Strange Expansion

  Weird Expansion Pack

  I took the paper from the girl's hand with some trembling, accidentally touching her fingers, which can be described as jade-like. My heart almost skipped several tens of beats. The paper in front of me emitted a fragrance similar to hers. I couldn't help but swallow my saliva and looked up at her again.

  At this moment, she was gazing at me, seemingly very serious, and I felt my face turning red.

  "Could she also like me? It can't be that she's intentionally using this thing to talk to me." I thought to myself, and couldn't help but look up at her again.

  "Haven't you figured it out yet? Are you or are you not the boss? Or are you just an outsider?" The girl was getting impatient.

  I quickly fixed my eyes back on the paper, which was a photocopy of an inscription. Judging from the messy font, it should be a Western Zhou dynasty bronze inscription, mainly in oracle bone script. These texts were mostly engraved on bronze artifacts to record events, and the event recorded on this photocopy seemed to be about rewarding someone for something. I still need to ask Grandpa to understand the specific content.

  "How much money do you plan on spending?" I asked casually.

  "I was going to pay, no, how come I'm paying? It should be you asking me how much money." The girl couldn't help but laugh and cry.

  "Sorry, sorry, I'm used to it. How much are you going to charge me?" I asked.

  "You didn't even ask me where this thing came from, you just asked about the money. It seems like you're not a connoisseur after all. Forget it." The girl snatched the photocopy from my hand and turned to leave the store without even looking back.

  I stood there for half a day, still not reacting, I didn't know why she was angry, and at the same time scolding myself, how could I be so stupid, forgetting such simple truths, it seemed like I was in a hurry to get this thing, originally I wanted to take this opportunity to chat with the girl more, but unexpectedly, I ended up making her angry and leaving, my intestines are all regretful, if there weren't people outside watching, I would have slapped myself ten or so times.

  "Girl, it's all right." I didn't panic until now and ran to the door, but where was her shadow?

  "Alas." I couldn't help but let out a sigh, and felt an uncontrollable sense of loss.

  "Hey, why aren't you happy? Is it because I'm late? Come on, come on, I made this boxed lunch especially for you, eat up." Little Liu, the boxed lunch seller, has finally appeared, but how can I have an appetite to eat anything now that a beautiful girl like her has been chased away by me.

  He took the boxed meal and returned to the store without even paying, sat down on a chair, eating his meal in small bites, with the image of that girl lingering in his mind, every move seeming as if she was still there.

  That day, I was like a lost soul, just hoping she would come back again, walk in front of me, smile and say: Sorry about that, I had such a big temper with you, no big deal, I'll treat you to dinner.

  And I would say gently: Where is the reason for a woman to invite, I'll treat you.

  The two of them happily left the store and walked towards a distant restaurant, their hands still holding each other from time to time.

  "Son, son, what are you doing? Holding grandfather's hand and smiling foolishly here." Grandfather's face suddenly appeared in front of me, scaring me into quickly letting go of his hand.

  "Xiao Liu, who sells boxed lunches, said you've lost your soul. I didn't believe it until I saw you myself. Did you get heatstroke or possessed by an evil spirit?" Grandpa said as he reached out to touch my forehead.

  "Grandpa, is this how you scold your grandson? I'm still in a daze." I let out another sigh and slowly got up to pack my things.

  Antique shops usually close early, and when the sky darkens, it's easy to mistake things, so all the shops will be closed at this time. Those bosses with good eyesight have been invited to places with bright lights to appraise treasures, and I can only return to the house where I live with my grandfather.

  "Le Tian, Le Tian, you naughty kid, how did you lock me in the house!" Grandpa's voice came from inside the store, and I just realized that I was thinking about that girl all along, but didn't notice that I had locked grandpa up.

  Dinner didn't have much appetite, hastily took two bites, and then ran to the room to go online. Opened it, saw those classmates and friends, one by one, they all had cars, new houses, wives and children, warm stoves, really enviable. And I'm still alone in a small room of several square meters, hugging my shoulders, warming myself up.

  Out of boredom, I opened the webpage to take a look at news about civil servant and judicial examination. Over the years, I have developed this habit, which still can't be changed even after half a lifetime. It was precisely because of the stimulation from my classmates that my confidence in becoming a civil servant has been strengthened once again. However, the greatest motivation is still that unnamed girl whom I only met once. If I could see her again, I would be willing to do anything.

  Incidentally, I saw a news report that the Chinese national treasure, Xing Hou Gui, on display at the British Museum was stolen three days ago. The entire UK police force and the Chinese embassy have been mobilized to investigate, but there are no leads so far, and it has been confirmed that it was an inside job.

  "Haha, serves you right, trying to snatch our things. Now look what's happened, you've lost." I couldn't help but laugh at the computer, but at the same time, another thought flashed through my mind.

  "Xing Hou Yu? Isn't that the thing Grandfather stole back in the day? How did it end up in Britain? Did Grandfather lose it or donate it? No wonder he never mentioned this matter, turns out it's been gone for a long time. Sigh, what a pity. If this thing was still with Grandfather, I'd be set for life."

  At this time, I couldn't hear any movement from my grandfather. Normally, he would be watching the news broadcast, but today it was unusually quiet. I opened the door and found that my grandfather wasn't in the living room, but the TV was still on, reporting some international news. I quietly made my way to my grandfather's room and peeked through the gap between the door and the frame. To my surprise, I saw my grandfather wiping something with a clean white cloth. I gently pushed the door open a bit wider and saw that what he was wiping was exactly the same Xing Hou Gui vessel I had seen on the website.

  It was originally by Grandpa's side, but what happened to the British Museum is another story. Seeing Grandpa's focused expression, I couldn't help but close the door again. This was something Grandpa had risked his life for back then, and he definitely wouldn't have lost it carelessly.