Chapter 200: Chapter 200: She Insists on Spending Money on Me
The shopkeeper huddled behind the counter and nervously licked his lips. "T-Two customers, feel free to browse. Everything in our shop is thirty percent off today~"
"Is that so?"
Shi Lan’s eyes suddenly lit up. She had been planning to buy something anyway and hadn’t expected to be so lucky as to run into a sale.
The shopkeeper nodded profusely. ’There wasn’t a sale, originally, but he’d make up any promotion on the spot to get rid of this terrifying menace.’
’A Beastman with 2S Spirit Power... As far as he knew, there were very few of them, and every single one was either rich or noble with a powerful background. He couldn’t afford to offend any of them.’
Shi Lan quickly tugged on the still-fuming Jiang Xia. Seeing that he was still sulking, she quickly ruffled his hair and patted him soothingly. "Jiang Jiang, come on. Let’s go see what you like. I’ll buy it for you."
"Lanlan, are you getting me a gift?"
Jiang Xia’s attention was instantly diverted, his eyes sparkling as he gazed at her.
Shi Lan nodded, and Jiang Xia immediately went off to obediently pick out a gift.
He knew Lanlan was from a Poverty Star, had no background, and didn’t have much money. To help his female save money, he frugally picked out something that looked like a hair tie.
"You like this?"
Shi Lan stared at the lacy black band in his hand. It had a solid black leather circle in the middle, and she couldn’t help but feel it wasn’t something... proper.
Jiang Xia nodded. "Mhm, Lanlan, I want this hair tie. It’ll be perfect for tying up my hair sometimes."
’So it is a hair tie...’
Shi Lan glanced at Jiang Xia’s long hair. He would indeed have a chance to use it.
However, she figured the hair tie wouldn’t be very expensive, so she also picked out a red men’s wrist cord. In the center was a charm of a plump, endearingly simple-looking golden cat.
The cat reminded her of Jiang Xia’s beast form, which was why she had specifically chosen this design.
Shi Lan took the items to pay, with Jiang Xia trailing closely behind her like a meek and gentle little wife. He was a far cry from the fierce menace who had confronted the shopkeeper just moments before.
The shopkeeper took the two items from Shi Lan and shot a meaningful look at Jiang Xia. He couldn’t help but admire the female before him for taming a 2S male into being so obedient.
’She really is something else.’
He boxed up the wrist cord first, then glanced at the other ’hair tie’ and said, "Miss, will you be needing the remote control?"
"A remote control?"
Shi Lan looked completely lost. Because this type of ’hair tie’ was a consumable item, the band and the remote control weren’t sold as a set. They were provided according to the customer’s needs, but the remotes were generally universal.
Seeing Shi Lan’s expression, the shopkeeper guessed it was her first time buying one and decided he might as well just give her a remote.
As he was wrapping it up, he worried she wouldn’t know how to use it, so he explained, "Just press the solid circle in the center of this throat collar against the Adam’s apple. The remote can be used to release different levels of electric current..."
"Wait, shopkeeper, what did you say this was?"
"A throat collar."
The shopkeeper explained with a grin. As the owner, he’d seen it all. Beastmen were very open-minded about these sorts of things, and his shop was full of all kinds of fun little gadgets.
Shi Lan’s embarrassed expression froze on her face.
’Wait, isn’t it a hair tie?’
Beside her, Jiang Xia’s reaction was even more intense. It was unclear what he was thinking, but a deep blush spread from his face all the way down his neck, and it looked as if steam might start rising from his head.
In the end, Shi Lan didn’t even remember how she left the shop. Of course, she didn’t take the ’hair tie’; she only left with the wrist cord.
Jiang Xia followed her, face beet red, his voice a little hoarse. "Lanlan, actually... if you had bought it, I could have used it..."
He didn’t know much about such things, but he’d heard the shopkeeper add that many Beastman couples used them to enhance their relationship.
’He wanted to enhance his relationship with Lanlan, too.’
Jiang Xia seemed reluctant to drop the subject, but Shi Lan quickly covered his mouth. "Shh, don’t say another word. We don’t need that thing."
’And electric currents...’
’Weren’t they afraid of actually hurting someone with it?’
In any case, Shi Lan simply couldn’t imagine what good could possibly come from such a device.
"Okay..."
Jiang Xia mumbled his agreement, but his eyes were fixed on the gift box in Shi Lan’s hand.
Shi Lan wanted to distract him quickly, so seeing that he had dropped the subject, she immediately unwrapped the wrist cord and put it on for Jiang Xia.
It had to be said, it looked really good.
His skin was naturally pale, and the red cord seemed to bring a hint of color to his wrist. The chubby cat in the middle was just like its owner, lazing about adorably with its belly exposed.
Shi Lan unconsciously stroked his wrist a few times. Jiang Xia loved it. Seeing her caress him as if she couldn’t bear to let go made him even happier. He got so excited that a few veins popped out on his wrist, making his skin look even more fair and translucent by contrast.
After being all lovey-dovey for a moment, Shi Lan finally took his hand and said, "Let’s go. We need to buy some groceries. It’s almost noon, time to go home and eat."
Jiang Xia was reluctant to head back. Besides, he had a feeling they would run into Mu Tangfeng and the others if they returned, so he pestered Shi Lan to eat at a restaurant instead.
Although Shi Lan felt that eating out wasn’t very cost-effective, she saw that Jiang Xia really didn’t want to go back, so she didn’t insist.
After their meal, Jiang Xia knew he couldn’t keep clinging to Shi Lan forever.
The two of them bought some groceries at the market, after which Shi Lan went to take a look at He Hanshi’s house.
When he heard she was planning to move into He Hanshi’s house, Jiang Xia’s expression turned glum. "Lanlan, why don’t you stay at my place? I have a house too."
Shi Lan said, "I’m not sure yet. I just wanted to come take a look first. Besides, He Hanshi is rarely home, and his house just sits empty and neglected. So, it’s a good thing for me to come over and help warm the place up."
Jiang Xia’s eyes flickered. He suddenly realized that Lanlan living at Admiral He’s house was actually a good arrangement.
Admiral He spent years at a time on the Border Defense Star, so at least he wouldn’t have constant opportunities to pester Lanlan like the others. Plus, the Admiral’s house had good security, so Lanlan would be safe there. It was certainly better than her living in anyone else’s house on the Capital Star.
Moreover, the Interstellar Mansion was truly inconvenient; his access was time-restricted.
At this thought, his attitude immediately softened. "I’ll go with whatever Lanlan decides. And living at Admiral He’s house is indeed a good idea."
Shi Lan hadn’t expected him to be so magnanimous all of a sudden. She praised him with a broad smile, and after they finished looking at He Hanshi’s house, they returned to the Interstellar Mansion.
However, Jiang Xia hadn’t expected the bad news to come so quickly. Although he was registered as a visitor, he was only allowed to enter once per day, which meant he couldn’t follow Shi Lan back inside now.
He gritted his teeth. But no matter how fiercely he glared at the security guard, the guard wouldn’t budge. Helpless, Shi Lan could only watch as he went home.
This reaffirmed it for Jiang Xia: it was definitely more suitable for Lanlan to live at Admiral He’s house.
The thought that Mu Tangfeng and the others might soon be visiting Lanlan’s place put Jiang Xia in a foul mood all the way home.
Seeing his long face, Mr. Jiang immediately asked with concern, "What’s wrong, Xiaxia? Didn’t you get to see your female?"
Jiang Xia shook his head dejectedly. "No, it’s not that."
Mr. Jiang looked at him thoughtfully, his gaze shifting to his wrist. "Oh, that’s a nice red cord on your wrist, Xiaxia. Did your female buy it for you?"
At these words, Jiang Xia’s spirits instantly lifted. He smugly held out his wrist to show it off. "Yeah, it’s nice, right? My Lanlan has always had such good taste."
"Sigh, I told her not to buy it, but she just dotes on me and likes me so much, she insisted on spending money on me."
"This wrist cord cost 10,000 Star Coins, and that’s *after* a thirty percent discount."
"Wow, that expensive?"
Mr. Jiang played along, humoring his son. In reality, the gifts they’d given him in the past had never cost less than three million.
’But he was just a kid. As long as he was happy, that was all that mattered.’
As the two were chatting, a tall young man suddenly walked in. "Uncle Jiang, is Xiaxia here?"
Jiang Xia heard the voice and turned his head. He instantly brightened and exclaimed, "Big Brother, you’re back?!"
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