As they walked to the car Guiying glanced at Liuxian sideways.
"You look good tonight," he said. Then after a beat, quieter, almost to himself, "Really good."
Liuxian looked down at him and said nothing but the corner of his mouth moved.
Guiying kept his eyes forward and pretended he had not said anything.
Liuxian opened the car door and offered his hand. Guiying took it without comment, stepping in carefully, very aware of the heels and refusing to let that awareness show.
The moment he settled into the seat he understood why tonight had a different car. The interior was another world entirely, warm leather, deep quiet, the kind of stillness that made you lower your voice automatically. Liuxian got in beside him and the car pulled out smoothly into the evening.
"Many of my friends are wealthy," Liuxian said. "It's quite common for us to show off at gatherings. You'll see tonight."
Guiying nodded. His eyes landed on the box on the seat across from them.
"What's in there?"
