Extra Spirit Armor: 2. Make friends with a pure heart

Long Jia bought a state-of-the-art VR gaming setup and invited Ling Ling and Hao Shengnan to his house for the holiday. He knew Hao Shengnan wouldn't be able to make it that day, so he secretly arranged for a photography enthusiast to contact her about a trip to the suburbs. He wanted to make it seem like a surprise, leaving Ling Ling no chance to refuse the invitation. With meticulous planning, Long Jia felt he had never failed to attract women, confident he could handle even a girl as challenging as Ling Ling. Even if he wasn't comfortable now, he would be. Long Jia deliberately dismissed his mother and sister, creating ample time for the two of them at home. He thoughtfully helped her put on the Varjo headset, gently held her hand as they strolled up the snowy mountaintops, accompanied her until her knees gave out, and held her shoulders tightly when an enemy slashed her arm and she hallucinated pain. After playing enough, he ordered takeout, all of her favorites. She tasted each one, then said with a hint of regret, "It would be great if Shengnan could come. The match that Long Shao arranged today is her favorite." "Then ask her to come next time," Long Jia coaxed softly, then handed her a peeled crayfish. Ling Ling looked at the curled shrimp meat, then at his affectionate eyes, and asked, "Next time, will you ask her to come?" Long Jia was stunned, his hand, still holding the shrimp meat in mid-air, trembling, before slowly lowering it. Ling Ling buried her head in a sip of iced Coke and said casually, "I think it's impossible for extremely wealthy people, especially those who are used to having sex, to remain loyal. We ordinary people make a small fortune and still think about going out for a big meal or taking a trip. These are novel experiences that we can afford to reward ourselves. But for extremely wealthy people, they have a lot of capital that ordinary people can't reach, they control abundant sexual resources, and they even have the power to allocate sexual resources. So, going to bed with a brand new body is like having a big meal or taking a trip, it's a new life experience. Why should they give up the power to enjoy at this level? Just like we wouldn't give up the experience of set meals and travel. Tell me, am I right?" Long Jia digested her words, nodded in agreement and said, "That's indeed the case." Ling Ling then said solemnly, "So, Long Jia, there's no chance for us. You can't give up your right to experience new things, and I can't accept infidelity." Her clear eyes, like autumn water, stared into his, causing him to shy away guiltily. Seeing that he was trying to escape, she had no choice but to continue...

Long Jia bought a top-tier VR gaming system and invited Ling Ling and Hao Shengnan to his house for the holiday. Long Jia knew Hao Shengnan wouldn't be able to come that day, so he secretly arranged for a photography enthusiast to arrange a trip to the suburbs. He also made sure it was a surprise, leaving Ling Ling no chance to refuse the invitation.

Everything was carefully planned. Long Jia felt that he had never failed in the field of picking up girls. Even a girl as difficult as Ling Ling, he was confident that he could handle it with ease. Even if he didn't feel comfortable now, he would feel comfortable sooner or later.

Long Jia deliberately dismissed his mother and sister, creating ample time for the two of them at home. He thoughtfully helped her put on the Varjo headset, gently held her hand as they strolled along the snowy mountaintops, accompanied her until her knees weakened; and when an enemy slashed her arm and she hallucinated the pain, he would hold her shoulders tightly.

After playing enough, he ordered takeout, all of which were her favorites. She tasted them one by one and said with regret, "It would be great if Shengnan could come. The match arranged by Long Shao today is her favorite."

"Then ask her to come next time." Long Jia said in a coaxing tone, then handed her a peeled crayfish.

Ling Ling looked at the curled shrimp meat, then at his affectionate eyes, and asked, "Next time, will you ask her to come?"

Long Jia was stunned, and his hand, which was holding the shrimp meat in the air, trembled before he slowly let it go.

Ling Ling buried her head in a sip of iced Coke and said casually, "I think it's impossible for extremely wealthy people, especially those who are used to sex, to remain loyal. When we ordinary people make a small fortune, we still think about going out for a nice meal or taking a trip—those are novel experiences we can afford to treat ourselves to. But for the extremely wealthy, they have a lot of capital that ordinary people can't reach, they control abundant sexual resources, and they even have the power to allocate sexual resources. So, sleeping with a brand new body is like having a nice meal or taking a trip—a new life experience. Why would they give up the rights they enjoy at this level? Just like we wouldn't give up the experience of set meals or travel. Tell me, am I right?"

Long Jia digested her words for a moment, nodded in agreement, and said, "That's indeed the case."

Ling Ling then said solemnly: "So, Long Jia, there is no possibility for us. You can't give up your right to experience new things, and I can't accept infidelity." Her eyes, as clear as autumn water, stared into his eyes, making him dodge away guiltily.

Seeing that he was trying to escape, she had no choice but to continue, "I originally thought that we were quite suitable to be friends. I can almost say that I don't have any family anymore, so in my heart, I treat you and Shengnan the same. I cherish that closeness. But if you have other ideas, forget it, so as to avoid us from being embarrassed in the end. I don't want that."

Long Jia hung his head in silence for a long time before saying, "Yes, you are right."

Ling Ling sighed and said, "So, we can either continue to be friends without any desires, or—"

"No, don't talk about anything else, let's just continue to be friends." Long Jia interrupted her anxiously, "I, I can't live without you... as a friend."

Ling Ling clinked glasses with the dejected man, and the two of them made a promise. Then she said, "I can't eat and drink for free today. I'll do some part-time work for you on the off-campus project you mentioned the other day."

Longjia rolled his eyes at her, sighed, and then gulped down the Coke.

After that, they acted as if nothing had happened, and continued to laugh and quarrel as before, but Ling Ling had gained more control over her interactions and always brought Hao Shengnan with her.

Tianlongjia came to see her, looking gloomier than ever before. He said he wanted her to accompany him for a drive. She didn't mention anything else and got into his Maserati. Seeing that he didn't say a word, she accompanied him quietly.

The car pulled into a golf course in Changping District. Long Jia flashed his membership card and was allowed through smoothly. He pulled into the parking lot, hiding next to a massive Cullinan. He peered out the windshield into the distance, raised his chin, and said to Ling Ling in a hoarse voice, "That's my dad."

Ling Ling followed his gaze and saw a well-maintained middle-aged man holding a girl in a tight white tennis jersey as they hit the ball. The girl jumped with excitement after successfully hitting the ball, her round breasts bulging out. She turned around and threw her arms around the man's neck, kissing him passionately. Obviously, this woman was not Long Jia's mother.

The two of them sat in the car stupidly. Ling Ling had never encountered such a scene before. She had never even seen his father alone with a woman other than his mother, so she had no idea how to comfort or atone for Long Jia.

The couple, having had their fill, returned to their Lexus, parked in the other corner of the lot. The car, touted as a "mobile palace of privacy," boasted double-glazed soundproof glass and electric shades, rivaling a hotel suite. Long Jia's father naturally didn't let this valuable resource go unused. Shortly after the two entered, the car's chassis began to flap.

Long Jia turned his head to the side, staring at the constantly moving car body, and his hands gripping the steering wheel were trembling slightly.

"Dragon Armor—" Ling Ling's hand covered the back of his right hand, where veins were bulging, and she said quietly, "Let's go."

Long Jia's hands suddenly relaxed, and a sarcastic sneer spread across his face. "Why leave? What a rare show! Don't you always say that being with me allows you to see the world? Few people have seen this world in their lifetime!"

When he said the last two words, his voice choked. He pulled his hand away from hers, and then his chest heaved violently as he tried his best to suppress his anger and sadness.

The black Lexus drove away like a ghost. Long Jia stared at the ghostly black shadow passing by in front of his eyes. It seemed to have left a blood mark, which spread in his red eyes. His contemptuous sneer became more presumptuous. He turned to Ling Ling and said, "Humph, that old guy is really no good. It's over in such a short time. The girl is younger than me. Tell me - if I pry that woman away, can he and my mother reconcile?" He maintained an ugly smile and looked at her with a normal joking tone.

Ling Ling stared into his eyes worriedly and said, "Long Jia, you know he's not worthy. Even if he's your father and your mother's husband, he has no right to hurt you."

Long Jia leaned back on the headrest and said with a wry smile, "No, he has every right to humiliate me. If he is a beast, then I am a waste. I am just a waste parasitizing a beast."

"I think I have a pretty good vision and won't make friends with losers." Ling Ling said seriously.

Longjia tilted his head to look at her and gave her a sickly smile.

Ling Ling tugged at her elbow and said, "Let's switch. I'll drive."

"Can you drive?" Long Jia asked in surprise.

Ling Ling said, "I used the money I earned from working during the summer vacation to enroll in a driving school. I haven't touched a car since I got out of the training car. Use your Maserati to practice. Hurry up!" She patted him, signaling that they should get out of the car and change seats.

Ling Ling was originally worried that he was in a bad mood and driving was unsafe; now that it was her turn to drive, the unsafe situation immediately turned from a worry into reality.

On the way back to the city, after getting off the Beijing-Chengde Expressway, Ling Ling made a sharp turn but failed to turn well. She fumbled with the car and the car crashed into the guardrail without hesitation. Fortunately, her car was driving at a snail's pace and the airbags did not deploy.

Ling Ling was startled, first thinking of her life, then her money, and froze in her tracks. Long Jia, however, burst into laughter, which started out cheerful, then grew increasingly harsh, and finally turned into tears.

Ling Ling regained consciousness and looked at Long Jia worriedly. He buried his head in his arms, crying softly. The car lights flickered helplessly in the dark night. The surroundings were pitch black, like a desolate wilderness, yet without the openness that would brighten one's heart.

She gently stroked his hair and said softly, "Long Jia, I was really scared just now. Fortunately, nothing serious happened. I don't want to die. You don't want to die either, right? Life and death are just a moment away, and everything else becomes clear. Don't be sad, okay?"

Long Jia suddenly threw himself into her arms, hugging her tightly and continuing to cry. Ling Ling froze. It was the first time she was hugged by a man other than her father, and she was extremely uncomfortable. But seeing how heartbroken he was, she couldn't push him away. She just let him hold her like a corpse, arms stiff.

The release of sadness also has its own levels. In the later stages, Longjia's crying became weaker and weaker. She suspected that he was pretending. She twisted her body and tried to take off her clothes, but he leaned over and wanted to kiss her.

Ling Ling quickly covered his mouth and said in panic, "What are you doing?"

"I'm very sad now and need your comfort." Long Jia said mischievously, and tightened his grip on her waist a little more.

"To comfort you, just use your mouth, no need to move your tongue." Ling Ling babbled in panic.

"It's okay if you don't stick out your tongue." Long Jia moved closer, but Ling Ling forcefully pushed him away. He cursed angrily, "Your sadness is so insincere. Eighty percent of your tears are probably because you're worried about your car. Get off and switch seats!"

Ling Ling got out of the car in frustration and slammed the door. Long Jia reluctantly swapped seats with her again. Seeing her unhappy expression after settling in, he reverted to his usual playful smile and said, "Actually, as long as you're in the car, no matter what happens, I'll do my best to ensure your safety. But it's kind of cute that you're worried about me."

Ling Ling rolled her eyes at him and said, "I'm naturally cute, I'm not trying to be cute just for you."