Chapter 414

"Hey, where the hell have you two been?" When Wei Ming answered the phone, he heard Zhu Lin's familiar, warm voice—tinged with a hint of annoyance.

To finish in time for Gong Rui's birthday, she worked day and night to meet the schedule, completing filming ahead of time; even after returning to Beijing, she didn't go straight to her parents' home—she rushed straight to Tuanjiehu.

It was nearly dark, but the house was empty, as if no one had lived there for ages; a note on the coffee table was covered in dust.

It was Wei Ming's handwriting: Sister Lin, call this number when you get back.

Wei Ming was admiring the newly authenticated "Along the River During the Qingming Festival" with Gong Rui; hearing Zhu Lin's voice, he laughed: "We've moved! Stay right there at Tuanjiehu, I'll come pick you up."

Not long after, Wei Ming appeared on his motorcycle at Tuanjiehu, bumping into his cousin Yunyun walking her son; the weather had warmed enough for her to take out Mei Changsu, now over four months old.

The baby was plump and white, quiet and well-behaved; Wei Ming teased his nephew, asked a few questions about Xiao Mei and his aunt, then felt reassured and went upstairs to fetch her.

"Where did you move to?" Zhu Lin asked, sitting on the sofa.

"Nanluoguxiang."

Zhu Lin said: "I'm not moving. I love living here—it's so comfortable. I'm not putting up with your mess. I'll convince Xiao Xue to move back and live with me."

"But the location's perfect—easy commute, right?" Wei Ming sat beside her. "You've been filming nonstop for half a year—rest now. In a few days, I'll take you to the Beijing People's Art Theatre to sort out your work transfer."

"You promise?"

"Yeah, it's settled."

Zhu Lin rubbed her hands together: "I'm actually curious about how theater works—I won't take any more roles after 'Journey to the West.'"

Wei Ming told Zhu Lin not to bring anything—everything she needed was already there: "It's your other home."

Zhu Lin smiled: "When do I get my third home?"

"Wait. When policies improve, I plan to dig down and add another floor, install an elevator—we'll retire there together." Wei Ming imagined himself growing old with two little old ladies.

At the Nanluoguxiang house, Zhu Lin was delighted upon entering—the courtyard house was clearly brighter than an apartment building, especially this seven-hundred-square-meter, two-court courtyard.

Inside the inner courtyard, the swimming pool and other facilities amazed her—even a courtyard house had its perks.

"Welcome home, Sister Lin!" Gong Rui emerged from her study; she had already turned on all the courtyard lights, making it as bright as daytime.

Zhu Lin pointed to the room she came from: "That's your bedroom?"

Gong Rui: "No, that's my study."

Wei Ming: "I've got something to tell you both—come inside, I'll turn off the courtyard lights."

Inside the spacious study, they saw a hanging scroll of "Along the River During the Qingming Festival." Zhu Lin leaned closer: "Is this the one we dug up?"

Wei Ming nodded. Gong Rui told her: "We were just admiring it. After appraisal by senior experts from Rongbaozhai and the Palace Museum, it's almost certainly an authentic work by Qiu Ying of the Ming dynasty."

Though the painting bore few seals, several belonged to verified historical collectors; moreover, Wei's elderly friend Zhu Jiajin recognized the inscription as the handwriting of Wen Zhengming.

Wen Zhengming was one of the Four Masters of Ming, much older than Qiu Ying, but they were close friends; Wen actively nurtured younger artists. If Zhu the Elder confirmed it was Wen's hand, the likelihood of the painting being Qiu Ying's authentic work increased dramatically.

They speculate this may be Qiu Ying's second rendition, painted in his later years based on his first copy—less passionate, but technically more refined and masterful—a true masterpiece.

Though Zhu Lin knew nothing about painting, she'd heard Wei Ming praise Qiu Ying's copies, and now there was Wen Zhengming's calligraphy on it too.

"Then this is a national treasure!"

Wei Ming: "Absolutely the most precious piece in my collection—worthy of being displayed in any provincial museum."

Gong Rui: "Let you see it now—we'll put it away soon."

Zhu Lin: "I can't tell good art from bad—I just know it's insane to paint so many lifelike tiny figures. Did he use a magnifying glass?"

Wei Ming chuckled: "Some masters can paint in microscopic detail—Qi Baishi was a genius at it. And our Hengzhou's inner-painted snuff bottles? Even more challenging—they paint inside tiny spaces."

After a while, Zhu Lin told Wei Ming to put it away. Gong Rui asked: "Where will you store it?"

Wei Ming grinned: "This is the secret I've been meaning to tell you both."

He walked to the largest bookshelf, pulled out the topmost volume of "Journey to the West," then poked a backscratcher into it.

Suddenly, the wall behind the bookshelf opened. Wei Ming moved the shelf aside: "Come take a look—this is our treasure vault."

Gong Rui and Zhu Lin both widened their eyes—there was a hidden room inside the study!

Inside, it was cramped—just a safe and another bookshelf.

"This safe is nearly impossible to break open by force—it's extremely heavy and hard to move. Only the password unlocks it," Wei Ming said, entering the code aloud: "12100316."

Gong Rui said: "You didn't have to tell us."

Zhu Lin gasped: "Our birthdays?"

"Yeah. People can have accidents—especially since I travel overseas often. Some places are dangerous. If I never come back, you two can open it yourselves."

"Pfft, don't talk like that!" Zhu Lin hurriedly said.

Gong Rui hugged him from behind: "You won't get hurt. If the world's so chaotic, why not just stay home?"

Wei Ming carefully placed the "Along the River During the Qingming Festival," now treated, alongside his other treasures inside the safe, then closed it. "This is my second secret to confess."

He pointed to the bookshelf in the vault—besides his own original manuscripts and some ancient texts, it held stacks of letters.

"These letters include our correspondence, and also mine with Hong Kong. I have a close relative there—that's why I keep going back, even moved Mom and Dad there." Then Wei Ming revealed the secret only the Wei family knew: Wei Senhao.

Including his American aunt, his Taiwanese uncle, and the true nature of his aunt Wei Lingling.

The confession shocked them—not because they feared being implicated, but because…

Gong Rui worried: "Xiao Wei, why tell us all this? Are you sick?"

Zhu Lin stared at him anxiously: "Are you ill? My mom knows many top doctors."

"Get out, stop cursing me—I'm perfectly healthy. You'll find out soon." He planned to travel abroad next year; he needed to warn them now so they wouldn't worry.

Wei Ming hugged both: "I see you both as family. I won't hide anything from you anymore—I've given you everything."

Hearing the brat tease them, the two women relaxed. Gong Rui said: "Grandpa's really pitiful—can't return home. This matter's too complicated to explain."

Zhu Lin nodded: "You should visit him often in Hong Kong—let him enjoy his grandchildren."

"I'm not old enough for grandchildren—I'm aiming for great-grandchildren." Wei Ming's hands slid from their shoulders down to their waists, then lower.

"Ah, don't play around~" Gong Rui weakly pushed him off; she wore thin clothes, and his hand slipped right in. Zhu Lin didn't even resist.

The brat had just poured out his heart—and entrusted them with his life. Zhu Lin no longer wanted to hold back.

She'd planned to wait until Xiao Xue's birthday night—if the mood was right, she'd let the brat fulfill his dream, just once. But now, she doubted she could wait that long.

Birdie birdie—let's see if this bed's big enough.

The vault was too cramped and uncomfortable—this was their first time. It had to be perfect.

They stepped out of the vault, embraced in the study, the atmosphere turning dreamy. Gong Rui broke away first to prepare in the bedroom. Wei Ming picked up Zhu Lin and carried her straight to the bedroom.

That night, Wei Ming's body passed the test—and the imported mattress bought from Friendship Store passed too.

Zhu Lin's final verdict: Amazing!

Gong Rui said nothing—only savored it.

Though Zhu Lin had a bedroom prepared, no one left the master bedroom that night—none of them held back anymore.

Wei Ming had planned to collapse from exhaustion the next day—but his body was too strong. He woke first, went out to buy them breakfast.

As soon as Wei Ming left, Gong Rui opened her eyes and nudged Zhu Lin.

Zhu Lin woke to find Gong Rui facing her; she wriggled closer, claimed Wei Ming's spot, and hugged Xiao Xue.

Gong Rui sighed: "What are we going to do now?"

Zhu Lin kept her eyes closed: "We have a three-year agreement—still one and a half years left."

By next November, Wei Ming will turn twenty-two—old enough to marry.

Seeing Gong Rui silent, Zhu Lin opened her eyes: "Are you afraid he'll pick me—or afraid he won't pick me?"

Gong Rui: "I can't accept either outcome. I can't live without him—and I can't live without you."

It sounded like a confession, but Zhu Lin understood—yesterday, all three had done something forbidden, seen each other's most intimate selves, closer than sisters. They were now an unbreakable alliance.