17 In the eyes of...

(From Bai Fan’s point of view)

The moment the name of the other competitor was announced I was worried. Shen Mu was an honorable kid with great potential; his last fight with the grandson of the National Treasure, Master Fa He Long was enough to prove that he would get far in life.

But he was also a mystery.

Shen Mu was the only male I had ever met that treated me like a valuable person instead of just a pretty face. It was a pity I am not attracted to younger boys because he had proved to be both witty and interesting.

Beside me, my father sat frowning. Unlike me, he hadn’t seen the boy’s previous fight, but my interest had piqued his and he had decided to accompany me to the finals.

I waited with bated breath at the interaction between Shen Mu and the Emperor and was both surprised and elated when he was pronounced Fourth Prince! While honorary, that would give him the liberty to show his true talent, something I was keenly interested in seeing.