Chapter 222: Your Eyes Are Beautiful
Her thinking was that instead of cowering and hiding because of some unknown, possibly nonexistent enemy, it was better to put herself out in the open. That way, if something did happen, she could at least determine their true motives.
Ye Ming actually understood this logic, but perhaps because it was Shi Lan, he couldn’t help but be overly cautious, worried that she would truly get hurt.
’His Lanlan was already so exceptional; they shouldn’t stand in the way of her brilliance.’
The arm he had wrapped around Shi Lan’s waist tightened. In the darkness, his deep green eyes gazed at her tenderly. "Alright. Lanlan is right."
"Then tomorrow, I’ll take you to Dr. Ai for a check-up?"
"Dr. Ai has been my personal physician for a long time. I trust him completely."
Shi Lan nodded.
As dusk fell, Ye Ming pushed Shi Lan on the swings for a little while. Worried he was keeping her from her rest, he knew he couldn’t keep her out much longer.
He escorted her back to the Interstellar Mansion. Shi Lan told him, "I plan on moving into He Hanshi’s house for now. I took a look, and his place is nice and in a more convenient location."
Ye Ming was already more than happy tonight; he’d had a wonderful birthday.
So, even though he felt a pang of disappointment upon hearing the news, he respected Shi Lan’s choice. Besides, the security at He Hanshi’s private residence was likely even tighter than at the Interstellar Mansion complex, which would be better for Lanlan.
He didn’t say much, simply summoning another one of his Hovercars and sharing the driving credentials with her. "Admiral He’s house is a bit farther from the city center, so it might be inconvenient for you to get around, Lanlan. Just use my car from now on."
A smile lit up Shi Lan’s face. She didn’t refuse. "Alright. Thank you, Ye Ming."
Ye Ming added, "Even though Capital Star is relatively safe, it’s best to be cautious. From now on, you should take my Hovercar whenever you go out, Lanlan. It’s been modified with offensive and defensive systems, making it much safer than a public one."
"Mhm, okay."
Ye Ming watched her nod obediently, the loose strands of hair at her temples swaying with the motion. His heart melted.
’He had never experienced this feeling before. It was as if simply having her by his side meant he possessed the world’s most precious treasure.’
Perhaps the wind, too, sensed their reluctance to part, as it gently wrapped Shi Lan’s shawl around them.
Shi Lan suddenly said, "Ye Ming, lean down. I have something to tell you."
Ye Ming obediently leaned down, curious about what she wanted to say. But instead of words, a gentle touch graced his eyelid.
A light, cherished, and almost reverent kiss landed just above his eye. Then, Shi Lan’s shy yet clear voice sounded, "Ye Ming, your eyes are truly beautiful."
After saying this, she must have gotten embarrassed, as she quickly ran back into the Interstellar Mansion, leaving only her sweet, gentle fragrance to linger around him.
Ye Ming watched her retreating figure and couldn’t help but touch his eye. A soft, pleased laugh escaped his throat.
Suddenly, his gaze swept toward the security booth. The guard sheepishly lowered his chip. "Haha, Your Highness, I didn’t see a thing."
Ye Ming’s smile vanished, the warmth draining from his alluring eyes. He strolled nonchalantly toward the security booth, his downcast gaze unconsciously radiating the majesty of a Prince. "The photo. Give it to me."
The guard started to object, but under that sharp, all-seeing gaze, he obediently handed over the photo.
It was a snapshot capturing the moment Shi Lan kissed Ye Ming’s eye.
Ye Ming calmly copied the photo, watched the guard delete the original, and only then did he casually get into his Hovercar and leave.
The guard watched him depart, then silently replayed the recent security footage. The gentle man on the screen was a stark contrast to the Eldest Prince he had just encountered. He stroked his chin with an air of profound wisdom. "As expected. Males in love are just so irrational."
Just then, his chip vibrated several times. The guard opened it to see several rapid-fire messages from a contact named ’My Dearest Wife,’ urging him to finish his shift and come home.
He glanced at the time and immediately shut off the monitor. [Wife, I’ll be home right away! Kisses! ~]
Then, he transferred over all the spending money he had painstakingly managed to scrimp and save for the month.
After the transfer was complete, the guard snapped back to reality, slapping his forehead with a pained expression. "It’s over. Now I can’t splurge on my game."
——
After leaving the Interstellar Mansion, Ye Ming went to his estate to sort through his gifts. The ones from unimportant people were simply piled into a display cabinet.
He was just about to open the birthday gift from Shi Lan when he received a message from his father: [Come to the palace. Now.]
Ye Ming’s hands, which were about to open the gift, froze. He had no choice but to put the present into his personal storage space. The smile vanished from his face as he replied with a simple "Okay."
At eleven o’clock that night, he arrived at the palace.
At night, the palace was still as bright as day. Human guards and robotic sentinels patrolled in constant, alternating shifts, their security tight.
"Your Highness."
Ye Ming passed a series of guards, giving them each a cold nod. The tails of the formal coat he hadn’t had time to change out of billowed behind him with his long strides.
Soon, he arrived at the palace study his father had summoned him to.
"Father."
The moment he entered, Ye Ming had barely spoken a word when a teacup came flying straight at him.
The cup struck him hard on the forehead, which instantly turned bright red. The tea remaining inside splashed down his cheek, soaking a large patch of his pristine white tailcoat.
The ceramic cup hit the floor and shattered, the sound mingling with the Monarch’s furious, stern voice. "You are an absolute fool!"
Ye Ming blinked the water from his eyes and sank to one knee in a silent gesture of fealty.
The Monarch barked, "As the heir, I’ve reminded you before! You should know what the opening dance at a banquet like this represents."
’What does it represent?’
’Heh. It means that as a Prince, his partner for the opening dance sets the basic standard for his future wife. It represents the stance of the Imperial Family, a line drawn to forbid any unqualified female from challenging imperial prestige.’
But Ye Ming found it laughable. ’I’m a male with 3S Spiritual Power, a Prince, and I’m not even allowed to choose the female I like?’
Perhaps seeing Ye Ming’s continued silence, the Monarch felt his authority had been challenged. His face grew grim. "Choosing a commoner with no background is one thing, but to think she’s also a waste female."
Shi Lan had been the Prison Director of Black Ming Star Prison, so of course, the administrators had already sent her file to the Monarch for review.
When the Monarch saw Shi Lan at the Prince’s birthday banquet tonight, he’d known something was amiss.
A waste female like Shi Lan should not have been on the guest list for the birthday banquet.
He never expected his "good son" would give him such a big "surprise."
Ye Ming’s head throbbed. The red mark on his forehead was already turning into a bruise. He hadn’t intended to argue with his father, but hearing him talk about Shi Lan that way, he could no longer hold his tongue.
"Father, Shi Lan is not a waste female. Her spiritual power is at least A-level."