Arriving at the Ban Yan Temple dining hall, some people had already finished breakfast and left. There weren’t many people inside at the moment. After they sat down, Tushere immediately fetched some vegetarian food, which was just a few steamed buns, a few bowls of thin porridge, and some water-boiled vegetables.
Everyone sat down and began to eat individually.
While Shang Ruyi focused on eating, she couldn’t help but look up at Yu Wenye, who was sitting opposite her.
At this moment, he was still handsome and full of energy. However, he was entirely unlike the demeanor he had in the room earlier; it seemed as though he was a different person, chatting seriously with the monk beside him.
Looking at his polite appearance now, who would have thought that last night he was like a hungry Fierce Beast that hadn’t relented no matter how much she pleaded, cried out, or even emotionally broke down several times under him.
For a moment, she even felt that she might die in this solemn Buddhist Temple due to this desecration of God Buddha.
Thinking about it, just then, Yu Wenye turned his head to look at her, their gaze met, and Shang Ruyi couldn’t help but blush slightly, quickly lowering her head.
Yu Wenye curled his lips into a faint smile.
Before long, after finishing breakfast, they returned to their room to pack up and prepare to leave. As they were about to depart, Shang Ruyi inadvertently saw Yu Wenye give some money to the monk again.
While descending the mountain, she walked to Yu Wenye’s side and asked softly, "Why did you give them money?"
Yu Wenye looked down at her, a smile lingering at the corner of his eyes.
"Compensation? What compensation? Did we break anything of theirs?"
"Not really broken, but rather soiled their blankets."
Suddenly, Shang Ruyi understood and immediately felt her face burn with embarrassment. She glared at him and said nothing more.
Shortly, they reached the foot of the mountain, where yesterday’s boat awaited them at the dock. Yu Wenye stepped forward but didn’t get on the boat immediately; instead, he turned around and extended his hand to Shang Ruyi.
Shang Ruyi felt her face redden again but obediently reached out to hold his hand, following him onto the boat together.
Once everyone boarded and settled down, the boatman propped the stone jetty with a bamboo pole, and the boat wobbled off the shore, heading towards the opposite bank. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ NoveI-Fire.ɴet
Even though her mood had been good earlier, once seated on the boat, Shang Ruyi’s breath involuntarily tensed up again, especially sensing a damp, cold wind blow through, nearly penetrating her skin and bones, bringing an uncontrollable shiver, and her face turned pale.
At that moment, a hand reached out, gently embracing her.
Shang Ruyi looked up into those gentle eyes, only to see Yu Wenye gazing down at her—since boarding, his gaze seemed to never leave her. At this moment, he softly said, "If you’re scared, just close your eyes. I’m here anyway."
These four words seemed to instantly dispel that coldness which came from nowhere, leaving Shang Ruyi a bit lost as she gazed at him.
After a while, she nodded and closed her eyes.
As soon as she closed her eyes, the familiar panic almost immediately shadowed her, but this time, there was a powerful presence beside her. His breath, even though intangible, seemed to tangibly envelop her surroundings, preventing her from falling into boundless darkness.
Shang Ruyi gently exhaled, and a slight smile slowly appeared on her face.
After a tiring boat ride, they finally returned to the Eastern Capital in the afternoon.
Upon entering the city, they found many people leaving the city, causing a traffic jam outside for nearly half an hour. Only when the guards realized it was the Great General’s carriage did they clear the road and let them enter the city first.
Back home, it was already past afternoon.
Everyone naturally got busy again. Fortunately, Wo Xue and Chang Wan were home, having already prepared the rooms. The two of them each washed up briefly and returned to the room. The kitchen also delivered lunch, which was a table full of rich and sumptuous dishes.
Shang Ruyi sat down and upon seeing remarked, "We had such a light breakfast this morning, and now it’s so lavish at noon."
Yu Wenye said, "Making it up to you."
He could see she was a woman who enjoyed rich flavors of wine and meat. From yesterday’s vegetarian meal till today, it was indeed difficult for her, and naturally for himself as well, so coming back it’s only right to compensate for the blandness of more than half a day.
Thus, the two happily finished this lunch.
After they finished eating, Wo Xue and the others immediately came in to tidy up the dishes, and Tushere brought hot tea again. Shang Ruyi had just taken a sip when she felt a wave of fatigue, involuntarily yawning.