Chapter Five: The Museum Heist

The early morning sunlight was still hazy with sleepiness, yet it never waited for people to rise late.
Indeed, Guan Qian was late for his Ancient Script Theory class today.
He looked utterly exhausted and dispirited, clearly having spent a sleepless night.
"Guan Qian, you weren't so excited from yesterday's heroics that you couldn't sleep, were you?" Fang He, a loudmouth, shouted, his tone thick with implication.
"Truly, heroes have always struggled to resist beautiful women."
"So did Guan Qian get lucky with Jiang Qiang?"
"No, no, surely Jiang Qiang promised herself to him."
A chorus of classmates joined Fang He in teasing, and at once, the classroom erupted in laughter and noise.
The news of Guan Qian and Jiang Qiang’s car accident and their narrow escape had quickly spread through the Ancient Script Theory course, even affecting the neighboring Literature department.
Several male students in Literature had been pursuing Jiang Qiang for some time, but she had always treated them with indifference. They knew she favored Guan Qian, yet that didn’t stop them from trying.
Now, Guan Qian had played the hero to rescue her. Wasn’t that a perfect match, sealing their fate? It dashed the hopes of the others. Two hot-tempered young men nearly grabbed chairs to storm the Ancient Script classroom, startling many students, who marveled at the overwhelming power of beauty.
"Enough, stop it," Mo Han snapped, his words like a cold lightning bolt. Instantly, the classroom quieted, for Jiang Qiang was not someone to be trifled with.
"Are you alright?" Tang Ruyan appeared beside Guan Qian at some point, her brief words leaving him slightly stunned. It was the first time he noticed this ice-cold woman initiate conversation.
"Hehe, I’m fine, just a few superficial wounds," Guan Qian replied, lifting his bandaged arm.
Ruyan nodded slightly and returned to her seat, leaving Fang He, who had been watching, deeply moved.
The ice queen had spoken, though her words were remarkably succinct—truly a woman who valued every syllable. Fang He thought so, pulling Mo Han close to whisper.
Mo Han’s slightly furrowed brow made it clear the exchange was not entirely pleasant.
Guan Qian paid no mind to his classmates’ teasing; everyone saw things differently, and he simply smiled it off. But the surprise from Tang Ruyan today lingered in his thoughts.
A woman hard to read, shrouded in mystery, always draws attention—especially for someone like Guan Qian, gifted with prophetic abilities.
He had indeed suffered insomnia last night, but not because of Jiang Qiang; rather, it was a side effect of his prophetic powers. He had activated his micro-consciousness during the day, leaving him in a state of restless excitement all night.

The benefits of prophetic micro-consciousness were undeniable, but its drawbacks were just as obvious. When Guan Qian first awakened his abilities and discovered this state, he had already experienced its side effects—this was a persistent headache for him.
"Wow—"
As Professor Han, carrying his books, stepped out of the classroom, the tedious lesson finally came to an end. Guan Qian, half-asleep, had endured it, and his next priority was to hurry home for a restful sleep.
Lost in dreams, Guan Qian slept deeply and comfortably, making up for last night’s insomnia. When he looked outside, the sky was already dark and studded with stars.
He had slept for most of the day, and now felt completely refreshed, his mind clear and bright.
"Gurgle—"
Rubbing his empty stomach, Guan Qian tossed on a white T-shirt and headed out, determined to have a feast; his long sleep had left him ravenous.
The bustling night market was lively as always, and Guan Qian found a random restaurant for a hearty meal.
"Hey, have you heard? Yesterday Shengde Palace acquired a national treasure," a slightly tipsy man said, swaying as he spoke to a friend in a floral shirt.
"What national treasure?" The man in the floral shirt filled his friend’s glass and leaned in, clearly intrigued.
"This treasure, it’s really something. You know the national treasure incident that’s been making waves recently?" The tipsy man spoke slowly, piquing his friend’s curiosity.
"Wait, you don’t mean that crystal skull excavated from the ancient tomb?" The floral shirt man’s eyes widened, his voice rising.
"Shh—keep it down! If I weren’t a security guard at Shengde Palace, and hadn’t overheard something, I wouldn’t know any of this. Keep your voice down—if you leak this, I’ll lose my job," the tipsy man, sobered by his friend’s volume, clamped his hand over his mouth.
"Come on, man, even the archaeological experts can’t determine its age, and the tomb itself is shrouded in mystery. How could the state let Shengde Palace keep it? Are you sure you’re not drunk?" The floral shirt man pushed his friend’s hand away, lowering his voice in skepticism.
"You’re the one who’s drunk… I’m perfectly sober!" the tipsy man retorted, glaring and draining his glass.
"It’s not that I don’t believe you, but this is too far-fetched. The state classified it as a national treasure as soon as it was unearthed—how could it end up at Shengde Palace?" The floral shirt man sipped his drink, still doubtful.
"Believe me or not, but it’s there. In a few days, it’s supposed to be secretly transferred to a national research institute—Shengde Palace is just a hidden waystation," the tipsy man insisted.
"…"
"…"
Guan Qian didn’t care to listen further, for he had already left the restaurant, certain that something was about to happen.
From the moment he heard about Shengde Palace and the crystal skull, his intuition was alert, sensing unease.

His prophetic premonition told him that someone would attempt to steal the crystal skull from Shengde Palace, and the time would be just after midnight tomorrow.
"Hello, this is Shengde Palace. How can I help you?" a security guard answered the phone at the duty room.
"Hello, I just want to inform you that someone will try to steal the national treasure from Shengde Palace after midnight tomorrow. Please be vigilant," a deep voice replied—it was Guan Qian, who had altered his voice.
"May I ask who you are…" The guard tried to inquire, but was met with the abrupt click of a disconnect.
"Beep—"
"Who was that?" Another guard, weary, asked.
"A prankster. Damn it, why do these bored people keep calling to stir up trouble?" The guard hung up, frowning and complaining.

Shengde Palace Museum.
The only large national museum in Z City.
Founded over fifty years ago, its unique architectural style and artistic design made it a landmark of the city.
The grand, imposing structure paired with lush surroundings created a space both stately and fresh, attracting travelers and tourists from afar.
Inside, its security system was virtually impregnable: intelligent infrared alarms, regional surveillance cameras, perimeter breach detection, public address and paging systems… security was so tight not even a mouse could slip through.
Night fell, with dark clouds drifting across the sky, lending an eerie air to the tranquil darkness.
Guan Qian was already hiding near Shengde Palace, waiting for the thieves to appear.
Suddenly, a black sedan arrived, parked briefly, then drove off, leaving two shadowy figures behind.
Guan Qian watched them closely, reaching into his pocket for his phone, ready to call the police at any moment.
But an unexpected call exposed his location.
He cursed silently, quickly turning off his phone and watching as the two figures drew nearer to his hiding place, a sense of danger rising inexorably.
(The story continues. Please recommend and bookmark!)