Yan Zhen rode a carriage to the Golden Jade Chamber of Commerce, then followed a servant girl to the rear courtyard.
Ji Ya, her twin bodyguards Jin Tong and Yu Nu, and Aunt Mu, who had been lurking in the shadows, were already waiting there.
A vehicle resembling a yacht lay before the four of them. It was officially called a flying skiff, with a cabin small enough for just a few people on an outing.
Ji Ya came forward eagerly, linking her arm with his as she pouted playfully.
“I thought you weren’t coming, Little Brother Yan Zhen.”
Yan Zhen scratched his head with an apologetic grin.
“Sorry, I got up a bit late.”
“Poor Little Brother Yan Zhen—did your cousin sisters drain you dry last night?”
“Uh—”
“You’ve got to save some for Big Sister. She’s counting on your ‘special something’ for her treatment~”
“…”
When it came to flirty banter, Yan Zhen knew he was no match for Good Big Sister. He conceded defeat without a fight.
Ji Ya took mercy and let it drop. Still holding his arm, she gestured for him to take a seat in the back of the flying skiff.
Once Yan Zhen had settled in, Ji Ya sat down gracefully beside him. Her peach-like rear brushed perfectly against him—just close enough to tease without quite touching, the distance measured with expert precision.
The twin bodyguards took the seats in front of them.
Aunt Mu handled the controls. Though it was Yan Zhen’s first time seeing her true face, he didn’t pry.
“Everyone seated? We’re taking off.”
With that, Aunt Mu activated the flying skiff. It rose steadily into the air before shooting forward with a boom, vanishing into the distance in an instant.
As the rune brakes engaged, inertia made everyone in the cabin sway slightly.
Yan Zhen felt Good Big Sister’s sheer-stockinged leg rubbing gently against his thigh over and over. He knew it wasn’t on purpose, but it still stirred him up, kindling a faint heat in his chest.
“Ahem.”
He quietly shifted his leg away, but Ji Ya noticed the subtle movement.
“What’s wrong, Little Brother Yan Zhen?”
“N-Nothing.”
“Are you not used to being close to Big Sister?” Before he could answer, she continued, “I understand how you feel. We’ve only known each other a few days. Sure, we’ve been husband and wife in dreams, but that’s just dreams. In reality, we can’t get intimate right away.”
Yan Zhen caught the deeper meaning.
Don’t be fooled by Good Big Sister’s seductive appearance. In truth, she was quite reserved. Back in the script, during his treatments, she’d tremble at the slightest touch beyond her palms, her cheeks flushing red.
She acted this way for two reasons: her cauldron constitution made her naturally alluring, and it lulled people into dropping their guard, fixating on her beauty while overlooking her own abilities. It was a form of self-protection.
Clearly, Good Big Sister wasn’t used to this closeness either. But for the sake of better treatment, she forced herself to shed her maidenly restraint, making these provocative, appeasing gestures.
And he’d dodged her good intentions. Could anything hurt more?
Yan Zhen felt a pang of guilt.
“Sorry, Sister Ji Ya. I’ll try to get used to it.”
“It’s not your fault, Little Brother Yan Zhen. Big Sister was too eager.”
Ji Ya shook her head thoughtfully.
“How about this? When we get to headquarters, let’s hold off on treatment and do some training first?”
“Training?”
“Yes. The treatment requires Body Fusion Dual Cultivation, with you taking full control from start to finish. But if you can’t even touch Big Sister’s body, how can we do it properly? If it’s this awkward through clothes, imagine when we’re both stripped bare. Truth be told, I’m scared to touch you too. My mind says it’s fine, but my body instinctively recoils. So I think we need to get used to physical contact first, whether we build feelings or not.”
Yan Zhen nodded thoughtfully.
“Sister Ji Ya makes a good point.”
“So, want to try now?” Ji Ya coaxed gently. “Let’s start with hands.”
Yan Zhen had no objection.
Hands? No big deal. As a transmigrator, he didn’t fuss over formalities.
He extended his hand, inviting Good Big Sister to clasp it. But instead, she laid her small hand over his palm, her slender jade fingers slipping slowly between his.
Though Yan Zhen was much younger than Good Big Sister, men’s hands were naturally larger, so their palms matched perfectly, interlocking without a gap.
He felt a tender, silky softness in his hand—better than a kitten’s paw pad, impossible to let go.
But Ji Ya released him and said,
“Your turn, Little Brother Yan Zhen.”
He blinked, taking a moment to realize she meant he should take the initiative.
Yan Zhen mimicked her earlier motion, placing his hand over hers, then clasping it slowly, fingers weaving into hers.
Ji Ya’s fair arm twitched faintly, unaccustomed to a man’s grip. A trace of discomfort flickered across her stunning fox-like face.
“Are you okay, Sister Ji Ya?” Yan Zhen asked with concern. “Should I let go?”
She bit her lip and shook her head lightly.
“I’m fine. Hold it like this—for now, use your other hand too.”
With that, Ji Ya reached out with her free left hand and stroked his thigh through his pants.
The touch sent a little shiver through him.
“Your turn, Little Brother Yan Zhen.”
Ji Ya lifted the hem of her qipao, revealing a long, noble leg wrapped in sheer black stockings. With shy reluctance, she invited him to place his hand there.
Yan Zhen hesitated briefly, then reached out.
The instant his fingers met silk, the exquisite smoothness sent his thoughts drifting. He couldn’t help sliding his hand back and forth over the glossy black stockings, producing a soft hiss.
Ji Ya let out a muffled hum, her cheeks blooming red as her beautiful eyes locked onto him.
Yan Zhen cursed inwardly—he’d gone too far.
He started to pull back, but Good Big Sister grabbed his hand, her face full of stubborn resolve.
“Keep going. I’ll get used to it.”
“…”
—Damn it. How could he betray her determination after she’d gone this far?
Yan Zhen gritted his teeth, steeled himself, and slid his hand to the inner side of her stocking-clad leg.
Ji Ya’s body jolted. Instinctively, she clamped her thighs together, trapping the offending hand.
—Careless. She hadn’t expected it to feel this intense. If it continued, she’d soak through in front of Little Brother Yan Zhen.
“Little Brother Yan Zhen, not there. Somewhere else, okay?”
“O-Okay.”
As Yan Zhen withdrew his hand, Ji Ya sighed in relief. She loosened her grip and said,
“Next, Little Brother Yan Zhen, let’s hug each other’s waists interactively until we arrive. Whoever lets go first is a puppy. Deal?”
—Pfft, a modern transmigrator like him? What did he have to fear? Good Big Sister was doomed to lose.
Yan Zhen stretched his arm through the gap between Good Big Sister’s back and the seat, lightly encircling her slender waist.
Ji Ya smirked inwardly and leaned into him, resting on his shoulder as her long, lotus-root arm hooked around his waist.
They sat there, intimately embracing like lovers.
—Mentor Yu Xuan had taken months to reach this point. Ji Ya had done it in days.
