Volume One, Chapter 19: Study Diligently

Xu Mingxuan immediately stepped back, releasing Shen Qingqing’s shoulder and instead grasping her wrist.

“Assistant Zhou... coming to swim?” Xu Mingxuan curled his lips, forcing out a faint smile.

Shen Qingqing tried to break free, but Xu Mingxuan gripped her hand tighter.

“Hm,” Mo Lingcheng responded softly, walking toward the bench by the pool.

He pulled out a large towel from his sling bag, glanced sideways at Shen Qingqing, and asked, “You two... as well?”

Before Shen Qingqing could reply, Xu Mingxuan quickly interrupted with a smile, “Just passing by, came in to take a look, about to leave.”

With that, Xu Mingxuan pulled Shen Qingqing away.

Unable to escape, Shen Qingqing gritted her teeth and spoke, “Assistant Zhou, I want to learn how to swim. Could you teach me?”

Mo Lingcheng turned to look at her but said nothing.

Frowning, Xu Mingxuan answered for him, “Nonsense! Assistant Zhou doesn’t have time to teach you. If you want to learn, I’ll teach you another day.”

“Isn’t Young Master Xu a landlubber?” Mo Lingcheng suddenly raised an eyebrow and retorted.

Xu Mingxuan’s expression stiffened; he was speechless and dared not argue.

Mo Lingcheng’s words were always blunt, never sparing anyone’s feelings.

Taking advantage of the moment, Shen Qingqing shook off Xu Mingxuan’s hand and hurried to Mo Lingcheng’s side.

She knew very well that once Xu Mingxuan had those thoughts about her, he would never rest until he succeeded.

She had to minimize any time spent alone with him.

Xu Mingxuan glared fiercely at Shen Qingqing.

That damned woman really knew how to find a protector.

Deep inside, a voice told Xu Mingxuan he must never allow Shen Qingqing to be alone with Mo Lingcheng.

“You didn’t bring swimwear, what are you swimming for?” Xu Mingxuan caught up beside Shen Qingqing, lowering his voice to scold her.

Shen Qingqing quickly slipped behind Mo Lingcheng, avoiding Xu Mingxuan.

She looked up pitifully at Mo Lingcheng and asked softly, “Can I just watch first?”

“If you want to watch, then watch,” Mo Lingcheng replied coldly.

Then he unzipped his down jacket and strode toward the pool.

Shen Qingqing eagerly followed, reaching out to take the jacket he had removed.

Mo Lingcheng wore black swim trunks, his muscular physique outlined unmistakably.

As he warmed up, his abdominal and back muscles rippled in waves…

Shen Qingqing instantly blushed deeply.

Standing beside Shen Qingqing, Xu Mingxuan ground his teeth until it felt like they might break.

Only when Mo Lingcheng gracefully dove into the water did Xu Mingxuan step forward and grab Shen Qingqing, demanding, “Do you have any shame?”

“I’m studying openly and honestly. How is that shameful?” Shen Qingqing shook off Xu Mingxuan and took a few steps closer to the pool, her gaze never leaving Mo Lingcheng’s figure. “You do whatever you need to do. Don’t interfere with my learning.”

Mo Lingcheng moved through the water with ease—the way he turned, the stretch of his arms—utterly breathtaking.

Shen Qingqing’s admiring gaze was completely unabashed.

Xu Mingxuan couldn’t bear it any longer. He reached out and tried to cover her eyes. “No more looking!”

Instinctively, Shen Qingqing dodged, lost her footing, and fell into the pool.

Before she could cry out, water filled her nose and mouth.

The feeling of drowning was terrifying.

“Qingqing!” Xu Mingxuan shouted from the shore, helpless.

In her heart, Shen Qingqing desperately cried for help: “Assistant Zhou, save me!”

Soon, a long arm wrapped tightly around her slender waist.

A cold voice whispered in her ear: “How did you grow up to be this stupid?”

Shen Qingqing raised her hands and held tightly around the waist of the man beside her.

As long as she held on to him, she felt safe.

With that reassurance, Shen Qingqing fainted.

Soon, Mo Lingcheng carried her to shore.

He laid her prone on his thigh and gently patted her back to help her cough up the water.

Shen Qingqing coughed a few times and slowly regained consciousness, instinctively wrapping her hands around Mo Lingcheng’s waist again.

“I’ll take her to the infirmary,” Xu Mingxuan stepped forward, reaching out to pick her up.

Mo Lingcheng clenched his fist but released Shen Qingqing.

He had no reason not to let go.

Xu Mingxuan then wrapped an arm around Shen Qingqing’s waist from behind, but she clung tightly to Mo Lingcheng’s waist.

When Xu Mingxuan pushed with force, Shen Qingqing pulled back even harder.

The three of them were locked in a stalemate for a long time.

“Young Master Xu, someone’s here for you,” Zhou Cong walked in from the doorway, holding out a phone.

Seeing the incoming number, Xu Mingxuan finally released Shen Qingqing.

“Hello, Xiaoyu…” Xu Mingxuan took the phone and walked a few steps away.

Only then did Shen Qingqing slowly lift her head and look toward Mo Lingcheng.

Her hazy eyes pleaded, “Don’t leave me.”

Mo Lingcheng’s heart trembled slightly. He raised his hands, which had been resting at his sides, and gripped her waist.

He lifted her with one arm and grabbed a long down jacket from the bench with the other, draping it over her shoulders.

Just then, Xu Mingxuan hurried over.

He glanced at Shen Qingqing, eyes closed, then at Mo Lingcheng’s cold expression, and hesitated before speaking.

“There’s an emergency with Xiaoyu. I have to rush over…”

Mo Lingcheng pulled the jacket tighter around Shen Qingqing’s drenched body.

“Go handle your business,” he said, then turned and walked away.

Zhou Cong followed closely behind.

Xu Mingxuan grabbed Zhou Cong’s arm, speaking seriously, “Help me tell my uncle. Since it’s his niece-in-law, I’m counting on him.”

He wanted Zhou Cong to remind Mo Lingcheng to keep his distance from Shen Qingqing.

“Don’t worry, Young Master Xu,” Zhou Cong replied politely, though inwardly he scoffed.

Eating from one bowl while eyeing another—I might even root for the boss to snatch his niece-in-law.

Watching Mo Lingcheng’s steady back gradually disappear, Xu Mingxuan’s heart remained uneasy.

In his memory, Mo Lingcheng had never been this close to any woman.

Was it because Shen Qingqing was his fiancée, and he was interacting with her in an elder’s capacity?

Mo Lingcheng was seven years older and always carried himself with a mature demeanor—he probably looked down on these youngsters.

As for Shen Qingqing…

He thought perhaps she hadn’t been with him intimately yet, which explained her fascination with unfamiliar male bodies.

He had to win her over quickly, making her utterly devoted to him.

This thought inexplicably excited Xu Mingxuan.

Deciding on this, he hurried off to the hospital.

Mo Lingcheng carried Shen Qingqing a long distance in his arms.

This upright carrying posture resembled an adult holding a child.

Shen Qingqing was fully awake now but blushed shyly and dared not raise her head.

Under the black long down jacket, her soaked body pressed closely against Mo Lingcheng’s burning skin.

This intimate contact felt strangely familiar.

That night—the man, the camouflage uniform, Assistant Zhou…

It seemed unrelated yet intertwined in countless subtle ways.

Shen Qingqing tilted her head slightly, trying to catch a glimpse of Mo Lingcheng’s collarbone.