Chapter 25: Is this your first time holding a girl?

Lingyue Nangong’s eyes suddenly widened as she looked at Ling Ji and said, “You’re not seriously planning to fly while holding me, are you?”

“Otherwise?” Ling Ji shrugged. “Do you have a better idea?”

Swallowing nervously, Lingyue gazed at Ling Ji’s wings and said, “I don’t doubt your wings can fly, but I’m worried your grip might not be strong enough. What if you can’t hold me and I fall?”

“You’re not that heavy, right?” Ling Ji stepped back, scrutinizing Lingyue from head to toe. “A hundred jin?”

“Ninety-nine!” Lingyue suddenly raised her voice, clearly bothered by the number.

“That’s practically a hundred!” Ling Ji rolled his eyes. “What’s the difference of half or one jin?”

“It does matter! Haven’t you heard, a good girl never weighs over a hundred?” Lingyue stared at him, cheeks puffed in annoyance.

Ling Ji rolled his eyes again. “Fine, fine, a hundred jin it is. No problem.”

“That still won’t do!” Lingyue looked at him seriously. “Holding me like that is too dangerous. Just thinking about it scares me.”

“Then what do you suggest?” Ling Ji crossed his arms and waited.

“How about you carry me on your back?” Lingyue glanced at his back, then shook her head. “No, no, your wings are charged with electricity. What if you accidentally shock me?”

“Then the only option left is... holding you in my arms.”

“In my arms?” Ling Ji clicked his tongue, eyeing Lingyue’s graceful figure, swallowing nervously. “That might be a bit inappropriate…”

“It is a bit…” Lingyue’s cheeks flushed faintly. “I’m still a pure maiden, after all.”

Ling Ji was about to speak when Lingyue suddenly said, “Ah, forget it. Who cares about that on the battlefield?”

“Besides, that night at Snow Mountain when I kept you warm? That was totally YSBG!”

“You said not to mention that!” Ling Ji stared at her in surprise.

“I said you can’t mention it! Why can’t I?” Lingyue shot him a sharp look but blushed slightly.

“Isn’t that what you call double standards?” Ling Ji teased, eyes sparkling with mischief.

“Don’t be so shameless!” Lingyue rolled her eyes. “You’re getting a huge advantage holding me! I warn you, no touching anywhere you shouldn’t, and no funny thoughts! Just hold me properly! Got it?”

Ling Ji sighed helplessly, opened the window, and waved at her. “Alright, alright, I got it.”

---

Though it was Lingyue who suggested the idea of being held, when it came time to act, she hesitated.

She took tiny steps toward Ling Ji, clearly shy and reluctant.

Watching her inch forward like a turtle, Ling Ji sighed and said, “Fine, take your time. I’ll wait as long as you need.”

“Just make it before New Year’s Eve, okay?”

“Shut up! You’re so annoying!” Lingyue glared at him but then suddenly dashed in front of him. “You’re the one getting a free ride! Of course you’re happy!”

With that, she straightened up, lifted her chin, closed her eyes tightly, and wore an expression of exaggerated agony.

“Ha!” Ling Ji burst out laughing at her. “You look like you’re about to heroically sacrifice yourself.”

“Shut your mouth and hurry up!” Lingyue kept her eyes closed.

Ling Ji sighed and reached out his hand.

But Ling Ji and Lingyue shared the same flaw—when it came to actually doing something serious, they both got nervous.

After all, this was the first time Ling Ji had such intimate contact with a girl.

Though Lingyue had tacitly agreed, Ling Ji found himself increasingly anxious.

He swallowed repeatedly, breathing growing rapid, his hands slowly reaching toward Lingyue’s slender waist.

After a long pause, Lingyue, growing impatient, opened her eyes and saw Ling Ji’s hands moving no faster than her own had moments earlier. She laughed, “Haha! And you said it was me who was nervous! What’s wrong? First time holding a girl?”

“No way!” Ling Ji’s stubborn pride and sense of shame flared at the worst moment. “I’ve held girls like you hundreds of times before!”

If he had said three or four times, Lingyue might have believed him.

But “hundreds” was clearly an exaggeration, and everyone knew it.

Lingyue looked at him with a strange affection in her eyes.

Finally, Ling Ji steeled himself, grabbed Lingyue around the waist, and hoisted her onto his shoulder.

---

“Ah!” Lingyue screamed as Ling Ji swung her around midair like a sack of potatoes, her face draining of color. She clung tightly to his neck, shouting, “You scared me to death! Is this how you hold a girl? Am I a sack of potatoes?!”

Only then did Ling Ji realize his mistake. He hurriedly set her down, nervously rubbing his hands, apologizing, “Sorry, sorry. I’m just used to carrying tires during training…”

“You…” Lingyue felt helpless and said firmly, “Slow down. Hold me horizontally, like a princess carry—one arm around the waist, the other under the legs.”

“And you brag about carrying hundreds of girls? Yeah, right!” Lingyue shot him a look.

At this point, Ling Ji no longer had the courage to defend his lie.

His actions had spoken for themselves.

If he truly had carried hundreds of girls, would he treat a delicate young lady like a sack of potatoes?

Carrying hundreds of sacks, maybe.

Ling Ji took a deep breath and slowly crouched down. Using the proper method, he gently lifted Lingyue, who softly placed her hand on his shoulder.

The intimate contact made Ling Ji’s body tremble.

This was truly his first time.

Meanwhile, Lingyue was astonished to notice Ling Ji’s wings behind him forming a heart shape.

This dragon spirit... so mischievous.

“Ready?” Ling Ji crouched slightly, placing his hands behind Lingyue’s knees, looking up at her.

Lingyue blushed and whispered a barely audible, “Mhm.”