Kiss

Zhang Lexuan's beautiful eyes widened, her expression feigning a "fierce" demeanor.

With only three inches between their faces, she puffed out her cheeks and let out a soft huff, the warm breath from her nose brushing against Su Ling's face.

Su Ling offered a smile that looked worse than a grimace.

The reason he hadn't gone over just now was because... it was the second day of the second lunar month.

He couldn't let her see such an embarrassing situation; if he were mistaken for a pervert, it would be far too shameful.

Su Ling had no choice but to pretend to read a book to distract himself.

There was no helping it; the Douluo world was just that precocious—not in terms of mentality, but physiology. At his age, it was truly not uncommon for people to be married and having children!

At this very moment.

Su Ling sat in his chair, still keeping his legs crossed, feeling extremely uncomfortable.

"Little Brother Su Ling, is what you said true?" Recalling what Su Ling had just told her, Zhang Lexuan's expression turned suspicious.

"Yes, I never lie. Sister Lexuan is the most beautiful girl I have ever seen."

Su Ling blurted it out, looking perfectly serious.

Hearing this, Zhang Lexuan's smile deepened, her eyes curving into crescents as if she had just tasted honey.

"Since that's the case, then why has Little Brother Su Ling been avoiding me?"

"I..." Su Ling's brain worked at lightning speed, quickly coming up with a retort. "Because Sister Lexuan's martial soul is the Moon, and when you activate it, you look like a celestial maiden from the heavens. As the saying goes, celestial maidens are to be admired from afar, not profaned!"

"Is that so~"

Watching Su Ling's earnest face, Zhang Lexuan giggled, her voice as crisp and pleasant as silver bells.

Seeing this, Su Ling let out a sigh of relief, thinking to himself that he had finally managed to muddle through.

But then!

Just as Zhang Lexuan straightened up, her vision suddenly began to darken. She felt dizzy, and her legs lost their strength.

"Ah!"

Zhang Lexuan stumbled forward. Seeing this, Su Ling reacted quickly, preparing to stand up and catch her.

Unexpectedly, he felt a tug from behind, and failing to find his footing, he stumbled as well.

With a rip, the battle-damaged yellow shirt Su Ling was wearing tore open, the hem caught firmly in the gap of the chair.

Thump.

The two of them fell heavily to the ground.

A faint fragrance assailed his senses as Zhang Lexuan landed on top of Su Ling, burying him in a pair of soft, white rabbits.

"Little Ling, are you alright?" Zhang Lexuan struggled to push herself up, her tone filled with apology. "I must not have fully recovered yet; I'm still a bit weak. I'm sorry, Little Ling, I didn't crush you, did I?"

Pinned beneath her, Su Ling's heart hammered against his ribs. He took two deep breaths, his throat bobbing as he stared at the two mounds of snow-white skin straining against her clothes.

So soft...

"I'm fine..."

Before Su Ling could finish his sentence, Zhang Lexuan's entire body suddenly went rigid.

She looked down, her eyes meeting Su Ling's, and the next second, both of them flushed bright red.

"Little Ling... you..."

"I... no! Sister Lexuan, listen to me..." Su Ling endured the pressure, trying to explain.

Watching Su Ling's flustered, guilty reaction, the corners of Zhang Lexuan's mouth curled upward, a surge of joy in her heart.

So, I still have my charm!

But, is Little Ling uncomfortable like this? Should I do something?

Right! In the storybooks...

At this thought, Zhang Lexuan pursed her lips, cupped his face with her soft hands, and leaned down.

Su Ling's pupils constricted, his words cut short as a moist, soft sensation instantly enveloped his lips.

He was being forcibly kissed by Zhang Lexuan.

"Mmph... mmph."

To call it a kiss was a stretch; it was more like his mouth had been plugged.

The experience of his first kiss was not pleasant, as Zhang Lexuan didn't know how to kiss; she simply pressed her pink lips against his in a clumsy fashion.

Su Ling was running out of breath. Looking at Zhang Lexuan's already blushing face, he decided to take the initiative, wrapping his arms around her!

Although he had never kissed before, he had picked up a trick or two from what he'd seen and heard.

That was to trace the alphabet...

Noticing Su Ling's movements, Zhang Lexuan's body trembled, her mind going blank.

As the roles of attacker and defender shifted, she did not resist, instead allowing that forceful tongue to pry open her teeth.

A cool tongue slid into his mouth, its movements like those of a novice, greedily exploring every corner within.

Zhang Lexuan gradually began to respond, mimicking Su Ling's technique to turn the tables on him.

Their breaths intertwined.

After a long while, their lips parted.

Su Ling held Zhang Lexuan as he slowly sat up, a wicked smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth as he gazed into her dazed eyes.

"Sister Lexuan, you learn quite quickly."

Hearing this, Zhang Lexuan let out a soft huff and lightly punched his chest. "Bad little Ling! How... how are you so good at this! Have you kissed other girls before..."

"I'm wronged, Sister Lexuan! This was my first kiss, and I learned all of this from storybooks."

"Really?"

"Mm!"

Watching Su Ling nod earnestly, a flicker of secret joy flashed through Zhang Lexuan's heart. She then wrapped her arms around his waist and buried her face in his chest.

[Zhang Lexuan's favorability +5, obtained 50 Strategy Points]

[Ding! Goddess Zhang Lexuan's current favorability has reached 60. Unlocked Stage Two Strategy Reward: Random 100,000-year Spirit Ring and Spirit Bone (Spirit Ring and Spirit Bone are of the same origin, guaranteed 100,000-year quality)]

[Goddess Zhang Lexuan's current favorability is 62. 33 points remaining until the third stage reward is unlocked. Please keep up the good work, Host.]

[Ding, detected that the Host has successfully reached the second stage of strategy for any Goddess. The system can now undergo a comprehensive upgrade. The Host may initiate the upgrade at any time; duration: 1 day.]

The system's voice fell silent.

Su Ling and Zhang Lexuan embraced for a long time before letting go—a simple embrace, of course.

"Sister Lexuan, your body is weak. Let me carry you to the bed to lie down," Su Ling suggested.

It wasn't good for them to be sitting on the floor, and since Zhang Lexuan hadn't fully recovered—and had just gone through that bout of lip-to-lip sparring with him—she was feeling quite limp.

"Okay."

Zhang Lexuan wasn't heavy; Su Ling had been able to carry her easily even when she was unconscious. Now, she even cooperated by wrapping her arms around his neck.

Su Ling carried her bridal-style with one arm, walked to the bedside, placed her on the bed, and thoughtfully tucked her in.

After a moment's thought, he spent 200 Strategy Points in the Strategy Mall to exchange for an All-Purpose Pill, then, with a flash of light from his Sumeru Ring, he poured a glass of water.

"Sister Lexuan, come, open your mouth."

Seeing the pill Su Ling held to her lips, Zhang Lexuan didn't even think twice; she opened her mouth and took it.

Su Ling gently held the cup, feeding her slowly, while his other hand smoothed out her messy hair.

"That pill can restore most of the injuries and spirit power in your body. Sister Lexuan, get some good rest. If there's nothing else, I'll head back now."

"Okay."

Su Ling set the cup down and turned around.

"Wait!"

Zhang Lexuan suddenly spoke up.

"What is it?"

Su Ling turned back and approached, looking puzzled.

Zhang Lexuan pouted, extended her index finger to tap her own cheek, a hint of coquettishness flashing in her eyes.

"Heh." Su Ling chuckled, stepped forward, and gently kissed her on the cheek.

"Alright, bye-bye, Sister Lexuan."

Stepping out of the quiet room.

Su Ling closed the door, and as he turned, he saw Mu En in the distance, sitting in his wheelchair with his back to him.

Without hesitation, Su Ling bowed to Mu En's back, then hurried away, feeling a twinge of guilt.

That old guy Mu En couldn't have been peeking, could he...

Not long after Su Ling left.

Mu En, sitting in his wheelchair, slowly opened his eyes, a trace of nostalgia flashing through them.

"Youth... it really is wonderful..."