First Public Appearance

She was breathtaking. Shen Yi felt he was falling for her all over again as she walked beside him. Lu Xinyi's cheeks tinged red as she swallowed nervously. Her dress hugged her body perfectly, the silken and translucent material flowing behind her. The colors were complimenting her pale skin, with her hair that cascaded down her back and around her face in loose curls. Her delicate feet moved silently, the heels of her shoes clicking on the floor.

Shen Yi blinked a few times before he managed to pull himself together and greeted her earlier. He took deep breaths to steady himself before he walked with her, their feet stepping in unison towards the elevator.

When they stepped out of the hotel, waiting for the car to pick them up, the gentle breeze of the summer night teased Lu Xinyi's hair. Her hand instantly reached up to brush a lock of hair behind her ear.

"Xinyi."

She looked up from her reverie and saw her husband waiting for her beside the car. He held the door open for her while she slipped inside. The door shut gently once she was safely inside the car while the driver restarted the engine. Shen Yi sat beside her at the back seat.

"You don't have to be nervous. You'll be fine; just stay beside me," Shen Yi told her while his hand slid under hers, his thumb rubbing the back of her hand.

"It's just I haven't been in one before. Please don't leave me alone."

'"I should be the one saying that to you." Shen Yi chuckled. "Wifey, please save your dear husband from gold-digging women who will dare approach me tonight."

---

Shen Yi placed his flute back on the tray, knowing that he might break it on another man's face if he couldn't control his temper. He wouldn't like to see his face on tomorrow's headline though. Mr. Mao, one of their business partners, had been staring at Lu Xinyi. He grimaced at the thought that someone was lusting over his wife.

He felt his fingers twitched as he tried not to curl them into a fist and punch Mr. Mao's nose.

"Who's this beautiful woman? This is new. I've never seen you bring a woman with you before," Mr. Mao said.

Lu Xinyi felt her face flush on his words, but she leaned closer to her husband's frame and gripped his arm tighter. She wasn't comfortable, and Shen Yi knew it. This was their first public appearance as a couple. His family might get news about it, but Shen Yi was sure that it wasn't something he couldn't handle.

"This is Lu Xinyi. She is my date for tonight." Shen Yi replied, his one hand tapping her hand that was holding his arm.

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Mao."

Lu Xinyi didn't miss the way how Mr. Mao's date tried to get Shen Yi's attention with a feral grin. Shen Yi tried to look everywhere else, but her.

"Date? You're dating, or she's just your date for tonight?" Mr. Mao sounded astonished. Did he also think Shen Yi was a gay? Lu Xinyi wondered.

"Yes, we're dating." Shen Yi gave his wife a knowing look which Lu Xinyi returned with a slight nod.

Mr. Mao's date's face darkened when she heard that Shen Yi was dating Lu Xinyi. Meanwhile, Lu Xinyi tried her best not to roll her eyes and bit her tongue so she wouldn't embarrass her husband. Another woman to get rid off. Was this the real reason why Shen Yi dislike attending functions like this?

"Darling, would you like to dance?" Shen Yi asked. He couldn't take it anymore. He needed to take his wife away from this man, or else he might commit a murder soon.

"Sure." Lu Xinyi agreed, taking the hint from his annoyed voice.

Shen Yi turned to Mr. Mao.

"We have to go. We'll talk about your proposition soon, Mr. Mao. I'll let my father know about it."

"Till we meet next time then." Mr. Mao shook Shen Yi's hand then turned to Lu Xinyi, giving her a wink.

Shen Yi glared at their retreating figures before guiding his wife towards the ballroom.

The music was slow and calming, but Lu Xinyi struggled to follow Shen Yi's steps. She didn't know how to dance, and again, she stumbled and tripped on her own feet. Fortunately, Shen Yi's grip on her waist kept her from falling.

"Let me lead you. Follow my steps," he murmured to her ear.

"Don't let me fall." Lu Xinyi begged, which earned a chuckle from her husband.

"I'm always here to catch you if that happens." The hand on Lu Xinyi's back trailed up and down.

Lu Xinyi placed her head onto his chest and sighed. She listened to the heartbeat that resonated in his chest. His slow, even breaths let her know that he was calm now. She felt her eyelids close softly, enjoying the feeling that, for once, she actually belonged there. Something she hadn't felt for a long time.