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The icy pool water surged over Su Weichu’s head. She barely had time to register who had pushed her from behind—only catching a fleeting glimpse of a silver silhouette, eerily familiar—before she was plunged into a desperate struggle.
She failed to swim.
“Help…”
Flailing frantically, she kicked and thrashed against the water’s suffocating grip, her desperate cries ringing through the air.
Meanwhile, on the second-floor balcony, Lin Huaiyu and Fu Wenbo were locked in a tense confrontation.
The faint echoes of a distress call reached them, making them turn their heads sharply toward the pool—just in time to see Su Mochu struggling, her form half-submerged in the water. Their expressions changed instantly.
Without hesitation, Fu Wenbo spun around, ready to rush downstairs to save her.
But before he could take a step, a startled gasp erupted from behind.
“Someone jumped!”
Fu Wenbo jerked his head back—Lin Huaiyu was no longer on the balcony.
His heart clenched as he strode forward, only to see Lin Huaiyu already sprinting across the garden below, heading straight for the pool.
Su Weichu knew none of this.
Exhaustion claimed her as she sank deeper.
Water invaded her mouth and nose, pressing against her chest like an unrelenting force, suffocating her.
Was this how she was going to die?
Her vision blurred, but the shimmering surface above taunted her with unreachable light. A wave of helplessness and resentment surged through her.
Just as the last threads of her consciousness unraveled, she dimly saw a figure diving in.
Someone had come for her.
Who…?
Before she could discern their face, darkness engulfed her completely.
Lin Huaiyu and Fu Wenbo swam with all their might, their urgency mirrored in their synchronized strokes. But Lin Huaiyu, stronger and faster, reached her first.
He seized her limp body, gathering her into his arms before surging toward the surface.
Breaking through the water, he wasted no time getting her onto dry land, laying her down immediately and beginning resuscitation.
“Ugh—cough, cough…”
Su Weichu sputtered, choking up water before finally regaining consciousness. She gasped, disoriented, her gaze settling on the man before her.
“You saved me,” she murmured, eyes swirling with complicated emotions.
Never had she expected that in her most desperate moment, the first person to come for her would be Lin Huaiyu.
He caught the flicker of surprise and turmoil in her eyes but said nothing. Shrugging off his soaked suit jacket, he draped it over her shivering shoulders, his voice low and steady.
“Let’s get you changed.”
With that, he scooped her up effortlessly and strode away.
From the pool, Fu Wenbo surfaced, his breath ragged, just in time to witness their retreating figures. His expression darkened, his jaw tightening with suppressed emotion.
Inside the room, Lin Huaiyu sat Su Weichu down on the sofa.
“Do you have a spare dress?” he asked.
“It’s in my car,” she replied, her fingers absently gripping the fabric of the jacket around her.
A faint scent lingered—cool, laced with the subtle traces of tobacco.
Her breath hitched.
It was his scent.
A scent she once loved so much that she could only fall asleep at night holding onto his clothes, enveloped in his presence.
But Lin Huaiyu didn’t notice her dazed expression.
Retrieving his phone, he instructed Qin Chuan to fetch her spare dress. Then, his gaze returned to her, sharp and questioning.
“What happened? How did you fall into the pool?”
The distant look in Su Weichu’s eyes dissipated, replaced by a sharp glint of cold resolve.
She recalled that silver figure—the one who had deceived her into coming near the water’s edge before shoving her in.
“If I told you it was Qiao Shan who tricked me and then pushed me, would you believe me?”
Lin Huaiyu’s brows knitted together, deep in thought.
But his silence spoke volumes.
To Su Weichu, it was confirmation enough—he didn’t believe her.
A bitter laugh escaped her lips, her gaze laced with mockery.
“Of course you wouldn’t. How could your perfect, virtuous ‘white moonlight’ ever do something so malicious?”
Lin Huaiyu parted his lips, as if to say something, but no words came.
The air between them thickened with unspoken tension.
Thankfully, just then, Qin Chuan arrived with the dress.
Lin Huaiyu exhaled, relieved by the interruption, and handed it to her.
“Change into this,” he said gently.
Su Weichu, already brimming with frustration, was further enraged by his attempt to brush past the issue.
“Spare me your fake kindness. Get out!”
Grabbing the dress from his hand, she punctuated her fury with a swift kick to his shin before storming into the bathroom.
When she emerged ten minutes later, her expression was frosty.
Lin Huaiyu was still there.
She acted as though she didn’t see him.
Sensing the tension, Fu Wenbo stepped forward, concern flashing in his eyes.
“Are you alright, Chu Chu? Do you feel unwell?”
“I’m fine,” she answered with a bright, easy smile.
And then, almost defiantly, she looped her arm through his.
“I’ve been gone from the party too long. Wenbo, come back with me.”
Fu Wenbo was more than happy to comply. Smugly, he shot Lin Huaiyu a pointed look before leading Su Weichu away.
Qin Chuan glanced at his boss hesitantly.
Sure enough, Lin Huaiyu’s expression was dark, his mood stormy.
Downstairs, the party continued in full swing.
Qiao Shan, who had been mingling, suddenly spotted Su Mochu re-enter the hall, alive and well. Her eyes widened in disbelief.
But the moment passed, and she schooled her features into a pleasant smile, stepping forward with feigned innocence.
“Oh! We were just wondering where Miss Su had gone. Turns out you just went to change,” she said sweetly. “But… why did you return with this gentleman? Where’s Huaiyu?”
Her words dripped with carefully measured insinuation, designed to spark speculation.
And it worked.
Whispers ignited among the crowd, murmurs swirling like wildfire.
Su Weichu scoffed at Qiao Shan’s eagerness to put on a show.
Her gaze turned to ice, her lips curling into a slow, mocking smile.
“Miss Qiao, you really have a way with words. Twisting facts with such ease… Why? Are you pretending you don’t know why I had to change? Are you that eager to take my place as Lin family’s young madam? Let me tell you something—pushing me into the pool won’t get you there.”
Gasps rippled through the room.
“Did she just say Qiao Shan pushed her?”
“That’s despicable!”
“So she’s the homewrecker everyone’s been talking about?”
“How shameless! Daring to show up in front of the rightful fiancée like this!”
The color drained from Qiao Shan’s face as murmurs of “mistress” and “schemer” filled the air.
Just then, Lin Huaiyu approached.
His brows furrowed at the rising commotion. “What’s going on?”
Qiao Shan turned to him instantly, as though grasping at a lifeline.
“Huaiyu, you’re just in time! Su Weichu is accusing me of pushing her! You know I’d never do something so cruel!”
Su Weichu’s eyes gleamed with challenge.
“Since you claim innocence, let’s check the security footage. I recall the pool area has cameras. Surely, the footage won’t lie.”
The words landed like a hammer.
A flicker of panic crossed Qiao Shan’s face.
“T-There are cameras?”
Her voice trembled.
In that instant, the truth was laid bare for all to see.