Chapter 458: The Museum Is on Fire

Zhao Nuan Yang heard the sound and turned to see Pan Ling’er fast asleep on the bench.

Falling asleep right after eating... she was so much like his little sister, Little Red Carp.

The thought of his adorable sister softened his heart. He took a thin blanket from a cabinet, walked quietly over to Pan Ling’er, and gently draped it over her.

Judging by her posture, she didn’t look very comfortable. Zhao Nuan Yang gently supported her head, helping her lie down properly on the bench before rearranging the thin blanket over her. This way, she could sleep comfortably without catching a cold.

Once Pan Ling’er was covered, Zhao Nuan Yang returned to his workbench and resumed his work, completely focused.

He finally finished at three in the morning.

Zhao Nuan Yang stretched and glanced at Pan Ling’er sleeping nearby. ’Tomorrow, I’ll get to sleep like that, too,’ he thought.

He carefully put the painting away in the safe and locked it himself. Tomorrow, he could turn in his assignment and finally be on leave. At that thought, all his fatigue vanished.

Just then, Li and Wu returned from their patrol. When they didn’t see Pan Ling’er, they grew extremely anxious.

When they arrived at Zhao Nuan Yang’s office, they saw Pan Ling’er sleeping on the bench and didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

"Sorry to bother you, Mr. Zhao," Li said softly. "Are you all finished? Heading home?"

Zhao Nuan Yang glanced at the clock on the wall, shook his head, and replied, "I’m not going back yet. I’ll head home after I turn in my assignment. It’s too late now; I’d just wake up my family. As for... as for Pan Ling’er, she was just too sleepy."

’I need to get some rest, too,’ he thought. ’And with her still here in my office... it feels a bit inappropriate.’

"I’m so sorry, I’ll wake her up right now," Li said, bracing himself. ’This little troublemaker was the one who insisted on staying late, and now here she is, fast asleep in Mr. Zhao’s office,’ he thought.

"Don’t," Zhao Nuan Yang said, a pang of protectiveness and pity striking him as he saw Li about to wake Pan Ling’er. "I can’t sleep anyway. I was planning on going for a run and practicing some boxing. Just let her sleep here. If you wake her up in this cold, she might catch a cold."

With that, Zhao Nuan Yang finished getting ready and prepared to head out.

Li thought about the biting wind outside. Waking her up suddenly while she was still groggy would almost certainly make her sick.

Since Mr. Zhao was heading out... well, there was no need to wake her. He and Wu would take turns watching over her here.

Zhao Nuan Yang began to run along the lamp-lit paths around the office building. He passed a few patrol guards, but they didn’t question him much once they saw he was a staff member.

Just as he was starting to warm up, he stopped to do some stretches before practicing his boxing. It was then he saw the glow of a fire in the southeast corner of the museum. He was still wondering what it could be when he heard someone cry out, "Fire! Fire!"

In a museum, fire and water were the greatest threats. The fact that it was coming from the southeast made Zhao Nuan Yang’s heart leap into his throat.

The patrol guards heard the shouts for help and rushed over.

As a member of the staff, Zhao Nuan Yang immediately sprinted in that direction as well.

That was where the most recently acquired items were stored—artifacts of immense historical and economic value that the leadership prized highly.

Thanks to the fire drills they regularly practiced, many people immediately began setting up the fire hydrants to pump water and fight the blaze.

But just then, a person leaped from an upstairs window. Zhao Nuan Yang rushed forward to help, only to find it was Old Yang, a senior who had always looked out for him.

Although Zhao Nuan Yang had never formally studied first aid, his sister was a doctor, and he’d picked up a few things from her. He stepped forward to check on Old Yang.

Old Yang’s eyes were wide as he gasped, "Go... save the others inside! Old Xin, Old Li, Old Zhao... there are eight of them! And... some men in black... of unknown origin."

After saying this, Old Yang passed out.

Zhao Nuan Yang quickly relayed the situation to the patrol team. Based on Old Yang’s words and the wounds on his body, it was clear his injuries weren’t just from the fall—he had been stabbed. Everyone understood at once: this was likely a robbery.

These were all highly respected elders at the museum. Many of them had only just been politically rehabilitated this year and were incredibly dedicated and exceptionally skilled in their fields. Their plight reminded Zhao Nuan Yang of Gu Qingyu, Sun Haoran, He Qiang, Old Sir Qian, and Old Madam Qian.

These learned people had finally been able to resume their work.

Just when they had finally found some peace and stability, something like this had to happen.

With that, Zhao Nuan Yang ran to a water pipe, drenching himself completely. He tore a strip of cloth from his shirt to tie over his nose, grabbed a coil of rope, and began climbing up the facade of the building.

Seeing Zhao Nuan Yang go in, others who were running toward the building were about to charge inside as well. But then they remembered the thick smoke. They quickly wet their own towels to cover their noses, soaked their clothes, and then plunged in after him.

It wasn’t just people inside; there were all sorts of priceless artifacts. They had to save whatever they could.

Zhao Nuan Yang had seen Old Yang jump from the third floor, so he scaled a drainpipe straight up to the third-floor window. The inside was filled with thick smoke, but he could hear shouts and screams.

He climbed through the window and, crouching low, moved toward the nearest sound.

"Teacher Wu?" Zhao Nuan Yang called out. He couldn’t see clearly, but the voice sounded familiar.

"It’s me, it’s me!" Elder Wu cried out when he heard someone enter. "There are villains in here! They came to steal things! Don’t worry about us... COUGH, COUGH, COUGH... hurry and catch them...!"

Though Zhao Nuan Yang knew the artifacts were important, these elders were important too. He hoisted Elder Wu onto his back, carried him to the window, and tied the rope around his waist. "Elder Wu, just hang on!"

Elder Wu wanted to protest, but he was deeply moved. His desire to live made him willing to try anything.

"It’s alright, just hurry," Elder Wu said, not wanting to waste Zhao Nuan Yang’s time. ’A little squeezing from the rope won’t kill me,’ he thought.

Zhao Nuan Yang stood on the windowsill and began lowering Elder Wu. The descent was a bit fast, but still within his control. The people below saw what he was doing and rushed over to help, untying Elder Wu once he was safely on the ground.

"Is anyone else in here?" Zhao Nuan Yang shouted as he moved deeper into the room, where the smoke was even thicker.

In reality, the room was filled with smoke, but the fire itself wasn’t that large. He kept low to the ground, his nose covered by the damp cloth. Still, because he had shouted, a bit of smoke and soot got into his mouth.

"Someone... here..." a low, hoarse voice called out. Zhao Nuan Yang rushed over and found another elder.

He quickly carried the man to the window on his back, saving another life.