The smoke of incense gradually rose, making the flame of the candles on the wall more blurred. Footprints barely traceable were on the thick woolen carpet. The noise of the banquet climaxing could be heard from outside the door.
Behind the screen, many cushions made of silk and satin were piled up. The delicate metal wine cups that had been placed on the table were all moved onto the shelf behind. The sound of writing was faintly heard from the table, occasionally accompanied by an almost indiscernible sigh.
The clear sound of footsteps came from outside the door, followed by the heavy wooden door being pushed open with a "squeak" sound. The hand of a woman, with dark nails, placed at the edge of the screen.
With a "swish", the screen was pushed open. A surprised female voice resounded. A lady, dressed in a magnificent red gown with a stunning black hair and green eyes, was staring dumbfounded at the deep blue eyes of Bruce, who was just lifting his head from the table.
"I'm sorry, Lady, may I assist with something?"
"Good heavens, aren't you Dr. Shiller's student? What are you doing here? Aren't you drinking with your tutor?" The lady held a finger up to her lips, looking rather surprised.
"It was a bit noisy over there. I just came up with an idea and was going to validate it, so I found a place where no one is around. Did I disturb you, Lady?" Bruce kept his gaze fixed on the lady while he spoke, looking very concentrated, so even though he was looking up, he did not seem to ingratiate himself.
"Oh, no, I should be the one to apologize, it seems I've disturbed your research... You can call me Lady Shangdu." The lady smiled faintly and continued, "Everyone calls me that because I once lived in Shangdu, during the Yuan Dynasty."
"Hello, Lady, I don't have much going on here, you don't have to worry, you are free to go back and enjoy your party." Bruce lowered his head and sorted the stack of draft paper in his hand, looked at the pattern he had drawn with deep concentration, and then furrowed his eyebrows again.
But Lady Shangdu didn't seem to have any intention of leaving. She stepped inside the screen and knelt down across from Bruce, scrutinizing Bruce's face meticulously, and then asked, "Haven't you heard of me?"
Bruce raised his eyes to look at her again. He found that every time his gaze met Lady Shangdu's, he instinctively flinched, so he asked out of curiosity, "What's the matter, Lady?"
"Nothing much, just... just your eyes remind me of someone I once knew." Lady Shangdu smiled, touching her lips.
"My tutor mentioned you once, but he said it was not polite to comment on a lady behind her back, so I don't know much about you."
"Dr. Shiller is always like that." Lady Shangdu shook her head with a hint of helplessness, "He always maintains a polite distance from everyone. When my sister Vivian asked about him last time, I couldn't even put together three sentences."
Bruce adjusted his sitting position, from a relaxed posture with legs spread wide to a standard cross-legged posture. Lady Shangdu arched her brow, revealing a slightly surprised expression, and said, "You're Bruce Wayne, aren't you? You're a bit different than what's written about you in the papers."
"I don't have time to bother about these things." Bruce once again focused on the manuscript paper in his hand.
He assumed that in the magical realm, there must be many young mages who adore magic and behave somewhat peculiar in ordinary society. He planned to build a similar image for himself, so he shrugged flippantly and said, "I don't have time to chase down tabloid journalists asking them to understand me."
Lady Shangdu started laughing, with a tone of jest, "So what's the deal with you and those beautiful models?"
"Personal preference," Bruce quirked his lips and said bluntly, "I do have many female companions. I treasure their beauty, and they treasure my wealth. We simply meet each other's needs. Who knows if the people who write these reports aren't a bit jealous while typing it out?"
Lady Shangdu laughed even harder, throwing her head back and forth. With one hand over her mouth, she exuded a subtle eastern beauty. Holding Bruce's gaze, she said, "Boys are always like this, completely oblivious to the charm of innocence and straightforwardness, as deadly as a sharp blade."
Bruce's gaze lowered unfazed, casting his eyes again on the draft paper. His repeated dumbfounding checks finally made Lady Shangdu examine the magic array he had drawn on the paper.
Lady Shangdu had initially thought he was replicating, so she just skimmed it. But as her gaze passed the draft paper, she stopped abruptly.
"What are you drawing?" Lady Shangdu narrowed her eyes slightly and squinted at the slightly unfamiliar magic array pattern on the draft paper, "Creating a new magic array? Is this your tutor's achievement?"
Bruce shook his head, as if somewhat stifled and said, "No, this is the homework he left for me, Lady, I am not sure if you want to hear such boring academic information…"
"Let's hear it." Lady Shangdu's chin rested on her own fingers, she deftly nodded and said, "Maybe I can help you… Oh, if you didn't know who I am, then you surely know who King Arthur is. The fairy Vivian who gifted King Arthur the Lake Sword, she's my sister."
Bruce's pupils contracted a bit. Lady Shangdu looked satisfyingly at his shocked expression.