It was nearly eleven o'clock when Bai Junfan brought Tang Yaxuan to the small courtyard. Yang Liu'er wasn't there. The main house was dark and silent; she must have gotten tired of waiting for Bai Junfan and gone back to the Lu Family's place.
A small lamp glowed under the eaves of the west wing, just bright enough to illuminate the courtyard path and scenery. Bai Junfan used his key to open the door to the main house and flicked on the light. The room was cozy and warm. The stove had been banked for the night, and a large kettle of hot water sat on top, a clear sign that Yang Liu'er hadn't been gone for long.
On the round table in the small living area, several dishes were covered with lids. Bai Junfan walked over and lifted them one by one. There were four dishes and a soup: sliced boiled chicken, braised "lion's head" meatballs, steamed sea bass, mapo tofu, and a stewed pigeon soup. The dishes looked tempting and smelled rich. He touched the edge of a plate; it was still warm.
