Xia Yuqing had never been fond of crowded banquets. The noise, the pretense, the shallow flattery—it all made her skin crawl.
So, when she finally spotted an opening in the crowd, she seized the chance and politely excused herself. Her heels clicked softly against the marble floor as she slipped away from the suffocating lights and overzealous compliments, weaving through the sea of people like a shadow.
Reaching a quiet corner near the open balcony, she pressed a hand to her chest and exhaled slowly. The air was still and cool. For a moment, her ears were at peace. Her thoughts could finally breathe.
But her moment of relief was short-lived.
She heard sharp footsteps approaching her. She turned, and her expression turned cold. Lu Junhan was approaching with a glass of wine in hand, his expression unreadable. When their eyes met, he gave her a nod, polite but distant.
"Why did you come?" she questioned. "And why did you bring them with you?"
