Xu Yi froze and turned around to find Akali outside the door. He had no idea when she had arrived, but she was now leaning against the doorframe, watching him and Avita with a knowing half-smile.
"Akali, what nonsense are you talking about!" After scolding Akali, Avita hurried over to the windows and drew all the curtains shut again.
Seeing Avita's face flushed a rosy red in the sunlight from outside, Xu Yi smiled faintly, thinking that she really was easily embarrassed.
He turned back to Akali, his gaze passing over her neck, and was somewhat surprised to find a necklace there.
Although this necklace looked quite exquisite too, it was clearly nowhere near as fine as the one President Lanke had given Akali at the banquet.
Xu Yi pointed at Akali's neck and asked in puzzlement, "If you like wearing necklaces, why don't you wear the one President Lanke gave you? Wouldn't it suit you better than this one?"
"The one President Lanke gave me..." Akali's expression shifted awkwardly, then a barely noticeable bitter smile crossed her face. She turned and stomped down the stairs.
Xu Yi was even more puzzled. He had only asked about the necklace, so why had Akali reacted so strangely?
"Has something happened to her these past few days?" Xu Yi asked Avita, bewildered.
Avita shook her head blankly. "No, nothing. President, so you weren't the one who gave her that necklace?"
"Me?" Xu Yi shook his head as well. "President Lanke of the Salank Merchant Guild gave her that necklace. It had nothing to do with me."
"So it came from the Salank Merchant Guild. No wonder it was so beautiful." Avita nodded gently, glanced at Xu Yi, and smiled again. "President, President Lanke must have given Akali that necklace because of you,