theoonhunghighthesky，castgasilverglowovertheopulentgardenofthehanfailyansionnternsswayedntlythebreeze，castgflickergshadownthegroundtheairwasfilledwiththefragrantstofbloogjase，glgwiththedistantstrafapipabegpyedbyaskilledithegrandbahostedbythehanfailywasfullsg，andtheurtyardwasfilledwiththechatterandughteroftheeliteofthecity

    sukie，dressedanexisitesilkgownthatshiredtheoonlight，stoodbyacherryblostreeherhearasastorofeotionsshewatchedasguestsilledabout，hereyeasionallydriftgtoherbrother，hanfenglialkgtoagroupofn，hisexpressioncalandposed，buteveryoften，hiseyeswouldseekherout，filledwithanunspokeion

    astheevengworeon，sukiefoundherselfcreasglyawareofhanfenglg，spresencesheuldfeelhisgazeonher，evenwhenshewasn，tlookgdirectlyathitheiriions，subtleahang，hadnotgoneunnoticedbytheuestsurursandwhispersfollowedthewherevertheywent，butsukiepaidthenodherhearastoofull，tooflicted

    ＂isshan，youlookexisitetonight，＂afailiar，icyvoiterruptedherthoughtssukieturofdherselfface－to－facewithxietiahepowerfundalevolentbosftheregionhiseyesweredarkandtense，apredatorysilepygonhislips

    sukieforcedapolitesile＂thankyou，lordxieyourpresencegraceurhubleba＂

    xietiaeppedcloser，hisgazeneverleavghers＂i，vebeenwatgyoualleveng，isshanyouaretrulytheostbeautifulflowerthisgardeniouldbeashaifsuchaflowerweretowitherawaytheeoneunworthy＂

    sukie，sheartpoundedherchestsheuldsehedanrrkgbehdhiswords＂iaftteredbyyourattention，lordxie，butiassureyou，ybrotherandyfailytakeexcellente＂

    xietianxie，ssilewidened，buthiseyesreaedld＂ah，yes，yourbrotherheseesiteprotectiveofyoualostpossessive，oneightsay＂

    beforesukieuldrespond，hanfenglgappearedatherside，hisexpressioncalbuthiseyesfshgwithanr＂lordxie，ibelieveysisterhaseaedyoulonnoughifyouwouldexce＂

    xietianxie，sgazeshiftedtohanfenglg，hissileneverwaverg＂ofurse，youngasterhaniouldnotdotooverstayywele＂hebowedslightly，buthiseyeslredonsukieaontlonrbeforeheturnedandwalkedaway

    hanfenglilytooksukie，sar，leadgherawayfrothecrowd＂areyht?＂heasked，hisvoicelowandfilledwith

    sukienodded，herheartstillrag＂yes，i，fihankyou＂

    theywalkedsilenont，thenightairogasttheirskthegardenwasieternow，theundfthebafadgtothebackground

    hanfenglgspedbyasallpond，thewaterreflegtheoonlightheturofacesukie，hiseyessearghers＂yohouldbecarefurouianxiehe，sdanro＂

    sukielookeddownatthewater，herrefleripplg＂iknowbutit，snotjthii，worriedabout＂

    hanfenglgfrowned＂whatdoyouan?＂

    shetookadeepbreath，strugglgtofdtherighords＂fenglg，i，vebeenfeelgstraelyaboutaboutyou＂

    hisfrowndeepened，buthedidn，tterrupther

    ＂iknowwe，resupposedtobesiblgsthisworld，buttisifeellikethere，sthgorebeeen，＂shetued，hervoicetreblg＂idon，tknowifit，sjtorifyoufeelittoo，buti，tiganyore＂

    hanfenglg，sexpressionftened，andhereachedouttontlycupherfahishand＂sukie，iifeelittoobutit，splicatedwe，relivgaworldthathasitwnrulesandexpectationsandevenifwe，renottrulyreted，othersbelieveweare＂

    tearswelledupsukie，seyes＂buhatabouhaefeel?shouldn，tthatatter?＂

    hanfenglgpulledhertoatightebrace，hisvoicebreakg＂itattersto，sukieitattersorethananythgbuehavetobecarefultherearepeoplewhowouldeourfeelgsagast＂

    shegtohi，herheartag＂idon，tcareeoplethkijanttobewithyou＂

    heheldherforalongont，thenpulledbackslightlytolooktohereyes＂iwantthattoo，sukiebuehavetobesartaboutthiswe，tletoureotionscloudnt＂

    beforesheuldrespond，theundoffootstepsapproagadethebothteheyturoseeaservantbogdeeply＂youngasterhan，isshan，lordxiereestsyourpresence＂

    hanfenglg，sjawtightened，buthenodded＂we，llberightthere＂

    astheywalkedbacktotheba，sukie，sdracedshekheirfeelgsforeachotherwerereal，buttheobstaclestheyfacedseedsurountablexietianxieowerfuleney，andtheirretionshiasboundtoattrawatention

    backattheba，xietiaoodattheteroftheurtyard，hiseyesgleagwithalice＂ah，thereyouare，＂hesaidsoothly＂iwasjttellishowfortuheyaretohavesuchabeautifundtalentedhostess＂