Chapter 18: I Can’t Bring Myself to Say That My First Kiss Was Taken!

“Phew~ I’ve even run back to the Underworld—this guy shouldn’t be able to chase me here, right?”

Ling Xiaoyou ‘bang’ closed the door, hurried to her soft bed in three steps, and pulled open the curtains to look at the gray sky outside, as if she was afraid Bai Shuanglian might suddenly appear in the sky.

She stared for a while, but Bai Shuanglian’s figure never appeared.

Ling Xiaoyou finally relaxed, her tense body collapsing onto the bed.

“I’m really something. I’m already in the Underworld, so why am I still scared that person will chase me here?”

Ling Xiaoyou rubbed her small face, as if cheering herself up.

The Underworld was a place the living could not enter.

Even an Exorcist like Bai Shuanglian couldn’t pass through the realm’s barrier.

If the living wanted to enter the Underworld, unless they received permission from the Ghost Kings who ruled the Underworld, even the most powerful Cultivator couldn’t force their way in.

Ling Xiaoyou didn’t quite understand why even strong Cultivators couldn’t break into the Underworld, but since everyone said so, she decided to believe it for now.

“Guuu…”

Ling Xiaoyou sprawled out on the bed, then suddenly lifted the blanket and wrapped her petite body tightly inside, not even leaving her head exposed.

The scenes that had happened earlier replayed before her eyes like a slideshow, making her uneasy.

After a long time, she let out a light sigh and rubbed her flushed face, which had turned hot from recalling embarrassing memories.

Somehow, everything tonight felt so unreal, like a dream.

But Ling Xiaoyou knew it was all real—not just a dream.

And precisely because of that, her emotions couldn’t calm down—shyness, anger, reminiscence, joy…all kinds of feelings swirled in her heart, making her mood complicated.

“Ano hi miwatashita nagisa wo…”

The phone ringtone rang, interrupting Ling Xiaoyou’s tangled thoughts.

She pulled her phone from her spatial artifact and saw the caller ID—Sister Ming.

Sister Ming was probably calling to ask why I hadn’t returned for so long.

Ling Xiaoyou could more or less guess why Wang Mingji was calling and didn’t hesitate to answer.

“Phew, Xiaoyou? Why haven’t you come back yet? Did something happen?”

As soon as the call connected, Ling Xiaoyou heard Wang Mingji’s relieved sigh, followed by a concerned question.

Her heart warmed, and not wanting Wang Mingji to worry, Ling Xiaoyou replied softly, “I’m fine, Sister Ming. I’m at home now. I’ll head back soon.”

Even though Ling Xiaoyou covered it up well, Wang Mingji, who knew her, could sense the forced tone in her voice.

She immediately grew serious and asked urgently,

“What happened, Xiaoyou? You’ve never rushed home suddenly during work before, and your mood doesn’t sound right. Something must have happened!”

After speaking, Wang Mingji seemed to imagine something, stood up, and Ling Xiaoyou clearly heard the sound of a chair scraping the floor from the other end.

“Should I come over to help you now, Xiaoyou?”

Hearing this, Ling Xiaoyou quickly waved her hand, even though she knew Wang Mingji couldn’t see it over the phone—she just did it out of habit.

“No need, no need, Sister Ming, I’m really fine now.”

She paused, knowing that if she didn’t explain, Wang Mingji would probably come over.

After thinking for a moment, Ling Xiaoyou decided to share part of what happened:

“It’s not a big deal, Sister Ming. I just ran into Bai Shuanglian from the Bai Family during the Summoning of Bixian…”

“What?! Bai Shuanglian?!”

Wang Mingji’s startled shout rang out from the other end, and Ling Xiaoyou even heard other colleagues’ confused voices in the background.

“Were you hurt by her? Or are you badly injured and unable to move at home?!”

Wang Mingji hurriedly asked, wanting to know her situation.

“I wasn’t hurt, Sister Wang.”

Ling Xiaoyou understood that Wang Mingji was only worried, and her heart warmed.

She comforted Wang Mingji softly, “I almost got caught by that person, but luckily I’m clever and escaped from her hands.”

Ling Xiaoyou didn’t plan to mention having her first kiss stolen by Bai Shuanglian.

First, she didn’t want Wang Mingji to worry. Second…

It was just too embarrassing to talk about.

“Phew, that’s good. Then Xiaoyou, you…”

Wang Mingji relaxed at the explanation, but before she finished, a different voice came through the phone.

“So, Xiaoyou, did that Bai Family brat bully you? Tell me, and if I meet her next time, I’ll make her pay for you!”

It was a charming, magnetic female voice, tingling in the ear and very pleasant.

Ling Xiaoyou recognized the owner of the voice—it was the BOSS of the Ghostly Grievance Department—Hong Lingyan.

Hearing Hong Lingyan’s question, Ling Xiaoyou hesitated, unsure whether to answer.

Hong Lingyan said she could help, but Ling Xiaoyou was too embarrassed to talk about being played with.

“No, just that person tied me up with a rope.”

“But I was smart and tricked her into untying me with sweet talk.”

In the end, Ling Xiaoyou couldn’t bring herself to say more. It was too shameful to admit being toyed with by someone else!

“A rope?”

Hong Lingyan seemed surprised about the rope.

“Was it a dark blue rope?”

Ling Xiaoyou didn’t know why Hong Lingyan was asking, but she answered honestly.

“Yes, a rope with a ghostly blue sheen.”

“I see…”

On the other end, Hong Lingyan fell silent for a moment before continuing,

“Then it looks like that Bai Family brat didn’t have bad intentions.”

Impossible!

That person did so many excessive things to me!

Ling Xiaoyou complained in her heart, but Hong Lingyan went on, “That rope is called a Ghost-Binding Rope, as the name implies, it’s used to restrain us Ghosts.”

“It forces a Ghost into a solid form, then seals their spiritual power, effectively turning a Ghost into a mortal.”

“Because this spell was developed by Exorcists to suppress ghosts, even a Ghost of a higher level can be bound if they’re careless.”

“So being tied up by it isn’t something to be ashamed of, Xiaoyou.”

Ling Xiaoyou was surprised. She didn’t expect such a spell could be used on her, and for some reason, she felt like she’d become a powerful Ghost.

“But…”

Hong Lingyan’s tone grew strange.

“But the Ghost-Binding Rope is mostly used by Exorcists when pursuing Ghosts they fancy.”

“Xiaoyou, are you sure that Bai Shuanglian didn’t do anything to you?”

“Eh?”

Ling Xiaoyou froze.