Facing Madam Shi’s invitation, Huimura accepted without hesitation. “Since the Madam extends such a warm invitation, I shall certainly bring my daughter to call one of these days.”

As they spoke, Shi Ting had already made his way to the table where Yan Qing was seated. While chatting with Luo Huaimeng, Yan Qing had been keeping an eye on Shi Ting’s direction, and the moment she saw him approach, she broke into a delighted smile.

“What brings you over here?” Mindful that it was a public occasion, Yan Qing maintained a proper smile and a respectful distance.

Shi Ting greeted Luo Huaimeng first, then said: “I had a feeling you had something to tell me.”

Yan Qing smiled but said nothing. Instead, she picked up a piece of candy and placed it in his palm. “Have more sweets.”

“Thank you, my wife.” Shi Ting gave a small smile and closed his hand around the candy.

“Go on and tend to things. You don’t need to worry about Mother and me.”

“Mm.” Shi Ting gave a nod and turned to leave.

When he reached a quiet corner, his right hand gave a gentle squeeze. The candy wrapper unfolded, and inside was a single line of small handwriting.

He read it, then quickly crumpled the wrapper into a ball and tucked it into his pocket. And the Director—who was not one for sweets—quite naturally slipped the candy his wife had given him into his mouth.

Sweet.

At the table beside Yan Qing sat Shi Yuan, Shi Yutong, and Yan Qin.

Yan Qing turned in her chair toward Shi Yuan. “Elder Sister, where is little Qing’er?”

“Qing’er is home, with a maid looking after her.” Shi Yuan replied flatly.

“Ah.” Yan Qing glanced around her. “I thought I saw Huantong come in with you earlier. Where is she now?”

“She went to freshen up.” Shi Yuan paid no mind to why Yan Qing would be asking about Huantong, taking it for idle small talk.

Sure enough, Yan Qing exchanged a few more inconsequential words before turning back around.

“Why has she suddenly gotten so friendly with Elder Sister?” Shi Yutong gave a quiet huff. “Elder Sister, don’t fall for her tricks—she has all sorts of schemes.”

Shi Yuan smiled. “It was nothing more than the sort of pleasantries one exchanges at occasions like this.”

By now, all the guests had arrived, and the ball officially began.

Since this was the Marshal and Madam Shi’s pearl anniversary, the two of them were the evening’s guests of honor. As the Marshal spoke from the stage, Madam Shi stood at his side.

The opening dance naturally featured the Marshal and Madam Shi. When the graceful melody began to play, the two of them glided together into the dance floor. Madam Shi had practiced her dancing diligently for some time in preparation for this evening, and the two moved in seamless harmony. When the dance concluded, the room erupted in waves of applause.

And so the ball was formally underway.

Not long after Huimura returned to his seat, a woman in a form-fitting qipao sauntered over, her slender waist swaying like a willow branch.

Huimura’s face lit up the moment he saw her. “Miss Peipei.”

Qin Peipei paid her respects to the Marshal and Madam Shi, then settled herself beside Huimura.

Madam Shi had little regard for women of Qin Peipei’s world. The Third Yitai, Du Linghua, had been a dance girl herself before the Marshal brought her home and bestowed upon her a lasting and undiminished favor.

But Qin Peipei was someone Huimura had taken a liking to, and the Marshal had specifically arranged protection for her so she could be with Huimura this evening.

As it turned out, Huimura was indeed very pleased. His expression was noticeably more radiant than before.

Qin Peipei smiled. “Mr. Huimura is wise and formidable—our Marshal is most happy to work with you.”

“Why still ‘the Marshal’?” The Marshal feigned dissatisfaction.

Qin Peipei said, a little shyly: “Godfather.”

The Marshal nodded with satisfaction and said to Huimura: “I share a great affinity with Peipei, so I have taken her as my goddaughter.”

“Is that so?” Huimura was quite surprised, and clearly quite delighted.

Beside them, Madam Shi let out a silent, restrained snort.

“The Marshal’s sincerity is plain to see.” Huimura smiled pleasantly and placed his hand on Qin Peipei’s leg. “The Marshal has a fine eye. A girl as lovely as Peipei deserves to be cherished.”

He had been unable to put her out of his mind since he first laid eyes on her. But given his standing and position, he could not very well keep seeking out a dance girl. He had considered bringing her home as a wife but feared being made the subject of ridicule. Now that Qin Peipei had reinvented herself as the Marshal’s goddaughter, pursuing her would no longer invite gossip or pointing fingers.

“Peipei, do keep Mr. Huimura company.”

“Godfather, Mr. Huimura and I share a great affinity as well.” Qin Peipei poured a glass for Huimura. “Mr. Huimura, a toast.”

Huimura accepted the glass with a smile. The two clinked their glasses lightly together, and Qin Peipei gave him a flirtatious look brimming with charm. In an instant, Huimura’s soul seemed entirely captivated.

The two of them drank together. Shi Ting’s gaze had not left them for a single moment. The drinks here had been inspected in advance, as had the glasses they were using. So long as his people watched closely enough, it would be impossible for anyone to slip poison into the wine.

Beside Qin Peipei and Huimura stood one attendant each, charged solely with refilling their drinks.

“Mr. Huimura, shall we dance?” Qin Peipei extended a warm invitation.

Huimura was happy to accept. He excused himself to the Marshal, then wrapped his arm around Qin Peipei’s waist and glided with her onto the dance floor.

Huimura’s height made him appear noticeably shorter beside Qin Peipei—especially since she was wearing heels. The two of them standing together could hardly be described as “well-matched.”

Madam Shi gazed at the pair on the dance floor and said: “Does the Marshal truly intend to give this dance girl to Mr. Huimura?”

“Since Huimura fancies her, she is merely a woman.” The Marshal lifted his glass and took a sip, a gleam flickering in his eyes.

If partnering with Huimura could help drive the economic development of Bei Di, that was a matter of great importance. He had no qualms about presenting a dance girl to him in exchange. And with someone from his side close to Huimura, future dealings would go all the more smoothly.

In the dance hall, the dancers were few. Shi Ting stood at the edge of the floor, his gaze fixed steadily on Qin Peipei and Huimura. The bodyguard Huimura had brought kept equally vigilant eyes on his charge, protecting him with complete dedication.

In the dim, hazy amber light, Huimura held Qin Peipei by the waist, his hand moving slowly at her side, his eyes on her full of possessive desire.

Qin Peipei played her part perfectly, nestling into his arms like a vine.

When the piece ended, they returned to their seats and continued drinking.

Qin Peipei could hold her liquor well, and Huimura had drunk considerable amounts as well. No one was sure what topic they had landed on, but Huimura could be seen laughing loudly from time to time.

Perhaps they were having too fine a time—Qin Peipei accidentally knocked over her glass, and not a drop went to waste; the wine spilled entirely onto her skirt. She let out a startled cry.

Huimura, seeing this, hurriedly produced a handkerchief and began to blot at the stain.

“Mr. Huimura, I’m so sorry—let me go and change.” Qin Peipei said apologetically.

“Of course, please go quickly.”

Qin Peipei rose and went directly to the second floor, where a private changing room had been set aside for her use.

Before Qin Peipei entered the changing room, Bai Jin had already sent people to search it thoroughly. Only after finding nothing unusual was she permitted to enter.

Regardless of whether the perpetrator would make a move tonight, Qin Peipei’s safety was to be given top priority.

Bai Jin closed the door and stood guard outside.

About ten minutes passed. Then, without warning, a scream rang out from inside—a scream from Qin Peipei.

Bai Jin had no time to think. He kicked the door open.

Qin Peipei was sitting on the floor, her face filled with terror, her tightly clenched wrist dripping with blood.

“What happened?” Bai Jin asked.

Qin Peipei looked toward the window. “Someone—someone tried to kill me.”

Bai Jin strode to the window. It was open, the curtains swaying in the breeze, while outside lay nothing but the quiet darkness of the night.

When his people had inspected the room earlier, the window had been locked from the inside. How had the assailant gotten in?

Bai Jin had someone come in to examine Qin Peipei’s wound. The inner side of her forearm had been slashed, and the blood would not stop.

“Go and fetch my sister-in-law.” Bai Jin ordered.

The junior officer left, and before long, Yan Qing arrived.

Yan Qing examined the wound. “Miss Qin, where was the assailant standing when this happened?”

Qin Peipei pointed forward. “I was at the wardrobe changing my clothes. I heard a sound and turned around—and there was a dark figure. He had a knife. He slashed at me, and I instinctively raised my arm to block it and started screaming. When Team Leader Bai heard me and broke in, the assailant had already escaped through the window.”

Yan Qing said nothing further and simply dressed the wound. “Though you’ve lost a fair amount of blood, there’s no damage to tendons or bones. You’ll be fine.”

“Thank you.” Qin Peipei held her bandaged arm, her face drained of color.

“Team Leader Bai, please stay here with Miss Qin. She appears to have suffered quite a shock.”

“Of course, sister-in-law.”

Hearing the words “sister-in-law,” Qin Peipei looked up involuntarily. The woman before her wore a qipao with a blue-and-white porcelain print, her figure graceful, her features strikingly beautiful—carrying an air of purity and transcendence, as though she were a celestial being untouched by the mundane world.

“Who is this?” Qin Peipei asked.

Bai Jin said: “Ah, I forgot to make introductions. This is our Director’s wife, Miss Yan Qing.”

Qin Peipei had heard that Shi Ting was already married, but she had not expected to encounter his new bride here. No wonder Shi Ting had been unmoved by her flirtations—with such a beautiful wife waiting at home, who would want the wild flowers outside?

Qin Peipei rested in the changing room, while the revelry in the dance hall below continued.

Huimura heard that Qin Peipei had been attacked and was very worried, but it was not convenient to go and disturb her at this time. He could only carry his concern with him and continue his conversation with the Marshal.

“Sir, it is time for your medicine.” The bodyguard at his side glanced at the time and spoke up.

“I nearly forgot.” Huimura reached into his pocket and produced a small medicine bottle. He unscrewed it and tipped out several pills. The bodyguard promptly handed him a cup of warm water.

Just as Huimura was about to put the pills into his mouth, a slender hand reached out from the side and closed around his wrist.

—