“Xu Youqing, you get home right now!”
Paper can’t wrap fire—Xu Youqing knew this day was bound to come. She came out of the laboratory building and hurried toward the dormitory.
Her roommate Lin Xiao was just pushing the door open when she saw Xu Youqing packing her things. “You’re going out?”
“My aunt found out I switched majors. I need to go home.”
“Ah? Then going back… will you be okay?”
Lin Xiao was close to Xu Youqing and knew that Xu Youqing had been hiding her studies in cultural relics conservation from her family.
Being discovered at this critical moment, Xu Youqing felt more self-blame than anything. “My aunt is already upset over Xiao Ze’s surgery costs. This matter of mine is just going to add to her worries.”
“How much is still missing for the surgery?” Lin Xiao asked.
“Around fifty thousand.”
“That much…”
Lin Xiao looked at Xu Youqing. She was slightly bent over, her long hair gathered behind her head, making her neck look slender and fair. Xu Youqing raised her hand to pack her things—her wrists were delicate. Even wearing just an ordinary knit sweater, she carried a kind of quiet beauty that was hard to look away from.
“Last time when that person asked you to film a drama, you should have agreed. If you’d become famous, you wouldn’t need to worry about that fifty thousand at all.” Lin Xiao felt it was a pity for Xu Youqing.
Xu Youqing wiped the glaze off her fingers, knowing her own limits well. “I don’t have that kind of acting skills.”
Lin Xiao couldn’t help but say, “You’re just too upright, all your heart and mind set on those old artifacts.”
It wasn’t surprising that Xu Youqing loved them. Her father had been an archaeology professor at Ping University, and her mother a ceramic restoration specialist. She’d grown up immersed in it. Everyone envied Xu Youqing’s family, until four years ago, when a collapse occurred at an archaeological site and her parents couldn’t be rescued—both passed away.
Not long after the funeral, Xu Youqing was taken in by her aunt’s family.
Her aunt was a nurse at a private hospital, and her uncle had been driving a taxi since losing his job. Her aunt’s household was already not well-off, and their son had congenital heart disease. Suddenly having to support another student like Xu Youqing was no small burden.
After starting university, Xu Youqing wanted to lighten her aunt’s load. She studied and worked part-time at the same time, and would also fulfill her little brother’s occasional wishes that her aunt and uncle couldn’t manage. The two siblings had a very close bond.
…
On the high-speed rail home, Xu Youqing propped her head against her hand and looked out the window. More than her own matters, she was worried about her brother’s surgery costs.
A roadside billboard displayed an advertisement for blue-and-white porcelain, which reminded her of the porcelain bowl Ms. Zhao had given her.
She was skilled at porcelain restoration, and her school teachers looked after her well, helping her find some private work. Ms. Zhao was one of her clients.
Xu Youqing had restored a plum vase for Ms. Zhao, and her fee had been modest. Ms. Zhao was very satisfied, feeling that the young woman not only had good craftsmanship but was also very dependable. Delighted, Ms. Zhao not only paid extra but also gave her a bowl with dragon and phoenix patterns.
That bowl might still fetch a decent price. Xu Youqing withdrew her gaze from the billboard, lowered her head, and took out her phone to check the market price of the dragon-and-phoenix patterned bowl.
Suddenly, a call came in.
“Xiao Ze is short on surgery funds—why didn’t you tell me?” Han Zheng’s tone was displeased on the other end of the line.
Back in school, she and Han Zheng had attended the same high school. Han Zheng was two years ahead of her, and the two had grown up together as childhood friends.
A few days ago, Han Zheng’s mother had approached Xu Youqing, saying outright that her family was a bottomless pit and that she didn’t approve of Han Zheng being with her in the future. Actually, even if Han Zheng’s mother hadn’t come forward, Xu Youqing had no intention of troubling Han Zheng. He had already helped her family a great deal, and she didn’t want to keep going down that road.
What his mother said was right—her family really was a bottomless pit.
Before Xu Youqing could answer, Han Zheng spoke again: “Don’t worry about the money. I’ll handle it.”
Xu Youqing lowered her voice, trying not to disturb the passengers around her. “You don’t need to worry about this. I have a way—I have a porcelain bowl at home that I can…”
Han Zheng cut her off: “How much is that broken bowl worth? Is it really that hard for you to just ask me for help?”
Remembering what Han Zheng’s mother had said, Xu Youqing took a deep breath. “Yes, it is.”
She didn’t want to affect their mother-son relationship, and she certainly didn’t want to keep reaching out her hand for money.
“You don’t even approve of what I do, do you?” Han Zheng asked.
After the incident in high school, Han Zheng had been disciplined and never took the college entrance exam, entering society early instead. He worked security at nightclubs and bars, and helped people “run liquor” on the side. After years of struggling and climbing, he now owned his own bar.
Han Zheng knew the “gray areas” of the liquor business all too well. Xu Youqing always worried something would happen to him, but Han Zheng would say he knew what he was doing.
In the end, the two still had many differences in their outlooks.
Her parents had always taught Xu Youqing that she needed to have the ability to solve problems on her own. Even parents would one day leave, unable to protect her forever.
She never imagined those words would come true—and come so soon.
Xu Youqing explained in a low voice: “That’s not what I meant. I just think I can handle this matter with Xiao Ze on my own.”
Han Zheng truly didn’t understand. His voice turned somewhat cold, tinged with disappointment. “You’re always like this—pushing me away again and again.”
He had liked her from the first time he saw her in high school. Back then, Xu Youqing was a top student with outstanding looks—a favored daughter of heaven from a happy family. As for him, aside from his younger sister, all he had was a mother who loved playing mahjong. To a slacker at the bottom of the class like him, Xu Youqing was someone to admire from afar, never to defile.
It wasn’t until one day when a boy from a neighboring school cornered Xu Youqing at an intersection and Han Zheng beat him up viciously that the two began to cross paths.
He had stayed by her side, waiting for her to go to college. He worked hard to earn money and build his career, wanting to stand beside her with his head held high. But once Xu Youqing entered university, the distance between them seemed to grow even wider, and he often feared he wasn’t good enough for her.
The broadcast announced the arrival at the station, and Xu Youqing hurried to get off.
She switched the phone to her other hand and freed up a hand to grab her bag. “I know you mean well, but this time, let me handle it myself, okay?”
There was two seconds of silence on the other end of the line. “Fine. Suit yourself.”
Han Zheng hung up in a huff. She was either busy studying or busy with part-time jobs every day, and she refused to accept anything he offered. When it came down to it, she still didn’t accept him.
Listening to the busy tone on the phone, Xu Youqing lowered her eyes. She knew Han Zheng was upset. But the voice in her heart told her—you have to do this.
She hitched her bag up on her shoulder and followed the crowd off the train.
…
The building where her aunt lived was quite old. The stairwell was cluttered with odds and ends, and the walls were plastered with layer upon layer of locksmith advertisements. Xu Youqing stood in front of the door, pulled out her key, and carefully turned the lock.
“I’m home.” She looked nervously toward the living room.
Su Mingxia was sitting on the sofa with her arms crossed, as if waiting for Xu Youqing. Her expression wasn’t pleasant.
Xu Youqing had thought about this day coming, but surely her aunt wouldn’t make her drop out of school.
She shuffled her feet, walking anxiously up to Su Mingxia, head bowed. “Auntie, I’m sorry.”
“You’ve got quite the nerve!” Su Mingxia suddenly stood up, grabbed the feather duster from the coffee table, and swung it down. With a sharp crack, a searing pain exploded across the back of Xu Youqing’s hand.
“Why do you want to study cultural preservation! I might as well have been talking to the wind, haven’t I?!”
Her uncle Yu Shiqiang heard the commotion and came out of the bathroom, eyes wide with fury. “How much money can that make? There aren’t even any civil service positions that match that field. Are you planning to starve after graduation?!”
Xu Youqing’s back was ramrod straight. Her eyes were clearly red, but she still refused to back down. “I really don’t like law. I want to follow what my heart truly wants.”
Yu Shiqiang was fuming. “So high and mighty, are you? You think doing that kind of thing is something to be proud of? How did your parents end up? They still—”
“Yu Shiqiang!” Su Mingxia cut him off sharply.
Yu Shiqiang realized he’d misspoken but couldn’t save face, so he turned to Su Mingxia. “Look at this. We scrimp and save to support her, and this is what we get—an ungrateful rebel!”
Her aunt’s family wasn’t well-off, and Xu Youqing did feel some guilt inside for not considering the family’s situation.
“Auntie, Uncle, I can support myself and I’ll help share the family’s burden too.” Xu Youqing had already planned to work part-time to save up for her tuition and fees.
Su Mingxia didn’t seem to care about any of that. She sat back down on the sofa and raised a hand to press her temple.
Seeing that wasn’t working, Xu Youqing decided to play the emotional card.
“Auntie, I really do love it. When I’m doing those things,” she paused, her voice very soft, “it’s like Mom and Dad… are still here.”
She truly felt that way. When her parents were still alive, they would sometimes bring her along to the work site and tell her about the origins of those cultural relics.
Su Mingxia turned to the side and wiped the corner of her eye with her hand. She looked up at her niece, who had grown into such a fine young woman, opened her mouth as if to say something, but in the end just let out a sigh.
“Forget it… Nothing I say will make a difference anyway.”
Xu Youqing had always been headstrong since she was little—Su Mingxia knew that well. Her voice softened. “Alright, go wash your hands and come eat.”
The weight lifted from Xu Youqing’s heart. It seemed she could go back to school after all.
Once Xu Youqing went into the bathroom, Yu Shiqiang was still stewing with anger. He turned to look at Su Mingxia. “Your mother always favored your sister’s family. Weren’t your sister and brother-in-law so impressive? So what if they were university professors? In the end, they still had to rely on us to raise their daughter.”
Su Mingxia hated it when her husband brought this up. She shot him a glare. “Just keep your mouth shut.” She was afraid Xu Youqing might overhear.
The three of them sat at the table to eat. Her younger cousin Yu Zechuan was still in class at school. Xu Youqing brought up the surgery costs, but Su Mingxia only said they would handle it and told her to focus on her studies.
But how could she possibly be at ease? Xu Youqing returned to her room and found the porcelain bowl Ms. Zhao had given her. She decided to go see Boss Zheng and ask if he’d be interested in buying it.
Early the next morning, Xu Youqing headed back to Jingxi. After getting off the bus, she went straight to Boss Zheng’s place with the item in hand.
Boss Zheng’s residence was less a home and more a miniature private garden—white walls, dark tiles, small bridges over flowing water. In the backyard stood a four-story white building, dedicated solely to housing Boss Zheng’s collection.
Xu Youqing had visited many times before, and the Zheng household staff all knew her. The servant said Boss Zheng was receiving an important guest today and might not have time to see her.
She didn’t leave, insisting on waiting in the side hall.
The servant came and went, changing her tea three times. Seeing that Xu Youqing still showed no sign of leaving, the servant couldn’t help but urge her: “Miss Xu, you should come back another day. The master is very busy today—I doubt he’ll have time.”
Over two hours had already passed. Xu Youqing traced the rim of her cup. She was a person of little standing; the servant probably hadn’t even reported her arrival to avoid trouble. If she kept waiting like this, she might not get anywhere today.
No, she needed to think of another way.
Her eyes darted with an idea, and she smiled at the servant. “Alright, I understand. I’ll just use the restroom.”
Clutching the brocade box containing the porcelain bowl, she pretended to head for the restroom. Once she saw the servant walk away, she quickly turned, her steps light as she slipped through a moon gate and made straight for Boss Zheng’s collection building.
The door to the first-floor hall of the collection building was ajar, faint voices of conversation spilling out. Xu Youqing held her breath, stepped forward, and peered through the window.
Inside the hall, Boss Zheng leaned slightly forward, his face plastered with a fawning smile. His hands gestured animatedly as he spoke to a man seated in a round-backed armchair.
Xu Youqing’s gaze involuntarily drifted to the man.
He sat in a relaxed posture, a dark suit accentuating his straight, broad shoulders. He wasn’t looking at Boss Zheng at all—his eyes were lowered, fixed on a celadon-glazed lotus-shaped warming bowl cradled in his hands.
Warm white light fell across his profile, tracing an exceptionally sharp line.
So Boss Zheng really was entertaining an important guest. It wouldn’t be appropriate to barge in. She’d better think of another approach.
Xu Youqing was about to step back when she collided head-on with a servant coming from the side corridor.
Gasps escaped both their mouths at nearly the same moment. The servant’s tea tray nearly slipped from his hands, cups clattering with a sharp ring.
The conversation inside came to an abrupt halt.
“What’s all the noise out there?” Boss Zheng’s displeased voice came from within.
Xu Youqing tightened her grip on the box. It seemed she had no choice but to intrude.
She gave the flustered servant a reassuring look, stepped forward, and gently pushed open the door.
Bright light from the room washed over her as she stood at the threshold.
“Mr. Zheng, I do apologize—this is rather presumptuous of me.” Xu Youqing gave a slight bow, her voice clear but carrying a hint of tension.
Her lashes lifted, and her gaze suddenly collided with another pair of eyes.
It was a strikingly handsome face. A high, straight nose bridge, thin lips pressed into a cold, hard line, and an air of noble aloofness about him.
When his gaze fell on her, it carried a subtle pressure, like an invisible net casting over her entirely.
She felt inexplicably nervous.
“Little Xu, what are you doing here?”
“Mr. Zheng, I… have an item, and I’m eager to see if you’d be interested in taking it.”
Since things had come to this, she might as well seize the opportunity to state her purpose.
Why did this little Xu have to show up at precisely this moment? Boss Zheng stole a glance at Jin Zongmin beside him. The man’s face was expressionless, unreadable.
He absolutely couldn’t afford to upset this one.
Boss Zheng grew impatient and waved his hand. “Go on, leave for now. We’ll talk later.”
Xu Youqing lowered her gaze. It was within her expectations. She was about to turn away.
“Come here.”
A magnetic, low voice sounded—not loud, but clear enough to make Xu Youqing’s heart stir slightly.
She paused mid-step and looked up.
The man lounged in the armchair, slowly lifting his eyelids. “Let me take a look.”