Chương 151: A Friend's "Small Request" and an Inescapable Embrace

Ji Ying chose to directly acknowledge this "truth" that was so far from the facts for a reason. If she denied the middle school student's guess now and truthfully told him that she was also a student who had just entered the first year of high school— Then, Xingxian would definitely show great surprise immediately, and would then ask questions such as "Are you kidding me?", "Why do you look so small?", "Did you lie about your age?"

Then, during this process, she will definitely mention her petite figure again and again, inhumanely—a sore point that she never wants to be mentioned again.

In contrast, it would be better to simply acknowledge this conjecture and avoid being subjected to such stimulation.

Oh well! They're just middle schoolers! They're better than elementary schoolers!

Xingxian saw Jiying nod in agreement, and her smile grew even brighter, as if she was not surprised at all by the result.

She gave a soft "hmm," then, as if remembering something, her silver-gray eyes blinked curiously again as she asked, "But speaking of which, why did you choose the code name 'Silent Shadow'? It doesn't seem like a code name that girls our age would like."

Because I am a guy! Why is this question again? Isn't this codename cool?

Jiying's heart was screaming wildly, but on the surface she still maintained her composure, shrinking further to the edge of the bench, trying to create the dangerously close distance between herself and Xingxian.

Then, in a tone as calm and indifferent as possible, she replied softly, "Ahem—it's just a code name, it doesn't have any special meaning. If you also feel uncomfortable with this code name—" She paused, her voice lower, carrying a hint of self-abandonment, "Just call me Xiaoying like those two Stardust-level magical girls, I don't mind."

You can call me anything as long as this conversation ends quickly!

Jiying silently added a sentence in his mind.

Although rationally I know that I will be dealing with Xingxian, the patrolman, quite a few times in the future, it is crucial to establish a good working relationship.

But at this moment, all Jiying wanted was to end this exhausting conversation as soon as possible, get rid of the other person's burning gaze that made her feel uncomfortable all over, and then go home immediately.

Then I threw myself into the soft bed and had a good sleep, using sleep to heal my battered soul.

Although they had only known each other for a few hours, in the current situation, her level of vigilance towards Xingxian was already approaching that of Su Yuqing, who always gave her a headache.

She had no doubt that if the conversation continued, and if she continued to get closer to Xingxian, he would definitely do something even more intimate and outrageous than he was now.

However, what you fear most is what happens.

"Xiaoying?" Xingxian savored the name, then nodded emphatically, a happy smile spreading across her face.

"Mmm! That's such a cute name! I'll call you Xiaoying from now on!"

Before she finished speaking, her body, which had only been leaning slightly forward, naturally moved a little closer to Ji Ying.

"!!!"

Noticing Xingxian's movements, Jiying's alarm bells went off, and she moved her body toward the edge of the bench again, trying to create a safe distance.

However, she seemed to have forgotten that she had retreated to the very edge of the bench to avoid Xingxian's overly enthusiastic "offensive".

This time, there was no room for her to retreat, and half of her body was already hanging in the air.

Xingxian looked at Jiying's adorable, extremely vigilant and wary expression, and a mischievous smile flashed in her eyes.

Instead of immediately pressing her advantage, she clasped her hands together in a slightly playful gesture, her voice becoming softer and more cautious: "Now that we're good friends, Xiaoying—can I make a small request that won't put you in a difficult position?"

Looking at Xingxian's innocent and harmless expression, and the almost overflowing expectation in her eyes, Jiying felt an ominous premonition growing stronger.

"—You absolutely won't make things difficult for me? Coming from your mouth, that's less believable than Jingjue saying he's a great philanthropist."

She swallowed hard, struggling to maintain her balance, then asked warily, "What do you want? Explain yourself first. I won't agree to anything too strange!"

Upon hearing this, Xingxian's cheeks flushed a suspicious red. She lowered her head slightly, a little embarrassed, and her voice became somewhat shy: "It's not a strange request at all—"

"Well—as you know, as an inspector, I actually have a lot of work pressure. I often have to deal with all sorts of tricky situations, and my nerves are always on edge."

"So, when I finish work or have a rare moment to relax, I get into the habit of using some rather special methods to release the pressure that has been building up inside me."

She paused, then continued somewhat embarrassedly, "And just now—Xiaoying, didn't you tell me that there's a traitor in the Bureau of Extraordinary Affairs, and that the enemy we'll be facing together in the future is Mirror Lord?"

"This information is really important to me, but it has also suddenly put a lot of new pressure on me."

Her voice grew softer and softer, and by the end, her cheeks were as red as ripe apples, and her eyes began to wander.

Seeing Xingxian's obviously guilty and unnatural appearance, Jiying's lips twitched uncontrollably. She suppressed the urge to turn and run away immediately, and tentatively asked in a tone tinged with despair, "So—your special way of releasing stress... it wouldn't be—you need to hold onto something, would it?"

Upon hearing Jiying's incredibly accurate guess, Xingxian's expression immediately lit up with surprise and delight. She nodded vigorously, sincerely praising, "Wow! Xiaoying, you're so smart! You guessed it right away!"

"That's right! I love hugging soft, cute cushions or something when I feel stressed, burying my face in them, and that really helps me relax!"

She paused, a look of trouble and anticipation crossing her face. She looked intently at Ji Ying and said meaningfully, "But, right now, I don't have a pillow on hand—"

"so----"

"No! Absolutely not!!" Ji Ying shook his head frantically almost the instant Xing Xian finished speaking.

"Miss Xing Xian! This is absolutely inappropriate! We've only just met, and—" Upon hearing this, Xingxian first stretched out her index finger and gently shook it in front of Jiying with a hint of reproach in her tone, then earnestly corrected her, "No, Xiaoying, we are already good friends."

"I call you Xiaoying, so you should just call me Xingxian. Don't use 'Miss Xingxian' anymore; it sounds so formal and distant. It makes me feel really sad."

Then, in a matter-of-fact tone, she continued to refute Ji Ying's claim that it was "inappropriate": "Besides, what's inappropriate about it? Didn't I give you my lap for a long time when you were unconscious? You were so comfortable with it then."

Xingxian tilted her head slightly, revealing a sly smile: "So, isn't it reasonable for you to let me hug you now? It's only fair, isn't it?"

"Besides—" she blinked, adding casually, "we're all lovely girls. It's just a hug, it's not like we'll lose a piece of flesh. What's there to be afraid of?"

Faced with Xingxian's twisted yet irrefutable arguments, and her subtle yet increasingly direct approach, Jiying felt her mind go completely blank.

She instinctively backed away while racking her brains for an excuse or pretext to escape her current predicament.

However, she seemed to have completely forgotten that her body was already at the very edge of the bench.

The only result of continuing to retreat is an "Ah—!"

With a short gasp, Ji Ying instantly lost her balance and fell uncontrollably to the ground.

However, the expected excruciating pain from intimate contact with the cold, hard ground did not occur as anticipated.

Just as Jiying subconsciously closed her eyes, preparing to receive the impact, Xingxian reached out and wrapped his arm around her slender waist, pulling her back steadily.

Ji Ying opened her eyes somewhat confused, and just then met Xing Xian's smiling silver-gray eyes.

Before she could react, Xingxian's arm tightened slightly, and the next moment, she was uncontrollably pulled into that soft and warm embrace that exuded a faint fragrance.

Xingxian hugged the "cute pillow" in her arms tightly, a bright and satisfied smile spreading across her face: "I've got you, Xiaoying~"