Falling into the water

Falling into the water

Jiang Zhao grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the bathroom.

"Brother Jiang, Young Master Jiang! Don't be angry, I really didn't know she was your woman..." The man struggled to get up from the ground, his face covered in blood. He seemed terrified of Jiang Zhao and followed behind him, pleading in a low voice.

Just then, the door to the men's restroom across the street opened from the inside. A man and a woman, disheveled, came out laughing and joking.

Jiang Zhao's dark eyes locked onto them, startling the couple.

Perhaps he had thought of that. If he had arrived any later, I would have ended up like that girl, my skirt lifted up to my thighs.

Jiang Zhao turned around, looking down at the man behind her, her eyes filled with a chilling sarcasm and anger, her restrained coldness no longer concealed.

"Too late." He unilaterally sentenced the other party to death.

The man's face turned pale instantly, and his expression was extremely uncomfortable, as if he would rather be beaten up by Jiang Zhao.

But I know Jiang Zhao's personality. He has been learning Muay Thai since he was a child. He knows how to teach people a lesson, but he also subtly grasps the limits so as not to cause trouble for himself. To be honest, he is more used to using the power and money he has had since childhood to deal with things that don't like him, rather than simply suppressing them with force.

I followed behind Jiang Zhao, glancing up at him every now and then. His handsome face seemed to be covered in ice, chillingly cold. We reached the doorway, where a few people were chatting. Upon seeing Jiang Zhao, they made a joking remark.

"Your Highness, where have you been? Xie Yong has been here for ages."

Some people, eager for drama, reminded him, "Your fiancée came with Xie Yong."

"..." Jiang Zhao remained expressionless, exuding an imposing aura.

I knew he was engaged to Lin Zhi'en, so I quickly moved away. Jiang Zhao turned around and glanced at me, his eyes darkening.

His tone was cold, and a slight sneer appeared on his thin lips. "Fine, I understand."

The girl who spoke looked at me with a surprised expression. "Ye Zi has been looking for you everywhere, she's so worried. Where have you been?"

What does Ye Fenglin want with me...? Before I could think about it, I heard Ye Fenglin's slightly raised voice from not far away.

"She can't speak, that's why I had you keep an eye on her. Now that she's gone missing, if anything happens to her, you're finished." Ye Fenglin smiled, his eyes cold and ruthless, a blatant threat.

"Ye Zi, the person is here."

Ye Fenglin, who was at the bar, noticed me, and even his handsome face showed a hint of nervousness.

He has long legs, so he walked over in just a few steps.

"Jiang Fu, where did you run off to? Do you know I've been looking for you everywhere? Please don't wander off." Ye Fenglin frowned.

Jiang Zhao glanced at me. This was the first time we had met, and he probably didn't even know my name. He smiled, a rare occurrence for him, and said with a powerful aura, "Ye Fenglin, you can't even protect a woman. You really are a piece of trash."

Ye Fenglin glanced at Jiang Zhao, his gaze cold and wary, but when he saw my wrist and the obvious signs of crying around my eyes, he immediately understood.

"Who?" he asked me.

I was stunned. I rarely saw Ye Fenglin show his anger on his face. Although his temper was unpredictable, he had never been so obviously angry as he was now.

This was an opportunity for me. I remember Gu Yu telling me that I should learn to depend on men appropriately and ask them for things so that they would feel a sense of "satisfaction" and "accomplishment".

Everyone at tonight's party is rich. But there's a difference between being rich and being very rich.

Some people not only have money, but also represent power. Ye Fenglin clearly belongs to the latter. People are afraid of his power, even though he doesn't abuse it.

I looked up at Ye Fenglin. I didn't even need to recall what had happened in the bathroom; as long as Jiang Zhao was beside me, I would instinctively tremble. I hugged Ye Fenglin tightly, letting him know my fear and unease.

The surrounding air suddenly became exceptionally cold.

Jiang Zhao's gaze lingered on me like a sharp blade for a long time. The others didn't dare to breathe.

Ye Fenglin paused for only a few seconds, then raised his uninjured hand and touched my hair. I didn't understand the meaning of this gesture, but I followed what I was taught in class and snuggled against him.

In front of everyone, he suddenly hugged me tightly.

"With me here, no one can bully you," Ye Fenglin promised me. Although I knew his heart was completely devoted to Lin Zhi'en, I still nodded in agreement.

"Why are you all outside? The cake has already been brought in." Accompanied by the pleasant aroma, my gaze gradually focused and landed entirely on Lin Zhi'en who was walking in front of me.

She was wearing a beautiful dress with delicate rose embroidery subtly visible on the hem. Her long hair was gently tied back with a ribbon, and her figure, thanks to her ballet practice, was slender, graceful, and very beautiful.

Seeing Jiang Zhao, she was a little surprised. She walked to his side and said softly, "What brings you here?"

"Just a casual gift."

After listening, Lin Zhi'en smiled and then looked at Ye Fenglin. She didn't seem surprised that I was here. "Come and eat the cake."

She and Jiang Zhao went inside first. The attention of the people at the door was also diverted.

"Ji-eun is so elegant and beautiful." @Unlimited great articles, all at Literary City

"Have you seen Ji-eun's tour? Even someone like me who doesn't know anything about ballet thinks she dances so well, so beautifully."

"She's just like the Swan Princess herself. I'm so envious of Ji-eun. She's rich, beautiful, and has a perfect fiancé."

"Maybe Xie Yong will use the occasion of his birthday to confess his feelings to her today. Actually, Xie Yong's birthday is on the 22nd, but he delayed it until the 27th to wait for Zhi En to be free to attend."

As everyone discussed Lin Zhi'en, I habitually glanced at Ye Fenglin. He always seemed to be the forgotten man beside Lin Zhi'en. Ye Fenglin's profile was handsome, and his face showed no sign of displeasure; he remained as elegant and polite as ever.

The waiter brought out a six-layer chocolate cheesecake, rich and creamy with nuts and walnuts, its appearance as beautiful as a work of art.

The pub sent Xie Yong a champagne tower, and once it was poured, the highlight of the party was almost over.

I saw Xie Yong.

He was the star of the evening. Dressed in a black suit, his lean and powerful frame was striking. He wasn't wearing a tie, and the top two buttons of his shirt were undone, revealing his refined and prominent Adam's apple. His handsome, deep-set features, arrogant and confident demeanor, and innate air of superiority set him apart from his peers, making him appear composed and calm.

"Happy birthday, Brother Xie Yong." Lin Zhi'en came to his side. "This is for you."

Only she could get close to Xie Yong. All the other gifts were put away by the waiters, but Lin Zhi'en was his childhood sweetheart and the "leading lady" in his life. Xie Yong would never refuse her.

He reached out and opened the dark blue velvet gift box. Inside was a Rolex GMT-Master II, long since discontinued.

Lin Zhi'en clearly knew that Xie Yong's hobby was collecting watches, so she specially bought this one as a gift for him.

Xie Yong smiled politely and thanked her.

People nearby were whispering, "Why doesn't Xie Yong try on the watch Lin Zhi'en gave him?"

"Don't you know him? With Xie Yong's personality, if he were really interested, he would have made a move long ago. I think he and Lin Zhi'en are just friends, but they occasionally pretend to be dating at school. Xie Yong and I have been classmates from undergraduate to graduate school. I think he is actually extremely domineering. He won't let anyone else touch what's his own. If he really liked Lin Zhi'en, why would he just watch her get engaged to the Crown Prince?"

The waiter divided the cake into pale silver stainless steel plates and distributed them to everyone.

Xie Yong glanced at Ye Fenglin beside me and walked over.

He took two glasses of low-sparkling champagne from the waiter's tray, handing one to Ye Fenglin, "Where's my gift?"

Xie Yong took the initiative to strike up a conversation, and Ye Fenglin finally turned his gaze from the floor-to-ceiling window to his friend.

Ye Fenglin raised the corners of his lips slightly, revealing a smile, "I prepared it for you a long time ago."

He gave instructions to the person next to him, and a moment later, the other person brought over a black gift box with a low-key design and an engraved logo.

Xie Yong opened it, and it turned out to be a watch, Richard Mille's White Ghost.

He casually removed his Rolex from his wrist and tried on the watch Ye Fenglin had given him—the same one I'd seen on Ye Fenglin's Instagram. Using photos of him and Ye Fenglin, I found him, treating him as a friend of Yu Xu, and begged him to save Yu Xu…

Ye Fenglin smiled, his thin lips tilted upwards. "So, do you like the gift I gave you?" Xie Yongwang's once sharp and piercing gaze was now filled with boundless patience, and the corners of his lips curved into a smile.

"Beautiful, you have good taste."

"You deliberately delayed your party to wait for me, so I have to find the best gift for you."

Wait a minute. I suddenly snapped out of my daze and absent-mindedness.

I watched as Ye Fenglin took out his phone, snapped a photo of himself with a champagne glass, and quickly edited it before uploading it to Instagram.

Happy birthday, Yong Ge!

A wine glass, with a white wristwatch faintly reflected in it. I know this photo all too well.

The tone of Ye Fenglin's posts, the angle of the photos, even the minute of the upload were exactly the same as the last time I saw them. The bizarre time loop made my heart feel like it was stuck in my throat, and my throat started to feel dry and parched.

I stared unblinkingly at Xie Yong. He clinked glasses with Ye Fenglin, then downed his drink in one gulp, his Adam's apple bobbing gently in my sight.

That's not right. Xie Yong clearly stated that no one is allowed to bring alcoholic beverages to his parties... But since I entered the pub, even the most restrained person has had a few low-alcohol drinks, just like me, not to mention those who are completely drunk.

I seemed to have been looking at Xie Yong for a little too long. His eyes, which always seemed so cold, finally met mine, and an incredible heat ignited between us. Our time together was no longer awkward and unsettling.

"Where is my gift?" Xie Yong's tone was exceptionally patient and gentle.

Ye Fenglin casually put his arm around Xie Yong's arm, asserting ownership in a subtle yet forceful manner, "This is Xiao Fu's first time attending a party like this, she doesn't know anything, so consider this watch a gift from us."

I had no choice but to lower my eyes slightly to avoid Xie Yong's gaze.

"I was asking her, not you, Ye Zi." Xie Yong's voice suddenly turned cold, and a strange sense of oppression washed over him.

“Xiao Fu can’t speak, but I know what she’s trying to say.” Ye Fenglin’s friendly demeanor vanished. He smiled, his eyes crinkling, but his expression was aggressive and unyielding.

Just then, the waiter came to bring us the cake. I quickly grabbed a piece, took several steps back, and my heart, which had been pounding, seemed to slowly relax.

The chocolate cake had a silky smooth texture and a rich, high-quality cream flavor without being cloying at all. I was hungry, so I finished the cake in no time. Feeling a little unsatisfied, I wanted to get another piece, so I walked over to the slightly tall waiter who had his back to me.

"..." The waiter turned his head, and my eyes widened. It turned out to be Yu Xu's classmate from school!

He and Yu Xu graduated from the same high school and were admitted to the University of Science and Technology together.

I saw him during the Easter holiday when he and Yu Xu stayed at the school library to study.

The boy, wearing the same black suit and black pants he wore as a waiter at the party tonight, hesitated when he saw me. "Xiao Fu, you...you really are with Ye Fenglin? What about Yu Xu? How are you going to tell him?"

I looked at him, trembling slightly, and quickly shook my head.

“If it weren’t for that car accident, Yu Xu would have come to this party with me to work…” The boy’s expression became more pained. “He worked so hard to save money, taking on part-time jobs everywhere, and didn’t dare tell you, just because he wanted to buy you an engagement ring. And you? Xiao Fu, how could you do this to Yu Xu?”

I opened my lips, wanting to say, "No." But I couldn't make a sound; only a few sobs escaped my lips, the muffled voice barely concealing my sobs.

I don't know, I really don't know. I was just shopping with him that day and saw an amazing ring in the shop window. I told him it was beautiful, so why did he insist on buying it for me? I remember he always came home very late, but when I asked him, he just smiled and didn't say anything.

The boy lowered his voice, "I know you're beautiful and many rich men pursue you, but Yu Xu is the best for you."

I bit my lip tightly. The boy's accusations left me speechless, and his disappointed gaze made me feel especially bad.

But then something else occurred to me. I was just puzzled. If Yu Xu was lying to me, then his purpose in coming to this banquet wasn't to get to know Xie Yong at all, but simply to work and make money. But what about Xie Yong? Why would he lie?

When he testified, he repeatedly said that he knew Yu Xu, that Yu Xu was his friend, and that he had not been drinking and was very sober that day.

If everything is a cycle, and the same thing happens every time, then I can be certain that Xie Yong not only drank that night, but he also didn't know Yu Xu at all. @Unlimited great articles, all at Literary City

It's like a thread that circles around me, yet somehow bypasses me, leaving me completely in the dark.

What about a car accident?

If everything was destined to happen, then Jiang Mingzhuo would be seriously injured after leaving the party. If that person wasn't Yu Xu, then who was it?

My heart pounded, strange thoughts raced through my mind, and my head buzzed. I watched Jiang Mingzhuo, hidden in the shadows, from a great distance. He remained seated, displaying his superior physique and bone structure. A smile played on his lips, and his face was exquisitely beautiful, mesmerizing.

There are less than three hours left. If Jiang Mingzhuo really gets into a car accident, then I'll be able to catch the real culprit.

I made sure my gaze was careful and cautious as I looked at him. But Jiang Mingzhuo seemed to have noticed it all along. He smiled at me with an elegant and gentle smile that sent chills down my spine. I instinctively took a step back, and a surprised voice sounded beside me: "Watch out, there's a swimming pool behind you!"

Suddenly, I stepped into thin air and heard a loud thud!

The rushing water almost took my breath away. I struggled to open my eyes, trying to relax my body and float to the surface, but then there was a loud splash next to me, as if someone had jumped into the pool...

Before I could even pop my head out, someone pulled me to their side and kissed me. In the deep, dark pool, no one could see that Xie Yong was kissing me underwater. His long eyelashes tickled my cheek. I couldn't breathe underwater, and the feeling of suffocation grew stronger. I could only hold onto Xie Yong's neck and suck in the thin air from his mouth.

@Unlimited great articles, all at Literary City

He was kissing me, but his hands were restless, wrapping around me.

That watch, worth tens of millions, wasn't waterproof at all, but Xie Yong didn't care. The watch was right on my waist, digging into me and hurting me a little. I punched him, hit him, my chest felt like it was going to explode, like I wanted to float up. Xie Yong continued kissing me, like a madman.

Just as I was about to suffocate, Xie Yong's hand gripped my neck, forcing me to cling to his body, and my head finally surfaced.

I coughed and cried uncontrollably, leaning weakly on his shoulder. With a struggle, I managed to get my body facing Xie Yong. He gripped my waist and used the strength of his arms to lift me from the water.

Xie Yong's shirt was already bruised, revealing his toned and beautiful abdominal muscles. I was panting as I looked down at him, feeling as if I were floating in water, helpless yet firmly held by Xie Yong.

He raised his neck, his icy fingers gripping my chin, and a forceful pull drew me closer.

“I think I dreamt about it… I kissed you like this.” Water droplets ran from Xie Yong’s wet short hair to the tip of his straight nose, then down his handsome and sharp jawline. He smiled and said to me, “But it seems that at that time you were the one who took the initiative to ride on my back and kiss me.”