I work as a security guard at a cemetery, and I overhear the dead chatting about getting rich quick.

When Lin Ye and Xiao Man arrived in the capital, it was just getting dark.

The high-speed rail station was crowded, announcements were made over and over again, and the sound of suitcase wheels rolling from all directions.

He dragged the lame suitcase out.

hum.

hum.

hum.

Xiaoman followed half a step to his right, wearing a black hoodie, with short hair, carrying a small black bag, and chewing on a mint.

She looked wary, her glasses constantly scanning the people around her.

At the exit, next to the escalator, behind the pillar, in front of the convenience store.

She glanced at whoever stood the longest, whoever kept their hands in their pockets the whole time, and whoever walked ten meters with them.

Lin Ye felt a little nervous under her gaze.

"Can you please stop making us feel like thieves?"

Xiaoman said, "There are a lot of people here."

"So what if there are a lot of people?"

"It's easy for something to go wrong."

Lin Ye sighed.

"Your greatest strength is your stability."

Xiaoman looked at him.

Lin Ye said, "It's so stable that it scares me."

Chew on crushed sugar during Xiaoman (the first fullness of spring).

"You can get used to it."

"Thank you, but I don't really want to."

The two took a taxi to the Xicheng Used Bookstore.

Lin Ye originally thought that "Old Bookstore" might be an artsy café with a few old books displayed at the entrance and hand-drip coffee sold for 38 yuan a cup inside.

After the car stopped, he realized he had misunderstood.

That place is really old.

The alley is narrow, with blue brick walls and a small storefront. The wooden sign reads "Xicheng Old Bookstore".

There was also a fat orange cat by the door, lying on an old wicker chair, too lazy to even lift its eyelids.

Lin Ye glanced at the entrance.

"This doesn't look like a place to meet someone."

Xiaoman said, "It's a good time to dump someone."

"You can even tell that?"

"There are two exits at the alley entrance; the back door should lead to another street," Xiaoman glanced around. "It would be even more convenient if there was a second floor inside."

Lin Ye looked at her.

"You've been here before?"

"without."

"How did you know?"

"Look at the structure."

Lin Ye silently shut up.

He didn't bring his cousin.

It is a humanoid navigation and safety system.

When I entered, there was only one elderly man wearing reading glasses sitting behind the counter reading a newspaper in the secondhand bookstore.

The store was dimly lit, with tall bookshelves and a faint smell of old paper and wood in the air.

Xiaoman enters the room and first looks at the counter, then the stairs, and then the window.

The boss looked up and glanced at them.

Looking for someone?

Just as Lin Ye was about to speak, a familiar voice came from behind the bookshelf.

"Over here."

Lu Zhixia stood next to the innermost row of bookshelves.

She was wearing a white shirt with a light gray cardigan over it, her hair was tied low, and her complexion was a little paler than when she was in Qingcheng.

She looks a little haggard.

It's like being forcibly pulled out of a familiar place and stuffed back into a place you don't like.

Lin Ye felt a sense of relief when he saw her.

"Teacher Lu."

Lu Zhixia glanced at him.

Then, the gaze fell on Xiaoman.

Short hair.

Black hoodie.

The position was neither too far nor too close to the woods.

Unlike ordinary friends.

Lu Zhixia's gaze paused for a second.

very short.

The pages of the book in her hand were slightly bent by her fingertips.

"You brought people with you?"

Lin Ye: "Yeah."

Lu Zhixia looked at Xiaoman.

"girlfriend?"

Lin Ye almost choked on the air.

"no!"

Xiaoman also looked up at Lu Zhixia.

She didn't explain.

Just chew the sugar.

Lin Ye quickly said, "It was arranged by Gu Wantang. Her name is Jiang Man. She's said to be my distant cousin, but she's actually protecting me."

Lu Zhixia glanced at Xiaoman again.

"bodyguard?"

Xiaoman said, "More or less."

Lu Zhixia showed no expression.

But she loosened the bent pages.

Lin Ye inexplicably felt that the hostility she had shown just moments before seemed to have vanished instantly.

Lu Zhixia said, "Gu Wantang is quite generous."

Lin Ye touched the tip of his nose.

"She probably thinks my life is more valuable."

Xiaoman corrected: "It means it's easy to court disaster."

Lin Ye: "You don't have to finish them off."

Xiaoman didn't say anything.

Lu Zhixia looked at them for a while, then suddenly asked, "Do you usually act like this?"

Lin Ye: "How so?"

Lu Zhixia: "One is indebted, the other is straightforward."

Lin Ye: "..."

well.

Even after arriving in the capital, Teacher Lu's mouth still retained its original Qingcheng accent.

Xiaoman stood to the side and said calmly, "He does talk a lot."

Lin Ye looked at her.

"You two have only known each other for less than a minute, how come you're already on the same side?"

Lu Zhixia did not respond to his pity.

She turned and walked deeper into the bookshelf.

"Go up to the second floor."

Xiaoman climbed two steps, stopped, and glanced at the top of the stairs.

After confirming that no one was around, he stepped aside to let Lu Zhixia and Lin Ye go up.

Lu Zhixia saw it all but remained silent.

The second floor is quieter than the first floor.

There was a wooden table by the window, with a table lamp and a few old books on it.

The curtains were half-drawn, and you could see the alley entrance from here.

Xiaoman sat in the spot closest to the stairs.

I don't drink water.

I don't touch books.

After Lu Zhixia sat down, she didn't rush to speak.

She glanced at Xiaoman.

"Can she hear?"

Lin Ye looked at Xiao Man.

Xiaoman chewed on the candy, her tone very flat.

"My only responsibility is to keep him alive. Nothing else matters."

Lu Zhixia then looked at Lin Ye.

Lin Ye nodded.

Lu Zhixia then looked away.

"That's fine then."

Lin Ye sat down, took out the small paper bag from his arms, and pushed it in front of Lu Zhixia.

"This is for you."

Lu Zhixia looked at the paper bag.

"What?"

"Gift."

Lu Zhixia looked up at him.

Lin Ye quickly added, "It's not expensive, and it's not some random junk. I bought it at Mancang Antique Shop, and it has a receipt. Fang Mancang said it's genuine, but he doesn't seem like someone you can completely trust, so you'd better check it yourself."

Lu Zhixia took the paper bag.

turn on.

Inside was that old velvet box.

She didn't say thank you.

He didn't show any emotion whatsoever.

My first instinct was to open the box and take out the bookmarks.

Then he took a small magnifying glass out of his bag.

Lin Ye: "..."

Xiaoman glanced at Lin Ye.

Lin Ye said in a low voice, "See? I knew it."

Lu Zhixia ignored him.

She placed the silver enamel bookmark under the lamp, examining the edges, solder joints, and enamel surface, then turned it over to check the oxidation on the back.

The whole set of movements was performed with the same practiced ease as unpacking a package and inspecting the contents.

After a while, she took out a pair of thin gloves from her bag and put them on.

Lin Ye's eyes twitched as he watched.

"Teacher Lu, why do you have all sorts of things in your bag?"

Lu Zhixia didn't even look up.

"Normal tools."

"Who in their right mind carries a magnifying glass and gloves with them at all times?"

Lu Zhixia glanced at him.

"I."

Lin Ye shut up.

Xiaoman suddenly nodded.

"Reasonable."

Lin Ye looked at her.

"Don't assume others are reasonable just because your bag doesn't look like that of a normal person."

Xiaoman didn't answer.

Lu Zhixia checked it for a while before putting the bookmark back into the velvet box.

"A Republic-era silver enamel bookmark, nothing seriously wrong with it."

Lin Ye breathed a sigh of relief.

"Really?"

"real."

"That's good." Lin Ye leaned back. "I was worried all the way here that I'd bought some modern handicrafts, and if you looked at them later, you'd sentence me to death with a two-year reprieve."

Lu Zhixia closed the box.

My finger paused on the lid of the box for a moment.

Then, she looked up at Lin Ye.

"You actually went and gave me this?"

Lin Ye was stunned.

"Teacher Lu, those words are very hurtful."

"Because you used to be extremely stingy."

"I call that being thrifty and managing the household well."

"That's called being stingy."

Lin Ye: "..."

Xiaoman chewed her candy quietly beside her.

Click.

Lin Ye looked at her.

Are you laughing?

Xiaoman remained expressionless.

"no."

"You're even making mocking noises while chewing your candy."

Lu Zhixia looked down at the velvet box, her lips twitching slightly.

Not obvious.

But Lin Ye saw it.

She put the bookmark in her bag and didn't return it.

Lin Ye inexplicably felt a little more at ease.

Lu Zhixia is the kind of person who, once she accepts something, means she doesn't mind it.

At most, she would complain about his wasteful spending.

Lu Zhixia asked, "How much?"

Lin Ye immediately became alert.

Why are you asking that?

"If you get ripped off too badly, I'm telling you not to go there next time."

"Twelve thousand."

Lu Zhixia paused.

"good."

Lin Ye sat up straight immediately.

"Teacher Lu, if you say it's alright, does that mean it's not a loss?"

"almost."

Lin Ye breathed a sigh of relief.

"Okay. Fang Mancang, that fat guy, still has some conscience."

Lu Zhixia looked at him.

"Fang Mancang?"

"The owner of Mancang Antique Shop. Su Tinglan's cousin."

Lu Zhixia paused, her fingers moving slightly.

Who is Su Tinglan?

Lin Ye briefly recounted what happened on the high-speed train.

It wasn't explained in too much detail.

They only mentioned that they met on the high-speed train, chatted about old customs and ancient ships in Haicheng, and later discovered that her cousin ran an antique shop in Qingcheng.

Lu Zhixia did not immediately comment after listening.

She looked at Xiaoman.

"Have you seen her?"

Xiaoman nodded.

"I've seen it."

Do you think there's something wrong with her?

Xiaoman said, "I feel it."

Lin Ye looked at her.

Why weren't you so sure yesterday?

"I'm fickle," Xiaoman said.

Lu Zhixia looked at Lin Ye.

Lin Ye touched the tip of his nose.

Lu Zhixia did not press Su Tinglan further.

She picked up the cup and took a sip of water.

The water is cold.

She drank very slowly.

Lin Ye waited a while, then asked, "Why did you send me to the capital?"

Lu Zhixia put the cup down.

The bottom of the porcelain cup touched the table with a very soft sound.

"I was transferred back, and it wasn't just a job reassignment."

Lin Ye did not interrupt.

Lu Zhixia looked out the window.

Someone rode by on a bicycle in the alley, and the bicycle bell rang once.

She said, "My father works in the cultural heritage system, and so does my grandfather. I didn't tell you before because I didn't think it was necessary."

Lin Ye nodded.

This suits Lu Zhixia perfectly.

She has never been one to flaunt her background.

If it weren't for this incident, she probably would have kept quiet about it forever.

"After the incident involving Qingbo and the Gu family, someone relayed a message to my family."

"Who?"

"I don't know," Lu Zhixia said. "It didn't come directly to me; it went through several layers of connections before finally reaching my father."

Lin Ye frowned.

"What did you say?"

"Let me leave Qingcheng."

"that's all?"

Lu Zhixia looked at him.

Sometimes, the shorter the message, the harder it is to refuse.

Lin Ye didn't say anything.

Lu Zhixia continued, "My grandfather also asked me to come back."

"What does he know?"

Lu Zhixia remained silent for a few seconds.

He didn't say.

Lin Ye looked at her.

"Didn't you say?"

"Hmm." Lu Zhixia's tone was indifferent. "I asked. He only said that the waters of Qingcheng are very deep, and it's not something I can get involved in."

She continued, "I originally thought that the pressure was high at the Qingdao Museum. But after coming back, I realized that it wasn't just the Qingdao Museum."

Lin Ye asked in a low voice, "You know about what happened with Gu Wantang?"

"I know," Lu Zhixia said. "The partner broke the contract, the credit line was blocked, Gu Mingyuan was cut off, Pei Jingluan was rescued, and Ning Zhi was fired."

Lin Ye looked up.

"You knew all that?"

"News from the capital city is faster than from Qingcheng," Lu Zhixia said, looking at him. "It's just that there are many things that can't be said on WeChat."

Lin Ye looked down at his phone.

Suddenly I realized this thing wasn't so safe after all.

He turned off his phone and put it aside.

"So what exactly is this force?"

Lu Zhixia shook her head.

"I have no idea."

"Even your family doesn't know?"

"My father probably knows a little," Lu Zhixia said. "My grandfather knows even more. But neither of them says anything."

Why?

"taboo."

These two words were spoken very lightly.

But when Lu Zhixia says it, it carries a different weight.

She's not one to use obscure or cryptic language.

The fact that she brought up this "taboo" indicates that this matter is indeed not just about ordinary interest groups.

Lu Zhixia said in a low voice, "It's not a company, nor a single organization. It's more like a behemoth formed by many things pieced together."

Lin Ye recalled what had happened to Gu Wantang.

Judicial authorities.

foundation.

Auction house.

Cultural tourism company.

物流。

media.

bank.

And then there are those people in the cultural heritage system whose identities are unclear.

Each one, viewed individually, seems to have its own reason.

But when you put them together, it's terrifying to think about.

Lu Zhixia said, "I can only be sure of one thing. They have many shells and many members. Each layer looks clean, compliant, and justified. When something goes wrong, the outermost layer is cut off, while the ones inside remain unscathed."

Lin Ye felt a chill run down his spine.

This matches what happened on Gu Wantang's side.

Everyone seemed to be being pushed along by their own processes.

You can't even find a hand that's actually outstretched.

Lu Zhixia looked at him.

"Lin Ye, the person you encountered this time is neither Gu Mingyuan nor Pei Jingluan."

Lin Ye said, "It's the people behind them."

"It's what's behind them."

The second floor quieted down.

Someone was flipping through a book on the first floor of the used bookstore, and the pages rustled.

Lin Ye was silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Is there any other reason why your family wants you to come back?"

Lu Zhixia lowered her eyes.

After a few seconds, she said, "Yes."

Lin Ye looked at her.

Lu Zhixia's tone remained flat.

But this time, she was noticeably slower in holding the cup.

"Pressuring for marriage."

Lin Ye almost didn't react.

"what?"

Lu Zhixia looked at him.

"You heard me."

"No, I just didn't expect the topic to suddenly become so down-to-earth."

Lu Zhixia said, "It's normal. My family thinks it's safer for me to go back to Beijing, and it's also more convenient for me to see people."

Lin Ye's lips twitched.

"Who are you meeting?"

Lu Zhixia didn't say anything.

Lin Ye understood.

"A blind date?"

Lu Zhixia did not deny it.

Lin Ye felt inexplicably awkward.

It's like a small grain of sand getting into your shoe; it doesn't hurt, but it pricks you after a few steps.

Xiaoman sat next to him and glanced at him.

Lin Ye immediately composed himself.

"That's good," he said. "There must be many outstanding young people in the capital."

Lu Zhixia looked at him.

"You really think so?"

Lin Ye felt a little uncomfortable under her gaze.

"I don't think it matters; what matters is what you think."

Lu Zhixia didn't say anything.

She put the cup down and gently touched the velvet box in her bag with her fingertips.

The movements were very small.

Lin Ye saw it.

She said, "I don't have that plan for the time being."

Lin Ye responded with an "oh".

The sound was very soft.

But Xiaoman glanced at him again.

Lin Ye couldn't help but whisper, "Stop looking."

Xiaoman said, "You just breathed a sigh of relief."

Lin Ye almost choked on his breath.

Lu Zhixia looked up at him.

Lin Ye quickly said, "It's an occupational hazard of hers; she likes to talk nonsense."

Xiaoman: "I'm not talking nonsense."

Lin Ye: "Shut up."

Xiaoman indeed shut up.

Lu Zhixia took the velvet box out of her bag, opened it, and glanced at the silver enamel bookmark.

Then it closed again.

"I'll take the things."

Lin Ye said, "Fine, I'll take it. But don't make it sound like you're announcing the results of an investigation."

Lu Zhixia looked at him.

"Don't buy things randomly in the future."

Lin Ye breathed a sigh of relief.

"So, it's okay to buy it?"

Ask me before you buy.

"Teacher Lu, your after-sales service is quite good."

"To prevent you from getting scammed."

Lin Ye smiled.

"OK."

Lu Zhixia put the bookmark away, her expression returning to seriousness.

"There's one more thing."

Lin Ye looked up.

"What?"

Lu Zhixia said, "After my grandfather heard that you came from Qingshan Cemetery, he only asked me one question."

"What do you want to ask?"

Lu Zhixia looked at him.

"Is Aoyama going to be expanded recently?"

Lin Ye's back stiffened slightly.

Xiaoman also raised her eyes.

The lights on the counter on the second floor of the old bookstore were dim.

A breeze blew in from the alley outside the window, causing the curtains to sway gently.

Lin Ye remained silent for a long time.

Qingshan expansion.

He had heard people at the cemetery management office mention those four words a few times before.

They said the paperwork was stuck, and that the area behind the mountain might need to be cleared out in the future.

He didn't take it seriously at the time.

It's normal for cemeteries to have road repairs, drainage improvements, and parking lot expansions.

But now, these words, coming from Lu Zhixia's grandfather, have a completely different meaning.

Lu Zhixia said in a low voice, "My grandfather also said something else."

Lin Ye looked at her.

He said, "Don't get involved."