Chapter 44.2

Just then, Lin Yumo swam back toward the yacht, clinging to the rope ladder. The sudden splash startled her, and she looked up. Her sister-in-law was still on the yacht, but her brother had disappeared.

Alright, alright. She was officially out of words to describe her shock.

As Lin Yumo swam away again, Lu Yi marveled at how worthwhile this million-yuan gamble had been. A few months ago, she wouldn’t have dared to pull such a stunt, nor would Lin Jinshen have humored her by diving into the sea.

When had they both started to change?

Lin Jinshen swam over, grabbed the rope ladder, and wiped the water from his face. Tilting his head back, water droplets gleamed on his skin in the sunlight. He stopped mid-climb, as if lacking strength, and stretched a hand toward her. “Pull me up.”

Without thinking, Lu Yi reached out with both hands to help him, worried she might not have enough strength. Just as she was about to pull, Lin Jinshen tugged down with one arm, effortlessly unbalancing her and dragging her into the water.

Caught off guard, she plunged into the sea. Before she could fully submerge, he had already pulled her close, securing her waist and drawing her against him. She clung to his neck in her panic, eyes shut tightly.

“?”

Lin Jinshen’s composed face was sprinkled with droplets from her splash. Even his lashes were damp. Though he murmured an apology, his expression carried not a trace of remorse.

He had done it on purpose!

Lin Yumo surfaced just in time to see this scene and froze.

Lu Yi, visibly flustered, felt uneasy. While their actions weren’t overly intimate, even holding hands in public had felt awkward before. And now, here they were—practically embracing in broad daylight.

Lin Jinshen explained seriously, “Your sister-in-law fell into the water.”

Lin Yumuo: “…”

Come on, I may be young, but I’m not three years old anymore. You can’t just say anything and expect me to believe it!

Without exposing them, she said, “Yeah, it’s easy to fall off a yacht. Be careful, sister-in-law.”

“…Got it.”

Lin Yumuo smiled lightly and tactfully avoided being a third wheel, swimming away after taking a short rest.

It wasn’t until 3 PM that the yacht returned to the beach.

The beach was packed with people.

Lin Yumuo’s earlier post on social media had been spotted by Ji Changming. After pulling an all-nighter last night, they had only just woken up in the afternoon. None of them intended to leave today, but seeing the post of the newlyweds enjoying a carefree outing spurred Ji Changming into action.

He went to Gu Yu’s room to wake him, only to be told to close the door on his way out. As for Yu Zheheng, he curtly told Ji to “scram” like he was going through menopause.

Unbothered, Ji Changming scratched his nose and instead messaged Yu Yin, who had become his friend recently due to their shared fandom. Unlike his two lazy brothers, Yu Yin responded immediately. Together, they organized a group event, rallying people left and right until a crowd had gathered.

The beach was lively with volleyball players, swimmers, and sunbathers grouped together. When Lin Jinshen and the others returned, they were greeted by this bustling scene.

Shielding his eyes from the sun, Ji Changming spotted the yacht and waved to pause the game. Carrying a volleyball, he walked over with a grin, calling out, “Brother Shen! Sister-in-law!”

“And Yumuo!”

Lin Yumuo was the first to disembark, politely greeting him, “Brother Changming.”

Ji Changming tossed his head back smugly. “Brother Shen, aren’t I great? While you were sneaking off for fun, I kept the guests entertained. This wedding will definitely be unforgettable!”

“Not bad,” Lin Jinshen acknowledged with a nod.

Ji Changming added, “The other two are still sleeping. See? Among the three of us, I’m the reliable one!”

Lin Yumuo stifled a laugh. Though accustomed to Ji Changming’s antics, she couldn’t help but chuckle again. He was like a shaggy little puppy.

After taking credit, Ji Changming invited, “Want to join us for volleyball?”

“I’m out. Too tired,” Lin Yumuo declined, planning instead to drag Fu Yanli along for snacks.

“What about you two? Couple’s team to dominate the court?” he asked eagerly.

Lu Yi replied, “No, I’m not very good at it.”

“Friendship first, competition second. No need to take it so seriously,” Ji Changming urged, tossing the ball up and down. “Come on, sister-in-law. These guys don’t have much stamina and will be wiped out soon.”

On the court, Yu Yin and Wu Sidong waved to her encouragingly.

Lu Yi hesitated, then turned to Lin Jinshen. “Alright, I’ll play for a bit. Are you joining?”

“You play,” he said. “Just don’t get hurt.”

“Okay.”

This time, Lu Yi didn’t insist. He took her bag and returned it to their spot.

Lu Yi was assigned to the same team as Yu Yin, while Ji Changming played on the opposing team.

Yu Yin laughed as she recounted last night’s events: Wu Sidong, drunk, had hugged a coconut tree, mistaking it for his ex-girlfriend, and bawled about ruining their relationship—insisting they’d already have a child running around if he hadn’t messed up.

“I was just thinking, why didn’t a coconut fall and knock him out? He was driving us crazy.”

Wu Sidong protested, “You were all useless! Not one of you tried to pull me away. You just let me embarrass myself! My spotless reputation is ruined thanks to you lot!”

Yu Yin retorted, “As if we could drag you off! You think we weren’t embarrassed too?”

Lu Yi chuckled. “So the blurry figure in that viral post was you? They didn’t show your face, though.”

“…”

After chatting for a few words, Ji Changming served the ball. Lu Yi, positioned in the front row, made the first hit. She skillfully set it high and jumped for a spike that left the opposing team no chance to return it.

Ji Changming was stunned. “Wait a minute. Sister-in-law, if this is you playing badly, what does playing well look like? Joining the national team?”

Lu Yi smiled sheepishly. “I was on the high school volleyball team.”

“…”

Ji Changming wanted to record that moment and show it to Lin Jinshen. The one who should be worried about injuries wasn’t her; it was everyone else on the court!

With Lu Yi on their team, the outcome quickly tilted in their favor. After several rounds, just as the game was about to continue, a commotion broke out near the beach.

Looking over, they saw people unloading equipment at the shore.

Among them were several familiar faces.

Gu Yu and Yu Zheheng were there, dressed in swimwear and warming up—it looked like they were preparing for a race.

“No way! Are they going to sail?” Ji Changming recognized the equipment immediately. Sailing wasn’t his thing, but the other three treated it like a hobby.

“Shen’s here too!”

Following his gaze, Lu Yi quickly spotted Lin Jinshen. His tall, commanding figure stood out effortlessly.

He was clad in a black swimsuit that outlined his defined muscles, looking more like a professional athlete than a wedding guest.

The crowd moved toward them, and so did Lu Yi and the others. They abandoned their volleyball game to join the onlookers, watching as the participants prepared their gear.

Yu Yin was shocked. “He can sail too? This morning, we found out he could pilot a yacht. What’s next?”

Lu Yi wasn’t any more informed, so she could only nod in agreement.

Just then, Lin Jinshen looked over and walked toward her, handing her his bag. “Watch this for me.”

He hadn’t planned to participate. It was Yu Zheheng who had pointed out that the wind conditions were perfect for sailing, with Gu Yu chiming in. They hadn’t had a chance to sail in a while, so why not seize the opportunity?

Still, Lin Jinshen remained unmoved.

Gu Yu and Yu Zheheng exchanged glances before adding, “Alright then, we’ll go. With all the beautiful women among the guests, we’re bound to impress. Who knows, we might even catch someone’s eye.”

“Your remarriage prospects might just resolve themselves,” Gu Yu teased.

Yu Zheheng: “…”

“You’re right.”

Though Lin Jinshen easily saw through their crude attempt to provoke him, he still found himself heading toward the beach.

“Be careful,” Lu Yi said as she accepted his bag. It was the only advice she could offer.

Lin Jinshen nodded. “Don’t worry.”

The rules were straightforward: the yachts would head out to set a buoy at the finish line. Contestants would then race their sailboats to the buoy and back.

“Wow!”

The crowd cheered as the participants took their positions.

Yu Yin and Wu Sidong stayed near Lu Yi, cupping their hands around their mouths to shout, “Go Mr. Lin! You’re invincible, Mr. Lin!”

Caught up in the excitement, Lu Yi joined in, though she felt a bit shy, as if she were back in school watching a basketball game.

Hearing her voice, Lin Jinshen glanced back briefly before focusing on the race. He climbed onto his sailboat and prepared for the competition.

With the sound of a whistle, a dozen participants surged forward all at once.

It was like a vibrant rainbow crashing into the sea. Even amidst the colorful chaos, Lu Yi’s eyes locked onto Lin Jinshen. His sailboat, deep blue, stood out. His movements were agile and precise; he crouched low, half-squatting as he expertly maneuvered. In no time, he widened the gap between himself and the others, racing ahead like an unstoppable force.

“Ahhh, so handsome!”

Ji Changming joined in the raucous cheering, yelling, “Brother Shen, Brother Shen is invincible! With this speed, who would believe he’s almost thirty?”

“Go, go!”

The crowd, swept up in the excitement, shouted encouragements as if this were an actual championship.

Lu Yi, however, was too nervous to join in. Her body tensed, hands clenched tightly, her eyes glued to Lin Jinshen’s figure. He maintained his lead the entire way, becoming smaller and smaller in the distance. From the beach, they could no longer discern details, only the tiny outlines of the boats on the horizon.

Her breathing quickened as she silently prayed for him to win—but more than that, she wished for him to return safely.

Minutes of silence passed, heavy with anticipation, until the crowd suddenly erupted in cheers once more.

The deep blue sailboat pierced through the water like an arrow, rounding the buoy and heading back in the lead.

Lu Yi slowly released her tightly clenched hands, biting her lip to suppress the urge to cheer out loud. She had never seen Lin Jinshen like this before.

Beside her, Ji Changming pumped his fist into the air, shouting, “Ahhhh, that’s my Brother Shen! Sister-in-law, did you see that? It’s Brother Shen! Absolutely amazing!”

Some people are usually quiet, but when they finally speak up, they always make a scene.

Lu Yi held her breath in that moment. After a pause, she replied softly, “Yes.”

“I saw.”