Shadow

Linfeng was holding tightly the hand of Xiong Zhi. He gently guide her in her every step and if he could he already carried Xiong Zhi. He guide her to their seat. He reached for the glass of water and handed it to Xiong Zhi. Xiong Zhi accepted and drink from it. Then Linfeng get his unused handkerchief and handed it to Xiong Zhi. Which Xiong Zhi accepted again and wipe her lips. She hid Linfeng's handkerchief under her sleeve. Then her eyes caught the bandaged wound on her hand.

Earlier, after minutes passed which she hug Linfeng, Linfeng treated her wound. Luckily, the CR has its own emergency aid kit.

The young man just silently clean her wound and wrapped it. He did not ask any questions, he just made sure she was fine and asked if she can still attend the banquet.

Linfeng put some refreshments in Xiong Zhi's plate.

"Does young miss wants a soup?"

Linfeng's question woke up the still dazed Xiong Zhi.

"...." Xiong Zhi looked at the mountain but lavishly food in the table. They were all dried (fried, roasted, steamed) food. There's no soup. Which make her confused.

"A soup can make people relax. The kitchen is nearby. I'll make it if you want."

Xiong Zhi looked at Linfeng. Her heart faltered a bit. It's not uncomfortable. It was actually relaxing. And lovely.

Xiong Zhi showed her rare smiled. Even though Linfeng did not say anything, he was actually attentive to her. Caring to her, like she was some precious crystal that was very vulnerable, he gently coaxed her. A very pleasant feeling comforted her heart.

"It's ok. You are here, so it's fine."

Linfeng did not believe it. He was shocked of what he witnessed earlier but he kept silent. What he could only do right now was make Xiong Zhi comfortable. However he did not stop thinking of what broke her into crying. That silent cry...made him shuddered.

'What happened?'

He was with his Young Miss the entire time. Everything was fine. Until she went in the comfort room and cried.

Linfeng tried to repeat everything of what happened the entire evening in his head trying not to miss a thing.

"Excuse me. May I have a pleasure to cheers with you?" A gentle voice woke him up in his stupor.

Linfeng's eyes followed the voice and saw Guan Gao Huan with a glass wine walking to them. His golden eyes glued to Xiong Zhi.

Linfeng squinted his eyes and did not like the look of those golden eyes. He then turned to Xiong Zhi to watch her response.

But Xiong Zhi stiffened in her place and Linfeng clearly saw how her hands clenched. Like she was suppressing something.

Like a spark in darkness, suddenly clues appeared in Linfeng's mind.

He quickly got in between them and answered Gao Huan.

"We thank Mr. Gao Huan for celebrating with us the Xiong's anniversary. We truly appreciate it." Linfeng reached out a glass wine in the nearby table and toast it with Gao Huan's cup making a 'tink' sound then he gulped the wine.

Guan Gao Huan eyes flashed and quickly replaced by a polite smile before drinking the wine. He said, "Cheers."

But while drinking his eyes stared at Xiong Zhi. This made Xiong Zhi uncomfortable. No matter how she tried to pretend to be calm her soul was screaming mad. Being with him for a moment brought painful memories. She wanted to avoid him. To escape this place. She doesn't want to breathe the same air with him. She tried to calm down and chant in her mind that this man would suffer. That this man would face his retribution. That in this life, she would never suffer again in his hands.

She turned to face him but when she faced those golden eyes it brought her back in the dark mansion, in an isolated room, in constant loneliness, in eternal despair, his painful slaps echoing in her ears.

Xiong Zhi breath stopped. No matter how much she tried to console herself to make stronger, no matter how she prepare to face him in this life. Her trauma cannot be easily gone. She...was still afraid of him.

Her view changed from golden eyes to worried black orbs.

Linfeng turned around to Xiong Zhi to face her. He stared into her wide eyes and spoke softly.

"Young Miss Zhi, the other Xiong family members are looking for you. There are in the left hall. Do you want to speak with them now?"

Xiong Zhi was pulled into reality. With pale face she answered weakly to Linfeng.

"En." She turn away and did not look at Gao Huan when she passed by.

Linfeng smile politely to Guan Gao Huan.

"Excuse us. My young Miss is busy at the moment. Xiong family rarely got reunion. Sir Guan surely knows how difficult it is to be with relatives and spend time with them, as you came to a big family yourself. "

"Of course I understand. " Gao Huan answered with kindness and understanding.

Linfeng smiled and went after Xiong Zhi.

After the two were gone, Gao Huan remain standing at his place. Finishing the remaining wine. His golden eyes were terrifying calm and the politeness was nowhere to be seen.

Turns out his gut was right.

The Young Miss of Xiong was clearly afraids of him.

________________________

Xiong Zhi walked to the left hall. She knows that Linfeng was giving her a breather. Repeating the encounter  with the beast in this evening she knew that she let her self show too much. She felt a bitter taste in her mouth.

She probably looked like a scared rabbit right now. She acted out of character. That even Linfeng noticed something was amiss. How will she answer to Linfeng if he asked now?

She steal a glance at Linfeng who just catched up to her. Linfeng looked back at her. His eyes were not questioning nor it was confused. It just stared right at her.

Xiong Zhi let out a silent breath of relief. At least he did not ask. Because she did not know how to answer.