Chapter 24

Just before falling into the water, Tang Yajun was still thinking — what was meant to come had finally arrived.

But this time, the outcome was entirely in her own hands.

The original host couldn’t swim — but she could.

The lake rippled once, then stilled.

At the very instant before plunging in, she had adjusted her breathing. Once underwater, she swam deeper.

The lake wasn’t too deep, maybe five or six meters, but for someone who couldn’t swim, it was fatal.

For her, it was child’s play. From beneath the surface she looked upward, but with the waterweed in the way, she couldn’t make out the man’s face.

She didn’t dare surface right away. Instead, she silently swam toward the opposite shore.

After observing for a while and making sure no one was around, Tang Yajun climbed ashore.

The night wind blew against her soaked body, sending a chill straight to her bones.

She prided herself on being cautious, never easily making enemies — yet she still hadn’t managed to avoid this disaster.

Before, she had always suspected it was Lu Zhengang who pushed the original host into the water. But this time, he clearly wasn’t around — so who could it have been?

Lost in thought, she hurried back toward the courtyard.

Suddenly, the sound of a car approached from behind. The glare of the headlights made her squint.

The car stopped beside her.

“Get in,” Lu Chongjin said.

Tang Yajun opened the door and got in. Lu Chongjin frowned at her drenched state.

She didn’t want to create extra trouble, so she simply said she had been enjoying the scenery, hadn’t watched her step, and accidentally fallen into the water.

“Then how did you climb back up?” Lu Chongjin asked. He remembered she supposedly couldn’t swim.

Her heart gave a sudden jolt, but she forced a smile. “Luckily, there was a vine at the edge of the lake. I held onto it for dear life and managed to climb up.”

Back at the courtyard, muffled conversation still drifted from Tang Yashan’s room.

Tang Yajun pushed Lu Chongjin back to his room without disturbing them.

Since he was at home, she couldn’t slip into the space to her dorm bathroom to shower.

Instead, she obediently heated some water to wash up.

“You’d better take a bath,” he said. “Just wiping down won’t get you clean.”

Tang Yajun sniffed herself. Sure enough, there was a faint stench of stagnant water.

She nodded, fetched more hot water, and filled the wooden tub in the inner room.

She only pretended to scrub the clothes in the bucket, then poured in hot water mixed with cool until the temperature was right.

In truth, it was just a cover. Once she pulled the curtain down, she quickly tossed the dirty clothes into the space, dumped them in the washing machine, and ran off to shower.

Hot water gushed from the showerhead, rinsing away the filth.

She washed her hair and body two or three times before finally feeling clean.

After drying off, she carefully applied lotion, blow-dried her hair halfway, then smoothed oil into it.

Meanwhile, Lu Chongjin sat in his wheelchair with a book, but the page hadn’t turned for a long time.

At first, he could hear faint splashing from the inner room. Later, it grew completely silent.

After waiting, unease gnawed at him. He wheeled himself to the curtain.

“Are you still bathing?” he called, waiting again — but no response.

“Tang Yajun?” he called once more.

At that very moment, Tang Yajun was sprinting back toward the space door from her dorm.

Speculation crowded his mind. Unable to rest easy, he pushed his chair inside.

Just before he could see what was going on, her slightly breathless voice came from within:

“I’m fine, I’ve already finished.”

Relieved, he turned and wheeled away.

Soon after, Tang Yajun came out, toweling her hair dry.

Lu Chongjin put down his book and looked at her.

Her fair face glowed, almond eyes curved like crescents, lips flushed from the heat.

His Adam’s apple bobbed. His fingers twitched. “Let me dry your hair for you.”

Tang Yajun paused mid-step. “No need, I can do it myself.”

Her hair was already dry. If he tried, her secret would be exposed.

The evening breeze drifted through the open window, stirring her glossy strands, carrying a faint fragrance.

Discreetly, Lu Chongjin inhaled her scent. Restlessness stirred in his chest; he tugged open a button at his collar.

Tang Yajun was in good spirits. Smiling, she asked, “Do you think big brother and second sister managed to confess their feelings?”

Thinking of the dinner she’d arranged, he chuckled. “Hard to say.”

“Want to make a bet?”

“What’s the wager?”

“If the two of them succeed, our families will be tied even closer. I’m planning to prepare a generous gift. If I win, you’ll have to pay for it — since I don’t have money.”

He turned to look at her. She had control of the cash in his box, yet claimed she had none. Clearly, she thought it wasn’t enough.

“Alright. But if I win?”

“Then I’ll promise you one thing.”

She was confident — nearly certain — so she wasn’t afraid of losing.

He nodded in agreement.

She tiptoed over to Tang Yashan’s door, listened, but heard nothing inside.

Not wanting her sister to suffer a loss, she carefully pushed the door open.

Inside, both of them were slumped over the table, fast asleep.

She sighed in relief, helped Tang Yashan to his bed, and sent Lu Zhongyun back to her own courtyard.

But just as she stepped outside, she bumped into Lu Zhengang entering.

His face was dark with anger. He merely nodded at her and walked in.

She froze.

He had returned? Then… could he have been the one who pushed her into the lake tonight?

Later, after washing up, Lu Chongjin was preparing for bed when Tang Yajun hurried in.

“Second Uncle’s back. Did you know?” she asked.

He nodded, studying her.

She swallowed the words she’d meant to say. Meeting his probing gaze, she changed the subject.

“When will you return to the military district? I want to go with you.”

Surprise flickered in his eyes. “You’d be willing to follow me as a military spouse?”

“I would!” she nodded firmly.

She had escaped once tonight, but next time she might not. Better to leave completely.

It wasn’t cowardice — she simply refused to keep tangling with people who plotted in the dark. Life mattered most.

“Alright. I’ll file the report. Once things are settled here, I’ll take you with me.”

She nodded, then washed up and went to bed.

The next morning, she checked on Tang Yashan.

His hair stuck up like a bird’s nest, his brow furrowed as he sat thinking hard.

When she asked how things had gone with Lu Zhongyun the night before, he only looked blank.