Leonard Li Visits

Lily Evans lowered her head and gazed at the three wooden dolls in her hands. The female doll was carved in her likeness—anyone could see the care put into it. The male doll resembled Lucky, and the little chubby one, dressed in a bellyband, was adorably plump.

Lily Evans gently stroked the wooden dolls with her fingers. Suddenly, her nose tingled and her eyes reddened.

“Don’t you like them, my dear?” Lucky’s voice floated above her, full of uncertainty.

“I love them, I really do! From now on, these three dolls will sit in our room so I can look at them every day.” Lily Evans smiled and looked up.

Lucky scratched his head and gave a slightly bashful smile.

Lily Evans noticed his injured hand and pulled it over for a closer look. There were several scratches on his fingers from the wood. “How did you hurt your hand?”

“Ah, it’s my own fault for being clumsy. I hurt myself while carving the dolls.” Lucky grinned and squeezed Lily Evans’s hand. “It’s fine, my dear, it doesn’t hurt.”

“Silly…” Lily Evans sniffled and gently poked Lucky’s cheek. “Go get the medicine, I’ll put it on for you.”

Lucky scampered off to fetch the medicine. Cynthia Wu watched and sighed, “Lily, you really do worry too much.”

Lily Evans gave a wry smile. Everyone thought Lucky was a purchased live-in son-in-law, but she still remembered the way Lucky first appeared at her door. His clothes were filthy and stained with blood, but was that really fabric a commoner could afford?

Lily Evans had always known in her heart that Lucky’s identity was anything but ordinary—she just didn’t want to dwell on it.

Lucky returned with the medicine, and Lily Evans carefully applied it to his hand, reminding him not to get his hand wet for the next few days. Lucky nodded obediently.

At that moment, April came in to report, “Madam, Mr. Lawrence has arrived.”

In the hall, Leonard Li still looked as flamboyant as ever, lounging around with a grin. Behind him stood an elderly maid.

The moment Leonard Li saw Lily Evans, his eyes lit up and he jumped to his feet. “Lily, long time no see!”

Lily Evans sized him up and down. He still looked as carefree as ever, but it was odd—Leonard Li never brought servants with him, yet today he’d come with an old maid.

Lily Evans smiled. “Mr. Lawrence, you’ve been missing for ages! I thought you’d miss the grand opening of the Vegetarian Bistro.”

Leonard Li laughed, “I had business in the capital and had to go back for a while. But for your Vegetarian Bistro’s opening, I rushed back overnight—my backside is still sore from the carriage ride!”

Lily Evans couldn’t help but laugh—he was still as incorrigible as ever.

“What happened in the capital that made you rush back so urgently?” Lily Evans was curious—what could possibly make this carefree young master hurry home?

"Nothing much, just went to the palace for a look." Leonard Li winked and glanced behind him. "Where's Lucky? Haven't seen him around."

Lily Evans stood up. "Lucky's at home. I'll go fetch him for you."

Lily Evans called Lucky over. Leonard Li cheerfully patted Lucky on the shoulder and winked, "Lucky, brother, long time no see!"

Then he had the elderly maid set out the pastries he'd brought. "Lily, Lucky, these are special treats I brought from the Imperial Kitchen. You won't find them anywhere else—give them a try!"

Lily Evans saw how exquisite the pastries were—she’d never tasted anything from the Imperial Kitchen before, and was eager to try these ancient royal delicacies.

She picked up a piece of cake and tasted it. Lily Evans couldn’t help but praise it, and Lucky tried one as well, exclaiming, "Darling, this is delicious!"

As he spoke, Lucky held the pastry to Lily Evans’s lips. She took a bite, but found the taste rather gamey. She wasn’t used to it and waved her hand, saying, "Lucky, this is way too gamey for me. You have it."

Leonard Li smiled as he watched Lucky. "Lucky, the treat you like is called Imperial Lamb Pudding. It’s made from fresh sheep’s milk and lamb, so it’s got that gamey flavor. Most folks aren’t used to it. But General Alexander Hayes spent years fighting in the northwest and absolutely loves this Imperial Lamb Pudding."