121 Race to the finish

When Yu Mei got up, Pei Nan was nowhere in sight. Her heart dropped in disappointment for a moment.

She steadied her heart as she stepped out of the tent. Maybe him being gone was a good thing.

"Ju Ming! You are up." Her master called out to her. But she did not hear. Her mind was focused completely on her surroundings. She looked to the left and then the right. He really did leave, she thought. [Stupid Pei Nan! Fine! Leave. I hope to never see you again.] She pursed her lips annoyed.

"You're so hateful." She mumbled under her breath before turning. Thankfully her reflex was fast enough to not run into the obstacle behind her.

Sandalwood…could only mean one thing.

Pei Nan.

Yu Mei looked up to face him.

He was smiling at her. Which only fueled her foul mood.

"Who is hateful?" He asked curiously. She almost blurted his name but caught herself in time. "You're still here?" She tried to sound as disappointed as possible.

He didn't take offense. Instead he reached his arm out. In his palm was a small handkerchief filled with berries. "Breakfast." He explained when she returned him a confused look.

"Your highness got up this early to find breakfast? Since you've worked so hard, have it all to yourself." She sarcastically smiled at him.

He too returned a smile at her. "Okay." Then he turned around and headed straight towards her master.

Yu Mei watched his every move. He was trying so hard to earn points with her that she almost fell for it. She came to a realization. She once again looked at her surrounding and her heart suddenly softened. There was not a single sign of vegetation in the area. For him to find berries...that meant he had to travel a great distance.

This thought kept playing in her mind. She lost track of time, only coming back to reality with the sound of her master's loud chuckle. He was enjoying his highness's company? This new discovery...she so badly wanted to go see what the two were talking so merrily about.

"Your highness, if you are trying to butter up to me, you are surely doing good. Thanks for the breakfast." The old man took the berries happily from him.

"It's my duty to take care of my wife's master. How can I neglect my duties."

"Haha! Your highness is surely jesting with me. I do not deserve your benevolence. "Then he leaned closer to Prince Nan. "But…if you are able to help me find the Wushu leaf, I am willing to tell you one of Ju Ming's likes. At this rate, I'm starting to feel pity for you." He cheekily bribed Prince Nan.

Pei Nan scrunched his brows. "Ju Ming?"

Old Man Wu gasped silently. "Your highness, I misspoke. I meant to say Yu Mei." He quickly corrected himself. Before Pei Nan could interrogate him, he quickly turned the subject back. "It's getting late. We must find that leaf quickly." He headed towards Yu Mei.

The moment he was within arms reach, Yu Mei locked arms with him. "Shifu, what did his highness want?" She asked.

"Nothing much. He just wanted to get me breakfast." He happily showed her the berries in his hand. She rolled her eyes. Her big food appetite, now she knew where she got it from.

***

Hours later they were finally at the ledge of the mountain. Pei Nan quickened his pace until he was next to Yu Mei. Yu Mei slightly turned her head and frowned. "What do you want?"

"Pan Yu Mei, it's been a long journey. Why don't you rest and I'll do all the searching." He offered. Instead of buying his smooth talk, she gave him a look as if challenging him to a duel.

"Your highness, I am going to find that leaf before you. I won't let you try to gain my master's favor." She didn't give him a chance as she quickly took off. Pei Nan didn't waste any time either. He too ran the opposite way. The two of them searched high and low as if their life depended on it.

Old Man Wu put his hands behind his back and shook his head. These two kids, he thought.

An hour had passed.

Both Yu Mei and Pei Nan were panting. Yu Mei was to the far left and Pei Nan to the far right. [I'm dying, please little leaf. I beg you to come out.] Yu Mei silently cried out.

When all hope was almost gone, the leaf appeared right in front of them. At the same time they both caught sight of it. Yu Mei picked up her skirt and dashed with all her might.

"That leaf is mine." He grit his teeth and sped towards it too.

Yu Mei was a step closer. Her arm reached out for the leaf. When she was a mere inch away from it, she felt her body move further and further away. [Nooooooo....] she clenched her jaw.

So close....

Pei Nan had his arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her away. Her hands flung forward as if it would make her move closer towards the plant.

When she realized her struggles were in vain, she stopped struggling. She would reside to her fate.

But her sudden stop perplexed him. He did not expect her to give up.

And so tumble down they went.

Pei Nan put one hand behind her head and the other on her back to ease the fall. When the two of them came to a stop, Pei Nan landed on the ground with Yu Mei on top of him.

When she opened her eyes, she was surprised to see that she was safe. [No injuries. Thank you heavens.] She pat her chest.

But he…he was not moving. Yu Mei quickly got off him and kneeled. Her face leaned down towards his. "Pei Nan! Can you hear me?" She lightly tapped his cheek.

No reply.

"Pei Nan! Quit playing with me. It's not funny. Wake up." This time she used a little bit more force to deliver a slap.

Still no response.

Suddenly she felt her whole body go cold. She suddenly came to the realization.

Without hesitation she grabbed his collar by both hands and started to shake him. "Pei Nan, wake up. Don't scare me like this. You can't die on me." She turned to call for her master but he was nowhere in sight. Just when she thought to get up and find her master, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her closer to him.

Her body fell at full force onto his once more with a thud.

She used her free hand to help support herself, trying to distance as much as possible. But no matter how she looked at it, she was still on top of his highness. And then her cheeks startled to flush.

That didn't last long. The moment he laughed, she felt nothing but utter annoyance with him.

"So you do worry about me?" He jest.

"Who says I am worried. Like I said, I don't want blood on my hand. What would happen if rumors started spreading that I killed your highness?" she rolled her eyes.

His laughter only added to her annoyance "Oh? But just a moment ago..."His eyes full of teasing. "I was sure you were sincerely worried about me. 'Don't scare me'" he mimicked her voice.

"You jerk. I do not sound like that." She hit his chest hard. Then she hit him once more. Then again. And again.

Just now he had truly scared her and if she didn't take it out on him, she would forever be annoyed to death.

"Enough. I'm hurt." He held onto her hand. The most dangerous weapon he has ever come into contact with.

Her eyes went from the hand holding hers all the way to his eyes. She made a mistake. His eyes were so mesmerizing that she couldn't look away.

Pei Nan couldn't look away either. Her eyes...he didn't know how to describe them. Other than addictive. That was the word. Her eyes were softer and sweeter than anything he had every seen.

As if time had stopped, the two continued to stare at each other. Clearly appreciating one another.

"Yu Mei! Your highness!" Old Man Wu suddenly called out as he ran towards them.

Pei Nan released her and the two quickly got up; pretending as if nothing just happened.

Pei Nan made use of the time Old Man Wu used to make sure Yu Mei was okay to grab the Wushu leaf.

By the time Yu Mei could register what had just happened, Pei Nan had already handed the leaf to her master. "You cheat!" She stomped her feet and pointed at him. He was clearly a cheat.

And then she walked away.

Pei Nan and Old Man Wu followed slowly behind the angry Yu Mei. The old man came closer towards Pei Nan and quietly spoke some words that made his highness's mouth turn into a grin.

His little Yu Mei likes that?

…