Both Escorting Her

Qin Xie De slowly made his way towards them. His eyes were drawn intensely on the distance between the two. They were so damn close to each other he almost wanted to tear them apart. Did they not know that men and women shouldn't be that close, he thought.

When he finally made his way over, he purposely stood between the two of them. Xi Feng was slightly pushed away. He could only chuckle lightly. This friend of his was indeed in a foul mood. Surely he wasn't the source of it, Xi Feng told himself. But of course he knew better than anyone else, it was because he was too close to his buddy's woman.

"Da Ying, what happened?" Xie De asked worriedly.

She looked away as if fed up with him. "Nothing the Duke of Lan needs to worry about. I simply fell into the water. I must thank Lord Xi Feng for saving me." She gave Xi Feng another smile of appreciation.

He too smiled back at her.

Xie De took a step to the left, blocking Xi Feng from seeing Da Ying.

"You fell into the water? I don't believe." Xie De retorted.

This got him a frown. "And why should I care whether you believe me or not? You've never believed in me. So just why exactly are you here?" She quickly changed the subject.

He was here. Why was he here? To ruin her plans?

She was beginning to think he was stalking her. Whenever she wanted to do something, he always showed up.

"I came here to escort you to the temple."

She arched a brow. And so did Xi Feng. Wasn't he supposed to be attending the court session, Xi Feng thought.

Seeing the disbelief in her eyes, Xie De quickly attempted to explain himself. Just as he was about to speak, he looked at Xi Feng. The man was a fool. Could he not read the atmosphere? The two of them wanted some time alone.

Only when Xi Feng saw the "look" on Xie De's face did he finally connect it all. He smiled at Da Ying. "I'll be over by the carriage. Call me if you need help."

Xie De waited until Xi Feng left before he turned his attention back on her. "I'm escorting you there."

"Why?"

"A lady needs a hero to save her. What if something happens to you along the way?" He playfully said, not knowing how he should approach the situation.

"Did you forget that I am skilled in the art of needle? I do not need a man. Especially someone like you." She took a step forward. "Let's depart from here." Da Ying began to walk away. She didn't get far before he went in for a back hug. "Why? Why can't you open your heart to me?"

Da Ying closed her eyes for a brief moment. "I have someone I like."

He felt his soul leave his body. It couldn't be. There was no way she had her heart set on someone else. Besides him, there was no one he knew of that she contacted. "I don't believe you. You are only saying that because you don't want to admit to me, right?" He quickly went to face her front. With both hands on her shoulders, he desperately waited for an answer. "Tell me it's because you don't want to admit you like me, right?"

All he got was a heartless gaze.

"The man I like was just here." She forced herself to say.

Xie De leaned his neck back and took a long deep breath. Whether this was a lie or not, he would do all he could to get her to like him back. "I don't care if you like him or not. Just know that I will change your mind. You are the only woman I want in this lifetime. Even if it takes three lifetimes, I am willing to wait." Without letting her speak, he rushed towards the carriage.

The moment his gaze met Xi Feng's, he almost threw a punch out of frustration. Xi Feng was just leaning casually on the wall of the carriage with no worry in the world. Xie De hated that. Hated how he did nothing yet he could get the attention of Da Ying.

"Xie De, you're back." Xi Feng smiled at him.

"Why are you still here?" A foul mood Xie De asked.

"I've decided to escort Da Ying gongzhu to the temple."

This day couldn't get any worst, Xie De thought. Not only did the woman he likes confess that she likes his friend, but now his friend was coming along. Any more of this nonsense and he would really explode.

But then again, he was not one to admit defeat without a fight. A small grin escaped his lips.

"What a coincidence. I am also escorting Da Ying."