Ye Lingling Also Did It

"Brother, use me..."

After saying this, she gently bit his earlobe.

The string in Lin Jiang's mind snapped.

He pinned her against the alley wall, one hand cushioning the back of her head, the other bracing against the brick wall beside her ear.

Moonlight leaked in from the alley entrance, drawing a silver arc across her face, from her forehead to the tip of her nose, down to her lips, and disappearing into her collar.

Ye Lingling closed her eyes, her eyelashes trembling like butterfly wings.

She was waiting for him.

Lin Jiang lowered his head, his lips pressing against the side of her neck.

Her entire body shuddered, her fingers clutching his collar tightly.

"Brother Lin Jiang..." Her voice was intermittent, as if someone were pinching her throat.

His lips slid from the side of her neck to her collarbone, where they came to a stop.

The skin his nose touched was scorching, and the pulse beneath it beat fast and frantic.

The alley was so quiet that only the sound of their breathing remained.

Ye Lingling waited for a while, only to find he had stopped moving.

She opened her eyes and looked down at him.

Lin Jiang had buried his face in the crook of her shoulder, motionless.

"What's wrong..." Her voice was faint.

"Let me catch my breath," he said, his voice muffled, his hot breath spraying against her collarbone.

Ye Lingling was stunned for a moment, then burst into a giggle.

She reached out to cradle his head, her fingers threading through his hair, massaging it gently.

"Then... I'll wait for you."

Lin Jiang lifted his head from her shoulder and looked at her.

The moonlight washed her blue eyes clean, leaving them without a trace of impurity.

Embarrassed by his gaze, she turned her face away, her ears turning bright red.

"What are you looking at..."

Lin Jiang didn't speak.

He picked her up again, but this time, instead of a bridal carry, he had her hang onto him face-to-face.

Ye Lingling let out a startled cry, burying her face in his shoulder, refusing to lift it no matter what.

Just like an ant climbing a tree.

The ant climbed the tree, its antennae sensing a branch.

The progress of the branch became one percent.

Then the progress became twenty percent.

It turned into thirty percent.

In the end, the progress of the branch could only be maintained at around fifty percent.

It fluctuated back and forth between one percent and fifty percent just like that.

I don't know how much time passed.

The moonlight in the alley shifted, sliding from the top of the wall to the ground, then slowly receding.

Lin Jiang's legs had gone numb from standing, and Ye Lingling in his arms was like melted syrup, her entire body limp against his chest.

Her fingers tugged at his collar rhythmically, her breathing long since leveled out, but she refused to open her eyes.

"Lingling."

"Mm..."

"I'll take you back."

She didn't speak, but her arms tightened around his neck.

Lin Jiang waited a moment before carrying her out of the alley.

The moonlight stretched their shadows long, overlapping them until it was impossible to tell who was who.

When they reached the entrance of Ye Mansion, Ye Lingling stood on the threshold and looked back at him.

The moonlight hit her face, her blue eyes shining as if filled with a pool of water.

Her lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but in the end, she lowered her head and trotted through the door.

The sound of the door closing was very soft.

Lin Jiang stood at the doorway for a moment before turning to leave.

The next day.

Lin Jiang rose early.

The matter of the Golden Dragon King's fourth soul ring could no longer be delayed, but before that, he had to go find Qian Renxue.

He carried the token with him to the East Palace.

The guards saw the token and, without even asking a question, let him pass.

He walked all the way to the door of Xue Qinghe's study, but before he could knock, a voice came from within.

"Come in."

Pushing the door open, he saw Xue Qinghe sitting behind the desk, holding a memorial in his hand, his posture upright and his expression indifferent.

Upon seeing that it was Lin Jiang who had entered, that dignified crown prince facade seemed to crack.

"Lin Jiang?!"

He—she—stood up abruptly, the chair sliding back a distance, the memorial nearly falling to the floor.

She swept a quick glance at the attendants on either side, suppressed the excitement in her voice, and reverted to the composure that "Xue Qinghe" ought to possess.

"All of you, withdraw."

The attendants filed out, and the door closed.

The study was silent for three seconds.

A golden light flashed, and the features of Xue Qinghe faded like ripples on water, revealing that incomparably beautiful face.

Golden hair cascaded over her shoulders, and the majesty between her brows dissipated, replaced by a joy that could not be hidden.

"Lin Jiang, you finally came to find me!"

Lin Jiang leaned against the doorframe, smiling as he looked at her: "Xue'er, I missed you."

Qian Renxue's face flushed red, and she turned her head away, though her words remained sharp: "I asked you to stay here, but you weren't willing."

"Your imperial palace is still too complicated."

Qian Renxue crossed her arms, lifted her chin slightly, and put on an "I am displeased" look.

But her mind was already racing.

That dual cultivation reward from the system... it had to be used, right?

She bit her lip, her gaze sweeping over Lin Jiang before quickly retracting.

What if they got married right now?

That way, they could dual cultivate in a legitimate manner.

But she was still in the identity of "Xue Qinghe"; they couldn't have two men get married, could they? Should she make him dress as a woman?

She mentally placed Lin Jiang's face onto a set of women's clothing, then choked on her own imagination, her earlobes turning bright red.

"Xue'er?" Lin Jiang called out, seeing her dazed.

"Oh..." Qian Renxue snapped back to reality, the flush on her face not yet faded, her eyes drifting. "That..."

Both of them spoke at the same time.

"That, I have something to tell you."

They spoke in unison.

Both were stunned for a moment.

Lin Jiang laughed: "You go first."

Qian Renxue's face turned even redder, her fingers twisting her sleeves: "You... you go first!"

Lin Jiang scratched his head.

"Alright... well, Xue'er, could you..."

Qian Renxue's heart suddenly accelerated, her ears perked up, though she feigned composure on the surface.

"Hm? What is it?"

"Could you find me some materials for Soul Tools?"

"???"

The anticipation on Qian Renxue's face shattered into dust.

Lin Jiang blinked: "Hm?"

Qian Renxue grabbed the memorial on the table, put it down, grabbed it again, put it down again, and finally crossed her arms and leaned back against the chair, her voice squeezed out from between her teeth.

"Yes. Of course I can."

Lin Jiang scratched his head, feeling that something was not quite right.

Qian Renxue stared at him, her heart in turmoil.

You blockhead! You dense log!

She took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing that surge of frustration.

No, the tragedy from the Simulator must absolutely not repeat itself.

She had to take the initiative; she had to grow stronger alongside Lin Jiang as quickly as possible.

The dual-cultivation technique rewarded by the Simulator was of vital importance.

Lin Jiang felt a bit unnerved by her gaze and gave a dry cough to change the subject: "Right, Xue'er, is there something you need?"

Qian Renxue opened her mouth.

"I..."

"Hm?"

"That..."

"Go ahead, Xue'er."

Qian Renxue took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and spoke in a rushed, rapid-fire tone.

"Can we get married?"

Lin Jiang froze.

"Huh??"

Qian Renxue opened her eyes; her face was already beet red, but her gaze did not waver.

She stood up, braced her hands against the desk, leaned forward slightly, and enunciated every word clearly.

"I will marry you."

The study was so quiet that the crackling of the candle flame could be heard.