Evening. 8 pm.
Northern Suburb. Outside of a villa district.
Dong Xuebing got out of the taxi and called Xie Hao.
“Xiao Hao, it’s me. Do you know Wei Nan’s villa address?”
“Huh? Brother Dong, why are you asking this? I thought you had returned to the Party School.”
“Can you get his address for me? Which neighborhood and unit of the Northern Suburb?”
“My Sis and the rest had gone back, and I don’t know. Oh, I think it should be neighborhood 11. I remember my sister mentioning it in the past. I don’t know about the unit.”
“Ok. Thanks.”
“Brother Dong, are you looking for Wei Nan?”
“Yes. I want to warn him to stay away from your Sis.”
“Haha…. He should be warned. When he heard Sis was in trouble, that guy ran away and still kept coming here. I support you! Don’t let him off lightly! He is no match for you.”
“I am not going to beat him up. Are you trying to get me in trouble?”
“Huh? How are you going to warn him if you are not going to beat him up?”
“I know what to do. Alright. Bye.”
“Do your best, Brother Dong! Teach him a lesson!”
Dong Xuebing hangs up. Xiao Hao only knows how to use violence to solve problems. Oh, Dong Xuebing has no right to criticize him as he has been the same since he started working for the government. He kept his phone and walked around the district. About fifteen minutes later, he found no. 11 neighborhood. It is a high-class neighborhood with security guards outside. Outsiders cannot enter without an entry permit, but Dong Xuebing has his ways.
STOP!
Time stopped!
Dong Xuebing had worked in the State Security and Public Security for some time. He knew how to infiltrate the neighborhood. He walked past the security guards and entered the neighborhood. He got past two CCTVs and deactivated STOP!
Time resumed!
This is not a small neighborhood, and it is several times bigger than the Beijing Party Committee family quarters.
Dong Xuebing looks around and starts to move to his left. He checked each villa and finally found his target on the southern side. It’s a villa that was burned down. Even the garage and grasses in the front yard were burnt. It looks like an abandoned building, but the structure is still stable.
This should be the place!
Dong Xuebing checked his surroundings. The villas are some distance apart, and the fire did not spread to other buildings. No one will notice Dong Xuebing as they are some distance away. This is good news for Dong Xuebing, and he stepped into the building. The door is shut, but it was burned beyond repair. Residues of fire extinguishers are everywhere. He walked to the back of the building and climbed in through a broken window.
The house has an unpleasant burnt smell.
Dong Xuebing held his breath as he searched the living room. Nothing. He went upstairs and started to search every room.
Ten minutes later.
Dong Xuebing finally found a safe in one of the rooms.
The safe is slightly deformed, and the number lock was cut open with an electric saw. The door was half-closed.
Dong Xuebing took a deep breath and opened the safe. There was a pile of ashes inside.
The ashes look like it was from a scroll previously, and it was still intact. No one had touched it, and it is in its original state. Dong Xuebing is elated. He was afraid someone might damage the items inside, and it is not a problem now. He can recover the painting back to its original state!
Time to try!
Let’s hope it will succeed!
Dong Xuebing is afraid some of the ashes will be gone if he touches them and places his hand above them to focus.
REVERSE!
One second….
Two seconds….
Three seconds….
Dong Xuebing had saved almost twenty minutes since being buried under the debris. It is more than enough!
The ashes slowly gathered together. Small pieces of ash flew over and started to form the shape of a painting scroll. The color starts to change from black to grey and then to white. The melted plastic also starts to return to its original state. Almost twenty seconds had passed, and the ashes had become a scroll! It had returned to its original state before it was burned!
Deactivate REVERSE!
Dong Xuebing quickly takes out the scroll from the safe and unrolls it on the floor. It is the <Surrender of the Western Route Army and presentation of the slaves> painting. Perfect! All of the painting is intact!
Everything went smoothly.
Dong Xuebing, wearing gloves, quickly grabbed some ashes and placed them in the safe. He removed his gloves and kept the painting in his arms. He looked around and quickly went downstairs and jumped out through the same window.
It’s a dark and windy night.
Dong Xuebing used the same method to get past the security guards and left the neighborhood.
No one in the neighborhood noticed Dong Xuebing.
It’s late, and Dong Xuebing can’t get a taxi nearby. He walked one kilometer to a road outside to wait for a taxi.
Suddenly, a BMW 7 series stopped in front of Dong Xuebing.
The windows rolled down, and Wei Nan looked at him. “Dong Xuebing?! Why are you here?”
Dong Xuebing looks at Wei Nan with a smile. “Do I have to tell you where I am going?”
Wei Nan had returned to check on his villa and arrange for repair works. After all, this property is worth more than ten million. But he is surprised to see Dong Xuebing in this area. He has not given up on Xie Huilan and hates Dong Xuebing to the core. If this guy had not appeared, he might have married Xie Huilan now.
Wei Nan scoffed. “How are you and that female boss of the auction company?”
Auction company’s female boss? Dong Xuebing knows he is referring to Qu Yunxuan. Wei Nan had taken pictures of him kissing Aunt Xuan and sent them to the Yan Tai County Party Committee. It almost caused a fallout between him and Xie Huilan. It resulted in the timebomb incident after that. Dong Xuebing did not forget this score and did not expect Wei Nan to bring this up again!
Dong Xuebing replied. “Why do you care?”
Wei Nan laughed. “Huilan’s matters are my matters. I will show your true colors to her.”
“Oh, thanks for your concern. Huilan knew about my relationship with Yunxuan a long time ago. Didn’t you send the photos to her?”
Wei Nan’s eyes turn cold. “How much does she know?”
“She knows everything.” Dong Xuebing admitted. “When a woman loves a man, she will accept and be understanding to the man. For example, Huilan and me. But if a woman is not interested in you, she will be mad if you are late by a second for a date.” He knows how well Xie Huilan treats him, and she is willing to accept him being together with Aunt Xuan. It made him guilty and more determined to give her a surprise proposal.
Both have nothing in common, and they went on separate ways.
Dong Xuebing did not return to the Party School or home. He took a taxi to Yun De Auction House, which was sold recently by Aunt Xuan.
…….
Yun De Auction House office.
Dong Xuebing sat opposite a woman in her thirties. They shook hands and introduced themselves.
“Hi, I am Dong Xuebing. Yunxuan’s friend.”
“I have heard about you from Yunxuan several times.” The female boss smiles. “Why are you here for? I have known Yunxuan for almost eight years, and I will do my best to help.”
Dong Xuebing smiles. “I heard your Autumn Auction is two days away. I have something to auction and hope to get it verified too.”
“No problem. Do you have the item with you?”
“Yes.” Dong Xuebing took out the scroll and opened it.
The female boss was stunned when she saw the painting. “Xu Yang’s painting?”
“Yes.”
“Please wait a minute. I will get a few appraisal experts over.” The female boss made a few calls to get three appraisers to come to the company. This painting might be worth over 100 million, and she must ensure its authenticity.
The appraisal experts arrived after a while.
Dong Xuebing sat beside and enjoyed his tea while waiting for the results. He is not sure if this painting is real or not.
The appraisers concluded after a while, and Dong Xuebing is pleased with the results.
An expert in his fifties nodded to the female boss. “No problem. This is Xu Yang’s painting.”
The female boss looked at another expert.
The expert nodded. “It’s so rare to see Xu Yang’s original painting. This is an authentic painting. I estimate its value to range from 80 million to 100 million.”
Dong Xuebing smiled brightly. “Great. I will leave this painting with you all and hope to get it auctioned as soon as possible.”
Translator’s notes: Dong Xuebing should be a repairman and not work for the government with his powers.
