Chapter 136

"Because in a few days, she is holding her engagement ceremony." Arthur dropped this bombshell on Xiahou Yu with unsettling calmness.

Xiahou Yu was instantly struck dumb, frozen in place. It was a long time before he looked at Arthur with a wooden expression and asked with unnatural tranquility, "To whom?"

"Yuwen Xi."

With major families waiting in anticipation and the Weyting family making grand preparations, the banquet, shrouded in a thick veil of mystery, finally began.

The Weyting Castle was similar in appearance to Windsor Castle, though it naturally lacked the vastness, extreme luxury, and the unique, proud nobility of the royal residence. Nevertheless, as the Weyting family was a prestigious and influential clan, the venue was by no means shabby.

That day, the sun had already set. The lingering glow of the twilight spilled across the earth, coating everything in golden red, inadvertently casting a festive atmosphere over the Weyting family’s banquet that gladdened the hearts of all who beheld it.

Inside Weyting Castle, as the banquet was about to begin, male and female attendants moved in an orderly fashion through every corner of the castle, with the banquet hall being the most crowded.

At this moment, Yuwen Xi was pacing back and forth in front of Eva’s door. He seemed to want to go in, yet hesitated out of some hidden fear, a faint sense of unease etched upon his face.

Just then, a maid pushed the door open and stepped out. Seeing the wooden door swing open, Yuwen Xi felt a moment of awkwardness and quickly turned away, pretending to be just passing by. However, these "veterans" of the castle had long since trained their eyes to be sharp; one look at Yuwen Xi, and they knew exactly what he was up to.

The maid smiled cordially and said, "Mr. Yuwen, were you looking to go in and see Miss Eva?"

Hearing this, Yuwen Xi felt a flush of embarrassment creep up his neck. He cleared his throat twice to mask his discomfort, then said with averted eyes, "Yes. What is she doing right now?"

"Master Michel has just finished doing Miss Eva’s makeup, and she is currently trying on her gown. You may go in now to see her; perhaps you can offer some advice."

"Yes," Yuwen Xi replied, a hint of joy touching his lips. He forcefully suppressed the sudden surge of wild ecstasy in his heart and nodded faintly.

It was wonderful, truly wonderful. Eva—no, Yingyue—the woman who held his heart captive, was finally going to marry him! She was finally going to become his woman!

After the maid left, Yuwen Xi couldn't wait any longer and slipped into Eva’s room.

What met his eyes was a familiar violet hue, as if his entire being were reflected in the eyes of the woman who held his heart. The spacious room was entirely empty, as if, in the captivating eyes of that delicate and alluring woman, only he existed. The thought filled Yuwen Xi’s heart with bliss.

"George, you’ve come?" A clear, feminine voice came from behind him. Yuwen Xi’s heart skipped a beat. He turned around slowly, looking toward the source of the sound.

At the entrance of the dressing room stood a youthful and beautiful girl. She wore a light purple, knee-length, strapless gown. Tied at her back was a bow made of pale violet silk, delicate as cicada wings. Her legs were slender and refined, and her small, ivory-like feet were encased in high-heeled sandals that matched the color of her gown. Ribbons of the same color were tied around her ankles, further elongating the lines of her lower legs and making her figure appear even more slender.

Yuwen Xi’s gaze traveled upward. The girl’s dark, lustrous hair was swept up into a cute and fashionable bun on the left side of her head, adorned with a violet-shaped diamond comb. Her smooth forehead, framed by dark hair, appeared even more luminous. Her delicate, oval face was enhanced by light makeup, making her naturally pure features look all the more exquisite and vibrant, impossible to look away from. Below her face was a neck as graceful as a swan’s. At the base of her collarbone, a violet tattoo was in full bloom, so vivid it seemed as if the flower were actually blossoming; he could almost catch a faint scent of violets in the air.

Indeed, the girl standing before him, like a sprite from the world of flowers, was none other than the person Yuwen Xi had been pining for—Eva Weyting.

Yuwen Xi stood there, dazed, looking at the charming and radiant girl. For a moment, he felt that even though Eva was standing right in front of him, she felt impossibly remote, as if she might vanish the moment he blinked! He was terrified that this was merely an illusion.

Seeing Yuwen Xi standing there in a daze, with a trace of faint sorrow and an indefinable sense of insecurity in his eyes, Eva felt a sudden pang in her heart. Her willow-leaf brows knit slightly. Her body moved before her mind could process it; she walked forward and pulled the lonely, desolate-looking man into her embrace. She whispered comfortingly in his ear, "George, George, don’t worry. I am by your side; I will always stay by your side." As she spoke, her small hands patted his broad back soothingly, every word and gesture overflowing with boundless tenderness.

Feeling the warmth and softness in his arms, Yuwen Xi’s heart slowly softened and warmed. He buried his cool cheek against Eva’s warm neck, rubbing against it with a touch of playfulness, only lifting his head when Eva giggled that it tickled. His charming, sea-blue eyes looked straight into hers, still holding a trace of uncertainty. "Eva, are you... really willing? Willing to be with me?"

Eva cupped Yuwen Xi’s face in her hands, looked at him intently, and said earnestly, "George, what exactly are you afraid of?" Seeing his gaze flicker, she turned his face back toward hers, refusing to let him look away. "Tell me, what are you worried about? Tell me, will you?"

Yuwen Xi looked into those violet eyes, so lively and full of sincerity, and his heart stirred. He couldn't help but voice his fears. "I... I... I'm afraid that one day you will realize that the person you love is not me, and that the only reason you are willing to marry me now is because you haven't met your true soulmate yet."

Eva shook her head faintly, looking both helpless and indulgent. "George, you really are overthinking things. Please, don't worry about those groundless things, okay?" Seeing him about to speak in his anxiety, she pressed her index finger to his thin lips and shook her head. "George, don't worry about future, uncertain things; it will only exhaust you. I only know that one should cherish every day one has, rather than worry about losing something in the future. Isn't the meaning of life to live the present moment well?"

Yuwen Xi looked at her beautiful face and murmured, "Cherish every day, don't worry about the unknown future..."

"Exactly. Just think about how happy we are now. The future is for the future to worry about; it has nothing to do with the present, you understand?" With that, a stunning smile bloomed on her pink lips. She continued, "So, George, be happy. Today is our big engagement day!"

Watching her happy smile, the ice in Yuwen Xi’s heart melted, and warmth surged up. He smiled along with her and said, "Yes, you’re right. Today is our big day; we should be happy."

"Mhm, exactly!" Eva was overjoyed to see Yuwen Xi finally smiling.

Yuwen Xi looked at her soft, lustrous lips, his gaze darkening. Finally, unable to contain the surge of emotion in his heart, he leaned in toward those tempting lips.

Eva watched as Yuwen Xi’s face grew larger in her vision. Before she could process what was happening, her lips were met with warmth, and a gentle, heated breath washed over her face. In an instant, her rosy cheeks flushed a deep crimson, and her mind grew dizzy.

Seemingly unsatisfied with Eva’s lack of focus, Yuwen Xi gave her lower lip a gentle bite, eliciting a soft gasp that allowed him to slip into her mouth—instantly, Eva’s heart was thrown into complete disarray.

While the two were lost in tenderness within the room, they did not notice that, through the crack of the unclosed door, a cold glint flashed by! In those eyes, there was thick jealousy and hatred, and even a faint trace of murderous intent!

Finally, the two separated, breathing heavily, their foreheads pressed together, their breaths entangled, their bodies pressed close, rising and falling with their labored breathing.

After a long while, when their breathing had settled, Yuwen Xi said softly, "Eva, wait for me here. I'll go out first; someone will come to collect you soon and bring you to me." He pecked her lips once more and added, "Remember, you must stay in the room and be good!"

"Yes, I know. You're so long-winded," Eva said in a voice as soft as water, filling Yuwen Xi’s heart with honey.

"Yes, then I'll be going now. Be good." Yuwen Xi released her, walking toward the door while still giving worried instructions.

"I know, go already!" Eva waved her small hand impatiently, and Yuwen Xi left with a smile.

By now, the sky outside had turned completely dark. Night had fallen, and everything was proceeding in an orderly fashion under the veil of the night.

Outside Weyting Castle, luxury cars of various makes—expensive yet understated—began to fill the grounds. Distinguished guests and their wives arrived one after another.

The magnificent, brightly lit hall welcomed one important guest after another. A line of male attendants stood before the castle gate, escorting each arriving guest into the hall. The once-empty hall gradually filled with guests, who began to mingle and chat warmly, and the hall instantly grew lively.