She behaved as though nothing had happened.
And that, more than anything, reinforced her position.
Her fingers traced lightly along the rim of the glass before she lifted it again, taking a small, measured sip. The deep red wine caught the light briefly before disappearing past her lips.
Calm.
Controlled.
Untouched.
From the outside, there was no sign of the pressure she had just stood in the center of. No discomfort. No hesitation.
But internally, her awareness had sharpened.
She could feel it, the eyes that lingered a fraction longer, the conversations that shifted tone when she was mentioned, the subtle recalibration of the room as people adjusted to her presence in a new way.
She did not resist it.
She did not welcome it.
She simply acknowledged it and maintained her ground.
Her gaze lifted briefly, not toward the crowd, but upward.
Toward the second level.
For a fraction of a second, their eyes met.
Lu Yuze.
