AUBTN -Chapter 80 The Girl at the End of the Long Street

Lu Yan stood frozen in the shadows of the long street, clad in his Flying Fish uniform, now seemingly soaked through with the chill of the night.

His fingers tightened inch by inch around the hilt of his embroidered spring knife.

The girl stood in the light.

She looked like a colorful glutinous rice ball accidentally dropped into a black-and-white painting—vivid, alive, almost painfully radiant with energy.

Lu Yan had lived twenty-three years, grown accustomed to scheming, witnessed rivers of blood, learned to walk alone in darkness, and gotten used to the looks of awe, fear, and disdain from others.

But never had anyone, in such a late hour, stood at the end of a street, holding a lamp and a stick of candied fruit, smiling and waiting for him.

For a moment, Lu Yan felt as though a beam of light had, without reason, brazenly illuminated the shadowed corner of his heart.

“Master Lu! Lu Yan! Are you back to your senses?”

Seeing him unmoving for a long while, Yu Qing stomped her foot and, lifting her skirt, dashed lightly in front of him.

She brought her soft, pale face close, her almond-shaped eyes wide with curiosity. “What’s wrong? Are you daft? Why are you standing here like a wooden post?”

Lu Yan’s Adam’s apple moved slightly; his voice came out hoarse: “N-nothing…”

He tried desperately to maintain the usual cold authority of the Commander of the Jinyiweis, but his gaze couldn’t tear itself away from her face. “Why… are you still here?”

“Because I’m hungry!”

Yu Qing answered matter-of-factly, then pressed the candied hawthorn into his hand and used her free hand to tug at his sleeve.

“Your subordinates are completely unreliable—couldn’t even give proper directions. But the watchman said there’s a wonton stall around the corner that’s been here for decades, with daily-fresh chicken broth! I was going to go by myself, but thinking you’ve been inside so long, you probably haven’t eaten… so I thought I’d stay here and do some humanitarian work waiting for you!”

Chattering away, she naturally grabbed his wrist.

“Come on, hurry! Or they’ll close up!” Yu Qing didn’t give him a chance to refuse, dragging the dignified Commander of the Jinyiweis down the streets of the capital at a mad run.

The night wind howled past—but it no longer bit.

Lu Yan ran along, passively pulled by her, watching the pink figure ahead, watching her hair flutter with each stride, and suddenly, the hard, iron-like part of his heart melted into a mess, as if something had filled it, swelling until it ached with a strange soreness.

【Oh my gosh, I’m exhausted.】

Suddenly, that familiar inner voice entered Lu Yan’s ears without warning.

He paused mid-step, then couldn’t help but smile.

【Judging by how miserable he looks, his dad must’ve scolded him.】

【Poor thing… all grown up and still getting lectures. Must be about those ridiculous matters: rushed marriage, power struggles, wealthy family grudges… I get it, it’s all the same in melodramas.】

【At times like this, I generously take him to eat well—turn grief into appetite!】

【There’s nothing a bowl of wontons can’t fix. If there is, make it two bowls!】

Listening to this inner commentary, the weight of his chest, which had been so heavy, miraculously eased by more than half.

He looked at the back of Yu Qing’s head, a hint of helplessness flickering in his eyes, mixed with indulgence and tenderness he hadn’t even realized he was capable of.

She understood.

Underneath all her seemingly carefree clamoring, she was, in her own clumsy way, comforting him.

Turning two street corners, they finally reached a small stall with a sign reading Zhang’s Wontons.

Steam curled in the yellow lamplight, carrying the tempting aroma of rich bone broth.

The stall was run by an elderly couple, who greeted them warmly as they approached.

“Boss! Two bowls of fresh pork wontons! Extra dried shrimp and seaweed! And chili oil, please!”

Yu Qing, familiar with the place, settled at a small square table, patting the long bench beside her. She waved at Lu Yan: “Master Lu, sit! Don’t be so stiff—there’s no one else here!”

Lu Yan looked at the greasy table and hesitated for a moment, then still lifted the hem of his flying fish robe and sat down across from her.

Yu Qing smiled and pulled a pair of chopsticks from the holder. She carefully wiped them with her handkerchief and handed them to Lu Yan.

“Here, clean ones.”

Lu Yan took the chopsticks and, looking into her bright eyes, said softly, “Thank you.”

Before long, two steaming bowls of wontons were brought over.

Yu Qing eagerly scooped one up, blew on it, and bit into it. The heat made her inhale sharply, but her face was full of satisfaction.

【Mmm, so delicious! This is the joy of carbs!】

【Poor Lu Yan, he probably hasn’t had a hot cup of tea at the Lu residence, right? Look at how thin he is… although, hmm, those abs feel nice… ah! What am I thinking, such naughty thoughts!】

【Eat quickly, eat quickly. Once you’re full, you won’t feel sad anymore. Big sister’s got you covered!】

The wonton Lu Yan had just put in his mouth nearly shot out.

He coughed violently twice, and a suspicious blush crept up his ears.

Abs? Feels nice?

What on earth is this woman thinking in her head?

“Are you okay? Choked?” Yu Qing asked, concern written all over her face, even reaching out as if to pat his back.

“Eat slower. No one’s taking it from you. If it’s not enough, I’ll give you my bowl!”

Lu Yan raised his hand to stop her, took a deep breath, and calmed himself.

He lifted his head and looked at Yu Qing deeply.

Steam hung in the air, blurring the girl’s features, but making the warmth even more tangible.

“Yu Qing.”

“Hm? What’s up?” Yu Qing’s cheeks puffed out like a little hamster.

“If…,” Lu Yan paused, his voice low and earnest, “if you want to eat this in the future, I’ll come with you.”

No matter how late, no matter how far.

Yu Qing was momentarily stunned, then her eyes curved into a smile as radiant as flowers. “Okay! But you said it! Pinky swear—one hundred years, no backing out! This meal’s on you!”

【Hehe, long-term meal ticket secured!】

Lu Yan looked at her outstretched pinky, a childish gesture.

Yet, almost instinctively, he reached out his hand and hooked her delicate finger.

“Alright, it’s on me.”

The night in Yuyuan was quiet, almost luxuriously so.

This mansion was truly the private residence of Eastern Depot Overseer Shen Jue, with every brick and tile meticulously crafted.

And at this moment, in the originally silent estate, Su Hewan’s presence had caused the servants’ whispers to grow gradually.

“Hey, have you heard? A young lady has moved into Wutong Court!”

Aunt Zhang in the back kitchen poured Biluochun tea while lowering her voice to the maid Cui’er beside her.

“Why didn’t I hear! That was personally brought back by the Overseer himself!” Cui’er’s eyes widened, full of gossip.

“I’ve been in this mansion for so many years, and aside from our Overseer, not even a single female mosquito has ever flown in. This is unprecedented!”

“No kidding!” a passing footman chimed in.