Chapter 381: No Need to Repay My Kindness
Yu Luo’s sincerity was written all over her face. A’Bai knew that she was genuinely concerned for him, but how could he possibly accept her offer?
“Xiao Luo, I don’t need this money. You don’t have to say anything more. I know my situation isn’t easy, but I don’t fight for power, and I don’t seek trouble. I won’t be in danger.”
Seeing how firm A’Bai was, Yu Luo had no choice but to put the gold notes away.
Now that she thought about it, her actions were indeed a bit reckless. After all, A’Bai was a man, and accepting money from her wasn’t appropriate—not even between friends.
“Alright, let’s drop it then.” She looked around and changed the subject. “No one’s been maintaining this courtyard, huh? Look at all these fallen leaves—it’s piling up thick.”
Yu Luo and A’Bai’s friendship had been purely accidental.
Back then, the original Yu Luo had secretly left the Marquis’ residence to sell embroidery. Since she feared being recognized in the inner city, she always went to the outer city instead.
One time, she was being harassed by some thugs, and A’Bai stepped in to help—only to end up getting beaten himself.
The original Yu Luo dragged him away, and he got injured in the process. She felt guilty and took care of him, and that was how their friendship was formed.
“This courtyard was bought by my mother a long time ago,” A’Bai said softly. “Even after she entered the palace, she never sold it. When I miss her, I come back here.”
His eyes were already filled with deep sorrow.
Yu Luo gently patted his shoulder, her voice soft and comforting.
“I believe Aunt Xue is watching over you from the heavens. It’s natural to feel sad, but life must go on. Remember, she brought you to the capital because she wanted you to live well.”
“Yeah… I never understood why she insisted on coming to the capital or why she sold everything we had in Jiangnan. Now, I finally realize… she knew she didn’t have much time left.”
A’Bai clenched his fists.
“She kept my identity a secret for so many years. Back then, I didn’t understand why… but now I do. She was protecting me.”
They left the courtyard together and returned to the capital.
Before they parted ways, A’Bai asked where Yu Luo was staying, but she refused to tell him.
“You shouldn’t be in contact with me too much,” she warned. “Your brothers are probably looking for any excuse to bring you down. And now, with your father gravely ill, you have no one to support you.”
A’Bai fell silent.
“Just focus on surviving,” she continued. “Don’t worry about me. We’re doing really well in the frontier. You can visit me in Luo City someday… just make sure you go in early summer or autumn. The weather is awful otherwise, and you’ll suffer on the journey.”
A’Bai couldn’t help but chuckle at her playful tone.
He gazed into her eyes, a warm smile appearing on his lips.
“In this world… I don’t have much to hold onto.” His voice softened. “Only you.”
There were so many things he wanted to say, but the words got stuck in his throat.
Right now, there was no point in saying them—he needed to grow stronger first.
But Yu Luo didn’t understand the hidden emotions behind his words. She just assumed that she was his only friend in the capital.
Even though a small part of her felt reluctant to leave, she still waved him goodbye, smiling freely.
A’Bai watched her figure disappear into the distance.
She looked exactly like she did in his memories, but somehow… it felt like she had changed completely.
She walked with confidence now, no longer the timid girl she used to be.
Seeing this version of Yu Luo, A’Bai finally felt at ease.
But he would go to the frontier one day.
And when that day came, he hoped he could bring her back—along with her parents, whom she still worried about.
*
Yu Luo made her way through the capital, retracing her steps back to the small alleyway near Golden Moon Pavilion.
But just as she stepped into the alley—
A black figure landed in front of her, blocking her path!
Startled, Yu Luo looked up.
It was a stranger’s face. Immediately, her guard went up.
“Miss, our Third Prince would like to see you.”
The Third Prince?
At those words, a familiar face popped into Yu Luo’s mind—the handsome man who kept calling her ‘wife’ back in Feng City.
She narrowed her eyes and let out a mocking chuckle.
“Your master has some skills, doesn’t he? How did he follow me all the way here?”
“You misunderstand, Miss,” the guard explained. “His Highness’ carriage happened to pass by this alley, and he saw you by coincidence.”
A coincidence?
Yu Luo suddenly thought back to Golden Moon Pavilion earlier—when the Third Prince appeared with Chi Jinchen.
That means… the Third Prince was probably dropping off Chi Jinchen, which is why he passed by this alley.
So those two are actually close?
Yu Luo turned her head and, sure enough, spotted a low-profile carriage parked at the end of the alley.
She didn’t hesitate.
Without another word, she walked straight toward it.
Just as she reached the carriage, the curtain was lifted, and a familiar gentle voice came from within—
“Wife, what are you waiting for?”
Yu Luo: …
The moment she heard that word, goosebumps covered her entire body.
She had planned to speak properly with him, but now? Absolutely not.
“Ah,” she said coolly, “so the Third Prince has mistaken me for someone else. In that case, I definitely shouldn’t be getting in this carriage. Your Highness, I’ll be taking my leave.”
Without waiting for a response, she turned to walk away.
But before she could take another step—
A gust of wind swept past her, and in an instant—Yu Luo was lifted off the ground!
When she came back to her senses, she was already inside the carriage!
The interior was dimly lit, much darker than Chi Jinchen’s carriage from earlier.
But thanks to her own internal energy, Yu Luo quickly adjusted and saw the playful smirk on the man’s face.
She immediately scooted away, creating as much distance as possible.
Then, keeping her voice steady, she spoke.
“Your Highness,” she said coldly, “you don’t seem sick at all. If that’s the case, why are you calling me ‘wife’?”
Her expression was deadly serious.
The Third Prince’s smile deepened.
“Hah,” he chuckled. “They say a life-saving debt must be repaid with one’s body—so what I’m doing is simply repaying your kindness.”
Yu Luo let out a short laugh.
“In that case, no need.”
Her tone was mocking.
“A noble prince like you is far above my status,” she said, smiling thinly.
“But let’s get to the point, Your Highness. Why did you bring me here?”
Seeing that she wasn’t playing along, the Third Prince’s expression grew serious.
“You,” he said, “why did you return to the capital?”
His eyes narrowed slightly.
“Aren’t you afraid of running into someone who recognizes you?”
Yu Luo’s lips curled into a smirk.
“So,” she said smoothly, “after leaving the frontier, Your Highness has been keeping tabs on me?”
“Of course,” he replied, completely unashamed.
“After all,” he said lightly, “you’re my life-saving benefactor. I simply wanted to investigate my future wife’s background properly before choosing a date to return the favor.”
