Chapter 17: Kicked into the Pool by Her

Early the next morning, Tang Tian stepped out of her room and was about to close the door when her peripheral vision caught sight of a tall, slender figure standing quietly down the corridor.

She fixed her gaze and saw that it was Shen Yanli, who was staring at her unblinkingly.

Tang Tian wondered why he was standing there watching her. If they disliked and resented her so much, shouldn’t he have ignored her like before?

She withdrew her gaze, closed the door, and turned toward the pool area. After taking only a few steps, she noticed out of the corner of her eye that Shen Yanli was walking toward her.

Tang Tian thought he had something to tell her, so she stopped and waited.

Shen Yanli strode toward her with long legs; his figure was tall and upright, broad-shouldered and narrow-waisted, standing before Tang Tian and making her feel a strong sense of pressure.

Unconsciously, Tang Tian took a half step back. “Mr. Shen, did you need to see me for something?”

Shen Yanli lifted his eyes and glanced at her room. “You live in that room?”

Tang Tian looked toward her room in confusion, hesitating for a moment before nodding. “Yes, Mr. Shen.”

She thought Shen Yanli might be concerned that she was living too close to them and wanted her to move farther away.

Shen Yanli stared into her watery apricot-colored eyes. After a moment, he said, “If you need anything, just tell the butler.”

Tang Tian’s confusion deepened at his unexpected concern. She was extremely surprised—what was going on with Shen Yanli? Didn’t he dislike her very much?

She didn’t think the matter of the sunroom would bring her and Shen Yanli closer, and besides, she didn’t want to get closer to him; she wanted to stay far away if anything.

“Thank you, Mr. Shen. I don’t need anything.”

Shen Yanli ignored her polite words and asked, “Are you going to have breakfast now?”

Tang Tian shook her head and replied, “Mr. Fu is going to swim. I’m going to prepare his bathing supplies.”

Mr. Fu going swimming? Shen Yanli rarely swam; he usually worked out in the villa’s gym.

“Go ahead,” he said without further interrupting her.

Tang Tian nodded and turned to leave, initially walking slowly but gradually picking up speed. For the first time, she felt that Fu Xi wasn’t so terrifying after all.

Shen Yanli today… was truly inscrutable, giving her an indescribable feeling, as if she had somehow been… marked by him.

She tapped her forehead, wondering what she was thinking. Shen Yanli was a man of high status who probably barely tolerated her, likely resenting even the slightest glance in her direction.

Maybe he just disliked that she lived too close to them and wanted the butler to arrange her lodging farther away.

As for why he showed concern earlier, it was probably just a polite remark, said casually.

Tang Tian prepared the bathing supplies and drinks, then pushed the cart to the poolside and sat down on a beach chair, waiting for Fu Xi to arrive.

After ten minutes, Fu Xi entered the pool area wearing a white bathrobe.

He didn’t approach right away; instead, his casual voice reached Tang Tian first.

“Look who it is.”

Tang Tian held back the urge to roll her eyes and said, “Good morning.”

A smile played at Fu Xi’s lips as he stepped closer to her. “I was wondering why you haven’t been flaunting yourself at us lately. Seems like you’ve really changed your strategy.”

He curled his fingers and lightly lifted her chin. The soft, porcelain-like feel of her skin made him pause for a moment before he composed himself and carefully examined her beautiful face. “Playing hard to get? Or is this a tactical retreat?”

His presence seemed to press down on her, making her heart race.

Tang Tian struggled to suppress the shy flush that she couldn’t control—after all, she had never been this close to a man before.

Her ears burning red, she dodged his hand and forced herself to sound calm. “Mr. Fu, I’ve only heard your songs. I haven’t seen you act. If you ever went into acting, I’m sure you’d succeed.”

Fu Xi loved seeing her talk back. He laughed heartily and said, “I know you’re mocking me for doing too many shows, but…”

He bent down close to her like last time, staring at her increasingly flushed face and said, “You’re still shy.”

Fu Xi’s gaze shifted from her reddening cheeks to her delicate earlobes, tender and blushing—he really wanted to tease them with his mouth…

That mischievous thought flashed through his mind, instantly wiping the playful smile from his lips.

Tang Tian, cheeks burning, stepped back. “Mr. Fu, are you here to swim or just to tease me?”

Fu Xi straightened his strong, muscular frame and looked down at her with a cold snort. “You’ll be disappointed then—you’re still not attractive enough for the pool.”

Tang Tian sighed in relief; finally, he was acting normal.

Seeing her relax like that amused Fu Xi even more. “Your acting is impressive. You play hard to get so well—it’s absolutely masterful.”

Tang Tian had had enough. Without hesitation, she took two steps forward and yanked off his bathrobe.

“Hey, hey, wait! Why are you taking off my bathrobe? You shameless woman! You’re so eager to see my abs…”

Before he could finish shouting, Tang Tian pressed the soft, fair sole of her foot against Fu Xi’s swim trunks-covered hip. Reacting instantly, Fu Xi grabbed her foot—its texture delicate and soft, fitting entirely in one hand—and couldn’t help but rub it twice.

Tang Tian had wanted to kick him into the pool, but unexpectedly, his reaction was so quick that he had turned the tables by grabbing her foot instead.

Her face flushed bright red. “You… let go.”

Fu Xi didn’t push it further; the moment she spoke, he released her foot.

The next second, however, Tang Tian kicked him straight into the pool, sending a huge splash of water flying.

Her clothes inevitably got wet from the spray, but luckily her swimsuit didn’t soak through much and would dry quickly.

Fu Xi leapt out of the water, wiping the droplets from his face with his hand, complaining, “Tang Tian! That’s not fair! I already let go of your foot, and yet you still kicked me!”

“Go swim yourself, you talk too much,” Tang Tian said as she sat back down on the beach chair, propping her chin on her hand to watch the annoying guy in the pool.

Fu Xi narrowed his eyes. “You dare look down on me?”

Tang Tian truly couldn’t be bothered to deal with him anymore. “Yes, I dare. What are you going to do about it?”

Fu Xi stared at her for a moment, then suddenly burst out laughing. “Nothing at all. You’re actually a lot more interesting than I expected.”

Tang Tian’s face went numb. “Mr. Fu, please show me your best swimming style.”

Seeing how utterly annoyed she looked, Fu Xi couldn’t help but laugh out loud. His heart itched even more to tease her thoroughly. She really was… incredibly adorable.

“Consider yourself lucky today. I’ll let you witness a world champion-level swimming style.”

Tang Tian: “…”

Fu Xi swam for nearly forty minutes. During his breaks, Tang Tian handed him drinks and draped a towel over his shoulders. When he resumed swimming, she would take away the towel and cup.

She sat on the beach chair, with nothing around except the sound of splashing water from the pool.

The sound of water in the pool was a type of white noise, very soothing. Propping her chin on her hand, she drifted into a light, hazy sleep.

Her consciousness seemed to wander through several dreams before she suddenly realized she was by the poolside and hurriedly opened her eyes.

A shadow loomed before her. Fu Xi had somehow gotten out of the pool, wrapped in a dark bathrobe. His thick, wet hair dripped water down, and his usually carefree, playful face was gone. His narrow, almond-shaped eyes were gloomy and intimidating.

That look made Tang Tian’s heart freeze in fear. She almost forgot that behind Fu Xi’s usual nonchalant facade was a ruthlessness she never saw openly.

“Mr. Fu… have you finished swimming?”

For some reason, Fu Xi kept staring down at her bare feet.

Tang Tian noticed and, without knowing why, instinctively pulled her bare feet back.

Chapter 18 Towel (1/2)

At that moment, Shen Yanli’s cold voice came from the pool entrance.

“Fu Xi, someone is looking for you.”

The instant Shen Yanli approached them, Tang Tian distinctly felt the strange tension ease.

Fu Xi returned to his usual carefree, reckless self, hands shoved into the pockets of his bathrobe. His tone was lazy, as if Tang Tian’s earlier unease had been just an illusion.

“What could anyone want with me?”

Shen Yanli came closer, his indifferent gaze briefly sweeping over Tang Tian’s uneasy, unsettled face.

“Upstairs in the study.”

Fu Xi picked up the towel lying on the beach chair and casually began drying the water from his hair.