Chapter 223 - Welcome to the A.d.u.l.t Club

Xiao Ting was currently kneeling in the middle of the hall receiving blessings from their great-aunt, a grey-haired woman of eighty-five leaning on a cane. The old woman had long lost her husband and two sons in battle and since then she had lived a recluse life in a manor in the countryside. The last time the Lei family saw her was two years ago when she came over for Lei Xing's coming of age ceremony.    

Lei Yong covertly glanced around the room full of people and his eyes settle on Prince Yi who was standing across from him and he slightly knit his brows. Prince Yi had come along with Princess Nalan, Prince Rui and Molin. It did not occur to Lei Yong that Xiao Ting's invitation to the Zou siblings would have extended to Prince Yi. If he knew, he would have told her not to give out the invite....then again, she did not have a chance to consult him on it.  

Lei Yong had been intently watching Prince Yi since he arrived, he had given curt disinterested responses to anyone who approached him. And he had been continuously glancing around as if he was searching for something. It was suspicious.

Now Prince Yi was trying but failing to contain the irritated expression on his face and it was obvious that he did not want to be here. This made Lei Yong curious about why he even bothered to come, he could have easily made an excuse to avoid it. There was no way he was here trying to cozy up to the Lei family like the other guests might be interested. With the way things stood, it was impossible for them to ever support him and he knew that.  

Lei Yong inwardly sighed, Prince Yi was obviously not hurting anyone by being here but his motivations were very unclear and it was disconcerting. Lei Yong dragged his eyes from prince Yi and roamed past the other guests.

{...There are way too many young men here...What do they think they're doing coming for this sort of thing? -_-)'...}

These people were way too eager. Xiao Ting just turned fifteen today and these mothers already brought their sons here hoping for the prospect of marriage. The Lei family, well Lei Yong at least was not eager to see Xiao Ting married off. Lei Xing was already gone, so he felt he should at least be able to spend some more time with Xiao Ting, at home.

There were also quite a number of young girls here, but Lei Yong's mind did not bother to contemplate their motives. He glanced around and then noticed Lei Xing peeking in from the corner of the door and blinked. Before he could contemplate what she was doing, he then saw Tung Mei's head peek in from Lei Xing's side and then quickly disappear.

Tung Mei's heart jumped up to her throat when she met Lei Yong's eyes and she immediately drew back. Lei Yong narrowed his eyes at the spot, questioning whether he was seeing things or not.

{...Was that -? I could have -...}

Lei Yong then saw Lei Xing peek in again and then pursed his lips.

{...Was I mistaken? Anyway, what is she doing stealing glances from outside?...}

Then he looked at Xiao Ting and their great aunt in the center of the room and understood. If Lei Xing came in right now, it would disrupt the ceremony as everyone would have to stop to greet her and it would take away attention from Xiao Ting's moment. 

Lei Yong's eyes settled back on Lei Xing's peeking corner and he narrowed his eyes. He saw Lei Xing, but he was trying to look beyond her, still not fully convinced that he had seen wrong.

Meanwhile, outside. Lao Wang apologized and explained the situation to Lei Xing. Her parents originally planned to wait for Lei Xing to arrive. But then when she had still not arrived and the auspicious hour was almost up, they had no choice but to begin the ceremony. 

Lao Wang apologized on their behalf but Lei Xing was not offended at all and just continued watching the scene with a little smile on her face. 

After Tung Mei's heart calmed down, she turned to Lei Xing and saw her expression. Tung Mei then knit her brows, "Xing jie, you like this?"

Lei Xing turned to her with raised eyebrows, "What's there not to like?"

Tung Mei pursed her lips and then asked, "You don't think it's a hassle?"

Lei Xing blinked and then knit her brows in thought, it was an interesting question. Personally, she had no interest in events like these for herself. But this was one of those events that she considered for the family and so she would smile and try to enjoy the event. It was definitely a hassle, but one she could indulge. 

"It is...but it's nice." Lei Xing finally responded with a light shrug. Tung Mei blinked at Lei Xing several times as if she could not compute Lei Xing's response. Lei Xing raised an eyebrow at her and wondered what was wrong with her now. 

Lao Wang behind them smiled and then quietly informed, "The Madame was very disappointed that she could not celebrate your fifteenth birthday like this that year, so she put even more effort for the younger Miss's day."

Lei Xing glanced at Ah Jin and Ah Jin quickly explained, "You were ill at the time, so the ceremony was done with just the family."

"It seems I misunderstood." Tung Mei mumbled under her breath, lowering her head with a pout.

Lei Xing glanced at Tung Mei and then let out a breath and turned back to the scene inside. Tung Mei was related to that quack doctor, so her being weird and in her own absurd world was now considered normal to Lei Xing.

The old aunt pinned the jade hairpin in Xiao Ting's hair. Then she kowtowed to the old aunt and then made another to her parents. Then she got up and went out of Lei Xing's view with the old woman. 

Defense minister Lei then started thanking the guests for coming to celebrate with them and outside, Lao Wang quietly advised, "Your highness, you should go in now." 

Lei Xing glanced at him and nodded. It would definitely be very awkward if they came out and met her peeking here and so Lei Xing went in. Tung Mei remained standing there until Ah Jin poked her back. Tung Mei jumped and glared at her and Ah Jin simply motioned to the entrance. Tung Mei then understood and nodded. Then she took a deep breath and then walked in after Lei Xing.

Lei Yong knit his brows as he saw Tung Mei walk in, he knew he had seen correctly. But then now looking at her, it appeared as if she was avoiding looking at him. As the guests in the room bowed in greeting to Lei Xing, she made a light bow back at her parents, smiled at Xiao Ting who was beaming at her and said, "I apologize for my late arrival."

"Nothing to apologize for, it is an honor to have you here, Your highness." Defense Minister Lei responded with a slight bow of his head. Lei Xing smiled and nodded. She then turned to her left and her expression faltered a bit when she met Prince Yi's eyes but she maintained her smile.

Lei Xing gave a polite nod in Prince Rui, Princess Nalan and Prince Yi's general direction in greeting and then promptly looked away. She did not expect to see Prince Yi here and honestly seeing him again, especially so unexpectedly was a bit unnerving and annoying. 

Xiao Ting bounced over to Lei Xing and held her arm and whispered, "Jie jie, I was starting to worry you weren't coming..."

"Of course not... Wouldn't miss you finally growing up." Lei Xing jokingly whispered back as she pat her hand. Xiao Ting pursed her lips but quickly went back to smiling and then turned to Tung Mei to see her steadily keeping her head down.

Before Xiao Ting could address Tung Mei, the old aunt grabbed Tung Mei's hand and said, "Ah, Xing er', how have you been?"  Tung Mei blinked and then put on a nervous smile, "Great auntie haha... you're mistaken."

"Ohh, then who are you supposed to be now? Ah Jin? Tell this old aunt and I'll cover up for you hehe~" The old aunt continued with a snicker. Tung Mei glanced at Lei Xing as if asking for her help. But Lei Xing just stood there and tried to resist not laughing at Tung Mei's pitiful expression.

{...What do you want me to do? She's not my lost aunt hahaha...}

Lei Yong immediately walked over and held the old woman's arm with a smile and pulled her over to Lei Xing's front, "Great aunt, Xing er' is over here..." Then he glanced up at Tung Mei and explained, "My great aunt's eyesight has not been too good these days-"

"What do you mean eyesight?! I can see perfectly!" The old aunt indignantly responded and then narrowed his eyes at him, "Ohhh, you're in on the joke too, aren't you?"

Their mother then promptly took the old aunt's hand and jokingly said, "Auntie, it's been too long since you've seen Xing er'..." She said with a little laugh and then glanced over to Lei Xing and signaled for her to step up. Lei Xing got the message, and despite it being awkward, she stepped forward and bowed her head and said, "Great auntie, it's been too long. How have you been?..."Then she smiled at her.

The old aunt looked Lei Xing over suspiciously and then whispered to their mother, "Are you sure?" Lei Xing's mother lightly laughed and Lei Xing lightly laughed along.

{...Yeah, what a great joke, not -_-)... Is this old woman senile?...No, she's senile...Has to be -_-)...I mean she's technically partially correct, but she couldn't possibly know that...If it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck then it is a duck, okay? Don't complicate my life -_-)'...}

The old aunt's gaze then moved back to Tung Mei, who had shuffled back to Lei Xing's side with her head lowered, avoiding Lei Yong's eyes. The old aunt knit her brows and asked, "Then who are you supposed to be?"

Tung Mei glanced up at the old woman and then bowed and introduced herself, "I am the daughter of Governor Tung, Tung Mei."

"Tung Mei? Hmm..." The old woman then knit her brows in thought, her gaze went to Lei Xing and then back to Tung Mei and then she smiled at her, "...If you say so..."

Defense minister Lei then laughed breaking the awkward atmosphere and said, "My aunt has always believed we should always start a celebration with laughter." He said laughing again and the guests who had been awkwardly watching the scene laughed along, taking it all to be the odd humor of the Lei family. And no one would dare question them on their tastes at the moment.

"Let us all move to the garden so the celebration can truly begin. Your highness, if you please." Defense minister Lei finished motioning for Lei Xing to proceed first.

Lei Xing smiled at him and then turned to leave with Tung Mei and Xiao Ting trailing along. Defense minister Lie then went to hold his aunt's other hand and said, "Auntie, let me help you..."

The aunt nodded with her eyebrows still knit in thought as they walked along. She looked at the backs of the girls ahead of them and then looked at Defense minister Lei and quietly said, "But she smelled like her you know..."

Defense minister Lei smiled at her and nodded in agreement, indulging the old woman.