The experts from Z City arrived at Kyoto Airport precisely at 3 PM. They were then driven directly to the mine in a car arranged by the Yue Corporation.
Xia Qingtian had arrived at the mine earlier. Having learned from yesterday's experience, she deliberately stood a bit further away in a relatively open, safe zone.
Xia Shang and Erya stood by Xia Qingtian's side, looking around. They seemed worried about the danger from yesterday recurring, protectively staying close to Xia Qingtian with anxious expressions.
The bodyguards beside Xia Qingtian were also on high alert, their sharp gazes scanning the surroundings.
The mine had sustained some damage due to yesterday's accident. Many professional engineers were present, carrying out simple repairs.
The specific situation would require further adjustments after the expert team arrived.
Not long after, several cars drove over and stopped before the warning signs.
The door of the lead car opened, and a man in a gray suit stepped out, his long legs striding forward.
"Mr. Gu?" Upon seeing him, Xia Qingtian was a little surprised. She stepped forward and asked, "How come..."
Hadn't Mr. Gu returned to Z City before?
And hadn't he said he would wait for her in Z City?
Why had he personally brought people over now?
Mr. Gu didn't answer Xia Qingtian's question. Instead, he looked her up and down, and after confirming she was unharmed, he breathed a sigh of relief and asked, "Are you alright?"
"Me? I'm fine." Xia Qingtian blinked, unsure why Mr. Gu was asking.
"I only received news of the accident at the mine last night," Mr. Gu said with a hint of self-blame. If he had been more careful, perhaps yesterday's events wouldn't have happened.
A mine collapse was no small matter.
Not only was the mine structure complex, with heavy boulders that could kill at any moment, but the raw ore beneath also contained radioactive substances, posing a life-threatening danger if trapped for too long.
"I'm fine," Xia Qingtian said, finally understanding why Mr. Gu had suddenly rushed over.
Thinking of his concern for her, Xia Qingtian pursed her lips and showed a faint smile.
She felt a bit happy inside.
"This is Professor Long, the lead expert of the current team of specialists," Mr. Gu introduced the accompanying experts to Xia Qingtian, and then began the work handover.
Xia Qingtian had done considerable preparation beforehand, and her project manager from the Yue Corporation had helped supplement some professional details.
The entire process went very smoothly.
After the handover, Xia Qingtian, along with Mr. Gu, Xia Shang, and Erya, left the mine in a car.
The bodyguards followed in other vehicles.
"Are these bodyguards from the Lei family?" Mr. Gu recognized some familiar faces.
They seemed to be the personal bodyguards of the Third Young Master Lei, possessing some influence within the Lei family.
"Yes, Wen Jiu asked the Third Young Master Lei to help look after me," Xia Qingtian said with a dry laugh. "This time, it was also thanks to the Third Young Master Lei."
If it hadn't been for the Third Young Master Lei's people promptly dispatching professional personnel for rescue operations, she didn't know how much longer she would have been trapped, and those buried with her might have been in mortal danger.
Upon hearing Xia Qingtian's words, Mr. Gu didn't respond but kept the matter in mind.
He would return the favor to Wen Jiu and Lei San.
"Qingtian, where are we going next?" Erya leaned over and asked curiously, "Are you two going on a date? I want to go on a date with Xia Shang too!"
"Don't talk nonsense," Xia Qingtian, hearing Erya's words, feared she might say something embarrassing again. She immediately replied, "We're going back to the Yue family now. You two rest and pack your things, and we'll head back to Z City tomorrow."
"Tomorrow? So soon?" Erya sounded a bit regretful. "I haven't had enough fun yet. This is Kyoto! I've never been here before! Can't we go sightseeing first?"
"Where do you want to go?" Hearing Erya's words, Xia Qingtian also felt a bit guilty.
Putting aside these messy affairs, she had accompanied Xia Shang and Erya to Kyoto. Although she wasn't a local of Kyoto either, she should at least show them around.
"I've already looked up some guides on my phone!" Erya's eyes lit up at Xia Qingtian's question, and she leaned her upper body forward, saying, "I want to go to the biggest male escort establishment in Kyoto!"
"What?" Xia Qingtian was stunned. Mr. Gu and Xia Shang in the car also had subtle expressions.
"The biggest male escort establishment?" Xia Qingtian wondered if Erya had misspoken and missed a word. "Do you mean the biggest roast duck restaurant? Do you want to eat roast duck?"
Kyoto's roast duck was quite famous too.
"Who wants to eat roast duck! I can roast a duck I catch in the village! I want to see the male escorts!" Erya swayed her shoulders and said, "Coming to a big city, you have to see some real sights!"
"Do you have some misunderstanding about big cities?" Xia Qingtian's mouth twitched.
"I don't care! I want to go! Tonight!" Erya pouted and said, "I want to see men who are sweet-voiced, slim-waisted, with perky butts! They have to be able to dance and sing and make people happy! I've already done my research! It's that [Gou Wei Feng Qing Lou]! Kyoto's biggest pleasure house!"
Hearing such detailed requirements, Xia Qingtian finally understood. She hesitated for a long time before asking, "Where did you do your research? Wasn't it censored?"
"Look at you, you haven't seen anything of the world! How come you seem more provincial than me? Is your information outdated?" Seeing Xia Qingtian's lack of worldly experience, Erya turned to ask Mr. Gu, "You look like a very cultured person, do you know about it?"
Mr. Gu really wanted to retort that "cultured" and knowing about "Gou Wei Feng Qing Lou" were two different things.
However, he actually knew: "Gou Wei Feng Qing Lou does indeed... have some rather special services and some rather bold performances."
In Kyoto's high society, not many people were unaware of Gou Wei Feng Qing Lou.
"Isn't that kind of place a membership-based establishment?" Xia Qingtian asked hesitantly after hearing Mr. Gu's words.
A place like this in Kyoto would likely target the upper class, have powerful backing, be skilled at making money, and probably have very strict requirements for its customers.
"Indeed," Mr. Gu nodded. "Gou Wei Feng Qing Lou is only open to VIP members."
"What about you? You look like you're very knowledgeable! Are you a VIP member of Gou Wei Feng Qing Lou?" Erya pressed Mr. Gu.
Mr. Gu really wanted to say that "knowledgeable" and "Gou Wei Feng Qing Lou member" were two different things, but unfortunately, for some special reasons, he did possess a membership at Gou Wei Feng Qing Lou, and it was a top-tier diamond membership.
"Well, if you really want to go," Mr. Gu thought it would be better to lead them himself than to let Erya lead Xia Qingtian astray.
"Hooray! Qingtian! Let's go!" Erya, with a beaming face, leaned into Xia Shang's embrace and said, "Xia Shang! I'll take you to see some handsome young men! Let you see the world!"
Xia Shang really wanted to say it wasn't necessary, but thinking that if Erya slipped out of his sight, she might do something unpredictable, he could only force a very conflicted bitter smile.
Having a childhood friend who loved to cause trouble was truly exhausting...