The Dinner (Part 2)

Lulu put on demure smile that masked her true feelings and turned around to face Tang Yi Huai. "Ah, Young Master Tang, it is nice to see you again."

"Likewise, Miss Nima Lu," Tang Yi Huai bowed his head. "I've actually been looking for you because I wanted to talk to you about something. Will you walk with me?"

Something in his tone made Lulu realize that no would not be an option to his question. "Of course," she answered.

He led them along the walk way through the rest of the garden, all the while asking her benign questions and commenting on various plants and flowers along the way. With each step, Lulu's skin began forming goosebumps that grew bigger and bigger. Her instincts were telling her to run away, but there was nothing she could do. She had to see whatever this was through to the end and hope she could get herself out of it.

Eventually, Tang Yi Huai led them back inside the manor, but they were now in an area that didn't have any other people in it.

"I hope you don't mind Miss Nima Lu, but I wanted to talk to you privately," Tang Yi Huai started. He opened the door and gestured inside. When Lulu was at the doorway, she noticed it was a bedroom. She turned around quickly so as not to go in but bumped into Tang Yi Huai who was barring the way.

"Oh!," she exclaimed. "Excuse me." She took one step back into the bedroom but was still facing him.

When Tang Yi Huai didn't say anything, she bowed her head, "My apologies, sir, but I think I should rejoin Tang Xiao Chu. I don't think it's appropriate to be alone with you inside such a room."

Tang Yi Huai stepped forward, which made Lulu have to take another step inside. "You don't have to worry about that my lady," he insisted in a cool voice. "No one will know and I really do need to speak to you alone." Tang Yi Huai t shut the door behind him and after a couple more such steps, they were both inside the room.

He turned to Lulu and closed the distance between them with a few, big strides. Holding onto her shoulder with his left hand, Tang Yi Huaileaned down and whispered in her ear, "Now that we are alone, why don't you tell me who you really are." The hand started moving down slowly as he continued, "I'd love to get to know you better." His right hand was about to stroke Lulu's cheek when her own hand whipped it away.

Just as Lulu's other hand raised to slap him, the door burst open. Tang Jing stood there surveying the scene in front of him that seemed frozen in time. Anger flared so strongly inside him, that he had a hard time not pouncing on his cousin with the fists that were now clenched at his sides.

"What is going on here?," he demanded, walking quickly to them.

When Tang Yi Huai heard the door, he had immediately stood up, dropping both his hands at his side. Now he turned to Tang Jing with a fawning smile, "Cousin, whatever do you mean?" He gestured toward Lulu, "I was just showing Miss Nima Lu around the manor. I wanted to have a private word with her and—"

Tang Jing interrupted, "It's not appropriate to be alone with the young miss and you know that."

"Well, of course, under normal circumstances. But I can't help but be curious. You must understand," Tang Yi Huai explained as if it was an innocent misunderstanding.

Tang Jing looked behind his cousin to Lulu who was standing with one hand holding onto the front of her dress where Tang Yi Huai's hand had been and her head bowed. He didn't know what she was thinking, but he could tell by her posture that she needed to get out of there as soon as possible. Putting her needs first, he decided not to pursue anything more with his cousin.

"Then we will be on our way," Tang Jing stated curtly. "We must leave anyway as it is getting late. Come Miss Nima Lu."

Lulu silently followed Tang Jing out of the room. Once they were going through a hallway to the other side of the manor, she finally let out a sigh of relief.

Hearing the sigh, Tang Jing paused and turned to take a better look at her. She seemed better as the color was back in her face. Even with the make-on, she had looked very pale in the bedroom. "Are you feeling better?," Tang Jing asked.

"Yes, thank you. I'm sorry, I should have thanked you earlier," Lulu replied, not looking at him. "Aren't you going to ask what happened?"

"You can tell me if you want, but I have my suspicions," Tang Jing said gently, trying to hide the anger he was still feeling along with the frustration of not being able to punch his cousin for what he likely attempted to do.

"My thanks again, then," Lulu whimpered. Now that she was a safe distance away from that man, a couple tears made their escape from her hot eyes. She quickly brushed them away, "I'm really alright. I think I was just frightened, but nothing happened, just so you know." Lulu wasn't sure why, but she wanted him to know that.

Tang Jing let out a deep breath. He wanted to comfort her but didn't know what would be appropriate. He let one hand stroke her upper arm, "I'm sorry you were left alone, but you're safe now. I won't let this happen again."

Lulu looked up at him in surprise and was speechless. "Is he saying he is going to protect me?," she thought. Now her heart was beating fast for another reason and her cheeks felt tingly.

Before she could respond, she heard Tang Mei's voice, "There you are!" Both Tang Jing and Lulu turned to see his brother and sister making their way toward them. "We got tired of waiting and decided to come to you instead," Tang Mei continued once closer. "What happened?," he asked seeing Tang Jing holding onto Lulu's arm.

Tang Jing dropped his hand and not wanting to talk about it right then, responded, "We can talk more about it later. Let's leave the manor first."

Tang Mei nodded, and the group made their way to the entrance of the manor where Uncle and Aunt Tang were waiting. After saying their goodbyes, with everyone pretending that everything was alright, Lulu and the Tangs left the manor.

During the carriage ride back to their home, Tang Jing described the situation in hushed tones. Xiao Chu was shocked and overwhelmed with guilt, "I'm so sorry Lulu! I never should have left you alone." She wanted to say more but Tang Jing had told her not to mention the fact that their aunt had lured Lulu away on purpose.

Lulu shook her head, "It's not your fault. I should have trusted my instincts and not gone with him when he asked to speak with me. I just really didn't know what the appropriate response was in that situation. And then when he tried to get me in the room, I was going to turn and leave, but somehow, he managed to get me inside, and…." Her voice trailed off and Xiao Chu squeezed her hand.

"I can't believe he tried something with all of us there," Xiao Chu fumed.

That made Lulu's head jerk up. "Wait a minute," she wondered out loud. "How did Tang Jing know I was in trouble?"

Tang Jing explained, "Tang Yi Huai had excused himself from a conversation he was having with a couple ministers, but he was gone a long time. I went to look for him and happened to see Lulu alone with our Aunt."

"Hmm…he was keeping an eye on his cousin? I wonder why," Lulu pondered to herself. She nodded slowly, "So him being gone was enough...?"

"There's always something with those relatives of ours," Xiao Chu bemoaned, answering for her brother.

Lulu looked at her and then to the men seated in front of her. She noted that Tang Mei seemed awfully quiet. The rest of the ride was spent in silence.