CH 33

Agentle breeze created ripples on the water’s surface.

As evening approached, the sun painted the emerald lake with a hint of red.

What was once lush green grass now looked like dried yellow leaves to Luo Xi. The tall trees she admired now appeared twisted and gnarled. The once lively koi fish now seemed like lonely shadows.

Listening closely, Ai Qing Lake sounded like it came from a distant shore.

The island felt abandoned, causing the world in Luo Xi’s eyes to dim.

Cheng Qing’s expression turned serious, her brows slightly furrowed, but she showed no signs of worry.

However, Luo Xi felt hurt. She yanked her hand back but then tried to return the card to Cheng Qing.

“Luo Xi,” Cheng Qing’s name was called gently, as always, in her soft voice. The sound that used to make her heart flutter now only added to her distress.

“Luo Xi, you discovered these cards yourself.”

“No,” Luo Xi looked up, her eyes unusually sharp, “you guided me to find them. Only the werewolf knows where the cards are.”

Hearing this, Cheng Qing’s lips curved into a smile filled with helplessness, “But, Luo Xi, you picked up these cards one by one yourself.”

With a hint of red in the corners of her eyes, Luo Xi’s voice trembled slightly, “You still gave them to me!”

Cheng Qing was surprised, and her long black hair swayed in the wind. The leaves behind her rustled.

“I don’t want you to give them to me. You’re so clever, you must know how to collect all the cards…!” As she said this, Luo Xi tried to put the cards back into Cheng Qing’s pocket.

Cheng Qing naturally wouldn’t let go, holding onto her wrist. Seeing that Luo Xi was still struggling, Cheng Qing was actually delighted.

Of course, she was happy. Giving the cards to Luo Xi was her way of showing affection, and Luo Xi coming back was her response.

Having this kind of response was enough.

Cheng Qing gently pulled her wrist towards her, and Luo Xi stumbled, falling into Cheng Qing’s embrace.

Cheng Qing wrapped her arms around her, a smile on her face as she spoke softly, “Luo Xi, for me, swimming back from here… isn’t a difficult task.”

Luo Xi struggled a bit, saying, “But that’s your business. Even if I can’t swim back from here, I’ll figure something out.”

But Cheng Qing’s embrace was too warm, and she couldn’t bear to break free.

Cheng Qing chuckled softly, slowly closing her eyes. “I know, but the only solution I can think of is to swim back for you.”

Luo Xi finally fell silent. Who are you to take my place? What am I to you? Luo Xi wanted to ask, but she knew that questioning her like that would hurt, so she ended up just holding back her tears.

After pulling away from Cheng Qing’s embrace, Luo Xi remained in place, bowing her head, and said, “I don’t need you to take my place.” Her hair fell on both sides, concealing her pained expression.

Cheng Qing didn’t say much, gently guiding her towards the boat on the shore. “Luo Xi, let’s go aboard.”

Luo Xi stomped her foot. “I said I don’t want to.” She threw all the cards on the ground, her face showing reluctance rather than displeasure.

Cheng Qing looked at her, sighed, and squatted down, picking up the discarded cards one by one.

But there was no sound from the broadcast. After picking up all seven cards, Cheng Qing smiled and said to her, “Did you hear that?”

Luo Xi: “???”

Cheng Qing: “The broadcast didn’t make any sound because it’s already been decided that you guys won, so you won’t need these cards anymore.”

Luo Xi was instantly shaken, feeling both shocked and angry. She reached out and knocked the cards out of Cheng Qing’s hand. “This is unfair. Why can you make the decision but I can’t? I’m going to find the director and return the cards.”

Cheng Qing didn’t stop her. As Luo Xi turned to leave, Cheng Qing called out to her, “Luo Xi.” She saw that Luo Xi seemed genuinely heartbroken, so she tried a different approach to persuade her. “Luo Xi, didn’t you tell me that you signed a contract for this game?”

“In this game, you signed a contract, and you can’t replace the other ten people to decide whether they should swim back or not! There are ten other people behind you, and this victory isn’t something you can just give away as you please.”

Finally, these words helped Luo Xi calm down.

The lake is so big, and it wouldn’t be easy for anyone to swim back. Besides, it’s already getting chilly in the autumn evening…

Cheng Qing said, “Okay? Before it gets colder, let’s go to the boat!”

Luo Xi finally looked up at her, hesitated for a moment, and then weakly said, “I’ll swim back with you.”

Cheng Qing burst into laughter, “Then why should I give up the cards?”

The metaphor in her words was profound, and Luo Xi understood it well. Her face blushed, and her heart was in turmoil. Cheng Qing continued, “What I want is for you to easily reach the other side. That’s what I exchanged for swimming back. Are you trying to trick me?”

Cheng Qing’s exaggerated tone finally made Luo Xi chuckle. She reached out and touched her face, feeling a bit warm.

Seeing that Luo Xi finally smiled, Cheng Qing approached and took the life jacket from the staff to help her put it on.

“Alright, let’s go up!” Cheng Qing said with a more relaxed voice as she smiled and added, “Remember, it’s just a game.”

“It’s just a game,” Luo Xi finally nodded.

The nearby staff all rolled their eyes, thinking, “Damn! You finally realized it’s just a game! We thought it was some tearful farewell scene or something!”

Luo Xi put on the life jacket, and Cheng Qing flashed a bright smile as she handed her over to the staff waiting nearby. Luo Xi looked back at her, and Cheng Qing waved her hand, saying, “Wait for me over there.”

Luo Xi didn’t say much and simply replied, “Okay.”

Luo Xi finally boarded the boat, and everyone else followed suit. They each received their life jackets from the crew and put them on while looking around.

“Teacher, why aren’t you wearing one?” When Lin Shandie was about to board the boat, she noticed that Cheng Qing had been standing aside.

Cheng Qing chuckled and covered her mouth with her fist. “Ahem, look at how many people aren’t wearing it.”

At first, Lin Shandie didn’t quite grasp the situation and looked around. She realized that Cheng Qing was the only one not wearing a life jacket.

At first, she was puzzled, but then she exclaimed, “You’re the werewolf?!”

Cheng Qing raised an eyebrow and smiled at her.

Lin Shandie opened her mouth wide and exclaimed, “Teacher!!! You tricked us so badly!!!”

Liu Suoyu quickly covered her head and pulled her onto the boat, saying, “What’s so bad about it? If she weren’t the werewolf, all of us would have to swim back.”

Lin Shandie suddenly realized and looked at Luo Xi on the boat. She saw that Luo Xi had her back turned to everyone, clearly still angry.

Lin Shandie: “…” It seemed like the one who got tricked the most was Luo Xi.

Liu Suoyu hushed her, saying, “She’s probably not in a good mood right now. Don’t go up and provoke her.”

After everyone boarded the boat and gave Cheng Qing a grateful gesture, only three crew members and a cameraman remained with Cheng Qing.

As the boat sailed away from the shore, Cheng Qing noticed that Luo Xi still hadn’t turned back. She could only helplessly smile.

Then she turned to the cameraman next to her and asked, “Did the director really not prepare any swimsuits?”

“There are new clothes prepared for you on the other side.”

Cheng Qing turned back and gave the cameraman a meaningful look, “You knew, didn’t you?”

Cameraman: “???”

“Regular pants would easily… get washed away.”

Cameraman: “Ah?” Is that why swimmers wear professional swim trunks?

As Cheng Qing did warm-up exercises, she asked, “Before this game, didn’t you do any research?”

The cameraman could only weakly reply, “It was a last-minute change.”

“I knew it,” Cheng Qing glanced at him. The game seemed tailor-made for her from the start. Moreover, there was the “Best Partner” logo in the wooden house on the island, indicating that there must have been some significance to it from the beginning.

Indeed, there was no werewolf killing game in the novel. Instead, the celebrities only spent a day and a night here!

Just like Luo Xi said, the director might have done something as outrageous as putting the cards inside a carp’s belly. Changing the game last minute required an immense imagination and guts!

Even though she couldn’t remember the exact plot of the novel, she was certain there was absolutely no werewolf killing game in it!

I’ve been fooled!!!

***

Luo Xi sat quietly at the front of the boat, and the others on board dared not disturb her.

Her presence was intense, as if she were saying, “Don’t bother me, or you’ll regret it.”

So, everyone simply turned their heads to admire the scenery around them.

“Teacher Cheng is swimming over.”

Lin Shandie’s voice broke the silence, and Luo Xi finally moved. She turned to Lin Shandie with a pained expression and asked, “Really?”

Only then did Luo Xi stand up and walk to the back of the boat. The boat they were on had been replaced by a small yacht, but it wasn’t moving very fast.

Luo Xi went to the back of the boat, and everyone quickly made space for her.

She leaned out halfway and asked, “Where is she?”

Liu Suoyu pointed to a tiny dark dot in the water, followed by a group of small boats trailing behind.

Luo Xi’s eyes welled up with tears, “So far away?”

Liu Suoyu: “…” There’s no need to worry, the boat is right here! And we have three lifeguards! -_-||

Luo Xi turned to him and asked, “Will it be very cold?”

The staff member steering the boat in front smiled and said, “Don’t worry, the colder the weather, the warmer this water feels.”

Lin Shandie tried to comfort her, “Don’t worry, Teacher Cheng is so capable.”

Luo Xi frowned and glared at her, “Even if she’s capable, it will still be cold! Why don’t you go down and try?”

Lin Shandie: “Well… I guess it might be cold.” She learned from Cheng Qing to go along with things.

Lin Shandie didn’t continue her words, and Luo Xi’s pent-up emotions got stuck in her throat.

Luo Xi: “…”

She looked at Li Mingyao and Ye Lingyun, the two people who usually loved to tease her the most, but they quickly turned their heads away and avoided her gaze.

Once they got on the boat, anyone with a brain could figure it out. These seven cards were the ones Cheng Qing gave to Luo Xi. After all, having enjoyed this advantage, the few of them wouldn’t argue with Luo Xi anymore.

Luo Xi: “…”

This was probably the biggest favor Cheng Qing gave to Luo Xi!

***

Luo Xi stood at the shore, holding her down jacket while waiting. Meanwhile, Kong Mingyan unexpectedly captured many sweet, sour, and intense scenes, making him truly excited.

However, Luo Xi was in a bad mood and scolded Kong Mingyan when they came ashore.

Now, Kong Mingyan had found a way to get along with Luo Xi. He simply nodded and said, “Yeah, yeah, yeah, you’re right, all of it.”

With no outlet for her frustrations, Luo Xi sat by the shore, hugging her clothes tightly…

The fans of the couple took out their phones and captured her silhouette as she sat there, naming it the “waiting wife.” The director had warned them not to leak any spoilers, so they had to resist posting about it online.

But as they looked at Luo Xi’s pitiful figure, the fans empathized with her and couldn’t help but feel saddened.

As for Cheng Qing, as she had claimed, she was a fencer with excellent physical abilities.

In just 20 minutes, Cheng Qing appeared in Luo Xi’s sight.

Luo Xi happily stood up and pointed at Cheng Qing, saying to the director, “She’s here!”

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, saying, “Yeah, she’s here!”

As they could now see clearly, Cheng Qing was swimming towards them with a smooth and steady crawl stroke.

Kong Mingyan squinted his eyes; Cheng Qing had so many charming qualities. Swimming 1500 meters in 20 minutes was already impressive, even among swimmers.

Luo Xi’s smile grew brighter as Cheng Qing approached. The other participants couldn’t stay seated either; they all gathered by the shore when they saw Cheng Qing getting closer.

Luo Xi stood up, holding her down jacket, and tiptoed to get a better view.

At this moment, the world around them seemed more alive—the flowers looked redder, the grass greener, and even the rustling leaves sounded cheerful.

The noise that had seemed distant before became clearer and more distinct.

Luo Xi’s face lit up with joy as she ran to the shore where Cheng Qing was swimming. Cheng Qing had already reached out and grabbed hold of the bank.

Luo Xi rushed over, pleasantly surprised, and caught a glimpse of Cheng Qing emerging from the water.

The water droplets falling from Cheng Qing’s body sparkled in the golden sunlight.

Her hair stuck to her face, and her clothes clung to her graceful figure.

Under the setting sun’s glow, she looked like a graceful swan, exuding unmatched beauty.

Cheng Qing took off her goggles, looked up at Luo Xi, and then smiled charmingly, “I’m back.”

Blushing, Luo Xi smiled with joy, “Welcome back.”