Chapter 228 - Unwelcome Attention

An Hao was actually checking to see if Lei Yong was still present. He immediately wanted to follow after Xiao Ting, but then he did not want it to be too obvious. So he waited for a bit and then followed after only to find Lei Yong ahead of him seemingly going in the same direction.

He had been avoiding Lei Yong quite a bit recently, and whenever Lei Yong saw him he always seemed to be glaring at him. Although that might have just been An Hao's imagination. But still, An Hao took precautions, he always came over when he knew Lei Yong had gone off to work and always made sure to leave the Lei manor before he returned. 

Although, he was only going to be able to avoid an encounter Lei Yong for another day. After all, they will be working in the same defense department. What's more, he was likely to be assigned to the army camp with Lei Yong. But that was a problem for later, there was no need to go looking for trouble right now. 

For now, An Hao had a simple mission and that was to give Xiao Ting her present. Lei Yong was for later. Therefore, An Hao quietly followed Lei Yong from a distance, hoping that he would change directions somewhere between the garden and the exit. 

Now that Lei Yong was gone, An Hao quickly bounded for the group, where he was met with a silent welcome. He glanced from Lei Xing scrutinizing him to Xiao Ting pouting in his direction, obviously still upset with his cold reception earlier.

{...They really do alike -...}

An Hao shook those thoughts away and bowed to Lei Xing while covertly glaring at Bi Lo, who was observing him with a slight smirk on his face.

An Hao adjusted his expression and straightened up. He glanced at Xiao Ting and his hands tightened on the box and he quickly lowered his head as his face started to redden. There were too many nosy eyes here, they were in the way and were making him feel very awkward.

An Hao then glanced at Lei Xing, cleared his throat and hesitantly requested, "Ahhh...Can I borrow her for a bit?... It'll be quick." He finished lowering his head again.

Bi Lo snorted and Lei Xing glanced at him and he immediately straightened up and looked away, holding back his laughter. Lei Xing then noticed Xiao Ting looking at her with pleading puppy eyes. Lei Xing raised an amused eyebrow.

{...Um, am I supposed to be playing chaperone here or something? Why do these guys keeping asking me, why not just ask the girls themselves? Scared of being refused? Maybe hahahaa...}

"Sure...Go ahead." Lei Xing awkwardly said.

Xiao Ting smiled at her and sweetly said, "I'll be right back." Then she turned to An Hao, narrowed her eyes at him and then walked off towards the inner courtyard on the side. An Hao hesitated for a moment before quickly following behind her. 

Xiao Ting stopped, still in clear view of Lei Xing and the others, but far enough that they would have to strain their ears to hear a quiet conversation. An Hao stopped in front of her, glanced at the group who all had their eyes on them with keen interest and then awkwardly said, "Xiao Ting...how about we move somewhere else?"

"No, there are guests around and if I'm seen wandering around with you. It could be a problem." Xiao Ting flatly responded.

An Hao frowned.

{...Problem? Why would that be a problem?...} 

"Why did you ignore me earlier?" Xiao Ting asked, cutting through An Hao's wandering thoughts as she pouted at the ground. She was not going to let it bother her and she did temporarily forget about it but seen him again reminded her.

She had thought that they had become good friends and he had come to her party, but then he ignored her? Naturally, she found it upsetting. Lei Xing had always pounded it into her head that it was better to be that direct and straightforward rather than to suffer in silence. And so she plucked up her courage and asked, despite feeling foolish.

An Hao blinked at her in confusion and asked, "Ignore you? -" Then he quickly realized she was referring to their earlier encounter and jumped to clarify, "I wasn't ignoring you, it was just your sister is -" He caught himself and closed his mouth, but he had said too much already 

"What about my sister?" Xiao Ting asked with a frown.

An Hao knew bad-mouthing Lei Xing was a definite no-no with Xiao Ting. So he immediately covered it up with a smile and said, "Your sister was just so awe-inspiring hehe..." Before Xiao Ting could question him further, he shoved the box into her hands, "Here, for you!" Then he looked off to the side as his face became even redder and mumbled, "I made it myself..." 

Xiao Ting was instantly pacified and opened the box, expecting to find a rare variety of a snack. But then she was stunned to see the jade panda, "You made this?" She asked blinking at the miniature panda.

An Hao straightened up and smugly went, "It was easy." as he rubbed his nose. Xiao Ting looked up at him and saw that two of his fingers were roughly bandaged and went, "You cut yourself?"

"Those were from something else!" An Hao swiftly responded, putting his hands behind his back, "...So...do you like it?" He hesitantly asked as he studied Xiao Ting's face. 

Xiao Ting eagerly nodded with a smile, "I love it...It's adorable." 

An Hao's face lit up again and he beamed, feeling proud of himself. This was what he wanted. It was definitely the best idea to present the gift in person. 

When Xiao Ting tried to balance the box on one arm so she could pick up the panda, An Hao quickly took the box and held it open for her with a smile. He had now completely forgotten about the unwelcome audience, he was just too busy watching Xiao Ting admiring his panda to care about them.

An Hao smilingly nodded and agreed, "En, it is really adorable..."

Back in the peanut gallery, Bi Lo shook his head and quietly mumbled, "He's completely lost."

Lei Xing heard that and quietly snorted as she watched the adorable scene playing out with a smile.

{...He's definitely a lost cause hahahaha...}

Suddenly Lei Xing's expression fell when she noticed Prince Yi on the walkway on the other side of the courtyard. Lei Xing's bad mood instantly returned and she remembered that she wanted to leave. She looked at Xiao Ting and An Hao, who were still busy with their panda play and let out a breath. 

{...Okay, he's just passing through...It's normal for him to pass through this area to get to the exit...It's not like he's looking this way, it's nothing...}

Lei Xing tried to focus her attention on the adorable duo, but then Prince Yi stopped and she could not help glancing at him and her heart skipped when she met his eyes again. She immediately looked away with knit eyebrows.

{...Screw this, I'm leaving -_-)'...}

Lei Xing turned to Xiao Ting's personal maid and ordered, "Be sure to stay here and watch them." With that said, she walked off, just as Prince Yi resumed walking himself, still looking her away and obviously aiming to turn the next corner towards her. 

Lei Xing was speed walking, as fast as possible without looking foolish with an irritated frown on her face. She was not happy.

{...This is not being a coward, this is just me avoiding trouble...I don't understand this guy, I really don't., why won't he just leave me alone? >_

"Noble consort Lei, please wait!" A voice carried over just as Lei Xing was crossing the front courtyard, with the exit doors in clear sight. But that call ruined her plans, she had to stop. The last thing she needed was people trying to decipher what sort of drama was going on between them for her to rudely ignore Prince Yi's call in public.

So Lei Xing took a deep breath and then turned around just as Prince Yi stopped in front of her. She glanced off to the side, avoiding looking at his face and flatly went, "Prince Yi" in acknowledgment. 

{...There's nothing to worry about, I have plenty of chaperones...What am I even thinking? It's not like he's going to assault me -_-)...If he dared, I would personally destroy him before he could even try!...}