After Marrying the Cold Omega in Secret - Chapter 45

After the production team explained the rules for the “Underwater Treasure Hunt” game, Chi Ye knowing she could not swim, settled onto a lounge chair. Calmly, she picked up a glass of champagne, sipped it slowly, and kept her eyes trained on Chu Jin in the pool.

The champagne burned softly going down her throat. Under its influence, her gaze warmed, mirroring the intensity growing in her eyes.

Though Chu Jin had followed Chi Ye’s earlier request not to remove her cover-up, once submerged, the sheer fabric clung to her body. It no longer hid her figure. If anything, it gave her movements a soft, enticing quality, as though veiled in mist.

Throughout the afternoon’s games, Chi Ye found her thoughts drifting back to the private moments in the restroom—those lingering touches and heated exchanges. She and Chu Jin both longed for the games to end, so they could finally have some alone time.

Moments like these were rare for Chi Ye. She managed every detail in the company herself, monitoring projects day and night. Even abroad, she had never truly rested. This show was both an investment and her chance to rebuild a life.

It was also an opportunity to date Chu Jin in public, where no one could hide their feelings.

Just as Yan Sisi had said, this program could make up for lost time and help them reconnect.

Thinking of three years ago, Chi Ye’s eyes grew distant. She remembered that stormy day when she had waited from dawn until late at night. But the person she waited for never arrived.

They found each other only later. That made everything worthwhile.

Her scattered thoughts refocused, and her gaze returned to the red; Chu Jin’s figure in the water. A faint smile curved her lips.

Just then, she heard a surprised gasp beside her.

A chill hit her shoulder. A whole glass of champagne spilled over her. Droplets even splashed onto her cheek.

Her formal swimsuit, which had just dried, was soaked again—and it now smelled sharply of alcohol.

Chi Ye looked up to see Wen Zhixue, flushed with embarrassment.

“I am so sorry, I did not mean to,” Wen Zhixue said urgently. “I did not see the water.”

She and Zhou Meng had secretly teamed up earlier, trading game cards so they could be partners. The two had spent much time together since, seemingly inseparable and gaining attention from fans who adored their pair.

Wen Zhixue had been attracted to Chi Ye at first. She had made a few subtle moves, but Chi Ye had kept her distance, offering cold politeness in return. Realizing she could not compete with Chu Jin, she backed away.

Zhou Meng had only become interested since Qiao Man joined the show. The day Qiao Man arrived, wearing green, she reminded Zhou Meng of a forest spirit, bright and gentle. Unfortunately, Qiao Man made her feelings for Chu Jin clear immediately, leaving Zhou Meng disillusioned and distant.

When Wan Qing appeared, she looked closer to Qiao Man than to Chi Ye. Audiences saw it too and started calling them a pair.

As the show neared its end, only Wen Zhixue and Zhou Meng remained unpaired. Neither wanted to leave without a proper relationship or a confession. They quietly agreed to pretend to be close for the camera, hoping to gain more attention now and announce a breakup later.

That explained Wen Zhixue’s behavior today, playing sweet and coy at Zhou Meng’s side. Now, as the treasure hunt began, she had returned to the shore, bottle of champagne in hand, waiting.

Wen Zhixue had just taken a step when she slipped on a wet patch and nearly fell. She managed to regain her balance, but the champagne flew upward straight onto Chi Ye.

Flustered, she bowed and tried to clean the spill. Light from overhead cast a gleam on the slippery tile.

“These tiles were pristine yesterday,” she said nervously. “It was spotless then.”

Chi Ye’s mood darkened, though she remained composed.

“I did not see the water,” Wen Zhixue said. She looked uncomfortable as the cameras turned their attention toward them. With Chi Ye’s popularity, any misunderstanding could harm her image.

“I am really sorry,” she added softly. She grabbed tissues and offered them to Chi Ye.

“No need,” Chi Ye said, standing up without another word. She felt uncomfortable with the smell of alcohol clinging to her.

Qiao Man, who had been watching, stepped forward. After a moment, she suggested, “You could change and freshen up.”

Chi Ye looked back at her thoughtfully.

Since Qiao Man joined the show, and given her relationship with Chu Jin, they had been considered romantic rivals, so the two of them had barely spoken.

Given their mutual dislike, it was strange that she would suddenly offer a helpful suggestion.

Chi Ye was suspicious too.

“It’s almost over anyway, and we won’t be getting back in the water,” Qiao Man CC added.

Her gaze appeared earnest and sincere, with no sign of deception.

Maybe she was just overthinking it.

Wen Zhixue, as if grasping a lifeline, nodded repeatedly like pounding garlic. “Yes, yes, go change. I’ll help wash your swimsuit.”

Chi Ye narrowed her eyes slightly and remained thoughtful. Her expression showed no discernible emotion.

After a few seconds, she said, “Alright.”

She then turned and left the backyard, heading upstairs to her room.

From the moment Chu Jin began swimming, her exceptional learning ability became apparent. It took her less than a month to go from beginner to mastering various swimming techniques. She had joined the school team, competed in events, and won awards.

This was the first time she had ever felt such intense fear of the water.

While struggling, she had swallowed a lot of water. Being in the deep end, and forcibly held underwater by someone, made it even harder to surface. She had no choice but to force herself to calm down and hold her breath.

One of her strengths had always been breath control. No one she trained with could match her underwater stamina. This had earned her the nickname “Queen of Big Lungs” on the school team.

But after struggling earlier, she was too exhausted to hold on much longer. Her head began to feel dizzy and unclear.

Then, she suddenly heard a familiar voice nearby.

“What are you doing?”

Chi Ye. It was Chi Ye.

Wan Qing, upon hearing the voice behind her, initially didn’t want to let go. But reason eventually overtook her rage and jealousy, and she slowly regained clarity.

She had planned every step carefully and chosen the perfect location, believing there was no way things could go wrong. What she hadn’t expected was that Chu Jin could swim, and hold her breath underwater for so long.

More importantly, Chi Ye had not gone upstairs to change her clothes after all.

She was still wearing the swimsuit that had been splashed with champagne.

Because of an injury to her toe, the surrounding water had been stained with light patches of red. Under dim lighting, the red wasn’t clearly visible.

But to someone like Chi Ye, who was especially sensitive to the sight of blood, it was more than enough.

Even from several meters away, she could detect a faint metallic scent in the air.

That familiar dizziness returned, accompanied by a chill and physical discomfort. Chi Ye instinctively slowed down.

But Chu Jin was still in the water.

She could not back down.

Wan Qing, still in the pool, looked up at Chi Ye. Her expression shifted from hollow indifference to a cryptic, unsettling smile, like a cold gust of wind in winter, laced with aggression.

Chi Ye forced herself to stay focused. Using sheer willpower, she blocked out the sight of the blood and immediately jumped into the water.

There was a splash.

Pale red water splattered around her.

Though Chi Ye feared both blood and water, she had dived in without hesitation for Chu Jin.

Wan Qing’s smile disappeared. She clenched her teeth, struggling to suppress the emotions rising inside her.

At the same time, she released Chu Jin and took a few steps back.

The noise finally drew attention. A cameraman began moving in to film the scene, but the assistant director, sensing something was wrong, quickly redirected the crew and instructed them to shoot other segments.

Then he led several people toward Chu Jin.

Once in the water, Chi Ye remained remarkably calm. She quickly found her footing and reached out to pull Chu Jin up.

Freed from Wan Qing’s grip, Chu Jin broke through the surface like a fish escaping a net. It didn’t take much effort for her to float back up.

Fortunately, she had managed to stay calm and avoided wasting more energy. When she surfaced, she only coughed for a short while before recovering.

Chi Ye kept her arm around Chu Jin’s shoulders. Her usual cold and detached eyes were now filled with worry.

Even under the dim lighting, her eyes appeared red-rimmed.

“Are you alright?” Chi Ye clung to her as if holding onto a life raft, gently brushing her face and trying to comfort her. Her voice trembled slightly. “I’m sorry I came too late.”

Chu Jin was still gasping for air but shook her head. “I’m fine.”

Then she glanced toward Wan Qing.

Although Wan Qing had stepped back, she had not left.

She showed no signs of guilt.

As the director’s team approached, Wan Qing quickly took on a concerned expression and began to put on a performance.

“Miss Chu was injured earlier and was underwater for a long time. I tried to pull her up, but my swimming skills weren’t enough. I couldn’t save her in time.”

Wan Qing’s performance was convincing, as though it had all been rehearsed. Her eyes showed just the right amount of guilt and sorrow.

She turned to Chi Ye. “Thankfully, you arrived just in time and saved Miss Chu.”

Chu Jin could no longer endure her lies. Her voice was hoarse as she said coldly, “You were the one who held me underwater. I can swim very well. I didn’t need your help.”

“Miss Chu, please don’t wrongly accuse me. I really tried to help you, but for some reason, you just couldn’t stand up,” Wan Qing responded with furrowed brows, looking anxious and wronged. A tear shimmered at the corner of her eye. “We should speak based on facts. Do you have any proof that I held you down?”

The location was secluded—at the far corner of the courtyard—and blocked by several inflatable boats. Without a cameraman specifically assigned to that spot, the fixed cameras would never have caught what had happened.

Chu Jin glanced at the crew. They clearly understood the situation but needed to calm things down first.

“We’ll investigate later. For now, get out of the water. It’s cold at night, and it’s bad for your health,” the assistant director said.

He quickly assigned crew members to help the three women out of the pool.

Other guests wanted to come over to see what had happened, but the director ordered them back and forced the show to continue as planned.

After sealing off the deep end, Qin Shiyun personally led the three women into the villa.

“I’ll check all surveillance footage. If anything was recorded, I’ll inform you immediately.”

“Call the police,” Chi Ye said coldly.

Qin Shiyun glanced at Wan Qing, then at Chi Ye and Chu Jin, before hesitantly pulling Chi Ye aside and moving about five meters away from the others.

“President Chi…” Qin Shiyun hesitated, wiping sweat from her forehead before speaking in a low voice. “There are only two days left before the show ends. If we call the police now, the audience will definitely find out. The entire show might get canceled.”

Chi Ye’s expression turned grim. “I don’t care.”

After all, she was the show’s largest investor. Even if the fifty million yuan investment went up in flames, she would never forgive Wan Qing.

“The problem is… that area probably wasn’t captured on any cameras,” Qin Shiyun admitted honestly. She cautiously continued, “Even if the police come, they likely won’t find any evidence. And even if Madam insists that Wan Qing did it, it won’t mean much.”

“It would only hurt the show unnecessarily.”

“Public opinion online is extremely volatile. People can change sides at any moment. If someone with an agenda takes advantage of this, it could ruin Madam’s reputation. The consequences would outweigh the benefits.”

Chi Ye’s expression remained cold. She didn’t respond.

This show had already broken viewership records. If something like this came to light, it would spark a massive backlash. Wan Qing came with status, and that would inevitably draw more scrutiny.

Under the current circumstances, both Wan Qing and Chu Jin appeared equally credible. There was a real possibility that public opinion would shift against the victim. Given Wan Qing’s talent for twisting the truth, no one could predict how things would unfold.

This was Chu Jin’s first appearance on a major variety show, a critical moment in her career. A scandal like this would thrust her into the center of controversy.

But could they really let Wan Qing go unpunished?

Chi Ye could not let Chu Jin suffer like this.

As Chi Ye was lost in thought, Chu Jin approached them.

“No need to call the police tonight,” she said calmly.

Her expression was calm like the surface of a still lake, without a single ripple.

*

After Chu Jin took the initiative to say there was no need to call the police, Qin Shiyun was deeply relieved. As the director, it had been her responsibility to ensure all safety measures were in place. Chu Jin had every right to press charges. But deep down, Qin Shiyun hoped the matter would quietly pass without causing a scene.

This was the first variety show in years to receive such a massive investment, and its popularity had reached an all-time high.

Just a few days ago, several investors had already approached her and started discussing plans for the next show.

She couldn’t afford any unexpected problems.

The production team quickly arranged for the three of them to go upstairs.

By then, night had already fallen. The heat of the day was gone, and with their clothes still wet, even wrapped in towels, the chill was setting in.

Chu Jin and Chi Ye went upstairs to take a hot bath.

Since Chu Jin had injured her toe and couldn’t let it soak in water, Chi Ye prepared the bath for her as soon as they entered the room. Soaking in the tub would allow Chu Jin to rest while keeping her injured foot safely out of the water.

While Chu Jin was in the bathroom, Chi Ye took the chance to change into a loose dress. Then she picked up the first aid kit and quietly pushed open the bathroom door.

Chu Jin had just settled into the warm bath. Her body slowly relaxed as the warmth spread over her skin. Only now did the fear from nearly drowning begin to fade away.

She leaned back into the bubbles, letting her left foot rest lazily on the edge of the tub. Her pale and slender leg stretched out of the water, calm and still.

When she saw Chi Ye walk in, she wasn’t surprised. Instead, she quickly reminded her, “You should take a hot shower too, or you’ll catch a cold.”

But Chi Ye didn’t plan to shower. Holding the first aid kit, she walked toward Chu Jin.

“Let me take care of your injury first.”

She pulled a small stool over and sat down in front of Chu Jin. Before Chu Jin could say anything, Chi Ye gently lifted her foot and started checking the wound.

Chu Jin had beautiful feet. The curve of her arch was elegant, her skin smooth and fair, her toes slender and painted with red nail polish. That splash of red added a touch of charm.

The warmth from the bath had brought a soft blush to her toes and the bottom of her foot.

The sight was delicate and attractive.

But the cut on her big toe looked sharp and painful.

Chi Ye frowned slightly. Her chest tightened with concern.

It looked like a glass cut. Tiny shards were still stuck around the wound. The bleeding had stopped, but after being soaked in water, the once bright red cut had turned pale.

“Does it still hurt?” Chi Ye asked gently.

Chu Jin replied, “It’s much better now.”

When it first happened, it had hurt a lot. The bleeding had frightened her, which was why she lost focus for a moment. That was the chance Wan Qing had taken.

If not for the injury, Wan Qing would never have been able to overpower her in the water.

The wound looked scary now, but the pain had lessened. Chu Jin wasn’t someone who had grown up pampered. As a child, she had often played around and gotten hurt, so this kind of cut wasn’t a big deal to her.

Chi Ye’s gaze darkened and her voice turned cold. “That glass was probably planted by Wan Qing.”

Chu Jin let out a dry laugh. “That treasure pouch might have been her setup too.”

The director had mentioned that all the pouches were placed in the shallow area. Chu Jin had been so eager to find one that, after failing to locate any in the shallow end, she had forgotten and moved on.

That was when she fell into Wan Qing’s trap.

She couldn’t help but blame herself for being too impatient. The saying goes that desire can be dangerous, and this time it had come back to hurt her.

Chi Ye carefully rinsed the wound, picked out the tiny shards, and followed the same steps Chu Jin had once used to treat her injured finger. She wrapped the wound bit by bit, closely watching Chu Jin’s expression to make sure she wasn’t in pain.

“We really are unlucky,” Chu Jin said with a small laugh. “One of us got a finger injury, the other a toe injury, just from joining a variety show.”

Chi Ye couldn’t bring herself to laugh. “I got hurt by accident. You were targeted. That’s not the same.”

She lifted her eyes. “Don’t worry. I won’t let Wan Qing off that easily.”

Chi Ye had already thought of what to do. She could have someone retaliate privately, or she could go straight to the top of Wan Corporation and demand an explanation.

She had seen Wan Qing’s father before at a dinner event.

Back then, Wan Yuan had tried to cozy up to Chi Ye’s grandmother to ask for a business partnership. But the Chi family had always looked down on the Wan family’s business and refused any kind of connection. Even now, Wan Corporation continued to reach out with offers.

“What are you planning to do?” Chu Jin asked.

Chi Ye explained her thoughts as she finished bandaging the wound.

Chu Jin looked down for a moment, lifted her leg, and examined the wrapped toe. It now looked like a little rice dumpling.

Hmm. Chi Ye still hadn’t figured out how to tie a bow properly.

Because of the lifted leg, more of Chu Jin’s pale skin was visible. Her long white leg was slightly flushed from the warm bath. The bubbles and water droplets clung to her skin, creating a tempting scene that made it hard to look away. It made one curious about the beauty hidden beneath the foam.

Chi Ye felt a sudden dryness in her throat. She quickly looked away and focused back on Chu Jin’s face.

“Which method do you think is better?” she asked.

Chu Jin lowered her eyes in thought and slowly rested her foot back on the edge of the tub.

Her face turned serious.

“I have a better idea.”

As she said that, her eyes lit up with a spark of excitement.

Chi Ye’s curiosity was piqued. This was their first time having such a deep conversation. She felt like she was seeing a completely new side of Chu Jin.

“What’s your idea?” Chi Ye asked.

Chu Jin remained calm and looked at her for a moment before saying softly,

“Do you remember the teddy bear Qiao Man gave me?”

Support After Marrying the Cold Omega in Secret