Chapter 97

Paragliding originated in 1984, invented by a group of French skydivers and paragliding enthusiasts. It has become very popular in Europe, America, and Japan. In mainland China, there are also many paragliding enthusiasts, and it is one of Xiaohou Zhongying's hobbies besides martial arts.

Unlike traditional parachutes, paragliding is a type of aircraft. According to recorded data, someone has flown over 300 kilometers with a paraglider, and the longest flight time has reached 17 hours.

Xiaohou Zhongying thought that after mentioning paragliding, the girls would be immediately attracted, but unexpectedly, the scene turned cold. The five girls looked at each other, and even Zheng Xiujing, who was usually fearless, shrank her head and didn't dare to speak.

Flying is a human dream, but it also requires courage. People who like paragliding are almost all daring adventurers. Ordinary people really don't have many who dare to try it.

After so many years of development and improvement, paragliding has become very mature and safe, but accidents still happen. And when they do, they are often fatal. For the five young girls like Zheng Xiuyan, this is a high-risk sport. Flying in the sky with no ground under their feet, a slight mistake could cost their lives. It's no wonder they wouldn't dare to try.

"Brother, isn't this very dangerous?" Zheng Xiujing asked nervously.

"Not dangerous at all, it's very fun," Xiaohou Zhongying said excitedly. "The feeling of flying in the sky and looking down at the earth is just too amazing. I haven't done it for a long time, and suddenly I really want to try it again."

"Huh, are you guys afraid?" Xiaohou Zhongying couldn't help but ask when he saw the girls staring blankly without speaking.

Jin Taeyeon and the other girls laughed dryly and didn't dare to answer. They were indeed afraid.

"Who's afraid?" Zheng Xiuyan retorted indignantly, putting on a look of disdain. "I just don't like this sport."

"Is that so?" Xiaohou Zhongying looked at Zheng Xiuyan with a suspicious eye and chuckled.

"What attitude is this?" Zheng Xiuyan, feeling embarrassed by Xiaohou Zhongying's laughter, slammed the table and pointed at herself, putting on a brave act. "Just call me when you go, and I'll show you how I do it. We'll see if you still dare to look down on me."

"Sister, do you really want to go?" Zheng Xiujing tugged at Zheng Xiuyan's sleeve and whispered in her ear.

"Speak louder," Zheng Xiuyan pushed her sister away and said loudly, "Of course I want to go. What's there to be afraid of? It's just a paraglider."

Zheng Xiuyan's bold and confident performance earned the admiration of the other girls. They thought, "No wonder she's a senior, she really has the demeanor of a senior." But being a senior and daring to jump from a paraglider are two different things, with no relation at all.

"Hehe, okay, after we finish this busy period and the weather gets warmer, we'll go. I'll call you then, and you mustn't back out," Xiaohou Zhongying said with a smile.

"Why would I back out? If you go, I'll go. Who's afraid of who?" Zheng Xiuyan, unwilling to be underestimated by Xiaohou Zhongying, decided to go all out. She thought to herself, "I'll just be careful when the time comes. How could I be so unlucky to have an accident on my first try?"

"Is there anyone else who wants to try?" Xiaohou Zhongying asked the other girls.

"Hehe." Jin Taeyeon and the other girls laughed a few times but didn't speak, indicating that they didn't dare to participate.

Xiaohou Zhongying didn't mind. Among the people he knew, there weren't many who dared to try paragliding, and they were all from the paragliding club. When they had free time, they would gather to go out and play, while others would just come to watch and wouldn't dare to join in.

After lunch, they rested for a while and played in the amusement park before leaving. Jin Taeyeon and Huang Meiying had to return to the company, and their things were still at Xiaohou Zhongying's house, so they had to go back to get them. Xiaohou Zhongying also needed to report to the Zheng family to avoid upsetting Zheng's mother.

Zhang Liyi followed the group to Xiaohou Zhongying's house to help Jin Taeyeon and the others get their things.

When they arrived at the house, there were so many things that even with everyone's help, it was hard to carry them all. So they called Uncle Ge to drive a car to help, and also to take Xiaohou Zhongying and the Zheng sisters to the Zheng family.

As soon as Xiaohou Zhongying entered the Zheng family's house, Zheng's mother started complaining to him. No matter how impatient Xiaohou Zhongying was, he had to endure it, smiling and nodding, trying to make amends. Only then did Zheng's mother calm down.

"How was your trip to Jeonju?" While Zheng's mother was cooking, Zheng's father looked at Xiaohou Zhongying and asked.

"How could it be? He must have been overjoyed with two beautiful girls accompanying him," Zheng Xiuyan said before Xiaohou Zhongying could speak. "He probably forgot all about home."

Xiaohou Zhongying immediately smiled bitterly and said, "I never want to go to Jeonju for the New Year again. There are too many elders in Taeyeon's family, and I even had to bow to a young boy. I'm so regretful."

Zheng's father burst out laughing. "That's how it is in Korea. We moved back from abroad and found it hard to adapt, let alone Xiaohou Zhongying, who is Chinese."

"Serves you right," Zheng Xiuyan said, smiling at Xiaohou Zhongying's frustrated look.

"Besides, the Korean New Year is so boring. There's not even a ghost in the streets. It's much more fun in our country," Xiaohou Zhongying added.

"Hehe, of course it's different," Zheng's father said with a smile. "In your country, the most important festival is the Spring Festival, while in Korea, the most important is the Mid-Autumn Festival. The Spring Festival is mainly for ancestor worship and can't be compared."

"Maybe so," Xiaohou Zhongying nodded.

"Brother, is the Spring Festival gala in your country always so fun?" Zheng Xiujing sat next to Xiaohou Zhongying and asked, "I didn't know before, but last night, I watched the gala with you, and it was much better than the Korean one, with more programs."

"The gala on New Year's Eve is the most important and the best. It starts at 8 PM and often ends around 1 AM. It's the most-watched gala in our country, and it's really good. Going to the gala site on New Year's Eve is even more fun, but it's very hard to get tickets, and they are very expensive. I've only been once with my father, and we got the tickets through connections," Xiaohou Zhongying said with a smile.

"Is it really that fun? Can I go to your country for the Spring Festival next year?" Zheng Xiujing asked, her eyes sparkling.

"Sure, if you want to go, I'll take you next year," Xiaohou Zhongying said with a smile. "As for the gala tickets, we'll see if my father can get them."

"Dad, can we go to brother's house for the Spring Festival next year?" Zheng Xiujing turned to her father and asked, "Can we?"

"It's still a long way off. Today is only the second day of the New Year, and you're already planning for the whole year," Zheng's father laughed and ruffled Zheng Xiujing's hair.

"Hehe, it's better to plan early," Zheng Xiujing said with a smile.

The Zheng family, being expatriates, valued ancestor worship but were not as strict as traditional Korean families. Some more open-minded families in Korea now choose to travel during the Spring Festival, the longest holiday of the year, rather than staying home for ancestor worship.

Zheng's father had a very open mind and didn't oppose it. As long as the children were happy, it could be considered a trip abroad, and they could also experience the festive atmosphere in China.

During dinner, Zheng Xiujing excitedly talked to her mother about the plan to go to China for the Spring Festival, making Zheng's mother laugh and cry at the same time. It was a bit too early to start planning now.

However, she was also quite interested in the idea of going to China for the Spring Festival. Since Zheng Xiuyan and Zheng Xiujing became trainees, their training was very intense, leaving them with little free time, and the Zheng family hadn't gone on a family trip for a long time. Zheng's mother also missed the old days and enthusiastically discussed where they would go with Zheng Xiujing, leaving Zheng's father speechless.