Chapter Sixty-Two: Harm Others, Harm Oneself

Jian An’an’s steps had already grown unsteady. With this sudden stumble, her body pitched forward. Instinctively, she reached out to grab Shen Yue beside her.

To her surprise, Shen Yue’s shoe slipped at that very moment. With Jian An’an’s tug, she tumbled straight onto the surface of the lake.

The manager stood frozen in shock.

The old boatman was stunned.

Jin Jianyi rushed forward but failed to catch anything.

Jiang Mingzhao turned his head at a leisurely pace and called out to the rescue team, who had already come ashore and were preparing to leave, “Someone just jumped into the lake! Hurry and save them.”

A perfectly accidental fall into the lake was thus declared a suicide attempt.

Indeed, from the way Shen Yue fell, it really looked as if she had pushed Jian An’an, and the two tumbled in together.

Shen Yue was cursing inwardly. She usually liked to wear boots with small heels—not high enough to be tiring, but they made a nice sound when she walked. Still, if she wasn’t careful, these shoes could easily twist her ankle. Just now, not only did she lose her balance, but she twisted her foot, and with the slippery deck, she failed to steady herself and ended up taking a dip in the lake.

A biting chill immediately invaded her body, freezing her so thoroughly she could hardly move.

Jian An’an fared a little better; at least she knew a bit of swimming. She bobbed up and down, coughing and sputtering after swallowing a few mouthfuls of water. The icy shock cleared her muddled head.

Shen Yue, on the other hand, sank like a mummy to the bottom. The most amusing part was that the entire scene was captured by the cameras.

“I can’t believe someone fell in! What just happened!?”

“It looked like Shen Yue tried to push Jian An’an, but ended up falling in herself.”

“Nonsense, Shen Yue and Jian An’an are always so close. Why on earth would she push her?”

“Calm down, everyone. I saw Shen Yue slip just now before she fell. I don’t think it was on purpose.”

“I saw it too. Who would be silly enough to push someone in and end up in the water themselves?”

…

Wen Jingxing had noticed the two women’s suspicious movements behind him long ago. When he saw them fall in, he only told the manager, “Hurry up and fish them out.”

Then, wrapping his arm more securely around Song Wanning’s waist, he helped her ashore.

The others on the boat followed suit.

Soon, Jian An’an and Shen Yue were rescued.

Shen Yue was in slightly better shape—she wore a brown dress that didn’t reveal much after being soaked, though her boots had grown unbearably heavy with water.

But she had no time to care about that. She coughed violently, spitting up more lake water, which smelled unpleasant enough that everyone but the rescue crew kept their distance.

Once it was clear the two women were safe, the rescue team left.

Jian An’an, though better off physically, faced a worse predicament: she’d worn a white dress that day. Now drenched, it clung transparently to her body.

At that moment, Jian An’an wished she could simply faint from embarrassment.

Jin Jianyi hurriedly borrowed clothes from a staff member and draped them over her, which helped a little.

The male contestants all discreetly averted their eyes, but with so many people around, how could Jian An’an be sure no one had looked her way?

What’s more, as she was being carried ashore, she was certain the rescue worker holding her was taking advantage—of all the places to grip, his hand had to press against her chest. She could have died from the mortification.

“Thank goodness no one was hurt.”

“That was terrifying just now.”

“So weird—the cameraman only filmed Jian An’an’s head.”

“Are you stupid? She wore a white dress! What do you think happens after falling in?”

“Did you get a look?”

“Of course, I even took a screenshot.”

“Hey, share it with me, will you?”

“What’s wrong with you people? This is already embarrassing enough for her.”

“With people like you, no wonder society is such a mess!”

“She deserved it. I saw her try to push Song Wanning, but Shen Yue tripped her.”

“Don’t make accusations if you don’t have proof.”

…

The bickering flared up anew. But soon, the live stream ended, cutting off the argument.

Since witnessing the two women fall in, the manager’s nerves had steadied. He quickly arranged for them to be taken to the infirmary.

He then hurried after Wen Jingxing. “Young Master Wen, I hope that didn’t frighten you?”

“No,” was the calm reply.

Wen Jingxing supported Song Wanning, who was still unsteady on her feet, so their pace was slow.

The manager continued to hover anxiously. “I’m so sorry for the trouble today, I—”

He was abruptly interrupted by a hand on his shoulder.

Turning around, he saw a tall, slender young man. With sharp eyes, he recognized Jiang Mingzhao, the heir of Jiang Real Estate.

He quickly put on a smile. “Ah, Young Master Jiang! Is there something you need?”

Jiang Mingzhao smiled back. “Of course. Can’t you see Young Master Wen is looking after Miss Song? We shouldn’t disturb them.”

The manager slapped his forehead. Of course—he’d nearly made a blunder.

“Yes, yes, you’re absolutely right.”

Jiang Mingzhao hadn’t planned to concern himself with Shen Yue, but seeing her retching and vomiting, he had no choice as her partner but to follow along.

Even Jin Jianyi was hovering solicitously around the less-severely affected Jian An’an.

Meanwhile, Wen Jingxing found Song Wanning’s pace too slow, especially with several cameramen trailing behind.

He could hardly wait to get back to their cottage.

Without warning, he bent down and lifted Song Wanning into his arms.

The cameraman following them nearly cheered—Wen Jingxing’s boyfriend power was off the charts!

Song Wanning, still a little dazed, sobered as Wen Jingxing jolted her. She instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck. “When did you get so strong, Ah Hang? You can actually carry me now.”

In the past, Wen Hang had always been strong, but even when she was drunk, he’d rarely touch her directly, much less pick her up.

Yet now, with each steady step, Wen Jingxing’s face remained calm, his breathing unhurried, as if holding an adult was nothing at all.

“I’ve already carried you before, haven’t I? Have you forgotten again?”

“Really?” Song Wanning looked up at him, then nestled back into his shoulder. “I honestly can’t remember.”

“Well, this time you’d better remember.”

“Mm, I will.”

Wen Jingxing looked down at her, her eyes closed once more, lashes curled, nose gently rounded, lips softly pouting.

“You little liar. Never even listen to what I say, always agreeing so casually—just like before.”