CHAPTER 169: CHAPTER 169: HOW DID I BECOME A VILLAGE BELLE?

August.

The autumn air in Aethelburg is gentle, and the mountain weather has a great temperature difference between morning and evening.

Tomb No. 3.

Josephine Thompson crouched at the edge of the excavation site, using a soft brush to meticulously sweep away the loose soil from a pottery shard.

The mountain wind, carrying pine needles, brushed past her hair, and beads of sweat dripped from the tips.

She was bare-faced and had her hair casually clipped up with a shark clip, wearing glasses and a mask, and dressed in a simple work outfit. She was utterly transformed from the socialite she had been half a year ago, who wore couture dresses.

"Thompson, come and take a look at this!" The team leader, Zimmerman, called out from not far away, holding a bronze cup wrapped in dirt.

Josephine put down her tools in response and ran over the gravel slope.

The knees of her canvas pants were frayed, her hiking boots covered in mud, but the light in her eyes was brighter than ever: "It’s from the Early Zhouan Dynasty, right? Look at the beast pattern, the lines are so clean."

Zimmerman laughed: "Only you can see the patterns through the dirt. When you said you wanted to follow the team into the mountains, I thought it was just a young lady experiencing life—it turns out you can really endure it."

Shane Lynch, who was beside them, looked at her with admiration, "Yes, thanks to Thompson, our excavation work has gone so smoothly."

"Of course, she is Professor Warren’s only female disciple."

Half a year ago.

After Josephine Thompson settled her grandfather and finished her work in Audenburg, she decisively joined the national archaeological team, becoming Professor Warren’s disciple.

She cut off all her previous connections, dedicated herself to the study of archaeology.

Becoming a professional archaeologist was her ambition and the field she was most interested in.

Naturally.

Given her wealth, she didn’t need to do anything. Her money could last hundreds of generations, yet she still chose to pursue her dreams.

"Be careful, let me do it."

Josephine crouched down, helping clear the surrounding fill dirt.

Her fingertips held a specially crafted bamboo knife.

Carefully separating the soil from the base of the bronze cup, her movements were so gentle as if she feared disturbing the past slumbering for thousands of years.

Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting on her profile, her eyes above the mask focused and bright, as if she could communicate with the ancient artifact.

"The gilded layer on this cup is quite well-preserved."

Josephine’s voice was muffled through the mask, "It’s just the edges of the pattern are a bit oxidized, we need to do reinforcement quickly."

Zimmerman leaned over for a closer look, nodded: "You’re right, I’ll have William bring the reinforcement agent later. Honestly, Thompson, your professional foundation is solid, Professor Warren wasn’t wrong to favor you."

Shane Lynch helped out, handing over a clean soft cloth: "Wrap it up first, take it to the lab."

Josephine took the cloth, wiped the mud off her hands, and smiled: "Yeah, this needs to be carefully preserved."

After saying that.

Her gaze fell on the Terracotta Warriors in the excavation site, not yet completely unearthed. Her eyes showed no hint of the confusion she once had, only determination and anticipation.

The mountain wind rose again.

The tent fabric rustled.

The distant sounds of team members organizing tools could be heard, everything was simple and lively.

Compared to the banquets in Audenburg with the clinking glasses and calculated schemes.

The earthy smell and sweat here made her feel incredibly at ease. Just like the artifacts in the tomb, after thousands of years, what remains is the most authentic substance.

"That’s about it."

Josephine stood up, brushed the dirt off her pants, "Let’s move the cup to the lab first, I’ll come back this afternoon to clean up the burial pit over there."

Zimmerman agreed and directed the team to move it carefully.

Josephine watched the bronze cup being steadily carried away, a slight smile crept up her lips.

The days in the mountains, though tough, have truly allowed her to find her own rhythm.

...

Down the mountain.

Several security guards and patrolling staff blocked a group of people, "This is not a tourist area, visitors cannot enter."

"I’m looking for someone."

"There’s no one you’re looking for here, it’s getting dark, you all should head down the mountain. There are wild animals here, it’s very dangerous."

"I’ll say it again, I’m going up the mountain to find someone."

"...Who are you looking for?"

"I’m looking for... Expert Thompson."

On hearing this, the staff immediately became alert, "Who are you to Expert Thompson? What do you want with her?"

The excavation of The Celestial King’s Tomb.

Is a highly confidential project, known only to the archaeological team, with no details disclosed to any outsiders.

Participants in the archaeological project are sworn to secrecy, not allowed to leak a single detail outside.

"Uh~, I’m her family member."

"Family member?"

"Yes, um, please let me up, I have something very important to discuss with her."

Staff member: "Not even family members are allowed without official permission, no one can enter."

"Let me be honest, I’m her assistant, she sent me here to help the archaeology team with research."

"..." The staff member stared incredulously at the person.

Their appearance was trendy and stylish, not at all like someone who works in archaeology, more like a celebrity idol.

"You don’t believe it, do you? If you don’t believe it, call her and have her come down to get me. Let me tell you, if you delay Expert Thompson’s research, it’s your negligence."

The two staff members exchanged a glance.

"Should I notify Expert Thompson?"

"Yeah, yeah."

"Then wait here."

...

Half an hour later.

Josephine, confused, sat on the electric cart with the staff to pick up the person.

Much of the mountain area is still undeveloped.

Therefore, it isn’t accessible by vehicles.

Staff traveling up and down can only use a small temporary dirt path built by hand.

"My assistant?"

Coming down the mountain.

Spotting someone standing at the entrance from afar, Josephine tightened her grip on the electric cart handle.

The person was wearing a smoke-black couture shirt, sleeves meticulously rolled to the forearm.

Exuding an elegant and handsome aura, sharply contrasting with the humble staff around.

As soon as Josephine stopped the electric cart, she frowned while sizing up the person.

"Expert Thompson, it’s him."

Josephine carefully recognized the figure, it seemed like Julian Grant.

She was immediately stunned, "Julian Grant... how did you get here?"

Julian turned around, his eyes complex yet carrying a hint of self-mocking smile.

"Can’t I be here?"

Their gazes met, and both their eyes gradually reddened.

His once silver hair had been dyed back to black.

The trendy accessories he once wore were all removed.

In just half a year of not seeing each other.

He has completely transformed from his previous self, no longer frivolous, but calm and elegant.

At least in terms of appearance, the change was particularly profound.

"..." Josephine stood frozen, unable to utter a word.

She never expected Julian Grant to find his way here.

At the moment, she too was quite different from before.

No longer a rich socialite, but a charming country girl.

Spending every day on the mountain.

Her skin had tanned a bit, her hair messy, wearing dirty work clothes. Even her once jade-like fingers had become coarser, nails filled with dirt.

Julian watched her with an amused smile.

As he kept looking, his eyes suddenly welled up.

Unable to help himself, he stepped forward and wrapped her in a tender embrace.

"Why have you worn yourself out like this? Look at you, you’ve become a little village belle."

The moment Josephine Thompson felt his embrace, she froze, the scent of soil mixed with pine needles filled her nose, along with the subtle fragrance of his cologne.

"Uh, how did you find me here?"

"Don’t move."

Julian Grant’s voice was muffled against the top of her head, carrying a slight tremor, "Let me hold you for a moment, just a little while."

The mountain wind carried over the distant laughter and chatter of the team members.

Josephine suddenly stopped moving.

The dirt from her work jacket rubbed off onto his shirt, leaving faint marks.

Julian embraced her even tighter, unwilling to let go for even a second.

"You..."

She finally found her voice, it sounded a bit hoarse like it was filled with grains from the mountain breeze, "How did you know I was here?"

Julian released her, but his fingertips lingered on her shoulder, as if afraid she might run away.

He looked down at her dirt-stained nails, unable to hide the distress in his eyes: "If I want to find you, there’s always a way."

"..." Josephine felt a lump in her heart, her eyes reddening further.

For quite a while.

"Have your legs healed?"

"Of course."

Josephine glanced at his hairstyle again, "You’ve dyed your hair back to black."

Julian touched his hair, smiling a bit sheepishly, "Didn’t you say my other hair color didn’t look good?"

"So, I shaved it all off, and this is the new growth."

"Oh." Josephine chuckled dryly, at a loss for words.

Julian: "So, how is it? How much longer do you need to stay here?"

Josephine: "Uh, maybe another two months."

Julian paused for a moment, as if choosing his words carefully, "Alright, then I’ll stay here as your assistant."

"How can that be? It’s not allowed for unauthorized personnel to enter here."

Julian responded earnestly, "I’m not unauthorized, I’m your assistant as well as your family."

With that said.

He pointed to the SUV behind him.

The trunk was open, with neatly packed archaeological kit boxes and moisture-proof mats inside, along with a few packs of her favorite nuts.

"From now on, I’ll climb the mountains with you every day, help you out, and I promise, I won’t make a mess."

Josephine’s head ached, and she immediately refused, "No way! This isn’t a joke, you better head back quickly, stop fooling around."

"I’m not messing around with you. I mean it, I want to join the archaeological team too."

Josephine: "Huh???"

Julian looked at her intently, "In short, wherever you are is where I am."

Josephine: "Julian, the base really doesn’t allow random entries..."

Julian gave a confident smile, "I already told you, I’m your assistant as well as your family. Besides, I’ve already spoken with Professor Warren, and he agreed."

Pfft!

Josephine looked at him, dumbfounded.

"How... how do you know Professor Warren?"

"Huh, why wouldn’t I know him? When he went to Caldwen for a conference, I was the one who invited him."

"..." Josephine was stunned, her mind a little dazed.

No wonder.

When she went to Caldwen for the exhibition, the hosts specifically asked her to be a guide. Moreover, Julian was among the crowd.

"Don’t just stand there foolishly, quickly take me up the mountain! I’ve got everything prepared, from now on, I’m with you 24/7. Being your assistant, bodyguard, servant, driver, and boyfriend..."

As he spoke.

He curiously examined the electric scooter she had just ridden.

Never seen it before.

Looked at the old scooter like it was a novelty.

"Haha~, Josephine, you’re really something. How do you ride this thing?"

He usually drove sports cars, off-road vehicles, helicopters, and yachts.

Also rode off-road motorcycles.

But those were high-powered armored bikes, faster than sports cars.

Josephine looked at his intrigued expression at the scooter, too amused and annoyed, she patted his arm, "Stop messing around, this is a work vehicle, not something for you to play with."

"It really helps to have this scooter in the mountains."

After all.

The muddy paths in the mountains are only accessible by scooter.

Sometimes it’s a twenty to thirty-mile trip, riding a small scooter is quite convenient.

Julian seized her wrist, gently rubbing the calluses in her palm with his fingertips, his gaze unusually earnest, "I’m not messing around. Professor Warren said you guys need a recorder, I’m smart enough to handle it."

He shook the file in his other hand, "Look, Professor Warren even signed it."

Indeed, the folder bore Professor Warren’s flamboyant signature, with a smiley face drawn next to it.

Josephine clutched the corner of the folder.

Suddenly recalling what Professor Warren said during the last video call, "There’s an earnest young man who wants to help."

She hadn’t paid attention then, turns out it was Julian.

"But..."

"There’s no need for ’but’.", Julian snatched the electric scooter keys from her hand, imitating her as he got on.

However.

His legs were too long, riding the little scooter looked like an adult on a child’s toy car.

The scooter wobbled and nearly tipped over, prompting laughter from the nearby staff.

He held steady the handlebars, finding it even more amusing, "See, I’ve already learned, I promise I won’t hold you back."

Josephine was so amused by his antics, she couldn’t stay mad, so she turned to the staff and said, "Sterling, he really was arranged by Professor Warren, please register him."

Sterling looked at Julian’s clumsy posture, chuckled and shook his head, "Alright, if Expert Thompson says so. But Mr. Grant, the mountain paths are tough, you’ll have to be careful."

Julian nodded quickly, cautiously riding the scooter behind Josephine.

The dirt path was full of potholes.

He rode unsteadily, nearly crashing into the bushes several times, mumbling to himself, "This thing is harder to handle than my sports car..."

Josephine walked ahead, listening to his muttering, unable to suppress a smile.

The mountain wind lifted the hem of her clothes, bringing the earthy scent and the fresh aroma of vegetation.

Suddenly, she felt that life in these mountains might just gain a new and different kind of sound.

Half an hour later.

They arrived at the camp.

Zimmerman and the team were gathered together sorting out the pottery shards unearthed in the morning.

Josephine saw this and hurried over to help.

Julian quickly parked the scooter, running over to assist, only to pick up a pottery shard and toss it into the toolbox, which Josephine quickly intercepted, "Careful! This is a geometric-patterned pottery from The Early Zhouan Dynasty; if you damage it, the patterns will be ruined."

He quickly let go, looking at the intricate patterns on the shard, and stuck out his tongue, "Looks like I need to learn well as an assistant."

Zimmerman watched with amusement, "Thompson, this friend of yours seems clever, guide him well, maybe he’ll become a great help."

Josephine didn’t say anything, simply handing Julian a pair of gloves, "Start by recognizing artifacts, this is a terracotta cauldron, this is a terracotta gui, remember their shapes and historical characteristics..."

Julian immediately came over, listening more intently than anyone else.

Nodding and jotting down notes from time to time.

Pretending to be quite knowledgeable.

But actually, he didn’t understand a word.

But it didn’t matter.

No matter what she said, he enjoyed listening.