Chapter 151: Beneath the Moon
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(Note: Added some details of dinner.)
The meal at Aunty Zhou's table ended long after the clock over her stove struck nine. By then the soup bowls were empty, the mantou basket lay on its side like a toppled tower, and even the tiny crumbs had been swept up by Auri's diligent beak.
The Emberling phoenix‑sparrow now sat on the rim of the teapot, eyes half‑closed, chest feathers glowing a restful ember‑orange.
Kent leaned back, fingers cradling a warm porcelain cup. The oolong inside had cooled, leaving a faint skin on top, yet he still breathed in the spent fragrance as if it were the final comfort he needed to swallow.
On the far side of the table Nima licked sweet soy sauce from her thumb, cheeks plump and eyes soft with sleepy satisfaction. Xian Yu finished the last spoonful of broth in slow deliberate sips, each sip followed by the faint clink of his spoon against the patterned bowl.
