The festive atmosphere of the New Year lingered in the crevices of the city, with red lanterns swaying lazily on the streets, as if savoring the clamor of the celebrations.
Fang Cheng stood in front of the club’s floor-to-ceiling window, looking at the bustling and endless stream of cars outside, pressing the phone with the dialed number to his ear.
On the other end of the line, after a mont of busy tones, ca a crisp, bell-like yet slightly weary voice:
"Hello?"
Fang Cheng was slightly taken aback, then imdiately spoke:
"Lin Chuqiao, it’s , Fang Cheng, Happy New Year! What have you been busy with lately?"
Upon hearing Fang Cheng’s familiar voice, Lin Chuqiao seed to be instantly injected with a surge of energy, her sowhat tired spirit suddenly refreshed, and she laughed lightly:
"Oh, what a rare guest today, I usually can’t find you in sight, it’s rare for you to take the initiative to call to wish a Happy New Year."
Her laughter was filled with delight, with a hint of reproach.
Since saying goodbye after their shared adventure on Yong’an Island and returning to East Capital, both had been entangled with various affairs, living a busy life, and had not t for quite a while.
Fang Cheng’s lips curved slightly, without any sense of awkwardness, he also smiled:
"I was so busy lately that I had no ti to contact you, but now that I’m done, I thought of catching up with you."
"Are you free? Let’s find a place to et, my treat."
There seed to be a faint sound of conversation coming from Lin Chuqiao’s side.
After quietly speaking to soone else for a mont, she responded with a hint of apology:
"I’m really sorry, I have guests visiting at ho today, so it’s inconvenient to go out. How about we arrange for another ti?"
She paused slightly as if sensing sothing, and keenly asked: "Do you have sothing on your mind?"
Fang Cheng didn’t hold back, speaking candidly:
"Yes, besides inviting you, I wanted to ask you for a favor."
"I knew it."
Lin Chuqiao first chuckled lightly, her laughter coming through the earpiece without any hint of reproach, instead seeming quite willing:
"Go ahead, as long as it’s within my ability, feel free to ask, there’s no need to be formal."
"It’s not a very complicated matter."
Fang Cheng cleared his throat, slightly organizing his thoughts, and then explained the situation:
"Here’s the thing, do you rember the little girl I brought to your place for dical treatnt last ti?"
"She has been staying at ho out of school due to family reasons. I thought she’s still so young, she shouldn’t be deprived of education and delay her future, but I don’t have any avenues."
"You are a college lecturer with broad connections, could you perhaps help find a suitable school for her?"
Lin Chuqiao listened quietly on the other end without hesitation, imdiately responding:
"Alright, fax her information, don’t worry, I’ll get this sorted out for you before the school starts."
A warmth surged in Fang Cheng’s heart, his tone full of sincere gratitude:
"Thank you, I’ll definitely treat you to a grand al next ti."
Lin Chuqiao chuckled sweetly, with a touch of playfulness, she said:
"You said it, no reneging on this, now go and prepare the docunts, I still have guests here, I’ll hang up first."
"Alright, you go ahead."
Fang Cheng hung up the phone, exhaled a gentle breath, and squinted out at the skyscrapers.
Unconsciously, an image of Lin Chuqiao’s enthusiastic, capable yet gentle deanor erged in his mind, and a faint smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.
anwhile, in a high-end apartnt at Cuihu Yipin.
Lin Chuqiao also stood by the floor-to-ceiling window.
After finishing the call with Fang Cheng, she put down the phone and turned to look at the guest waiting in the living room, explaining:
"I’m sorry, a friend of mine needed a favor, so it took a bit of ti."
The visitor was a man in his fifties, wearing a gray trench coat, with neatly combed back hair, and a gaze through his glasses that showed a mix of scrutiny and doting.
He gently waved his hand, smiling, and said:
"It seems I ca at the wrong ti today, interrupting your dating ti, Xiao Chu, if you’re busy, we can talk another day."
Lin Chuqiao’s cheeks slightly flushed, she then sat on the couch opposite.
She then resud a dignified posture, looking seriously at the other person:
"It’s alright, Professor, please continue."
Her tone was gentle yet firm, seamlessly transitioning from the soft, slightly coquettish woman on the phone, to a composed and elegant self with no sense of awkwardness.
The Professor nodded slightly, then continued:
"Our target this ti is the long-lost Golden Benba Bottle."
"Last ti, I asked you to help predict it, and the image you provided depicted the auction scene. Now, according to reliable information, it’s very likely going to appear at next month’s international shadow auction."
Upon hearing this, Lin Chuqiao’s eyebrows slightly furrowed, understanding what it implied.
In the undercurrents of the underground world, there existed a mysterious and notorious illegal trading platform—the International Shadow Auction.
It forms an extrely secretive trading network, completely out of the regulatory system’s reach, a hotbed for illegal artifacts and rare items trading.
The items handled by this auction have highly sensitive origins, including national treasure-level relics stolen from various countries, illegally excavated ancient relics, and so heirloom treasures looted after the decline of historic families.
"Do you want to confirm the specific circulation path or whereabouts of that item before it goes up for auction?"
Considering the potential danger involved, a surge of concern filled Lin Chuqiao’s heart, prompting her to ask once again.
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