Bai Yueru pulled Lu Tingting away, practically fleeing in disgrace.
Their backs were nothing like the graceful, composed figures they were when they arrived—now they were only full of embarrassment.
Lin Nian watched them disappear into the night, feeling unspeakably satisfied. The frustration that had been building up for days seemed to dissipate a little.
She picked up her spoon again, ready to continue serving customers, and the smile on her face was more genuine now.
But before her smile could fully bloom, it froze.
A tall, straight figure was walking through the crowd toward her stall—step by step.
It was Lu Tingchuan.
Lin Nian’s stomach dropped heavily. Her mood, which had just recovered, instantly plummeted to rock bottom.
Why was he here?
Just now… did he see everything?
Was he here to stand up for his white moonlight and his dear little sister?
Lin Nian subconsciously tightened her grip on the ladle, every muscle in her body tensing like a hedgehog ready to fight at any moment.
The diners and vendors around them also noticed this living storm approaching.
“It’s Captain Lu!”
“Why is he heading to Lin’s food stall?”
“It’s over, it’s over. Doctor Bai and Captain Lu’s sister stormed off from her stall just now. He must be here to settle the score!”
“This Boss Lin really… of all people she could’ve offended, she offended the two women closest to Captain Lu.”
“There’s going to be a show tonight…”
The discussions weren’t loud, but every word drifted clearly into Lin Nian’s ears.
She took a deep breath, lifted her head, and stared coldly at Lu Tingchuan as he approached.
Come on, then.
She wanted to see what he planned to do.
Worst case, she’d close the stall.
She only had one lousy life—was she supposed to be afraid of a military captain?
Meanwhile, in the distance, Bai Yueru and Lu Tingting, who had just left, also stopped walking.
They saw Lu Tingchuan.
“Brother!” Lu Tingting’s eyes lit up as if she’d seen a savior. She tried to run toward him.
But Bai Yueru grabbed her, shook her head, then tidied up her expression. Tears welled instantly, and her face turned into one of pitiful, fragile grievance.
She walked toward Lu Tingchuan with delicate steps, her voice soft and trembling with a hint of sobbing.
“Tingchuan… why… why are you here?”
Anyone looking at her would think she had been bullied and was now turning to her protector.
Lu Tingting immediately followed her lead, eyes turning red as she complained, “Brother! You don’t even know how arrogant that woman was! She—”
But Lu Tingchuan didn’t stop walking.
He didn’t even glance at Bai Yueru.
His deep gaze stayed locked on the woman behind the food stall—the one holding a ladle, watching him warily.
He walked right past Bai Yueru without so much as a sideways look.
Bai Yueru’s outstretched hand froze in midair.
Her pitiful expression stiffened instantly.
What was happening?
Did he not see her?
Everyone held their breath.
They watched as Lu Tingchuan walked up to Lin Nian’s stall and stopped.
His tall figure completely blocked the light, casting her entirely in his shadow.
The oppressive aura hit her like a wave.
Lin Nian’s heart jumped to her throat.
The corner of Bai Yueru’s lips curved in a triumphant cold smile.
She knew it—her Tingchuan still cared about her.
He must be going over to warn that ignorant, arrogant village woman!
But then—
Something no one expected happened.
Lu Tingchuan didn’t say a single word to Lin Nian.
He slowly turned around. The face that was always cold as ice now looked like it was covered in frost sharp enough to kill.
His eyes—two blades of frozen steel—shot straight at Bai Yueru, who was frozen in place.
Then his thin lips parted.
He spoke two words.
The voice wasn’t loud, but in the quiet night market, it was like thunder exploding.
“Get out.”
What?
Get out?!
Time seemed to freeze.
The customers in line were stunned.
The vendors were stunned.
Lu Tingting was stunned.
Even Lin Nian—who had been bracing herself for a storm—was completely stunned.
She… she didn’t mishear, right?
Lu Tingchuan told Bai Yueru… to get out?
All the color drained from Bai Yueru’s face in an instant.
She looked at Lu Tingchuan in disbelief. Her beautiful eyes filled with tears, her voice shaking.
“Tingchuan… what… what did you say?”
She must have heard wrong.
How could he… how could he tell her to get out in front of so many people?
Lu Tingchuan’s expression didn’t shift at all. To him, this pitiful woman before him seemed no more than an insignificant obstacle.
He didn’t bother repeating himself.
He simply gave her a cold glance—filled with disgust and impatience—so obvious, so completely unhidden.
That single glance was more brutal than any cruel words.
It was like a poisoned dagger stabbing straight into her heart, shredding all her pride and dignity.
“Ah—!”
Bai Yueru couldn’t take it anymore. Covering her face, she let out a wretched cry and ran into the darkness.
“Sister Yueru!” Lu Tingting screamed, shooting a hateful glare at Lu Tingchuan and Lin Nian before running after her.
A confrontation that had been ready to explode ended in the most unexpected, dramatic way.
The entire night market fell silent.
All eyes focused on Lu Tingchuan and Lin Nian.
Lin Nian stood frozen, her mind in chaos.
What… what on earth was happening?
Wasn’t the story supposed to say that Lu Tingchuan adored Bai Yueru, obeyed her every word?
Wasn’t she supposed to be his heart’s cinnabar mole—his untouchable reverse scale?
But just now… he publicly humiliated her? For Lin Nian?
Was something wrong with this world?
Or… was the book she awakened into actually a pirated copy?