Chapter 33
In the afternoon, the huge glass dome of the swimming pool filtered the scorching sunlight into soft beams, which were then sprinkled on the shimmering surface of the pool. Qin Shuyi stood by the diving platform, her hands unconsciously clenched, her knuckles turning white from the force.
"Shuyi, it's your turn." The coach's voice came from behind, carrying a hint of impatience.
Qin Shuyi took a deep breath and stepped onto the diving platform. This was an internal selection competition for the swimming team, which would determine her official membership in the national competition next month. However, her mind was not on the competition at all; lately, she had been easily distracted, her mind filled with chaotic thoughts.
"Fu Yanzhi and Wen Chuqing are together..."
"Ready!" The coach's whistle snapped her back to reality.
She jumped, entered the water, and her movements were still standard. But just as she turned, her breathing suddenly became erratic. Water choked her nose, and a violent cough forced her to stop, clinging awkwardly to the edge of the pool.
"Qin Shuyi, what's wrong with you today?" The coach frowned. "This is the third time this week that you've had problems during training."
She climbed out of the pool with her head down, water droplets rolling down her wet short hair. Her teammates' gazes felt like needles piercing her back.
"I'm fine, just feeling a little unwell."
The coach sighed and made a mark on the scoreboard. "Go rest in the reserve area. If you can't get back into form, you might have to participate as a substitute in this year's national competition."
"Coach!" Qin Shuyi looked up abruptly, her almond-shaped eyes filled with panic.
"This is the team's decision," the coach said firmly. "What the swimming team needs are swimmers who can focus on the competition."
Qin Shuyi bit her lip and silently walked towards the waiting area. There were only a few newcomers there, and when they saw her coming, they subconsciously moved aside. This silent rejection hurt her more than direct criticism.
Worse still, she knew her family was also on the verge of collapse.
That evening, at the Qin family villa.
"What did you say? Our house is going to be mortgaged?" Qin Shuyi looked at her father in disbelief.
Qin's father sat dejectedly on the sofa. The once spirited entrepreneur now had graying temples, and the dark circles under his eyes showed his anxiety over the past few days.
"Shuyi, Dad is so sorry..." He covered his face with his hands, "I just wanted to win back my losses as soon as possible, but I didn't expect to get deeper and deeper into trouble..."
Qin Shuyi felt a chill run through her body. She had known for a long time that her father had a gambling addiction, but she hadn't expected it to be this serious. The Qin Group was on the verge of bankruptcy, and even their house was at risk of being lost.
“Those creditors said that if the first payment isn’t made by next week, they will…” Qin’s father didn’t finish his sentence, but his trembling shoulders said it all.
Qin Shuyi didn't sleep all night.
The next day, the swimming team's bulletin board was crowded with people. Qin Shuyi squeezed in and her heart almost stopped when she saw the official team list; her name was prominently displayed on the reserve list.
"I really didn't expect Qin Shuyi to be eliminated."
"I heard she's been in bad shape lately and keeps making mistakes during training."
"It seems like something happened to her family too; she's been quite absent-minded lately."
The whispers reached her ears without any attempt to conceal them. Qin Shuyi turned and fled the swimming pool.
The next few days were like a nightmare. Qin Shuyi took leave and ran around trying to find someone who could help the Qin family through this difficult time. But her former business partners either avoided her or simply said they were powerless to help.
What made her even more desperate was that the swimming team coach called and subtly reminded her that if she continued to miss training, she might be completely expelled from the team.
That was the last straw that broke the camel's back. Despite her strong aversion to swimming, she trained herself to become a swimming champion for the sake of a lie, and unknowingly, it became her spiritual sustenance and the capital she used to maintain her status in social circles. She couldn't afford to lose it.
On the top floor of the Jiang Group headquarters building, Jiang Minghua sat in her father's office chair, reviewing the quarterly financial statements.
"Is the Qin family's situation really that bad?" She noticed that all the cooperative projects with the Qin Group were in trouble.
Jiang's father's secretary rubbed his temples: "Chairman Qin is a compulsive gambler and has lost the entire company. Several of our projects have also been affected, resulting in significant losses."
Jiang Minghua seemed lost in thought. At that moment, Jiang Mingjia added Qin Shuyi's ending to her mind:
Although this is an unfinished novel, Qin Shuyi's ending has already been set. After Fu Yanzhi learns the truth about his savior, he cruelly dumps Qin Shuyi, leading to the destruction of the Qin family, Qin Shuyi's addiction, and her eventual suicide at the age of twenty-five.
It was a typical supporting character's fate, but now, this supporting character was falling right before her eyes.
“Regarding the Qin Group,” Jiang Minghua suddenly spoke up, “I think we can consider getting involved.”
Ms. Jiang's father's secretary looked at her in surprise: "Miss, the most taboo thing in business is acting on emotions. The Qin family is a bottomless pit, not worth filling."
“It’s not about filling a bottomless pit,” Jiang Minghua said calmly. “It’s about cutting losses and investing. The Qin family has several patented technologies and mature sales channels, which are exactly what we need. Taking it over now is much more cost-effective than waiting for it to go bankrupt completely.”
Jiang's father's secretary pondered for a moment: "But the risk is still too great."
“Let me handle this.” Jiang Minghua stood up, her eyes resolute. “I will conduct a detailed assessment and develop a plan. If it is feasible, please give me this opportunity.”
Qin Shuyi never expected to see Jiang Minghua in this kind of setting.
In a cheap coffee shop, Qin Shuyi was pleading with an old friend of her father for a short-term loan. He refused without hesitation, leaving her alone in a corner, fighting back tears.
"If I were you, I wouldn't waste my time on these useless things."
Jiang Minghua's voice suddenly rang out. Qin Shuyi looked up abruptly and saw Jiang Minghua standing by the table, wearing a simple yet elegant custom-made suit, which clashed with the cheap decor of the coffee shop.
"What are you doing here? To laugh at me?" Qin Shuyi said through gritted teeth, her almond-shaped eyes full of hostility.
Jiang Minghua sat down opposite her without a word and pushed a document in front of Qin Shuyi.
"What's this?"
“An analysis of the current situation of Qin's Enterprises, and possible solutions for saving the company.” Jiang Minghua said calmly, “The debts your father incurred from gambling, plus the company's operating costs, total about 370 million. Currently, Qin's Enterprises has less than 5 million in liquid funds on its books, and the most urgent issue is the 50 million in high-interest loans that must be repaid next week.”
Qin Shuyi's face turned deathly pale: "How do you know so much?"
“In the business world, information is life.” Jiang Minghua opened the folder and pointed to a set of data. “According to my assessment, Qin’s Enterprise is not without value. Your patented technology and sales network are still competitive; it’s just that mismanagement and a broken capital chain have led to the current situation.”
Qin Shuyi stared at her blankly: "Why are you telling me all this?"
Jiang Minghua looked up and stared directly at her: "Because I'm going to help you."
"Why?" Qin Shuyi couldn't believe it. "I did those things to Wen Chuqing, spread rumors, and even pushed her into the water. Why are you helping me?"
Jiang Minghua gently stirred the coffee the waiter had just brought: "I'm not giving you charity, but making an investment. The Jiang family will invest in the Qin family to help you through this difficult time, but on the condition that the Qin family accepts our supervision and your father enters a gambling addiction treatment program."
Qin Shuyi remained silent for a long time before asking in a low voice, "What kind of reward do you want?"
“Fifty-one percent of Qin’s shares, and,” Jiang Minghua paused, “you must stay on the swimming team and qualify for the national competition.”
Qin Shuyi was completely stunned: "I don't understand, what good will doing this do you?"
“The business aspect is easy to understand; the Jiang family won’t do business at a loss. As for swimming,” Jiang Minghua put down her coffee spoon, “that’s your talent, and it shouldn’t be wasted.”
Qin Shuyi lowered her head, tears finally streaming down her face. "I... I treated you all so badly before..."
“That’s the version of yourself you need to face,” Jiang Minghua said calmly. “But I value your future performance more.”
Over the next two weeks, Qin Shuyi's life underwent a dramatic transformation.
Jiang's Enterprises officially announced its investment in Qin's Company, on the condition that Qin's father undergo professional treatment to overcome gambling addiction, and that a team dispatched by Jiang's Group take over the company's operations. Initially, Qin's father strongly opposed this, but ultimately accepted the conditions with no other choice.
At the same time, Qin Shuyi rejoined the swimming team.
"If a substitute player wants to be promoted, they must achieve a top-three finish in the simulation competition," the coach told her bluntly. "And you only have one chance."
On the day of the competition, Jiang Minghua came. Qin Shuyi had mixed feelings when she saw her in the stands.
“Focus on the game,” Jiang Minghua walked to her side. “Past mistakes cannot be erased, but you can prove that you have changed through your current actions.”
Qin Shuyi took a deep breath and nodded.
Standing on the diving platform, she was surprisingly calm. This time, there were no distractions, no anxiety, only the purest love for swimming.
The whistle blew, and she jumped into the water.
Every stroke, every turn, was as fluid as instinct. When her fingers finally touched the finish line, applause erupted from the stands.
"Second place! Qin Shuyi, second place!" the coach shouted excitedly. "Congratulations on returning to the ranks of the official team members!"
Qin Shuyi climbed out of the pool, panting as she looked at the scoreboard, unable to believe her eyes.
Jiang Minghua walked over and handed her a towel: "Congratulations."
Qin Shuyi took the towel, hesitated for a moment, and whispered, "Jiang Minghua, I will apologize to Wen Chuqing. I'm just afraid, afraid of losing Fu Yanzhi."
Only after experiencing despair will one understand that petty love and affection are the least worth mentioning.
Jiang Minghua smiled slightly: "Okay, but if anything comes up in the future, we can talk about it and solve it together."
Qin Shuyi nodded emphatically: "I will."
One month later, at the National College Swimming Championships.
Qin Shuyi stood on the starting block, adjusting her swimming goggles. In the stands, she saw Jiang Minghua. To her surprise, her father was also there. Although he looked haggard, his eyes were clear, suggesting that his gambling addiction treatment was beginning to show results.
The whistle blew, and the game began.
Qin Shuyi shot into the water like an arrow, every movement full of power and beauty. This time, she was no longer swimming for the opinions of others, no longer swimming to maintain a false sense of superiority, but simply for her love of swimming.
As her hand touched the finish line wall, her score was displayed on the giant electronic screen—
First place! And they even broke the tournament record!
Qin Shuyi lifted her head from the water, looking at the results in disbelief, tears mingling with the pool water as they slid down her cheeks.
On the podium, with the gold medal around her neck, Qin Shuyi looked at Jiang Minghua applauding below, her heart filled with mixed emotions. Jiang Minghua didn't blame her; instead, she extended a helping hand when Qin Shuyi was at her lowest point, giving her a chance to start over instead of kicking her when she was down.
After the match, Qin Shuyi approached Jiang Minghua and said, "Thank you!"
Jiang Minghua shook her head: "I only gave you a chance; it's up to you to seize it." She paused, "Remember how you feel at this moment, Qin Shuyi. Remember what it feels like to earn respect through your own strength."
Qin Shuyi stroked the gold medal on her chest and nodded solemnly.
Sunlight streamed through the glass roof of the swimming pool, illuminating the genuine smile on her face.
Jiang Minghua felt a rare sense of relief as she watched this scene.
She changed someone's life again, and that feels so good.
When Xie Yan was preparing to undergo plastic surgery, some changes in his body forced him to go to the hospital for a check-up first.
His lower abdomen began to swell slightly. At first, he thought it was because he had eaten too much or was feeling unwell. But one morning, as he touched his noticeably protruding belly, he suddenly remembered that he could turn into a seahorse, and that male seahorses could get pregnant.
No, that can't be. He and Jiang Minghua only met once. It can't be such a coincidence!
A tremendous panic gripped him. He dared not tell Jiang Minghua, nor even show any abnormality in front of her. He always wore loose clothes and subconsciously hunched his back, trying to conceal this shocking change.
Ultimately, he secretly found a private clinic known for its secrecy.
Wearing a hat and mask, completely covering themselves up, only revealing a pair of frightened and uneasy eyes, they went for the checkup.
Upon noticing his occasionally glimpsed long pink hair, the clinic doctor naturally categorized him as a woman. After a thorough examination, the doctor, looking at the report, calmly informed him:
"Madam, congratulations, you are pregnant. The fetus is developing normally at present."
Despite having a premonition, the moment Xie Yan heard the verdict, he felt the world spin, his ears rang, and he almost lost his balance. Congratulations? To him, this was the most vicious curse in the world!
He's not a woman, he's a monster! A male monster who can get pregnant!
He didn't hear a single word of the doctor's subsequent instructions. Only one thought remained in his mind: he absolutely couldn't let Jiang Minghua find out!
If she knew that the person she had taken in out of pity, and even had an intimate relationship with, was a monster capable of getting pregnant, how would she feel? Disgust? Repulsion? Or would she see him as one of those abnormal specimens in a laboratory worth dissecting and studying?
Just imagining the slightest hint of disgust or fear in Jiang Minghua's eyes made him feel like he couldn't breathe.
He would rather disappear again, rather return to that dark and hopeless past, than bear the possibility of being seen as a monster by her.
He walked aimlessly down the street, his long pink hair flying wildly in the wind, attracting some sidelong glances, but he was completely oblivious.
He stroked his slightly protruding belly, where a life that should not exist was growing, and which also carried his greatest secret and original sin.
Tears streamed down silently, a mixture of endless fear and despair.
He did not return to Jiang Minghua's villa; once again, he chose to escape.
At first, he tried to find a place to settle down. With the little money he had left, he rented the cheapest but damp and dark partitioned room in an urban village. The room was so small that it could only fit a bed, and the air was filled with the smell of mildew and cooking fumes from next door.
But Xie Yan comforted himself, at least he had a place to stay.
However, the symptoms of early pregnancy soon appeared. Intense nausea tormented him almost day and night, and any slightly pungent smell would trigger violent gagging.
He couldn't eat anything; he could barely manage to stuff in a little cheap bread or instant noodles, which he would quickly vomit up. Dizziness, weakness, and drowsiness made it difficult for him to even stay awake.
What frightened him even more was the change in his abdomen, the slight bulge that was impossible to hide in the cramped room.
He could only use scavenged old clothes to tightly bind his abdomen, trying to cover up this shocking secret. The tight fabric pressed against his pregnant belly, causing discomfort and a dull pain, but he dared not loosen it.
His money quickly ran out, and he had to try to find odd jobs. But he was pale and thin, his long pink hair was too conspicuous, and he was also suffering from morning sickness, so almost no place was willing to hire him.
She occasionally found a job washing dishes in the kitchen of a restaurant, but was verbally abused and kicked out by the boss because she dirtied the sink due to morning sickness, and didn't even get paid for that day.
Hunger and malnutrition caused him to lose weight rapidly, his cheeks became sunken, and only his abdomen continued to grow, making it appear even more jarring.
He began scavenging for food in the garbage dump, fighting with stray dogs for half a moldy loaf of bread. The cold leftovers and spoiled fruit exacerbated his gastrointestinal discomfort, often causing him excruciating abdominal pain, leaving him shivering and curled up in a filthy corner.
On a stormy night, the roof of his rented partitioned room leaked, and the icy rain soaked him.
He had a high fever, curled up in a musty-smelling blanket, his teeth chattering from the cold, and his abdomen cramping for no apparent reason.
In his hazy state of consciousness, he seemed to see Jiang Minghua, and see her turn away with a look of disdain in her eyes...
He reached out, grasping at the air in vain, muttering broken words: "Don't...don't leave me...I'm not a monster..."
When he awoke, all that greeted him was darkness and dampness. He lay in bed, stroking his stomach, tears mingling with rain and cold sweat streaming down his face.
"I'm sorry...I'm sorry..."
He kept saying sorry, but it was unclear who he was apologizing to—the child, Jiang Minghua, or the world that couldn't accept him.
In his despair and pain, he missed Jiang Minghua more and more.
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