Chapter 49

Chapter 49

Yuan Ye on the other end of the phone hadn’t realized what was happening, still babbling: “…No way, Master Qu, didn’t you say you quit smoking?”

“…An excuse smoke is still a relapse. You can’t ignore it just because it’s small. You always brag about your strong willpower, but I see it’s just like this.”

Qu Yixian’s scalp tingled, her mind went blank.

Yuan Ye’s chatter was like a tree full of sparrows in Nanjiang at dawn, noisy from the moment the sun rose.

So loud.

She wanted him to shut up immediately.

But, as usual, things went against her wish.

Not only did Yuan Ye not shut up, he became even more obnoxious: “…Hey wait, I didn’t hear clearly—Master Qu, who did you borrow a smoke from? You and Brother Xun… you two…”

Suddenly realizing something, he froze in horror: “Master Qu, at least say something! Staying silent like this makes it way too easy for me to misunderstand.”

Fu Xun had obviously heard too.

He raised his hand, snatched the phone from her palm, hung up directly, and tossed it onto the hallway table where the tea set and kettle were.

The tempered phone case struck the glass tabletop with a dull, sharp sound, startlingly clear in the night.

Qu Yixian was almost “woken” by the sound. She came back to herself from the brief shock, instinctively turned her head to avoid Fu Xun.

He grasped at empty air, frozen in place, staring at her without moving.

Qu Yixian’s lips were beautiful, curves precise. Lowered, the line was gentle; smiling, the corners curled, bold and striking. Most enticing was when she smoked: lips pursed, exhaling, the line straight yet slightly rounded, combining strength and femininity in one, every gesture filled with charm.

He realized he had underestimated her impact on him.

Not just the Qu Yixian from the Xi’an bar, who made him want to buy her a drink every night, but also this Qu Yixian: rescuing in the sandstorms, leading the circuit, calm and reliable in crises, earning his trust and admiration.

Every side of her, he adored.

That calm, restrained, composed exterior, catalyzed by encountering her, became like perfume’s top notes—slightly bitter, slightly sweet, permeating his body and unraveling his composure.

——

In the near-standoff silence.

Her fingers holding the cigarette burned; the sudden pain made her drop the cigarette, already smoldering on her hand.

Sparks scattered with the ash across the floor.

She stomped it out, pressing with her toe. Lifting her head again, her voice hoarse, carrying a subtle danger: “The year I first led a team, there was a male client who saw me as the female leader and deliberately tried to bully me.”

“Also in Dunhuang, at a campsite.” Her gaze landed on Fu Xun, right in front of her: “Around three a.m., he got into my tent, tried to strip me.”

“I didn’t scream.”

“I threatened him: unless he killed me that night in the tent, tomorrow his family, his work, his kid’s school would all know what he did.”

“He got scared and silently returned to his tent. After completing the circuit, on the night he paid the final fee, I went to the hotel and hit him. Not too hard—just disabled the hand he used to strip my clothes.”

“I’m like you,” Qu Yixian said. “If I have a grudge, I repay it.”

“One thing at a time…” She raised her hand silently, grabbed his collar, applied slight force: “I’ll give you a chance to explain—what did you mean just now?”

Her voice grew lower, the final words rising slightly, drifting softly.

Fu Xun’s tone was even calmer: “Even if we settle this now, it probably won’t be clear.”

He bent one leg slightly to meet her eye level: “How you want to end this, I’ll cooperate unconditionally.”

Qu Yixian: “…” Damn it.

Fu Xun had a talent for letting her swing a fist with full force, only to hit cotton.

You want an explanation? He says it can’t be explained.

If you say his attitude is bad, he says he’ll cooperate unconditionally…

So kissing her doesn’t come with a price, huh?

“What do you take me for?” she gritted her teeth, the second half squeezed out between them: “I don’t sleep around, I don’t mess with men. Fu Xun, you’ve crossed me.”

“Sorry,” Fu Xun apologized. “I couldn’t help myself.”

Qu Yixian: “…” You’d better just shut up.

She couldn’t make a big deal about demanding an explanation; it would seem pretentious. Adults, when infatuated, with hormones running high, accidental sparks happen all the time.

But the prerequisite is, it can’t be Fu Xun!

If it were Yuan Ye, she’d have hit him. If one beating wasn’t enough, two more would settle it, and the matter would be done. But Fu Xun… she couldn’t hit him, not only couldn’t, but mustn’t.

Perhaps because Qu Yixian had been silent too long, Fu Xun’s jaw pulled in slightly, his voice low: “I don’t like avoiding things. If you think what I did is serious, I don’t object to being added to your ‘reserve list’ to cultivate feelings first…”

Before he finished, Qu Yixian immediately released her grip on his collar.

She stepped back, drawing a clear boundary: “You’re overthinking. I’m not that bothered.” She chalked it up to being bitten by a mink, unlucky.

This topic was too dangerous, too ambiguous; Qu Yixian didn’t want to continue discussing it with Fu Xun.

She stepped past him to retrieve the phone tossed on the hallway table.

The moment she touched the phone, Yuan Ye, unusually prompt, called her again.

She answered casually, clearing her throat: “Yuan Ye.”

“Master Qu, I have… some new developments. Quan Xiao just revealed something to me,” Yuan Ye said. “Dulan County, recently an ancient tomb was looted.”

After the call was hung up earlier, Yuan Ye had been waiting for Qu Yixian to call back. Unexpectedly, the first call came from Quan Xiao.

About an hour ago, Yuan Ye had taken a close-up photo of the spike that punctured his tire and sent it to Quan Xiao, asking about its origin.

Quan Xiao replied: “The phone camera has color discrepancies; I can’t confirm authenticity. But recently, Dunhuang has received many solid artifacts—all genuine. These items are over a thousand years old, matching the timeline of the Dulan ancient tombs.”

The Dulan tomb group is in Dulan County. Historically, it was an important post of the Tuyuhun Kingdom and the ancient Silk Road.

Archaeologists have found over a thousand tombs in Dulan County, each at least 1,500 years old, hence called an ancient tomb group. The most famous tomb is the “Nine-Story Demon Tower.”

The tomb chamber faces south, known as the “Eastern Pyramid.” The tomb has nine layers and is still targeted by grave robbers.

Quan Xiao said: “A sudden rush to sell so many ancient artifacts likely means another tomb in Dulan has been looted.”

“Vehicles with cloned plates are hard to trace, but those who punctured your tires with spike nails and relentlessly pursued Master Qu? Probably those tomb robbers.”

After Yuan Ye relayed the information to Qu Yixian, he paused a few seconds: “Before hanging up, Quan Xiao said he wants to meet you soon. The Gouyun Jade Pendant incident has stirred the Dunhuang antique circle; people are anxious. He’s worried Shen Zhizhi might be in danger.”

“Fine.” Qu Yixian returned to the TV cabinet, grabbed the Tulo car keys: “Give me his contact info. I’m heading into Dunhuang now.”

After hanging up, she turned to Fu Xun: “Heard everything? Any opinions?”

“None.” Fu Xun put his jacket back on and asked: “You and Shengzi swapped cars, planning to be ready to enter Dunhuang at any time?”

“No.” Qu Yixian waited for him to step out with her: “The cruiser is too conspicuous. I planned to rent a car tomorrow morning anyway. Happened to meet Shengzi, avoided post-problem hassle.”

She closed the door and entered the elevator with Fu Xun right behind her.

“I plan to meet Quan Xiao at the Seven Star Hotel. I know it well; if there’s trouble, evacuation is easy,” she pressed the close button, entered the parking lot from the side, and drove off.

——

The speed entering Dunhuang wasn’t fast.

Qu Yixian intentionally took a longer route to test for other pursuers. Changing cars seemed to have temporarily fooled the tailing spy. From entering Dunhuang to checking in at the Seven Star Hotel, everything went smoothly.

Once settled, only half an hour remained before meeting Quan Xiao.

On Xinghui territory, Qu Yixian visibly relaxed. Upon entering, she called the front desk to order takeout.

While waiting, she went back to the parking lot to give Diao Chan some chicken breast, muttering: “I didn’t even bring my luggage today, only what you eat. You’ll have to change your temper—stop hiding my pocket money when upset. You’re making it harder on yourself.”

She deliberately teased Diao Chan’s appetite. When it clawed anxiously, she fed it with satisfaction: “Serves you right today.”

Fu Xun had just retrieved the spike nails and the Dulan tomb information from the Nanjiang studio. Occasionally, when he looked up, he saw Diao Chan either sharpening its claws or teeth.

His hand paused mid-page, eyes following her slender, fair fingers down to the corner of her lips. After lingering for a few seconds, he nonchalantly moved his gaze away, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

Five minutes before the scheduled meeting with Quan Xiao, the doorbell rang.

Qu Yixian went to answer the door.

She lifted the peephole cover and looked outside. Standing at the door was a young man in black, with a crew cut.

Qu Yixian compared him to the description Yuan Ye had given… it roughly matched the crew cut.

She returned inside, glanced around, and casually grabbed an ashtray from the table.

Seeing this, Fu Xun called her: “Qu Yixian.”

She turned back.

He stood, walked a few steps closer, gesturing for her to hide behind the door: “I’ll get the door.”

Qu Yixian responded with an “oh,” tucked the ashtray behind her back, and stepped behind the door.

When the doorbell rang again, Fu Xun opened it.

Quan Xiao’s hand was still on the doorbell. Hearing a sound, he recognized Fu Xun and looked slightly surprised: “You are…”

Fu Xun glanced outside and shushed him, gesturing for him to come in first.

Quan Xiao, clearly a bit nervous, entered the room, back facing the hallway, awkward: “Mr. Fu…”

Qu Yixian, standing behind the door, raised an eyebrow: “You know each other?”

Quan Xiao turned, and after seeing Qu Yixian, he smiled: “Master Qu.”

Qu Yixian wasn’t surprised he recognized her. She weighed the heavy ashtray in her hand in front of Quan Xiao and smiled: “Make yourself comfortable.”

Quan Xiao looked at the ashtray, his smile stiffening slightly: “Master Qu, what’s this?”

Qu Yixian gave an “oh” and, without holding back, gave him a little show of force: “For self-defense, against villains.”