Chapter Ninety-Three

Xiahou Yu looked at his phone, his expression grave and yet helpless.

Staring at the name on the screen, he could not help thinking, with a touch of spite, that this was what came of trying to be clever, of pushing someone else out the door, of being so arrogant and pleased with yourself.

Hmph. I wonder who you will cry to when you finally lose her.

Arthur did not even wait for Xiahou Yu to finish before smashing the phone down. His handsome face was full of anger, and of a helplessness that would not go away.

Hill stood nearby, deeply vexed, worried that Arthur might hurl the phone at him instead. He was no longer young; if he were injured, it would not heal so easily.

Maria leaned against the doorway, watching Arthur lose his temper. She lifted a brow and smiled.

"Isn't this exactly what you wanted? It saves you the trouble of putting on such an elaborate performance. I never expected her to cooperate so obediently with you. The two of you are truly made for each other."

"Shut up!" Arthur shot her a sharp, blade-like look. "You only need to do your job. Everything else has nothing to do with you."

"Oh? Did I hit a sore spot? Embarrassed into rage?" Maria said, still unconcerned. "If you can't bear it, why do it at all? You suffer, and she is unhappy too."

"Get out!" Arthur roared, fixing her with a hard stare.

A chill ran through Maria. Sure enough, whenever that woman was involved, Arthur lost every trace of reason. With a helpless shrug, she retreated, saying as she walked away, "I'm gone. Don't call me back."

Arthur, still in the grip of fury, twitched at the corner of his mouth and glanced at Hill, giving him a look.

Hill understood at once and turned to go after Maria.

"Miss Maria—" Hill called after her back. The young woman was indeed quick on her feet; in just a short while she had gone that far.

"I'm already gone," Maria said carelessly, without turning around, though she quickened her pace considerably.

At that, Hill's mouth twitched violently. Inwardly, however, he was puzzled.

How had Miss Maria changed so much ever since she abducted Miss Shadow Moon?

"Miss Maria, please wait!" Thinking that, Hill still hastened his steps.

At last he caught up with her just as she was about to leave the villa.

Stopping in front of Maria, Hill panted for breath and said, "Miss Maria, His Highness said your task isn't finished yet. You can't go back."

"Didn't he tell me to get lost? Go tell him I've gotten lost far enough to never make it back," Maria said, looking every bit as though she meant it.

"Miss Maria—" Hill's face went a little green. "Please don't make this difficult for me, all right?"

Seeing Hill's expression, so plainly pleading for mercy, Maria could not help curling her lip. Bored, she said, "Fine, fine. I'm just going out for a stroll. Why make such a fuss?" With that, she no longer paid Hill any mind, turned, and walked out of the villa with effortless grace.

Hill watched her departing figure and let out a soft sigh.

As for Arthur, after Hill and Maria left, the phone in the study began to ring again.

"Hello."

Arthur's voice was cool and distant, no trace left of his earlier agitation.

"Young master, when will you arrive?" the person on the other end asked cautiously.

Arthur fell silent for a moment at that. When he spoke again, there was a note of gravity in his voice, heavier than before.

"Very well. I will go tomorrow. Keep watching as you have been. No mistakes are allowed."

"Yes, young master," the person on the phone answered respectfully, as though one could see him standing rigidly at attention.

Arthur hung up and turned to sit in the chair behind his desk.

Sunlight poured from behind him, leaving his expression in shadow.

No one knew how long had passed before Arthur picked up the picture frame on the desk and gazed at the girl within it, smiling as brightly as a flower in full bloom. After a long silence, he murmured to himself, "Perhaps I need to try a little harder."

By the sea, the sun was setting, turning everything a rich gold and crimson.

"Shadow Moon, it's getting late. Let me take you home," Yuwen Xi said, looking at the faint blush the sunset had painted across Shadow Moon's face. A flicker of intoxicated admiration passed through his eyes.

"Mm. Let's eat dinner before we go back," Shadow Moon said, as if she had suddenly thought of something. The "all right" she had nearly said changed course on her lips.

Anyway, that certain someone must be hiding from her right now. The more she sought him out, the more he would dodge her. Better to leave him alone for a while; he would grow anxious sooner or later.

"You... aren't afraid of getting home late?" Yuwen Xi finally could not hold back and asked uneasily.

Shadow Moon's eyes darkened at the words, but she smiled and said, "Hey, I'm not married. What curfew could I possibly have?"

"No?" Yuwen Xi instantly brightened. Before he even realized it, a delighted smile had already spread across his face.

"Mm, don't worry. Let's go."

As they spoke, the two had already gotten into the car. Yuwen Xi asked, "Where shall we eat?"

"Let's go to the Chinese restaurant on Fifth Avenue," Shadow Moon said with obvious pleasure, asking his opinion as she spoke. "I haven't had authentic Chinese food in ages. The owner of that place is Chinese."

"All right, then. Wherever you say." Yuwen Xi answered with a smile. As long as it was what Shadow Moon liked, he liked it too.

After they settled on the restaurant, Shadow Moon turned to look out the window. The sky outside had already grown dark, and on the car window there was only the faint reflection of her small face, her expression impossible to make out.

Seeing this, Yuwen Xi turned toward the window beside him as well and looked outside. Brilliant neon lights flashed by constantly, yet even the outline of his features could not be clearly seen.

A quiet atmosphere flowed between them. But because it was too quiet, it felt unfamiliar, awkward.

A ringing phone suddenly broke the silence inside the car.

Shadow Moon looked at the blinking name on the screen, her eyes flashing slightly, but she still answered.

"Hello?"

"It's me." The man on the other end spoke in a low, seductive voice.

Shadow Moon tightened her grip on the phone, saying nothing, as though waiting for him to continue.

After another silence, he spoke again, his tone flat and calm, as if tinged with a faint sigh. It was so light that Shadow Moon almost thought she had imagined it.

"Come home immediately. I have something to tell you."

After a barely audible sigh, the other party said in a deep voice.

Shadow Moon gave a cold laugh at that. "Heh. Who do you think you are? Who do you think I am? Am I really such a casual woman that I come when I'm called and go when I'm dismissed? Arthur, you're mistaken!"

When she had finished in anger, she hung up hard with a sharp snap.

Beside her, Yuwen Xi visibly jerked at the word "Arthur." His face went a little pale, though he quickly masked it. Shadow Moon's mind, however, was full of Arthur at that moment, and she did not notice his strange reaction.

After a while, Yuwen Xi realized that ever since answering that call, Shadow Moon had seemed distracted. It was clear she cared very much about the call, no—about the person who had made it.

Looking at her like that, Yuwen Xi could not help speaking.

"Shadow Moon, if you have something to do, you should go back first. We can eat another time."

At his words, Shadow Moon abruptly turned to look at Yuwen Xi. His blue eyes were deep and unreadable. She shook her head and said, "It's nothing important. I'll eat with you. I'm hungry too."

Yuwen Xi looked at her for a while longer, then smiled faintly.

"All right."

More than ten minutes later, the car stopped in front of the restaurant. The two got out and went inside.

Yuwen Xi very courteously pulled out her chair, and Shadow Moon smiled as she sat down quietly. Yuwen Xi returned the smile and took the seat opposite her.

A waiter came over and handed them the menu.

Yuwen Xi ordered a few dishes and passed the menu back. Shadow Moon glanced through it casually and returned it as well. The waiter took the menus to the kitchen and brought the two of them glasses of water.

Shadow Moon held the cup in both hands and looked down at the water without speaking, as though lost in thought.

Seeing how distracted she was, Yuwen Xi's gaze darkened with a trace of loneliness, though the curve of his lips remained in place. He opened his mouth.

"Shadow Moon—"

"Xi, I'm sorry. I suddenly remembered I have something urgent to do. I have to go. This meal is on me."

Shadow Moon suddenly looked up. She had not heard what Yuwen Xi was about to say. After blurting out what she wanted to say, she set money on the table and hurried toward the door.

After leaving the restaurant, Shadow Moon did not take the car she had arrived in. Instead, she went to hail a taxi. She felt that leaving Yuwen Xi behind had already been terribly rude; how could she ask him to take a taxi home by himself?

Yuwen Xi hurried after her. Seeing her trying to stop a cab by the roadside, he reached out, took her by the arm, and pushed her into the car.

"Xi, what are you doing? I can just take a taxi back on my own!" Shadow Moon called from the window after getting into the car.

Yuwen Xi looked at her and smiled gently.

"Fool. You're a girl. How could I let you take a taxi home by yourself?" As he spoke, he reached out and patted her head, then continued, "Blue Tear is very close to here. After I finish eating, I'll just walk back and work off the meal."

"But—" Shadow Moon still wanted to argue, but Yuwen Xi pressed her head gently back inside.

"Be good."

Then, to the driver, he said, "Drive."

At his words, the driver stepped on the accelerator, and the car pulled away from the restaurant.

Shadow Moon turned back to look at Yuwen Xi and saw him waving with a smile.

He remained there until her car disappeared, and only then did he turn and slowly walk back into the restaurant.

On the table sat a full spread of dishes.

It was a pity there was only one person to eat them.

Half an hour later, Shadow Moon's car returned to the villa.

She got out and saw that all the lights in the villa were on, as if the people inside were specifically waiting for her to come home.

Shadow Moon stood outside the gate and looked in for a moment, then walked forward with steady steps.

She had the strange premonition that if she went inside today, something would surely happen. But so what? At this point, whatever happened tonight, she was determined to make Arthur give her an explanation.

Even if it were something bad, she would bear the consequences herself.

Much more than that, the person inside was no one else but Arthur, the man she had been thinking of day and night.

At that thought, Shadow Moon lifted a confident smile and walked into the villa.