"Don't tell me we're 'leaving later' again?"
"Not this time." He paused, the corner of his mouth curling up. "We'll leave tomorrow morning after watching the sunrise over Qiaodong."
Su Wanwan: "..."
Sun Wukong laughed so hard he nearly squatted down.
"Chu Yang!"
"Fine, fine, no sunrise." Chu Yang finally laughed aloud. "We'll come back to sleep after our late-night snack, then leave normally tomorrow morning."
Only then did Su Wanwan reluctantly believe him, though she still could not help glaring at him.
By the time the group left the inn, the city night was at its finest.
The rain-washed bluestone streets reflected the lantern light. The stalls by the bridge steamed warmly, and pots of glutinous rice balls bubbled away. The sweet fragrance of fermented rice wine mingled with the savory aroma of meat wontons, warmly washing over people's faces. The river flowed slowly beneath the bridge, stretching the lantern reflections from both banks into strips of shattered gold. Now and then, a night breeze drifted by, making the lanterns sway softly.
Sun Wukong darted ahead fastest and had already claimed the best table beside a stall.
Tang Monk was invited to sit on the inner side, and the owner specially served him a bowl of the clearest vegetarian noodle soup.
White Dragon Horse and White Donkey were tethered beneath a willow tree by the bridge, with the waiter placing two bundles of fresh fodder before them.
Chu Yang stood at the bridgehead and glanced sideways at Su Wanwan. "What are you standing there for? Come here."
Su Wanwan came back to herself and walked over to him.
The wind beneath the bridge was cool, stirring the hair at her temples. Standing there, she suddenly felt that the anxiety of the past few days had been like a stifling