Don't Be a Tease, Mr. Blackwood

The black Bentley pulled out of the courtyard.

In a flash, Yuri saw a tall figure pass by on the second-floor balcony.

’Looked like Alaric Blackwood.’

Yuri placed both hands on the steering wheel, glancing thoughtfully at Sophie Shaw in the passenger seat. "Is Mr. Blackwood home?"

"He is."

"Does he know you’re going to the fashion show with me?"

"He knows."

Yuri’s lips curved into a faint smile. "How are things between you and Mr. Blackwood?"

"They’re great."

To Yuri, Sophie Shaw’s response sounded a little half-hearted.

There was a rumor in the socialite circle that Alaric Blackwood and Sophie Shaw had a contract marriage. He’d always been skeptical about it.

He remembered his last visit to Maplewood Estate. Sophie Shaw had been asleep on the sofa, and while Alaric Blackwood was reluctantly making him coffee, he had said one thing: "You can’t touch what’s mine."

Even back then, he’d felt Alaric Blackwood’s feelings for Sophie Shaw were anything but ordinary.

’But then what about those rumors of a contract marriage?’

Shayla Zane was the one who told him. She said it was told as a joke during a socialite’s afternoon tea, and from there, it spread through the circle, one person to the next, until the contract marriage story was everywhere.

It was still early. The Bentley left the villa complex and soon pulled up in front of a Western-style café.

Sophie Shaw was puzzled. "Aren’t we going to the fashion show?"

"It’s not time yet. It’s almost noon, so let’s get something to eat first."

After parking the car, he led Sophie Shaw into the café.

Sophie Shaw wasn’t very hungry. Alaric Blackwood had fed her until she was stuffed this morning, and she had even gone back to sleep for a bit, so breakfast hadn’t fully digested. She only ordered a vegetable salad and a cup of coffee.

"Are you on a diet, Miss Shaw?"

"No, I’m just not very hungry."

Yuri’s gaze swept over her. "You really should watch your weight, Miss Shaw."

"?"

"That night at the hot spring hotel, you drank too much. I carried you back to your room, remember?"

Sophie Shaw nodded awkwardly, then heard Yuri add in a teasing tone, "You’re quite... substantial, Miss Shaw."

"..."

’Is he calling me heavy?’

"After carrying you that one time, my wrist was a little strained the next day."

Sophie Shaw’s mouth twitched. She felt offended. "Then you must not get enough exercise, Mr. Yates. I’m 130 pounds, tops, and I’m tall for my weight. My husband has never once told me to control my weight."

A corner of Yuri’s lip quirked up. "That’s because Mr. Blackwood has never tried to carry a 130-pound person who’s dead drunk. A drunk person is unconscious and a dead weight."

"He has. And with one arm."

At this, a sweet smile bloomed on Sophie Shaw’s face, her words a blatant slap to Yuri’s ego. "My husband is amazing. He can lift me with one arm, effortlessly. Unlike you, Mr. Yates. You look so tall and strong, but you strain a muscle just from carrying a woman for a few minutes."

’The implication being: you, sir, are a total lightweight.’

"A minor strain."

Yuri enunciated the words a bit more forcefully.

"What’s the difference? A strain is a strain, isn’t it?"

"..."

Yuri was left speechless, realizing his words had displeased Sophie Shaw.

Sophie Shaw looked as gentle as water, but when she started arguing, her little mouth was like a machine gun.

Perhaps he had been too blunt and hurt her pride.

’A woman’s weight must be a taboo topic. Best not to mention it...’

With absolutely no experience in dealing with women, Yuri had no idea how to diffuse the tension.

"Mr. Yates, let me tell you something funny."

Sophie Shaw stirred the salad in her bowl with her fork, the curve of her red lips holding a hint of mockery. "My best friend is five-foot-three and barely a hundred pounds, but if I drink too much, she can carry me home."

"Is that so?"

"Mr. Yates."

"Hm?"

"If you’re that weak, you should train more."

Yuri: "..."

The rest of the lunch passed in growing silence.

Yuri silently sent a message to his assistant on his phone, telling him to order a custom set of fitness equipment and hire a professional trainer.

He was usually too focused on work, always sitting in the office. He had indeed neglected his physical fitness.

He couldn’t let Alaric Blackwood outdo him.

Not in any aspect.

"You’re thirty this year, aren’t you, Mr. Yates?"

Sophie Shaw suddenly broke the silence.

He nodded. "Just turned thirty."

"My husband is twenty-six. Young and strong."

"..."

Stung sharply, Yuri lowered his eyes and sent another message to his assistant: "Have the trainer draw up a muscle-building plan ASAP. Highest intensity."

The assistant on the other end of the line: ’It’s the weekend. What kind of fit is the boss throwing now...’

At two in the afternoon.

Sophie Shaw followed Yuri to the fashion show venue.

After handing the invitation to the staff at the entrance, Yuri gestured for Sophie Shaw to take his arm. The woman deliberately pretended not to see and walked politely by his side instead.

Many big names from the fashion world were already there. The U-shaped runway was surrounded by seats that had been pre-arranged by the organizers.

Shortly after finding their assigned seats, Sophie Shaw unexpectedly spotted a familiar figure in the crowd.

It was Alaric Blackwood.

The man was seated in the center-most position directly facing the runway, flanked by the event organizer’s founder and executive CEO. People kept approaching him to offer their business cards.

The man exchanged a few pleasantries with those around him, then his gaze shifted in her direction, his thin lips hooking into a slight smile.

Showy. Smug.

Sophie Shaw never imagined he would be here, surrounded by the event organizers. Seeing this, the invited media swarmed over, frantically taking pictures of Alaric Blackwood and the hosts.

It seemed he really was the kind of person major brands scrambled to please.

"Peacock."

Yuri muttered the evaluation with a cold expression.

Noticing him staring at Alaric Blackwood, who was thronged by the crowd, Sophie Shaw gave a faint smile. She had a feeling Alaric Blackwood had deliberately come to the fashion show to make an appearance.

An appearance for her to see.

The fashion show began soon after.

The lights in the venue dimmed, leaving only a single spotlight on the runway, illuminating the models as they walked.

Sophie Shaw was focused on the show when Yuri suddenly leaned close to her ear and said, "After the show, I’ll introduce you to a few brand representatives."

"Okay, thank you."

The sight of the two of them, their heads nearly touching as they whispered, was clearly seen by Alaric Blackwood.

He had thought that if he showed up here, sitting in the prime seat, Sophie Shaw would obediently come over to his side. But she remained seated next to Yuri, showing no intention of moving at all.

’Did she not get his hint?’

’Or was she doing this on purpose?’

He had no interest in watching the show.

The entire show was excruciatingly boring for him, yet Sophie Shaw watched with intense focus.

The show ended, and the house lights came up.

Next came the free mingling time, with clinking glasses and conversation.

The organizers had prepared afternoon tea and desserts for the guests and were now giving interviews to the media.

Alaric Blackwood walked straight toward Sophie Shaw.

Yuri was in the middle of introducing Sophie Shaw to the founder of a womenswear brand, a powerhouse of a woman named Ms. Langley.

Alaric Blackwood’s sudden appearance made Ms. Langley quite excited.

"Mr. Blackwood, this is my card."

Ms. Langley’s attention shifted to Alaric Blackwood almost instantly. She elegantly offered her business card, not wanting to miss the chance to get acquainted with such a major investor.

Alaric Blackwood politely accepted her card and handed her one of his own.

While Ms. Langley’s eyes lit up as she stared at the card, he took the opportunity to pull Sophie Shaw over, tuck her hand into the crook of his arm, and say to Ms. Langley, "Allow me to introduce you. This is my wife, the founder of Heart of the Ocean, Sophie Shaw."