Free Web NovelChapter 197: Chapter 197: Annoying Male
Jiang Xia had rushed over and hadn’t eaten much for breakfast. Since Shi Lan couldn’t finish her large meal, he joined her for a second breakfast.
As they were finishing breakfast, his gaze suddenly fell upon Shi Lan’s wrist. His brilliant golden eyes flickered, a hint of confusion in their depths. "Lanlan, this bracelet... did you buy it yesterday?"
He’d never seen her wear it before.
Shi Lan nodded. "Mm, Yan Huoshui gave it to me."
Jiang Xia immediately felt like he was falling behind. His eyes darted to Shi Lan’s bare neck, and an idea formed. "Lanlan, let’s go shopping later! I haven’t been out and about on Capital Star in ages."
"Okay!"
Shi Lan had been wanting to stock the fridge with a couple of days’ worth of groceries anyway, and this was a good chance to check out the home address He Hanshi had sent her.
If the place was right, she would probably decide to move to his place.
Shi Lan went back to her room and changed into a blue long-sleeved dress. The current temperature on Capital Star was perfect for a light, long-sleeved outfit.
Jiang Xia cleared the trash from the dining table. Thinking about holding Lanlan’s hand later, he washed his hands until they were sparkling clean.
He used to be clumsy with chores like this. But back on Yaoxing, he and Mu Tangfeng were always in a secret competition. Since they weren’t allowed to help much in the kitchen, they resorted to stealing chores from the household robot.
Over time, he had gotten quite good at handling these simple household tasks.
Just as Jiang Xia finished drying his hands, he looked up to see Shi Lan coming downstairs in her dress. Her clothes were simple, and she wore no accessories besides the bracelet, yet to him, she looked like a radiant princess.
It was as if the moment she appeared, everything else faded into the background.
Her reflection filled his eyes, and the light from the glazed lampshade swirled within them, creating a crystalline starlight. He stared at her, his eyes shining brightly.
Shi Lan smoothed down her hair. The original owner’s hair was naturally curly, but the waves were gentle and easy to manage on a daily basis.
Lately, she had been eating well, her spiritual power was abundant, and she had been taking good care of her hair. The black hair that had been a little frizzy when she first arrived was now becoming increasingly dark, shiny, and smooth.
Shi Lan was very pleased with her current hairstyle.
She walked up to Jiang Xia and saw him staring at her in a daze. Amused, she couldn’t resist waving a hand in front of his face. "What are you thinking about?"
"Thinking about Lanlan..."
Jiang Xia replied in a daze. The curve of Shi Lan’s lips deepened. "Let’s go shopping."
She took the initiative and held his hand. Jiang Xia snapped back to reality and deftly reversed their grip, seizing control. He laced his fingers through hers, holding on tight.
"Lanlan, even though Capital Star’s security is great, there are still a lot of aggressive males out there. So we absolutely can’t let go of each other on the street later, okay?"
Jiang Xia warned her, clearly worried. His main concern was that other males would take advantage of any opening to hit on his Lanlan.
His Lanlan was so beautiful, so outstanding, and so kind. He already had several rivals; he didn’t want any more.
Shi Lan heard the emphasis he placed on the word "males" and knew his ulterior motives were clear. She simply played along and nodded.
In truth, security within Capital Star was excellent. She’d noticed it last time she went to the mall; there were guard posts every few hundred meters, and they would intervene immediately at the slightest sign of a female being in trouble.
So, there was basically no danger to worry about.
The two walked out of the residential complex hand in hand. The next moment, Jiang Xia summoned his Hovercar.
Shi Lan sighed. ’These young masters... it seems like they all get a private Hovercar.’
’I wonder how long it’ll take me to afford one.’
The two quickly boarded the Hovercar and headed for the commercial district.
Interstellar Mansion was in a prime location, very close to the commercial district. Of course, "close" in this world was measured by travel time; by Hovercar, it was a four or five-minute trip.
Among all the areas surrounding the commercial district, Interstellar Mansion was one of the most elite residential neighborhoods. Many noble families owned property there.
’If I hadn’t met Jiang Xia and the others,’ Shi Lan thought, ’I probably would’ve never had the chance to live in Interstellar Mansion. After all, just renting a place here costs hundreds of thousands of Star Coins a month.’
In contrast, her previous apartment on Capital Star had only cost a few thousand.
But, just like transmigration, life was unpredictable. No one ever knew what the next moment would bring.
She was watching the skyscrapers flash past the window when she heard Jiang Xia say, "Lanlan, we’re here."
Shaking off her thoughts, she got out of the Hovercar with him.
The Hovercar had been relatively soundproof. The moment she stepped out, she was met with a lively cacophony: the announcements from mechanical screens, the whirring of robots, the hum of Hovercars flying overhead, and the chatter of the bustling crowd.
Shi Lan hadn’t felt anything like this on Yaoxing. Now, on Capital Star, she was once again struck by the sheer scale of a major planet.
Jiang Xia glanced at the dense crowd, subconsciously tightened his grip on Shi Lan’s hand, and pulled her closer. "Lanlan, let’s go. We can start by checking out the main commercial tower downtown."
"Okay."
The two walked toward the commercial tower. Just as they reached the entrance, a large bouquet was thrust into Shi Lan’s arms.
"Oh, beautiful lady, your eyes are like a sea of stars. Might I have the honor of sharing a cup of coffee with you?"
Jiang Xia glared at the male beside Shi Lan. He was dressed impeccably, wearing a formal suit and trousers despite the heat, as if he were perpetually ready for a date with any female who caught his eye.
If it had been any other female, Jiang Xia probably wouldn’t have spared him a glance.
But this man had approached *his* Lanlan.
Jiang Xia’s face instantly darkened. He ground his teeth. "Are you blind? Can’t you see I’m standing right here?"
The man glanced at him, his eyes pausing for a second on the long silver hair before he said deliberately, "Hm, I see you... little brother."
"Lit-tle... bro-ther?"
Jiang Xia spat the words out, seeming to force them through his teeth. "What part of me is ’little’? You old geezer!"
The man scoffed. "These days, aren’t long-haired pretty boys usually just underage kids? Real males like us have to fight the Insect Clan from time to time. Long hair isn’t exactly practical."
"Is that so?"
Two little flames ignited in Jiang Xia’s eyes, and he immediately released his 2S-level spiritual pressure.
This time, sensing something, the man’s expression turned grave. He bowed. "My apologies for the disturbance. The flowers are a gift for your female. I wish you both a pleasant date."
With that, he beat a hasty retreat.
Shi Lan, still holding the flowers, was dumbfounded. She hadn’t expected the situation to escalate like that.
After chasing off the annoying male, Jiang Xia instantly turned pitiful. "Lanlan, I’m not a little brother."
"I... I’ve just had long hair since I was little, so I never cut it."
Shi Lan quickly patted his head to comfort him. "I know. Don’t cut it. I like it a lot."
As she spoke, she couldn’t resist twirling a lock of his hair around her finger, proving she genuinely meant it.
