Collusion

  Collusion

  "Actually, Mr. Luo, I know the whereabouts of that Xinghou Gui. It was my grandfather who stole it back then, and now it's lying in my home." I told all this to Luo Zheng, just hoping he could help me come up with a plan, because without this Xinghou Gui, I absolutely couldn't complete the task. But for Grandfather, this secret has been kept for so many years, if I tell him now that I want to use the Xinghou Gui to rob a tomb, wouldn't I get killed by Grandfather?

  When I arrived at my grandfather's house, I was no longer allowed to go grave robbing. Although Grandfather always told me stories about his youthful adventures in grave robbing, and I yearned for that kind of life, whenever I brought up the idea of learning how to rob graves, Grandfather's expression would immediately change. It wasn't until I grew up that I understood why: my parents had also been caught and imprisoned for grave robbing, and even now they can't be released. That's why Grandfather didn't want anything to happen to me, the only child of the Ji family, so he cut off all my connections to grave robbing.

  Now because of the undercover work, I have to follow in the family's old footsteps again, but I don't know how to explain all this to Grandpa. Can only ask Luo Zheng to think of a solution for me.

  "It's simple, just shift the blame to Lin Ruoshui, you can say that this thing is at your home, but your grandfather won't lend it, let her show up to borrow and there will be no trouble for you. As for your grandfather, you can say that since childhood, you've heard his stories and knew that such a thing existed, and you accidentally spilled the beans, this little matter shouldn't need me to teach you again, right?" Luo Zheng said with a smile.

  Right! How come I didn't think of that? This way, I can be alone with Lin Ruoshui and shift the blame for the Xing Hougui matter to Grandpa. It's indeed a good idea.

  Two days later, Grandpa specially made a big table of dishes and was excitedly singing songs from time to time. I don't know why he's so happy. All I said was that a friend of the opposite sex was coming over for dinner, and Grandpa immediately thought of other things. He kept telling me that I've grown up, become sensible, and that our family can finally rely on me now.

  "Please, Grandpa, we've only just started talking and you're already in such a rush. We're just ordinary friends, she heard that you fought in the war and wanted to come see for herself, it's as simple as that. Don't think about it in a weird way, okay?" I explained to Grandpa from time to time.

  "You rascal, I know you all too well. You've always been shy about talking to girls since you were young, and now you still don't have a decent job. In the antique business, how many women can you meet? And when it comes to blind dates, you're not successful either. Now that you can bring a female friend home for dinner, what does it mean? I may be old, but I'm not senile!" Grandpa said as he brought out the last dish and put it on the table.

  I'm too lazy to explain to Grandpa again, but isn't my heart thinking the same way? I really hope Lin Ruoshui can be my girlfriend, or even my wife, but I know there's someone else in her heart, someone she'll never forget.

  There was a knock at the door, and I quickly went to open it. Outside stood Lin Ruoshui, carrying some fruit. Today she wore a suit dress, looking very pure and innocent, completely unlike the cold demeanor she had when I first met her. I couldn't help but stare foolishly.

  "Silly boy, still standing there, not letting people come in!" Grandpa also rushed over to see, and at the same time pulled me behind him, holding Lin Ruoshui's hand and entering the house.

  Grandfather looked very satisfied with the girl, constantly asking questions, more annoying than a policeman, while Lin Ruoshui answered smoothly, and there seemed to be no sign of lying in her words.

  "You really are good at making things up, you even fooled my grandfather." I said to Lin Ruoshui while sitting at the dinner table.

  "What? You think I couldn't be a journalist? Couldn't have graduated from university? Couldn't be only twenty-five years old?" Lin Ruoshui looked at me with a smile, her smile was the one I most wanted to see.

  "I didn't mean it like that, I just..." But I don't know how to respond now.

  "I've actually only been in this industry for a short time, I met him three years ago and everything changed after that." Lin Ruoshui mentioned that person again, causing my mood to instantly cool down.

  The meal was eaten very happily, and just as they were about to finish, Lin Ruoshui suddenly said to Grandfather:

  "Grandfather, I heard from Lè Tiān that when you were fighting against the Japanese devils back then, you once stole an Xíng Hóu Zǐ. Is it still around?"

  "Huh? Hehe, there was something like that, but it's been lost in the chaos of war and I have no idea where it is now. If I had it, I wouldn't be living in a house like this, and Lao Tian would still have a job." Grandfather said.

  "But grandfather." Lin Ruoshui wanted to continue speaking, but was interrupted by her grandfather.

  "Girl, our Le Tian is a good kid, but he's just stupid. As soon as he sees a girl, he can't speak. You're willing to be friends with him, it's his blessing from the previous life! Grandpa just hopes you two can get along well, if possible, consider being my granddaughter-in-law, if not, I also hope you treat her as a good friend, okay?" Grandpa's words made Lin Ruo Shui unable to respond, she could only look at me with a helpless face.

  I knew that Grandpa was doing it for my own good, speaking on my behalf, yet I still wanted to collude with others to deceive him. I'm really an unfilial grandson. So I immediately stood up and said to Grandpa:

  "Grandpa, I was wrong. Last time I saw you wiping the Xing Hou Gui in the house, I knew it's always by your side. She's been looking for the whereabouts of the Xing Hou Gui, so we staged this play to trick you into lending it to us. We didn't want to sell it, just...just..."

  "I just want to use it to find the real location of Xing Hou's tomb, Grandfather. I'm only borrowing from you, and once I find what I need, I'll definitely return it." Lin Ruoshui helped me say the words behind, while speaking sincerely to Grandfather.

  "Don't say any more, the Xing Hou Zhi is an inauspicious thing, if it appears, it will only bring misfortune. Miss, I advise you to go back to the right path, even if you can't turn back, don't drag our family's Le Tian into the water. I am a tomb raider by profession, but I don't want Le Tian to follow this path either, his parents are still in prison now. You'd better leave, today's matter I will pretend not to have heard, and from now on, you must not have any relationship with Le Tian again." Grandfather said, then got up and went back into the house.