Kapitel 12: I Married A Hunk

Xinyi hurriedly bowed very low, "I'm sorry, my lord." She didn't dare to look up. Instead, she wished she could learn the Dao of Sinking or Disappearing. Xinyi was afraid to look at Lei Ming. It didn't cross her mind that she was in a maid's outfit and that Ming hadn't seen her face or even an image of her. The only thing she recalled was this man was her husband, and here she was running into him and afraid to be recognized as his wife in a maid's outfit.

While Xinyi was in that position, she waited for her husband's response. However, after waiting, nothing happened. 'Should I peek?' Without looking up, she breathed heavily and said, "Apologies, My Lord."

She couldn't believe herself. She was bowing down to him. Instead, she should be demanding her allowance. 'Yes! My allowance.' She recalled and was about to blurt it out, forgetting she was in a maid's outfit and expose herself as his wife. Her mind was now so messed up.

Then… Xinyi lifted her head slightly and heard a woman say, "Servant, why are you standing there? Don't block Lord Lei's way. Move aside," said a woman Xinyi didn't recognize and brought her back to her senses. Her eyes went to her dress.

'Why did I panic? I was in a good disguise. And, thank goodness, I didn't speak out to demand my allowance.' Total relief suffused her being, thanks to that lady saving her at the nick of time.

"Forgive me, my Lord," she said while moving to the side, allowing her husband to walk past, but she never lifted her head, not even an inch. However, Lei Ming remained where he stood. Xinyi rattled her brain out.

'Why aren't you moving? Go away, jerk,' Xinyi scolded him in her thoughts. Xinyi thought of the animals and felt depressed. She couldn't use the animals, or she would jeopardize herself further. What's left was moving farther back and walk away, not knowing she would fall into a pond.

As for Lei Ming, he sighed while looking over Xinyi and thought, 'Her voice, why does it feel...? What's wrong with me?' He thought about having her face him but sighed when he noticed how she was wringing her hands somewhat like she wrung a wet cloth for drying. She was only a servant, so he dismissed the thought and went about his affairs.

'I might be tired.'

As he was about to step out. He saw the 'maid' moving toward the pond while still bowing and her foot was now stepping backward on the pond's edge. "Watch out!" Ming shouted.

At the same moment, she yelled, "Ahh!" as she jerked her head up and swung her hands up.

With one brisk movement of his foot, he leaped, grabbed her flailing arm and smoothly pulled her toward his body. He yanked her that fast and the next thing she knew, her forehead brushed past his face, and the smell of fresh pine intoxicated her.

Yet, as fast as he pulled her into his embrace, he pushed her aside, not allowing much physical contact. He sent her hugging a pretty lady dressed as a noble.

"Foolish girl. Why are you causing so much trouble early in the morning?" shouted the lady as she pushed Xinyi away from her. After all those grabbing, tossing and pushing, Xinyi ended standing with her back on him. Ah, thank goodness.

"Mei-mei, let her be. Let her do her work here before mother arrives," he said and walked out with his hands on his back.

'Ah, his sister,' thought Xinyi.

"Yes, big brother," said Lei An.

"You heard Lord Lei. Do your work diligently. Make this place presentable before my sister-in-law comes back here," said An and followed Ming.

While dusting herself off Xinyi replied, "Yes, my Lady." She stood straight after they stepped out the gate. But the mention of this certain sister-in-law bothered her. "Who is she referring as the sister-in-law? Me? Hmm, it can't be me. Why bring me back here after sending me there? It's not definitely me. And hmm, I didn't know his mom is coming today." Xinyi mused. "Duh, who cares?"

At this moment, Xinyi was so preoccupied with her escape and her allowance; she forgot the ritual the next day after the wedding that would happen soon. It was the tea ritual where Lei Ming would present her as his wife.

She went into the room she stayed yesterday and saw the place remained the same when she left, aside from the food on the table. Xinyi closed the door and flopped her body on the bed. She recalled Kuàilè and opened her blouse and took the bird out, still sleeping. She placed the bird on a table.

That sister-in-law thing bothered her. "I better not stay here any longer. I really need to get out of here now. That Lei Ming, I really need my allowance."

She checked the clothes inside the room and took some. Then she saw her jade jewelry carved with the governor's emblem, marking her as the governor's wife. That object reminded him of the man she should call husband and that smell of fresh pine earlier. This was the first for her to be that close to a man and felt different.

She remembered. As both of their bodies hit each other, that firm and sturdy chest and his grip though hard but gentle to her touch made a deep impression on her. He was careful not to hurt her.

"He is powerful. For sure, I'm no match against him in physical strength if we fight. But I never expected for him to be gentle, even to a servant girl. Worth note-taking. No wonder you became the governor. I salute you as Governor Lei Ming," she said with a grin.

While staring at the thing, reminded of their encounters. She tried to recall his face, though vague because of the darkness and the speed of events this morning.

Xinyi turned her head and suddenly saw a portrait. "Was this here yesterday?" She approached the painting and lightly brushed it. 'He is exactly like I envisioned.' Then chuckled of her misconception that he was old.

In the portrait, her husband sat on a chair like a king, but he looked like a princess. His abnormally smooth jawline reminded her of the letter V. His outfit showed off his muscles, but Xinyi knew they were more substantial in real life. His black attire matched well with his hair. However, all the surrounding gold made him look like a clown.

"You're not nearly that pale." She looked at his striking black eyes, "So magnetic."

"Why are your lips so red? Are you a woman? You might be more attractive than I am!" She smirked. "Oh my, why am I talking to this image as if I'm talking to him? If this is really his face, I will, pak, pak, pak," she said while her hands acted slapping the face.

Xinyi continued searching anything worth taking but before leaving, she took in the image of her husband one last time and thought, 'You should have been a woman, pretty boy.'

Once she thought of those words, Xinyi's eyes glistened as she confessed, "I married a hunk Lord."