Themoonhunghighinthesky，castingasilverglowovertheopulentgardenoftheHanfamilymansion.Lanternsswayedgentlyinthebreeze，castingflickeringshadowsontheground.Theairwasfilledwiththefragrantstofbloomingjasmine，minglingwiththedistantstrainsofapipabeingpyedbyaskilledmusi.ThegrandbahostedbytheHanfamilywasinfullswing，andthecourtyardwasfilledwiththechatterandughteroftheeliteofthecity.

Sukie，dressedinanexquisitesilkgownthatshimmeredinthemoonlight，stoodbyacherryblossomtree.Herheartwasastormofemotions.Shewatchedasguestsmilledabout，hereyesoccasionallydriftingtoherbrother，HanFenglialkingtoagroupofmen，hisexpressioncalmandposed，buteverysooften，hiseyeswouldseekherout，filledwithanunspokeion.

Astheeveningworeon，SukiefoundherselfincreasinglyawareofHanFengling，spresence.Shecouldfeelhisgazeonher，evenwhenshewasn，tlookingdirectlyathim.Theiriions，subtleahmeaning，hadnotgoneunnoticedbytheuests.Murmursandwhispersfollowedthemwherevertheywent，butSukiepaidthemnomind.Herheartwastoofull，tooflicted.

＂MissHan，youlookexquisitetonight，＂afamiliar，icyvoiterruptedherthoughts.Sukieturofindherselfface－to－facewithXieTiahepowerfulandmalevolentbossoftheregion.Hiseyesweredarkandintense，apredatorysmilepyingonhislips.

Sukieforcedapolitesmile.＂Thankyou，LordXie.Yourpresencegracesourhumbleba.＂

XieTiaeppedcloser，hisgazeneverleavinghers.＂I，vebeenwatgyouallevening，MissHan.Youaretrulythemostbeautifulflowerinthisgarden.Itwouldbeashameifsuchaflowerweretowitherawayintheeoneunworthy.＂

Sukie，sheartpoundedinherchest.Shecouldsehedangerlurkingbehindhiswords.＂Iamftteredbyyourattention，LordXie，butIassureyou，mybrotherandmyfamilytakeexcellente.＂

XieTianxie，ssmilewidened，buthiseyesremainedc