Chapter Eighty-Seven

Arthur adorned Shadowmoon with a jade hairpin, helped her into crystal shoes, and took her right hand as he led her to the mirror.

Shadowmoon looked at her reflection, her eyes and brows curved with a smile. Then she glanced at Arthur in the glass and said softly, “It’s beautiful. I love it.”

Arthur drew her into his arms and rested his chin on her shoulder. In her ear, he whispered, “Lanyan, I’m sorry. I can’t go with you.”

And even more sorry than that: I still cannot make our relationship known.

At this, Shadowmoon laughed. “Of course you can’t go with me. I already promised to be Yu’s companion. If you came, wouldn’t he be left without one? Or do you want to invite another lady to be yours?” she said, mock-threatening him, and pinched the back of his hand.

“Heh. My Lanyan, of course I won’t go to the banquet with any other woman,” Arthur said. When he finished, he bit lightly at her neck, then turned her around before she could react and bent down to kiss her.

Lanyan, my Lanyan. Arthur called her name in his heart as he kissed her with abandon, as though he meant to use that kiss to melt her into his very flesh and blood.

Lanyan, whatever happens, you must remember: your heart has already been given to me, and can belong only to me. No one else is allowed to have it.

“Lanyan, I think you should reveal at the banquet that you are the president of Bluetear. In the past, you kept it quiet to avoid trouble. But look— even if you don’t announce it, there are still people coming to trouble you. Better to make it public; that way, it will also give those who mean mischief something to fear.”

Listening to Arthur, Shadowmoon felt that he had a point. Trouble would always find those it wished to target. Since that was so, announcing her identity as president would no doubt add another layer of protection around her.

“Mm, all right. We’ll do it your way,” Shadowmoon said with a smile. She buried her face in Arthur’s neck and wrapped her arms tightly around his waist.

“Lanyan, there’s something else.”

“What is it?” Shadowmoon asked, her voice muffled against his neck.

“Day after tomorrow, after the banquet, let’s go skiing in Switzerland.”

“Skiing in Switzerland?” Shadowmoon lifted her head at once and looked at Arthur in surprise. “Haven’t you been terribly busy lately?”

Arthur smiled and stroked her hair. “Fool. No matter how busy I am, I still have to make time for you.”

In truth, I want to seize every second I can spend with you, because I’m afraid—afraid that one day, without warning, I’ll lose you.

Shadowmoon knew nothing of his thoughts and only smiled with childlike delight. “All right.”

The next night, at Lilith Castle.

“Shadowmoon, I’m here to pick you up.” As soon as Xiahou Yu entered the castle, he began calling for her. This usually taciturn man only ever smiled so freely and unguardedly in front of Shadowmoon and Arthur.

“Mm, I’m coming now.” Arthur took Shadowmoon by the hand and led her downstairs.

A flash of violet light struck like a meteor and fixed Xiahou Yu in place.

He stared blankly at Shadowmoon, his expression full of amazement, and there was also a glimmer that even he himself did not understand.

Arthur led Shadowmoon up to Xiahou Yu and placed her hand in his.

“Yu, I’m leaving Shadowmoon in your care. Take good care of her.”

Xiahou Yu mechanically took Shadowmoon’s hand and said nothing. Arthur looked at him in exasperation and suddenly slapped the back of his head.

“Ow, that hurts. What are you hitting me for?” Xiahou Yu glared at Arthur in anger, very much as though, unless he explained himself properly, the matter would never be settled.

Shadowmoon laughed despite herself. “Yu, come back to your senses.”

With a loud thump, Xiahou Yu’s face went crimson. He said somewhat awkwardly, “What are you saying? Haven’t I always been right here in front of you?”

“Mm, yes, yes, you’ve always been here,” Shadowmoon said helplessly, shaking her head with a smile.

Arthur gave Xiahou Yu’s shoulder a heavy pat and looked at him meaningfully, his eyes conveying a message only the two of them understood.

Xiahou Yu’s expression turned solemn, and he finally nodded with grave seriousness.

Shadowmoon looked at the two of them in confusion. “What secret code are you two using?”

“Heh, nothing. Arthur just told me to take good care of you,” Xiahou Yu said with a hearty laugh.

“Oh. Then let’s go. Arthur, remember to get everything ready,” Shadowmoon said. She kissed Arthur on the cheek, smiling, then slipped her right hand into Xiahou Yu’s arm and headed for the banquet hall.

From a distance came the sound of Xiahou Yu and Shadowmoon speaking.

“Shadowmoon, what are you getting ready?”

“Oh, after the banquet we’re going skiing in Switzerland.”

“Oh? Such a good thing, and you didn’t even invite me?”

“What would we invite you for? We’re going on a date, all right?”

“But—”

Their voices grew fainter and fainter, until they could no longer be heard. Arthur gazed in the direction Shadowmoon had gone, his heart filled with longing and reluctance.

Lanyan, my Lanyan...

In the car, Shadowmoon asked Xiahou Yu about the banquet.

“Yu, who is hosting it this time? Who’s invited? What’s the purpose of the banquet?”

“This banquet is being hosted by Mr. Sistley, the president of the Sistley Group. He plans to invest in undersea energy, and this banquet is being held so he can choose a business partner. In order to select the most suitable one, he has gathered famous figures and wealthy merchants from all over the world.”

“I see. So are we planning to compete for this partnership?”

“Heh, of course.” Xiahou Yu smiled, full of confidence and determination.

The Royal Banquet Hall in England was a gathering place for luxury cars and prominent figures.

One understated yet opulent sedan after another pulled up in sequence before the hall, and one after another, people descended from them dressed in noble finery and splendor, men and women alike.

A black Cadillac slowly stopped at the entrance. Xiahou Yu stepped out with grace, then reached a hand back into the car and helped Shadowmoon out.

How exquisite, how beautiful she is!

Those who had just gotten out of their cars, and those who had not yet entered the banquet hall, all exclaimed in admiration at the sight of Shadowmoon. Their eyes lingered on her for a long while, unable to look away, and only when she entered the hall did they recover themselves—yet by then, where was that delicate figure to be seen?

At that moment, one question filled everyone’s mind: who was that girl?

Shadowmoon and Xiahou Yu entered the banquet hall, where people were chatting in small groups. Xiahou Yu took a glass of wine, Shadowmoon a glass of juice, and they stood aside waiting for the host, Mr. Sistley, to announce the start of the banquet.

Although Shadowmoon and Xiahou Yu were standing in a corner, they still could not escape the sweep of curious eyes. In the short time they had been inside, countless glances had already passed over them—some admiring, some envious, and inevitably, some jealous.

Indeed, one young lady had already cast several fierce looks at Shadowmoon.

“Who is that woman? Why is she standing beside my Prince Charming, Xiahou?” the woman who had been staring at Shadowmoon so angrily finally could not help asking the person next to her.

“I don’t know. By rights, a man of Xiahou’s standing ought to have brought some society lady or noble miss. How did he end up bringing some unknown country girl to such a grand banquet?” another woman, who was also looking at Shadowmoon with hostility, said.

“I—I’ve seen her!” one woman suddenly cried out.

“You’ve seen her? Where? Who is she?” the first woman asked quickly, and the others nearby also strained their ears, afraid to miss a word.

“Yesterday, when I was trying on gowns at Vanis’s shop. You don’t know—” The woman lowered her voice and recounted in careful, embellished detail how things had unfolded.

“Oh, so that’s how it is. So this woman has such an undisclosed relationship with the duke.”

“Hmph. She already looks like a seductress. With the duke as her lofty branch to cling to, she still refuses to let go of my Xiahou. Hmph!”

“Hush, speak more softly. Don’t let anyone hear you!”

“Hmph, if she dares to do it, why should she be afraid of us saying it?”

Meanwhile, on Shadowmoon’s side, Xiahou Yu had been called away by a business partner, leaving her standing alone in the corner.

“Look, the chance has come!” Several women were delighted when they saw Xiahou Yu leave. Hmph, let me teach this vixen a proper lesson!

With fierce faces, the women marched toward Shadowmoon in a menacing group.

The one who most disliked Shadowmoon spoke first. “Miss, you look unfamiliar. Which family are you from?”

Which family? How rude was that way of speaking?

Shadowmoon frowned slightly and answered coolly, “I came with Mr. Xiahou.”

“Mr. Xiahou? You mean Mr. Xiahou of Bluetear?”

“Yes.”

“Are you his elder sister, his younger sister, or...?”

“We’re friends.”

“Friends? I’ve never heard that Mr. Xiahou has a friend like you,” the woman said with feigned puzzlement, though her face was full of contempt.

Shadowmoon frowned again and said flatly, “Excuse me, I have something to attend to. Please excuse me.”

With that, Shadowmoon intended to go outside to the terrace for some fresh air. She had no wish to deal with these infatuated women. Unfortunately, not everyone thought as she did.

“Hey, wait—how can you be so rude? I haven’t finished speaking—” As she spoke, the woman reached out to grab Shadowmoon’s dress.

Shadowmoon sidestepped her grasp and turned back with cold indifference. “Sorry, I do not like being touched by strangers.”

The women’s expressions soured, and then they mocked her.

“Oh? So we’re dirty now? You don’t even know how many people you’ve been used by, and you’re calling me unclean?”

“Exactly. Who knows how filthy you are, and yet you still look down on us?”

“How did someone like you even get into such a high-class banquet!”

Seeing their words grow increasingly ugly, Shadowmoon could not help frowning.

“Ladies, please mind your language. What you are saying now is an insult to my dignity.”

“Dignity? You’re talking to us about dignity? Hahahaha!”

The woman laughed, and the others with her laughed as well.

“Today I’d like to see just how much your dignity is worth!” she said, and flung the wine in her hand toward Shadowmoon.

Shadowmoon froze. She had not expected these women to dare do such a thing in a place like this. For a moment, she could not react, only staring blankly as the red wine came flying straight at her face.

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