12 Just the Woods, Not the Jade (1/2)

”Hey, wait for me!” He yelled as he struggled to catch up to her. That woman was small, but she sure was fast.

Li Wei was now speed walking away as fast as she could from the annoying woodcutter. How could he make the same joke again? And how could she fall into the same trap twice? She really wanted to knock her head against a pile of wood.

Oh no, she was not going to think of the pile of woods again!

When it seemed like the man wouldn't stop following her, she turned back and spoke angrily, ”Stop following me. We don't even know each other!”

Her sudden stop almost caused him to trip. He was usually not this shameless, but he couldn't help teasing when it came to her. ”That's not a problem, we can always change it. What do you say, do you want to know more about me?”

Li Wei decided then that she should just zip her lips. It seemed he was going to turn all her words to his advantage. She spoke to him no longer. Her eyes only turned into slits, arms crossed, and lips pouted in annoyance.

Alright, perhaps he really went too far. He raised his hands up in surrender, but not before he sent her a grin. ”Alright alright, I'll be leaving now. If we meet again, that will be the third time. You know, meeting three times will be a sign that we're tied together by fate.”

On the outside, her face was blank, but she happily rejoiced on the inside. She was leaving Hai'an in a month, there was not a chance she'd see him again. They would not meet for a third time and they were definitely not tied by fate. ”Off we part then. May we never meet again!” With a wave to signal him away, she ran and dipped towards an alleyway located between two rows of houses.

”Hey, do you still want the woods and the jade?”

Although she disappeared into the dark alleyway, his sudden question caused her head to pop out once more. He couldn't help but smiled. This woman was really so simple minded.

Li Wei came out, but she cautiously circled him. She noticed his taunting eyes and teasing smile, but she didn't say anything. When she spoke, she chose her words carefully, ”How much is just the woods? I'm interested in the woods only, not the jade.”

He raised his eyebrow in interest. She was learning quite fast. But he was still faster and one advantage he had was his shamelessness. He quickly twisted his words from before, ”For you, it's free. For everyone else, one golden tael.”

”Now you're finally reasonable,” Li Wei flashed him a mocking smile that lasted less than one second. No more playing this game! She snatched the cart handles from him and dipped her hand into the pouch by his waist. After dropping something inside, her hand quickly came back out. Then, she pushed the cart and walked away.

His breath stopped for a couple seconds as he waited to see what she was up to. To his surprise, she simply dropped something inside before distancing herself away again. Stuck in his own surprise, he almost forgot question her action until she was already a couple feet away. ”Hey, you didn't give me anything bad, right?”

Li Wei only stuck out her small tongue. ”Take a look when you're home!”