Water was everywhere.

It covered everything, drowning every single aspect of one’s face.

Shen Fanxing’s Achilles’ heel was swimming.

However, she’d fallen into the ocean and the salty water had found its way into her lungs.

The chilling cold from the springtime ocean gripped her and the fear of suffocating slowly overwhelmed her.

In that instant, people wafted out onto the deck of the cruise.

Attendees of the gathering were sons and daughters of rich men and women.

Although there were not a lot of people—slightly more than 20—their total worth was more than what a city could cost.

Yet, there was always the richer of the rich, which was the Bo Consortium.

The oceanic waves rolled, droplets of rain fell from the sky and within seconds, it was raining cats and dogs.

Two silhouettes were struggling in the ocean!

“Help…”

“Help…”

Amidst the heavy rain, the two feeble voices asking for help were drowned out.

Suddenly, a tall and strong build emerged from the sea of people.

When his vision landed on the two struggling silhouettes who were in the ocean, fear and anxiety clouded his dashing face.

Without any hesitation, he leapt into the cold sea before he could even get his suit off.

Droplets of rain landed on the ocean’s surface and clouded his vision. It was with great effort and energy before the man finally rescued a person.

“Qianrou, Qianrou, please wake up…”

The man pleaded; he was now panting heavily but spent the least bit of time caring about his pathetic state. His attention was solely focused on the unconscious woman lying in his embrace.

It did not occur to him that there would be another person in the sea.

At that instant, a panicking voice coming from a woman sounded in the crowd——

“Where’s Fanxing? Wasn’t she being called out by Shen Qianrou? Where is she?”

“Yes! Shen Fanxing has also fallen into the ocean!”

Someone shouted, causing a chill to run down everyone’s spines.

The sound of the ominous thunder cracked through flashes of lightning, as though it wanted to peel the dark sky and caliginous sea open.

Everyone looked towards the pitch-black ocean of rolling waves; there was no sight of a struggling human.

The woman who commented about Shen Fanxing and Shen Qianrou’s fall into the ocean broke down in tears.

“Fanxing can’t swim!”

Upon hearing that, the man who had Shen Qianrou in his embrace froze momentarily.

Indeed, he remembered seeing Fanxing.

Just when the woman’s voice quieted, “splash”, another person had leapt into the ocean.

When Shen Fanxing was rescued, Shen Qianrou had already coughed out the water and recovered her consciousness.

Unsure of whether it was rain droplets or tears on her wan face, she stared at the man before her through teary eyes.

“Brother Heng…”

After crying, she reached her arms out to the dashing man’s neck and planted her pale face—the size of a palm—there, despite his drenchness.

Frowning slightly, one could not guess what he was thinking, but his hands gradually reached out to the woman’s waist and pulled her in.

“Don’t be scared. It’s all fine now.”

His gentle voice held a tinge of obvious joy at the lucky and unscathed experience.

Witnessing such a scene, the masses on the deck whispered forlornly.

Qi Qi shifted his vision to Shen Fanxing, who was rescued later.

After the repeated process of cardiac resuscitation and CPR, she only managed to cough up some water.

Her long lashes trembled slightly and she slitted her eyes open weakly.

Despite the current dizziness, the sight of the two tightly-cuddled figures managed to filter into her vision clearly.

Her lips twitched and with droplets of rain falling on her face repeatedly, she lost her consciousness again.

–

Shen Fanxing had a narrow escape with death.

When she woke up the day after, it was noontime. There was no one in the room except for her.

Bright light streamed into the room through the windows. Her bright eyes stared weakly at the settling dust molecules; one could not be sure of her thoughts through her impenetrable gaze.

At last, she got up herself and dragged her frail body to the bathroom.

The weather outside was beautiful and she decided to go for a walk.

At the hospital’s park.

Even though the warmth from the sun was alright, the thin sheet of patient clothing she wore still made her shiver from the cold.

She found a secluded place for a stable foothold. There, she stared at the gardenia not far away, at the flower buds that had yet to blossom.

Her arms were wrapped around herself and despite the fragility of her body then, she emitted a sense of obstinate coldness.

Shen Fanxing was born with a pretty face but it was a pity that there was always a lack of emotions on her delicate features.

Yet, this did not reduce the charm emanated by her. The quiet presence, fair skin, dark hair, as well as the cold solitude, all elicited a unique attractiveness.

She took a deep breath and felt better, only to see a person standing in front of her.

Shen Qianrou was holding a thermo flask emitting gasps of hot steam. With her pretty face, her permed long hair was let down and a man’s blazer was wrapped around her shoulders.

She stared at Shen Fanxing’s cold but beautiful face, jealousy instantly sprouting at the sight of her arrogant temperament and coolness that came easily from a slight frown.

However, looking at her frail and skinny body, Shen Qianrou suddenly gave a boastful smile, one that spoke of a show-off as she pulled the blazer more tightly against her body.

Shen Fanxing stared coldly at her before saying, “You are indeed a soul who does not disperse!”

Shen Qianrou raised an eyebrow and sauntered towards Shen Fanxing slowly. Seeing her pale face and thin figure, she gave an even brighter smile.

She bent down till she was in front of Shen Fanxing, and spoke in a low voice,

“You still don’t want to admit defeat? Sister, even your beloved man is now in love with me…”

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Intense sorrow flashed across Shen Fanxing’s deep eyes.

She did not know how to swim and had spent a longer time struggling in the ocean than Shen Qianrou did. In addition to that, she just woke up. No matter how much resentment she harboured, she lacked the energy to dispense it.

“That is despicable of you.”

Shen Qianrou let out a cold laugh.

“If I don’t do this, you’ll never give us a chance to be together. It’s you who refuse to relinquish him!”

“Shen Qianrou, where are your boundaries? Everyone knows he is my fiance! So you treat everyone as idiots?!”

Shen Qianrou shook back and forth as she laughed exaggeratedly.

“Given the situation of today… Sister, you still think they are not idiots?”

“…”

Shen Fanxing was speechless momentarily and eyed her icily.

Shen Qianrou was right; everyone was indeed an idiot.

Despite all her unscrupulous ways, they chose to believe her unconditionally time and time again.

How wonderful would it be if she could suffer a fall, and everyone would still love her as much as they do now.

Stupid, how stupid!

Including her!

“Why? Upset about this? Then…”

Shen Qianrou had a sudden change in expression, where a look of helplessness overtook her. She reached out to grab Shen Fanxing’s arm while muttering something.

“Sister, it’s all my fault…”

“Don’t touch me!”

Realising her closing proximity and abrupt change in expression, Shen Fanxing felt intense disgust.

She lifted her arm to refuse any form of touch.

However, Shen Qianrou staggered and the thermo flask fell out of her hand, landing on the ground with a “pop”.

Water splashed everywhere!

Her gentle and weak voice raised a note higher suddenly.

“Ouch… pain!”

“Fanxing, what are you doing?!”

A deep voice sounded from the back.

Shen Fanxing turned around, only to see the figure at the door rushing forward in huge steps.

Shen Fanxing only saw Su Heng’s ruthless gaze before being pushed aside by him.

The push landed Fanxing on a railing, with the impact causing immense pain on her already frail body.

Her face became even paler as she held onto the railing tightly to support herself.

Assessing the situation before her coldly, she could only feel her stupidity.

She had known all along that Shen Qianrou was capable of any dirty ways, yet she was tricked time and time again.

She also knew that Brother Heng was not that stupid, yet he…

“Brother Heng, it hurts…”

Upon hearing that, Su Heng stood up and felt his heart ache more for Shen Qianrou.

“Bear with the pain first. I’ll take you to the doctor.”

He bent down to carry Shen Qianrou and raised his head to look at Shen Fanxing, who was eyeing the whole situation coldly. In a deep voice, he said,

Return to your ward first. I’ll find you in a while!”

Shen Fanxing gave a cold laugh, her eyes full of sarcasm.

Not far away from the gardenia tree, sat an old lady who was quietly witnessing the whole situation.

“Lai Rong, did you see everything that happened?”

The old lady said as her intelligent eyes viewed afar, towards the direction of Shen Fanxing.

A lady sitting beside her, who was around fifty years old, replied respectfully, “Yes, I’ve seen everything.”

“Hmm, that little slut, resorting to lowly and despicable means!” said the old lady resentfully after giving a cold laugh.

“Doesn’t this show that the other woman is more stupid? Since she can’t even resolve such dirty tricks?”

The old lady shook her head as wisdom shone through her eyes.

“Lai Rong, you’re wrong.”

“Please enlighten me, my dear lady.”

“It is the other lady who is too upright. Because of her disdain and aversion, some events have simply crossed her moral boundaries and gone against human ethics. So it is hard to imagine that such despicable people who commit immoral acts would exist.”

Lai Rong nodded her head and said, “Understood, my dear lady.”

The old lady stared at Shen Fanxing for long before saying,

“But, this is not right too.”

She went silent again for a while before continuing,

“Her temperament and nature are not too bad. Go and ask her over. Let me take a good look at her.”

Lai Rong, who was the servant, felt a little embarrassed.

“But my dear lady, Young Master will arrive soon. If he sees outsiders in this backyard…”

“Why? It’s not like he can devour me?!”

The old lady chastised, but not without the sense of love for her grandson.

Lai Rong smiled and said, “Okay, okay, okay! I’ll bring her here!”

Just as she was speaking, there were sounds coming from the gate in between the two tung trees.

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Two of them turned their heads and saw a slender man in an expensive suit taking broad steps towards them.

With long brows, sharp nose, and thin lips that spoke of some tartness, the man’s dark eyes reflect a smiley warmth. His deep and clear voice sounded,

“Grandma, who are you angry with?”

The afternoon sun streamed past his figure and prolonged the shadow of his profile, thereby giving an impression of notable elegance.

Looking satisfactorily at her grandson, the old lady turned her head and gave a signal to Lai Rong, which she received and left hastily.

The man bent down and held the old lady’s hand. Upon seeing the cute pretense of her anger through the pouting of her lips, he gave a throaty laugh.

“Who angered Grandma! Grandson shall give them a ‘good lesson’.”

The old lady pouted her lips and said, “Who else besides you, the ungrateful one?! I want a great-grandson!”

A flicker of helplessness flashed across Bo Jinchuan’s eyes.

“Grandma, I just got back from abroad. Where do I find you a woman to bear a child?”

The old lady humphed and said, “After all these years, the words you used to deal with me have never changed!”

She attempted to inflate her cheeks as she spoke, whilst looking in the direction of Shen Fanxing.

Lai Rong had reached her, and she was looking in this direction. The old lady lifted her hand and waved.

Shen Fanxing was doubtful but she still went with Lai Rong.

Bo Jinchuan stood up as he saw Lai Rong leading a slender girl walking towards their direction.

The girl’s face was pale but there was no hiding of her beauty. She wore an oversized hospital gown which was blowing strongly, implying an extremely skinny figure inside.

Bo Jinchuan blinked a few times before his dark eyes could make out the face of the approaching woman.

When Shen Fanxing reached them, he stopped staring blatantly as alert and doubt filled her eyes.

Surprise filled him as it was the first time a woman could look at him in such a calm manner.

In fact, her gaze did not linger long on him. It swept past him and landed on Grandma.

That gaze, filled much with coldness and calmness, not only shocked him but also arose a sense of tiny defeat.

Stumped for words, his thin lips bent in an unnoticeable radian.

“Old Lady, what’s the matter?”

Shen Fanxing bent her body slightly while she spoke, her voice reflecting a kind of lethargy and gentleness that came from her feeble condition.

Such a scene created ripples that flashed across Bo Jinchuan’s dark eyes.

When making conversation with a wheelchair-bound person, one should avoid making the wheelchair-bound strain the neck through prolonged look-up, for this can be bad for the spine.

That was a problem he had always taken note of, and thus he would know the tedium of that posture.

This was not much different from Zamabu.

What a feeble woman…

The smile in the old lady’s eyes went an inch deeper. Holding Shen Fanxing’s hand, she stared at her for some time, nodding her head again and again.

“Yes, not bad, not bad, indeed not bad!”

Unsure of what was going on, Shen Fanxing could only maintain a polite and non-awkward smile.

“Don’t worry, child. Grandma is not a bad person. I’m just too bored and you happen to catch my eye. I’m sorry for the sudden notice to ask you over. Forgive Grandma!”

In the face of the Grandma’s unconcealed enthusiasm, Shen Fanxing shook her head.

“It’s okay, since I’m alone anyway.”

As Shen Fanxing spoke, a tinge of bitterness flashed across her clear eyes. This was noticed by the old lady, who grabbed her hand and patted it lightly, her heart aching for her.

“Good child, what’s your name?”

“Fanxing, Shen Fanxing.”

“Far like the thousands of stars in the sky, clear like the milky galaxy. That’s a good name! Right, Jinchuan?”

The old lady turned to give a meaningful look at her grandson, her eyes warning.

It was as though he could be killed if he disagreed.

A helpless smile flashed across Bo Jinchuan’s face but he managed to nod in mock agreement.

“Yes, it’s a nice name.”

“And very compatible!”

The old lady raised an eyebrow purposefully before telling Shen Fanxing,

“Come, Fanxing. Let me introduce you to my grandson, Bo Jinchuan.”

Shen Fanxing lifted her head and directed her gaze to the man who had stood at the sideline all this while. Unexpectedly, her gaze collided with the dark gaze of his.

The man had delicate eyebrows and a good-looking face, as well as a distinguished elegance.

One look at the man’s appearance and vibes and one could tell that he was not a common man.

She seemed to have seen him somewhere before, but she could not recall where specifically.

Her memory could have failed her. After all, it should be hard for one to forget such an outstanding man.

She hesitated. With the old lady’s words ringing in her ears, the sight of the man no doubt made her feel a little awkward.

Far like the thousands of stars in the sky, clear like the milky galaxy.

Bo Jinchuan…

Thousands of stars in the sky. The milky galaxy.

This was too… intentional.

Bo Jinchuan’s eyes reflected immeasurable, deep wisdom. As if sensing her awkwardness, his eyes shone and he extended his hand, breaking the silence.

“Hello, I’m Bo Jinchuan.”

“Hello, I’m Shen Fanxing.”

Whilst speaking, Shen Fanxing extended her hands, trying to straighten her body but she paused.

Perhaps having squatted for too long, in addition to her hip injury, any form of movement would send a numbness down her legs, causing them to turn jelly-like. In an instant, her body went backwards.

“Careful.”

On her beautiful face, her eyes widened in fear. Yet, a crisp and deep voice sounded over her head.

Her waist was also instantly supported by a strong and powerful arm as she was brought to her feet.

Yet, Shen Fanxing abruptly landed up in the embrace of Bo Jinchuan.

A sense of good fragrance hit her, amplifying her awkwardness.

Fast reaction on her part propelled her to push him away, but the numbness in both her legs caused her to stagger pathetically, sending her straight into the embrace of the Bo Jinchuan again.

Out of self-protection, she held the man’s shoulders for support subconsciously.

At the same time, the arms that were wrapped around her waist exerted more force, lifting her up immediately.

Shen Fanxing bit her lips hard as guilt overwhelmed her as she recalled the two incidents when she had fallen into the man’s bosom.

“Don’t move first.”

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