Chapter 24 – “Into the Lake!”

The blind‑date ended in disaster.
On her way home Li Huan‑huan killed time near the small lake beside the old sales office while waiting for a parcel. Spring sun, lazy ducks, a quiet shore—she squatted by the water and drifted into a day‑dream.

At the same moment Qin Shi, just back from club duties, took Barbecue out for an unfamiliar route. The husky sniffed something, yanked free and bolted.

“Barbecue!”
Too late—the black‑white blur leapt and whump sent the squatting girl straight into the lake.

With no thought except her, Qin dropped his jacket and dived.

Water splashed. Seconds later he was beneath her, lifting, steadying.
“Huan‑huan, are you OK?”

She sputtered, dazed, then noticed his soaked T‑shirt plastered to hard muscle; her ears burned crimson. “I‑I’m fine.”

He apologised, towed her to the bank, hauled her up and threw his jacket round her shoulders. Barbecue paddled ashore, shook like a washing machine and bounded over, blissfully oblivious.

While she clutched the jacket, mortified, he fought the urge to drag her into an explanation—too many people around, camera‑phones everywhere. Instead he murmured, “Let’s get you dry first.”

They walked home in silence, dog trotting ahead.

At the apartment doors he stopped her. Water still dripped from his fringe; his eyes, behind the mask, were dark and firm.

“Li Huan‑huan… when you’ve changed, can we talk? I need to explain—everything about me, about next‑door.”

She met his gaze, hugging the damp jacket, heartbeat messy from more than cold water … and nodded once.