Free Web NovelChapter 174: Chapter 174: May I Kiss You?
Shi Lan finally acknowledged her own heart.
He Hanshi was stunned. The black pupils within his blue eyes suddenly dilated, and his gaze seemed to turn dazed, his eyes filled with shock and elation.
He had considered many possible answers, but he had never, ever imagined that Shi Lan would reciprocate his feelings.
So, his feelings hadn’t been one-sided after all.
His gaze locked onto her, his throat inexplicably dry. After a long moment, he could no longer hold back and asked softly, "Lanlan, can I kiss you?"
’I can’t believe he’s moving so fast. We just confessed our feelings; how did we jump to kissing already?’
But, speaking of kissing, she couldn’t help but follow his train of thought, her gaze drifting down to his lips.
Even though he had spent years in the military, unlike her fourth brother, his skin was very fair. It wasn’t a cold, pale white like Jiang Xia’s, but had a healthy look to it. His lips, however, were a lighter shade—a delicate pink, like the very tips of peach blossoms in early spring.
That was why, when he was silent, his deep, distant, azure eyes gave him a cold, untouchable, almost divine air.
And now, this Immortal had descended to the mortal realm and was asking to kiss her...
She should have felt a sense of guilt, but instead, Shi Lan felt a contrary excitement. She stared at his lips, lost in thought. He Hanshi no longer needed to wait for her to speak. In that instant, their hearts connected, and he knew her answer.
Casting aside all hesitation, he leaned in. The space between their seats seemed to be in the way, so he unbuckled his seatbelt and moved closer to Shi Lan. His large hand clasped tightly around her waist as his lips descended upon hers.
The moment their lips touched, it was as if a faint electric current passed through them both.
Shi Lan’s body trembled slightly. He Hanshi’s other hand, resting on her cheek, was also trembling—whether from happiness or sheer ecstasy, he couldn’t tell.
After a moment, he calmed down a little. His large hand slowly caressed her cheek, then moved to her chin, drawing them even closer.
He Hanshi had only intended it to be a fleeting kiss, but without realizing it, the pressure of his lips increased, and they sank into a deep, passionate kiss.
A kiss tinged with the scent of alcohol connected them, making them one. Shi Lan felt like she was truly a little drunk now. Her mind went blank, and her hand unconsciously came to rest on He Hanshi’s neck.
They kissed, inseparable. Shi Lan’s hand even drifted from his neck to his Adam’s apple, which she had always been curious about.
A low groan escaped He Hanshi’s throat. The kiss turned into a sudden storm, as if he wanted to bury himself in Shi Lan’s body, to envelop himself completely in her scent.
Shi Lan hadn’t expected his kiss to suddenly become so intense; she instantly lost the energy to tease him anymore.
After who knows how long, He Hanshi slowly released her lips. But his arms remained around Shi Lan as he sank into the seat in front of her. His long legs were bent in an awkward, cramped position, but he paid no mind to whether it was comfortable.
Their breathing was ragged. He Hanshi lowered himself, resting his chin on Shi Lan’s shoulder with barely restrained desire. His hot breath fanned across her ear, each gasp quicker than the last.
Shi Lan, on the other hand, calmed down faster. It was just that her body felt strange. A weakness spread from below her navel, sapping her strength, leaving her to do nothing but nestle against He Hanshi.
Finally, as their bodies pressed closer, Shi Lan suddenly said, a little uncomfortably, "This seat is kind of digging into me. I want to stand up and stretch."
He Hanshi’s body stiffened instantly. After a moment, his ears flushing red, he reluctantly released Shi Lan. He tugged at his overcoat, then slumped bonelessly against the adjacent seat. Tilting his head back and closing his eyes, he mocked himself. ’When did I become some greenhorn kid with no self-control?’
’It was just a kiss...’
Shi Lan stood up while He Hanshi remained seated. From this higher vantage point, her eyes went straight to his mouth.
Thanks to their recent, tireless efforts, He Hanshi’s pale pink lips had successfully turned a deep, flushed red. A faint sheen of moisture remained, making them look even fuller and more supple.
Fair skin and red lips... right now, he truly looked like a demon or spirit straight out of a thousand-year-old cavern. Though he was just sitting there casually, his entire being unconsciously radiated a seductive charm.
Shi Lan couldn’t resist staring a little longer. As if sensing her gaze, He Hanshi slowly opened his eyes. He didn’t seem to have fully come to his senses yet; his newly opened eyes looked hazy. But they quickly focused, locking onto her. The corners of his lips lifted, and his gentle voice was tinged with hoarseness. "Lanlan, what’s wrong?"
Shi Lan quickly shook her head and pretended to look at the scenery outside the window.
For some reason, even though He Hanshi’s gaze was as gentle as ever, perhaps because they had just kissed, she felt it now held an aggressive edge it lacked before. It was as if he were still debating whether to kiss her again.
She pursed her lips lightly and touched her own mouth, which was a little swollen and faintly sore. ’Definitely can’t kiss anymore,’ she thought.
Besides, her complaint about the seat being uncomfortable was a deliberate attempt to change the subject. It was just that they had been pressed too close together; there was no way she could have missed his body’s reaction.
Still, she could tell He Hanshi hadn’t intended to take advantage of the situation. He had simply held her while trying to calm himself down, his large hand resting with restraint on her waist, not moving inappropriately. But this was in stark contrast to the surging passion of his kiss.
As she thought about it, a delayed blush spread across Shi Lan’s face.
When they were kissing, He Hanshi hadn’t given her any time to feel shy. But now, her mind replayed the image of him kissing her so earnestly: the focus in his eyes as his face drew close, the fervor of his presence enveloping her...
Bit by bit, these details resurfaced from her memory, far more profound than the shy, fleeting kisses she’d shared with Jiang Xia.
Thankfully, her face was turned toward the window, so He Hanshi couldn’t see.
After some time, Shi Lan, who had been staring at the unfamiliar streetscape outside, slowly turned her head back.
Only then did she realize that He Hanshi had fallen asleep at some point.
Remembering the exhaustion hidden in his eyes, Shi Lan carefully sat back down. She then took a blanket from her Space Bag and gently draped it over him.
Perhaps because he knew he was with someone he trusted completely, He Hanshi didn’t wake at the movement. In fact, his brow, which had been slightly furrowed before, smoothed out unconsciously as he caught the sweet scent of his beloved. His breathing gradually deepened and steadied.
He Hanshi had truly been under a lot of pressure recently. Military drills, strategic decisions, tracking the Insect Mother’s movements, and leading rescue missions back and forth—as an Admiral, these were all responsibilities he was expected to bear, and he did so without complaint.
But more than the busyness of his military duties, he was concerned for Shi Lan.
He was afraid that this separation would cause her to slowly overlook and forget him. Subconsciously, He Hanshi was always worried that Shi Lan would leave him behind.
But now that everything was out in the open and he knew Shi Lan liked him too, he finally felt secure. He could at last let himself relax and sleep in peace.
