Chapter 265: Going to Mu Tangfeng’s Home
Everyone was already a bit used to Jiang Xia saying things like that. But when the Eldest Prince—who always seemed so proper, composed, and self-possessed—said the same, the others stared in disbelief.
Mu Tangfeng was suspicious. ’Is the Eldest Prince *really* scared? He was completely silent during the ride. I couldn’t see any fear from him at all.’
He Hanshi and Yan Huoshui also glanced at him a few more times, their expressions complex and unreadable.
Jiang Xia leaned on Shi Lan’s shoulder, laughing so hard that color returned to his face. "Hahahaha, so you’re a scaredy-cat too, Eldest Prince."
As for Shi Lan, although her legs had turned to jelly, she wasn’t actually that afraid. With Mu Tangfeng right beside her—a Flying Beastman—she wasn’t worried about her safety in the slightest. Her weak legs were just a primal, physical reaction.
Ye Ming was usually a man of few words, not one to express his feelings. For him to actually say something now, he must have been truly terrified.
At that thought, a pang of sympathy flashed in her eyes. She immediately pulled him to her side and comfortingly stroked his bowed head. "It’s okay, it’s okay. It’s all over now. We’ll stick to some gentler rides later."
Ye Ming lowered his gaze, the faintest hint of a smile flashing in his eyes. ’So it really works.’
Feeling the soft warmth on his head, he couldn’t help but nuzzle against her hand affectionately. He let out a soft "mhm," and the last of his fear vanished completely.
Jiang Xia copied him, craning his neck so his long hair tickled Shi Lan’s wrist. He cooed, "Lanlan, I’m scared too. I want you to pat my head, too."
Shi Lan obliged, reaching out to stroke the two heads—one black, one white—on either side of her.
The other three swallowed their jealousy, their expressions turning thoughtful.
After Jiang Xia and Ye Ming broke the ice, for the remaining rides, one or two heads were always popping up beside Shi Lan seeking comfort. He Hanshi and Yan Huoshui would claim the rides made them dizzy. Even on the pirate ship, Mu Tangfeng managed to find an excuse, claiming he had a fear of being *too low*.
Shi Lan knew these were all just excuses. Although she sometimes found their reasons so flimsy they were completely unconvincing, there was nothing to be done. After all, they were her Beast Husbands. As their wife, it was her duty to hug and comfort them.
Shi Lan and her Beast Husbands had a wonderful time at the amusement park, making sweet memories and taking lots of beautiful photos. They didn’t leave until sunset, when the twilight glow painted the sky.
After dinner, Shi Lan said goodbye to everyone and went home with Mu Tangfeng.
According to the lots they drew, tonight was his turn.
Mu Tangfeng must have known what was coming. Alone with Shi Lan in the Hovercar on the way back, he was a bundle of nerves, wanting to be close to her but feeling too bashful.
Her sweet fragrance filled the Hovercar, and he fidgeted, scratching his hair. Finally, he sheepishly chose the seat farthest away from her.
Shi Lan was completely bewildered. ’???’
She looked back at Mu Tangfeng’s gorgeous, fair-skinned face, which was flushed bright red. Seeing him squirming in his seat as if on pins and needles, she almost burst out laughing.
’What’s going on? We haven’t even started doing anything, and Mu Tangfeng’s face is already as red as a monkey’s butt?’
’Hahahaha, this is just too funny.’
But, she knew his personality. If she actually laughed out loud now, he’d probably want to dig a hole and die of shame. To think that the guy who was normally so acerbic, fierce, and had such a sharp mouth was actually the shyest and slowest to warm up of them all.
Shi Lan couldn’t help but wonder if he would just run and hide when it was time to actually *do* something.
She prudently didn’t ask anything more. Instead, she looked at the unfamiliar night scenery outside the Hovercar and changed the subject. "Mu Tangfeng, this doesn’t seem like the way to your house."
Startled by the sudden call of his name, he nearly jumped up like a frightened bird. He hastily pushed aside his romantic fantasies, glanced out the window, and explained, "I moved into my own villa."
He was a male with a family of his own now; of course he couldn’t keep living with his parents. It wasn’t just him, either. Jiang Xia was the same.
Ye Ming was a Prince with his own private palace. As his wife, Shi Lan had the authority to enter the palace, so she didn’t need to move.
Yan Huoshui’s situation was even simpler. He’d always been a loner with no family, so he already lived by himself. No hassle there.
Shi Lan nodded in understanding, breathing a sigh of relief internally. ’It’s definitely for the best that I don’t have to be around Mu Tangfeng’s family.’
She relaxed considerably and asked Mu Tangfeng to check his spiritual power collapse value.
"16%. Lanlan, you had treated it down to 14% before, but it went up by two points after the last Insect Clan appearance."
"Okay."
Shi Lan considered this seriously. ’After two treatments from me, He Hanshi’s spiritual power collapse value had successfully dropped to 0%.’
’To be honest, I was a bit surprised by that result myself. It had just been a thought I had, but I’d heard that while under 10% was considered normal, getting it all the way down to 0 was no easy feat.’
’But in any case, thinking about He Hanshi’s imminent return to the Border Defense Star, I feel much more at ease with that number.’
’Mu Tangfeng is at 16%; I should be able to finish treating him in one night.’
A few minutes later, the Hovercar stopped outside an unfamiliar villa. Of course, Shi Lan always felt their villas were so large they were better described as estates.
Having seen a thing or two by now, Shi Lan’s expression remained composed. She was, however, shocked by the design of his main gate: a pair of iron gates shaped like hollowed-out vases.
She never expected Mu Tangfeng to be such a fan of vases. But in a unique twist, both vase-gates had wisteria planted inside them. The vines climbed up the ironwork, a distinctive and beautiful sight that instantly transformed the ordinary gates into something luxurious and grand.
Shi Lan exclaimed in admiration and couldn’t help but take a picture. "Mu Tangfeng, your gate is gorgeous."
Although he received Shi Lan’s praise, Mu Tangfeng’s face didn’t show much happiness. The corners of his mouth turned down in displeasure as he corrected and emphasized, "Lanlan, this is *our* home."
’They were already legally registered. Even without a wedding ceremony, they were a proper family. How could she talk about ’yours’ and ’mine’?’
Shi Lan sensed his annoyance and immediately soothed him. "You’re right. It’s our home. It’s beautiful, and I love it."
Hearing this, Mu Tangfeng’s expression finally softened.
He configured Shi Lan’s personal access permissions for the house, then took her hand and led her inside.
The moment they opened the door, the lights inside the villa turned on automatically.
The man who had just managed to relax enough to boldly hold her hand suddenly realized they were home. He snatched his hand back as if he’d been shocked, instantly putting a meter of distance between them and keeping it warily.
Shi Lan’s mouth twitched. She finally spoke, "What are you doing?"
Mu Tangfeng’s cheeks were flushed, his gaze evasive. "COUGH COUGH, it’s nothing, nothing. Lanlan, are you hungry? What do you want to eat? I’ll have the robot make you something."
Shi Lan was silent for a moment. "We just finished dinner not too long ago..."
"Oh, oh, right. I forgot. Lanlan, do you want to take a bath?"
He hastily tried to change the subject. Seeing him so flustered, Shi Lan, who hadn’t been thinking about *anything*, suddenly found her own mind drifting to some rather R-rated thoughts.