The events at the Chun Hui Hall left Yan Shouyi with a multitude of emotions.
The ancient techniques passed down by his ancestors were gradually being phased out in this era.
However, while the era could discard the techniques, it could never discard the spirit inherited from their ancestors.
The benevolent heart and commitment to saving lives of ancient physicians.
The unwavering loyalty to one's homeland and the principle of returning to one's roots for corpse handlers.
The separation of the living and the dead, and the use of objects to convey thoughts, for paper effigy makers.
So, what was the spirit of a Luban successor?
Yan Shouyi pondered this question on his way back to Shanghang Art School.
Luban, on the surface, represented carpenters, but in essence, he represented the working class.
Luban embodied not only the spirit of meticulous craftsmanship and constant improvement but also the fundamental principle of prioritizing the people, passed down through generations of artisans from ancient times to the present.
Even as a humble carpenter, he served the nation and its people, with his heart connected to the country.
...
The paper effigies from the Liu family, along with A Gong and Zhu Shanzao, were temporarily left with Old Jin by Yan Shouyi to recuperate.
Long Feicheng, who had experienced extreme embarrassment, refused to stay with Old Jin.
He insisted on returning to Shanghang Art School with Yan Shouyi to calm his nerves.
Therefore, Yan Shouyi, accompanied by the physically weak Long Feicheng and carrying several bags of traditional Chinese medicine given by Old Jin to invigorate Long Feicheng, returned to Shanghang Art School.
Another three days passed in absence, but the security guards at Shanghang Art School had grown accustomed to it.
Their daily work was relatively light, so Yan Shouyi's absence had no impact.
Upon returning to his dormitory at Shanghang Art School, Yan Shouyi tossed the weak Long Feicheng onto the bed and changed into his security guard uniform, finding a guard post to start his work.
He wasn't obligated to work, but he disliked idleness.
Sitting in the guard post, he occasionally checked passing vehicles. If life continued like this, it wouldn't be bad.
At dusk, a Bentley stopped at the entrance of the guard post.
The car window lowered, accompanied by the sound of a bell.
Yan Shouyi knew it was Lin Zitong without even looking up.
He immediately let Lin Zitong pass, a simple, honest smile on his face:
"Are you here for class?"
Lin Zitong shot Yan Shouyi a glare: "I'm here to see you! Idiot!"
Yan Shouyi asked, confused: "Why are you calling me names?"
"Get in the car and I'll tell you."
Once inside the car, Yan Shouyi felt a bit uneasy, not because he was in a Bentley, but because Lin Zitong was driving.
Lin Zitong turned the car around, not heading into the school, but towards the city center.
"Hmph, I just got back from Ping'an Building. I wanted to see if there were any lingering issues with your health, but you just disappeared without a word, and I couldn't reach you at all!"
Lin Zitong said angrily, "Who knows if you really went to Guling on business? We're not even engaged, and you're playing hide-and-seek like this. If we were married with children, would you plan to keep doing this?"
Yan Shouyi immediately felt guilty.
It wasn't that he didn't care about Lin Zitong; it was just that the experiences of the past few days had been too complex, leaving him no time to contact her.
He had no idea that what was supposed to be a simple visit to the Liu family in Guling would escalate into so many complications.
"I'm sorry, I wasn't attentive enough. I'll be more mindful next time," Yan Shouyi apologized sincerely.
A true man knows when to yield and when to stand firm. Yan Shouyi had no trace of machismo; if he was wrong, he was wrong, and his apology had to be genuine.
For a couple to have a good life, it couldn't be based on one person constantly accommodating the other.
Seeing Yan Shouyi's contrite expression, Lin Zitong's heart softened.
After all, this big oaf in front of her was her man.
Lin Zitong couldn't bear to see her man wronged.
So, she quickly stopped being angry and asked, "Has Luo Ning been with you these past few days?"
"No, I just got back from Old Jin's," Yan Shouyi replied. "I haven't seen her since I returned."
"It's strange, the new Principal Zhong Qi at our school looks exactly like Luo Ning's uncle. It's one thing to look alike, but even their names are the same!" Lin Zitong said. "I know Luo Ning has been tracking Principal Zhong Qi these past few days."
"Has she found out anything?" Yan Shouyi asked curiously.
Lin Zitong shook her head: "I don't know. I don't like talking to her, but judging by her demeanor, she probably hasn't found anything."
"Then let her keep investigating. If she has something to do, she won't bother me," Yan Shouyi said.
Lin Zitong was quite pleased with Yan Shouyi's response.
At this point, the car had moved further and further away from Shanghang Art School. Yan Shouyi couldn't help but ask, "Where are you taking me?"
"To my company for a visit," Lin Zitong replied.
"Company?!"
Yan Shouyi's eyes widened, his mind struggling to catch up.
In fact, his impression of Lin Zitong was mostly based on his childhood memories, and after they grew up, their memories were limited to Shanghang Art School.
It was only now that he suddenly realized Lin Zitong was a renowned strong woman.
Even though she was a student, she already owned several companies!
Lin Zitong pouted: "You've never seen where I work before, so I'm bringing you to take a look. I might not be at school much in the future, so if you need me, come find me at the company."
"Why are you suddenly so busy?"
"My dad suddenly handed over some family businesses to me, so naturally, I have to seize the opportunity to prove my capabilities!"
"Is there anything I can help you with?"
Lin Zitong blinked her eyes: "Do you understand finance?"
"...I can do alchemy, but I don't understand finance," Yan Shouyi admitted sheepishly.
"Then you're probably not much help."
As they happened upon a red light, Lin Zitong stopped the car and looked Yan Shouyi over before covering her mouth and chuckling:
"But you can be my personal bodyguard, especially with that uniform on!"
"You can punch three cows to death, and you still need me to protect you..." Yan Shouyi quipped.
"What did you say?!"
Lin Zitong raised her fist.
Fortunately, the red light turned green, and Lin Zitong had to hold the steering wheel, otherwise, Yan Shouyi would have been in trouble.
The Bentley weaved through the city, attracting attention wherever it went.
Lin Zitong, driving the Bentley, even with sunglasses on, couldn't hide her beauty and charisma.
Passersby couldn't help but turn their heads, their gazes filled with admiration.
When they noticed Yan Shouyi, dressed in a security guard uniform, sitting in the passenger seat, they couldn't help but pause.
What's going on?
A mere security guard gets to ride shotgun with a rich and beautiful woman??
That's too much, you brat, don't you know that wealth is earned through one's own hands?
We should be the ones enjoying this life of leeching off the rich!
The onlookers felt indignant, thinking that Yan Shouyi wasn't particularly handsome, so why was he favored by the rich beauty.
They sat by the roadside smoking cigarettes all night, never figuring out where they had lost.
Meanwhile, Lin Zitong had brought Yan Shouyi to her company building.
Located at the eastern junction of Rongcheng's city center, it was also Rongcheng's renowned financial hub.
Skyscrapers dotted the area, and those entering and exiting were either wealthy or influential, with luxury cars everywhere.
Yan Shouyi got out of the car and looked around, frowning: "This place seems very close to Ping'an Building."
Lin Zitong parked the car and said, "Ping'an Building is on the next street. When we go upstairs later, my office will have a clear view of Ping'an Building's top floor."
Yan Shouyi still had the matter of Ping'an Building on his mind.
After all, the top floor of Ping'an Building was home to an old ghost from the Bai family.
Moreover, people like Bai Yusheng would regularly enter Ping'an Building to make offerings to that old ghost.
Therefore, Yan Shouyi, who had already considered the Bai family his enemy, would have to return to Ping'an Building sooner or later.
At the very least, he had to deal with the wicked old ghost of the Bai family.
"Still standing there like a fool? Let's go upstairs. I have a lot of work to do tonight and won't be off until very late. You have to stay with me the whole time," Lin Zitong "ordered" haughtily.
Yan Shouyi smiled: "Okay, I'll do whatever you say."
Lin Zitong rarely made requests of Yan Shouyi. It was likely because Yan Shouyi had disappeared these past few days that she had asked him to stay with her.
Yan Shouyi felt he needed to fulfill his responsibilities as a boyfriend, so he readily agreed.
However, before entering the building, he couldn't help but say, "Should I change my outfit? Wearing a security guard uniform doesn't seem quite appropriate."
"What's inappropriate about it? I'm attracted to your face, I don't care what you wear!" Lin Zitong said. "No matter what you wear, you're still my boyfriend!"