Part 2, Chapter 10

If you’re going to flirt with everyone…

Ch 10

“Xun!” Leng Zai called. He was certain she had heard him, but she refused to turn around. He tried again. “Xun!” He was also certain she was walking faster. Confused he ran so he could stand in front of her. She came to an abrupt halt. “Xun, didn’t you hear me?”

“I heard you,” she said, not looking at him.

“Are you mad at me?” He asked.

She glared up at him, “Not at all,” she replied acidly.

Leng Zai studied her face. “You look mad.”

“I’m. Not. Mad. Look, I’m busy,” she said, lifting her basket to show him the load of dirty clothes she was bringing to the launderers. “Go play with your new friends. I think I hear Renping looking for you.”

“Renping can keep looking, I’m talking with you right now.” Leng Zai was hurt, Xun didn’t seem to want anything to do with him now that he could speak. Had she only been spending time with him because she felt sorry for him? That made him angry just thinking about it.

“I’m sure there are lots of other pretty girls ready to line up for your attention if Renping doesn’t suit your fancy Ruping seems to like you. Mei isn’t bad either, I saw the two of you giggling behind the delivery wagon yesterday,” Xun said, shifting her basket to be more squarely between them.

Leng Zai grinned. Xun was jealous! He took the basket from her protesting fingers. “Let me carry this for you. Ruping is pretty, but you’re prettier.”

Xun blushed. “I’m not sure what happened to you the other day, but we really should try to figure it out.”

Leng Zai shrugged, he was curious about the changes in himself, but somehow the curiosity never lasted long enough for him to want to pursue it. “Dingxiang says that the Lantern Festival is tomorrow. The palace staff have the night off, do you want to go?”

“I was going to go with Xiaomin and Shun, but you can come with us if you like,” Xun said, reluctantly smiling. Leng Zai basked in it. The other kitchen girls were pretty and fun to talk with, but only Xun’s smile gave him this warm feeling. 

“Yes, I’d like that,” Leng Zai replied.