After the night of the wine tasting, Arthur hadn’t been able to compose himself for several days.
That moment when Shen Yanzi wiped the corner of his mouth, and the nonchalant way he acted afterward, played on a loop in Arthur’s mind, leaving him utterly flustered.
One moment, he felt certain that Shen Yanzi must be interested in him; the next, he thought he was surely overthinking it and the man was just lending a hand.
This feeling of being suspended in limbo was true torture!
Just then, Her Majesty the Queen decided to host a small family banquet at Windsor Castle. It was intended to celebrate the smooth initial progress of the cooperation project and to offer a “cordial concern” to the project’s primary leaders.
As the Royal representative, and with Shen Yanzi as the Chinese tycoon, Arthur was naturally a primary guest.
On such an occasion, Arthur had no way to hide.
He could only steel himself, change into his most formal attire, dress himself up to look the part of a proper gentleman, and arrive at the castle early.
The banquet hall wasn’t as ostentatious as Buckingham Palace, but it remained luxurious and elegant. A long dining table was covered in a snow-white cloth, set with silver cutlery and crystal glasses that were practically blinding.
The guests were close Royal relatives, heavyweight old-money aristocrats, and a few high-ranking government officials. The atmosphere was relatively relaxed, yet it carried that distinct air of old-money reserve and protocol.
When Arthur arrived, Shen Yanzi was already there, standing by the window talking to an old Earl.
Today, he was once again in an impeccable black formal suit. With his tall stature and cold profile, he stood out among the group of balding or stout older men like a crane among chickens he was so handsome it was impossible to look away.
Arthur’s heart gave a little leap; he quickly averted his gaze and went to pay his respects to his grandmother, the Queen.
The Queen seemed to be in a good mood today. she pulled Arthur aside for a few words and specifically pointed out his assigned seat by pure coincidence, Shen Yanzi’s seat was at the other end of the long table, directly facing Arthur.
This distance was neither too far nor too close; it was just enough to see each other clearly, but far enough that they couldn’t whisper to one another.
Arthur inwardly groaned.
This seating arrangement was absolute torture!
Having to look at Shen Yanzi constantly without being able to do anything was agonizing!
The family banquet officially began.
The Queen sat at the head of the table and gave a few opening remarks about celebrating the smooth cooperation and looking forward to a bright future. Everyone raised their glasses, and the atmosphere was harmonious.
Then, a series of exquisite dishes were served. The conversation at the table revolved around the project, the economy, and some harmless social topics.
Arthur found the food tasteless. His knife and fork were nearly mincing the roasted venison on his plate into a pulp, yet his eyes kept uncontrollably drifting toward the end of the long table.
Shen Yanzi, on the other hand, was very composed. He dined with elegant movements, occasionally engaging in low-voiced conversation with those beside him. His gaze was calm, as if he hadn’t noticed Arthur’s burning stare at all.
The more Arthur watched, the more stifled and unwilling he felt. Why was he the only one feeling unsettled?
Why did this guy look like nothing was happening?
With a few glasses of red wine in his system, that sense of dissatisfaction and his penchant for mischief resurfaced.
He waited for a gap while the waiters were clearing the main course plates and glanced left and right everyone was focused on listening to the Queen speak or chatting quietly with their neighbors.
A perfect opportunity!
Arthur’s heart began to race; his adrenaline spiked.
Like a thief, he slid his body slightly down in his chair. Then, his foot clad in expensive, handmade leather quietly slipped out of its shoe.
The smooth sole of his silk-stockinged foot pressed against the cold floor, sending a faint shiver through him.
He held his breath and, with extreme caution and agonizing slowness, extended his bare foot toward the opposite side.
The tablecloth was very long, draping down and perfectly concealing any movement beneath the table.
His toes first reached out tentatively, lightly brushing against Shen Yanzi’s ankle, which was covered by his suit trousers.
Shen Yanzi was listening to the Queen; the hand holding his wine glass paused almost imperceptibly. His gaze remained fixed on the head of the table, showing no change.
Arthur grew a bit bolder.
His foot slid along Shen Yanzi’s trouser leg, as if by accident, and bit by bit, he slipped inside.
The cool surface of his silk-clad foot pressed against the other man’s warm ankle skin.
Shen Yanzi’s Adam’s apple bobbed ever so slightly. He set down his wine glass and lightly tapped his finger on the tabletop, but his face remained expressionless.
Arthur threw all caution to the wind!
It had already come to this!
At worst, he’d just get kicked!
His toes began to slide along the fabric of Shen Yanzi’s trousers with a deliberate, teasing intent. He followed the line of the other man’s calf, inching upward.
The sole of his foot could clearly feel the firm contour of the calf muscle and the warmth of his body heat beneath the fabric.
One inch.
Then another.
The movement was as slow as a snail’s crawl, yet it was incredibly provocative and audacious.
Arthur’s heart was practically leaping out of his throat. His cheeks were scorching; he didn’t dare look at his surroundings and could only stare intently at his own dinner plate, pretending to listen seriously to the Queen while, in reality, all his senses were concentrated on that mischievous foot under the tablecloth.
Shen Yanzi’s body seemed to stiffen slightly.
The hand he had placed on his knee slowly clenched into a fist. The frequency of his breathing also seemed to grow heavier.
Yet he still didn’t move, nor did he look at Arthur. He maintained that calm, self-restrained facade, even nodding politely when the Queen looked his way.
Arthur’s toes had already slid to a position just above the other man’s knee.
Just as he was hesitating whether to go higher or try something even more daring
A warm, dry, and powerfully strong hand suddenly reached out from under the tablecloth without any warning, accurately and firmly grabbing his mischievous ankle!
“!”
Arthur’s entire body went rigid; he nearly cried out in shock! He felt as if his pressure points had been struck, rendering him instantly immobile!
Shen Yanzi’s palm was large, his fingers long and powerful. He gripped Arthur’s ankle tightly, the force even carrying a hint of punishment that made it slightly painful, but more than that, it provided a shivering thrill of being instantly captured.
Arthur’s heart skipped a beat before hammering wildly! Panicked, he looked up toward Shen Yanzi at the end of the long table.
Shen Yanzi finally turned his head and looked at him.
Those deep black eyes, under the brilliant crystal chandeliers of the banquet hall, were as dark as the sea before a storm, swirling with suppressed, dangerous undercurrents.
His face still showed no obvious expression, but his gaze was as sharp as a knife, pinning Arthur right where he sat.
Then, amidst the harmonious and elegant chatter of the surroundings and the Queen’s gentle storytelling, Arthur clearly saw Shen Yanzi’s lips move almost imperceptibly.
No sound came out.
But based on the lip movements, Arthur instantly understood his silent words spoken in Chinese.
“Move again,”
“And you’ll stay in my room tonight.”
Boom!
Arthur’s brain went completely blank. It felt as if all his blood had rushed to his head; his entire face, neck, and the tips of his ears turned a shade of red as deep as a cooked shrimp!
He could practically feel steam rising from the top of his head!
He, he, he… what did he say?!
Stay… stay in his room?!
Arthur was completely frozen. The captured ankle felt as if it were being seared by a branding iron, unable to move. A tingling, numb sensation surged from his ankle all the way to his crown.
He opened his mouth but couldn’t make a sound. He could only stare at Shen Yanzi in a daze, his eyes wide with shock, shame, and a secret trace of excitement.
Shen Yanzi’s gaze lingered on Arthur’s exploding red face for two seconds his eyes were terrifyingly deep.
Then, acting as if nothing had happened, he naturally released his grip, picked up his wine glass again, turned his head, and continued listening to the Queen.
It was as if the person who had just grabbed Arthur’s ankle under the tablecloth and issued a startling threat in Chinese wasn’t him at all.
Arthur was left like a puppet whose soul had been snatched away, frozen in his seat. One foot was still bare, lingering near the other person’s trouser leg. He was so red he felt like he was about to explode, and his heartbeat was so loud he suspected the entire banquet hall could hear it.
It was over.
This time…
He had really played himself…
Trembling and agonizingly slowly, Arthur tried to pull that troublesome foot back.
However, his ankle had moved less than a centimeter when
That warm, large hand reached out once more with lightning speed. It didn’t grab him this time; instead, it gave the smooth bridge of his foot a light, warning slap.
A soft “thud” sounded, muffled yet clear beneath the tablecloth.
It was as if to say: Behave.
Arthur: “!!!”
He instantly didn’t dare move again. That foot remained frozen halfway, unable to be retracted or kept there. He was left in a state of wanting to cry but having no tears, dying of shame and indignation.
The remaining time was, for Arthur, the ultimate torture.
He could only maintain that awkward posture, feeling the lingering sensation of being tightly gripped on his ankle, his mind replaying that Chinese threat over and over…
A family banquet yet he ate it with his soul scattered, the food tasting like wax.
It wasn’t until the banquet ended and everyone rose to leave that Arthur felt as if he had been pardoned. He swiftly pulled his foot back and shoved it into his shoe, not daring to lift his head, wishing he could instantly teleport away.
He practically fled the banquet hall in a panic, even forgetting to say goodnight to the Queen.
Meanwhile, Shen Yanzi followed unhurriedly at the back of the crowd. Watching that figure fleeing in a panicked, uncoordinated daze, the corner of his mouth curved almost imperceptibly into an extremely faint, yet extremely dangerous arc.
Little brat,
Trying to play with me?
You’re still a long way off.