The Informal Tomb Raiding Diary: She is the occupant of the tomb!-Chapter 28: Professor Chen’s Live-Action Performance
Qinghan listened silently, not in a hurry to express his opinion. Boss Lu, thinking she had ’understood’ his intention, smiled and said:
"Going independent, you should be clear about how much more benefits you can gain. In life, the difference between success and mediocrity often lies in a single opportunity."
Boss Lu paused, glanced at me but spoke to Qinghan, "Since you can cooperate with the Leng Family, it’s an exception. Why not break away and seek better development? Please don’t refuse my sincere invitation."
Boss Lu and her people mistook me for a member of the Leng Family, probably because of these clothes.
I just liked the Leng Family tomb raiding team’s uniform, so I took a few more pieces, which resulted in such a big misunderstanding.
According to Boss Lu, Qinghan should not get involved with the Leng Family, as doing so would lead him off track.
As a teammate, I felt it necessary to clarify for him, but just as I was about to speak, Qinghan spoke first, "Alright, I can cooperate with you, but you must take her along."
I swallowed my clarifying words. Qinghan must have his plans. Maybe he’s agreeing to cooperate now just as a delaying tactic to deceive Boss Lu, so as to avoid complications, it’s better not to explain.
"Professor Chen truly is a smart person, knowing how to act in his own interest. You can keep her; she’s much more useful than the fools I hired." Boss Lu continued, speaking proudly with her voice-over tone.
Outside, it was icy and snowy, but even without a fire, it wasn’t too cold in the cave.
Having achieved her goal, Boss Lu sat down to rest. They had experienced more dangers in the maze-like tomb path than we did, so their physical strength was almost exhausted.
I moved close to Qinghan, wanting to ask why he agreed to Boss Lu’s invitation.
But with Boss Lu’s people right next to us, we couldn’t talk openly.
I had no choice but to turn away and make a throat-cutting gesture at Qinghan.
It’s how they do it in the movies, and I hoped Qinghan understood my meaning.
He gently shook his head; I wasn’t sure if he didn’t get my intention or was telling me not to act.
As I pondered how to make him understand, suddenly he put his arm around my shoulder, pulled me into his embrace, and whispered in my ear, "Don’t worry, we’ll be fine, everyone will be alright."
Boss Lu’s people next to us saw it and let out a few lewd chuckles. Boss Lu, who was resting with her eyes closed, heard the noise, opened her eyes to glance at us, then closed her eyes again as if nothing happened.
The part I’m supposed to play is to act as if I don’t see...
With the brainwashing background music surrounding me, I found my mind a bit sluggish, or rather, my reactions weren’t quick enough.
The male actor opposite threw me a line, but I missed it, standing there dumbfounded, torn between ’Oh, it’s so good to have you’ and ’Han, I’m scared’, missing the prime acting moment.
As a result, when I looked up, I noticed Qinghan’s face and chin were covered with dirt. My head must have rolled in the sand countless times, with so much dirt in my hair that it could grow vegetables. Yet Qinghan wasn’t bothered and still ’whispered sweet nothings’ to me. What a dedicated actor; I almost became a fan.
Anyway, his message was clear; he was confident in protecting us.
If our relationship was average, him saying this would make Boss Lu suspicious that he had a backup plan.
But by pretending to coax me, it’s just like a man cajoling his girlfriend, so Boss Lu and her people didn’t suspect anything.
Just then, the Water Monster appeared outside the cave entrance, standing at a blind spot from Boss Lu’s group’s sight, waving its tentacles at me and Qinghan.
It was small and white, blending seamlessly with the snow outside, and if one didn’t look closely, one might think it was just wind-swept snow.
Qinghan saw the Water Monster at the cave entrance and likely guessed it had returned with news, looking over with a questioning gaze but saying nothing.
I winked at him, quietly gesturing OK. The people were saved, but the Water Monster told me there’s no place to hide from the snowstorm outside.
I previously planned to get rid of Boss Lu’s group to eliminate the threat for Wen Jing and then bring them inside.
Boss Lu was determined to kill Miss Scream and wouldn’t agree to let her in, at least not while alive.
If they don’t die, Wen Jing, Shunfeng, and Miss Scream will die, unless Qinghan finds a way to reconcile the fundamental conflict between both sides.
But with Miss Scream’s character, it’s incredibly difficult for her to take a step back and let things slide.
The wind outside grew stronger, howling like a beast’s wail.
Qinghan suggested to Boss Lu to retreat behind the stone door. The storm’s duration is unknown, and there’s nothing here to make a fire. Although it’s warmer than outside, sleeping here is impossible.
If the storm lasts long, we will need fire and food.
Boss Lu thought it over, nodded in agreement. Most of their food and equipment were left in the tomb maze, and the current supplies wouldn’t last a day.
I tugged at Qinghan’s sleeve, wanting to give him a thumbs-up. The mental work should indeed be left to him.
When we retreat inside the stone door, Wen Jing and the others can enter the cave to shelter from the snow.
I specifically instructed the Water Monster to knock Miss Scream unconscious, as her loud voice would alert the people inside.
Returning to the stone door, Boss Lu’s thoughts stirred again. She sent someone to check at the sand-sea entrance to see if returning to the tomb was still possible.
The dispatched person returned to report that the tomb path had collapsed, leaving no passageway, and the ancient tomb was entirely destroyed.
Only then did Boss Lu give up the idea and settled down to find a place to camp.
In the sand sea, there were a lot of dead plants still in a freshly withered state. Boss Lu’s people used these plants to make a campfire, and everyone sat around it for warmth.
"Miss Leng certainly lives up to the Leng Family’s reputation for strong survival skills, living alone in an ancient tomb for years and still so lively." Boss Lu suddenly turned the topic to me, "Do you have any tips you can share?"
Qinghan grabbed my hand, giving it a hard squeeze, interrupting what I was about to say.
"She’s just lucky, far from the Leng Family’s experts." Qinghan spoke for me.
A single person weaving all the lies reduces the risk of exposure. With Qinghan writing, directing, and acting himself, I, just making a friendly cameo, only needed to play dumb.
"Oh... you seem to know her well. Is she an old flame?"
"She is my fiancée."
Hearing Qinghan’s words, despite the black-question-mark-face my heart was making, I had to keep smiling.
Qinghan’s script is so melodramatic, and the turn was so abrupt with no setup. How could I pick it up!
If it weren’t for my stiff facial muscles making my expressions often off, Boss Lu would’ve surely spotted a flaw from my face long ago.
