When a "Sea King" is Bound to a System [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 76

Xiao Jin had not expected that a momentary lapse of attention would lead to the news of Jiang Yan’s death.

Even though Qin Yishu had hurt her so deeply, she still loved the other person, going so far as to die with her.

Her head ached, feeling as if it were about to explode.

Her consciousness began to blur, and many voices echoed in Xiao Jin’s ears, the noise intensifying her headache, making her want to escape this place.

“NPC No. 925, you have completed your mission. You may now randomly choose your retirement location.”

Xiao Jin opened her eyes. Seated before her were three elders. Their hair and beards were white, and they wore long robes, not looking human.

As she surveyed her surroundings, a flood of memories rushed into her mind. Within minutes, Xiao Jin saw her past.

She was an NPC created to perform tasks and had completed many missions before this, her last one. Upon finishing it, she could retire with honor.

This was what people referred to as “retirement,” although for an NPC, retirement was temporary. Once her body’s functions declined, she would be sent back for maintenance and re-enter a new cycle of missions.

In a sense, her lifespan was infinite.

However, this was not the eternity she desired.

“Elders, I want to go to the real world.”

At her words, the three elders were stunned. This was the first time they had heard such a request. Although one had already escaped, No. 925 was the first to propose it openly.

“No. 925, you can only choose from the options we provide you.”

The elder in the middle spoke sternly, his eyes fixed on Xiao Jin like a hawk, attempting to intimidate her.

Xiao Jin was fearless, meeting his gaze. “I am firm in my choice.”

“Are you willing to do this even if you lose your eligibility for eternal life and all the convenience provided by the Administration Bureau?”

“I am willing.”

From the moment of her creation until now, she did not know how long she had lived in the mission worlds. This illusory existence was not what she wanted.

It would have been fine if she had never loved anyone else, but having tasted the flavor of love, how could she be content to continue living in a daze?

Another long period of silence followed. Xiao Jin knew they were communicating via brain waves and waited quietly.

Ultimately, the three elders agreed. After all, one had already left, and even if they wanted to use the excuse of “no precedent,” they had no basis for it.

Xiao Jin removed the unique uniform of an NPC, returned everything she had obtained from the Quick Transmigration Administration Bureau, and walked lightly into the hibernation pod.

The three elders gathered outside the pod. The stern-faced one asked, “You are the most senior NPC in the Administration Bureau. As a reward, I can grant you one wish.”

Xiao Jin thought for a moment and replied, “Then let me also experience love.”

The elders were stunned again, then closed the door of the hibernation pod.

Xiao Jin slowly closed her eyes. It was quiet, and time stood still at that moment.

After an unknown period, a clear, crisp voice reached her ear.

“Xiao Jin, Xiao Jin?”

Xiao Jin did not know who was speaking. Halfway through opening her eyes, a soft object covered her lips.

Her heart skipped a beat. Xiao Jin simply closed her eyes again, and even her breathing became shallow.

Xi Yue dared not be too reckless, lingering on Xiao Jin’s lips for only five seconds, then covering her face and running out like a child who had done something wrong.

Xiao Jin opened her eyes, looked at the doorway, and instinctively touched her lips. So, a girl’s lips were this soft.

She slowly sat up and sorted out her thoughts. She knew she was now living in the same city as Jiang Yan, with a privileged background as the daughter of the city’s richest man.

The one just now was Xi Yue, the only daughter of the city’s second-richest family, the Xi family, and also her fiancé’s younger sister.

Younger sister…

Xiao Jin pondered these two words, feeling increasingly uneasy and gradually becoming annoyed.

Her fiancé’s younger sister liked her. This was going to be difficult.

After washing up, she went downstairs. Xi Yue was sitting with her mother in the living room, chatting with Xiao Mother. Seeing her come down, Xi Yue kept a straight face, but her ears quietly turned red, and her eyes began to dart away.

She was very beautiful, with round eyes, long eyelashes, a delicate, high nose, and moist, crimson lips that would subtly pout when she spoke, making her look invitingly kissable.

Realizing this thought, Xiao Jin was startled and quickly dismissed the unhealthy idea, then greeted Xi Madam.

“Auntie, hello. Why didn’t you have someone call me when you arrived?”

Xi Madam smiled gently. “We just arrived. We were originally going shopping, but this girl, Xi Yue, insisted on coming in to greet your mother.”

Xi Yue smiled sweetly at Xiao Mother but avoided looking at Xiao Jin.

Xiao Jin found her amusing and deliberately said, “Did Yue-er come to my room just now? I faintly heard someone calling me, but when I opened my eyes, no one was there.”

Xi Yue’s ears and cheeks became even redder. She quickly turned to her mother. “Mom, it’s almost time. Let’s hurry and go shopping. If we get back late, Dad will scold us.”

Xi Madam was always obliging to her daughter and naturally stood up to bid farewell to Xiao Mother and Xiao Jin.

“Then we will leave first. Let’s get together again another day. Zhen-er will be back then too, which will be a good chance for him and Xiao Jin to get to know each other.”

Hearing her mother say this, Xi Yue’s expression dimmed, and she quietly lowered her head. Seeing this, Xiao Jin felt a pang of discomfort in her heart.

After the mother and daughter left, Xiao Jin had lunch and drove to Jiang Yan’s residential area. She watched her walk out, holding hands with Gu Tang, radiating happiness.

She had expected to feel heartbroken, but seeing it instead gave her a sense of relief. After all, Jiang Yan was someone she had protected, and their happiness was partly due to her efforts.

On the way back, she ran into Xi Yue. She wasn’t with Xi Madam but was sitting alone on a park bench, listening to music with her eyes closed.

Xiao Jin had planned to leave, but Xi Yue’s forlorn figure drew her attention. She inexplicably stopped her car and watched for a long time.

Xi Yue wiped away a tear sliding down her cheek and slowly buried her head in her arms. Why did the person she loved have to be her brother’s fiancée?

A pair of hands gently touched the top of her head. Xi Yue looked up and, upon seeing the person in front of her, frantically wiped her tears.

“Sister Xiao Jin, why are you here?”

Looking at her forced smile, Xiao Jin suddenly felt annoyed. She covered Xi Yue’s eyes.

“Cry if you want to. You look awful trying to hold it in.”

Xi Yue froze for a moment, and then tears streamed down. Loving someone was truly too painful, and loving Xiao Jin was even more agonizing.

Xiao Jin knew nothing and was even trying to counsel her like an older, wiser person.

Xi Yue sobbed for a long while. Xiao Jin just stood in front of her, shielding her eyes and blocking the gaze of others and the sunlight.

“Xiao Jin, will you marry my brother?”

Xiao Jin withdrew her hand and, seeing the seriousness in Xi Yue’s eyes, said faintly, “Perhaps. It is an engagement decided by our elders, after all.”

But if she didn’t want to, the engagement would be invalid to her.

She would not say anything until the matter was resolved. She never fought a battle she wasn’t sure of. Some words, once spoken, were like promises, and failing to keep them would hurt someone’s genuine feelings.

Xi Yue sniffled, pervaded by disappointment. Her voice was barely a whisper: “I understand.”

“Why are you crying here?” Xiao Jin asked, even though she knew, because she found this girl to be very innocent, with a face that made one want to tease her.

Xi Yue still kept her head bowed, speaking weakly: “It’s nothing. I failed an exam and was afraid Dad would punish me, so I came out to cry first.”

Xiao Jin’s lips curved into a smile, and she ruffled her hair. “Good food can soothe a wounded heart. Do you want to go eat something delicious?”

“Will you come with me?” Xi Yue looked up, her eyes anxious and careful.

Xiao Jin thought that it would be difficult for any normal person to refuse that look.

“Yes, I’ll go with you. I’ll accompany you in whatever you want to do tonight.”

Xi Yue blushed and mumbled, “Just dinner. Nothing else.”

Xiao Jin leaned closer, a playful smile on her face. “I meant dinner too. What were you thinking?”

Xi Yue was startled by the sudden proximity, her face visibly reddening. “Oh, you’re so annoying! That’s what I meant too!” She shoved Xiao Jin away and hurried off.

Xiao Jin watched her slender back, an unconscious smile playing on her lips. The real world truly was as wonderful as she had imagined.

The two ate Sichuan cuisine. Xiao Jin was sweating profusely from the spice, while Xi Yue ate merrily, occasionally mocking Xiao Jin.

“No way, no way! Is there really someone who can’t even eat Shuizhu Yu (Sichuan Boiled Fish)?”

She held up a piece of fish with her chopsticks, brazenly challenging Xiao Jin.

Xiao Jin took the fish from her chopsticks into her mouth, chewed it twice, swallowed, and replied to the challenge with an expression that said, “Is that all?”

Xi Yue’s arrogance completely vanished. She withdrew her chopsticks and whispered, “Those are my chopsticks…” She grabbed the milk next to her and took a drink, her fingertips turning slightly white.

Xiao Jin’s nose was sweating from the spice, and a ridiculous thought arose in her heart.

“Kid, come here.” She beckoned to Xi Yue.

Xi Yue leaned closer. Xiao Jin wrapped an arm around her neck and kissed her.

Xi Yue’s eyes widened in disbelief. Xiao Jin, feeling awkward from being watched, said in a low voice, “Close your eyes.”

Xi Yue obediently closed her eyes. Her teeth were gently pried open, and a flexible little snake-like tongue slipped in.

Xiao Jin’s first thought was that she was very soft, and the next was that she was sweet. Having just drunk milk, a residual scent of milk lingered in her mouth, making her irresistible.

When the kiss ended, both were slightly breathless. Xi Yue was flushed crimson, looking like she might bleed. She weakly asked Xiao Jin, “You’re my brother’s fiancée. You doing this… I… We…”

She stammered, unable to form a complete sentence. Xiao Jin finished for her.

“You mean we’re supposed to be sisters-in-law. This isn’t right, is it?”

Xi Yue nodded, then shook her head, unable to clearly express what she meant.

“Xi Yue, do you like me?” Xiao Jin asked directly. She did not want to miss out on anyone again because of her own hesitancy. She would obtain what she liked and seize the person she loved. That was her current principle.

Xi Yue was pressed so hard that her eyes reddened. When she nodded, tears fell, splashing on the table and blurring the patterns.

“I like you. I’ve liked you since I was very young. Back then, I didn’t know you were my brother’s fiancée. If I had known, I definitely wouldn’t have…”

“Wouldn’t have what?” Xiao Jin lifted her chin, forcing her to look up. “Wouldn’t have liked me?”

Xi Yue didn’t know how to answer because she knew that even if she did it all over again, she would still fall for Xiao Jin. This woman held a fatal attraction for her.

“You must like me. You must like me no matter what the circumstances are.”

After Xiao Jin spoke, her lips neared Xi Yue’s, tracing her lip shape bit by bit. Xi Yue was defenseless and could only adjust her breathing rhythm, trying to match Xiao Jin’s.

In the Presidential Suite on the top floor of the Grand Court Hotel, Xiao Jin held Xi Yue, her hands trembling slightly.

“Baby, are you an adult?”

Xi Yue did not dare to look up, timidly nodding, “Last month, I just turned eighteen.”

Hearing this, Xiao Jin stopped suppressing herself and pressed the person in her arms onto the bed.

…

The next day, Xi Yue was awakened by the sunlight. She opened her eyes to see Xiao Jin leaning against the headboard, tapping away on her phone.

Thinking of everything from last night, Xi Yue was too shy to open her eyes fully. Xiao Jin glanced sideways at her and asked in a whisper, “Still shy?”

Xi Yue didn’t speak. She wrapped her arms around Xiao Jin’s neck and kissed her. “Good morning.”

A certain emptiness in Xiao Jin’s heart was filled. She returned the kiss with deep reverence. “Good morning.”

Later, Xi Yue found out that Xiao Jin had been discussing the engagement with her brother. The two had only met a few times in childhood, and after her brother went abroad to study, they had only met a total of fewer than five times in over ten years. Their understanding of each other was limited to their names, ages, and gender.

Xiao Jin insisted on canceling the engagement with Xi Zhen, disregarding the opposition of both families. This caused some displeasure for the Xi family, but she never pushed Xi Yue or Xi Zhen forward to take the blame, only citing her own reasons and enduring all the pressure.

After the engagement was canceled, the relationship between the two families became neither warm nor cold, but their business connections could not be severed, and they gradually improved again.

After canceling the engagement with Xi Zhen, Xiao Jin also came out to her parents about her sexual orientation. Xiao Father and Xiao Mother were greatly shocked and almost sent her to a mental hospital. Later, out of pity for their daughter, they accepted the reality.

During this period, Xiao Jin also used her years of accumulated allowance to invest in Gu Tang’s company. Every time she heard Gu Tang express her gratitude over the phone, Xiao Jin felt a sense of the victor’s superiority.

Several years passed. Both sets of parents were somewhat aware of the couple’s relationship. However, since the Xi family was unwilling to give their blessing, the Xiao family also found it difficult to speak up. They could only shower Xi Yue with affection, not only giving her company shares but also continuously sending luxury goods to the Xi family, proving their sincerity.

On Xi Yue’s twenty-fourth birthday, she solemnly introduced her girlfriend, Xiao Jin, to her parents. Xiao Jin was prepared to be scolded or even struck, but she only heard two sighs.

“A girl grows up and moves on. As long as you are happy and cheerful, your mother asks for nothing else.”

“Xiao Jin, we are entrusting our daughter to you. You must treat her well. If you make my dearest heart suffer even a little bit of injustice, I will never forgive you!”

Xiao Jin bent her thumb and pinky finger, swearing earnestly: “I swear on my life that I will love, cherish, and respect her for this entire lifetime, and I will never let her suffer any injustice.”

Only then were Xi Elders satisfied, and Xi Yue had a wonderful birthday.

Xiao Jin received an invitation from Gu Tang, insisting that she attend the banquet after the company’s IPO ceremony.

Xiao Jin knew her judgment was not wrong. Although she still looked down on Qin Yishu’s past actions, the woman’s abilities were undeniable, and her success today was no surprise.

After much thought, she decided to attend. It was also time to give them a “surprise.”

That evening, Xi Yue was nestled in Xiao Jin’s arms, scrolling through short videos. Hearing what Xiao Jin said, she suddenly sat up.

“You’re going to attend your ex-girlfriend’s current girlfriend’s company banquet?!”

It was a good thing Xiao Jin had strong comprehension skills, or she would have been confused by Xi Yue’s statement.

“Not ex-girlfriend, just someone I had a momentary favorable impression of.”

Xi Yue pouted, discontented. “That’s a crush! I worked so hard to like you, but you were liking someone else. Hmph!”

Xiao Jin found her adorable, pecked her on the lips, and wrapped her arm around Xi Yue’s waist, moving restlessly.

“It wasn’t as serious as you make it sound. It was just a favorable impression during my awakening to love. But then I met you, and you are my one and only love.”

“Really?” Xi Yue asked doubtfully.

Xiao Jin: “Really. We’ve been together for so long; do you still not trust me?”

Xi Yue was easily satisfied. With Xiao Jin saying this, she believed her without any suspicion.

They rolled around together somehow, and by the time Xi Yue realized it, the situation had become unstoppable.

The next day, Xiao Jin wore a backless, high-slit halter dress, looking both sexy and bold, full of charisma.

Xi Yue, on the other hand, wore a fairy-like dress from a certain brand, perfectly showcasing her ethereal quality.

They had thought that their completely different styles would clash, but standing together, they were strangely harmonious and not jarring at all.

“Looking like this, I feel like I’m your kept canary,” Xi Yue said casually.

Xiao Jin rested her chin on Xi Yue’s shoulder, her voice seductive. “Then are you willing to be kept by me?”

After all these years, Xi Yue still blushed at Xiao Jin’s words. She dared not look in the mirror because she knew she must look embarrassed and not beautiful at all.

Xiao Jin lifted her chin, making her turn to face her.

“My darling is so beautiful. If time permitted, I really want to…” She stopped speaking, her breathing a little unsteady.

Xi Yue pretended to be innocent and asked, “Want to do what?”

Xiao Jin nipped her lip lightly as punishment.

“Don’t look at me like that. I won’t be able to control myself.”

Xi Yue was afraid Xiao Jin would misbehave and quickly averted her gaze, only to have the other person lift her chin and kiss her until the world spun.

Because of this delay, they arrived late. When they reached the hotel where the banquet was held, everyone else had already gathered, and they immediately became the focus of the crowd.

Gu Tang was the first to react, stepping forward to greet them.

“Xiao Jin?!” She was surprised, then quickly understood. “So, that mysterious CEO Xiao was you?”

Xiao Jin just smiled without speaking. Jiang Yan was also very shocked to see her, and after a moment, she said, “So, our small world ended imperfectly, and now we meet again in the real world?”

Xiao Jin took two glasses of champagne from a waiter, handed one to Xi Yue, and introduced her to Gu Tang and Jiang Yan: “This is my girlfriend, Xi Yue.”

Jiang Yan and Gu Tang raised their glasses simultaneously, introduced themselves, and then the four toasted together. This scene became the highlight of the evening.

After the banquet, Xiao Jin and Xi Yue returned home. Xi Yue had hit it off with Jiang Yan and had drunk quite a bit. Now, she was nestled in Xiao Jin’s arms, her eyes hazy with intoxication.

“Who is prettier, me or Jiang Yan?”

“You are prettier than anyone you compare yourself to. You are the most beautiful gift I received when I came to this world.”