Chapter 58

Chapter 58

The cloud-patterned jade pendant on the sticky note was sketched in a few rough strokes, messy and unpolished, like an unfinished line draft.

The cloud patterns on the jade and the naturally cracked water veins were captured perfectly with simple pencil lines, the lines and placement identical to the piece in Qu Yixian’s hand.

Her lips suddenly felt dry.

The inner pocket holding the jade seemed to radiate warmth, faintly heating up.

Through the car door, she feigned casualness and asked, “Are the cloud patterns on a cloud-patterned jade pendant all unique?”

Fu Xun’s brow twitched slightly, and he didn’t answer directly. “Why do you ask?”

Qu Yixian said casually, “You draw it so skillfully, it looks like mass production.”

Fu Xun chuckled softly. “I carry this jade pendant with me, have for many years. I’ve felt it inside and out…” He paused, implying something. “Even a perfect replica, I could tell at a glance.”

Qu Yixian didn’t respond.

She glanced again at the sketch of the jade pendant on the paper. “I’ll go pick up Jiang Yun first.”

Fu Xun nodded, watching Tu Le drive out of the courtyard. He put away the pencil and turned to enter the house.

The wind and sand in Dunhuang were strong. Qu Yixian habitually kept the car windows tightly shut and ran the air conditioner.

Today, for some reason, she felt irritable and impatient with everyone.

The pushy Volkswagen drivers; the Prado crawling like a snail and daring to be on the road; and the Cadillac next to her weaving recklessly through multiple lanes.

She had been squinting, braking gently, waiting for the red light. Seeing the countdown reach three seconds, she slowly released the brake, waiting for the car ahead to move, then followed it.

Unexpectedly, the Cadillac in the adjacent lane suddenly crossed the white line and cut in.

With only a few inches of safety distance, Qu Yixian instinctively slammed the brakes.

Tu Le stopped, and at the same time, the intersection light turned green, and all vehicles moved.

The Cadillac’s driver rolled down the window halfway, tapped lightly on the frame as if to show defiance, then sped off.

Amid the surround-sound of honking cars, Qu Yixian squinted, a flash of sharp determination in her eyes.

The sunlight heated the windshield like a furnace, immediately igniting her temper.

Cut her off?

Today, this young lady will teach you the meaning of “regret it later.”

Qu Yixian started, shifted gears, and navigated through the congested traffic like a fish, swishing her tail, weaving skillfully between lanes.

Soon, she caught up to the Cadillac.

The driver’s window went down. She glanced sideways at the deep black window, pressed the accelerator, overtaking the Cadillac by one car length, then turned the wheel to cut in front of it, lightly pressing the brake to light up the tail lights.

At such a close distance, the driver seemed caught off guard and slammed the brakes to regain space.

Qu Yixian checked the rearview mirror leisurely, released the brake, and continued forward. Seeing the Cadillac accelerate again, she swerved slightly, blocking its path once more.

Qu Yixian loved driving. She had been unruly in driving school. Later, when leading clients in the Northwest, both for their experience and safety, she always maintained moderate speeds.

Even under Gansu’s strict traffic enforcement, her violation record was cleaner than the locals’.

But that didn’t mean the sleeping tiger would remain asleep.

After the Cadillac’s initial attempts at revenge by speeding and cutting in were suppressed, it completely lost its will to fight, slowed further, and eventually pulled over to the emergency lane.

Qu Yixian didn’t bother delaying herself to teach it a lesson. Glancing across the right-turn lane at the driver, she continued straight.

When she reached the Mogao Caves parking lot, Jiang Yun hadn’t arrived yet.

Jiang Yun sent a WeChat: she was on the park’s shuttle and would meet Qu Yixian in about five minutes.

Five minutes was enough for Qu Yixian to figure out a lot.

She pulled the jade pendant from the inner pocket of her jacket, comparing the cloud and water patterns to Fu Xun’s sketch as she recalled it.

Most of the patterns matched, eight or nine out of ten.

She then tried to find the jade flaws Fu Xun had mentioned earlier. She didn’t have expertise in antiques and judged jade only by her personal preference.

This pendant was roughly crafted, with simple patterns, and the jade itself was all white, like mutton-fat jade—opaque, with faint fibrous sediment. Aside from showing its age, it had no distinguishing features.

Yet this thing was worth several million.

And this little object had thrown her previously calm life into chaos, attracting all kinds of people.

She flicked the jade lightly with her finger. The crisp chime echoed as she bit her lower lip, sinking into thought with some difficulty.

If before she had only suspected a connection between the jade in her hand and the cloud-patterned jade pendant Fu Xun was looking for, today… she could be almost certain that this jade was intricately linked to Fu Xun in ways that couldn’t be untangled.

Although Qu Yixian still didn’t understand how this priceless cloud-patterned jade pendant ended up in the antique shop on Mo Family Street in Xining, and how by coincidence she happened to buy it, combining everything that had happened over the past days, the white jade in her hand—which she had always considered inferior—was undoubtedly the cloud-patterned jade pendant that had caused such a stir in Dunhuang.

But…

Several million!

Even after deducting the original three thousand, this was pure profit.

Qu Yixian felt a tingle in her heart.

She kept turning the pendant over in her hands, alternating between sighs and regret, looking as if she were reluctantly tearing flesh from her own body.

Returning it to Fu Xun like this, she didn’t even know if she could get back her principal…

In the distance, a shuttle bus slowly drove into the park from the road’s end. After stopping, both front and rear doors opened, and passengers disembarked one by one.

Qu Yixian glimpsed from afar, saw Jiang Yun get off, looking around, and while putting away the pendant, pressed the horn.

After picking up Jiang Yun, Qu Yixian drove her back to the hotel.

“The hotel serves lunch at noon—buffet, thirty-nine per person. The dishes are quite ordinary; you might not like them. If you want Dunhuang specialties, go straight along Qixing Grand Hotel; after the large disc sculpture shaped like a rebound pipa, about one kilometer ahead is Shazhou Night Market,” Qu Yixian pulled a map from the car pocket and handed it over. “I’ve marked specialty restaurants on the map—several old dunhuang spots for donkey meat yellow noodles, also a hand-pulled mutton place run by Dongxiang people; the lamb and skewers taste good. There’s also apricot peel water, sweet and slightly sour—you’ll probably like it.”

Jiang Yun took it, glanced over roughly, and asked, “What about you?”

“Me?” Qu Yixian looked at her briefly, answering, “In Dunhuang, you don’t need to worry about my meals.”

Jiang Yun nodded, asking no more.

She quieted down. Qu Yixian felt a bit uncomfortable with the sudden silence, and while waiting at a red light, reminded her, “The Mingsha Mountain trip is at three in the afternoon. You have plenty of time for a lunch break. After lunch, you can rest a bit. I’ll be at the parking lot at three to take you there. You’re alone, so be careful when going out, and call me if anything happens. Got it?”

Jiang Yun lazily said, “I haven’t been to Yangguan or the Han Great Wall ruins yet.”

Qu Yixian didn’t respond.

She parked in front of the hotel, didn’t turn off the engine, only pulled the handbrake, signaling that Jiang Yun could get out.

Jiang Yun pouted, displeased, and pushed the car door open.

Qu Yixian watched her enter the hotel, then turned and drove back to the North City pawnshop.

Since Jiang Yun had chosen yesterday to let her continue leading, Qu Yixian had made it clear: she wouldn’t charge for the trip from Dacha Dan to Dunhuang and would simply refund her.

No matter how dissatisfied Jiang Yun was, since they hadn’t settled it yesterday, today she wouldn’t let her renegotiate. She didn’t have that much free time to circle around Dunhuang.

After visiting Zhangye tomorrow and leaving Qilian Mountains the day after, she could conveniently return to Mo Family Street.

When she arrived at the North City pawnshop, it was mealtime.

Her car had just entered the courtyard when Uncle Fu came out to greet her. “Just waiting for you to get back,” he said, urging her inside.

The table was laden with dishes.

The staple was the old brand’s donkey meat yellow noodles, accompanied by cold cucumber salad and seaweed salad. Main dishes included donkey meat, stir-fried kidneys, and steamed braised chicken feet.

Before Qu Yixian even sat down, the aroma had already whetted her appetite.

After washing her hands and sitting in an empty seat, she realized… the empty seat to Fu Xun’s right seemed to have been intentionally left for her.

Once everyone was seated, they began eating.

Yuan Ye, the sycophant, from the first bite started flattery: “Aunt Fu, your cooking is amazing. This seaweed salad is so appetizing!”

The woman called Aunt Fu smiled warmly at Yuan Ye, showing care, “Then eat more.” As she spoke, her gaze shifted to Qu Yixian, and she said slowly, “Today’s preparation was rushed, and I didn’t know what you all like, so I just made a bit of everything. Don’t be formal—take whatever you like, let Cuncun serve you.”

Qu Yixian nearly choked when she heard the name “Cuncun.”

She fumbled for a napkin to cover her mouth, and with her eyes, glanced at Fu Xun, silently asking, Is this Cuncun you?

He nodded casually, using the communal chopsticks to place some seaweed salad into her bowl. “This is appetizing—eat more.”

Qu Yixian smiled.

She swallowed her bite of rice and asked Aunt Fu, “Fu Xun’s childhood name is Cuncun? How did that come about?”

Yuan Ye quietly perked up, eavesdropping.

Qu Yixian really had guts, daring to ask about Fu Xun’s childhood name to his face.

Aunt Fu looked at Fu Xun and laughed, “Oh, the story behind the name is long. Cuncun’s father, Mr. Fu Wangshu, spent his life retrieving national treasures lost overseas. When his wife was pregnant, they used the character ‘Xun’ to express this hope. Both ‘Fu’ and ‘Xun’ contain the character ‘Cun.’ The name Cuncun is cute, so it just stuck.”

Yuan Ye interjected, “Aunt Fu, I guess Mr. Fu and his wife didn’t expect that young Master Xun would grow up looking anything but cute, huh?”

Fu Xun, teased, cast a faint warning glance.

Yuan Ye immediately shut up, hurriedly shoveling in a mouthful of rice.

Seeing the young people interacting, Aunt Fu smiled. “Boys grow up, they should look mature and steady; otherwise, how could they give their women a sense of security? Isn’t that right, Xiaoxian?”

Qu Yixian, caught off guard, muttered, “….”

She glanced at Fu Xun seriously. “Fu Xun’s looks… how do they give a sense of security?”

Fu Xun paused mid-serve and personally joined in, “Where do you think I lack a sense of security?”

“Nowadays, young girls like handsome guys like you, in droves…” Qu Yixian swallowed a bite of donkey meat and gestured at Yuan Ye. “Look at Yuan Ye—thick eyebrows, big eyes, all features in place, slightly fierce even, that’s real manliness.”

Yuan Ye was silent for a few seconds, then couldn’t resist, “Qu Yixian, are you saying I’m not good-looking?”

He stole a glance at Fu Xun, feeling as if someone was holding the back of his neck, chilly.

He couldn’t help but touch his neck, defending, “Who doesn’t want a face like Master Xun’s when looking in the mirror… Don’t exaggerate. Don’t let Aunt Fu and Uncle Fu think young girls these days have no taste.”

Fu Xun didn’t continue the topic.

He chatted with Uncle Fu about the current state of the Dulan tombs, from the Nine-Story Demon Tower to the recently looted graves—so many technical terms that Qu Yixian only half-understood.

After finishing the meal, Qu Yixian had done enough mental preparation.

She deliberately sent Yuan Ye away and found a secluded spot to take out the cloud-patterned jade pendant.

She was constantly on the move, carrying few belongings.

The pendant, however, was wrapped carefully in layers of velvet.

She handed the cloud-patterned jade pendant over like a treasured object, her expression slightly awkward. “Look, is this the cloud-patterned jade pendant you were searching for?”

Fu Xun, already mentally prepared, didn’t show much surprise upon seeing the pendant.

He took it, his fingertips gently stroking the surface, his gaze moving from the knots in the white jade downwards, carefully matching the cloud patterns and natural water patterns.

Every tactile detail, including flaws and cracks, aligned perfectly.

Qu Yixian couldn’t lift the heavy chair and had to lean against the doorframe to watch him authenticate it.

When he focused, he blocked out all distractions. His eyes seemed to see nothing but the jade pendant in his hands.

Those eyes—black and deep—reflected the pendant’s image clearly. From edges to corners, lines to frames, wherever his gaze fell, it seemed to illuminate.

A man, truly, is most handsome when shining in his professional field.

Fu Xun had already redefined Qu Yixian’s perception of most men. He was naturally handsome, whether careless and playful or roguish and arrogant, exuding different kinds of masculinity.

He seemed flawless—you couldn’t find fault in his character or his way of handling people.

Born into a good family, well-educated, with elite background and personal excellence—he belonged to the top echelon.

So, what did he see in her?

She was stubborn to the point of being unreasonable, never listening to anyone. Proud, she was no less than a man—always wanting to prove who was superior, who was longer or bigger. Her personality was awkward; once her sore spots were touched, intentional or not, she would drag it out and strike first.

Being with her required extremely strong psychological endurance.

One had to inspire her admiration and awe, and possess a deterrent strong enough to make her rein in her impulses.

Fu Xun wasn’t unsuitable—he was too perfect, too fitting, which made Qu Yixian feel a bit intimidated.

Qu Yixian sighed, raised her hand to touch the lingering stirrings of desire, then turned and curled up in the Taishi chair.

Not far off, Yuan Ye was chattering beside Fu Tai, with Fu Tai’s intermittent laughter mixed in.

Qu Yixian had no interest in listening to how Yuan Ye tried to please Fu Tai. She vaguely felt that Yuan Ye… was quite suited to being someone else’s son. Watching him seek Fu Tai’s favor, it was almost as if he needed to be officially recorded in the household registry.

She let her mind wander, not noticing that Fu Xun had finished observing and was looking at her.

She absentmindedly lifted the teacup lid, flicking at the tea leaves.

When she noticed Fu Xun’s gaze, she froze for a moment and asked, “How is it? Is this the thing you were looking for?”

Fu Xun didn’t answer immediately. He seemed to ponder for a few seconds. “This piece of jade, where did you get it?”

He already had a rough idea in his mind; it should match what Qu Yixian had said in Kekexili about “a friend.”

He was too calm; Qu Yixian tried to gauge his emotions but failed, and answered lightly, “The night Jiang Yun arrived in Xining, I took her to her hotel near Mojia Street. On the way, I went into a small antique shop on Mojia Street. The owner pushed it to me, saying I wouldn’t be cheated if I bought it.”

Thinking back now, the scene had been somewhat strange.

This priceless jade pendant was like a hot potato in his hands; he wanted Qu Yixian to buy it immediately but feared that rushing would backfire, so he patiently negotiated with her.

Before Fu Xun could ask further, she added, “He offered 8,000, I cut it in half to 4,000. Then I thought it was still expensive, regretted it, and dropped another thousand.”

“This shop’s been open for two or three years; I don’t know the owner. I’m more familiar with specialty shops on Mojia Street, where I often go for purchasing.” She grinned. “Anything else you want to know?”

Fu Xun turned his gaze to her, his voice lowering even further. “Who else knows you bought this jade pendant?”

Even though Qu Yixian was mentally prepared, believing the pendant was genuine, hearing the certainty in his words still made her heart skip a beat.

She was silent for a few seconds, then looked up at him, locking eyes. “…The one they’re looking for… it’s definitely this?”

Fu Xun’s eyes were calm. He nodded very slowly. “It’s it.”

He twirled the jade pendant between his fingers and handed it back. “It’s yours now.”

Qu Yixian didn’t immediately react.

She looked at the cloud-patterned jade pendant in his hand, then up at him. “What do you mean?”

Fu Xun gave a faint, teasing smile. “Destined.”