Celine was busy thinking about how to pay back the money for the antiques.
Meanwhile, Shenan was having dinner with Kaylee when his phone rang at an inconvenient time.
The name on the screen surprised Shenan.
It was Old Man Li.
"Hello, teacher," Shenan answered with his usual respectful tone.
But Old Man Li's voice on the other end wasn't calm as usual. It was full of excitement mixed with some frustrated laughter.
"Shenan! Finally, you answered!" Old Man Li started right away. "That half-liang coin you gave me… Oh no, I don't know who leaked it!"
"What happened, teacher?" Shenan felt a pang in his heart but kept his face calm.
"What else could happen!" Old Man Li raised his voice a bit. "Now everyone in the circle knows that Old Wang and I each have a pair of top-quality Qin half-liang coins!"
"In the past few days, my doorstep has been trampled flat! One person after another comes to see them and tries to snatch them away!"
"Oh," Shenan nodded.
"What 'oh'!" Old Man Li snapped. "You know how rare these things are, right? Qin half-liang coins aren't uncommon, but this quality and this pattern—these are basically unique! Old Wang and I cherish them like treasures. How could we possibly sell them?!"
The old professor was clearly annoyed.
"I told everyone clearly they're not for sale, but the questions keep coming non-stop! Don't you think it's annoying? My peaceful days are completely gone! I might as well call you and ask, do you have any left over there?"
Old Man Li asked carefully, clearly hoping for some good news.
Shenan knew well that Hogan had given him more than one Qin half-liang coin, but he didn't plan to sell any right now.
"Teacher, there really aren't any Qin half-liang coins left here," Shenan paused, then changed the subject, "but... my family actually has a batch of other items."
"Other items?"
Old Man Li immediately became interested. In his mind flashed the jade finger ring he had bought at a high price.
"Also from the Qin dynasty? What are they? Tell me quickly!"
Shenan smiled, "I happen to have some photos stored here. Want me to send them to you?"
"Send! Send!" Old Man Li almost shouted, his urgency clear.
Shenan ended the call and carefully picked a few photos from his phone album and sent them.
The photos showed the bronze artifacts quietly resting in Celine's space.
A few seconds later, the phone rang again, and Shenan almost immediately answered.
"Shenan!!"
Old Man Li's voice shook with disbelief and his breathing was heavier.
"I saw the photos! This… these are bronze artifacts?! Qin dynasty bronze swords?! And ge weapons?! The condition… the condition is unbelievably good?!!"
Across the phone, Shenan could imagine his teacher's eyes wide open, holding his phone and repeatedly checking the pictures with excitement.
"Where… where are these things now?!" Old Man Li spoke fast, "No, no, tell me when I can see them in person! As soon as possible! The earliest possible time?!"
Faced with his teacher's rapid questions, Shenan hesitated for a moment.
After all, these items belonged to his sister Celine. He couldn't decide alone.
"Well, teacher," Shenan carefully said, "these things belong to my sister. I have to talk to her first about how to arrange things."
"Yes, yes, yes! That's right! You should ask her first!"
Old Man Li realized that, but his eagerness didn't lessen.
"Then ask quickly! Call me as soon as you get an answer! I'll wait for your message! I promise I'll wait!"
"Okay, teacher." Shenan agreed and ended the call.
In the private room, Kaylee had been quietly listening. When she saw Shenan put down the phone, she curiously asked:
"It's your teacher? Sounds excited. Did they find some treasure?"
Shenan looked at the photo of the bronze artifact just sent on his phone. His eyes grew deep.
Treasure?
More than just treasure.
If this got out, it would probably cause a huge storm in the whole archaeology world.
He smiled slightly and said to Kaylee, "Just a small matter. Let's keep eating."
Shenan's casual "small matter" was like a thin veil, lightly blocking Kaylee's curious gaze.
She could tell he didn't want to say more.
A faint sadness suddenly passed through her heart, like a feather brushing water, creating subtle ripples.
This sadness was strange. Kaylee was a little stunned.
It wasn't that she wanted to pry into someone else's privacy, but...
After spending the whole day together—from the hospital to here—his thoughtfulness, his respect for her...
Even the calm and weariness in him that didn't match his age, all attracted her like a magnet.
Kaylee clearly realized one fact—she seemed to have feelings for this man in front of her.
A feeling beyond ordinary friendship, making her heart beat a little faster...
Because of this, Shenan's distance and boundaries felt even clearer now, reminding her sharply: they were far apart.
One was a patient's family member; the other was a temporary hired medical assistant. That was all.
Thinking about this, the sadness that had just appeared was quickly pushed down, turning into a barely audible sigh.
Shenan naturally didn't notice the many thoughts turning inside the girl's heart.
But if he knew Kaylee's thoughts now, he would smile bitterly.
Because Kaylee only guessed half right.
Their distance did exist, but the feelings were not one-sided.
If he had no feelings, why insist on inviting her to dinner after everything was over, just to "say thanks"?
Wouldn't it have been easier to just say thanks outside the hospital?
But this feeling, Shenan also hid carefully, even more deeply than Kaylee.
This girl in front of him was a good university medical student, polite in speech, gentle in manner.
Even if she was working as a medical assistant now, she was living off her professional knowledge, dignified and free.
Looking at how she dressed, not flashy but showing good family background and education.
And what about him?
Shenan smiled bitterly to himself.
Limping, only finished middle school, without a decent job...
What could he use to get close to such a pure and bright girl?
For the first time in over twenty years, he had such clear feelings for a girl.
But this budding emotion was crushed by himself as soon as it appeared.
He dared not show it, could not show it, even... felt unworthy to show it.
So he could only keep a calm surface, pushing down the flutter and self-doubt together.
The private room fell silent again, only the light sounds of bowls and chopsticks touching.
The food still smelled good, but between them, it seemed like an invisible barrier stood.
Both lost in their own thoughts, neither spoke easily again.