Chapter 76: Xiang Ling’s Standards
Chapter 76: Xiang Ling’s Standards
"M-my Harem?"
Xiang Ling stared at the man with a stupefied look on her face as her brain refused to work at that moment.
The corners of Zhang Xuan’s lips curved as a smile threatened his lips. Taking another step closer toward her, he suddenly wrapped one of his arms around her waist and pulled her against him.
All the air left Xiang Ling’s lungs in a sharp gasp as her body came in contact with his and she found herself staring into his beautiful emerald eyes from up close.
"Mmhm." Zhang Xuan hummed in response as he gazed into her eyes. "Since you have accepted those five men into your harem, it can’t be too much to ask for a spot for me as well, right? Unless I don’t match your standards."
Xiang Ling opened her mouth to speak but only air came out as she was barely able to think of anything proper or coherent to say. It almost seemed like her brain was having a malfunction.
When she didn’t speak, Zhang Xuan continued, "But I think I match your standards perfectly." He raised his free hand in the air and started counting, "Mysterious, handsome, powerful, secretive, and able to make your body react in a way you haven’t experienced before..." he whispered the last few words against her ear, "... I think I’m the perfect candidate for your collection, Immortal Xing."
Xiang Ling stared wide-eyed at the man who had started speaking in a language her brain refused to understand. What did he mean by her harem? When did she start collecting such men? She wondered in her mind as she looked at his devilishly handsome face.
Finally, after mustering some courage, she replied, "Stop talking nonsense! Who’s collecting anything here? Don’t tarnish my reputation."
To her utter surprise, the man chuckled at her words. His arm around her waist tightened and only then did Xiang Ling realize that her breasts were pressed against his hard chest. She immediately tried to step back but she forgot that even with her ten thousand years of cultivation, she was no match to him.
"What are you doing? Let me go." She demanded as she again tried to get out of his hold.
"That’s not the plan." Zhang Xuan whispered as he brought his face so close to hers that their foreheads were almost brushing. Fearing that the man was about to kiss her, Xiang Ling covered her mouth with the back of her palm and her action caused the man to chuckle again.
"See! You are too good for me to treat you like any other woman and move on. The more I see you, the more I want to know you. But let me make this clear, my offer is not merely out of curiosity. I will give you time to consider my offer." Zhang Xuan said as he looked at her with a soft gaze.
He took hold of the wrist of the hand that she was using to cover her mouth and Xiang Ling tightened her hand in fear that he was trying to remove it. The corners of his lips only curved further in amusement and he surprised her when he closed the remaining space between their faces and planted his lips against her palm that was facing him.
Xiang Ling’s eyes went wider at the unexpected kiss but before she could react, the man was already stepping away. "I will return for my answer soon." And then, he was gone. She stared at the space in front of her where he was standing just a moment ago. Her gaze then landed on her palm where she could still feel the softness of his lips.
A cry of frustration left her lips and Xiang Ling shook her head as if trying to get rid of the ridiculous thoughts that were swarming her head. She couldn’t be thinking about his ridiculous words, right? How could she take his words seriously? Most importantly, she didn’t have a harem like he said.
She wondered when she would get to see him again and what would happen then. All she wanted was to stay as far away from that man as possible. She already had her hands full with the five men who were currently ruling her life. She didn’t want any more headaches.
Little did she know at that moment, that fate had a completely different plan for her.
* * *
"My Lady, the soil looks so different from yesterday. Just one look at it and even I can tell that it’s more than perfect for farming. Those mixtures of your indeed performed a miracle." Aunt Yan could hardly contain her excitement as she finished inspecting the soil with Uncle Sun.
It had been only two days since they finished plowing the field. They added different types of mixtures that Lady Chen provided them with and just in two days, the soil had turned out to be so different.
Xiang Ling smiled in satisfaction before she handed over the packets of seeds to Aunt Yan and Uncle Sun. "You all did a great job in preparing the soil. It’s time for us to plant the seeds now. If we succeed in taking proper care of them, we will be able to harvest the vegetables after a month from now."
Her words clearly surprised the servants and it was Aunt Yan who asked the question, "That quickly? Is it even possible?" She looked at the seeds in her hands with a questionable look on her face which made Xiang Ling chuckle.
"It is possible, Aunt Yan. After all the mixtures we have added to the soil, we will be able to reap the fruits of our hard labor by the end of the next month. Besides, we will take extra care of the plants throughout the coming month."
Seeing Xiang Ling’s confidence in her statement, the servants couldn’t question the possibility of such a miracle any longer. In the past few weeks, they all had come to learn that their Lady Chen was one of a kind and there was nothing she couldn’t do.