"B-boyfriend?" Glover started, giving Phoebe an extremely strange look before turning an even stranger gaze on Han Shuo. As though unable to believe it, he asked again, "Is he really your boyfriend?"
"Of course!" Phoebe nodded firmly. Her face still red, she reached out and linked her arm through Han Shuo's left arm, as though to prove their relationship.
Han Shuo's mouth hung wide open as though someone had stuffed an egg into it, his face blank. Only when he felt Phoebe secretly squeeze his arm with her small hand did he come to his senses. He gave a dry chuckle and nodded, but offered no explanation.
An Elder of the trading company who had been chatting merrily with Glover could not help asking him quietly and suspiciously, "What's this boy's background?"
Glover said nothing more, merely giving the man a meaningful look. Then he stepped aside a little and said with a smile, "Since he's your boyfriend, Phoebe, there's no problem. Come on in."
Tugging Han Shuo along, Phoebe walked into the hall with her expression unchanged. She smiled in greeting at several Elders along the way, then pulled Han Shuo straight toward a less crowded spot.
Inside the hall, attendants carried platters of fruit and fine wine, setting them on a broad square table in the middle. A huge chandelier overhead cast a brilliant light. The entire hall was so lavishly decorated that Han Shuo, a country bumpkin, was quite astonished.
What astonished Han Shuo most, however, was what Phoebe had just said. As soon as he saw that no one was nearby, he gave her a wry smile. "Say, Miss Phoebe, what exactly do you mean by this?"
Phoebe casually picked up a stemmed glass and poured herself some ruby-red wine. Only after elegantly raising it for