She splashed a glass of wine on him and put on a performance.
He saw through her, yet played along for three years.
Later, she returned his prayer beads and said, "Now that I've used you, we're even."
He took the beads and rolled them one by one between his fingers. When he reached the one engraved with "Restraint," he stopped.
"Even?" He smiled, but there was no warmth in his eyes. "Xiang Wanning, the Fu family owes you for what happened to your mother. I'll repay them on their behalf."
"How?"
He put the bead engraved with "Restraint" back on her wrist, winding it around and around until it was tight.
"For the rest of your life."
