The Grave Robbers' Chronicles: After Sand Sea

Afternoons in Yucun were always tinged with a touch of laziness. Wu Xie crouched in the courtyard, several fragments of metal that glimmered with a greenish sheen spread out before him. They were the only tangible evidence Zhang Qiling had brought back from the Bronze Gate. For a year, Wu Xie had tried all sorts of methods, but still hadn't managed to analyze their composition.

"Tianzhen, dinner's ready!" Wang Pangzi called from the kitchen doorway, the spatula in his hand still dripping with oil.

Wu Xie answered and carefully put the fragments away in a velvet-lined box. As he turned, he caught sight of Zhang Qiling leaning against the doorframe and watching him. In the sunlight, his dark eyes had taken on a rare amber hue.

"Xiaoge, when did you wake up?" Wu Xie said with a smile as he walked over. Ever since he'd brought Zhang Qiling home, the man had been sleeping an astonishing amount, as if he meant to make up for all the sleep he'd missed over the past few decades.

Zhang Qiling didn't answer. He simply reached out and brushed a petal from Wu Xie's shoulder, where it had landed at some point. The natural, affectionate gesture made Wu Xie's ears grow warm.