Chapter 166 The real separation is silent
Monday morning. The unexpected bad news arrived. Song Suiyang was so shocked that she couldn't stand up. She held onto the side of her desk and murmured, "What did you say?"
The repair table was already tidy. Tong Zhongyuan was cleaning his tools. He washed and dried the last scraper, placed it in the toolbox, and closed the lid.
"This is a set of tools I often use. I'm giving it to you."
He took another folder out of the drawer and handed it to her.
"This is a record of the restoration process of Yuan blue and white porcelain. I have completed the most difficult part. The rest is a meticulous work that tests your patience. I think you can do it. If you have any questions, you can email me and I will reply."
Song Suiyang subconsciously wanted to reach out to take it, but he shuddered and withdrew his hand.
"Teacher Tong! What are you talking about? Today is not April Fool's Day."
Seeing this, Tong Zhongyuan stood up and put the folder on her desk.
"I will return to England the day after tomorrow. I will leave the Yuan blue and white porcelain to you. If you really can't do it, you can ask Director Ming to return it to the National Museum. They should be able to complete the remaining parts."
"No! You should go back to England. You haven't been back for so long, it's time to go back. But you can come back after you finish your business! We agreed to repair it for half a year, and it's only half done yet."
Tong Zhongyuan also placed the toolbox on her repair table.
"I'll treat everyone to lunch at noon. What would you like to eat?"
He wasn't kidding? Was this true?! Song Suiyang stared at the toolbox in despair. She had always wanted this. But why now?! How could Tong Zhongyuan leave Shanghai Museum now?! He wasn't... She felt like she had found a lifeline, repeatedly asking, "Where's Qin Tian? Does Qin Tian know you're going back?!"
Tong Zhongyuan stopped organizing the documents, but only for a moment before continuing.
"She knows."
"Impossible! How could she let you go like that? Did she misunderstand? Did she think you were just going back to visit your relatives?"
Tong Zhongyuan picked up the sorted files and placed a USB drive on top of them.
"Here are the work records for the past six months. Take over all the work this afternoon. Give the bronzeware portion to Dai Lihua; he'll need it in the future."
"Teacher Tong! Teacher Tong..."
Song Suiyang hurriedly chased Tong Zhongyuan out of the restoration room. She didn't know what she wanted to say to him, nor did she know where he was going. An unbelievable thought arose in her mind: Tong Zhongyuan was going back to England, and even Director Ming couldn't know about it.
Ming Yuanxing hurried back to the office and opened the door. He had a meeting in the morning, but after receiving Tong Zhongyuan's call, he canceled the meeting.
The moment the door opened, Tong Zhongyuan, who was sitting upright in the reception chair, raised his head and smiled as gently and politely as always.
Ming Yuanxing sat across from him, brow furrowed. He had never expected Tong Zhongyuan to give him such news without warning. Just a short while ago, he had come to discuss strategies for artificial reproduction. They had so many inseparable connections, and with so many things still undecided, how could he just leave like that?
When Qin Tian suggested he return to England to inspect the Shanghai Museum's artifacts, he found it a bit strange. But at the time, he assumed that even if Tong Zhongyuan went back, it would only be temporary. He would return once his work was done. He even thought that perhaps his wish would come true, and Tong Zhongyuan might stay at the Shanghai Museum forever.
As he walked from the conference room, he had only one unformed thought in his mind. Xiaotong's departure was definitely related to Qin Tian. But he couldn't even ask about such a personal reason. For now, he could only pretend he didn't know.
"I'm sorry to interrupt your meeting. It's not that urgent, I'll be in the museum for the next two days."
"It's none of your business. I was just too anxious. Little boy, is there something wrong at home? Or...?"
"It's a studio matter, and I won't be able to leave for a long time. After weighing the pros and cons, I can only be a dishonest person. I'm very sorry about the Yuan blue and white porcelain incident, and I've embarrassed the Shanghai Museum. I handed it over to Song Suiyang this morning. She has great talent, but she just hasn't had enough time to repair it. What she lacks in restoring the remaining parts of the Yuan blue and white porcelain is not the technology, but the confidence. I can only apologize for the losses I've caused the Shanghai Museum."
"What are you talking about? Please don't take the matter of Yuan blue and white porcelain to heart. You know, I feel sorry for you about this matter. What's more, you have repaired the most difficult part now, and it will see the light of day soon. What's there to apologize for? I just..." Ming Yuanxing sighed with emotion, "Little boy, you said you were leaving so suddenly. I was wondering if you were wronged in some way. Otherwise, how could you..."
Tong Zhongyuan lowered his head and smiled: "You worry too much, how can I be wronged?"
"Well, that's fine. You've been here for so long, you must be homesick. I'll take care of the finance department, and you can ask Song Suiyang to help you with the procedures. Your expenses for the past six months will be covered by Shangbo, and it probably won't be enough time to issue the bill in two days. Just give me your account number and I'll have them transfer the money slowly. I know you're not short of money, but public is public and private is private, so there's no need to be polite with me. The day after tomorrow, I'll arrange a car to take you to the airport. If you'd like, please stop by the museum before you go. I want to say goodbye."
"Thank you for your kindness. I won't be polite. Actually, before I return home, I have something else I want to tell you. Please don't let Qin Tian know about the artificial replication until it is completely resolved. She acts impulsively and unrestrained. Please keep her in the country during this period. If possible, please temporarily confiscate her passport and pass under the pretext of work. I can't help with this matter here, but I can play a role after returning home. I will contact you in time if there is any progress."
"Zhongyuan, you and Qin Tian are..."
Tong Zhongyuan took out a USB flash drive from his pocket and placed it on the table.
"Also, there's a personal profile in the USB drive, which touches on the Shanghai Museum's past. At my level, the information I see is very limited, but perhaps it will be enlightening for you. His name was also on the journal collection list I gave you last time, and he received it through his secretary. I know the chances are slim, but I'm worried, so I asked you to take a closer look."
Tong Zhongyuan spoke calmly, his words flowing. Ming Yuanxing felt increasingly distressed. The little boy was leaving the day after tomorrow, yet he was burdened with worry, his every word laced with worry. His feeling was correct; there was a hidden agenda behind his return. What was going on with these two children?
"Zhongyuan, Xiao Qin came to see me a few days ago."
Tong Zhongyuan lowered his eyelashes, picked up the mineral water and took a sip.
"She came to me to share the real data from her second paper. I think she was anxious to do so because she was worried about you. You know how hard it was to come by these data. I asked her what would happen if the cultural relics industry lost its defenses after the data was released. She didn't care, saying she would continue her research. In all the years I've known her, this is the first time I've seen someone more important to her than cultural relics."
Tong Zhongyuan lowered his eyes to look at the mineral water bottle, his eyelashes trembling slightly. He said calmly, "She is the type of person who cannot be held responsible. She feels very guilty about this matter and feels that she has implicated me."
The child's explanation was to convince himself, not him. Ming Yuanxing's low reply was punctuated by a sigh.
"Maybe."
Everything in the world has its end, and flowers bloom and fade without our control.
On the quiet winter night, the street lights came on one after another, stretching and then cutting her shadow.
The long, winding road winds around a busy overpass, then onto a path lined with swaying tree shadows. Round and round, over and over again.
She folded her arms and looked up at the moon. White mist curled around her mouth and nose, and the moonlight was cold and clear. Tomorrow would be a clear day, and this full moon would light his way home.
He won't come. After saying goodbye so many times, he is still here.
She took out a small box from her pocket and stood there for a long time. The birthday gift she had promised him lay lonely in her palm.
The wind picked up. A bicycle bell rang from behind, and she looked back in the wind. The girl, her long hair flying, pedaled vigorously. The man on the back seat gently wrapped his arms around her waist, his smile shimmering. The wind danced on the treetops, following them as they moved forward.
She watched the bicycle go away, her vision gradually blurring.
The short period of isolation from the world has become a thing of the past, and not being disturbed is the blessing.
She smoothed her wind-blown hair and put the small box back in her pocket.
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