Wine Flowed Freely, but Danger Lurked Beneath the Surface
Flowing Light Gallery blazed with light tonight.
Beyond the enormous arched windows, silhouettes moved to and fro. Gentle classical music drifted through the carefully designed exhibition space, mingling with the fizz of champagne and the fragrance of expensive perfume to create an air of luxury and bustle, so at odds with the gloom that had recently settled over Yorikof Town.
Madam Funair entered this dazzling world, gracefully taking Yu Xing's arm.
She was undoubtedly one of the evening's focal points. Her sapphire-blue velvet gown accentuated her graceful figure, and people looked her way with the gossipy curiosity her husband's affair had stirred.
Naturally, the man at her side, Yu Xing, drew everyone's attention as well.
"Look, who's that with Madam Funair?"
"A new face. He has quite the presence..."
"I heard he's her escort tonight, an investigator? Makes sense. With her marriage in trouble, only an investigator of high standing could be her escort without inviting gossip..."
"An investigator? Someone from the Ideal Nation? I've seen a few around these past few days, but this one must be from the latest batch, right?"
Faint murmurs rippled around them like a tide, then quickly subsided beneath polite smiles.
Countless curious, admiring, and searching gazes fell on Yu Xing. He acted as if he hadn't noticed, merely tilting his head to murmur to Madam Funair, "It's lively here."
Madam Funair smiled. "It certainly is. I expected people to gossip about my marriage, and with Mr. Yu Xing beside me, I feel much more confident facing all these tiresome rumors."
Her gaze swept across the room. "It seems everyone's here."
Following her line of sight, Yu Xing casually surveyed the crowd in the exhibition hall. His senses spread silently like an invisible web, instantly