: "Second Uncle Wu."

Wu Erbai nodded, his gaze falling on Xie Yuchen, his admiration growing even stronger.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Wu Erbai patted Wu Wei on the shoulder and said, "Let's go, we still have to go back to the betting station."

Wu Weichong and Xie Yuchen waved and turned to follow Wu Erbai.

As he stepped out of the clubhouse, a night breeze rushed towards him. Wu Wei took a deep breath of the cool early autumn air and loosened his tie by two fingers.

Wu Erbai walked ahead of him, saying without turning his head, "You and Yu Chen get along well."

"It's a childhood friendship." Wu Wei took a few steps to catch up, pulled off his tie, crumpled it up, and stuffed it into his pocket.

"That kid from the Xie family is capable; he's much less of a worry than you."

"Isn't it just that I was lucky to run into you?" Wu Wei flattered without batting an eye.

"That's where Xiaohua's bad luck lies; she has no elder to protect her."

Wu Erbai remembered that he understood Lianhuan, but remained silent.

Wu Wei pressed on, asking, "Dad, don't you think so?"

Wu Erbai didn't reply, but bent down and got into the car.

Wu Wei then climbed into the back seat, and Erjing started the car, smoothly driving out of the clubhouse.

Wu Xie had been waiting for Wu Wei ever since he returned from outside today.

The sound of a car engine shutting off came from the yard, and Wu Xie stood up from the sofa.

Wu Erbai and Wu Wei entered the door one after the other.

"Second Uncle."

Wu Erbai had been running around all day and looked visibly tired. He nodded when he heard Wu Xie's greeting and went back to his room.

Wu Wei followed behind, his suit jacket draped over his forearm.

"Why aren't you asleep yet?"

"Something came up."

"Let's go, let's talk in my room."

Wu Wei pulled his suit jacket closer to his arms and tilted his head slightly toward the corridor.

Wu Xie's expression underwent a subtle change for a moment.

Whenever Wu Wei's room was mentioned, he would recall the sensation of the muscles contracting in his hand as the towel wiped Wu Wei's side.

"Let's do it here," Wu Xie blurted out.

He cleared his throat and said as naturally as possible, "It'll be quick, just a little thing."

Wu Wei didn't insist. He casually draped his suit jacket over the back of the sofa, unbuttoned a few buttons on his shirt, sank into the sofa, closed his eyes, and took a breath.

"Speak?"

Wu Xie took out a sheepskin scroll from his pocket and handed it over.

The edges of the parchment scroll were irregular, the leather had turned yellow and hardened, and there were several deep creases that were almost breaking.

"This is what Fatty received at the store today. The man said his ancestors were high-ranking officials, and this item has been passed down for many generations. It records the tomb of a minor king."

As Wu Xie spoke, he sat down next to Wu Wei and tapped the parchment scroll with his finger.

"But he couldn't read the words on it, so he took it to Panjiayuan hoping to find someone who knew its value. Fatty found it and asked me to bring it here for you to take a look."

"The little king?" Wu Wei took the parchment scroll, rubbed his fingertips on the rough leather, and frowned slightly.

He rolled up the sheepskin, spread it out on the coffee table, bent down, and looked closer.

"This is interesting. It's not a mainstream writing system. The stroke structure differs from oracle bone script and bronze script, and it seems more like some kind of regional variant. I need to do some research before I can translate it."

Wu Xie nodded, not surprised by the result.

Although Wu Wei is a PhD in ancient Chinese characters, he couldn't possibly understand these obscure characters that appeared out of nowhere at a glance.

"Fatty said that if there's a tomb on the parchment, let's go explore it together."

"Okay, I'll translate it and let you know tomorrow."

Wu Wei rolled up the sheepskin and casually wrapped it in a newspaper from the coffee table.

She stood up, picked up her suit jacket, and draped it over her shoulder: "Go to sleep early."

Wu Xie responded and watched Wu Wei walk towards the room carrying the sheepskin scroll.

The wind lifted a corner of his shirt hem, and the corridor lights stretched his shadow long.

Wu Xie watched the figure disappear at the end of the corridor before standing up from the sofa.

She rubbed her ears, which had started to burn again without her noticing, and quickly walked back to her room.