The Counterattack of a Wealthy Family's Substitute

"Come on, everyone, try this oyster. I picked it myself."

Qin Ming pointed to the garlic-roasted oysters on the table.

Yuan Xi laughed and scolded, "Alright, stop showing off, that's all you're capable of."

Qin Ming couldn't bear to look at him.

Yao Yingxi picked up an oyster and put it in her bowl. The oyster was plump and tender. After being cleaned and opened by the chef, it was topped with garlic and chili peppers, making it spicy yet fresh.

Xi Yuanchen reached for an oyster with his chopsticks, but Yao Yingxi glanced at him and whispered, "Mr. Xi, yours..."

She hesitated, unsure how to express herself or what tone would be appropriate so that Xi Yuanchen wouldn't sense her worry.

Xi Yuanchen glanced at her coldly, and Yao Yingxi didn't say anything more, keeping her head down.

The chefs placed the barbecue items on the table one after another, and Yao Yingxi ate a little of each.

The boat continued sailing, and Yuan Xi and his companions were about to gamble for fun.

"Yuanchen, Miss Yao, how about a game?"

Yuan Xi called out, and Fang Qing, who was holding the cards, looked displeased again.

Yao Yingxi smiled and shook her head: "No need, you guys have fun."

Xi Yuanchen glanced at her. "If you want to play, I can teach you."

Hearing Xi Yuanchen's voice, she looked up at him and shook her head: "No need, Mr. Xi can go have some fun."

She didn't really like gambling, and besides, Fang Qing always had a very unpleasant expression whenever Yuan Xi or Qin Ming called her, so she didn't want to ruin the atmosphere.

To avoid having to go there herself, Fang Qing got up and stopped playing.

Xi Yuanchen didn't speak again, but Bai Tingsheng said, "Ten more minutes and we should be able to go diving. I found a really beautiful place last time."

Yao Yingxi immediately became interested.

"Boss, should we go take a look?"

Xi Yuanchen nodded: "Mm."

"Then let's go change our clothes."

After changing into their diving suits, Yuan Xi and the others stood up from the table: "Yuan Chen, Ting Sheng, are you going diving?"

Bai Tingsheng made a hand gesture.

"Holy crap, let's go too."

Qin Ming put down the cards in his hand.

Xi Yuanchen ignored them, went into the water first, and then reached out to Yao Yingxi, asking her to come down as well.

Yao Yingxi carefully entered the water, and at this moment she nervously clung to Xi Yuanchen's arm.

Because she had never tried diving before, she was inevitably afraid of making mistakes on her first try.

Xi Yuanchen seemed to sense her emotions, and patted her on the back, instructing her, "After we get in the water, stay with me. If anything happens, hold my hand, okay?"

Wearing an oxygen mask, he couldn't speak at all; Xi Yuanchen hadn't put on the oxygen mask yet.

Yao Yingxi nodded. After Xi Yuanchen finished giving instructions, he put on his oxygen mask, and the two of them dived into the sea.

Soaked in water, Yao Yingxi followed Xi Yuanchen into the sea.

As she swam lower and lower, Yao Yingxi watched the fish glide past her, her eyes filled with surprise.

This is the first time we've been so close.

Xi Yuanchen glanced at her sideways, patted her shoulder, and pointed in a direction.

Yao Yingxi was stunned when she saw a large, flat fish swimming towards them.

The fish seemed not to see them, swimming past overhead. Yao Yingxi involuntarily reached out and touched its belly; it was slippery.

Bai Tingsheng swam over from the other side, gestured for them to follow him.

Xi Yuanchen pulled Yao Yingxi along, and the group swam for about three minutes.

Yao Yingxi saw coral everywhere, colorful and beautiful, like a fairyland.

Bai Tingsheng swam among the corals and rummaged through them.

Xi Yuanchen pulled Yao Yingxi downstairs and let her touch these things.

Yao Yingxi touched the thing, feeling a ticklish sensation in her heart.

Coral grows on rocks, and Yao Yingxi picks up a rock.

Xi Yuanchen looked at her, puzzled.

You can't talk at all underwater. Yao Yingxi, holding the coral stone, made a gesture that said, "I want to."

Xi Yuanchen was still puzzled and wanted Yao Yingxi to throw it away, but Yao Yingxi shook her head.

Xi Yuanchen had no choice but to go along with him.

The group watched the seabed for a long time. Xi Yuanchen noticed that Yao Yingxi's face was a little pale, so he nudged Bai Tingsheng, signaling him to go up.

Bai Tingsheng nodded, and the group dived up. As soon as they surfaced, Xi Yuanchen pulled off Yao Yingxi's oxygen mask.

He looked at Yao Yingxi and, as he had expected, her face was pale, her lips bloodless, and her complexion was not good.

Xi Yuanchen was thinking that he didn't know when he would bring Yao Yingxi here again, which was why he had Yao Yingxi go swimming in this cold weather.

As soon as the group boarded the boat, Xi Yuanchen pulled the oxygen tank off Yao Yingxi.

Yao Yingxi held the coral stone in both hands.

Upon seeing it, Meng Yao walked over with sparkling eyes and exclaimed, "So beautiful!"

She reached out and touched it.

Yao Yingxi smiled but did not speak.

Fang Qing looked at the beautiful coral stone and wanted to take it, but because of her pride, she stopped and stood there, watching the coral stone in Yao Yingxi's hand from afar.

Xi Yuanchen removed his oxygen mask and oxygen tank and said to Yao Yingxi, "Go take a shower."

Yuan Xi asked, "Miss Yao, did you find this underwater?"

They had just come up from their dive and hadn't seen any coral reefs.

Yao Yingxi nodded.

Meng Yao pouted, "How come we didn't see it?"

Yao Yingxi and Xi Yuanchen entered the cabin together. She took off her clothes, revealing that she was only wearing a short-sleeved shirt and a vest underneath.

Because of the prolonged soaking in water, her skin was wrinkled and her palms were pale and bloodless.

After Xi Yuanchen took off his clothes, he saw her current state and instructed her, "Don't take a bath, just rinse off and come out."

If Yao Yingxi takes another bath, her body will become even more wrinkled.

Yao Yingxi nodded and placed the coral stone on the table. Xi Yuanchen looked at the stone and shook his head.

He understood why Yao Yingxi had picked up the stone and carried it in; she probably wanted to take it back.

After making a phone call, Xi Yuanchen glanced at the coral stone and walked out.

There were several rooms inside the cabin, so he didn't have to wait for Yao Yingxi to finish washing before he could take a shower himself.

After taking a shower, Yao Yingxi came out and searched online for where coral stones should be placed to prevent them from dying.

The posts online vary, some saying to use fresh water, others saying any kind of water will do.

Yao Yingxi plans to buy a few fish and a fish tank to keep in Xi Yuanchen's apartment. She thinks it will look even better if she puts coral in it.

Xi Yuanchen came in from outside, and Yao Yingxi called out, "Mr. Xi, I'd like to keep fish in my apartment, is that alright?"

Xi Yuanchen gave a faint "Mmm": "Whatever you say."

Having received permission, Yao Yingxi's lips curled up slightly, thinking to herself that she should have asked Xi Yuanchen to help her get an extra piece.

"You're taking an afternoon nap?"

Yao Yingxi shook her head: "No need."

After going into the water, she didn't feel tired at all; on the contrary, she became increasingly excited, probably because she had experienced something she had never experienced before.

Upon exiting the cabin, Bai Tingsheng was the only one standing at the stern, holding a glass of red wine.

Yao Yingxi saw the red wine on the table, went over and took a glass, and also handed one to Xi Yuanchen.