23 First Kiss

Yu Mei stretched her arms and yawned loudly. Good thing she didn't have to sleep outside, which would have been terrible. Thinking about how fortunate she was, her mood had become very good. She had comfy clothes, a soft bed and…a shock of horror ran through her veins. "CHU'MEI!" Yu Mei had actually forgotten all about her loyal maid Chu'mei. Without thinking of anything else, she slipped her shoes on and rushed out.

The very cold and abandoned Chu'mei was surprisingly sleeping very comfortably on top of the tree.

How she slept like that all night without falling was a miracle in itself.

The sun hit her face, waking her up from her pleasant dream. She lifted her arms and stretched, letting out a soft yawn. For a moment, she forgot she wasn't on her bed but on top of a tree. Too late. The next thing she knew, she was falling. This was it. "Eeeeek," her eyes were shut tightly while a loud squeak came out of her mouth. This was it, she was going to die hungry. She did not want to become a hungry ghost. Chu'mei felt wronged when she thought of her empty stomach.

A long moment later, Chu'mei was still waiting for that drop. Shouldn't she have fallen to her death already? Wasn't this fall too long? The moment her eyes opened, they met with a beautiful pair of dark mysterious eyes. *Thump* Chu'mei swore she could feel her heart beating. A man. A man came to her rescue. Not just any man, a man dressed in black with his hair in a very sexy ponytail. He was carrying Chu'mei in his arms princess style. Very romantic, thought Chu'mei. She blinked a few times, making sure she wasn't still dreaming.

"Are you okay?" if his looks weren't enough to mesmerize her, his husky voice did. Chu'mei nodded her head yes. The next second, he set her down gently. The very muddle-headed Chu'mei pat her hair down, making sure it didn't look so messy as she proceeded to look at him like a love sick puppy. "Thank you for saving me,"

"Be careful next time," he was about to leave when he heard a familiar voice…Yu Mei's. The girl who has caused everyone to have hard time. The girl who has left him with barely any sleep. The girl who has made his master mad. He finally found her. He didn't know just how bad he wanted to kill her. If it wasn't for Pei Nan's sake, he would have already tossed her in the lake already.

Next thing they knew, they were back at the Southern Palace. Chu'mei was standing behind her lady who just so happened to be having a stare off with Pei Nan. Who knew when he had returned, but he did. "Feng Ju, take Chu'mei outside. I would like to be alone with Consort Pan for a few moments," gosh, his voice was even terrifying. Yu Mei held onto Chu'mei's sleeves as if saying, don't leave me. Chu'mei was thinking about her lady but she was also thinking about Feng Ju. Why did he have to be one of Pei Nan's men? Her lady hated Pei Nan, so of course she would hate everyone who sided with Pei Nan too. "My apologies," he grabbed Chu'mei by the wrist, pulling her apart from Yu Mei. "Xiaojie," she cried out.

"I'll be fine," to be honest, Yu Mei didn't know if she would be fine or not. It was all up to the heavens now. But even she couldn't count on that. She had been unlucky the moment she came into this body, it was more like the heavens were making a fool of her.

"Come," Pei Nan beckoned her over.

She pouted her lips. There was no way she would do that. The moment she was within his grasp, slice! He would chop her to pieces. Seeing her not move an inch, his patience grew even shorter, "Yu Mei, don't make me say it again, come over RIGHT NOW!" he once more beckoned her over, trying to stay as calm as possible. She had given him the biggest headache of all time. If she knew what was going through his head yesterday, she would have spit blood. He was angry at what she did to him but more worried that she had ran away for good.

"Don't want to," she shook her head, rebelling against him. The very patient Pei Nan didn't feel very patient anymore as he crossed his arms, exuding the most insane amount of anger. "Don't want to?" Yu Mei shivered at his question. This was like a scene where the grim reaper asks her to follow him to death but she refuses. Pei Nan had even nailed the deathly tone. "NO!" she boldly replied. "Why should I have to get punished? It was you who started it. You should be the one to be punished," she actually dared to point her finger at him. She felt wronged; he was the one to start it. If he didn't provoke her last night, she wouldn't have hit him. This was his entire fault, so why should she have anything to fear?

That confident attitude of hers didn't last long the moment Pei Nan shot up from his seat. "Yu Mei, you are getting bolder and bolder each day," with all her might, she sped across the table. Luckily the round table was big enough where he couldn't just reach over to grab her. They were in a face off. on opposite ends. He took one step to the right, she followed suit.

They had run around the table twice before he slammed both palms onto the table, creating a big thump. "Yu Mei, come over here right now. If I catch you, I'll make you wish you never provoked me,"

"Let's see if you can," she stuck her tongue out. It wasn't the time to be having fun but Yu Mei found it quite entertaining after a few more rounds of chasing tails.

A few more rounds later, he still couldn't catch her. It even came to the point where Pei Nan wanted to call in reinforcement but his ego would be hurt. He didn't believe he couldn't catch her.

Just outside the room, Chu'mei was getting worried for her lady but he…he kept holding onto her hand. Chu'mei turned around and looked at the emotionless Feng Ju. Then she looked at her hand he was still holding. "Let go of me," in a very demanding voice.

"I can't,"

"I won't run off, I promise,"

"I can't take that chance. It took me all night to bring Madame back; I can't let you interrupt,"

Chu'mei huffed and puffed in disbelief. This man. Why did he have no room for negotiation. Sounds like someone she knew…Prince Nan. A naughty smirk appeared on her face. If Feng Ju was like the emotionless Pei Nan, Chu'mei was the exact replica of Yu Mei. Next moment, she stomped hard on his feet. He let go. She was free. Chu'mei dashed for the door but Feng Ju was a second faster. He grabbed her by the waist and pulled her back his way. Chu'mei let out a very surprised shriek. "Let go of me," You dare take liberty with me, Chu'mei thought. The very next thing she knew, he had flung her on top of his shoulder like a sack of rice and carried her far from the door. "Help me! Someone help me. This bad man is kidnapping me,"

Feng Ju had enough of her nonsense. "If you don't stop, I'm going to drop you into a lake," he threatened. That shut Chu'mei up real quick. He let out a proud smile as if saying, "much better."

Back in the room, a struggling Yu Mei was running out of energy. She was panting and sweating but why did it not apply to Pei Nan? Not a single bead of sweat landed on his handsome face. If this went on any longer, she wouldn't make it.

"If you're done playing, come over here and I promise I will lessen your punishment," he motioned her to come over. [Like hell I am,] she thought, looking around the room, trying to think of a plan. Ah ha! A lightbulb in her head turned on the moment she looked at the bed.

Her ultimate plan: Run towards the bed, climb up and wait for Pei Nan. The moment he reaches, pull the bed curtains around his head and push him down. Last step…run. Yu Mei let out a loud laughter when she pictured her plan. It was too good in her head.

From the opposite side, Pei Nan was giving her a strange look. What was she laughing about? Laughing at him? Thinking that her laughter was at him, he grew even more furious, dashing towards her. Yu Mei ran towards the bed like planned, stepping on top of her mattress with both hands on the bed curtains.

Pei Nan's steps became slower as he made his way over to her. After a long struggle, he finally caught her, he thought. "I give up, you win," Yu Mei pretended to give in. He was right there, in front of her. Just as he was about to reach for her, Yu Mei pulled the curtains over his head, trapping him in her human net. "PAN YU MEI!" he shouted, trying to get the tangled curtains off of him. It worked! Pan Yu Mei didn't think it would be this easy. Last step was to run but why didn't it go according to plan? "AHHH!" a flailing and flapping Pan Yu Mei was coming straight towards him. For the first time, his eyes widened. It looked like a giant walrus coming towards him. Yu Mei cursed herself as her body advanced towards his. There was no way to stop this sudden fall. Why did she have to slip on her own blanket?

Her hands naturally landed on his shoulders as they fell on the ground with a loud thump. Yu Mei was thankful it was Pei Nan who was in front. If it was her, she would have been squished by his heavy weight. *Smack* Yu Mei's head went down, lips smacking the thin curtain between her lips and his. That was close enough to a kiss. She blinked a few times dazed. Even if she couldn't see Pei Nan's expression under the curtain, she knew what he was thinking. She took advantage of him!

First thing she did was get off him and spit as if it was the most disgusting thing she had ever experienced. Pei Nan sat straight up, removing the curtain from his head. All he could hear from her mouth was the sounds of *Ach-pi pi pi* She was acting as if he was some kind of disease. "Yu Mei, you dare to kiss me?"

"Ugh…I actually kissed you. No…to be exact, I didn't kiss you, I kissed the curtains," she shook her hands innocently. His face turned three shades darker. Her actions, her voice, they were all filled with repugnance as if she didn't want to kiss him.

He had enough. She dared to steal a kiss from him and then insult him. He, Prince Nan would not take this insult. He pulled her back into his arms as they fell back onto the ground. Yu Mei was caught in a surprise, blinking at him a few more times. Next thing she knew, he had skillfully spun her around. Her back hit the cold floor gently while he was on top. The only thing blocking her chest from his was her tiny hands. She looked up at his seductive eyes scared. There was no way he was going to do what she was thinking, right? Pei Nan's seductive gaze never stopped staring at hers. His fingers lightly played with her bangs as he smiled evilly. "What was that? My kiss was repulsive?" in a very psychotic voice, he asked her. Yu Mei couldn't make a single noise. She didn't know whether it was because of fear or nervousness. His face leaned in, intertwining their lips once more. The moment his lips touched hers, he could taste the sweetness from her tender lips. "Mm.nn," Yu Mei protested, hitting his chest with her hands.

Pei Nan unwillingly removed his lips from hers. That ten seconds their lips entwined together was not long enough. He wanted to kiss her again, to taste those rebellious lips of hers. "Pei Nan, you opportunist!" Yu Mei yelled the moment he released her. "Still repulsive? Should we keep trying? I'm sure you'll like my kisses sooner or later," he teased, about to pull another fast one on her when the door opened.

"Pei Nan?" Both Pei Nan and Yu Mei turned towards the door.