Modu, Riverside Embankment.
The setting sun's afterglow stretched the shadows of Lin Chuan and Youyou very long, casting them onto the curb. A gentle breeze wafted by, carrying the fragrance of grass and mist, which felt fresh and cool in the lingering warmth.
"Lin Chuan, are you okay?"
Youyou looked at Lin Chuan with concern and asked.
"Of course, I'm okay."
Lin Chuan smiled and then lifted his arm, stretching lazily.
"I just heard you mumbling to yourself, and I thought you might be overwhelmed by what the readers said in the group." Youyou said with a beaming smile.
Lin Chuan smiled, "My psychological quality is quite passable, I suppose."
"I can see that." Youyou raised her brows playfully, her tone teasing.
"Where can you see that?" Lin Chuan was taken aback.
"Others tremble in the interrogation room, and they come out feeling scared, but you, you seem to be quite thrilled." Youyou's lips curled up into a smile.
Lin Chuan's mouth twitched, and he immediately retorted, "Youyou, don't talk nonsense, I definitely did not enjoy it!"
"So you did enjoy it?"
Youyou blinked, her face wearing a mischievous smile.
A black line appeared on Lin Chuan's forehead. Looking at Youyou, he couldn't help but chuckle, "Youyou, do you think I enjoyed it?"
"I am scared regardless," Youyou pursed her lips.
"You won't be afraid after a few more times," Lin Chuan said with a laugh.
"Unlike you, Mr. Lin, the suspect." Youyou laughed, half-jokingly teasing, "Darling~ where shall we go next?"
Lin Chuan smiled, "To the police station, to face our fears head-on."
"Ah?" Youyou was startled, "Are you really going to take me into the interrogation room?"
"Ha ha ha, just kidding. I have an idea for solving the case that I want to share with them." Lin Chuan grinned and then took out his phone to call Zhao Gang, the Chief of Modu Police Station.
Beep beep beep—
The phone had barely rung three times when the call was answered.
"Comrade Lin, it's a coincidence; I was just about to look for you." Over the phone came the voice of Chief Zhao Gang.
Lin Chuan was slightly taken aback and asked, "Director Zhao, do you have new leads?"
"Not exactly. It's about selecting someone for artifact restoration," Zhao Gang said.
Lin Chuan furrowed his brows, "Coincidentally, I also wanted to discuss the artifact restoration selection with Director Zhao."
"Oh?"
Zhao Gang's voice carried some confusion, asking, "Comrade Lin, who do you recommend?"
Lin Chuan laughed and replied, "Myself."
This Antique Forgery Gang from Modu had switched out the Qing dynasty Chinese tangled branch pattern thin-walled jade vase and orchestrated an 'accident,' making Lin Chuan the scapegoat of this 'accident.'
This had led to Lin Chuan being defamed and maligned.
Of course, those problems weren't significant.
The most critical issue was that "Last Week's Antique" had been boycotted and reported, which could really cost Lin Chuan dearly.
For an author, this was the most painful blow.
Lin Chuan had thought for a long time.
He decided to personally expose the Antique Forgery Gang and send them in to prove his innocence and to take the opportunity to promote his novel positively, aiming straight for twenty thousand subscriptions.
Therefore, for the sake of "Last Week's Antique," Lin Chuan had to 'sacrifice' the Antique Forgery Gang!
Ruthlessly sacrifice!
And personally restoring the replica of the 'Qing dynasty Chinese tangled branch pattern thin-walled jade vase' was a crucial part of Lin Chuan's strategy to infiltrate and keep control in his own hands.
"Yourself?"
On the other end of the phone, Chief Zhao Gang was slightly taken aback.
"Yes," Lin Chuan replied earnestly.
"Old Li and I also wanted to consult with you on who to choose for the restoration," Zhao Gang said with a light chuckle, "Why do you want to do the restoration yourself? What are the factors in your decision?"
Lin Chuan glanced at the Riverside Embankment, now bustling with more people, and then said, "Director Zhao, I'm not far from the police station. How about we discuss this in person?"
"I couldn't ask for more; Old Li is here as well."
Zhao Gang's voice was filled with joy, somewhat excited.
"Director Zhao, see you in a bit."
Lin Chuan nodded and then went to the police station with Youyou.
The remaining glow of the sunset, orange-red, slowly faded in the western sky, merging light and darkness, and beneath the grey-blue sky, neon lights began to flicker, reflecting on the busy streets.
Before long, Lin Chuan and Youyou got out of a cab and walked into the police station.
In the conference room.
Chiefs Zhao Gang and Li Zeguang had been waiting for some time.
"Lin, Youyou, you're here." Zhao Gang appeared very hospitable, gesturing for the two to sit down and pouring them both a cup of tea.
Youyou sat demurely next to Lin Chuan, thanked the Chief for the tea, and then fell silent.
She knew that she could enjoy the tea poured by Zhao Gang because of Lin Chuan.
During these days of being with Lin Chuan, she had subconsciously come to see him as her pillar of strength. So when Lin Chuan brought her along, she simply followed.
Now, the two were in the same boat.
No, Lin Chuan was the rope, while she clung to the rope like a grasshopper, after all, she was "clinging onto a powerful thigh."
After expressing his thanks, Lin Chuan took a light sip of his tea.
Zhao Gang looked at Lin Chuan with a cheerful smile, "Lin, Old Li and I have been discussing for quite some time. The 'artifact restoration' method you proposed before is indeed very useful."
"Was there a new discovery?"
Lin Chuan set down his teacup and asked with a smile.
"It's not so much a new discovery, but quite a few experts who were involved in the appraisal before the 'Qing dynasty Chinese tangled branch pattern thin-walled jade vase' was returned have also recommended some master restorers. Some people recommended you as well," Zhao Gang said with a smile.
For example, the chief expert from the Modu Museum, Gao Qinglin, and Old Bai's mentor, Cheng Qing, recommended quite a few people.
"Are these people on the watchlist?" Lin Chuan asked with a smile.
Zhao Gang's eyebrows raised with a smile, "Of course, I was just discussing with Old Li who would be more suitable for the restoration. I didn't expect you to call and volunteer yourself. Lin, do you have any plans?"
Inside the conference room.
Lin Chuan nodded and said, "Indeed, I do have some ideas."
"Please, Lin, do tell," Zhao Gang said, looking directly at Lin Chuan with a smile.
Li Zeguang turned to look at Lin Chuan.
Lin Chuan's gaze fell on the two directors. With a hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth and a slightly slower pace, he said, "Directors, I volunteered to restore the artifact for two reasons. One is that I can serve as excellent 'bait,' and the other is that we can maintain more control."
Hearing this, the two directors exchanged glances.
Lin Chuan was an outsider. Although he did not yet have a reputation in the Modu antiques circle, a part of it knew of his exceptional skills. If he were to restore the artifact, the Antique Forgery Gang that planned this event would soon take notice of him and either threaten or entice him.
As for the issue of control.
Lin Chuan thought that by personally interacting with those suspected of being part of the forgery gang, he could more quickly identify suspects and not miss any details.
Even if the forgery gang did not act, he could also change strategies and proactively release some 'suspected antique forgery' news to lure the snake out of its hole.
This was his confidence.
It was also his determination to 'sacrifice' this Antique Forgery Gang to clear his own name.
"I think it's feasible," Li Zeguang mused for a moment before speaking.
Zhao Gang nodded as well, "This way, anyone who comes looking for Lin can be directly targeted."
A smile appeared on Lin Chuan's face.
...
The night deepened.
The moon was high in the sky, casting its bright light upon a manor in the outskirts of Modu where the green was lush and the trees verdant, the tranquility bespeaking a touch of elegance.
A man dressed in Tang attire, about the same age as Old Zhang, hurried along the cobblestone path and entered the 'Ancient Moon' private museum, making his way familiarly to the third-floor reception room.
This person was the chief expert of the Modu Museum, Gao Qinglin.
"Mr. Hu."
Gao Qinglin entered the reception room and took a seat at the tea table.
Opposite him was the owner of the private museum, Hu Shu.
"Have some tea first."
Hu Shu poured a cup of Da Hong Pao tea and placed it in front of Gao Qinglin.
"Mr. Hu, I'll skip the tea for now. How could you help that kid?" Gao Qinglin asked with a trace of resentment on his face.
Hu Shu looked up, his normally refined eyes sharp with an edge, "Do you have a problem with it?"
Gao Qinglin met Hu Shu's gaze, and his demeanor instantly softened, "Mr. Hu, you know I have a dispute with that kid. Now that he's fallen, you still recommended him for artifact restoration and even plan to compensate him. I don't quite understand it."
"You're still hung up over that trifle?"
Hu Shu asked with a slight smile on his face.
"But he publicly affronted me..." Gao Qinglin's face darkened as he spoke more gravely.
As the museum's chief expert with absolute authority in the antiques circle, Lin Chuan had, in front of everyone, exposed a Taotie pattern wine vessel he had identified as genuine as a counterfeit.
This was undoubtedly a 'desecration' of his authority.
"I didn't elevate you to the position of chief expert for you to come and question me," Hu Shu said lightly, sipping his tea.
Gao Qinglin's expression stiffened, and he immediately fell silent.
"Drink your tea," Hu Shu gestured toward the tea table.
Gao Qinglin took a deep breath, picked up the tea cup, and drank it in one gulp.
Hu Shu refilled the cup for Gao Qinglin and said calmly, "I have my own plans."
"Mr. Hu, not to mention the little friction between him and me, just consider the matter of him restoring the artifact. His own talent for antique forgery is top-notch. If he sees through..." Gao Qinglin paused, not continuing.
"Sees through what?"
Hu Shu asked with no hint of taboo, smiling.
"He has a reader who forged a bronze ware using methods described in his book, which even I, among others, missed. He has a terrifying insight when it comes to antique forgery," despite his reluctance, Gao Qinglin couldn't help but praise Lin Chuan.
"I know, I've been slowly savoring his book as well."
Hu Shu's expression revealed a faint smile, then he suddenly sighed, "That Mr. Lin in his book reminds me of days long past."
Gao Qinglin looked surprised.
Seeing Hu Shu's unabashed admiration, he couldn't help but ask, "Mr. Hu, are you considering recruiting Lin Chuan?"
A glint flickered in Hu Shu's eyes as he smiled and said, "Otherwise, why do you think 'the person who accidentally damaged the jade vase' would be him?"

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