She’s a Passerby, But Can See the Protagonist’s Halo

The man looked at Yan and could tell she wasn’t someone who could handle serious matters. He then glanced at Zhu Jue inside the room, shook his head, and turned to leave.

“The boss will be back soon. Do you want to wait a bit?” Yan asked.

Whether this person was a guest of Boss Tu or a suspicious individual, she felt it was necessary to stall him.

However, upon hearing this, the man simply slung his bag over his shoulder and walked away without a moment’s hesitation.

“Hey,” Yan reached out, but ultimately couldn’t stop him.

She made a helpless gesture toward Zhu Jue. “Let’s tell Boss Tu when he gets back. It’s not our fault.”

This guy had left his own shop unattended, and who knows what urgent matter had kept him away for so long.

Yan wasn’t worried about whether Boss Xu’s jade shop would close and prevent her from picking up her items. The antique street in Bin City, especially large shops like jade stores, stayed open until late on weekends. Ever since the street had started hosting free market activities, weekends here were always bustling with crowds.

Not long after the man left, Yan and Zhu Jue finally saw Boss Tu return after disappearing since noon.

He looked somewhat dejected, as if he had encountered some kind of setback.

Seeing the two still in the shop, Boss Tu quickly apologized, “Yan, Zhu Jue, I’m so sorry. I didn’t expect to be delayed for so long.”

Yan joked, “Pay us our part-time wages on the spot. Our hourly rate is pretty high.”

She described the man who had just visited to Boss Tu, but Boss Tu didn’t seem concerned.

“Don’t worry about it. He’s probably someone who went to the countryside to buy goods or dug something up from his hometown, thinking it’s a treasure. You’ll run into people like that in any shop.”

Yan and Zhu Jue nodded.

“No other customers came by?” Boss Tu asked.

The two shook their heads. “Nope. We just watched videos all afternoon.”

“That’s normal. People usually come out to wander around on weekdays. On weekends, they’re busy spending time with their families.”

“It’s good that no one came. Saves us from waiting too long today.”

Boss Tu noticed the takeout bags near the tea table and gave an awkward smile.

“Alright, I’m about to close up, and you two haven’t eaten yet.” He took out his phone and made a quick call, speaking a few words rapidly.

“I’ve reserved a table for two at Shangwei Restaurant at the entrance of the antique street. It’s on my tab. You two go ahead and eat.”

Yan and Zhu Jue were stunned by how quickly he had arranged everything, practically shooing them off to eat as soon as he returned.

“You’re really kicking us out after using us,” Zhu Jue teased.

It was already 3 p.m. Yan and Zhu Jue first went to the jade shop to pick up the custom-made jade pendants and bracelets they had ordered.

The glutinous ice jade, though not as transparent as pure ice jade, was still incredibly beautiful in their hands.

Yan tried on the bracelets they had ordered for their mothers. Her wrists were slender, so the bracelets were slightly loose and slid up her arm.

Her delicate, snow-white wrists made the translucent jade bracelets appear even more striking against her fair skin.

The two sets of jade pendants and bracelets were carefully packed into gift boxes. After confirming everything was in order, Yan officially signed her name on the receipt.

Yan had chosen rings for herself and Zhu Jue. The jade ring faces were from the same stone—Zhu Jue’s was a square design, while Yan’s was teardrop-shaped with additional diamond accents.

Since she often typed on a keyboard and took handwritten notes in class, Yan hadn’t opted for a bracelet. She was a bit clumsy and feared she might accidentally chip or break a jade bracelet, which would break her heart.

But a small ring was no trouble at all—lightweight and elegant on her finger.

They also had leftover jade material made into small peace knots, strung on red cords, which could be given as gifts.

Yan looked at the peace knots in the box and thought, “Maybe we should have these peace knots blessed before giving them away. The jade pendant for the car should also be blessed.”

Boss Tu had connections for such things. They could send them over during a Buddhist ceremony or arrange a private blessing ritual.

Ensuring safety and peace… Yan felt this was very important for them.

After picking up their items from the VIP room, they stepped out to see the raw jade area packed with people.

The spot where they had previously cut jade with Yi Zhi was also crowded. It seemed that due to the high number of customers, two more machines had been added to accommodate the demand.

But the line at the old master’s station was still the longest.

“Why aren’t you lining up over there? It’s much emptier,” someone passing by asked.

“I heard that’s a new station. This master is the one who cut out the imperial green jade. He’s got good luck—we’re here to soak up some of that fortune,” a young man pulling a cart of raw jade said, sounding superstitious.

“Is that really a thing? Wasn’t it just that handsome guy’s good luck?” a passerby shook their head.

Yan and Zhu Jue quietly walked past. There were so many people!

Just as Boss Tu had described, the raw jade area was filled with young people, their faces alight with excitement and curiosity. Some brought small flashlights, while others used their phone flashlights to inspect the jade. Nearby, middle-aged men shook their heads disapprovingly.

As they passed, they even saw someone looking up “how to identify raw jade” on their phone, watching tutorial videos on the spot.

It was truly a case of learning on the fly, with everyone joining in the fun.

A month had passed, and Boss Xu’s jade shop was still this lively.

After leaving Boss Xu’s shop, Yan and Zhu Jue headed to Shangwei Restaurant, where Boss Tu had reserved a table for them.

This restaurant had a history of over a hundred years and was a genuine century-old establishment.

The last time Yan and Zhu Jue had visited the antique street, they had searched for this place but were discouraged by the waiting list of over a hundred tables.

This time, thanks to Boss Tu, they didn’t hold back. After all, they had genuinely spent the entire afternoon minding the shop!

They were seated at a cozy booth in the elegantly decorated restaurant. The staff wore traditional attire, spoke softly, and attended to every detail with care.

Boss Tu seemed worried they might feel restrained, so he had already arranged a set menu over the phone. All Yan and Zhu Jue had to do was sit and wait.

They were seated by a latticed window on the second floor, facing each other. Turning their heads slightly, they could see the bustling crowd below.

The staff informed them that since the dishes were made to order, even though Boss Tu had called ahead, it would still take about twenty minutes for the food to arrive.

Yan and Zhu Jue weren’t in a hurry. Yan thanked the server for the complimentary snacks and then happily pulled out the two ring boxes from her bag.

She wanted to wear them a little longer and take some nice photos while the restaurant’s ambiance was perfect.

The ring boxes were of a classic design, exuding elegance and sophistication. Yan placed the two boxes side by side and took a photo.

Her eyes curved into a smile as she reached out to Zhu Jue.

“Hand model, lend me your hand.”

Zhu Jue, sitting across from her, smiled and obediently extended his left hand.

His hand was large, with long, slender fingers and well-defined knuckles. His nails were neatly trimmed.

Yan placed her right hand beneath his, their palms touching. A warm sensation spread from their fingertips to their palms.

She took off Zhu Jue’s ring and asked with a serious expression, “Zhu Jue, are you ready?”

"I'm ready," Zhu Jue said softly, gazing at her.

"Hmph," Yan snorted, slipping the ring onto Zhu Jue's left ring finger.

"Now that you're wearing my ring, you're mine."

Before Yan could withdraw her hand, Zhu Jue had already reached out with her right hand, taken Yan's ring, and placed it on Yan's left ring finger.

The two sat facing each other, holding hands, their eyes filled with nothing but each other, smiling like fools.

"Our rings are so beautiful," Yan said, beaming.

"Absolutely stunning," Zhu Jue replied with a smile.

In the East, it's customary for men to wear rings on their left hand and women on their right, while in the West, both wear them on the left, as it's closer to the heart.

Yan and Zhu Jue wore theirs on the left simply because they were both right-handed, making it more convenient for daily tasks.

Lost in their own world, they didn't notice the waitress assigned to their table, who had watched the entire scene from a distance, wearing a knowing, almost motherly smile.

After a while, the dishes arrived, and Yan and Zhu Jue put away the gift box but kept the rings on.

The meal was lavish, with six dishes in total: three hot dishes, one cold dish, a dessert, and a soup. The portions weren't overly large, and since they hadn't eaten lunch, the food was delicious. Though they didn't finish everything, they ate most of it.

The restaurant provided tea for rinsing their mouths, and after clearing the taste, Yan nibbled on some fruit.

Just then, the waitress approached with an exquisite box.

She smiled warmly, "This is our special 'Eternal Unity' pastry, a gift for the two of you, symbolizing everlasting love."

Yan was stunned. Why was the waitress suddenly giving them this?

She realized the waitress had noticed their rings and blushed as she thanked her.

"Thank you."

The waitress made a heart gesture with her hands. The pastry was shaped like two interlocking rings, symbolizing unbreakable unity.

"I figured you might be full, so you can take this to enjoy later," the waitress added, pulling out a handbag, clearly prepared in advance.

After the meal, Yan and Zhu Jue had no idea how much the bill was. Boss Tu took care of it, and they even left with a box of pastries.

Zhu Jue carried the ring box, while Yan held the restaurant's takeout bag. They decided to return to Boss Tu's shop to have their jade pieces blessed, feeling it was only right to thank him after such a fine meal.

Since the streets were crowded, they took the shortcut Boss Tu had recommended.

As they walked down the narrow path, Yan and Zhu Jue spotted the man again—the one with the backpack who had asked if Boss Tu would buy his items earlier.

He recognized them too and hesitated for a moment before approaching.

"Take a look at this," he said, glancing around to make sure no one else was nearby. "Tell your elders I'm willing to sell it cheap."

Yan was baffled. Had he been wandering around, unable to find a buyer? Did no one want it?

So this was the kind of person Boss Tu had mentioned—someone convinced they had a priceless antique but in reality, it was worthless, yet they refused to believe it, peddling it everywhere.

Before she could refuse, the man had already pulled out a box from his bag, carefully lifting the black cloth to reveal its contents.

This time, both Yan and Zhu Jue were stunned.

What lay beneath the cloth looked eerily familiar.

A bronze bell, adorned with strange inscriptions.

At first glance, it looked exactly like the one Ding Ling had given Yan!

What the hell?

What was going on? Was this some kind of twin?

The man spoke up, "It's a good piece, right? You can tell, can't you? It's been passed down in my family for five generations."

The lie was obvious, but they didn't call him out. Yan's mind raced, trying to figure out what to do.

She had no idea if this bell was genuine or fake. The one Ding Ling had given her seemed precious, almost like a "ritual object."

But Boss Tu and the other shopkeepers in the area, being experts, hadn't taken it, which meant they must have spotted something off.

Yan guessed there were two possibilities: either it was dug up from the ground or it was a fake.

But even if she didn't know its age, the design and the obscure inscriptions on it weren't the kind of thing that would fetch a high price. Would someone really bother forging something like this?

Yan exchanged a glance with Zhu Jue. For now, they needed to keep the man calm.

As for the rest... well, they'd call for backup and let Ding Ling handle it.

"Put it away for now. Let's talk in the shop," Yan said, taking another look to confirm that the unfamiliar inscriptions matched those on the bell she had stored at home.

Hearing the young woman's words, the man knew he had a chance. A smile spread across his face, though he still seemed a bit uneasy.

"Give me a price, and I'll think about it. But can you two even make decisions? You're so young," he said, eyeing them skeptically.

Yan raised an eyebrow. So he didn't want to go to the shop because he was afraid the "elders" would ruin his deal?

The man was definitely hiding something. Either the item was fake, or its origins were shady. Yan was sure of it.

The man quickly covered the bell with the cloth and tucked it back into his bag, clutching it tightly to his chest as if worried they might snatch it away, trying to create an air of preciousness.

"Let me check my bank account," Yan said, pulling out her phone. The man's eyes flickered with greed, but he didn't dare look directly.

Yan quickly sent a message to Ding Ling:

[Yan]: Same bronze bell. Antique street. Come quickly. Stay quiet.

She sent her location, hoping Ding Ling was free and could grasp the urgency from her few words.

Yan put her phone down, pretending to think before speaking. "If you want to sell this, you'll need to give me a realistic price."

"Honestly, without knowing its age, and with that fake patina, no one's going to buy it as an antique. At best, it's a decorative piece."

The man watched as the young woman checked her account and then proceeded to trash his item, calling it a fake. He felt a surge of satisfaction.

Ha, as if he didn't know this trick. She was clearly trying to lowball him.

As for the so-called patina, heaven knew the bell had looked like that when he dug it up. Weren't all bronze artifacts green? Clearly, it was an ancient relic!

The man shook his head. "It's not a fake. It's real. I took it straight from my family's box."

Zhu Jue's brow twitched. The man's hesitation was noticeable, and both of them caught the unnatural tone in his voice.

So it really was dug up from the ground?

"It's real," the man insisted again.

Yan looked at him with ease: "Your family has passed this down for five generations. Logically, you should have some understanding of it. At the very least, you should tell us its proper name, what kind of artifact it is, and how it ended up in your family."

"These days, items with a clear lineage are called collectibles, while those in museums are called cultural relics. As for those without proper documentation..." Yan didn't finish her sentence, but her eyes were full of implication.

To the man, it was clear that the young woman in front of him was suggesting that his item had dubious origins, and that he should be grateful if someone was willing to buy it at all. He shouldn't expect a high price.

This was still an attempt to lowball him!

He knew that as a first-timer, he might have some vulnerabilities compared to these seasoned experts, but her words had indeed hit those vulnerabilities.

The man was still unwilling to give in. He thought to himself that this young woman had pegged his item as having questionable origins, but he was equally convinced that they recognized his item as genuine.

He had visited several shops, and most didn’t even look at it. Those who did simply asked him to leave, not outright calling it fake but saying they couldn’t verify its authenticity. They didn’t even offer a price.

Now, it seemed that only these two young people were left. He absolutely couldn’t let this opportunity slip away.

The man knew that there would be more back-and-forth between them, and it wasn’t something that could be settled right here in this alley.

"Miss, sir, let’s talk somewhere else," he said.

But he wasn’t very familiar with the antique street. On weekends, it was crowded with tourists, and carrying this item made it difficult to find a suitable place to talk. After all, the transaction and conversation they were about to have clearly belonged to a gray area.

"Let’s find a quiet place," the man suggested.

A quiet place... Yan and Zhu Jue exchanged glances. "Then it’ll have to be near the courtyard," Yan said.

"There’s a heritage-protected courtyard nearby. It’s usually empty. If you’re comfortable, we can go there," Yan offered.

Earlier that morning, they had heard from Boss Tu that the Liang family courtyard had been closed for a long time for restoration.

Yan thought that going to this place would make it easier for Ding Ling to join them later.

"Lead the way," the man said, clutching his bag and following Yan and Zhu Jue.

The Liang family courtyard, after being damaged, should have been restored. However, due to a special incident, the follow-up work had been handed over to the special case team.

And because of some sensitive matters, a month later, there were still no surveillance cameras installed.

Yan and Zhu Jue easily found a blind spot—right at the entrance, where they could perfectly monitor both sides for any approaching visitors.

Yan quietly sent Ding Ling their latest location and glanced at the brief reply Ding Ling had sent earlier.

[Ding Ling]: On my way. Stall for twenty minutes.

Calculating the time, Yan felt assured. Ding Ling should be arriving soon, and once she brought backup, Yan and Zhu Jue could make their escape.

Earlier in the alley, Yan had been the one negotiating with the man. Now it was Zhu Jue’s turn to step in. Bargaining was something they had been trained in since childhood.

"Five thousand? Are you kidding me? That’s way too low," the man exclaimed, wide-eyed.

"I’m not asking for five hundred thousand, but at least three hundred thousand!"

"This isn’t a genuine artifact. Five thousand is already generous for a craft piece," Zhu Jue scoffed, as if the offer was a favor.

The man crouched on the ground, still holding his bag, while Yan casually glanced at her watch.

"Only an idiot would spend five thousand on a craft piece. Three hundred thousand, not a penny less! Young man, if you hadn’t taken an interest, why would you have dragged this out for so long?" The man, agitated, pulled the item out of his backpack again and removed the black cloth covering it.

"Here, take a look, feel it. There’s nothing to swap it with. Take a good look," he said, handing over the bronze bell.

Yan took it and silently weighed it in her hands. The weight was almost identical to the one Ding Ling had given her.

It was heavy, undoubtedly a bronze bell.

She compared it to the memory of another bronze bell she had seen before, noticing slight differences in the details.

Yan then passed the bell to Zhu Jue. After both had examined it, they put it down, still holding firm on their offer.

"Eight thousand," Yan said.

"You call that bargaining?" The man was clearly frustrated. The offer was far below his expectations, especially since he had traveled all the way to Bin City for this.

"Look, look, this is the real deal. See how fresh the patina is? It’s just been dug up. Experts on TV say only recently unearthed items have this kind of green."

In his agitation, the man let slip more than he should have. Yan and Zhu Jue’s expressions froze for a moment.

So, it really was something dug up from the ground. But this man was definitely not a tomb raider. Tomb raiders usually came from family or master-disciple lineages, and even those who stumbled into the trade knew to be cautious. This man, however, was clearly an amateur.

His rough, dark skin, calloused hands, and scars suggested he was more accustomed to heavy manual labor.

So, where had he dug this up? A construction site? Did he dig it up secretly, or was it part of a larger haul?

The man, though trying to speak in standard Mandarin, still had an accent that marked him as neither a northerner nor a local of Bin City.

Yan’s eyes flickered with thoughts. Just then, Ding Ling arrived!

She appeared suddenly and silently, without a single footstep. Prepared as they were, Yan and Zhu Jue felt relieved that they no longer had to stall. The man, however, was startled.

"When did she get here?" he muttered, instinctively reaching to cover the bronze bell with the black cloth. But Ding Ling had already seen it.

She had come in a hurry, not even notifying her team to avoid exposing the young couple. She had come alone.

Ding Ling’s pupils contracted as she saw the item. Yan, at this point, stood up and exchanged a silent glance with her before pulling Zhu Jue away.

The man was still processing what had happened. The sudden arrival of this young woman didn’t seem like a big deal to him. He assumed the couple had left to find a more private place to talk and immediately tried to follow them.

But as he was putting the bronze bell back into his bag, a police badge was thrust in front of his face.

The man’s eyes widened. "You... you... them?"

When he looked up again, the couple was nowhere to be seen.

He tried to run, but the seemingly frail young policewoman grabbed him, rendering him immobile.

Ding Ling made a quick phone call, said a few words, and hung up.

She used a wisp of yin energy to completely immobilize the man and then carefully examined the bronze bell in the box.

She channeled a bit of yin energy into it, and the bell responded with an almost imperceptible reaction.

Ding Ling looked up at the clear sky, reminded of that day a month ago, also at the entrance of the familiar Liang family courtyard.

Yan and Zhu Jue had effortlessly dismantled the formation’s core and left as if nothing had happened.

And today, history repeated itself. An artifact that was supposed to have vanished from records was handed over to her by Yan, who then walked away without a care in the world.

This bell, any one of them, would be considered a clan’s sacred treasure among the mystic families!

Such a monumental achievement, and yet Yan had passed it on without a second thought, leaving no trace of her involvement.

She could have kept it for herself, but instead, she handed it over to Ding Ling, a "semi-official" figure, without a hint of selfishness.

Ding Ling's heart felt heavy. Yan, oh Yan, what on earth could she say to him?