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墨書 Inktalez
Cheng Jinsheng glanced around before stepping into the shop.
Lin Mingchang leaned in close to Shen Tong and said, "Wait for me here. I’ll take a look inside."
Shen Tong nodded and retreated into the shadows at the street corner.
The Jinxiu Workshop was not large, with a gilded copper lantern hanging at the entrance. Inside, the decor exuded charm, being both ancient and elegant. The counter and walls were adorned with exquisitely framed embroidery pieces of notable quality.
As Lin Mingchang entered, he did not see Cheng Jinsheng; instead, he noticed several customers selecting embroidered items. He pretended to browse through the pieces while slowly making his way deeper into the shop.
Taking advantage of the moment when a clerk was busy assisting a customer, he slipped unnoticed into the back room. The lighting here was dim, and after cautiously taking a few steps, he heard fragmented voices coming from a partitioned area behind him.
One voice was unmistakably Cheng Jinsheng’s, sounding quite urgent: "Does that kind of... embroidery technique really exist? Why has there been no progress after so many days?"
Another voice replied, "It definitely exists, but... it is indeed extremely difficult..."
Lin Mingchang crept closer, listening intently as Cheng Jinsheng fell silent for a few seconds before continuing: "That one mentioned in Xiang Xiu Mi Ji..."
"Shh!" Suddenly, the other voice interrupted Cheng Jinsheng, alertly moving toward the entrance. "I think someone’s here!"
Lin Mingchang reacted quickly, turning on his heel and swiftly exiting the corridor before anyone could peek out from the partition. He then discreetly left the shop.
As evening approached, Lin Mingchang and Shen Tong hurried to the exhibition site. Upon entering, they spotted Ruan Xiaoshuang, Fang Zigui, and Cheng Siyun standing by the stone path in the courtyard engaged in conversation.
Cheng Siyun had sharp eyes; as soon as she saw them arrive, she quickly walked over and asked, "How was Teacher Zhou’s studio? Did you find anything special?"
"Nothing much," Lin Mingchang replied nonchalantly. "Xiao He is organizing Teacher Zhou’s works, so we didn’t disturb them for long."
Xiaoshuang knew Lin Mingchang and Shen Tong well enough to sense that this response did not sound like him at all. Just as she was about to ask for clarification, Zigui suddenly placed a hand on her shoulder with a slight pressure of his fingertips.
Following his gaze, she noticed Shen Tong's expression and immediately understood. She quickly changed the subject, saying, "Brother Lin, Sister Tong, you must be thirsty after running around all day. Let me get you some tea."
Cheng Siyun then slapped her forehead in annoyance. "Look at me, I haven't been a good host."
She hurriedly stopped Xiaoshuang. "I'll go take care of it; you all sit for a moment." With that, she rushed toward the backyard.
Afterward, the four of them chatted with Cheng Siyun for a while longer until dusk began to settle, and then they took their leave to return to the inn.
They casually found a place to have dinner, and as they ate, they exchanged the results of their investigations from the day.
Lin Mingchang ate at an astonishing speed. By the time Shen Tong and Xiaoshuang had barely finished half a bowl of rice, he had already devoured a full bowl and was asking the waiter for another.
Looking around cautiously, he lowered his voice and said, "I find Cheng Jinsheng's actions to be quite suspicious. Today at Jinxiu Workshop, I overheard him talking to the shop owner about an ancient book called 'Xiang Xiu Mi Ji'... I have a strong feeling that this book is definitely related to the case."
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