Chapter 79

Mu Chuan's expression settled back into its usual composure. If anything, it was a little blank.

Elise's second brother was an idiot. Mu had actually let himself feel that moment of pain for nothing.

He refilled his wineglass and drained it, looking away. He didn't particularly feel like indulging Adrian anymore. As far as Mu knew, the Whitmore brothers might dote on their sister, but they weren't perverts.

Adrian advanced on him with an intimidating air. “I'm her boyfriend. If I see you paying attention to my girlfriend again, you know what'll happen. Got it?”

Mu stared at him. Did Adrian really think he'd pursue someone without learning even the most basic things about her?

“That's going to be a problem,” he said. “Because as far as I know, she doesn't have a boyfriend.”

Adrian sneered. “She just hasn't told you. Or do you think you're close enough for her to tell you everything?”

Mu looked at him as if he were an idiot. “I'm not stupid.”

Adrian fell silent. All right, that wasn't working.

He'd spent the whole evening trying to decide how to make Mu give up. Telling him Elise already had a boyfriend had seemed like the perfect plan. Once Mu knew she was dating someone as handsome as Adrian, how could he think he stood a chance?

Unfortunately, Mu was as impossible to dent as a steel plate.

“Fine,” Adrian said. “You've seen through me, so I won't keep pretending. I'm not her boyfriend. I'm pursuing her too.”

“Oh,” Mu said, with little interest.

“I've known her since we were kids. I've been after her for more than ten years, and she was just about to accept me when you came along and tried to steal her away. That's a lousy thing to do, man.”

“Love isn't a matter of who got there first,” Mu replied smoothly. “It's about who's more sincere. Don't you agree?”

Adrian paused. That made sense. “Well, yes, but...”

“So the question isn't who came first. It's which of us cares about her more.” Mu set his glass on the table and leaned forward, suddenly interested. “Since you like her too, why don't we have a contest? Whoever proves he's more sincere gets the better claim to pursue her.”

A contest? Adrian hadn't expected that. Still, it didn't sound bad. Nothing mattered more to him than Ellie. He wasn't afraid to compete on that score.

“How?”

A calculating gleam appeared in Mu's eyes. “By seeing which of us can sacrifice more for her, of course.”

“What kind of sacrifice?”

Mu glanced at the fruit knife on the table and picked it up, rubbing the handle against his palm. “We carve her name into our arms at the same time. Whoever finishes first wins. How about it?”

“What?”

Adrian's eyes went wide. Had he heard right? He'd expected a contest over who spent more money or put more thought into making Ellie happy, not something bloody.

Mu watched his alarm and let the corner of his mouth rise almost imperceptibly.

Adrian pulled a cushion onto his lap and held it in front of himself. “Can't we compete at something else?” he asked cautiously. That was savage. He was afraid of pain, and what normal person proposed a contest like that?

Mu waved the knife against his own arm as if measuring where to start. “I think this is the only way to show how sincere I am. Shall I go first?”

Adrian flung his hands out, terrified Mu would actually do it. He wanted to stop him but didn't dare get closer. “Hey, calm down!”

He'd come to persuade this man to stay away from his sister. How had that turned into a competition to carve names into their arms? Mu looked ready to start.

Seeing Adrian's fear, Mu leaned in and brought the knife against his arm closer for him to see. Adrian recoiled again and again.

“All right,” Mu said. “If you're not taking part, I'll start. Then you'll see how sincere I am.”

He raised the knife as though to drive it into his arm.

Adrian's momentary relief vanished. Nobody had told him Mu was crazy. If he really cut himself and got blood everywhere, what was Adrian supposed to tell the police?

He threw the cushion aside and seized Mu's wrist. “Man, let's talk this through. Don't do anything rash. You're just pursuing a girl. You don't have to do this!”

Mu gazed at him. “Of course I do. I'd die for her. Would you?”

What kind of person had his sister attracted?

“I know plenty of ways to pursue a girl,” Adrian said desperately. “You don't need to do this!”

“Really?” Mu's eyes brightened. “So you'll let me pursue her?”

“Put the knife down and I will!”

Adrian felt utterly helpless. He'd come to negotiate. How had knives entered the discussion? At this point he could worry about everything else later; first he had to stop Mu.

“And you won't compete with me for Ellie anymore?” Mu asked softly.

The blade edged closer to his skin. Adrian jolted. “I won't! I absolutely won't!”

She was his sister. How was he supposed to compete for her anyway?

Having got the answer he wanted, Mu pulled his hand free and returned the fruit knife to its place. He straightened his clothes and settled comfortably back into his seat.

“Thank you for withdrawing. You'll find your true love someday.”

Adrian collapsed onto the sofa, nearly limp. “I'll take your word for it.”

Mu was insane. Adrian had never been so frightened.

The gala included a ballroom-dancing segment for its distinguished guests. Mu was the biggest name attending, and the fashion company had designed the event with him as a way of showing the media his interest in cooperating. A woman from among the guests would be selected to dance the first dance with him.

When Elise saw everyone gathering, she wandered over too. Nearby, two guests were talking.

“They say they'll draw a name, but surely it's already arranged. The editor-in-chief will dance with him.”

“Probably. She'd take a networking opportunity like that herself.”

Sometimes they couldn't help envying the editor of such an influential fashion magazine. Her position gave her chances to meet celebrities and prominent people up close.

Elise blinked. Mu was here too?

Qi Yaqiu had followed her. “What are you looking at, Ellie?”

Elise repeated what she'd overheard. Her first impression of Qi hadn't been good, but tonight Qi had seemed much gentler, without the spoiled behavior Elise remembered. After Elise had comforted her, Qi had insisted on staying close. Elise assumed she was afraid the man from the hallway might trouble her again and hadn't sent her away.

They barely knew each other, and their personalities didn't fit well enough for friendship. They probably wouldn't see each other after tonight. Still, Elise didn't mind being polite.

“I see!” Qi smiled warmly and nodded. “You know so much, Ellie!”

Privately, she sneered. Elise had nothing going for her except money, but standing beside someone like that would make Qi look all the cleverer.

She already knew how the segment worked. Usually a representative of the company partnered with Mu for the opening dance. Qi didn't care who started with him. The dancers traditionally switched partners halfway through, and if she could get close enough, she had a way to arrange a switch.

Theo leaned against a wall, looking languid. He wanted a cigarette, but a no-smoking sign hung nearby.

Adrian came over with his head down. One look at him told Theo he'd failed. After hearing the story, Theo was speechless. Adrian had not only given in completely; he'd spent ages reassuring Mu afterward, afraid he might do something foolish.

Theo gave a disbelieving laugh. “Why didn't you pick up a knife too? If he cut his arm, you could've cut your throat.”

Adrian covered his neck in horror. “Are you even human? Besides, I faint at the sight of blood!”

Theo looked away, expressionless. He really shouldn't have counted on him.

The noise at the far end of the room subsided. Mu stood calmly in the center of the dance floor, showing no sign that moments ago he'd threatened to cut his arm.

Adrian watched him. Why did he suddenly feel he'd been tricked?

The emcee made the usual introductory remarks. Mu listened with half an ear, scanning the room until he found someone and held his gaze there for several seconds.