57 FOURTH MOON

Shen's stare was heavy, most of his face covered so that Xiao Zhan could not view his expression. Xiao Zhan was practiced in waiting. He'd become accustomed to doing nothing, more so after the divorce. He stopped himself from smiling. That was his life now – before the divorce, and after. Everything had become separated like that, and Xiao Zhan found he preferred it.

He ordered a cappuccino and shrimp pasta, with thinly sliced beef and salmon as an appetizer. Shen asked for a salad and steak and tapped his finger on the laminated menu to point out the flavoured sparkling water.

With the waiter gone with their orders, Shen slipped off his mask. Soft, pale skin was the image that hit Xiao Zhan, then his features, well known. He was pretty. The kind of pretty that was gentle, soft. Features, Xiao Zhan remembered, because he'd known of all of Holti Entertainment's biggest stars.

The secrecy, now, made sense. His fears, warranted.