As Hirvan stepped out of the venue, a sigh of relief escaped his lips. He had narrowly escaped the relentless attention of Grandpa Fu, whose enthusiasm for talking to him was matched only by his persistence. The old man had been nothing but kind, but the intensity of his attention had left Hirvan feeling overwhelmed.
Once outside, he turned to Fu Yan, a hint of apology flickering across his face.
"You're probably disappointed to leave the party before it even started. I'm sorry if my request caused any trouble with your family."
Fu Yan shook his head, a reassuring smile softening his features.
"No, not at all. I usually don't participate in these kinds of banquets, so it's really okay," he said with a calmness that seemed to wash away Hirvan's lingering concerns.
After all, Hirvan reasoned, if Fu Yan had made a habit of attending such events, he should have recognised him. The fact that he hadn't heard of him meant there was truth to Fu Yan's words.
