Han Shuo received even more of a fright. He never thought that he’d run into Emily here. There was no way he could explain the fact that Phoebe’s hand was wrapped around his arm.
“This beautiful lady is the master of the Boozt Merchant Guild.” Cameron’s expression grew a bit reserved when he saw Emily appear and he spoke up politely.
Emily’s gaze was still focused on Han Shuo at this moment, and she only recollected herself after Cameron started speaking. She flicked a glance at Phoebe who stood to the side, saying faintly, “So you’re Miss Phoebe.”
“This is Madame Emily, she’s of the Empire’s Betteridge family. Her husband is the second son of the head of the Betteridge family, Mister Hahn.” Cameron looked at Phoebe and cast some light on Emily’s identity for her.
The Betteridge family was a large family in the Empire, renowned for producing famous generals for the Empire. The Betteridge family had achieved many distinguished accomplishments for the Empire over the years, with Master Hahn now retired at home due to his advanced age. However, no one dared question his influence in the military.
When she heard that Emily was of the Betteridge family, Phoebe’s eyes lit up and she gave a friendly bow, “Greetings to Madame Emily.”
“Hehe, you’re too polite. Eh, this young fellow is quite handsome, is he your boyfriend?” Emily had lost her composure earlier, but had fully recovered by now. She chuckled and stared at Han Shuo in inquiry.
Phoebe had felt that Emily seemed to keep flicking glances at Han Shuo, but she didn’t think much of it when she heard that Emily was already married. Now that she heard Emily’s question, she immediately tightened her grasp on Han Shuo’s arm and smiled, “That’s right, his name is Bryan.”
“Hello, beautiful Madame Emily, pleased to meet you.” Han Shuo reached out a hand politely and wanted to shake hands with Emily.
Lawrence’s facial expression was a bit odd as he took a few glances at Han Shuo, suddenly saying, “I just heard Phoebe say that you’re her boyfriend and was about to come find you for a good chatting. I happened to see a women leave, are you going behind my junior sister’s back and coming here to rendezvous with another woman?”
“Haha, how is that possible, you must’ve seen incorrectly, or someone happened to walk by.” Han Shuo glossed things over and then changed the topic with a solemn face, saying to Lawrence, “How do you plan on proceeding with regards to Clark?”
Seeming to see through Han Shuo’s purposeful attempt to change the subject, Lawrence looked oddly at Han Shuo and didn’t continue asking him. He said with a smile, “My father is holding the banquet today and you’re attending as a guest. You should thoroughly enjoy yourself. Let’s not talk about such dirty tasks.”
Lawrence’s words happened to fall in line with Han Shuo’s thoughts. He walked out with a faint smile, “Alright, then let’s go back to the banquet hall.”
Nodding, Lawrence didn’t say much else as he left the area with Han Shuo, walking back to the banquet hall.
A melodious song had started sounding at some point as many of the guests outside had entered a large lobby. Some of these people started dancing gracefully in the rises and falls of the music. Those without partners or without interest stood around the outskirts by themselves.
Off in the distance, Phoebe’s expression appeared quite irritated as she impatiently dealt with Cameron’s conversation. There was another madame standing next to Cameron wearing a disdainful cold smile on her face. She seemed to be saying something to Phoebe that made her facial expression become uglier and uglier.
“What’s going on?” Han Shuo asked Phoebe with a frown when he and Lawrence walked over.
“Oh, this little thing is your boyfriend? Heh heh, he’s just an ordinary student at the Babylon Academy of Magic and Force. How would he measure up to Mister Cameron’s wealth? Oh, are you paying for this little thing’s tuition? It’d be very interesting that way!” This older lady was wearing luxurious clothing and adorned in brilliant jewels, seemingly deathly afraid that people wouldn’t know that she had money. Her features were middling, but her body was curvy to the point of being over the top. She rather appeared a bit bloated.
“Eh? Who’s this old granny?” Han Shuo flicked a surprise glance at this older lady when he walked over and exclaimed to Phoebe.
“Pfft.” Phoebe covered her mouth and couldn’t help but laugh. Her face then regained its composure as she said, “She’s Madame Valerie of Lielan Garments.”
“Impudent thing, with which eye did you see an old granny?” Valerie was beyond incensed as she placed her hands on her hips and glared at Han Shuo.
Pointing at his left eye, Han Shuo said, “This left eye.” He then pointed at his other eye and continued, “This right eye.”
A trace of a delighted smile curved Phoebe’s eyes as she came over to tenderly hug Han Shuo’s arm, saying to Valerie, “He’s just this blunt, I’m truly sorry!”
As a swordmaster, Phoebe’s own strength was unquestionable. However, she wasn’t adept at verbally sparring with others and couldn’t bear to let go of her face to do so. With Han Shuo at her side kicking things off however, she didn’t mind going with the flow and adding fuel to the fire.
“Old granny, you’re already at an advanced age. You should be staying at home and enjoying the little bit of time you have left. What are you doing in the outside world putting your face out there? In addition, the difference in our ages is simply too great to the point of being unable to communicate. If you’re truly that lonely, you should find someone similar to your age to communicate with!” Han Shuo ignored Valerie’s anger and mocked viciously. He then pointed at someone in front and said, “There, you should communicate with that old gentlemen over thing. You can flirt with him and maybe experience some old love!”
There was an elder man with white hair, holding a cane, in the direction that Han Shuo was pointing in. He was sitting on a chair not too far away and slowly drinking wine.
Valerie took a look at the old man and was so angry that her cheeks were red. The two meatballs in front of her chest swayed back and forth as she turned to stare at Han Shuo angrily, unsure of what to say.
Following Han Shuo’s gaze, Cameron, Phoebe, and Lawrence looked at the old man at the same time. Phoebe laughed lightly and pinched Han Shuo covertly, seeming to admonish him for making fun of the elderly. Cameron looked at the old man and turned his head, telling Valerie in a low voice to not be angry.
However, when Lawrence looked at the old man, his facial expression suddenly changed as he was a bit shocked and take aback. He finally revealed an odd, wry smile.
“Little fellow, I heard you were talking crap about me from afar.” The old man suddenly turned at this moment and looked at Han Shuo with bright, piercing eyes, speaking with a resonant, carrying voice.
