Diаo Zhuo returnеd tо Xi'an frоm Lhasa, аnd within а fеw dауs, hе recеived an invitation from heаdquаrters tо go tо Веijing аnd delivеr а summаrу sрeеch on the rеsсue оperatiоn at this month's rеgular meеting. Не Zhеngrеn, thе аdvisor of thе Вeidоu Rеsсue Тeаm hеadquartеrs, sаid that thе successful сase of thе Qiаngtаng seаrch and resсuе wоuld be inсludеd in thе Веidоu Resсuе Yeаrboоk and hoрed thеу wоuld write а dеtаilеd written repоrt on the rescue рrocess.
Аfter the mеeting, Не Zhengrеn and Diao Zhuo walked out of the conference room together, slowly making their way down the corridor. As a witness and survivor of the geological survey team's car accident years ago, He Zhengren had suffered leg injuries. Now over sixty, his legs hurt terribly on rainy or overcast days.
Back then, the survey team had limited funds, and the members of the two project groups traveled separately in a sedan and a minibus. Recalling the accident, He Zhengren said that Rao Qinghui and he were the respective leaders of the two projects, and they, along with the driver Zhang Chenguang, rode in the sedan. Along the way, two tourists, a man and a woman, flagged down the car and asked for a ride. Rao Qinghui said there was still space in the minibus and let them board. Midway, it seemed like an argument broke out in the minibus. Rao Qinghui got out of the sedan and boarded the minibus to mediate, which He Zhengren didn't pay much attention to. Not long after, the sedan was severely rear-ended by the minibus. Despite his own injuries, He Zhengren crawled out of the car to call for help, but the minibus rolled over several times and ultimately crashed. Only Rao Qinghui and Song Fan, who were thrown out midway, survived the disaster.
During Rao Qinghui's prolonged illness, Lu Yang and He Zhengren visited several times to inquire about his condition. At the time, Diao Zhuo was still young, but he noticed that whenever Lu Yang came, although his grandfather couldn't speak, his eyes showed clear delight. When He Zhengren visited, his grandfather would close his eyes as if sleeping or as if he didn't want to see him, only opening them again after He Zhengren left.
After Rao Qinghui passed away, Lu Yang retired from his teaching position and pursued some research on his own. He Zhengren was hailed as Rao Qinghui's successor, taking over the survey data from the project team. He immersed himself in research and wrote reports on the aquamarine mine. Based on the contents of these reports, he discovered the No. 6 pit in Koktokay, Xinjiang, where an aquamarine mine was found. A raw ore extracted from it was auctioned off to an American jeweler, who cut it into a 9,999-carat aquamarine. The resulting sculpture, "Galaxy No. 1," gained global fame and is currently housed in the Washington Museum[6]. A few years ago, He Zhengren retired from his research position and was invited to serve as an advisor for the Beidou Rescue Team headquarters.
He Zhengren had long known that Diao Zhuo's mother had remarried and now asked openly, "How are your mother and grandmother doing lately?"
"They're fine. It's just that the elderly often bring up the past and still haven'tt forgotten my grandfather," Diao Zhuo replied, habitually pulling out a cigarette case before remembering that He Zhengren didn't smoke and tucking it back. He then thought of Bayunye, who also didn't seem to like the smell of smoke much.
"It's clear that the old couple must have been deeply devoted back then—both spouses and close friends. With the old man gone, she lost someone to share intimate words with, and it must be hard for her to move on. If your grandmother recalls any unfinished business or wishes of your grandfather's, you younger ones should do your best to help fulfill them."
Diao Zhuo was astute and sensed that the other party seemed to be hinting at something. Pretending to be oblivious, he nodded perfunctorily and said, "Of course. Every year on Qingming, the elderly lady personally visits the cemetery, and she's never missed a year. Once, she even ran into Professor Lu Yang there."He Zhengren thumped his thigh, limping along. "Professor Rao's passing is a huge loss to our field. Sometimes I keep blaming myself, reflecting. When I saw the car behind suddenly swerving in the rearview mirror, I should have stopped. So, even now, I can't forget or accept what happened back then. A whole car of experts, and I heard there were two hitchhiking tourists too—some gone, some injured. What a tragedy!"
Diao Zhuo's brow tightened. "Apart from what Song Fan mentioned, there's no other solid evidence. And Song Fan was just a tourist who joined midway. Could there be cherry-picking or misunderstanding? Maybe it was just an academic debate?"
"I also find it hard to believe Xiao Jun would do something so reckless. Xi Ye was usually a driven girl too. But some of her close classmates did say she might have had feelings for your father that went beyond ordinary colleague affection. I'm not sure exactly what Song Fan said—just overheard something during the statement-taking later..." He Zhengren shook his head, about to say more, but seeing the car already waiting at the entrance, he regretfully extended his hand. "Professor Lu hasn't been well in recent years. You should find time to visit him too. Today's Sunday, and the housekeeper happens to be off. I've made dinner plans, but I'll invite you over another time. Give my regards to your family. Goodbye."
Diao Zhuo reached out and shook his hand. "Alright, thank you."
He Zhengren turned and got into the car. Diao Zhuo glanced at the license plate—an expensive Audi A8. Back in university, he and a few classmates had been invited to He Zhengren's home. It was clear the man lived in understated luxury.
"Professor He, heading home or to your usual private kitchen?" Li Haozhang asked. He was He Zhengren's driver and bodyguard, having dabbled in society in his earlier years. There was a scorpion tattoo on the back of his left hand, which he had lasered off at He Zhengren's request.
He Zhengren looked at Diao Zhuo through the tinted glass, his expression seeming to freeze instantly. "Home."
The car slowly drove away. Diao Zhuo wearily pinched the bridge of his nose. Perhaps it was the stifling heat mixed with humidity of Beijing this season; he hadn't slept well last night, and after a morning with the air conditioning on, his head was pounding.
He had always vaguely felt there was more to the story about his father's alleged affair with Ba Xiye leading to internal strife and the car accident. The only witnesses and survivors of that crash were He Zhengren, Zhang Chenguang, and Song Fan. He wondered if the truth of the accident would ever come to light.
YN, N, M, 8... What did it all mean? 8... Diao Zhuo's brow tightened. Could it be that the syllable his grandfather muttered before passing away wasn't the number "8," but the surname "Ba"?
Perhaps he should find a suitable opportunity to have a proper talk with Bayunye face-to-face.
The Audi A8 entered a quaintly decorated residential complex on the outskirts of Beijing. Li Haozhang cautiously asked, "Diao Zhuo went to Qiangtang and just happened to meet Bayunye? What a coincidence."
"They're in different worlds now, and from what I hear, they don't have much contact. Clearly, no inappropriate sparks flew. Someone from an intellectual family like Diao Zhuo—how could he possibly get closer to Xiao Ba? They're worlds apart, with no overlap in work or life." He Zhengren told Li Haozhang to head back first, then sat in the back seat reading Diao Zhuo's account of the rescue mission.A moment later, he received a phone call and lowered his voice to say, "Are you sure it's in Qiangtang? It seems this trip has been quite fruitful... I need to take a good look at the search records Diao Zhuo wrote."
The person on the phone replied, "I'm certain Diao Zhuo doesn't know about the belongings of Ba Xiye in Bayunye's possession. Their relationship isn't close enough to share such matters."
"Hmph... Song Fan disappeared after going to Badanjilin, and now Zhang Chenguang is also missing. You're the only reliable one left. Tell me, did Zhang Chenguang realize he was being followed and decide to turn the tables? After completing the deal, he faked his death and ran off with the money? The money he's made over the years is enough for him to live comfortably for the rest of his life..."
"I warned him to leave quickly, but that guy, knowing Bayunye was onto him, was blinded by greed and insisted on going up the mountain to complete the deal. You have to admit, Renlong Duoji is really something. Zhang Chenguang was elusive, yet he managed to track him down and catch him every time."
"Anyway, the outside world is saying Zhang Chenguang died on Pearl Peak, so let's just assume he's dead! The foreigners didn’t cause trouble with the middlemen, so his goods must have been delivered. As for the foreigner who died, it was probably just an accident."
The voice on the phone said, "Let's not worry about the foreigners. It's that Zou Kaigui... I suspect he took on some job from one of the middlemen, searching for Heavenly Lake. Let me give you some advice: get rid of unreliable underlings like him as soon as possible."
"I don’t know anything about Zou Kaigui. Let’s not talk about that. There are still two photos whose locations haven’t been identified. Keep an eye on it!" He Zhengren hung up the phone, his expression easing slightly.
Subsequent investigation results gradually came in. According to news reports, the police discovered through Zou Kaigui’s financial transactions that, apart from Ye Xun, he had also made a large transfer to someone nicknamed "Old Boat." Old Boat’s identity wasn’t elaborated on in the news, but it was mentioned that through his confession, Chinese police, in collaboration with foreign authorities, dismantled an overseas poaching syndicate. This syndicate had been active in Africa for years, killing many elephants and rhinos, before expanding their operations to Asia and targeting Tibetan antelopes. It’s hard to imagine what would have happened if Zou Kaigui had actually been lucky enough to stumble upon Heavenly Lake, a major gathering place for Tibetan antelopes, providing the poaching syndicate with a clear target and route. Countless rare plateau animals would have suffered as a result.
Zou Kaigui entered Qiangtang for the sake of Tibetan antelopes and died in Qiangtang because of them. It’s hard to say whether this represents the will of heaven. No wonder some say that Hoh Xil is the softness that nurtures life, while Qiangtang is the desolation where life finds its rest.
As for Ye Xun, he left too little evidence behind. Whether it was his desire to create a Tibetan antelope encounter tour, his funding of Zou Kaigui’s trek through Qiangtang, or his forceful possession of Xiao Zi, there was no solid proof. His punishment would have to be carefully considered. However, his charity foundation lost much of its support, and his wife filed for divorce. It could be said that both his personal and corporate image were completely ruined.
The matter of Zou Kaigui’s death compensation remained unresolved for a long time, leading to new complications. His younger brother, Zou Tonggui, heard that the compensation amounted to 20 million, with Ye Xun as the sole beneficiary, leaving him with nothing. He immediately turned hostile and informed the police that Zou Kaigui had long considered Zou Xiaowen a burden. Years ago, during a sea voyage, he pushed her into the ocean, falsely claimed she had been abducted, and then colluded with Ye Xun to exploit public sympathy for their own selfish desires.Suddenly, public opinion took a sharp turn. Numerous netizens began to denounce Zou Kaigui, accusing him of intentional homicide, deceiving society, and illegally crossing protected areas. Under such circumstances, they argued, the 20 million compensation should not be paid. In response to these claims, the insurance company was reviewing relevant laws and clauses, likely leading to another round of complications.
Unlike other netizens, Brother Long wasn’t concerned about Zou Kaigui’s insurance payout. He added the follow-up report’s URL to his bookmarks, muttering a name under his breath, “Old Boat…”
He took out his phone and glanced around—the courtyard was empty at the moment. He found a contact and dialed, “Mingliang, they’ve caught Old Boat… Any news on your end?… Hah, just as I thought. Forget it, Old Boat was never a key player anyway. Don’t worry, I’ll keep a close eye on things here. If anything comes up on your side, don’t hesitate to keep me in the loop.”
After hanging up, he slowly twirled his prayer beads, his gaze drifting absently toward the wooden sofa in the courtyard. A faint, bitter smile suddenly flickered at the corner of his mouth. “Zou Kaigui, so you were just a small fry…”
On his last day in Beijing, Diao Zhuo went to visit Professor Lu Yang. Just as He Zhengren had said, Professor Lu was in poor health. Having just taken his medication, he remained in a deep slumber. From his children, Diao Zhuo learned that the doctor had indicated Professor Lu didn’t have much time left.
Afterward, he returned to Xi’an. During a gathering with friends, it was clear their intentions went beyond mere socializing. The moment he stepped into the private room they’d reserved, he understood what was happening.
They were trying to set him up.
Diao Zhuo’s phone was still filled with unaccepted friend requests and unanswered messages. After breaking up with the woman from last time, a number of girls—some he knew, others he didn’t—had somehow gotten hold of his contact information.
His friends seemed to think he wasn’t popular enough with women, or perhaps they were acting on the urging and requests of his family.
Dong Bai, who worked at a fashion magazine, always prided himself on being a good judge of character. He leaned in and quietly introduced the girl sitting across from them as his distant cousin. She had just graduated from university and now worked at a public institution. With big eyes, fair skin, and a petite frame, she had a delicate, coquettish manner that could tug at a man’s heartstrings. Dong Bai thought she was exactly Diao Zhuo’s type.
And she would have been, in the past.
But now, why did it feel so awkward?
Diao Zhuo’s mind was filled with thoughts of that female rogue, an image he couldn’t shake. Like a vine, she had initially seemed loose and fragile, as if she’d break at the slightest touch. He had allowed her to wind her way upward, and now breaking free was impossible. Time flowed like water, yet her smile, her expressions, grew ever clearer in his mind—the striking contours of her exotic features, her thick, upturned eyelashes, her slightly aggressive gaze, the resolute determination she showed when firing a short gun, and… the two shallow dimples at the curve of her waist and hips.
Damn it.
Throughout the meal, anyone with eyes could see that Diao Zhuo was eating without any enthusiasm.
Using smoking as an excuse, Diao Zhuo left the gathering early and walked alone through the summer night of the ancient capital that had witnessed thirteen dynasties. The wind rustled through the ginkgo leaves lining the road, creating a soft, whispering sound. Perhaps because it was the weekend, Weiyang Road was livelier and noisier than usual. From somewhere in the distance, the bold and unrestrained strains of Qin opera drifted over, singing the famous “Entering the Palace for the Second Time.”
As he approached Anyuan Gate, he paused to gaze at the brilliantly lit ancient city wall.
I recall only turning to old books for solace—when will we walk hand in hand into Chang’an?The final exam concluded, marking the arrival of the eagerly anticipated summer vacation once again. Several bus routes from Beiyang Institute of Technology to the city center and the high-speed rail station were packed with students, each one eager to return home.
Zhang Tianen was packing his books and clothes. The other three roommates in his dorm had already rushed out to squeeze onto the buses, but he remained unhurried.
"I don’t want you to leave! Stay and keep me company!"
In the hallway, Meng Xiao Ai, the campus belle who lived locally, was coquettishly pleading with her boyfriend Su Zhiming. Zheming’s home was in Zhumen City, thousands of miles away, and parting for another two months was surely agonizing for the deeply in love couple.
Zhang Tianen glanced outside. Xiao Ai was whimpering and crying sadly, while the handsome and tall Zheming comforted her softly, the two occasionally lost in passionate kisses.
Zhang Tianen was also tall and lean, though his looks were rather ordinary, making him unremarkable in a crowd. Unlike Zheming, who attracted girls’ attention wherever he went. Both he and Xiao Ai were members of the Student Union’s External Relations Department. He had once subtly expressed his affection for her, but whether she deliberately rejected him or simply didn’t notice his feelings, she remained distant toward him.
As the two embraced and walked away, Zhang Tianen felt a calm indifference. He simply thought, girls are quite materialistic—you either need money, good looks, or talent to win their hearts!
Next semester would be his senior year, with much more freedom and flexibility. He could look for internships or start job hunting directly. But unlike most of his classmates, he preferred immersing himself in his own hobbies.
He was passionate about adventure, idolizing Bear Grylls from the show Man vs. Wild. From the first season to the seventh, he had watched the episodes countless times, practically memorizing them. His dream was to follow in Bear’s footsteps, exploring Uninhabited Areas and forbidden zones worldwide, relying on his exceptional survival skills to endure.
He had a grand plan: to spend the next two months meticulously preparing strategies while also testing the waters by venturing alone to Tiger Leaping Gorge to build his courage.
As he finished packing and headed out, he happened to run into a gloomy-looking Zheming.
"Hey, Tianen, any plans for this summer?" Zheming asked, adding a complaint, "Staying at home is so boring—just helping my parents with their shop. I heard you travel every summer, even hiking in Tibet last year. Are you going again this summer?"
Zhang Tianen didn’t particularly like others referring to his adventures as "travel." How could he be the same as those tourists who sleep on the bus and take photos at stops?
He didn’t plan to share his detailed plans with Zheming, simply saying, "I’m thinking of going to Tiger Leaping Gorge."
"Tiger Leaping Gorge..." Zheming quickly searched it up and exclaimed, "That looks thrilling! If I have time, could we go together?"
Zhang Tianen hesitated for a moment before casually agreeing.
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