Everything he wanted to hear had already been spoken by Li Chonglou.
Though lacking concrete proof, every word was as solid as iron, leaving even him unable to refute or doubt.
After all, Li Chonglou wasn't an archaeologist; he only needed to provide the ideas, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences would follow that direction for detailed investigation and research.
As for Su Weite and Mrs. Wa's romance, it was beyond his comprehension.
"I didn't expect you to have some skill. I underestimated you. I agree to let you join the team." Zhang Chen suppressed the shock in his heart, his face a mixture of pale and green, and said dejectedly, turning his head aside.
He desperately wanted to find a flaw in Li Chonglou's words, but they were seamless.
He had no choice but to bow his head and retreat.
However, him becoming a disciple was absolutely impossible.
Once he became a disciple, he would never be able to hold his head up again, let alone pursue Lin Ying.
That was more unbearable than killing him.
"Zhang Chen, a bet is a bet. That's not what you said before. Don't make me look down on you." Lin Ying gently sipped her tea and pointed out casually.
She had no feelings for Zhang Chen, or rather, she had no feelings for relationships at all.
Over the years, she hadn't been without boyfriends, but the more she experienced, the more she felt the falsity of emotions.
What she wanted was an exceptionally outstanding man whom she could admire in all aspects. But precisely because she understood her own needs, she also knew that such a man might not exist in this world.
A man more outstanding than her father, around thirty years old, how was that possible?
So, she simply abandoned emotions and focused on her work.
How could a narrow-minded, self-important dandy like Zhang Chen catch her eye?
But for the sake of work and the team, she could only turn a blind eye and tolerate Zhang Chen's occasional confessions and harassment.
Li Chonglou's actions were just right to save her a lot of trouble in the future.
Why not?
"Do you really want me to take him as my master?" Zhang Chen's ears turned completely red, his face showing extreme reluctance. "Impossible, I can't do it!"
"As a man, if you don't even have basic credibility, do you deserve to pursue my senior sister?" Li Chonglou's expression turned stern, and he said sharply, "You don't have to be my disciple, but get out of your current team."
"You are untrustworthy and fickle. Keeping you in the team will always be a disaster."
He rarely showed such seriousness.
But this time, it was different.
In his past life, his senior sister and the entire team had an accident during an expedition, which he regretted for the rest of his life.
Although the reason remained a mystery, as long as there was any possibility that could lead to this incident, he would prevent it beforehand, never allowing such a tragedy to happen again.
This was also why he agreed to join the team.
People like Zhang Chen were usually fine, but at critical moments, they could very well sound the death knell for the entire team.
Only by keeping him in his grasp could this possibility be prevented.
"You want to kick me out of the team? Do you have the right to do that!" Zhang Chen's face stiffened, his eyes spewing fire as he pointed at Li Chonglou and cursed.
"He doesn't. I do." As soon as the words fell, Lin Ying said, "My junior disciple's words represent me."
A fierce protector of his own!
As expected of her reputation. Although Lin Ying appeared casual, if her bottom line was touched, she was more serious than anyone else.
This heroic spirit, comparable to any man, was inherited from her father, Lin Zhendong.
With a single sentence, Zhang Chen was completely deflated, his face turning pale.
His eyes were full of unwillingness, but he couldn't express his anger.
After a full minute of silence, he finally took a deep breath and knelt down before Li Chonglou with a thud.
"Master above, accept your disciple's bow!"
His voice was aggrieved and trembling, but to stay by Lin Ying's side, he had disregarded everything else.
He would stay for now. If it really didn't work out, he would break the rules later. Who said a disciple couldn't pursue their martial aunt?
He had never been a rule-follower.
"According to ancient rites." Li Chonglou sat down, not even lifting his eyelids, and said.
With that, Lin Ying poured a cup of tea from the teapot and pushed it to Zhang Chen.
Zhang Chen's eyes blazed, but he could only kowtow twice more, then respectfully picked up the teacup and knelt to offer it to Li Chonglou with both hands: "Master, please have some tea."
"Get up. From now on, your master-disciple relationship is set. The Lin family's rules are your rules. Any violation will be severely punished!" Li Chonglou took the tea, took a sip, and reached out to help Zhang Chen up. He admonished him just as Lin Zhendong had admonished him in his past life, "As for the specific rules, let my senior sister tell you."
Lin Ying rose at the opportune moment, walked to the safe, took out a small booklet, and handed it to Zhang Chen: "Family law. Memorize it."
"Yes."
Zhang Chen flipped through a few pages, and all his grief and indignation turned into helplessness at this moment.
Actually, thinking about it, this outcome wasn't so bad.
After all, he and Lin Ying were now considered part of the same family, fellow disciples. Though not a couple, proximity might lead to favor.
The only thing that displeased him was that from now on, he would have to see Li Chonglou as if seeing his own father.
No, he would still dare to be a bit defiant towards his own father.
But when facing Li Chonglou, his master, he had to be respectful. Otherwise, according to Lin family law, breaking his legs would be a light punishment.
"The origin of this watch ring will be your meeting gift. Take it and write your thesis."
Li Chonglou struck while the iron was hot, giving a carrot after a stick. His words made Zhang Chen's eyelids twitch, and his eyes light up: "Really?"
"Who are you talking to?" Li Chonglou glared at him.
"Oh, Master, you can't go back on your word!" Zhang Chen quickly reacted, finding it hard to change his address.
However, he was now willing. After all, even the professors at the Chinese Academy of Sciences were unsure about this watch ring. If he could write a thesis and prove its origin, it would be a great contribution to Chinese archaeology.
He would also become famous overnight, transforming from a rich second-generation archaeology scholar into an archaeology expert.
Although this title was worthless, for someone like him who lacked fame rather than money, it was more precious than a mountain of gold.
He never expected that by lowering his head and yielding, he would receive such immense benefits.
This master was not taken in vain!
"I said I'd give it to you, so I'll give it to you. Go, I have things to discuss with my senior sister." Li Chonglou made his dismissal.
Although Zhang Chen was reluctant, his master's words were like heaven, and he had to return to the hotel first.
Inside the shop, Lin Ying looked at Li Chonglou with a smile that was not a smile.
After a long while, she said, "Junior disciple, you are a new person after not seeing you for a day. These seven days feel like a world apart."
"Senior sister is impressed."
"Senior sister, I don't need your praise," Li Chonglou said happily. "I have something to tell you."
"Go ahead."
"We'll probably need to find another expert for the shop," Li Chonglou stated directly. "I want to do some things recently. I just acquired a hotel and an antique appraisal live streaming platform. My time is limited."
What his senior sister cared about most was Shi Boqiong.
The antique appraisal platform might be the only way to find Shi Boqiong.
And the themed hotel needed a large number of antiques to decorate its facade. He couldn't be in two places at once, so he had to temporarily let go of Donglin.
"You're going to shake off your senior sister so quickly? You heartless little thing." Lin Ying heard this and put on a playfully scolding expression.