Free Web NovelChapter 173: Chapter 173: Confession
Shi Lan’s body was stiff in his embrace, and it took her a long moment to adjust and soften.
The scent of alcohol grew richer and clearer. Though she hadn’t had a drop to drink, she felt a little tipsy, intoxicated by his warm, dry embrace. She unconsciously hugged him back.
They simply held each other for over ten minutes before He Hanshi, still wanting more, reluctantly let go.
He took out the Xia Donghua he had prepared during his spare time. He had originally planned to mail it to her but unexpectedly got the chance to come to Yaoxing himself on official business.
He Hanshi placed the flower in her hand. He had kept it in a special preservation container, so the Xia Donghua looked as if it had just been picked, its bloom bold and brilliant.
Shi Lan stared at the ice-blue flower in her hand. The Xia Donghua was shaped a bit like a small daisy. They were small blossoms, but their color was unique. The center was blue, while the edges of the petals were slightly transparent. It was a variety she had never seen before—absolutely beautiful. She loved it at first sight.
She looked at him happily. "When did you buy this flower?"
’When he got out of the Hovercar, all I saw him carrying were some gifts for the elders.’
He Hanshi patiently explained, "Do you remember the gift I said I’d send you? I had originally planned to mail it then, but an unexpected mission came up and delayed things by a few days."
"I remember."
Shi Lan nodded. Back then, when she had received a gift from Yan Huoshui, she had initially thought it was from He Hanshi, only realizing it wasn’t after she opened it.
At the time, she had figured He Hanshi was likely just delayed by military affairs; it never crossed her mind that he would forget about her.
Shi Lan had an innate trust in He Hanshi’s character and integrity.
She lowered her head and sniffed the flower. The scent was a bit like the crisp, pine-like fragrance that naturally clung to He Hanshi, yet it also had hints of mint. It was a very fresh, light aroma.
"What kind of flower is this? It’s so beautiful, and it smells wonderful."
He Hanshi could see she genuinely liked it, which made him happy. But as he thought about what he had to say next, he couldn’t help but feel a surge of anxiety and tension.
Nevertheless, he spoke with resolve. Perhaps it was for this very moment that he had intentionally had a few extra drinks during dinner.
Buoyed by the lingering effects of the alcohol, he mustered his courage to explain the flower’s story.
"It’s called a Xia Donghua. It’s the only flower that grows year-round on the Border Defense Star."
"The Border Defense Star generally has only two seasons: a long summer and a long winter. The summer is scorching hot and the winter is brutally cold. The temperature swing between the seasons is extreme, so most plants can’t survive. The Xia Donghua is the exception, which is how it got its name."
He Hanshi had a very pleasant voice. Perhaps it was because of the wine, but it now carried a slight rasp, like a seductive tickle that could easily make one go weak in the knees.
Shi Lan cradled the flower, listening patiently. She would murmur in agreement from time to time, occasionally getting so lost in his voice that she’d stare blankly for a few seconds.
He Hanshi’s gaze swept over her face, which was more delicate than the flower itself. Seeing her bright, almond-shaped eyes fixed on him in a daze, his tension eased slightly. He met her gaze directly, his Adam’s apple bobbing once before he finally spoke the words he most wanted to say.
"The Xia Donghua is unique and beautiful, but its most precious quality is the meaning behind it. On the Border Defense Star, soldiers pick Xia Donghua to give to the female they love, because it represents eternal, unchanging love... and a chosen partner for life."
As his deep voice uttered those words, one by one, Shi Lan’s heart, which had just begun to relax, tensed up again.
’This was even more direct and honest than when He Hanshi told her back in the prison to wait for them.’
Shi Lan recognized the confession in his words. She involuntarily licked her suddenly dry lips, her mind going blank for a moment. She didn’t know what to say.
’Back in her modern-day life, plenty of boys had confessed to her. But back then, she had rejected all their advances, an unconscious flicker of revulsion always surfacing in her heart.’
’She just wanted to be alone.’
’But now, her way of thinking was slowly changing. Perhaps it was because He Hanshi and the others were genuinely good people, and their affection for her was so simple, untethered to her Spiritual Power or her healing ability.’
While she was lost in thought, He Hanshi couldn’t help but clench his fists. His ethereal, handsome face was turned toward Shi Lan, his expression gentle. His sapphire eyes held a trace of nervousness as he said softly, "Lanlan, I’ve never truly expressed my feelings for you. I want to take this chance, right now, to tell you sincerely: I like you. And I only like you."
He let out a long breath, as if he had finally gotten the words out. But the apprehension deep in his eyes did not fade. He was waiting for Shi Lan’s reply.
Even though he felt as if the guillotine of judgment was hanging over his head, filling him with dread, he didn’t rush Shi Lan in the slightest.
He was afraid because he dared to hope, but Shi Lan was the source of that hope, not an object of his fear. Even if her answer wasn’t the one he wanted to hear, He Hanshi would only blame himself for not doing enough.
This was, after all, a bit rushed. He had wanted to spend more time with Shi Lan, but as an Admiral, he bore the responsibility of ensuring the people’s safety. The recent abnormalities with the Insect Clan had forced him to worry about an uncertain future.
He didn’t want his feelings to become a regret. He had to tell her.
In the waiting silence, time seemed to stand still, stretching on forever. Neither had any interest in the scenery outside the window. The only sound was the tense, sharp sound of each other’s breathing.
After what felt like an eternity but was only about two minutes, Shi Lan asked, "Did you all know my Spiritual Power Level and Fertility Value not long after I became the Prison Director?"
He Hanshi hadn’t expected her to suddenly bring this up, but he quickly guessed she had probably heard about it from Jiang Xia.
He nodded. "Yes. To be precise, we found out about two or three days after you arrived on Black Star."
"So, do you mind my Fertility Value?"
Shi Lan knew that males in this world cared a great deal about having children, especially males with high spiritual power like them. They would certainly want an outstanding heir.
And as for her, while her spiritual power had risen beyond the level of a "useless female," her Fertility Value of 0 was likely something that couldn’t be changed.
At this moment, Shi Lan couldn’t deny the fluttering in her heart, but she didn’t want this issue to become a thorn between them in the future, poisoning their relationship.
But apparently, He Hanshi had never even considered it. And it wasn’t just him; he knew the others had never cared about it either.
As someone who had once hovered on the brink of death, he felt that meeting Shi Lan was the greatest fortune of his life. He had never dared to hope for anything more.
So, his tone was especially firm. "I don’t care. If we did, we wouldn’t have accepted your perfume back then, even though you didn’t know what ’Jasmine’ represented at the time."
Hearing this, Shi Lan no longer hesitated and gave him her answer. "I understand. The truth is... I like you too, He Hanshi."
