Chapter 204: Chapter 204: He Came to Pick Her Up
"Oh? So you didn’t buy these specifically for me?"
She feigned disappointment. For some reason, Mu Tangfeng’s face flushed red in the blink of an eye. He awkwardly refused to say what was on his mind, muttering, "If you say so."
When had the young master ever tried so seriously to please a female?
He was even too embarrassed to admit he was giving her flowers, using the pretext of bringing a vase to make it seem casual.
But only he knew. He had specifically chosen roses, the symbol of love, and his hands had trembled as he’d set them beside the vase on the coffee table.
Shi Lan really did have a mischievous streak. Seeing someone who blushed so easily only made her want to tease him more.
Perhaps it was because Mu Tangfeng was so fond of bottling things up. The slightest bit of teasing and he’d either fly off the handle, his defenses crumbling, or he’d just go off and sulk. He had the air of a spoiled young master, but he wasn’t completely bad to the core.
She suppressed the smile in her eyes. "If they’re not for me, were you planning on giving them to someone else?"
Terrified of being misunderstood, Mu Tangfeng blurted out, his words faster than ever, "Of course not! Other than you, there’s no one I’d want to give them to."
As he spoke, he impatiently grabbed her hand and began to explain, "These flowers... I bought them especially for you. People say if you like a female, you should give her flowers to show your feelings. Besides, I only like you..."
Shi Lan finally broke into a smile.
Hearing her laugh and seeing the teasing glint in her eyes, Mu Tangfeng realized what was happening. He grew furious from the humiliation and was about to throw a tantrum, but before he could speak, Shi Lan quickly kissed him, taking a moment to suckle the plump curve at the corner of his lips.
His anger instantly fizzled out.
Shi Lan watched him with a gentle gaze and a warm smile. "You really don’t have to make it so complicated. If you want to give me something, just tell me directly. I’ll always accept."
With that, she brought the bouquet to her face and inhaled its fragrance, the smile in her eyes deepening.
"Thank you. I love them."
Perhaps because he so rarely faced such direct affection from Shi Lan, his mind unconsciously drifted to the time on Yaoxing when she had kissed him over and over. Heat flooded his face, and with a rare sense of needing to flee, he quickly departed from Interstellar Mansion.
Behind him, Shi Lan’s laughter rang out even louder.
’It’s not like that was our first kiss, yet Mu Tangfeng is still so shy.’
She shook her head with a helpless sigh.
The next day, Shi Lan checked the competition’s start time. As she was leaving, she saw Yan Huoshui’s Hovercar already waiting for her by the entrance.
He was a judge today, so as a teacher, he couldn’t freely leave the school. He had his Hovercar pick her up automatically instead.
His Hovercar had been programmed with Shi Lan’s access permissions, so she could enter it freely.
She hadn’t thought much of it last time, but after riding in several different Hovercars these past few days, she was able to make a comparison. She realized the seats in Yan Huoshui’s Hovercar were softer—each one had a plush core.
After a comfortable ride in his Hovercar, Shi Lan soon arrived at the school.
As a graduate of the Imperial Capital School, she could come and go as she pleased.
Shi Lan walked inside. Gazing at the school’s familiar decor, she found that her state of mind upon re-entering was completely different. It felt as if a lifetime had passed.
’Back then, I was still so uncertain—about the future, about the plot of the book. But now, I’m much more at ease, and I’m even in the mood to appreciate the scenery.’
The competition wouldn’t start for another thirty minutes, so Shi Lan took a leisurely stroll. As a former "celebrity" of the school, she received quite a few scornful looks from males along the way. Some new students who had never seen her before tried to add her contact information, only to be stopped by their male companions who recognized her and even called her by the moniker "waste female."
Shi Lan paid them no mind. ’Males like that are driven by simple self-interest,’ she thought. ’I don’t need to prove I’m not a waste female.’
She ignored them completely. In fact, doing so earned her some peace and quiet, since no strangers would bother her.
She just didn’t expect Yan Huoshui to come out and meet her when she was still ten-odd minutes from her destination.
Shi Lan paused when she saw him, her gaze landing on his glasses.
’This is the first time I’ve ever seen him wear glasses.’
Perhaps because he was serving as an instructor today, his attire resembled a Combat Suit. His pant legs were form-fitting, and the fabric of his shirt clearly outlined his muscular physique as he walked.
The collar, however, was a bit high, and he had pulled the zipper all the way to the top. The black fabric tightly covering his collarbones gave him a cold, ascetic aura. But the glasses softened his usual sharp aloofness. His fox-like eyes looked much gentler, making him seem less out of reach.
When Yan Huoshui saw her, he quickened his pace, but he was unexpectedly blocked by a female.
She held up a Jasmine gift box and boldly asked, "Teacher Yan, can we be friends?"
The implication of "friends" was obvious.
But this was a common way for a female to signal her interest publicly while hedging against outright rejection.
Yan Huoshui’s old reputation at the school had been even colder; female students who were initially interested in him would quickly back off. But he had been gone for three years, after all. His intimidating aura had waned considerably, and with the large number of new students, there were still females willing to pursue him.
He frowned and replied without a hint of hesitation, "I’m sorry, I’m already with a female."
With that, he quickly moved past the student, walked right up to Shi Lan, and took her hand.
"Lanlan, sorry to have kept you waiting."
He had been monitoring the Hovercar’s feed. The moment he saw its location update, he’d rushed to find a spare moment to come meet her.
Shi Lan shook her head and glanced down at their tightly clasped hands. Instead of letting go, she squeezed his hand tighter. The smile in Yan Huoshui’s eyes deepened.
The other female watched their intimate display, a flash of annoyance and regret in her eyes, but she didn’t press the issue. She put away her gift and quickly left.
Shi Lan watched the student’s retreating figure for a few seconds before turning back. Her hand, however, remained firmly in his. She looked Yan Huoshui up and down, then said with a teasing smile, "You’re quite popular here at school, aren’t you, Teacher Yan?"
Yan Huoshui’s gaze was fixed on her. Seeing no trace of displeasure in her eyes, he inwardly sighed in relief. Still, to prevent any misunderstanding, he explained, "Lanlan, I’ve rejected every single one of them. I’m not interested in those females."
As he spoke, he gently traced the pad of his thumb across her palm. His eyes shimmered as he lowered his head, his warm, moist breath ghosting near her ear. "I only like you, Lanlan."
Shi Lan had just been making an honest observation and teasing him a bit; she hadn’t expected to be hit with a sudden confession.
Feeling the warmth on her ear, she flinched and cleared her throat, a little flustered. "We’re still at school. You’re a teacher; you should mind your image."
Yan Huoshui’s deep chuckle rumbled by her ear. "Okay. Whatever Lanlan says."
As he said this, his eyes swept over their clasped hands. Seeing that Shi Lan had no intention of letting go, he said nothing to remind her and simply continued walking. "The competition starts in twenty minutes. We should go in."
Shi Lan, as if she’d also forgotten their hands were linked, nodded. On the way, she couldn’t help but remark, "You seem so different with glasses on compared to when you don’t wear them."
A glint appeared in Yan Huoshui’s eyes. "Oh? And which one do you like, Lanlan?"
Shi Lan blurted out instinctively, "I like both."
A moment later, she realized the implication of his question, and her face grew hot all over again.
’In front of Yan Huoshui, all the little tricks I use to tease Mu Tangfeng are completely useless.’
Yan Huoshui’s laughter grew even more pleasant and gentle. He squeezed her hand, walking through the school as if they were the only two people there, completely ignoring the strange looks from some of the males around them. He led her into the venue, his expression natural and relaxed.
However, as his gaze swept over a few of the males who had called Shi Lan a waste female, a flicker of coldness appeared in his eyes.
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