Falling into the water

Falling into the water

With just one glance, I wasn't sure if Jiang Mingzhuo had seen me.

I was trembling all over, and Ye Fenglin patted my shoulder, "So nervous..."

He let go of me, and even though I didn't look up, I could feel everyone's eyes were focused on me and Ye Fenglin at that moment.

I was surrounded by excited, piercing screams.

Ye Fenglin's actions were so crazy that for a moment, it seemed that no one remembered that this was Xie Yong's birthday party. People of similar age were all looking over here, discussing something, and seemed very interested.

I suppressed my discomfort and followed Ye Fenglin out of the elevator. I knew that the more unnatural I acted, the more likely I would attract Jiang Mingzhuo and the others' attention. I just needed to make myself look like I couldn't live without Ye Fenglin.

It's clear that Ye Fenglin is very popular.

He was the star player of the school's ice hockey team, his father was also very famous, he was tall and handsome, had excellent grades, a good physique, and fashionable taste. He was friendly and generous to everyone, and his popularity was beyond question.

Wherever he went, Ye Fenglin seemed to be able to chat for a bit, and his slightly upturned eyes were full of smiles, which made people feel good about him.

Ye Fenglin found a seat at the bar and got a glass of lemon sparkling water. Soon, a group of people gathered around him.

"Ye Zi, you're really going all out! You dared to come out even though your injury hasn't healed yet."

"After all, it's Brother Yong's birthday, so of course I have to give him face." Ye Fenglin said, biting his straw. "Where is Brother Yong?"

"Not here yet." The man shrugged, then lowered his voice, slowly looked at me, and asked, "What are you planning to do when Ji-eun arrives?"

Ye Fenglin slightly lifted his eyelids and glanced at me imperceptibly. He was probably also hesitating about what to do if he ran into a girl he liked later. I tactfully picked up my bag and left him as if I were going to touch up my makeup.

The entire pub is located on the top floor of the building. The first floor is decorated in a high-profile and luxurious style, and has a huge swimming pool. The second floor has a beautiful glass terrace. The high elevation provides excellent air quality.

Looking up, one sees a bustling and beautiful night view, with decorative fireplaces nearby to ensure the roof stays warm.

Even if you drink too much at the pub, you can take the elevator down to the hotel to rest.

Today's party featured a bar offering a variety of fun drinks, including mojito jelly cups and frozen margaritas in various fruit flavors.

The people coming and going, although they were all about my age, were almost all dressed in luxury goods, looking smart and fashionable. Even those who were not particularly good-looking appeared confident and flamboyant because of their clothes and demeanor.

They stood in twos and threes, holding wine glasses and exchanging pleasantries.

The waiters, dressed in black suits and trousers, moved about like 007 agents.

Was Yu Xu really invited to this party?

I suddenly felt a little lost. I knew that this kind of party was completely out of place with Yu Xu's life.

The biggest birthday party we've ever attended was just a family dinner at the home of one of Yu Xu's senior classmates. The table, covered with a red and white tablecloth, was laden with homemade blueberry pies, tender fried chicken cutlets, and freshly squeezed lemonade. Everyone chatted and danced happily.

"..." I took a glass of rose and lychee cold drink from the table next to me.

I could feel many people looking at me. Those gazes that fell upon me—sizing me up, looking curiously, assessing me—made me feel like an object to be sold, with no right to breathe.

I also received more than a dozen room keys and invitations.

There were both subtle and direct approaches, but I rejected them very directly; these people weren't indispensable to me.

For people of their social class, finding a beautiful, proactive woman who knows how to please them is incredibly easy.

Many people saw that I wasn't interested and assumed that I was only there for Ye Fenglin, so they naturally gave up.

"What's your relationship with Ye Fenglin? Is this your first time here? You seem quite nervous, you don't talk much and you're not drinking." I heard a voice above me trying to strike up a conversation, so I couldn't help but look up.

He looked like a rich young master similar to Ye Fenglin, dressed in trendy brands. His features weren't particularly handsome, but he had a carefree air about him and spoke slowly.

I don't know him, so I won't speak.

He got a firm but firm rebuff from me, but still wouldn't give up. He smiled and said, "Ye Zi likes Lin Zhi'en, she's just playing around with you. I'm more generous than Ye Zi, do you want to consider me?"

I was getting really annoyed by what he was saying, and before I could even get up to leave, the man seemed to have a lapse in concentration and started stammering, "Ming... Mingzhuo."

"It's too noisy over there, I came here to sit for a while. I didn't sleep well last night." The voice was neither too loud nor too soft, deep and gentle, and very pleasant to listen to. When he was in bed, his voice was languid, both seductive and assertive, and even more recognizable than it was now.

Even if he talks nonsense, there are plenty of people who will listen patiently. Of course, this is also inseparable from Jiang Mingzhuo's prominent family background.

I gently raised my eyes. Jiang Mingzhuo looked calm, even with a smile in his eyes.

He was tall and slender, dressed very casually in a simple shirt. His long, straight legs, encased in black trousers, couldn't hide his innate nobility and composure, making the man opposite him look like any ordinary passerby on the street.

The man who had initially tried to flirt with me suddenly became docile in his presence. "Really? Then sit down for a while. I'll call you over when Xie Yong arrives."

“Okay, go ahead,” Jiang Mingzhuo said, his tone unreadable. @Unlimited great articles, all at Literary City

His facial features resembled Jiang Zhao's by about 70-80%—sharp, fierce, and handsome.

Jiang Mingzhuo's smile was quite gentle, which made him appear warm and sincere, effectively concealing the darkness and coldness in his eyes, making it impossible for anyone to tell what he was thinking.

I unconsciously clenched my fingers. The familiar aura emanating from Jiang Mingzhuo made me want to scream, I even wanted to turn and run. But such a foolish action would only scare me. I desperately tried to mentally prepare myself. He didn't recognize me, and he had long forgotten what happened between us. I didn't need to be so afraid.

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He sat down next to me, and suddenly, Jiang Mingzhuo reached out his hand to me.

Long, slender, and well-defined fingers; wrists; a black wristwatch peeking out from under the shirt.

My heart skipped a beat.

Did he notice? Or did he remember?

My breathing seemed to stop for a moment, but then it quickly and uncontrollably started pounding again.

I knew Jiang Mingzhuo was looking me over, and I wanted to slow my breathing, but I couldn't. My breathing became more and more rapid.

"Are you Ye Fenglin's friend?" He picked up the neglected iced cola next to my cup, swirled the ice cubes inside with the straw, and made a slight rubbing sound.

My tense heart suddenly felt empty and plummeted. I nodded quickly, afraid he would see through my act, and Jiang Mingzhuo remained silent.

Someone else is walking this way. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Jiang Mingzhuo seem to smile slightly.

The light overhead wasn't very bright, but it was still enough to make out the person's outline—tall and upright.

@Unlimited great articles, all at Literary City

A pair of handcrafted black leather shoes with a matte finish.

This did not ease my tension; instead, it made me even more afraid. My chest and limbs felt numb, especially as the other person got closer. I felt a burning sensation all over my body, and I even subconsciously wanted to kneel down and beg them to let me go today and not join them.

"Brother, you're late." Jiang Mingzhuo raised an eyebrow playfully, his smile deepening.

I tried to slow my breathing, but I couldn't. I could only look up and watch as Jiang Zhao walked up to Jiang Mingzhuo. He had one hand in his pocket, was dressed in all black, and exuded a sharp and powerful aura. His eyes were filled with domineering, aggressive, and arrogant air, full of noble pride.

Jiang Zhao's voice was elegant, like that of an expensive violin, deep, aloof, and exceptionally pleasant to hear. "Anyway, Xie Yong hasn't arrived yet, so what's the rush?"

"Where is Lin Zhi'en?"

Jiang Zhao didn't answer Jiang Mingzhuo's question. Instead, he squinted at me, his gaze excessively sharp.

Jiang Mingzhuo explained, "The female companion Ye Fenglin brought tonight."

Jiang Zhao raised an eyebrow. Under the scrutiny of the two brothers, I straightened my shivering body, trying my best not to let them notice anything amiss.

I almost finished the glass of lychee sparkling wine. I scooped up some lychees with a small spoon, took a small bite, and found the lychees to be very sweet with a hint of wine. I didn't dare bite my lip, so I just held the spoon in my mouth. My heart was in my throat, and I was at a loss for what to do.

Jiang Zhao sat down on the single sofa opposite him, his handsome face half-hidden in shadow, his powerful eyes like those of a lurking beast.

Jiang Mingzhuo beside me wore a faint smile, but I knew better than anyone that once that smile was gone, he would reveal a fierce aggression, like a venomous snake flicking its tongue in the shadows.

They didn't know me at all, but the intense, suffocating pressure almost made me cry.

I wanted to cry, but I was also very nervous. I held back for a long time, then picked up the sparkling wine and drank it all in one gulp, only to choke and start coughing violently.

Jiang Zhao and Jiang Mingzhuo exchanged glances, and almost simultaneously reached out their hands to me.

"..." No! I pulled my hand back, but the glass slipped from my grasp and fell to the ground with a soft thud. Shards of glass scattered everywhere, while the sticky liquid inside splashed onto Jiang Zhao's spotless shoes across from me.

How could this happen... I realized everyone around me was looking at me, and I felt extremely embarrassed.

I quickly stood up and bowed to Jiang Zhao to apologize. Fortunately, the waiter came out to clean up the mess. Taking this opportunity, I escaped from the suffocating atmosphere between the two brothers and went up the stairs to the second-floor terrace.

Compared to the first floor, there were still some people here, but it was much quieter. My heart was pounding, and even though I sat down on the comfortable sofa, it was still making a thumping sound. I looked down and realized that my silk hair tie had slipped off at some point, and my long hair had fallen down, swaying slightly behind me.

I put the hair tie on my wrist and rested on the second floor for a while. The sparkling wine I had just drunk wasn't very strong, but I still felt a strong smell of alcohol in my mouth. I decided to go downstairs to the restroom and use some mouthwash.

In the corridor, various green plants were arranged on both sides, and the restroom at the end was decorated in black and gold, and the space was particularly large. A dark gold retro mirror was embedded in the wall, and scented candles were placed on the marble countertop. I could hardly hear the lively sounds of the party. I unscrewed the bottle of mouthwash, poured some, and bent over to spit it out. The sensor-activated faucet let warm water flow out slowly.

In the air, one could almost hear some kind of faint, subtle sound.

I slowly raised my face, and the sound of running water stopped after a while. The sound seemed to come from the men's restroom next door, like a swallowing sound.

"..." No way, is someone next door?

My hands even clenched unconsciously, wanting to leave immediately. The chandelier above my head flickered on and off, and in just a few seconds, darkness descended without warning. Even the light strips under my feet stopped shining, and I was completely enveloped and surrounded by darkness.

I could hear someone push open the door and come in, but it wasn't the sound of high heels hitting the floor... Fear and tension belatedly swept over me.

The man and woman next door seemed to have agreed to shout out, making it even harder for me to figure out where the person who had just entered the restroom was.

I had to get out of there quickly. I calmed myself down, put the things on the table back into my bag, and headed towards the door, relying on my memory, unable to suppress the trembling in my throat.

I breathed a sigh of relief when my palm touched the door, but when I tried to push it outwards, the door wouldn't budge!

My pupils dilated suddenly, my heart pounded, and the world spun around me. Someone grabbed my waist from behind. The man was very strong. I didn't know who was taking advantage of this opportunity to force themselves on me. I struggled desperately, but I couldn't speak, and all the noise I made was drowned out by the woman screaming next door.

No, no...! In the darkness, I had no idea which man had approached me and whom I had rejected. I freed one hand and slapped the man hard across the face.

A few minutes later, the bathroom lights slowly came on.

It was that trendy rich young man who had struck up a conversation with me.

He rubbed his face, clicked his tongue in disdain, his expression terribly gloomy, and approached me step by step.

"Am I being too kind to you?" He grinned maliciously. "Don't think that just because you're with Ye Fenglin I won't dare touch you."

bump!

The door was kicked open from the outside with great force, startling the man.

Jiang Zhao walked in from outside, his expression indifferent and arrogant, exuding an extremely terrifying sense of oppression. He looked down at me, who was trembling, and then looked at the man, sneering, "That's all you've got."

"Brother Jiang, I..." Before the man could speak, Jiang Zhao grabbed his collar and slammed him against the wall.

Jiang Zhao was incredibly strong; I even felt like he was about to crush the man's throat. The man's face turned from red to purple, and he was clearly struggling to breathe. Jiang Zhao, with a cold expression, released his grip. As soon as the man landed on the ground, he raised his foot and ground it hard against the man's face, causing the man to scream in pain.

"When I'm dead, huh? You dare do this to my face?" Jiang Zhao's tone turned imperceptibly cold, his dark pupils filled with murderous intent.

The man's face was covered in blood. He knew Jiang Zhao was angry, so he could only kneel on the ground and beg him, "Brother, I was wrong, Brother Jiang... Young Master Jiang, I was really wrong... Ah..."

Jiang Zhao thought it was dirty and kicked him away. The man was so scared that his hands trembled uncontrollably. He covered his head, looking disheveled and shivering.

I bit my lip, terrified... I rushed over and grabbed Jiang Zhao's arm, shaking my head at him.

He glanced at me indifferently; my wrist was swollen. It was done by that boy named Xu Ya I met that afternoon.

Jiang Zhao frowned, looked at the man on the ground, and said in a gloomy voice, "...You're dead."

I remembered a senior in school who, just for helping me remove a leaf from my hair, beat me so badly that my hands were covered in blood and I ended up transferring schools.

Suddenly, I started to tremble.

I know I will never see this man again.