Free Web NovelChapter 57: Chapter 57: Performing Acrobatics for Her?
Shi Lan touched her flushed face. She waited a moment before daring to go to the next cell.
Mu Tangfeng glanced at her. His gaze, critical and a little haughty, seemed to sweep over her from head to toe before he offered his verdict. "Nice dress."
’She’s good-looking, too,’ he thought. ’Just barely a match for me.’
But he couldn’t bring himself to say something like that, so he could only awkwardly mask the admiration in his eyes.
Shi Lan thought the dress was beautiful too. She nodded. "It really is. I love this dress."
Mu Tangfeng unhappily pinched the mushroom on his mirror, sulking for reasons unknown.
’Who was complimenting the dress...’
Shi Lan didn’t know that coming from Mu Tangfeng, "nice" was already high praise, and that such a compliment was reserved only for things related to his master.
It was just his nature. As his parents sometimes said in fits of anger, a dog’s mouth can’t spit out ivory—he could infuriate someone just by opening his mouth, but he was actually very soft-hearted.
Shi Lan’s gaze subconsciously fell on the mushroom, and her heart skipped a beat.
She had been observing lately. Everyone else seemed to completely ignore the mushrooms. Only Mu Tangfeng had taken to pinching them over the past couple of days.
’I hope he hasn’t discovered anything.’
’Then again, even if he did, it wouldn’t be a huge problem. I never planned on hiding it forever anyway.’
Shi Lan mentally contacted Xiao Du.
’Xiao Du, if they touch your offshoots, it won’t affect you, will it?’
’No, Master. Have you forgotten our Talent Skill? Immunity. My mushroom body is practically invulnerable to any harm.’
’That’s why they can’t get rid of it at all.’
’Okay, good.’
Reassured by Xiao Du’s words, Shi Lan moved on to Ye Ming’s cell. As always, his room was pitch-black, but she could feel a pair of eyes in the darkness fixed upon her.
She looked over. A Black Panther with piercing green eyes was staring straight at her. In the pitch-black surroundings, there was an unnerving coldness to his gaze, like a predator lying in wait for its prey.
But things were different now. Whenever she remembered that his gift was a pile of fabric, she couldn’t help but imagine him struggling to hold a needle and thread with his claws.
The very thought made her want to laugh.
Perhaps it was because she was getting used to him, but she couldn’t bring herself to feel afraid anymore.
She did laugh out loud. Noticing a hint of confusion and faint unease in Ye Ming’s gaze, she grew embarrassed, composed herself, and moved on to Cell Number Four.
In the darkness, Ye Ming swished his tail. He recalled the image of Shi Lan’s radiant smile, and for once, his face actually felt a little hot.
’This might be the first time... she’s ever looked so happy smiling at me.’
’Is it because of the pretty dress? If so, I’ll buy her lots more. As long as she’s not afraid of me.’
At that thought, Ye Ming’s spirits sank again. He looked down at his pitch-black fur and retreated deeper into the shadows.
At the entrance to Cell Number Four, Jiang Xia’s eyes lit up the moment he saw Shi Lan. He instinctively moved toward the protective gate, his tail wagging happily, like a cat that had just spotted its favorite toy. If not for the gate in his way, he might have pressed himself right up against her.
’My wife is so beautiful...’ freeweɓnovēl.coɱ
he thought to himself, unable to stop the words from tumbling out. "Lanlan, you look so beautiful today."
Jiang Xia figured their relationship had leveled up, so he took the liberty of using a more intimate name.
’Shi Lan is going to be my wife, so what’s wrong with calling her that?’
The more he thought about it, the more justified he felt, but his round, brilliant gold eyes still snuck a peek at Shi Lan’s face.
’Her expression is normal. She’s not angry. She doesn’t seem to mind me calling her that.’
In truth, Shi Lan didn’t mind what he called her. Her old colleagues at work and her best friends all called her that. She was used to it. In comparison, hearing her full name felt more formal and less comfortable.
Jiang Xia finished his assessment and was secretly overjoyed. ’I knew it! Lanlan likes me best...’
Overcome with happiness, he forgot to maintain his image for a moment and joyfully rolled around on the ground, turning himself into a white furball dusted with snow.
Shi Lan’s gaze instantly locked on. ’Whoa, whoa, whoa, that is so cute!!!’
Jiang Xia rolled over twice before realizing what he’d done. He belatedly tried to salvage his image, immediately puffing out his chest and shaking the snow from his fur. But a few flakes had landed on his nose, and he suddenly let out a huge sneeze. His ears wobbled, revealing a pink tongue and sharp fangs as his entire fluffy body shook. The remaining snowflakes scattered like ice crystals, leaving him looking dazed and unconsciously baring his teeth, completely at the mercy of the tickling snow on his nose.
’It’s over, it’s over! My reputation is in tatters!’
Jiang Xia felt utterly humiliated. ’I must have looked so ugly when I sneezed, and I even rolled on the ground. She’ll definitely think I’m childish.’
’What if Shi Lan doesn’t like me anymore?’ frёewebηovel.cѳm
The more he thought about it, the more anxious he grew. Hating that he couldn’t control his own body, he forced himself to leap gracefully into the air a few times, trying to project a more masculine image.
Although the Tuxun looked plump, Jiang Xia was actually very light on his feet. He zipped through the air, his body a long, agile blur.
It was clear that underneath all that thick fur, Jiang Xia’s animal form wasn’t fat at all.
Shi Lan watched, completely captivated.
’Yes, yes, yes. A personal acrobatic show from a Tuxun first thing in the morning.’
’Today is just about perfect.’
’I got to wear pretty makeup and a beautiful dress, and I got to see adorable fluffy creatures. Other than not being able to pet them, it’s absolutely perfect.’
Jiang Xia watched Shi Lan’s expression as he leaped about. When he saw that she still looked at him with the same gentle affection, with no trace of disgust in her eyes, he breathed a sigh of relief.
His spirits lifted, and he strode toward Shi Lan with his head held high.
Shi Lan was a little disappointed the show was over so quickly, but she was still delighted. Who else in this prison besides Jiang Xia would be willing to put on such a cute display for her?
Her eyes crinkled with a smile. She set down his breakfast and said cheerfully, "Jiang Xia, thank you for the dress. It’s beautiful."
Jiang Xia’s ears twitched. ’What? I sent her this dress?’
He was a bit confused, but then he remembered telling his mother to buy something a female would like. This must have been what was in the red gift box from yesterday.
’With that thought, his confidence surged. Lanlan praised me! She definitely won’t cast me aside.’
As if to get a better look at her, he pressed his head against the protective gate and grinned. "As long as Lanlan likes it."
Shi Lan crouched down to meet his gaze. "Yes, I love it."
’The dress isn’t just pretty, it’s also light and comfortable to wear.’
Because Jiang Xia was so close, he could see her more clearly than ever before. His eyes fell upon her face, and after staring for a moment, he couldn’t help but ask, "Lanlan, your lips are so red. Did you have red bean soy milk for breakfast today?"
He couldn’t help but think back to the watermelon juice from yesterday. ’Lanlan’s lips look like they’d be sweet, too.’
The corner of Shi Lan’s mouth twitched. She couldn’t believe he didn’t even recognize lipstick.
She shook her head in amusement. "I put on a little lipstick today."
"...Oh."
Jiang Xia was still recalling the taste of yesterday’s watermelon juice. He stared at her lips, his mind elsewhere.
