21 Return Home

"He is coming" Mai thought to herself.

Mai smiled to herself as she watched him take more than one bite, which was more than anyone else's food. To be fair even though the other people had made new dishes there properties were still fairly similar to what he already been done in the country so it wasn't a exciting as something that was completely new.

"Head chef of the palace… me? Haha" Mai thought to herself when she heard the Emperor announce those words. "Maybe if you hadn't locked me up in a room, made me compete with no sleep, with hard labor before the contest was going to start. What do you think this is? Just because you are the Emperor that i am just going to fawn over you?!? Not everything revolves are you, your damn majesty, certainly not I."

There were a million things that Mai wanted to say to the Emperor to show her distaste in what he had done. However, turning done his prize was the only option she had if she didn't want to create more problems later down the road. Still how many people actually turned down anything from this man. Mai was really proud with how she had handled herself in the situation, normally she would being nervous and shy, but this man had just annoyed her to much.

Watching his face when he realized that he had announced her as the winner without getting what he wanted was a little priceless in Mai's eyes. She couldn't help but laugh on the inside a little when he was left standing there speechless.

Mai was standing there in a daze not sure what to do after the Emperor left her alone at the table with a "Hmph". She could slightly hear him mumbly "I will get this toy back soon" which rather terrified Mai. She had no intentions of ever coming back to the palace or seeing this man. A peaceful life was all she wanted.

Mai watched as Han Bing approached from his table with a proud grin on his face. She had felt him staring at her the hole time throughout the contest. Mai hopped that he hadn't been to worried about when she had disappeared without notice the day before.

Mai wanted to do what people on Earth did when they won contest, run over to that special someone in their life's and give them a gigantic hug saying "I did it." But she had to resist to do it in a more private setting. She could tell from the cold way that people treated Han Bing here that something was not right.

"Congratulations, on your win, Mai. I knew that you would beat everyone else here." Han Bing said when he close enough for it to not be heard from other people. "Let's go back to the manor."

"Mmm, I am so tired" Mai replied with.

They both silently left the hall, since the Emperor didn't get what he wanted he was in a bad mood and sent everyone home ahead of time. The other chefs were highly disappointed that a little nobody had won the contest and vowed to win next year.

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Back at Han Bings Manor

"Mai are you okay? What happened!" Han Bing anxiously asked when they were finally back at the manor.

Mai told him what had happened up from the guard to right before her name was called. There was a deep fury in Han Bings eyes as she kept on adding more and more details to her night.

Mai felt his arms wrap around her and gently rub her back in a soothing motion.

"I am so sorry Mai" Han Bing whispered to her in the light embrace they were sharing.

They continued to walk until they had arrived at Mais room where Han Bing sat down with her on the bed. The concern on his face over her while being warmed up Mai's heart. It seemed that if she asked him to stay to watch over her all night he would gladly do so.

Mai once again felt his arms wrap around her, but this time they picked her up onto his lap. She felt his hard sturdy chest against her back and the calming sensation of his heart beating slowly. They stayed like this in silence just enjoying each other's company for awhile.

Mai was so comfy that if she closed her eyes for longer then a second she would fall asleep just like that. "Whoever told me that Han Bing was a ice cube is a complete liar, even if it was myself" Mai thought to herself. "How could such a caring man be a ice cube." She asked herself.

Mai felt tingles run down her arm as Han Bing had started to lightly rub it with his hand. The sensation was almost so strong that she desperately tried not to moan to his touch. Mai had never been this sensitive before and couldn't think of what it had meant. Her body was on fire as she wished that he would touch a different part of her body with those fingers of his.

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Han Bing was trying to comfort Mai as much as possible before telling her that everything that had just happened to her was his fault. He felt incredibly guilty and sad about the treatment that she had received just by being in his presence.

Han Bing knew that he had already said it but couldn't think of anything else to say to Mai besides I am sorry.

"I am really sorry, Mai" Han Bing said while he clung on to her even tighter. "Will you forgive me for not keeping you safe?"

Mai's eyes looked deep into his eyes that pierced all the way into his soul.

"There is nothing to forgive. Who can do anything about a crazy Emperor?" Mai replied with.

Breathing out a sigh a relief that he hadn't known that he was holding onto, Han Bing looked at Mai as if she was the most precious treasure in the world.

He couldn't help but try to explain the situation between him and the Emperor to Mai to help her understand that this probably wasn't going to be a one time event. That the man lived to torment him in anyway imaginable and Mai would just be a pawn in his game.