Lan Jing Er (2)

"Miss Yan, I presume? Pardon me for not paying attention." Lan Jing Er stood immediately to greet her. However, Yan Qing Shan just waved her hand dismissively and remained seated. The faint smile in her lips became even more apparent as she glanced at the tall, lean man who seemed taken aback by her carefree action. It was obvious that he was informed of her supposed cold and snobbish behavior.

"Is it that interesting?" Yan Qing Shan repeated her question to him after he had sat back down.

Lan Jing Er tilted his head at her in confusion. "I'm sorry, what?"

"The trees, the view, whatever you were looking at. You were staring at them so intently. It made me wonder what you are looking for in them." She replied with her brows raised at him.

"Ah. That. I wasn't looking at anything in particular. Just thinking of some things." He said in a flippant tone.

Yan Qing Shan quirked her lips and didn't say anymore. Lan Jing Er took this chance to check the woman his parents insisted would be a perfect match for him.

'Well she's not bad-looking, that much I can say.' He thought to himself. This Miss Yan's cold, aloof air, he surmised, was meant for people to distance themselves. Except it thoroughly contrasted with the honest glint in her eyes, it instead drew people in. Lan Jing Er saw a lively spark in that faint smile of hers, a unique kind of ingenuity. Far from the fake and scheming ones that most women he met in marriage meetings that was arranged for him.

For the first time, he thought that his parents' choice this time was quite acceptable. Maybe Miss Yan would be more open to certain arrangements.

Before he could speak again, Yan Qing Shan suddenly leaned at the back rest of her chair and looked at him straightly.

"So, what do you think of this dress?" She asked out of the blue. Lan Jing Er furrowed his brows at her strange question. But nevertheless, his eyes darted to the dress she was wearing.

"A sweetheart neckline would have suited you a lot more." He unconsciously murmured. A small chuckle echoed in the room and Lan Jing Er stiffened. He couldn't help it. He had a passion for fashion, so much so, that he couldn't control himself and answered Yan Qing Shan's query automatically.

"I'll take note of that." She answered playfully.

"Is there something you'd like to eat, Miss Yan?" Lan Jing Er tried to divert the subject to food, hoping that the woman in front of him would forget what had transpired and save him from the embarrassment. Though it was acceptable for men to be into fashion, there are after all male stylists abound. Except, it was totally far from his light-hearted and gentlemanly image.

Yan Qing Shan was amused at Lan Jing Er's futile attempt at covering for what he thought was a slip-up. Not that she cared anyway. She already knew this side of him and was not surprised at the least.

A sudden glimmer outside caught Yan Qing Shan's attention. It was subtle, brief and almost unnoticeable. At least for most people. A cruel light passed her eyes. She settled her elbow on the table and turned her attention back at Lan Jing Er who was finding her weirder by the second.

Outside however, this little action of Yan Qing Shan halved the distance of herself to Lan Jing Er. A little play at the angle and it became an ambiguous picture. Consecutive clicks softly fired away behind an obscure bush in front of the very same french windows that Lan Jing Er was staring at a while ago.

"I'll pass for now. I'll order after my companion arrives." She answered curtly. Lan Jing Er gazed at her questioningly.

"A companion? If I'm not mistaken, you already know the purpose of this meeting. I wonder who this companion of yours is and his role in this?" He straightened up and asked her in a formal tone.

"I am aware that this is a marriage meeting. Except I'm not interested in marrying your distinguished self, Young Master Lan."

Astonished was an understatement of whatever Lan Jing Er was feeling at the moment. He even wondered if this woman was playing with him. If she didn't want to even discuss the possibility of marriage, then what was the point of this marriage meeting.

As if reading his thoughts, Yan Qing Shan quirked her willowy brows at him.

"Some people wanted to play with me. Wouldn't it be sad if I don't accompany them to play?" She said matter-of-factly.

"Don't fret too much, Young Master Lan. You won't go out of this place inconvenienced. I can assure you that." Yan Qing Shan continued as she stood up and proceeded to approach a little button at the left side wall of the room. Billows of emerald green curtain fell slowly and covered the entirety of the windows.

"Excuse me for this, the sunlight outside was hurting my eyes." By now, Lan Jing Er was past the stage of wondering about this Miss Yan's actions. Instead, he just sat there and waited for her explanation. He did not believe that the daughter of Yan Tian Yu was a nut case.

Just as Yan Qing Shan settled herself in her seat once again. Zi Jue who was on the phone this entire time walked inside and covered the whole room with his overwhelming presence. His ever-present angelic smile decorated his lips while his eyes remained apathetic, especially when he turned to Lan Jing Er who was keeping to himself in his corner. A shiver ran up the poor man's back. The handsome visage of the newcomer was not enough to drown out his dangerous yet heaven-defying presence.