As Yu Mei stood across facing Pei Nan, she couldn't help but wonder. Why did she always run into him when she wa with Gu Shao? It was as if the heavens were playing a trick on her. She hated this stuffy feeling of always being afraid of what he will do next. When she thought back on his words, "Are you two done yet?" she got a chill. He was too terrifying.
In reality, Pei Nan had used his usual low annoyed voice with her but Yu Mei who was doing something bad thought too much of his question. "Your highness, when did you get here?" Yu Mei smiled.
"Just enough to hear you two laughing. May I know what is so funny?" He arched his brow as if curious. He waited.
"Nothing. It's not anything worth saying." Yu Mei awkwardly shook her hands. [So lucky. I thought I was caught.] Yu Mei finally calmed down. She was scared for no reason. Pei Nan could not have possibly heard her from such a distance.
When Pei Nan reached over to the two of them, he looked at Yu Mei and then Gu Shao. [You two are standing so close. Move away!] He thought to himself. He was right. The two of them were standing side by side, only separated by an inch or two.
"Nan, it's good that you are here. Yu Mei was planning to find you." Gu Shao spoke, trying to change the subject.
"Well it's a good thing I came here then." He had double meanings. Good thing he came before they could do anything much worse behind his back.
"Are you done? Let's go home." Yu Mei was also quick to leave. If Pei Nan tried to look into this matter of her and Gu Shao, she would be dead meat. "Done." Pei Nan turned to leave. Yu Mei quickly followed behind. She didn't forget to turn around and wave Gu Shao goodbye.
When they got into the carriage, things got awkward real quick. Yu Mei who was sitting on the opposite side was being stared at by Pei Nan. For the first few minutes, she looked out the window trying hard to ignore him but his stare…it was very uncomfortable. A stare as if she had done something wrong. The way he was looking at her, he could literally burn a hole in her forehead.
Not even five minutes after being left in the carriage together, Yu Mei finally gave in. She crossed her arms and gave him the evil eye. "Your highness, if you have something to say, say it. Don't keep looking at me like that." [It's uncomfortable] was what she wanted to add to the last line.
"Good! And here I thought you only knew how to cause trouble. You actually know how to read my mood." He said provokingly. Yu Mei grit her teeth. [Calm down Ju Ming. Don't get mad. He is only trying to provoke you.] Yu Mei tried her hardest to calm down. He literally just insulted her, how was she supposed to calm down. Yu Mei forced a smile as she began to speak to him like a civilized human being. "Speak your mind then," Yu Mei gestured with her hand.
Pei Nan didn't hesitate to speak. He had planned to scold her regardless of whether she liked it or not. "Why were you with Gu Shao?" he spoke to her as if he didn't care much.
"Met by accident."
"Accident? You are not allowed to have any more accidental meetings." He strictly banned. Yu Mei let out a loud gasp of disbelief. He was being too much. Worthy of the nickname she gave him.
"Your highness is kidding right? How do you expect me to do that? It's not like I know Prince Shao's whereabouts 24/7. Maybe you should hire me a fortune teller then." She answered his ridiculous demand with sarcasm.
"I don't care. You can't and that's final."
"If you are going to be that unreasonable, tell me the reason why then." The two of them started to argue back and forth. Inside the carriage was like a furnace getting hotter and hotter. "A reason? You are too unruly. You were standing so close to Gu Shao and acting all friendly. Which married woman acts like that. I'm forbidding you from talking to Gu Shao alone." Pei Nan finally let out all the words he wanted to say when he first saw them together.
[Stay calm Ju Ming. Petty Nan is a lunatic. Don't be affected.] Yu Mei took a deep breath before proceeding to defend her case. "Gu Shao is my brother-in-law. It is not weird for me to have conversations with him. Or is it that you are having bad thoughts about me and Gu Shao?" she tilted her head and asked sarcastically. Surely he didn't really think she was going to have an affair? That was too far fetched. If it was any man, then his accusations might make a little bit more sense but this was her brother-in-law. Someone she would meet frequently whether she wanted to or not.
"Yes, I am having bad thoughts about you two. The way you were looking at Gu Shao earlier. Who knows if you have any intentions on him?" As he spoke, he started to raise his voice out of anger. Pei Nan didn't believe that Gu Shao would like Pei Nan for two reasons. One, he was infatuated with Fei Ning. Two, there was no way Gu Shao would like Yu Mei. She and Fei Ning were like complete opposite. No matter how he saw it, he couldn't imagine Gu Shao liking Yu Mei.
Once again Yu Mei was in utter shock. What was wrong with this man? All she did was talk to Gu Shao. She had no intentions of having an affair. Sadly her quick temper couldn't comprehend what to say and not to say. "So what of it. What if I do like him?" She dared to challenge him but she never would have imagined this would trigger Pei Nan to act.
The next moment, Pei Nan stood from his seat and grabbed Yu Mei by the arm. Before she could react, Pei Nan had pulled her towards him. With one hand holding her wrist, the other took advantage of her waist as it wrapped around her tiny waist, closing in more distance.
Yu Mei was in an awkward position. Pei Nan was back in his seat while she was standing in front of him with her body leaned towards his. If it wasn't for her free hand pushing on his shoulder, she was afraid she would have fallen into his laps already. "Let go of me." Yu Mei tried to shake him off as she glared at him. Pei Nan didn't budge an inch. The more Yu Mei tried to wiggle herself free, the tighter he wrapped his arm around her waist. Yu Mei was left in shock when he pulled her even closer, leaving no space between their two bodies. He trapped her legs between his thighs, cutting her from any escape attempt. "You are not allowed to like him." This time his voice was filled with complaints.
"Why?" Even when she was in a bad situation, she didn't want to give in to him. She loved to provoke him, even if she hadn't realized it. "You should know I don't like other people taking my things. I am a very petty man." Pei Nan didn't forget to emphasize the word "petty". Yu Mei sucked in a huge breath of air as her eyes widened in horror. He actually heard everything. He played her the whole time. He was supposed to start beating her, so why was he smiling sinisterly instead.
*Hehe* "You heard everything?" Yu Mei finally toned down her voice.
"Everything!" he spoke every part of that word with lots and lots of emphasis. All she could do was blink at him innocently and pray that he let her go. Of all the danger she's ever encountered, this moment topped them all. This scene was as if she was like a bunny trapped by a crazy hunter. HOw does a bunny like her escape? There was only one thing she could think of…sweetly talk her way out of it.
Yu Mei slid her hand on his shoulder and laughed awkwardly. Of course she didn't know she sounded awkward but Pei Nan was used to it. Anytime he heard this bizarre and awkward laugh of hers, he knew she was going to try to get herself out of the sticky situation. "Your highness must have heard wrong. I would never call you petty. You are the most handsome, smart and talented man I know. How could I have the heart to call you that." her voice had turned a complete 180. To compare, it went from a raging storm to a sweet and serene summer breeze.
"Oh?" Pei Nan arched a brow as he continued to listen with interest. "It's true. Everything I said is the truth. I would never lie to you." [Don't catch me lying.] Yu Mei prayed as she spoke lies after lies.
"If that's the case, should I write a punishment order…" he didn't forget to give her a meaningful look. "Off with your head?" Yu Mei scrunched her nose and scolded Gu Shao in her heart. Why did he have to go and make fun of Pei Nan. It was funny then but not now.
"Your highness shouldn't be so petty. We were only joking around."
"Fine, I'll forgive you. Persuade me." Persuade? This was Ju Ming he was talking to. What couldn't she do?
Pei Nan froze on the spot when Yu Mei wrapped her arm around his neck and sat on his lap like a little kid. The hand holding her waist loosened a bit from the sudden change of her attitude.
"Pei Nan, you are being too much." She complained cutely as her bright eyes stared at him. "Surely you won't have the heart to kill me. Right?" She continued to act cute in front of him. But Pei Nan wouldn't budge. Yu Mei was getting annoyed. Wasn't men supposed to be moved when a woman was in front of them? She tried to act cute for a few more seconds before giving up. He was a stone. A stupid stone to be exact.
"Hmph! What will it take for you to forgive me." Yu Mei was quick to change her temper once more. Now she was acting like her normal self as she rolled her eyes and crossed her arms.
Pei Nan didn't know how he should react to this sudden change in temper. "Bring me tea and grind ink for me tomorrow." He causally suggested.
"What?" she blurted.
"Your choice. Off with your head or come over to my study room tomorrow. I won't repeat myself."
Two options. Of course there was only one real option to choose from. "You promise to let this go, right?" she had to make sure he wasn't going to hold this over her head any longer.
"A prince does not go back on his word."
"That's a relief." She sincerely smiled at him. Pei Nan suddenly felt weird when he saw her smile. She had smiled at him more and more often these days. It was strange to him. "You can get off now." Pei Nan tried his best to not think about her smile as he let go of her waist. Yu Mei literally jumped off of him and back to her seat. It didn't take more than a few seconds. The carriage went back to being silent and awlward.
After a ride that seemed like ages, they had finally reached. Pei Nan got down first. Yu Mei was on the edge waiting for him. Waiting for him to reach his hand out for her to grab. Usually she would have Chu'mei help her down but Chu'mei didn't accompany her today. No choice but to have Pei Nan but he didn't give his hand to her. He stared at her as if saying, "What are you waiting for? Hurry and come down."
*Ahem* "Can't you be a gentleman and help me down." Yu Mei wasn't afraid to call him out. Pei Nan put his hands behind his back and looked at her amused. "You have the nerves to be sassy with me; you can surely get down yourself. I will see you tomorrow."
He actually left just like that.
(End of chapter)