Chapter 210: Ye Ming’s Gift
In the past two days, Shi Lan had slowly gotten used to the climate of Capital Star. Her relationship with Jiang Xia and the others also seemed to have become much more harmonious, and she was practically buried in gifts every day.
However, she was a little puzzled, as she hadn’t seen Ye Ming at all.
’He’s probably just busy,’ Shi Lan thought. But looking at their silent chat window, she couldn’t help but feel a little unsettled.
Just as she was thinking about whether to send him a message and check in, one came from Ye Ming first: [Lanlan, are you at Interstellar Mansion right now?]
Shi Lan’s eyes brightened imperceptibly. [I am.]
Ye Ming replied quickly: [Good. I’m at the gate. Can I come in now?]
Shi Lan hurriedly typed back: [This is your house, of course you can come.]
Thinking he was right outside her door, she went to open it, only to realize that by "gate," he must have meant the entrance to the entire residential complex, not her front door.
Compared to the others, who had all entered directly, Ye Ming, the actual owner of the house, was far more reserved—he even asked for her permission just to enter the main gate.
It was at least a ten-minute walk from the complex gate to the villa. Shi Lan left the door open. Realizing she hadn’t seen Ye Ming in two or three days, she found herself standing expectantly in front of the house, waiting for him with a hint of curiosity.
With his height and long legs, Ye Ming took large strides. She didn’t have to wait long before his figure came into view.
Shi Lan couldn’t help but say happily, "Ye Ming, you’re here."
She unconsciously took a few steps forward, and Ye Ming quickened his pace.
He quickly reached her side. His jade-green, almond-shaped eyes, which had seemed a bit cool just a moment ago, landed on her face and instantly softened like a spring breeze. "Lanlan, why are you standing out here?"
Shi Lan said softly, "Waiting for you."
She blushed, likely out of embarrassment, then cleared her throat and led the way inside. "Come on in."
’Thank goodness the thought of seeing Lanlan made me walk so fast,’ Ye Ming’s gaze grew even gentler. He couldn’t help but feel relieved. ’I didn’t make her wait too long.’
He followed closely behind her, his gleaming leather shoes treading across her shadow.
His eyes scanned the interior, which seemed a little different from the images he remembered.
Ye Ming had never been here before, but he had seen architectural drawings of Interstellar Mansion. The cold, sterile images had transformed into the warm, lived-in scene before him.
The room was filled with exquisite, beautiful vases. Some served as decorative pieces on their own, while others held an assortment of fresh flowers.
He couldn’t help but remark, "Lanlan, you’ve made this place beautiful."
Shi Lan handed him a glass of water. Looking around at the decor, her eyes filled with a smile. "It’s nothing, really. Just the icing on the cake. The house itself is what’s truly wonderful."
"As for the vases, they were all gifts from Mu Tangfeng. He has great taste; they’re perfect for decorating."
"I see..."
Ye Ming murmured under his breath. His gaze drifted to the bracelet on Shi Lan’s wrist. It was by no means an inexpensive piece of jewelry.
As one of the first to investigate her background, he was well aware of Shi Lan’s previous financial situation. A bracelet worth seven or eight million was not something she would likely buy for herself.
Ye Ming took the glass from her, lowered his eyes, and took a sip.
A thought flashed through his mind. He had been worried that Lanlan wouldn’t accept a gift from him, but now he had a perfect excuse.
The water was room temperature and the glass felt cool in his hand. But as Ye Ming thought about what he was about to say, his palms grew slick with nervous sweat.
He took two more sips before gently setting the glass down. His almond-shaped eyes met hers again. "Lanlan, I... I’d like to invite you to my birthday party in two days. Is that... okay?"
"It’s your birthday soon?"
Shi Lan glanced at the date, realizing for the first time that their birthdays weren’t far apart.
She smiled. "Of course. It’s your birthday, I have to be there."
Hearing this, the tension in Ye Ming’s face eased into a faint smile. But that wasn’t what he was truly nervous about. "The party will have an opening dance... would you be my partner?"
His voice dropped, as if he were afraid of bothering her, and his tone was laced with caution.
Shi Lan had never liked being high-profile or the center of attention. Although she’d always drawn stares because of her looks, she was actually quite introverted and had some social anxiety.
The opening dance would definitely put them in the spotlight, especially given Ye Ming’s status.
Shi Lan hesitated. She looked up at him—his expression was so gentle. His jade-green, almond-shaped eyes, coupled with the mole just beneath one of them, gave him a kind of charmingly pitiable look that made it impossible to refuse his request.
She said, torn, "My... my reputation at school isn’t very good. I’m afraid being with me will cause people to talk about you."
In truth, she was more worried about that than about being the center of attention.
But Ye Ming didn’t care in the slightest. He seemed to understand her concern, and his expression grew steady and reassured. "Lanlan, back when I didn’t know the truth about your spiritual power—when I thought it was only F-grade—I didn’t consider it a problem."
"So now, I certainly don’t care what other people think. I only care whether you are willing."
With Ye Ming having put it that way, Shi Lan no longer hesitated. She nodded. "Okay. I’m willing."
At her words, the tight line of his lips finally relaxed into a smile.
The next moment, he produced a gift box from his storage space. "This is a gown for the party. See if you like it."
Shi Lan had just been wondering what she should wear, so his timing was perfect.
She had never attended an Imperial Family birthday banquet before, so she had no idea what kind of dress would be appropriate. Since Ye Ming had prepared one, she accepted it without hesitation.
She opened the gift box and lifted out the dress inside. It was a sleeveless, full-length gown made of what looked to be very luxurious fabric.
The gown was a delicate pale yellow. Hanging from the waistline were strands of white pearls, each about half an arm’s length, that encircled her waist entirely. They cinched the waist perfectly and tinkled softly when moved.
The bodice was embroidered with white, slightly three-dimensional flowers. The overall look was elegant and tasteful, not at all revealing.
Shi Lan ran her fingers over the flowers. The craftsmanship looked like hand-embroidery. "This dress is so beautiful," she couldn’t help but say. "The stitching on each of these flowers is so fine and intricate. It looks like so much care went into it."
"Do you like it, Lanlan?"
Ye Ming asked again.
Maybe it was her imagination, but she thought she could hear a slight tremor in his voice, as if he were incredibly nervous.
Shi Lan just assumed he was worried she wouldn’t like his choice, so she nodded emphatically. "I love it."
"Why don’t you try it on? If the size is off, we can still get it adjusted."
Ye Ming’s posture relaxed slightly, and the smile in his eyes deepened.
Shi Lan thought that made sense, so she took the dress to her room to change.
The dress was long, but the hem fell perfectly at her ankles, long enough to be elegant without dragging on the floor or getting underfoot.
She looked at herself in the mirror and couldn’t help but marvel. She absolutely loved the design at the waist; it was incredibly flattering. The only minor issue was that the neckline was a V-neck, which was a bit lower than what she was used to wearing.