AUBTN -Chapter 151 Mascot

She clutched the cold yet precious golden abacus tightly. But the sensation in her palm was nowhere near as scorching as the warmth in the man’s eyes before her.

That playful, joking energy she usually carried seemed to be instantly drained away by this sudden, sincere confession.

Her eyes grew hot, and her nose suddenly stung.

All the fear, grievance, and lingering dread she had forcibly suppressed earlier surged out at once.

Tears rolled down without warning, falling onto the golden abacus.

“You… you bastard…”

Yu Qing’s voice was thick with a nasal tone.

At first she tried to maintain her usual arrogant attitude, but the moment the words left her mouth, they turned into sobs.

“Do you know… I was really so scared back then… those monsters… they… they killed people right in front of me… blood… there was blood everywhere…”

Her words tumbled out incoherently, and her body began to tremble uncontrollably.

The bloody scene she had deliberately tried to forget flooded back into her mind!

“I thought I was going to die… my arm hurt so much… I was so afraid I’d never see Wanwan again… never see you again…”

By the end, she could no longer hold back and burst into loud sobs.

Lu Yan felt as if a giant hand had seized his heart, squeezing it so hard he could barely breathe.

He had always seen her lively and fierce, full of energy—when had he ever seen her this fragile and helpless?

His eyes reddened with pain as he held her even tighter.

“Don’t be afraid. It’s all over now.” His voice was hoarse and low as he comforted her again and again.

“I’m here. From now on, I’ll always be here.”

Yu Qing’s tears soaked the front of his robe.

“But… but even though I was so scared…” her muffled voice came from his embrace.

“I kept telling myself I couldn’t die… because… because I believed you would definitely come to save me…”

His whole body shook, and his arms tightened around her instantly.

So when she had been at her most desperate, her trust in him had been one of the beliefs that kept her alive.

Lu Yan lowered his head and looked at the girl in his arms—her eyes red and swollen from crying, like a pitiful little rabbit. The emotions surging in his heart could no longer be restrained.

He slowly lifted her chin, the pad of his thumb gently wiping away the tear tracks on her cheeks.

“Fool.”

He murmured softly, his gaze deep as the sea, reflecting the image of her tearful eyes.

Yu Qing was so stunned by his look that she even forgot to cry.

She could only stare blankly as his handsome, cold face drew closer and closer.

Before she could react, Lu Yan had already lowered his head. With a hint of reverence and cherishing, he gently kissed her trembling, tear-stained lips.

It was an extremely gentle kiss, without the slightest aggression—only pure comfort and tenderness.

Yu Qing’s mind went completely blank.

The golden abacus slipped from her powerless hand.

The kiss seemed to last a long time, yet also only an instant.

When Lu Yan slowly pulled away, Yu Qing’s breathing had already fallen out of rhythm.

She looked at the man so close before her. There was still moisture in her eyes, making her appear confused and shy.

Lu Yan rested his forehead against hers. His deep eyes locked onto her as he spoke in a low, solemn voice.

“Qingqing, from now on, I’ll be the one who trusts you.”

Trust that you will always be safe.
Trust that I can protect you for a lifetime.

Meanwhile, in a side room on the other side of Wutong Courtyard, the atmosphere was completely different.

Su Hewan leaned against Shen Jue’s chest, still holding a sheet of rice paper filled with writing.

After waking up, she had relied on her memory to write down the entire sequence of events surrounding Consort Zhao’s case!

Not once did she spare even a fraction of attention for the man beside her.

She raised her head. Her rational, clear eyes were full of worry.

“Shen Jue, every step we take now is like walking a tightrope. Unknown history… is the most terrifying thing.”

“Wanwan.”

Shen Jue suddenly pulled the papers from her hands and casually tossed them onto the ground.

“What are you doing!” Su Hewan cried out.

“That took me forever to organize…”

“Don’t look at it. Look at me.”

Shen Jue cupped her face with both hands. In his narrow phoenix eyes surged an intensity of obsession and deep affection that was almost frightening.

“In those histories, there is no you. But in my future, there must be.”

Su Hewan froze.

She had grown used to examining this era with the eyes of a scholar, used to treating herself like an observer.

But Shen Jue’s words forcefully dragged her into the bustling world of mortal emotions.

“No matter who wants to harm you in the future, they’ll have to step over my corpse first,” Shen Jue said softly.

“I’m someone who crawled out of hell. I don’t care if I have to kill a few more people—even if it means bearing infamy for thousands of years.”

【You fool… who wants you to bear infamy… I just want you to be safe…】

Su Hewan’s inner voice softened like a pool of water.

She took the initiative to wrap her arms around Shen Jue’s lean waist, pressing her face against his chest and listening to the strong, steady beat of his heart.

“Shen Jue, I won’t look at history anymore,” she whispered.

“Because you’re right in front of me. You are my history.”

Shen Jue suddenly tightened his embrace, as if trying to meld her into his bones and blood.

He lowered his head, found her lips, and kissed them with near-reverence.

Outside the window, the sunlight was just right, spilling over the two figures locked in each other’s arms and painting the once-cold room in warm hues.

Three days later, in the backyard of Huaxiangrong.

Four people sat around a stone table. Exquisite pastries and tea were laid out on the table, but the atmosphere carried a subtle heaviness.

Yu Qing stood up with her arm in a sling, her expression solemn.

“I’ve made up my mind!”

Taking a deep breath, she swept her gaze across the other three.

“After getting captured by that crazy woman Zhao Jieyu this time and almost getting everyone killed, I’ve done some serious self-reflection!”

Su Hewan looked at her with concern. “Qingqing, it’s not your fault. Zhao Jieyu is deeply scheming…”

“No! It is my fault for being too weak!” Yu Qing interrupted, looking tragic.

“All I can do is act, cry, and cling to powerful people! I can’t do anything else! I’m useless! A burden!”

Lu Yan frowned and was about to speak, but Yu Qing raised a hand to stop him.

“Don’t talk! Let me finish!”

Yu Qing bit her lip, her eyes reddening slightly.

“I’ve thought it through. From now on, I’m going to learn martial arts too! I won’t cause trouble for you guys anymore!”

The air suddenly fell silent for a few seconds.

“Pfft—”

Shen Jue couldn’t hold it in and let out a very soft snort of laughter.

Elegantly lifting his teacup, he said casually, “Learn martial arts? With your ability to trip over your own feet while walking on flat ground?”

Lu Yan didn’t laugh, but there was helpless fondness in his eyes.

He reached out and gently pulled the agitated Yu Qing back onto the stone bench, carefully avoiding her injured arm.

“Who said you’re a burden?” Lu Yan said calmly.

“Exactly!” Yu Qing pouted.

“You guys can all fight and kill, and Wanwan is the brains of the group. But me…”

“You’re our mascot,” Su Hewan said with a smile, reaching out to pinch Yu Qing’s puffed-up cheek.

“Qingqing, you know what? If it weren’t for your optimism—if you weren’t always cracking jokes and lightening the mood—we would’ve gone crazy a long time ago.”

Shen Jue set down his teacup. For once he wasn’t being sharp-tongued, instead nodding thoughtfully.

“That’s true. Being able to joke around like that is also a kind of… talent.”

“Lord Shen, are you praising me or insulting me?” Yu Qing rolled her eyes.