The pool party was in full swing, with everyone dressed lightly and casually.

Shi Zhi walked upstairs with Fu Xiling’s arm in hers, passing by a group of people in the pool laughing and yelling about opening champagne.

Someone spotted them first and shouted, “Young Master Fu brought his girlfriend!”

Everyone else turned to look, immediately joining in with teasing cheers.

Shi Zhi met Yao Yao’s assessing gaze and calmly stared back.

Yao Yao, as if trying to cover something up, puffed her cheeks and turned away, dragging a boy off the unicorn-shaped float into the pool. “Get off, I want to sit on this!” she demanded, a bit bossy yet adorably so—much like the tabby cat downstairs in the dormitory that turned its head away whenever anyone stared at it.

Fu Xiling introduced Shi Zhi to his friends as his girlfriend.

She graciously met their curious or teasingly kind glances without hesitation.

By the poolside, several ice buckets were lined up, filled with champagne and beer.

A friend of Fu Xiling’s grabbed two bottles of champagne and hurried off, but Fu Xiling stopped him in his tracks.

“Where are you going dressed like that?” Fu Xiling asked, eyeing his friend, who was wearing nothing but beach shorts. “The hotel downstairs is still open for business, you know.”

“I’m just going to find someone to help us open the champagne…” the friend began, but before he could finish, the bottle in his arms was deftly taken away.

Shi Zhi had stepped forward, grabbing the bottle. She picked up a wine glass from the table, tilted it at the right angle, and expertly opened the bottle with the base of the glass. The cork popped out, and foam spilled into the pool, releasing a rich scent of cherry and vanilla.

The friend froze, stunned, and the surrounding crowd let out a small cheer.

Shi Zhi remained expressionless as she handed the champagne back, gesturing with her chin at the other bottle in his arms. “Want me to open this one too?”

“Please!” The friend eagerly handed it over, grinning and giving her a thumbs-up. “Thanks, sister-in-law, you’re so cool!”

After she opened the second bottle, Fu Xiling subtly tilted his head toward a quieter corner. Shi Zhi followed, sitting in a chair under a sunshade.

“It’s just us here,” Fu Xiling said. “Behind you, the one on the unicorn float—that’s Yao Yao.”

“I know.”

“You figured it out?”

“No, I heard someone call her name earlier.”

Shi Zhi turned her head.

Yao Yao had changed into a sunflower-yellow swimsuit and was splashing water at her friends.

To be honest, Yao Yao was the kind of girl Shi Zhi envied.

“So, this Yao Yao of yours,” Shi Zhi asked Fu Xiling, “she seems great. Why didn’t you give her a chance?”

Fu Xiling glanced at Shi Zhi. “No spark.”

A commotion broke out nearby, with someone yelling, “You’re a damn menace! What, trying to torture us to death?”

The target of their mockery was the boy Shi Zhi had helped earlier. Inspired by her flair, he had tried opening a bottle the same way—with disastrous results. Instead of champagne popping out, the glass shattered.

The group, barefoot and clad in swimsuits, shrieked and scattered. A cleaning crew was called in to sweep up the shards. The boy, looking sheepish, ran back over with the champagne. “Sister-in-law, can you show me how to do it again…?”

Before he could finish, Fu Xiling smacked the back of his head.

“I brought her here to open champagne for you?” Fu Xiling snapped.

The boy, younger by two or three years and far more playful, dashed off, still laughing. He loudly announced that Fu Xiling was now officially dating, warning everyone not to disturb them.

The words had barely left his mouth before Yao Yao stormed over and shoved him hard, sending him flying into the pool with a comical splash.

This crowd of rich kids played without restraint, neither graceful nor mature.

They splashed each other, teased relentlessly, and joked around with an innocence that belied their age. At a time when others worried about careers and futures, they still had the privilege of living like carefree children.

Shi Zhi turned back to Fu Xiling. “Do they not know about you and Yao Yao?”

“Only two of my close friends saw her come looking for me before,” Fu Xiling replied.

He seemed distracted, pulling a cigarette from a pack but putting it back unlit when Shi Zhi spoke again.

“Parents setting people up—it’s not something anyone takes seriously,” he added.

As the sun set behind the western buildings, the sky darkened.

Suddenly, Fu Xiling reached over and pulled Shi Zhi, chair and all, closer to him.

The abrupt motion made her heartbeat skip.

Fu Xiling leaned in, his breath and voice brushing against her ear.

“In fifteen seconds, I’ll show you something,” he said.

He stayed close, calmly counting down.

“Fifteen, fourteen, thirteen…”

When he reached one, the lights on the rooftop terrace all lit up at once.

The pool sparkled like a Paraiba gemstone, and the distant buildings began to illuminate, streetlights tracing out winding roads.

Fu Xiling lowered his head and asked, “Beautiful?”

Shi Zhi met his gaze from up close. “This would work on someone like Yao Yao, but is this your usual move to woo girls?”

Fu Xiling’s smirk was wicked. “Never tried before. No experience.”

Their breaths mingled, and Shi Zhi was aware that eyes in the crowd were fixed on them. Fu Xiling was putting on a show, so she played along, feigning delight.

“The lights are gorgeous!” she exclaimed sweetly.

Fu Xiling chuckled. “Did you train in Sichuan opera face-changing?”

They might have been left undisturbed, but the water battle in the pool had escalated. A pressurized water gun sprayed Shi Zhi’s shoulder and neck.

Fu Xiling pulled her protectively into his arms as apologies echoed from the crowd, though no one showed any sign of stopping.

“Want me to help you get revenge?” Fu Xiling asked, brushing wet hair from Shi Zhi’s face.

Shi Zhi always avenged herself—and she preferred to do it personally.

She tied her hair into a bun using her jade bracelet and tossed her T-shirt onto a chair. Grabbing an ice bucket, she charged into the fray.

Though she usually kept to herself, her straightforward, no-nonsense personality was endearing. She played hard and fair, retaliating fiercely but ending up soaked herself. Laughing, she swam to Fu Xiling and used him as a shield.

“You’re pretty good at this,” Fu Xiling commented, brushing dripping bangs from his forehead.

“Isn’t this how I’m supposed to act as your sweet, clingy girlfriend?” Shi Zhi retorted, dousing another bucket of water over the crowd.

“That champagne-opening move of yours wasn’t exactly sweet and clingy,” Fu Xiling muttered, though he didn’t mention how striking she had looked earlier, wearing just her bikini and carrying an ice bucket into battle.

The group’s antics lasted until midnight before everyone dispersed, some too drunk to walk straight.

Fu Xiling offered to help Shi Zhi find a room, but she waved him off, lounging by the pool with her phone.

Yao Yao lingered, pretending to pass by Shi Zhi casually but nearly tripping on a bottle cap in the water. Shi Zhi caught her arm just in time.

Surprised, Yao Yao muttered a begrudging, “Thanks,” before hesitating.

“You’re really Fu Xiling’s girlfriend? He didn’t just find you to deal with me?”

Shi Zhi played the part of a jealous girlfriend perfectly. “Why would he need to deal with you?”

Yao Yao wrapped herself in a towel and said, “Don’t worry. I already heard about his girlfriend at the villa the other day. Did he tell you I was chasing him before?”

“A bit,” Shi Zhi replied coolly.

Yao Yao looked curious. “They’re all guessing you’re a model.”

“I’m not. I’m a student.”

“Which university?”

Shi Zhi didn’t answer, unwilling to share private details.

Yao Yao sighed, seeming to accept it. “You’re beautiful, but I’m not bad either. I won’t interfere, and I definitely won’t make a scene at your school. You can rest easy.”

A call from outside broke the moment, urging Yao Yao to leave for late-night snacks. Wrapping her towel tightly, she walked away.

When Fu Xiling returned, Shi Zhi was the only one left upstairs, her figure outlined by the shimmering pool water. She was kneeling on a flamingo float, phone pressed to her ear, her wet bikini straps tied in bows.

“Drinking and swimming in the deep end?” Fu Xiling teased, pulling the flamingo by its neck to drag her and the float toward shallow water.

Shi Zhi tossed her phone onto a towel at the poolside after her call, but the movement sent her tumbling into the water.

She surfaced quickly, having learned to swim as a child in a river. Catching her breath, she saw Fu Xiling crouching at the pool’s edge, laughing.

“Need help getting out?” he offered, holding out a hand.

Annoyed by his dry, composed appearance, Shi Zhi grabbed his hand and yanked him into the water with her.

Water splashed everywhere. Even submerged, Fu Xiling didn’t let go of her hand. Instead, he cornered her against the pool wall.

“Did Yao Yao give you trouble before she left?” he asked.

“No, just some small talk.”

“And you managed to chat with a love rival?”

Shi Zhi gave him a look, thinking to herself, It’s not real, yet you’re taking this awfully seriously.

“Yao Yao said as long as you have a girlfriend, she won’t cling to you. She seems straightforward, not as difficult as you made her out to be. Way better than others I’ve met before,” Shi Zhi said.

“When have you ever dealt with this kind of thing?” Fu Xiling asked suddenly.

Shi Zhi’s guard shot up. Though she had enjoyed the day, she wouldn’t share her past so easily.

Instead, she reminded Fu Xiling that their agreement had been fulfilled and their partnership should end here.

Their proximity made the air between them warm and charged, tension building as they stared at each other.

Fu Xiling’s Adam’s apple bobbed, catching Shi Zhi’s attention. She reached out to touch it, and he leaned into her hand, moving closer.

When her breath quickened, he kissed her. Just once.

Then he didn’t move, only stared at her, eyes locking hers in place.

Drawn in, Shi Zhi couldn’t resist. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer.

The water rippled around them as they kissed again and again, her jade bracelet coming loose and her hair cascading down.

Shi Zhi didn’t hesitate. Pushing him away, she dove to retrieve her bracelet from the pool.

Without thinking, Fu Xiling followed, catching her ankle to pull her back.