A beautiful summer night

The commotion from falling into the water was so loud that Sun Xiao's cries for help attracted a crowd. Some people recognized Xie Qiyan on the surface of the water and were terrified, as if struck by lightning, shouting frantically, "Where are the lifeguards! What are the lifeguards good for?!"

It was noisy above the cruise ship, but the sea was surprisingly calming.

Xia Wanzhi gave up thinking.

She only heard the sounds of the sea breeze and the seawater, and—

A rapid heartbeat and heavy breathing.

As her vision gradually cleared, Xie Qiyan's hand was still rubbing her face haphazardly.

This was the first time she had seen such helplessness, fear, and panic on Xie Qiyan's face.

Xie Qiyan's hand on her waist was tightly gripping her abdomen. Seeing her staring blankly at him with wide eyes, he felt a surge of anger in his chest for no reason. This anger made him dizzy and wanted to curse, but the words that came out of his mouth were: "Are you so eager to return to the sea?"

Xia Wanzhi blinked her wet eyes at him, her body rising and falling with the seawater, her whole body pressed against Xie Qiyan.

"Speak up, mermaid." A lifebuoy was thrown down from above the cruise ship, and Xie Qiyan swam over with Xia Wanzhi in his arms. Immediately afterwards, the lifeguard also jumped down with a rope.

Xia Wanzhi pursed her lips, still looking at him.

Until she was rescued and Xia Wanzhi was out of the water and her feet touched the ground, she adjusted her breathing and calmed herself down, her cold gaze sweeping straight over the crowd.

Hearing the commotion, Jiang Baichuan rushed over. Upon seeing the situation, he quickly took off his clothes and draped them over Xia Wanzhi, then reached out to pull Xie Qiyan up.

"What's going on?" Jiang Baichuan's gaze darkened.

Xie Qiyan wiped the water off his face, did not answer Jiang Baichuan's question, and followed Xia Wanzhi with his gaze.

God knows how grateful he was that Xia Wanzhi could swim.

Xia Wanzhi's fierce gaze seemed to pierce through people's heads. After taking two steps, she suddenly stopped, locked onto her target, and continued walking towards it.

The crowd looked at her, puzzled, and then nervously made way for her.

Finally, she stopped.

"Sun Xiao, right?" Xia Wanzhi shivered slightly from the cold after being soaked in seawater. She raised her chin slightly, sneered, and with lightning speed, raised her right hand and slapped Sun Xiao hard across the face.

"Snapped--"

A crisp and vicious slap.

Sun Xiao's face was turned to one side by the slap, and a red mark immediately appeared on her face, which showed how much force was used in that slap.

Everyone gasped.

This is the precious granddaughter of the Sun family, and she was slapped in front of so many people without warning.

"I especially hate people with the surname Sun." Xia Wanzhi's eyes flashed coldly, and her palms burned with pain. She endured the pain, took a deep breath, and continued, "You should think twice before trying to steal my man."

Sometimes, after seeing so many mentally ill people, she begins to wonder how many normal people there are left in the world.

Sun Xiao covered her face in disbelief, turned her neck and was about to glare fiercely at Xia Wanzhi when she suddenly met a sinister gaze from behind her. She immediately lost her temper, lowered her head and dared not make any move.

"Does it hurt?" Xie Qiyan appeared behind Xia Wanzhi without her noticing, and gently took her right hand and opened her palm.

Then, with utmost tenderness, he held her hand and gently rubbed it.

A ticklish sensation spread through her palms, a tingling, numb feeling coursing through her limbs. Xia Wanzhi slowly came to her senses, swallowed hard, and instinctively tried to pull back, but Xie Qiyan grabbed her tightly.

"Tell me if you ever want to lay a hand on me. I'm not some gentleman who would hit any woman other than you." Xie Qiyan's voice was deep and emotionless, yet it intimidated everyone present.

Sun Xiao's eyes reddened.

"Elvis, let me explain..."

"Jiang Baichuan." Xie Qiyan ignored Sun Xiao, his tone turning icy cold. "Give me an explanation."

Why are just any kind of person allowed on board?

Jiang Baichuan glanced at Sun Xiao, knowing that Xie Qiyan was angry, and said in a dark tone, "I will satisfy you."

"Why are you yelling at Jiang Baichuan? That's your bad luck with women, you should deal with it yourself." Every wrong has its perpetrator, and Xia Wanzhi knows who the biggest culprit is.

Jiang Baichuan was overjoyed at being protected: "Ahem."

Xie Qiyan: "..."

The onlookers gasped in shock.

Someone actually dared to speak to Xie Qiyan like that.

Xie Qiyan had a somber expression, and no one knew what he was thinking.

The next second, in front of so many people, he stroked Xia Wanzhi's cheek and obediently nodded: "Okay, I'll listen to you."

"Come back with me to take a shower and change your clothes first, otherwise you'll catch a cold. I'll feel sorry for you, not you." Xie Qiyan's gaze softened, and without further ado, he took Xia Wanzhi's hand and led her straight inside.

Xia Wanzhi was completely taken aback by the flattery.

Even after the two left, everyone was still in a daze.

Is this the legendary ruthless and tyrannical Xie Qiyan?

Her fishtail skirt was dripping wet, and one of her shoes had fallen off. Xia Wanzhi felt uncomfortable all over. After walking for a while, she coughed briefly. Xie Qiyan, who was holding her hand, immediately stopped and gave her a deep look.

Then, a feeling of weightlessness came over her, and Xia Wanzhi exclaimed in surprise. The moment Xie Qiyan lifted her up into the air, she instinctively hugged his neck.

Their eyes met, Xia Wanzhi's eyelashes fluttered, and she stammered out a muffled sound: "I...I...I can actually walk by myself."

"Okay, then I'll pretend I want to hug you." Xie Qiyan said this without batting an eye, and took a step forward as if he were in a hurry to be reborn.

He was focused on getting there, but Xia Wanzhi stared blankly at his chin.

From this angle, Xie Qiyan exudes hormones, enough to ignite Xia Wanzhi's girlish heart.

His superior jawline and slightly protruding Adam's apple had a divine attraction, and Xia Wanzhi could feel Xie Qiyan's arms and chest slightly tense as he held her.

And his rapid, unsteady breathing and heartbeat as he walked too fast.

Both of them were soaked to the bone, their skin seemingly drawn very close together. Xie Qiyan's hair was still dripping wet, and with each slight sway as he walked, water droplets from his short hair fell vertically onto Xia Wanzhi's nose, cheeks, and...

Lips.

Xia Wanzhi's lips moved slightly, her breathing unconsciously softened, and she turned her head uncomfortably, burying her head in his chest.

Back in the house, Xie Qiyan carried her directly into the bathroom, and after checking that the hot water system was working properly, he ordered her to take a shower immediately.

Xia Wanzhi raised her hand to wipe her face, sneezed, and pointed at him: "You're wet too."

"From what you're saying, you want to shower with me." Xie Qiyan casually grabbed a towel, wrapped it around her head and face, and wiped her face haphazardly. "I can't refuse your kind offer, so let's shower together..."

Right.

Before she could finish, Xia Wanzhi pushed him out of the bathroom three or four times, and casually tossed the dry towel from her head into his arms.

Hearing the pattering sound of water inside, Xie Qiyan chuckled and slowly wiped his head with the towel Xia Wanzhi had used.