Yan Hai thought of the way she had looked at him earlier. Calm. Amused. Almost as if she were watching a street clown. His fingers tightened again.
"She has become sharper," Yan Hai said through his teeth. "More difficult. More stubborn. It is as if she no longer cares about anything she used to care about. In the past, if I said a few harsh words, she would lower her head. Now she dares mock me in front of everyone."
Yun Haisheng gave him a cold glance. "Then stop giving her chances to mock you."
Yan Hai's face stiffened.
He knew his father was still thinking about the pavilion incident.
He immediately changed the subject because he could no longer endure standing there while that shame circled over his head like a black bird.
"Father," he asked, his voice still tight, "why did you agree to let her inspect the pearl grounds?"
Yun Haisheng slowly set down his cup.
