Chapter 214 - Lovely Returns (2/2)

{...An Hao? Is he a general or a personal chef? And his weren't that good, Li Ru's are much better, definitely ( ￣^￣ )...}

Lei Xing comforted herself with the thought that the Emperor's taste buds must have dulled over the years. The two went back to focusing on their own reading while drinking tea and nibbling on the snacks.

After a while, she covertly glanced at the Emperor and couldn't help smiling to herself. This reminded her of the time when she was ill, other than going to court, the Emperor had spent all of his time here with her. She would wake up and he would be there cooly reading a memorial or writing something, just like he was at the moment.

It was very heartwarming, seeing him there keeping her company. The Emperor suddenly looked up and caught her looking at him and Lei Xing immediately lowered her head as her ears went red. The Emperor lightly chuckled and Lei Xing embarrassingly knit her brows and brought a hand up to shield her face from view as she buried her head in the memorial.

The Emperor stared at Lei Xing's crimson ears and then his eyes darted to the bed and some more engaging ways for them to spend their time popped in his head. He smirked and started to inch closer to her but before he could get halfway there, the doors opened and he immediately straightened back up and frowned down at the memorial in his hand.

Ah Jin came in and walked up to Lei Xing, knelt beside her and then held her palm out to her and quietly informed, ”I found this in your study...”

Lei Xing blinked down at the bracelet and then guiltily let out a short nervous laugh as she took it from Ah Jin's hand and mumbled, ”Thank you.” Ah Jin nodded and then left.

The Emperor glanced at Lei Xing and watched as she slipped on the bracelet and pat it. He found her relationship with this bracelet most perplexing.

{...Haha, hello...How are you? (^ω^;)...}

{...*Hmph!...}

{...Come on, don't be angry. I didn't forget you, how could I ever? I...I was just being considerate. I was going to come back for you...eventually haha...ha...}

{...*Really? (≖_≖ )...}

{...Of course...Of course, I was. After all, we're great friends...right? ^_^)...}

{...*Oh? You've finally been enlightened? Took you long enough -_-)...}

Lei Xing's face twitched and she hit the bracelet against the edge of the table.

{...*Hey! Be careful! >_

{...Hehe, sorry...slip of the hand~ (◔з◔)...}

”You seem very attached to that bracelet...and the ring. Are they gifts from someone...close?” The Emperor asked with raised eyebrows.

Lei Xing blinked at him and then looked down at the bracelet and ring, she did not expect that question.

”Xing er'?” The Emperor called when she did not respond and she looked up at him with a smile, ”Well...the bracelet is Tung Mei's, she left it in my care and so keep it close for her...And I honestly have grown fond of it, it is quite lovely...”

{...*Hehehe~ I definitely am...very lovely~ (o˘◡˘o)...}

Lei Xing amusedly rolled her eyes and chuckled and continued, ”As for the ring, it's just something I picked up in the market...” Lei Xing looked down at the ring, raised the hand and stroked the ring with a smile as she said, ”It was actually the last thing I bought before entering the palace, it brought me some...solace during the competition and since then, so it is a bit special to me...” She said smiling to the Emperor, she spoke the truth so she was completely confident and her expression earnest.

The Emperor nodded in understanding, ”I see...” Then he looked back down at his memorial and Lei Xing did the same. He cast her a side glance and then knit her brows. She seemed earnest in her explanation and looked sincere, almost wistful.

He believed her words but he could not shake the feeling that she was still holding something back...It was a bit disheartening for him.

{...Perhaps I'm just overthinking things...*sigh* Understanding takes time...}