Tomb raiders: You stole my little Qilin?

The train arrived at Beijing Station in the evening.

The driver that Xie Yuchen had arranged in advance was already waiting at the exit. When the four of them came out, he respectfully opened the car door.

The black van was spacious enough that four people, along with their bags, could fit inside without feeling cramped.

First, they sent Fatty Wang back to Panjiayuan.

Just before getting off the bus, the fat man poked his head in through the window and waved to the three of them: "Hey, Fatty's off! Come visit me sometime."

All three nodded in agreement.

The fat man chuckled and patted the car window before turning and disappearing into the alley.

The car restarted, made a few turns, and headed towards Wu Erbai's house.

Xie Yuchen didn't reach out to take Wu Wei's arm like she did on the train; she simply sat quietly.

Wu Xie remained unusually silent throughout the journey.

He usually loved to huddle up to Wu Wei and chat, but today he leaned against the car window alone, watching the streetlights rushing past outside without saying a word.

Wu Wei glanced at him several times, wondering what was wrong with this kid again, but he didn't ask in front of Xie Yuchen.

It was already completely dark when the car stopped in front of the house.

The guards at the gate saw that it was Young Master Er sitting in the car, so they opened the gate from a distance, and someone ran in to report.

The three got out of the car. The servants took the luggage. Wu Wei and Wu Xie walked in front, while Xie Yuchen followed at a leisurely pace.

Before I even entered the main hall, a figure came out to greet me.

"Little Wei! Little Evil!"

Wu Wei paused, his eyes suddenly lighting up.

"Uncle Erjing!"

I walked over and gave Erjing a big hug.

Erjing was knocked back half a step by him, and patted him on the back with a smile:

"You little rascal, you've been gone for so many days and haven't even called home once."

"I hit him, I hit him, I hit him for my dad." Wu Wei released Erjing and said with a grin.

"Second Master said your hand wasn't fully healed yet, and you went out running around again. He's been talking about you several times these past few days."

Erjing's gaze passed over Wu Wei's shoulder and landed on Xie Yuchen, where he nodded slightly in greeting.

Then, he whispered in Wu Wei's ear, "Second Master said you might have a girlfriend, who is it?"

Wu Wei's smile froze on his face. He abruptly turned his head to look towards the main hall and said in a low voice:

"Why would my dad say such nonsense? There's no one here, really no one here!"

Erjing looked at him with a half-smile, clearly not believing him.

Wu Erbai happens to be home today.

When the servant announced his arrival, he was in his study reviewing the month's trading accounts.

Hearing that Wu Wei and Wu Xie had returned with guests, he put down his account book and came out of the study.

When Xie Yuchen saw Wu Erbai, she greeted him affectionately as "Uncle Wu Erbai".

Wu Erbai nodded, seeing that Jian Yuchen was here, and decided to temporarily give up disciplining his two good-for-nothing sons.

"Yu Chen, come in and sit down. Er Jing, have someone serve tea."

The servant brought the tea and distributed it to the group. Wu Erbai spoke first:

"Why didn't Yu Chen give us a heads-up? Second Uncle didn't prepare anything today."

Xie Yuchen picked up her teacup, took a symbolic sip, and said with a smile:

"I came back in a hurry today and just wanted to say hello to my elders, so I didn't give them any advance notice."

Wu Wei felt there was something subtly off about the scene.

Wu Erbai, holding his teacup, raised an eyebrow at Wu Wei. "Is that so?"

Wu Wei immediately shook his head, "No!"

Wu Erbai didn't believe it. His gaze shifted from Xie Yuchen to Wu Wei, and then back to Xie Yuchen.

His face didn't betray any emotion, but Wu Wei knew his father's mind was racing.

Wu Erbai put down his teacup and tried to persuade her to stay, "It's getting late, Yu Chen, why don't you have dinner with me today?"

Xie Yuchen did not refuse and thanked him generously.

Dinner was prepared by the family cook: a few home-style dishes and a pot of slow-cooked soup.

Wu Erbai sat in the main seat, and Xie Yuchen was arranged to sit to his left.

During the meal, Wu Erbai casually asked about the local customs and travel experiences in Ningxia, and Xie Yuchen answered them one by one.

Occasionally, a few interesting anecdotes about the Xie family's business are mentioned, without deliberately showing off or being overly modest.

Wu Erbai's admiration for Xie Yuchen grew stronger, while he looked at Wu Wei and Wu Xie with a mixture of disappointment and frustration.

"Yu Chen, if my two boys were like you, I wouldn't have to worry about them so much."

"Uncle Wu, you flatter me."

Xie Yuchen picked up the teacup with both hands and offered it to Wu Erbai.

"The Xie family has a weak foundation and relies entirely on everyone's help. Unlike the Wu family, which has a deep-rooted foundation and Uncle Wu is a well-known figure in the underworld. With you as their pillar of support, the two of them can naturally learn slowly."

Wu Erbai's lips curled up.

Xie Yuchen speaks with perfect tact; if you praise him, he'll return the compliment with two compliments, never sounding obsequious or stiff, always striking the perfect balance.

"I heard you ran into the Wang family in Ningxia this time?" Wu Erbai changed the subject.

Xie Yuchen's expression also turned serious: "Yes. A middle-aged man with a phoenix tattoo. Brother Wu Wei and I took care of him together."

Xie Yuchen looked at Wu Wei, and where no one else could see, her eyes revealed undisguised affection.

"Wu Wei is very skilled. If it weren't for his quick reflexes, I might have been injured."

Wu Erbai glanced at Wu Wei, who guiltily picked up his teacup to cover half of his face.

"Heh, Wu Wei is really something." Wu Erbai stared at Wu Wei so much that he didn't dare to look up.

He ran out before he was fully recovered, without saying that there was danger.

Wu Weiqian chuckled twice. "Unexpected, unexpected."

Wu Xie felt a pang of sadness when he saw the affection in Xie Yuchen's eyes as she looked at Wu Wei.

He tugged at Wu Wei's pants under the table.

When Wu Wei turned his gaze to him, Wu Xie said, "Brother, I want to eat ribs."

Wu Wei casually picked up a few pieces for him.

Even though Wu Xie knew that Wu Wei was just being nice to his younger brother out of habit, he still felt a sweet warmth in his heart.

Wu Erbai was pleased to see their brotherly affection and teased, "Xiao Xie is still so dependent on his older brother."

Wu Xie couldn't help but laugh. Wu Wei patted Wu Xie's head, and Wu Xie laughed even more happily.

Wu Xie is still young, and his little schemes can't be hidden from Wu Erbai.

After watching for a while, Wu Erbai's gentle smile suddenly froze.

He blinked in disbelief, confirming that he saw sweetness and shyness towards Wu Wei on Wu Xie's face.

!

sweet?

Shy?

Wu Erbai was inwardly turbulent, but remained outwardly calm.

After the meal, Xie Yuchen got up to take his leave. Wu Erbai asked Wu Wei to see him off, and Wu Wei did not refuse.

The two walked slowly out along the alley outside the house.

The streetlights were already on, casting a dim yellow light on the blue brick wall, making the two people's shadows very long.

Just as they reached the car, Xie Yuchen suddenly opened her arms. "Want to hug me?"

Wu Wei didn't hug him, but simply raised his hand and patted Wu Xie's head as he had done to Wu Xie.

"Let's go back."

Xie Yuchen lowered her hand and said to Wu Wei again, gently but firmly, "I like you."

Wu Wei patted his forehead and said evasively, "Let's go back."

Xie Yuchen obediently got into the car.

Wu Wei watched the car drive out of the alley, and then stop again at the alley entrance.

Xie Yuchen rolled down the car window and said to Wu Wei, "I'm serious."

"call……"

As the car drove out of sight, Wu Wei let out a long sigh and went back.

Today felt even more tiring than going to a tomb.