Chapter 238: Marriage Proposal 1
Today, Shi Lan wore a moon-white dress. Her hair was swept into a half-updo, with the rest left to drape over her left shoulder.
He Hanshi had done her hair. A string of white pearls encircled the updo, suiting her perfectly.
He Hanshi also wore a white suit. The custom-tailored attire accentuated his ramrod-straight posture, making him look tall and long-legged.
As the saying goes, a happy occasion brings a cheerful spirit. His usually pale complexion was now tinged with a hint of pink, and the corners of his lips were turned up in a smile. His large hand held Shi Lan’s tightly.
The figures outside the door gradually came into view.
"Lanlan."
A chorus of gentle voices, some high and some low, called out from ahead. Shi Lan looked up.
Four men stood there, each holding a large bouquet of roses and wearing a matching white suit. They all had physiques worthy of male models, and their faces were so impossibly handsome they looked as if they were sculpted by God himself, each with his own unique charm.
The scene looked just like a victory screen at the end of a video game—it was all too surreal.
Every single one was a feast for the eyes.
Shi Lan couldn’t resist. "He Hanshi, you go stand with them."
He Hanshi’s gentle blue eyes blinked. His gaze drifted lightly over the other men. "Alright."
He obediently stepped into a large gap between the others. Glancing at the roses in their hands, he too produced a bouquet for Shi Lan from his spatial cufflink.
’He has one too.’
Shi Lan’s eyes sparkled even brighter. She took two happy steps forward, the wind catching her skirt and lifting it in a cheerful arc.
"Yes, just like that! Hold your own poses, act natural. I’m going to take your picture!"
’Five gorgeous men all gathered in one place. Oh my god, this is the most stunning sight I’ve ever seen. A picture for the ages!’
They were all the men she loved; she didn’t even know where to look first.
She activated her chip’s camera. The five men knew she wanted a picture and indulgently played along, each subtly striking what he considered to be his best angle.
Jiang Xia turned slightly to the side to show off his long silver hair. He grinned, the fang at the corner of his mouth glinting with confidence.
Mu Tangfeng, ever confident, faced the camera head-on, perfectly positioned for Lanlan to capture his beloved feather decoration. His smile was more reserved than Jiang Xia’s, and though his expression held a hint of pride, he couldn’t hide the mirth in his eyes.
Yan Huoshui held the flowers to his chest, dipping his head slightly as if to smell them. He then lifted his gaze toward Shi Lan, his red eyes and the red roses reflecting each other in a dazzling display.
He Hanshi appeared far more reserved. He wasn’t as flamboyant as Yan Huoshui. His chin was slightly raised, but his eyes—usually cold and unsmiling—were now gently lidded. His blue gaze was dreamy and tender, as if he were utterly captivated by the person he was looking at.
Ye Ming had his own little strategy. He deliberately angled his head to show Shi Lan the stud in his right ear, while the jade-green eyes she had once complimented gazed at her, deep and gentle.
’Looking at them on her chip’s screen, Shi Lan gulped. It felt like no matter the angle, it was impossible to take a bad photo of any of them.’
She had only planned on taking one or two of these legendary group photos, but she ended up moving her chip around and taking a whole series of them.
Once she’d had her fill, she clapped her hands. "Let’s go!"
"Everyone’s riding in my hovercar today."
It was the one Ye Ming had given her to use. He had even added it to his dowry list, and now it had been delivered just as he’d wished. After the wedding, it would officially be Shi Lan’s asset.
The five men had no objections and boarded the hovercar with Shi Lan.
However, before they went to the Bureau of Civil Affairs to register their marriage, the men planned to propose.
The five of them had secretly started a group chat yesterday to discuss this. They had even drawn lots to determine the proposal order.
Why draw lots?
After all, the first proposal would be the biggest surprise, and everyone wanted to be first. Even the normally deferential He Hanshi refused to back down, so he was the one who had suggested this method.
The final order was Ye Ming, He Hanshi, Jiang Xia, Yan Huoshui, and Mu Tangfeng.
Ye Ming piloted the hovercar to his chosen proposal spot: a private island on Capital Star that he had purchased several years ago.
His location was the farthest, but luckily, he had drawn the first slot.
But with the speed of the hovercar, they reached the island in no time.
Shi Lan was still admiring the photos she had just taken, planning to post them on her feed later along with a picture of their marriage certificate.
In the meantime, she had already shared the happy news with Jiang Yan.
Jiang Yan was overjoyed. She had always worried that things would be difficult for Shi Lan with all of them, so she was thrilled that everything was going smoothly. She even insisted on coming to help take pictures of the marriage registration.
Shi Lan told her to save it for the wedding. After all, the staff at the Bureau of Civil Affairs would be there to help with the registration, so there was no need for her to go to all that trouble.
The two were chatting animatedly on their chips. It wasn’t until the hovercar came to a stop that Shi Lan thought about the impending marriage registration and belatedly began to feel a little nervous.
"We’re here?"
She asked in confusion, but when she looked up and out of the hovercar, all she saw was a vast, endless ocean.
Seagulls flew back and forth in the sky, and the golden morning sun cast a brilliant glow upon the surface of the sea. The scenery was picturesque.
’There was no Bureau of Civil Affairs in sight.’
Ye Ming’s Adam’s apple bobbed with a mixture of anticipation and apprehension. He walked over to Shi Lan, extended his hand, and asked gently, "Lanlan, would you come with me for a moment?"
Shi Lan thought of what Mu Tangfeng had said the day before yesterday when they talked about getting their marriage license.
She had a vague idea of what was happening, and her slight nervousness instantly tripled.
She hummed in agreement and placed her hand in his. Ye Ming held it firmly, his other hand clutching the bouquet of white roses.
The two of them slowly disembarked from the hovercar. The men behind them knew exactly what was about to happen and were mentally prepared, but watching the scene still felt like handing their beloved over to another man. A sour pang of jealousy churned in their hearts.
Mu Tangfeng gritted his teeth. "Hmph, let’s see what kind of proposal the Eldest Prince has cooked up."
Jiang Xia added sourly, "Damn it. To think he got to go first."
Yan Huoshui’s lips thinned into a line, and the smile on He Hanshi’s face faded slightly.
The four men got out of the hovercar just as Shi Lan and Ye Ming reached the spot he’d prepared. Ye Ming handed the flowers to Shi Lan.
A red carpet stretched out from the hovercar, lined on both sides by soldiers in neat palace uniforms. At first glance, the scene was so majestic and solemn it looked like a grand state affair was about to take place.
But upon seeing the couple, they shouted in loud, unified voices, "We welcome the Eldest Prince and his wife! May you be joined in heart forever and never be parted!"
Then, two hovercars flew back and forth overhead, scattering flower petals while tracing a pink, heart-shaped trail in the sky.
Shi Lan hadn’t expected this to be the soldiers’ role. She glanced at Ye Ming beside her, his eyes full of joy and his cheeks slightly flushed. Her gaze fell to the plush doll nestled among the flowers—a doll that looked just like her—and the corners of her own lips curved into a smile.
’She had to admit, it was quite creative.’
The falling petals drifted like beautiful butterflies past Shi Lan’s white dress, and a few seemed to linger fondly, catching in her hair and on her clothes.
Ye Ming had a few on him as well.
But at that moment, neither of them cared about such trivial details. The other men behind them, however, sourly brushed the petals from their hair, flicking them angrily to the ground.