Chapter 178: Chapter 150: Absurd Talk? (Please Subscribe)

The moon was suspended high, its soft silver light spreading across the ground, veiling Modu in a hazy, light gauze.

The neon lights on the street were exceptionally bright, weaving a colorful tapestry of light and shadow. The green plants inside the police station swayed gently in the breeze, rustling softly, carrying the unique freshness of the night mingled with a hint of coolness that brushed Lin Chuan’s face.

Lin Chuan wore a simple, thin white shirt; however, being in the prime of his youth, he didn’t feel the chill at all. On the contrary, he found the night breeze refreshing, with the faint scent of gardenia flowers infiltrating his nostrils.

The outside air was indeed much better than that inside the interrogation room.

That was Lin Chuan’s thought.

“Bro, you’re finally out.”

Upon seeing Lin Chuan come out, Old Bai breathed a sigh of relief.

Lin Chuan was able to be released, and he had played a part in it.

It turned out that after the “Qing dynasty Chinese tangled branch pattern thin-walled jade vase” had been broken, when Old Bai rushed over from another exhibition area, Lin Chuan and Youyou were already preparing to leave the venue with the police.

Old Bai had to inquire around before he understood the whole situation.

Without time to think further, he thought to find someone relatively professional to understand the specific criminal penalties.

Then, he quickly thought of Shen Qianqian.

Shen Qianqian, who had saved his life on a country road in Lincang City, Yundian Province, along with Lin Chuan.

Knowing that Shen Qianqian was also in Lin Chuan’s reader group, Old Bai immediately reached out to her through a private chat to explain Lin Chuan’s current predicament.

Shen Qianqian didn’t hesitate and reported directly to Zhang Biao.

Zhang Biao couldn’t handle it himself, so he had to report it further up the chain.

In the end, it was Elder Zhong who came forward personally to secure Lin Chuan’s release and to avoid detention while he followed up on the investigation of the case.

After all, Lin Chuan was a talent from Han River Province.

If he really fell because of this, it would be a loss for Han River Province.

“Someone posted bail, so no spending the night inside,” Lin Chuan smiled.

“I just heard from your sister-in-law, did you say that artifact was a fake?” Old Bai couldn’t help asking.

“Yes.”

Lin Chuan nodded his head.

“Old Lin, if that artifact is really a fake, I’ll go back tonight and gather some funds to settle this matter,” Old Bai pondered for a moment before speaking.

Old Bai thought he could pool some money, borrow some more, and settle Lin Chuan’s case first.

As long as it wasn’t a genuine article, but a replica, compensating should not be too costly.

To him, Lin Chuan was a lifesaver, and besides, he knew that the value Lin Chuan could create far exceeded that of the “Qing dynasty Chinese tangled branch pattern thin-walled jade vase.”

“Old Bai, don’t rush. The police comrades have only preliminarily determined it, and our responsibility hasn’t been established yet. I have a feeling this matter isn’t so straightforward. There might be a twist, right?” Lin Chuan raised an eyebrow, smiled, and suggested.

“Bro, I trust you.”

Old Bai looked at Lin Chuan and nodded.

“What about Youyou?” Lin Chuan asked.

Old Bai lifted his hand and pointed toward the front door of the police station.

At that moment,

Youyou wore a thin white shirt and a dark blue A-line skirt, her petite figure huddled, arms wrapped around herself, rubbing her arms and then her calves in an attempt to warm them, but the chill lingered, only growing stronger.

“Youyou,” Lin Chuan walked toward her quickly and called out gently.

“Lin Chuan!”

Youyou saw Lin Chuan approaching and the originally somewhat despondent look on her face immediately broke into a smile, her eyes shining like the first streak of dawn piercing the clouds and falling to the ground.

But her smile and the brightness in her eyes didn’t last long and slowly faded away.

They were replaced by feelings of self-reproach and desolation.

“Don’t worry, it’s all right,” Lin Chuan said, comforting her as he saw what was going through Youyou’s mind.

“Listening to what that police officer said, I just felt so nervous. It seems we can’t escape being connected with this matter,” Youyou gently lifted her face, pursed her lips, blinked, and her eyes quickly reddened with tears threatening to spill out.

She was just a humble editor.

She had never even entered the doors of a police station before, not to mention being taken into an interrogation room as a suspect.

Moreover, after accidentally toppling over that artifact and facing a high amount of compensation, she might even end up in prison, her psychological defenses on the brink of collapse.

It could only take an instant before they gave way.

In front of her, Lin Chuan seemed like the only lifeline she could cling to while adrift at sea.

Seeing Youyou in such a pitiful state, Lin Chuan couldn’t help but feel a twinge of compassion.

Not only had Youyou given him the utmost support in online literature, but she also went out of her way to be hospitable when he first came to Modu, and she was willing to accompany him to attend the “International Artifacts Repatriation Ceremony.”

Lin Chuan knew she might not be interested in the event.

But for his sake, Youyou still willingly accompanied him and was very supportive of Lin Chuan.

And now, an event that could possibly have been a deliberate plot had embroiled her, and Lin Chuan felt somewhat guilty.

Then,

Lin Chuan raised his hands, gently brushed Youyou’s eyes, and wiped away the tears, revealing a smile, “Don’t cry, okay? Your makeup is almost running, and you’ll turn into a little tear-stained cat.”

Youyou’s slightly weary face showed a hint of grievance as she pouted, “Who’s crying?”

“No crying, no crying,” Lin Chuan continued wiping Youyou’s eyes with his shirt sleeve, smiling, “This isn’t your fault, and that fake artifact is too complicated. We might just be two scapegoats.”