Thump!

Even as the entire banquet hall descended into chaos, the sound of water falling was particularly noticeable.

What fell into the pool?

Song Sichen had already gone to find the Song family's butler in the dark.

He heard the sound of something falling into the water behind him, but he didn't connect it to Jiang Nian, since he hadn't heard any shouts.

Jiang Nian didn't know who had pushed her.

When my body was submerged in the cold pool water, I felt weightless and fell downwards.

They should have struggled.

But the feeling of being enveloped in cold water, as if the pool water had isolated her from the outside world, actually calmed Jiang Nian, who was trembling in the darkness.

She couldn't help but close her eyes.

This reminded her of when she was eight years old.

The first time she was locked in a room filled with fresh corpses, with the doors and windows tightly shut and so dark that you couldn't see your hand in front of your face.

The young girl huddled in a corner, hugging her knees, her whole body trembling uncontrollably with fear.

Because it is invisible, all senses except sight are amplified.

The air was thick with the nauseating stench of blood from the corpses, a lingering and intensifying smell in the confined space.

My nerves were on edge, and I had countless hallucinations that night, vaguely feeling cold corpses sitting up and coming in front of me.

The little girl could even feel the stench of the corpse on her face; she was terrified.

But Lu Zhaokun said that the best way to overcome fear is to face it directly.

As his daughter, she couldn't be afraid of killing. Since she was afraid of killing, she should start by getting to know the dead.

That morning, the door to that room was opened, and the first ray of light finally shone in. She was led back to the room in a daze.

Just like now, she's soaking herself in the bathtub, tears streaming down her face and disappearing into the water. She desperately wants someone to come and pick her up, to hug her.

But no.

Her mother died shortly after she was born, and Jiang Sheng abandoned her.

Her father wouldn't hug her either. Because needing a hug for comfort is a sign of weakness.

*

Banquet venue.

Hearing the sound of Jiang Nian being pushed into the pool, Ji Yuwei almost burst out laughing with smug satisfaction.

She was the one who was supposed to dazzle everyone tonight.

The result was that Jiang Nian completely stole the spotlight. Because of Jiang Nian, she didn't even dare to show her face!

Ji Yuwei had heard from the family's maid that Jiang Nian's room light was never turned off at night, because she must be afraid of the dark.

So she had someone pull the power switch in the Song family banquet hall, and taking advantage of the chaos, she pushed Jiang Nian into the water.

She wanted to see how Jiang Nian, soaking wet, would awkwardly climb out of the pool.

If Jiang Nian's white T-shirt got wet, you could definitely see her underwear underneath.

And she—it was so dark around her, no one saw that she was the one who pushed her into the water.

All she needs to do is slip away now and watch Jiang Nian make a fool of herself later.

Ji Yuwei was extremely pleased with herself.

Just as she was about to leave, something suddenly fell from the sky and covered her head.

Then someone covered her mouth through the sack and dragged her out of the banquet hall!

"Ugh, ugh!"

What's going on?!

Ji Yuwei's eyes widened, and she tried to scream, but no sound came out at all.

The banquet hall was completely dark, and no one could see her being dragged away.

Unfortunately, she was the one who had the power switch pulled; it was all her own fault.

At this moment, Jiang Nian, who was in the water, was pulled by her memories and felt her body getting heavier and heavier.

Suddenly, I seemed to hear another splash, the sound of something falling into the water.

It looked like someone was swimming towards me.

Jiang Nian's first reaction was rejection.

She didn't want anyone to touch her in this situation.

Before he could escape, the person seemed to have a clear objective and forcefully approached him.

She barely managed to open her eyes, but still couldn't see anything in the dark pool. The next second, however, the other person suddenly kissed her!

Jiang Nian shuddered, all her consciousness returning in an instant. Her first instinct was to push the person away, but she was too weak from prolonged oxygen deprivation.

Then she was held even tighter by his strong arms, and a breath of oxygen was passed through his lips.

The next second, her body was lifted up by the man and carried towards the surface of the water.

The moment my head surfaced, it was still pitch black all around.

Jiang Nian gasped for breath, like a fish that had been dying on the shore finally returning to the water and being saved.

The man's arms around her waist did not loosen their grip. He pressed her against the pool wall, his tall, broad frame enveloping her.

"you……"

"It's me."

Suddenly, a familiar voice rang in my ears, along with the familiar scent of Si Boye.

It was like some kind of spell, possessing a magical power to put people at ease.

Jiang Nian was completely stunned.

The girl was terribly cold, and her shoulders were trembling.

Si Boye pulled her into his arms, stroked the girl's long, wet hair that had fallen over her shoulders, and kissed her repeatedly, patiently comforting her.

"Don't be afraid, I'm here... I'm here."

The heat emanating from the man was transmitted to me.

Jiang Nian's mind was in complete chaos: "Si Boye? How could you..."

"I was just delivering a birthday gift for my grandfather and didn't plan to come in. But Lin Qian said that you're here at the Song family's house tonight too."

"I didn't expect to see several men eyeing my darling as soon as I walked in." Si Boye's voice was tinged with jealousy.

Jiang Nian still couldn't understand: "But how did you know it was me who fell into the water..."

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