1273 I Want to Make You Stay 151 (1/2)
Unable to tolerate his words, An Xiaoning retorted, ”To those who don't understand archeological work, your explanation might seem rather reasonable. However, for an experienced tomb raider like you, I doubt that you don't know the real difference between what you do and what archeologists do. Yours is not a proper profession whereas the archeologists conduct scientific research on the material they've collected. The core intentions and purpose are different. You tomb raiders are after monetary gains, and you guys simply discard those items that are worthless by your standards. Do you preserve them like archeologists do? You don't care who the valuable items are sold to either. How can you compare yourself to archeologists? Last but not least, I didn't say that all archeologists are morally upright. There are bound to be black sheep in every industry. Aren't I right?”
”At the end of the day, I didn't cause any major destruction to the tombs, unlike you, Ms. An. You casually bombed that tomb near the lake.”
An Xiaoning glared at him and asked, ”Who did you hear that from?”
”No one, I guessed it.”
”You guessed it? Why would you be that good at guessing?” she questioned apprehensively.
Feeling peeved, He Yi decided to put an end to the discussion. He stood up and said in displeasure, ”I came here with the kind intentions of telling you about the mural that I had discovered, yet you actually launched a personal attack on me. Forget it, pretend that I never said anything. Suit yourself. I'm taking my leave now.”
An Xiaoning interjected sternly, ”Did I say you can leave? You may do so if you answer my question.”
He Yi sneered, ”Will you compel me if I don't? What if I don't answer you?”
”You may stay behind, then. Qingyan and I will provide your meals.”
He Yi looked at Jin Qingyan and protested, ”We're former classmates, no matter what. I came here to inform you guys about my discovery out of goodwill. Is this how you should be treating me?”
”I initially just wanted to ask you about why you had returned without opening the coffin. However, I have another question for you now. Just who was the one who told you that I was the one who bombed that lake? You just have to answer those two questions truthfully and you may leave.”
He Yi had no choice but to answer, ”I didn't open the coffin because it wasn't an ordinary wooden coffin that was placed on the ground. It was made of cement and steel. I felt that the coffin wasn't originally constructed that way and that someone had tampered with it recently. Since it's freshly cemented, the valuables inside the coffin should have already been stolen, so there's no point for me to open it. As for your second question, I found out about it based on hearsay. No one told me that it was you.”
An Xiaoning did not believe him at all. ”Based on hearsay? Since you refuse to tell the truth, you shall stay here until you decide to come clean.”
”I was speaking the truth.”
”Do you dare to let me hypnotize you?”
He Yi could tell that she would not give up until she got the answer she wanted.
”Fine, someone did tell me. It was one of those so-called morally upright archeologists. He did tell me that there were reasons behind your actions. However, no matter what reasons there may be, it still wasn't right of you to bomb the entire tomb, was it?”
”An archeologist told you? Which one? What's his name?”
”I really can't divulge that. I still have my own principles, alright? Betraying others is not something I would do.”
”Even if you don't tell me, I'll find out myself.” She whipped out her mobile phone and sent the bodyguards a text, after which she continued, ”He Yi, I have an honest piece of advice for you. You're considered a wealthy man now and it's time for you to stop. You ought to find a good woman and settle down with her. You'll never earn enough money, but time waits for no man.”
He Yi snapped, ”That's none of your concern. Can I leave now, Ms. An?”
”Leave,” said An Xiaoning, who cut off eye contact with him.