Chapter Thirty-Three: Escape

When I got home, I still felt uneasy. Mengya, on the other hand, seemed unfazed. I glanced at her and let out a sigh.

“So, you think I went a bit too far, is that it?” Mengya said with a stern face. “I did it all for you, you know.”

I nodded. “I just worry that our plan might backfire.”

She remained calm, brought over a bowl of freshly washed white grapes, sat on the sofa, and turned on the television.

“How much love could be given another chance…” At that moment, my phone rang. It was Xiao Shao.

“Qiu, I’ve booked the tickets. The flight’s at eight the morning after tomorrow. Let’s meet at the airport at six.”

I hesitated, glanced at Mengya, and said awkwardly, “Um, Mengya will be coming with me.”

Xiao Shao laughed over the phone. “I already figured as much. I knew Mengya wouldn’t let you go to Hong Kong alone. There’s something else I need to tell you.”

“What is it?”

He lowered his voice. “Li Xiaoxue heard you’re going and insisted on coming along. I couldn’t talk her out of it, so…”

“Oh, come on, you’re putting me in a tough spot here.”

Xiao Shao sounded embarrassed and stammered, “Nothing I could do. Well… it’s settled then.” He hung up.

“Who was that?” Mengya asked, her eyes still on the television.

I glanced at her, flustered. “Xiao Shao. The tickets are booked. We leave the day after tomorrow.”

“Alright,” she replied. “Let’s pack tomorrow then.”

I hesitated, wondering if I should tell her about Xiaoxue joining us. But since we’d just reconciled, I decided to keep quiet.

Mengya glanced sideways at me, a faint sneer on her lips. “What’s wrong? Did one of your little lovers get exposed?”

“I don’t have any lovers, you know that.” I quickly explained, “Here’s the thing—Li Xiaoxue wanted to come, and Xiao Shao couldn’t refuse.”

“There’s nothing you can’t tell me,” she said calmly.

It struck me how much she’d changed since last time—no longer as sensitive about these things. I almost felt out of my depth.

“Hey, Mengya, why aren’t you angry?” I asked, leaning closer.

She smiled and turned off the TV. “If I lost my temper over every little thing, wouldn’t I just be giving you more opportunities?”

“Oh, I see…” I grinned wickedly and slipped into the bedroom.

Packing and exchanging money took us all the way from morning until three in the afternoon. From the home safe, I took out a pair of Warring States jade huang pendants with an ‘S’-shaped dragon motif, tied them with cords, and put one around my neck. I handed the other to Mengya, but she waved it away. “No, thanks. It’s too valuable—I couldn’t afford to break it.”

I laughed and put it around her neck anyway. “You’re already mine—what are you afraid of?”

Legend had it that these Warring States jades were the most powerful talismans against evil, especially the jade huang, said to be far more effective than old coins or dzi beads. But because they were so expensive—costing hundreds of thousands—few people ever wore them as jewelry.

The next day, at Terminal 3 of the Capital International Airport, I sat in the waiting area with Mengya, our two suitcases in tow.

I checked the time: a quarter past seven. Xiao Shao still hadn’t arrived. I called him.

“We’re almost there, Qiu!” he said.

Five minutes later, Xiao Shao and Xiaoxue appeared, dragging their luggage.

“So, did any trouble crop up these last two days?” I asked with a smile.

Xiao Shao looked exuberant. “Nope!”

As we chatted, Xiaoxue shoved past him and eyed Mengya disdainfully. “Oh, you brought along your personal maid?”

The words sent a chill down my spine. I glanced nervously at Mengya, but she just smiled and said nothing.

Awkwardly, I said, “Well, you know what they say—many hands make light work.” I forced a laugh, and Xiaoxue just snorted and said no more.

The flight wasn’t delayed; we boarded right on time at eight. Mengya, Xiao Shao, and I sat together, leaving Xiaoxue on her own.

“Sis-in-law, you really have become more gracious,” Xiao Shao said quietly.

“What ‘sis-in-law’?” Mengya replied with a gentle smile.

“Oh, come on, Tian already told me. No need to be so formal.”

I thought to myself how surprising it was that Tian Minwei, such a big name in the jade business, would gossip like this. With a sigh, I let it go.

Then Xiao Shao changed the topic, as if suddenly reminded of something. “By the way, Qiu, Mengya—did you hear about what happened at the antiques market?”

I nodded. “Hold on. You’re already over thirty. Mengya and I are still in our twenties. Calling us ‘brother’ and ‘sister’ is too much.”

He laughed. “It’s just a sign of respect. Don’t take it so seriously.”

I sighed. “Uncle Tian already told us. Li Jianjun got arrested by the Cultural Relics Bureau for having a Warring States yellow jade taotie pendant, which was identified as a second-class national treasure, right?”

“Oh please, Li Jianjun is small potatoes.”

Mengya and I exchanged a surprised look. “Then what’s the big news?”

“Qiu, you know Fengshantang?”

“Grandmaster Jun?! What happened?” I asked, alarmed.

“He got arrested for trafficking first-class national treasures. He might even get the death penalty.”

“What?” My jaw dropped. I glanced at Mengya, who looked just as shocked.

“Grandmaster Jun was a legendary figure in the antiques world. Even the old Nine Gates of Changsha and the two Beijing bosses, Lord Guan and Lord Hou, showed him respect. How could someone like him fall so hard?” I lamented.

Xiao Shao nodded in regret, but just then, the urge to pee hit me. I asked Xiao Shao, who was sitting on the aisle, to let me out.

Walking down the aisle, my eyes landed on a peculiar figure. It was July or August, yet this person wore a thick black woolen overcoat, a scarf around the neck, a white mask covering the face—bundled up tight like an old hermit. An eyepatch covered one eye, and the other glared at me with a fierce, twisted look.

A shiver ran through me. I quickly averted my eyes and hurried to the restroom, locking the door behind me.

I unzipped my pants and relieved myself. Just as I was about to step out, I opened the door and was startled by a black figure standing right outside.

“Am I that scary?” Xiaoxue asked, looking annoyed.

“Xiaoxue, you nearly gave me a heart attack,” I said, wiping cold sweat from my forehead.

“I want to know—why did you bring your shop assistant along?”

That’s none of your business, I thought. With a sigh, I lowered my voice. “Let’s forget that for now. I think we’re being followed.”

“What? We’re—” I clamped a hand over her mouth before she could finish.

“Don’t say anything reckless. If we’re discovered, we might not make it out alive,” I whispered.

Tears welled up in her eyes. I tried to reassure her. “Just go back to your seat and keep quiet. When it’s time to get off, stick close to us.”

I returned to my seat and whispered to Mengya and Xiao Shao, “I think we’re being tailed.”

Xiao Shao looked confused and pale, but Mengya remained unmoved. “I knew already. Five rows back, middle seat—the one in the black coat and mask, with only one eye showing, right? He’s been watching us since we met up.”

I nodded, amazed at Mengya’s sharp instincts. She really was a jack of all trades.

“Xiao Shao, sneak a look—does that guy seem familiar?” Mengya murmured.

Xiao Shao secretly used his phone’s selfie camera to snap a photo behind us. He studied it, scratching his head. “He looks… familiar somehow.”

Mengya smiled. “The Old Snail-Eye.”

The moment she said it, realization struck both of us like a bolt of lightning. This was the old man with the snail-like eyes from the haunted house—we knew then he must be involved in this.

“So, what do we do now?” I asked.

“Text your little lover, tell her to stay close and not drag us down.”

“What little lover? We—”

“Enough nonsense!” Mengya cut me off sharply.

I nodded. “I’ve already told her.”

“If that pervert nabs her, I’m not going to help,” Mengya said coldly.

The three-hour flight passed quickly, and soon the plane doors opened.

“Move!” Mengya sprang up, leaped across the plastic tray tables, dashed to the back, grabbed Xiaoxue’s hand, and yanked her behind, squeezing their way out.

“Aren’t you two coming?” Mengya shouted. Xiao Shao and I rushed after her. The old Snail-Eye hadn’t expected a “martial arts master” among us, and the sudden move caught him off guard. In that moment, the four of us vanished into the crowd.