Lai Huang

Just as Meng Mei predicted, the days leading up to the swordsmanship tournament were extremely busy.

The first few days after the fight, Madam Meirong made sure that Meng Mei didn’t go unsupervised at any point during the day. But as the tournament got closer, it became harder to find someone who was able to keep an eye on Meng Mei.

Not only were all of the guards either busy practicing or patrolling, Meng Yong and Meng Weiyuan were also now spending all of their time at the training grounds.

On the first day, when supervisors were scarce, Madam Meirong tried to keep Meng Mei close to her side. She figured that she could do it while nobody else was available.

That arrangement barely lasted for an hour.

Apparently, Madam Meirong simply spent too much time with the sect leaders discussing highly confidential matters. Matters that Meng Mei was not allowed to hear.

So, reluctantly, Madam Meirong trusted Meng mei to stay put in her tent in the times where she didn’t have anyone to look after her.

That was her first mistake.

Every time Madam meirong left Meng Mei to her own devices in her tent she’d wait ten or so minutes before sneaking out to look for Lai Huang.

It wasn’t easy since she couldn’t let anyone see her. Everyone was a snitch after that first day.

While Meng Mei was walking around she just kept repeating Guang-laoshi’s instructions about stealth to herself. She ducked into shadows when she heard approaching footsteps, made sure her steps remained light, and she never got distracted.

She had no luck in finding Lai Huang the first few times she searched.

Eventually it got to the point where she had nearly convinced herself that he had been sent home after all. But the side quest still remained open so he had to be somewhere on the camping grounds.

With this in mind she started expanding her search parameters.

Slowly, she started making her way into the nearby forest to see if he was hiding out there.

She still had no luck the first day she decided to start venturing further out. In fact it wasn’t until midday the next day that she finally found him.

She’d just been minding her business, looking for anything that stood out when she heard the soft gurgling of a nearby stream. Curious, she had approached the water.

That was where she found Lai Huang.

He was crouched down at the stream’s edge, dutifully washing a large pile of pots. By the looks of it he’d already been out here all morning. This must be Zhong Shoushan’s way of keeping him far away from any potential trouble.

Meng Mei’s heart started pounding with adrenaline and she ducked behind the nearest boulder.

There he was! Her favorite character from Seasons of Sorrow brought to life!

Meng Mei had to take a couple of calming breaths. She had to appear normal when she was talking to him. If she acted even slightly like a fan girl there was no doubt he’d go running for the hills.

SHe took one last deep breath before she steeled herself. She could do this. She just had to approach him and act like it was the most normal thing in the world. She’d already done the hard part by getting her. Now she just had to talk to him.

Slowly, she stood back up. She dusted off the edge of her hanfu and took a few steps backwards.

Purposefully she stepped on a twig so it would snap and announce her presence to the focused boy.

She watched as he nearly jumped out of his skin before he spun around to look in her direction. Meng Mei made sure to adopt a sheepish expression.

“Um. Hi.” She said, stepping out of the shadows.

Lai Huang’s eyes widened in recognition when he got a better look at her face. Hurriedly he got to his feet and bent over in a deep bow.

“Guniang! F-forgive this lowly servant for not noticing you sooner!”

"It's fine! It’s fine!” Meng mei rushed to assure him. SHe took a few more steps forward so that they would only be a few feet apart. “You can rise! You don’t have to bow so low!”

Hesitantly Lai Huang rose back up.

Meng Mei winced at the sight of his face. Through all the dirt she could see that one of his eyes was now swollen shut. Meng mei also registered the fact that instead of the long flowing hair that was customary for this time period, Lai Huang’s hair had been hacked off near the root. The cut was uneven even without the matting.

“Actually, I was looking for you.” Meng Mei admitted. Lai Huang’s face immediately froze in panic as he assumed the worst.

“Why? Is Zhong-zhongzhu looking for me?” Lai Huang asked, his face pale with fear.

“No! Nothing like that!” Meng Mei rushed out. “I just..wanted to see how you were…y’know after everything that happened that day.”

Lai Haung’s expression settled into a more neutral one as he raised his hand to scratch at his forehead. The angle almost managed to obscure his injury.

“Guniang shouldn’t be worrying about a lowly servant.” He deflected.

“Of course I’m worried! Zhong Changming and those other boys were bullying you!” Meng Mei refuted. “I can't believe a sect heir dares to act in such a manner.”

“Zhong-gongi is just upset because I am his fathers bastard. It’s understandable.” Lai Huang shrugged, his hand falling from his face.

“Doesn’t make what he did right.” Meng Mei shook her head in disgust.

Lai Huang’s expression shuttered closed.

“Guniang should head back to camp.” He said with another bow. Meng mei cursed internally. She’d spoken out of turn.

“Okay…well I’m glad to see that you’re…alright.” Meng Mei bit her lip, carefully considering her next words. “I’ll be back tomorrow to check on you…if that’s alright?”

“Guniang may do whatever she pleases.” Lai Huang answered blankly before he turned back to his pots and pans by the stream. Meng Mei only hesitated for one more moment before sighing and turning to leave.

She’d try again tomorrow.