Chapter Four: A Second Call, An Eccentric Encounter
In the end, all the officials unanimously declared that no matter the cost, they would ensure the safe return of the individual to the country.
Ye Guhong immediately issued instructions:
“Have the technical team work around the clock to attempt to locate and verify the incoming calls. At the same time, continue to communicate with the other party via email to see if they respond.”
“Also, add this number to the whitelist in the emergency call system.”
“Ah?” Several officials were momentarily stunned.
“I have a feeling he will call again,” Ye Guhong said, a faint smile playing on his lips.
…
Ye Guhong’s intuition was correct.
Two nights later, in the dead of night at the capital’s emergency call center, the mysterious call came again.
“Hello, is this the emergency call center? I want to ask, if I take some artifacts from the Little Eagle Museum back home, will I be considered an artifact smuggler?”
Hearing the familiar voice and the absurd question again, Wang Xinxin was taken aback.
“Is that you again? If I’m not mistaken, the one who called a few days ago about the photolithography machine manual was also you, right?”
Holding the phone, Wang Xinxin was speechless—how did this lunatic manage to call again?
The other end seemed to recognize her voice and sounded surprised: “Officer, what a coincidence, you got my call again.”
“What coincidence? Didn’t I warn you last time? If you keep making these ridiculous prank calls to emergency services and wasting public resources, you’ll be summoned!” Wang Xinxin’s tone was stern.
“Cough, cough, but I’m not joking!” the caller replied.
“You’re not joking, huh? Fine! Then I’ll tell you this—if you really manage to bring those scattered artifacts home, you’ll be my hero!”
“Even if you are treated as an artifact smuggler, I’ll get you out of trouble!”
Wang Xinxin’s irritation grew, so she filled the silence, eager to see what this eccentric person would say next.
Yet the voice on the other end simply replied with six calm words:
“Understood, thank you!”
Then…
The call ended abruptly.
Wang Xinxin froze. Just hung up like that?
“What a strange guy!”
She muttered inwardly and decided not to dwell on it further.
She resolved that if this person dared to recklessly call the emergency line again, she would have the technical department trace and summon him, giving him a stern lesson.
Meanwhile, at the Foreign Affairs Bureau, as soon as Lin Yang’s call was connected to the emergency center, Ye Guhong and the others immediately received the news and began surveillance.
When they heard Lin Yang say he intended to bring artifacts from the Little Eagle Museum back home, Ye Guhong’s eyes sharply shifted!
The officials’ pupils contracted!
Bringing them home—that implied…
In the next moment, exchanging glances, they all shared the same shock!
Could it be that this person was about to steal—or rather, send the artifacts back to the country?
Recalling the previous call, the tone was exactly the same. Ye Guhong and the others couldn’t help but speculate.
After the call ended, Ye Guhong tapped the table and scanned the faces of the officials before speaking gravely, “Gentlemen, what do you think?”
“Old Ye, I think we should prepare to receive the artifacts coming home!” said the first official, Tang Wensheng, excitedly.
“Oh? You have such confidence in this person?” Ye Guhong tapped the table thoughtfully.
“Yes, Old Ye. Last time he said he’d get the photolithography machine manual from Windmill Country, and we actually received the detailed manufacturing instructions. This time he says he’s going to get artifacts. I believe he must have made foolproof preparations; otherwise, he wouldn’t call to ask,” Tang Wensheng replied immediately.
“What about the rest of you?”
Ye Guhong looked at the other officials.
“We agree!”
“Agreed!”
“…”
“Since everyone believes this person will succeed, notify all departments to prepare for the artifacts’ return. In the coming days, overseas mail and express deliveries, especially from Little Eagle Country, should be prioritized for inspection and clearance to ensure the artifacts arrive safely.”
Ye Guhong issued the order, a deep anticipation flickering in his eyes.
After the last call, the Academy had received the photolithography machine’s manufacturing manual that very night.
This time, they hoped it wouldn’t take so long.
“What do you think he will use to bring the artifacts back?”
Pausing briefly, Ye Guhong asked again.
“This… Old Ye, forgive our ignorance. He managed to get the photolithography machine manual, but how he’ll bring artifacts back—we simply can’t imagine,” the officials smiled wryly.
“Everyone, prepare accordingly.”
Ye Guhong knew the question was difficult, so he did not press further and quietly hoped for the best.
At dawn.
After a long night of work, Wang Xinxin, bleary-eyed, left the emergency call center to return to her dormitory.
“Xinxin!”
A shout jolted her awake. She turned toward the voice, surprised, “Brother? What are you doing here?”
It was Wang Guang.
“I came to see you. You haven’t had breakfast, right?”
Wang Guang handed her the breakfast he’d brought, then rubbed his hands excitedly. “Something huge has happened at the institute. They’re going into lockdown. I might be unable to come home for quite some time, so I came to see you.”
“Ah? Something huge? Good or bad?” Wang Xinxin instantly tensed.
“Don’t worry, it’s good. But I can’t tell you now—we’ve all signed confidentiality agreements. If anyone leaks this, it’s considered treason,” Wang Guang said, his serious gaze tinged with excitement.
“That serious? Then you definitely shouldn’t say anything,” Wang Xinxin said immediately.
“Mm.” Wang Guang nodded, then casually asked, “Alright, I’ve seen you. I have to go back to the institute. How’ve you been? No problems, right?”
“No,” Wang Xinxin shook her head but then seemed to recall something and couldn’t help but complain.
“But I did meet a weirdo.”
“A weirdo? What kind of weirdo?”
“A weirdo beyond words!”
Wang Xinxin furrowed her brows. “Do you know what he said when he called the emergency line? He said he wanted to get the photolithography machine manual from Windmill Country and asked if that was illegal!”
“What?” Wang Guang’s expression changed drastically, shocked. “Little sister, was that call you answered?”
“Yeah, pretty ridiculous, right?”
Wang Xinxin nodded, not noticing Wang Guang’s change in expression, assuming he was simply shocked, and continued:
“But it got even more ridiculous. Last night, I coincidentally got another call from that weirdo. This time, even crazier—he actually asked if taking artifacts from the Little Eagle Museum home would make him an artifact smuggler. Isn’t that bizarre?”