Water surrounded her.

It engulfed her senses, flooding her ears, nose, and throat.

Shen Fanxing's most fatal weakness was her inability to swim.

Yet here she was, plunged into the sea, as the briny waters invaded her lungs.

The early spring sea was bone-chillingly cold, and the suffocating fear enveloped her gradually.

On the deck of the ship, numerous figures emerged.

Tonight's gathering mostly consisted of the sons and daughters of distinguished families.

Though few in number, the twenty-something individuals collectively held significant status in Pingcheng.

Despite that, there was always another realm—the Bao Family Consortium.

The sea churned, waves rising, and raindrops the size of beans fell first, soon followed by a deluge.

Two figures struggled incessantly in the water!

"Help..."

"Help..."

The cries for help barely audible amidst the pouring rain.

A tall, imposing figure in black suddenly dashed out from the crowd.

As his gaze fell upon the two figures fighting desperately in the sea, panic overtook his otherwise handsome, composed face.

With barely a moment's hesitation, not even time to shed his suit, he plunged into the icy waters.

The rain pounded the sea, obscuring visibility, but the man exerted tremendous effort and finally rescued one person.

"Qianrou, Qianrou, wake up..."

Gasping for breath, the man, heedless of his own bedraggled state, anxiously called out to the woman who had fallen unconscious in his arms.

Yet he hadn't anticipated another person in the sea...

At that moment, a frantic female voice suddenly cried out from the crowd—

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"Where's Fanxing? Wasn't she called out by Shen Qianrou? Where is she?!"

"Yes! Shen Fanxing... Shen Fanxing also fell in!"

Someone exclaimed in panic, causing everyone on the deck to gasp in horror!

In the distance, lightning flashed brightly, accompanied by deafening thunder, as if wishing to tear apart the night along with the dark sea.

All eyes turned to the dark, roiling sea, where not even the shadows of struggling figures could be seen.

The woman who had just mentioned that Shen Fanxing had fallen in suddenly burst into tears!

"Fanxing can't swim!!!"

At that moment, the man holding Shen Qianrou stiffened abruptly.

Yes, he had indeed seen Fanxing just now.

However, in the fleeting moment after the woman's cry, a "plop—" sounded, and another person jumped in...

When Shen Fanxing was finally rescued, Shen Qianrou had already coughed up water and regained consciousness.

Her pale little face, whether wet from rain or tears, looked at the two men before her, crying.

"Brother Heng..."

After crying out, she reached out and hugged his neck, burying her pale, palm-sized face deep into the arms of the man, who, though soaked through, still exuded an air of grace and handsomeness.

And though the man's brow furrowed slightly, his thoughts were inscrutable, his hand gradually tightening around the woman's waist.

"Don't be afraid, everything's alright."

His gentle voice contained a palpable sense of relief and joy after the narrow escape.

A murmur of sympathy arose from the people on the deck.

All eyes then shifted to Shen Fanxing, who had been rescued.

Reviving her heart, performing CPR repeatedly, it took over a dozen tries before she finally spat out seawater.

Her long lashes quivered slightly, her eyes weakly opening a crack.

Though dizzy, she could still see clearly the two figures tightly embraced beside her.

She gently tugged at her lips, her pale face battered by the rain, eventually losing consciousness once more.

*  

Shen Fanxing barely clung to life.

When she woke up three days later, it was noon, and she was alone in the hospital room.

Bright light streamed in through the window as she weakly gazed at the fine dust floating in the air, her expression indifferent, lost in thought.

Eventually, she got up alone and made her way to the bathroom with her feeble body.

Later, recalling the bright sunshine outside, she decided to take a walk.

Though her body was weak, she refused to stay in the cold, sterile hospital room.

In the hospital's rear garden.

Shen Fanxing wore only a thin hospital gown. Despite the warm sun, she still felt a chill.

Finding a secluded spot, she stood, watching the nearby gardenia tree, where buds were ready to bloom.

With her arms crossed, though appearing frail, she exuded a stubborn coldness.

She possessed a beautiful face, but her lack of emotional fluctuations belied her exquisite features.

Yet, this did not diminish her allure. Standing there quietly, her fair skin, black hair, and aloofness wove a unique charm.

Taking a deep breath, her mood slightly improved, only for someone to appear before her.

Shen Qianrou held a steaming thermos in her hand, her long curls cascading down, her bright eyes shining, draped in a man's suit jacket.

Seeing Shen Fanxing's cold, beautiful face and her aura of aloofness, Shen Qianrou suddenly smirked, as if boasting, adjusting the coat on her shoulders.

Shen Fanxing's cold eyes met hers. "You're truly persistent!"

Shen Qianrou raised an eyebrow, stepping slowly towards Shen Fanxing. Observing her pale, fragile appearance, she smiled even more brightly.

She leaned in close to Shen Fanxing, speaking softly:

"Aren't you giving up yet? Sister, even the man you love the most is now in love with me..."