Volume 1, Chapter 33: Xia Yumeng: I'm blind, please don't silence me!

On the grassy field, Lin Yao pressed down firmly on Xia Mengying’s slender shoulders, pinning her so she could not rise.

Xia Mengying was a mixture of shame and fury. Her watery phoenix eyes glared fiercely at Lin Yao, as if she wished she could burn holes right through him with her gaze.

Lin Yao stared down at the beauty beneath him, his mind drifting and his heart racing. The young lady of the Rose family had skin as delicate and fair as fine mutton-fat jade, and her features were breathtakingly beautiful and captivating. Being pinned beneath him in such a position, her soft, alluring appearance made it nearly impossible for Lin Yao to maintain his composure; he couldn't help but let his thoughts wander, and he found it difficult not to imagine doing something more.

Xia Mengying, of course, sensed Lin Yao’s burning gaze, which made her heart flutter and her body grow hot. Her bravado faded, and she whispered, "I... I will only allow you to kiss me once. If you dare to do anything else, I... I will be very disappointed in you!"

Her threat lacked conviction, betraying more shyness than resolve.

"How could that be?" Lin Yao refused decisively, grinning. "You’ve already agreed to be my wife. Even if we aren't officially engaged yet, don't you count as my girlfriend now? When I’m with my girlfriend, I’m certainly entitled to exercise a few boyfriend privileges."

"You wouldn't dare!" Xia Mengying’s face flushed red. She glared at him, feigning a coquettish threat, yet in her heart, she felt both resistance and a hidden sense of anticipation.

Back when they were at death’s door, she had mustered the courage to kiss him, and that electric, numbing sensation had left her longing for more. If not for the fear that Lin Yao would take advantage of the situation—and the fact that they were in the middle of the wilderness where someone might wander by at any moment—she wouldn't have been entirely opposed to reliving that wonderful moment with her savior.

Given the strength Lin Yao possessed after the enhancement of his Attribute Multiplier talent, it would have been effortless for him to do whatever he pleased with her. However, Lin Yao did not want to force her. If it hadn't been for her series of bold actions during the battle that had sent his heart into a whirlwind, his initial plan had been merely to tease her verbally; he had no real intention of taking advantage of her.

After a moment of hesitation, Lin Yao sighed helplessly and released her shoulders, neither demanding a reward for his life-saving efforts nor taking advantage of her vulnerability. His restraint surprised Xia Mengying, causing her to hold him in even higher regard.

Before Lin Yao could fully rise, Xia Mengying suddenly reached out and pulled him into a fierce embrace. Caught off guard, Lin Yao leaned forward, instinctively putting his hands out to brace himself against the ground, only to find himself making a "soft landing"—his lips collided firmly with her moist, fragrant ones.

Xia Mengying had only intended to reward him with a deep, affectionate kiss for not taking advantage of the situation, never expecting that an accidental tumble would result in him getting even more. Seeing that he had already fallen into her arms, she decided not to make a fuss and let him have his way.

This time, it was no fleeting touch. They embraced tightly, kissing deeply and passionately, lost in the moment. An unprecedented sense of wonderful happiness washed over them like a tide, making them forget everything around them.

After an unknown amount of time, Xia Mengying gently pushed him away. Lin Yao, knowing when to stop, reluctantly pulled back, parting from her soft, sweet lips. Yet, he did not expect that after taking only two breaths of fresh air, she would pull him close once more.

This time, however, there was no sweet reward waiting for him; instead, there was a tiny trap. As she held him, a flash of mischief crossed her face, and she sank her cute little canine teeth into his shoulder. It was clear that the young mistress of the Xia family was still holding a grudge over his earlier deception and teasing.

Lin Yao did not adjust his Damage Sharing talent to account for this tiny "attack." He was curious whether this playful banter would count as a combat attack and trigger the sharing effect. A slight, stinging pain flared on his shoulder, and he realized the truth: playful, intimate nips were not registered by the talent as combat damage. Thus, Xia Mengying became the first person to successfully inflict damage—even if only a tiny bit—on him since he had acquired his hidden class.

After the light bite, which served as her revenge, she asked softly and uncertainly, "Did... did I hurt you?"

Lin Yao rubbed his shoulder with exaggerated drama, arched an eyebrow, and smirked, "Ouch, it hurts! Next time, you have to let me bite you back. But when I do, I won't go for the shoulder; I’ll choose somewhere much softer~"

"Hmph! I’ll use my energy barrier next time and break your teeth!" she huffed, though she couldn't help but wonder: if he really did bite her, where would he choose?

While they were flirting, Xia Yumeng, who had finally arrived, suddenly spotted them wrapped in each other's arms. As she approached, she saw them in the middle of a passionate, inseparable kiss.

Upon being spotted, the two immediately sensed her presence and looked toward her in unison. Xia Yumeng’s survival instincts kicked into high gear. She covered her eyes with both hands and shouted, "Ah! No! I’m blind! I didn't see anything! Please don't kill me to keep me quiet!"

She peeked through her fingers and added, "If it really comes down to it, Elder Sister can be the head wife, and I’ll be the second! A high-quality beauty as young and pretty as me—killing me would be a total waste of a treasure!"

Her outrageous words left Lin Yao and Xia Mengying speechless and torn between laughter and frustration. Fortunately, they both knew that Xia Yumeng had a strange imagination and often spoke without thinking, so they didn't take her nonsense seriously.

However, if she hadn't been joking... Lin Yao mused to himself, he could certainly get behind that idea.

While he was lost in his wild thoughts, Xia Mengying coughed twice to break his focus. She turned to Xia Yumeng with a stern face and asked, "Yumeng, you seem very familiar with him? Tell me the truth, how did you two meet?"

Xia Yumeng was also lost in thought. She had discovered something significant: her sister’s face still held a faint flush, and she looked thoroughly unsatisfied. Furthermore, there were several distinct palm prints from Lin Yao visible on her sister’s clothing. Putting these clues together, Xia Yumeng’s mind filled in all the passionate scenes that had occurred before she arrived.

So, when Xia Mengying asked, Xia Yumeng’s brain hadn't quite caught up, and she blurted out, "Oh, I was captured by a Green Demon undead, and the old monster Lin Yao was my savior."

As soon as the words left her mouth, she realized she had slipped up. She coughed twice, "Ahem, ahem," and hurried to correct herself. "I mean... Lord Lin Yao is my savior! He rescued me from the Green Demon’s dungeon, and I’ve been following him ever since."

She stuck out her tongue and continued, "Later, when I heard you were in trouble, we started searching for you all over this small sub-space."