Liu Mingyan gives Shen Yuan the same bow she gives to every wife that Luo Binghe presents her. As she straightens up, she regards him: it is Shen Qingqiu's body, but it takes her a moment to be certain, because both his dress and his mannerisms are so entirely different. He is dressed in the same strange style as Luo Binghe, though his shirt has longer sleeves and a softer, thicker fabric, for comfort rather than fashion. His bow is uncertain, slightly awed, rather than vicious and mocking. His smile--he is smiling at all, and it is aimed at Luo Binghe, and it is genuine, and warm, and everything she needs to be certain that this is, in truth, an entirely new person.

Luo Binghe also touches him differently than he ever has his wives. Casually, but compulsively, as if he cannot help it. There had been no flirtation or purpose to that kiss on his cheek, simply an expression of genuine and unthinking fondness. It makes something in her chest ache, sharply.

Still--she does not know this ghost. It is possible, if not exactly likely, that he might have some sinister motive--possible, even, that it is he who has brought Luo Binghe here, and that his winsome and yielding exterior is the sweetness at the heart of this elegant snare.

This must surely have occurred to Luo Binghe as well, and he has presumably dismissed it; still, she holds herself back from unreserved acceptance as of yet.

"Young master Shen," she greets him. "My husband has explained to me his heart belongs to you, now."