No Longer Escaping (ABO) - Chapter 18

On the way back, Yang Lulong noticed that Master Ma was acting differently. Everyone was boasting about their “achievements” from the night before, but Master Ma’s face was cold, and she didn’t say a word.

“You look like you have something on your mind,” Yang Lulong said, walking over to her and speaking in a low voice.

“It’s nothing,” she said, forcing a smile.

“Then… would you be able to attend my wedding?”

“Wedding…” Remembering the conversation from the night before, she felt a wave of sadness. “I don’t think so… I might not have time…”

“Mmm…” The rejection made Yang Lulong feel a little dejected. Maybe she had asked at the wrong time. She went back to the group awkwardly and didn’t mention it again to Master Ma.

When they returned to the agency, everyone received their pay and was all smiles. They had safely returned and received their wages for escorting valuable goods. The money was enough for them to live well for a while. Yang Lulong, in particular, was very happy, holding the heavy silver in her hands. She had to hurry and get things ready for the wedding. She wanted to get home as soon as possible, hoping that Wan Niang was no longer angry with her.

Just as she was about to leave, Master Ma called out to her and handed her another ten taels.

“What’s this?”

“I can’t attend your wedding, so this is a small gift.”

“But this is too much…”

“It’s not. It’s my good wishes and my apology.”

“Thank you, Master.”

Master Ma patted her on the shoulder with a smile. “You have to treasure her…”

“I will.”

Yang Lulong took the heavy silver and first found a craftsman to order a sedan chair. The most luxurious one cost fifty taels, and with only forty taels in her hands, she knew she couldn’t afford it. As she was debating whether to try to get more money or just buy a simple sedan chair, she had an idea. She used a small amount of money to buy some high-quality raw materials from the craftsman and ordered a normal sedan chair, planning to customize it herself later. With the sedan chair problem solved, she had plenty of money left for everything else.

She tried to bargain with the merchants like Xiao Wen did, but she was not as eloquent and failed every time. The prices didn’t go down a single coin, and one impatient merchant even threatened not to sell to her if she kept haggling. Frightened, Yang Lulong quickly bought the items at the original price. She was so persistent that one merchant thought she was really short on money and was about to give her a discount, but when he saw the silver in her hands as she paid, he immediately changed his attitude and even cursed her for being cheap.

She thought she would have some money left, but in the end, she only had twenty coins. She stood at the intersection of the market, wondering if she should just spend the twenty coins and be done with it.

Suddenly, she heard a clear melody. She followed the sound and saw an old man selling a small, wind instrument made of pottery called a Xun. She walked over curiously and asked the old man how to play it. The old man enthusiastically told her that if she bought a few, he would teach her how to play a few tunes.

Yang Lulong asked him how much one was. They were ten coins each, so she bought two.

Holding the round Xun in her hand, she followed the old man’s movements, covering and uncovering the round holes with her fingers. A clear and pleasant melody came out.

Standing at the familiar entrance of her home, Yang Lulong’s heart was a mix of emotions. She didn’t know how to propose to Wan Niang and was worried that Wan Niang was still angry with her. Taking a deep breath, she mustered up her courage and walked in.

As soon as she entered the house, she was greeted not by Wan Niang but by the little puppy. It didn’t seem to remember her and barked fiercely at her.

Wan Niang was in the courtyard, sun-drying herbs. When she heard the barking, she looked over to the door curiously. When she saw who it was, her heart filled with joy, and a smile appeared on her face. But then she remembered that she hadn’t forgiven her yet. She recalled Yang Lulong’s resolute departure, and her smile disappeared. She just glanced at her and then turned back to what she was doing.

“Wan Niang?” Yang Lulong called out her name.

She didn’t get a response. Yang Lulong thought she hadn’t heard her, so she called out again. Still, Wan Niang ignored her. Yang Lulong’s heart sank. She knew Wan Niang was still angry with her.

She put down her bags and walked over to Wan Niang.

“Wan Niang.”

Wan Niang’s back was to her. When she heard that Yang Lulong was right behind her, she continued to organize her things as if she wasn’t there.

“Wan Niang, I’m sorry.” Yang Lulong apologized. But Wan Niang acted as if she hadn’t heard her, continuing her work and picking up the basket to walk into the medical room.

The person behind her followed her like a shadow.

When Yang Lulong saw that Wan Niang still wouldn’t talk to her, she started to panic. She suddenly remembered the melody the old man had taught her. She took out the Xun and started to play.

A new melody filled the air, and Wan Niang became curious. What was she doing now? She finally decided to give her some attention.

Seeing that Wan Niang was willing to pay attention to her, Yang Lulong didn’t stop. She continued playing the fun and cute melody, which made the cold-faced Wan Niang smile.

Seeing that she had made her smile, Yang Lulong stopped. She was beaming.

“You… was this all for me?” Wan Niang’s face, now smiling, had a hint of helplessness as she looked at her goofy expression.

“Wait a moment.” Yang Lulong gave her a little suspense. She ran back into the courtyard and took out a package from her bags. Inside were beautiful, unmade red fabrics. She draped them over Wan Niang.

“?” Wan Niang looked at the luxurious fabric on her. It felt very smooth. It must have been the best material.

“Wan Yu, will you marry me?”

Wan Niang looked at her in disbelief. She heard the words come out of her mouth, and she finally understood why Yang Lulong needed so much money.

Yang Lulong pursed her lips and stared at her, waiting for her answer. Her heart was in a state of chaos. But Wan Niang didn’t speak for a long time, and she became even more nervous. Sweat trickled down her face, and it turned beet red.

After a long time, Wan Niang suddenly hugged her.

“Wan Niang?” Yang Lulong didn’t know if that meant yes or no.

“Promise me you won’t do anything so dangerous again.”

“Hmm?”

Wan Niang looked up from her arms and met her eyes. “If you promise me, I’ll say yes.”

“…” She quickly nodded. “Mmm… I won’t do it again.”

The two of them began to organize the things Yang Lulong had bought. After being apart for so long, Yang Lulong became very talkative. She spoke about her journey, how she had bargained with the merchants, and how the old man had taught her to play the Xun.

“Do you want me to teach you later?” she asked Wan Niang happily.

“Mmm.”

That night, the two of them sat on the bed. Yang Lulong handed Wan Niang the other Xun and showed her how to use it.

Wan Niang learned seriously with her. The sounds of the two Xuns, one high and one low, played the same melody in perfect harmony.