Driven by a stubborn kind of pride, Shiao Yi pulled himself together. He then got dressed and pressed a hand to his aching head as he slowly made his way down the stairs.
The sound of chatter and laughter filled the tavern below, it must've been close to lunchtime. A high-pitched laugh rang out somewhere and he turned his head toward the noise.
In one corner of the room, a group of women and young girls were gathered together, all of them laughing and talking at once. The men nearby looked on with a mix of envy and irritation.
At the center of the group sat a man with golden hair. He sat straight and tall, his posture perfect, his features strikingly handsome and so flawless that no one could find a single fault. Surrounded by adoring women, he looked perfectly at home, as if their attention was something that naturally belonged to him.
As Shiao Yi reached the bottom of the stairs, his steps froze.
