Chapter 121 - Sharing is Caring

After Tung Mei had enough of laughing at An Hao's expense. She sighed, then seriously said, "As much as I don't like him and find him inadequate, just using your words..." She added that last line when she saw An Hao glaring daggers at her and she smiled back, "...It is a fact that he really, really likes Xing jie. Also, there are very few options who can match up to Xing jie, and if she has to be with someone then I guess he'll do...Anyway, I advise you to stop looking for trouble for yourself. He can get quite possessive and petty. Frankly, it's very annoying so -" 

"How dare you call my Emperor petty?!" An Hao roared, greatly offended, "The Emperor is the greatest person there is. Also, the Emperor is in no way inadequate, your Xing jie is the one wh- " 

"Ying jie?" An Hao immediately shut down when he heard Xiao Ting's voice, calling. He looked down and frowned, greatly irritated.

{... I really don't like this girl!... She actually dared insult my great Emperor like this?! To my face too!... Almost made me slip up too! Insulting her sister is definitely not the way to apologise!...}

Tung Mei looked at him and scoffed, then she responded to Xiao Ting's call, "I'm here."

Shortly after, Xiao Ting smilingly arrived and went straight to stand in front of Tung Mei, "I was worried you went home, why did you suddenly leave while I was changing? What do you think of it?" She asked touching her dress and hair.

Tung Mei looked her over and flatly responded, "It's fine."

"Just fine?" She pouted and then mumbled, "Why do you and jiejie always respond like this? It's no fun...And it's important too." 

Tung Mei looked at her miserable face, sighed then indulged her, "It's beautiful, you look beautiful, stunning even."

Xiao Ting beamed and excitedly asked, "Have you finished thinking about it? You're going to come, right?"

"I'm still thinking about it." Tung Mei responded looking down at the book on the table.

Xiao Ting pouted and was starting to get teary, "I don't know if jiejie will come, and you're also being like this too. It's not fair..." Her coming of age ceremony was coming soon and she wanted to show Tung Mei her outfit so she put it on only to find she had disappeared while she was changing. She did not like Tung Mei at first, but that was because she kept making fun of her. After Tung Mei got bored of poking at her, Xiao Ting found her to be really, really likable and they started to get along.

Tung Mei often stayed at their house, she said she did not like living with her relatives as it made her uncomfortable. They all thought her situation must not be good there and so sympathized with her, she even had her own room here. Xiao Ting especially liked having her, it was someone to keep her company. Also, she really reminded her of her sister who now lived in the palace, so Xiao Ting quickly warmed up to her and Tung Mei let her do as she liked, with the occasionally scolding but Xiao Ting was used to that.

Tung Mei frowned then irritatedly said, "Okay, I'll come. No more tears!" Xiao Ting immediately perked up and brightly smiled. 

"Ahem!" An Hao finally cleared his throat behind Xiao Ting. Xiao Ting turned back and immediately jumped when she saw him sitting there, she had not noticed him at all and Tung Mei naturally, enjoyed watching him stew and so did not tell her.

Tung Mei put on a wry smile and went, "Ah, you have a guest."

An Hao narrowed his eyes at her in annoyance, then got up. Xiao Ting flinched back and wanted to run behind Tung Mei, but then she remembered the scolding she received yesterday and straightened up and haughtily asked, "Why are you here again?"

An Hao reminded himself of his purpose and maintained his smile, "I'm here to apologize."

Xiao Ting raised an eyebrow in disbelief, he did nothing but blame her yesterday and now wants to apologize?

An Hao saw her disbelief and wanted to say some more words but then glanced at Tung Mei, who was attentively watching them with interest and frowned, "Can you -"

"I was here first. You can go somewhere else if you want." Tung Mei cut him off with a smirk. An Hao glared at her, and Xiao Ting glanced between the two wondering what happened between them. 

An Hao finally sighed, then looked at Xiao Ting and said, "Excuse me for a bit." Then grabbed her hand and pulled the rigid Xiao Ting out of the pavilion. He frowned as he heard Tung Mei's laughter behind him. He stopped out of earshot from Tung Mei, then frowned in her direction, to see her yawning and looking down at the table. 

"L-let go!" Xiao Ting finally said, brushing his hand off. An Hao blinked and quickly released her. Then cleared his throat then shoved the box into her hands, "Here, this is for you. An apology gift." Then he looked off to the side, while covertly glancing at her.

Xiao Ting knit her brows, then opened the box and went wide-eyed. Inside were a bunch of elaborate sugar candy sticks of different designs. 

An Hao saw her expression and frowned, "You don't like it?" Before she could respond, he added, "It's very good."

"You eat this?" Xiao Ting asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Of course, it's good. Don't you?" An Hao asked with a confused frown, he loved sweets and from his understanding so did most girls.

{...Ah, did I make I mistake? It's better this way, I can eat it myself...}

His mouth was already salivating, he cleared his throat then said, "Since you don't lik-

"I like it." Xiao Ting said and smiled at him, then looked down and said, "Ah...I should also apologise, I should have been paying more attention."

"Ah, no...no, I shouldn't have been walking backwards." An Hao hurriedly said, waving his hands, feeling nervous all of a sudden.

Xiao Ting smiled then said, "Then we'll just let that go."

An Hao nodded in agreement then looked down, knitting his brows. He was not sure what to say now. He never really talked to girls like this before. He heard Xiao Ting chuckling and so looked up and asked, "What's funny?"

Xiao Ting looked up at him and laughingly said, "I just can't imagine a big general like you eating this...It's quite cute." 

An Hao froze, then cleared his throat and looked away, "Well, it's tasty so...I just have good taste."

Xiao Ting laughed and then opened the box, "Want some?"

An Hao eagerly looked down at the box and quickly took one. He closed his eyes as he took a bite and sighed in satisfaction, savoring the sugary goodness. 

Xiao Ting looked at his childlike expression and snorted. Then took one for herself.

{...He's quite cute...} 

An Hao glanced at Xiao Ting enjoying her own candy stick.

{...I like this one, she's very reasonable...}