They walked back through the archway together, and ShangYan kept his hand resting lightly on Guiying's back.
The courtyard had changed while they were gone. The round tables had been cleared, the linens were folded, and the dishes had been carried away.
The guests had been moved into the main hall, which was a wider space with high ceilings and wooden beams that ran the length of it.
Lanterns hung from the crossbeams at intervals, and the chairs had been rearranged into rows facing the front of the room.
A long table had been set up there with papers, folders, and three glasses of water.
Guiying found Liuxian already seated near the front.
Liuxian looked at him as he sat down, and his eyes moved briefly across his face, reading everything that was there without asking.
He took Guiying's hand and lifted it to his lips. He pressed them against Guiying's knuckles once, gently, before resting the hand on his own knee.
He said nothing, because he didn't need to.
