Storage jars found in ancient tombs were fairly common burial items, so Shen Sangyu wasn’t able to absorb much artifact aura from the few pottery jars at the Tang residence.
Still, being able to help Tang Yuan and her family made her genuinely happy.
“Sang Sang, why are you home so late? And why weren’t you answering your phone?”
By the time she had dealt with the jars, marked all the important topics for Tang Yuan’s finals, and headed home, it was already close to nine o’clock at night.
Shen Qian and Zhou Hui were still waiting in the living room.
Normally, they would have gone to bed long ago.
“Sorry, Dad, Mom. My phone must have run out of battery and shut itself off.”
She tapped the black screen of her phone in confusion.
She distinctly remembered it still having more than half its battery when she left that morning.
Seeing that his daughter had returned home safely, Shen Qian finally relaxed and got up to head to bed.
“It’s good that you’re back. Professor Du was looking for you. Give him a call when you have a chance.”
The moment Shen Sangyu plugged her phone into the charger, the screen lit up.
Almost instantly, Du Yansong’s call came through.
Professor Du is still awake this late?
After everything that had happened that day, classes, dealing with Meng Chengxi, and everything else…
She had completely forgotten about the Mid-Autumn Manuscript.
So when she answered the phone, she sounded genuinely puzzled.
“Professor Du? Is something wrong?”
“You finally answered! If you hadn’t picked up soon, someone was about to head straight to Haishi to find you!”
Du Yansong glanced at the anxious-looking Zhu Dongrun beside him and simply handed him the phone.
“Here, Old Zhu, you tell her yourself.”
Old Zhu?
“Hello? Is this Miss Shen? I’m Zhu Dongrun. I specialize in cursive calligraphy research.”
“The calligraphy you sent to Professor Du… would it be possible for me to examine it in person? I can leave for Haishi first thing tomorrow morning.”
He wanted to come personally?
“Professor Zhu, that might not be very convenient on my end.”
“How about this? I’ll bring it to the capital myself and hand it over to you.”
“Yes! Of course! That would be perfect!”
Zhu Dongrun nodded repeatedly.
Traveling to Haishi at his age really wasn’t easy anymore.
The last time Du Yansong had visited, Shen Qian had already been shocked enough.
If Zhu Dongrun showed up too, Shen Qian would definitely start asking questions.
To avoid unnecessary complications, Shen Sangyu felt it would be better to deliver the manuscript directly to the Huaguo National Museum herself.
“Miss Shen…”
Zhu Dongrun hesitated.
“If you come to the capital, how long can you stay? We’ll probably need more time to compare and study the manuscript.”
He was worried.
Whether he traveled to Haishi or Shen Sangyu traveled to the capital, neither option would give the research team much time.
“Professor Zhu.”
Shen Sangyu smiled.
“I’ll simply deliver it to you.”
“As for how it’s handled or studied afterward… that’s entirely up to all of you.”
Her words landed like a thunderclap.
“Young lady…”
“You mean… you’re willing to donate this manuscript as well?”
This was completely different from the bronze wine vessel.
The authenticity of the Mid-Autumn Manuscript had yet to be officially confirmed.
Shen Sangyu could have kept it hidden forever.
Once its authenticity was proven, she could quietly consign it to a private auction house and earn an unimaginable fortune.
After receiving her firm confirmation, Zhu Dongrun looked at Du Yansong with unconcealed envy.
“Professor Du…”
“This girl is truly remarkable.”
Du Yansong immediately puffed out his chest.
“Of course she is. Have you forgotten whose student she is?”
By now, he had become so practiced at claiming Shen Sangyu as his final disciple that he could say it with a perfectly straight face.
…
“Yingqi, there’s something I need to tell you…”
If Shen Sangyu personally brought the manuscript to the capital, it would be difficult to keep the matter hidden if someone investigated later.
Du Yansong immediately called Fu Yingqi and asked him to make the necessary arrangements.
He had seen with his own eyes just how much the young man cared about Shen Sangyu.
“I understand.”
“I’ll take care of it immediately. Don’t worry, Professor Du.”
When Fu Yingqi answered the phone, he had just stepped out of the shower.
A black towel was loosely wrapped around his waist.
Defined abdominal muscles stretched across his torso, and droplets of water slid down the sharp lines of his V-shaped muscles before disappearing beneath the towel.
Halfway through drying his hair, he paused.
With one casual shake of his head, beads of water scattered from his damp hair.
He glanced at the time.
She has probably gone to bed by now…
His thumb hovered over the call button.
Then he changed his mind.
Instead of calling, he opened their chat window.
He wanted to hear her voice…
But he didn’t want to disturb her.
After carefully revising the message several times, he finally sent it.
Sangyu, Professor Du told me about the Mid-Autumn Manuscript. I can have my people pick it up from your school tomorrow. There’s no need for you to make a special trip to the capital.
Shen Sangyu wasn’t asleep.
She had been worrying about how to ask her homeroom teacher for leave, and what excuse she could possibly give her parents.
Being a senior preparing for the college entrance exams was truly exhausting.
Then, as if fate had heard her prayers…
Fu Yingqi’s message arrived.
Third Brother Fu really was her guardian angel!
She immediately replied.
That’s wonderful! I was just worrying about how to ask for leave. Thank you so much, Third Brother! ♡
Fu Yingqi stared at the little heart in her message for a very long time.
Then he typed his reply.
You don’t have to be so polite with me. I’m just glad I can help.
Before he could put down his phone, another message popped up.
Good night, Third Brother. Sweet dreams!
A miserable senior like me doesn’t get to have any nightlife.
A faint smile appeared at the corner of Fu Yingqi’s lips.
Good night…
He lowered his eyes.
His half-dry hair cast shadows across them, hiding the overwhelming longing surging beneath.
His fingertips gently brushed across the phone screen.
“Good night…”
“Sang Sang…”
…
On her very first day after transferring schools, Meng Chengxi had already suffered a humiliating defeat at Shen Sangyu’s hands.
Furious, she hid inside the villa that Father Meng and Mother Meng had specially purchased for the siblings after their transfer and immediately called Shi Qing.
“Redeem that painting as quickly as possible.”
“And don’t forget.”
“Your life, and everything you own, is in the hands of the Meng family.”
Shi Qing had always believed that Shen Qian had somehow offended the Meng family.
“Miss Meng, the plan has changed.”
“Shen Qian insisted on having the transaction notarized.”
“So what if he did?”
“The notary isn’t an antique expert.”
“I want Qinan Restaurant out of business within three days.”
She slammed the phone down.
Shi Qing was completely useless.
She had spent a fortune cleaning up his gambling debts, yet he couldn’t even handle such a simple task.
In the neighboring room, Meng Ming’en frowned as he listened to his sister’s shrill voice through the wall.
Something had been bothering him.
For about a month now…
His sister had clearly been hiding something from the family.
He had caught glimpses of suspicious behavior several times.
Especially now.
The college entrance examination was only one semester away.
Even if they planned to study overseas afterward…
Transferring schools at this point simply made no sense.
…
Fu Yingqi moved quickly.
Long before this, he had already assigned people to protect Shen Sangyu in secret.
At first, it was because he feared the mastermind behind the attack on him might target Shen Sangyu after learning about the relic.
Later…
His men unexpectedly discovered that the Meng family had also begun making suspicious moves.
“Miss Shen.”
“Third Master sent us to collect the item.”
Early the next morning, two men in immaculate black suits were already waiting downstairs outside Shen Sangyu’s apartment building.
At this hour, there were very few people around.
As expected of Third Brother Fu.
He really thought of everything.
Shen Sangyu handed over the small case she had prepared.
Then, unable to suppress her curiosity, she asked,
“Have you all been secretly protecting me this entire time?”
“Yes.”
The suited man nodded.
“And besides us… there are others as well.”
He had no idea who Miss Shen really was.
But Third Master had arranged layer upon layer of protection around her.
The school.
Her apartment complex.
Qinan Restaurant.
Multiple security teams had been stationed in every location.
Of course, he didn’t dare reveal too much.
Third Master had specifically instructed them not to let Miss Shen know the details.
Shen Sangyu smiled sincerely.
“Thank you.”
“And please thank everyone else for me as well.”
The man blinked in surprise.
“I will.”
“But this is simply our duty, Miss Shen. You don’t have to thank us.”
If Third Master found out she was thanking them personally…
He’d probably skin them alive for making her feel indebted.
Still…
Miss Shen really was as beautiful as she was kind.