Falling After Marriage - Chapter 10

Chapter 10: Flirting in the Water, You Two Are Quite the Pair

“Officer Ji, do you find this story thrilling?”

Cheng Sangluo’s voice was hoarse with strain. A sarcastic smile played on her lips as her sharp gaze swept over Ji Nanxing’s face.

Ji Nanxing remained silent, her cheeks pulled tight, as if she were grinding her back teeth.

That’s right, that’s the correct expression. It meant the story was thrilling, and also agonizing.

Cheng Sangluo narrowed her eyes in satisfaction. Her posture, basking in the sun, looked completely relaxed, exactly like the scene from the day she was released from prison.

Birds rode the wind, and waves surged. The entire world was filled with the scent of freedom, yet the person feigning leisure was not free at all.

Cheng Sangluo was shackled by the time she was unjustly imprisoned.

Even after the handcuffs were removed, the cold, rigid sensation lingered. Even breathing freedom, the smell of rust from the prison remained in her nostrils.

Her senses were branded with pain—a searing, sickening, inescapable agony.

She asked not for an answer, but to use this method to attack the person beside her.

Ji Nanxing was perceptive and sensed Cheng Sangluo’s danger.

This well-trained former special forces soldier with a criminal record was like a ticking time bomb, potentially causing a huge upheaval at any moment.

She was about to say something, but was interrupted by the sudden appearance of a figure at the doorway. After a heavy exhale, she quickly left the deck.

Cheng Sangluo dropped her smile, her gaze fixed on Lin Jin. It hasn’t even been a quarter of an hour. Is this crazy woman already restless?

Lin Jin was indeed not watching the clock. Her impatience was written all over her face.

The gangway leading to the deck felt like a narrow, cramped alley. Her steps were light yet anxious, measuring the long distance to see the person she desired.

Cheng Sangluo was like a hallucinogenic drug, dulling the surrounding revelry, making the wine tasteless, and keeping her suspended heart unsettled.

She finally appeared on the deck, as if having gone through a great ordeal, her erratic breathing causing her chest to heave.

When the tall figure entered her sight, the longing quickly dissipated, yet her messy hairline betrayed that her calm was entirely feigned.

Lin Jin was still annoyed that Ji Nanxing had taken the puppy away. When they passed each other, she only gave a detached glance.

Once they were alone, she walked towards Cheng Sangluo: “It seems you and Officer Ji… get along very well…”

Cheng Sangluo did not answer, reverting to her silent, reserved self.

Lin Jin reached out a finger, tentatively trying to touch the cold face, but before she could, the puppy grabbed her wrist and forcibly twisted it behind her back.

Cheng Sangluo’s takedown was seamless, the rotation and change of position happening in the blink of an eye.

Like restraining an enemy, she forcefully pinned Lin Jin against the railing, warning: “Don’t touch me.”

Lin Jin’s chest was painfully pressed against the railing, and anger instantly flared up: “Cheng Sangluo, are you on fire? You hurt me!”

This time, Cheng Sangluo showed no sign of chivalry, pressing down even harder: “Don’t lay your hands on me. That is my only advice to you. You’re not blind. You should see how much I dislike you.”

At this moment, Cheng Sangluo was like a hedgehog, dark and defensive, indiscriminately attacking anyone.

But seeing the flush of redness spreading from the corner of Lin Jin’s eye, the lost reason was quickly recalled.

She finally released her grip, her eyes darting away, yet she didn’t offer an apology.

Lin Jin rubbed her reddened wrist, which still bore the marks of Cheng Sangluo’s five fingers. It was hard to imagine the strength she had used.

“You’re inexplicably throwing a tantrum. Shouldn’t you apologize to me?”

Lin Jin’s grievance outweighed her anger, as if to say, I longed to see you so much, why did you hurt me so violently?

But the stubborn person refused to respond, even turning to walk away.

Lin Jin sighed, always thinking Cheng Sangluo was hard-boned and verbally stubborn, but realizing now her heart was just as hard.

She walked straight to the edge of the deck and turned back, asking: “Cheng Sangluo, what will it take to call this even?”

Cheng Sangluo was in turmoil, desperately needing a quiet place to process her conversation with Ji Nanxing.

She wanted nothing more than to leave without looking back, but that soft call tugged at her, softening her ears and then her heart.

She couldn’t understand why she was softening. Was it the apology she felt for hurting the crazy woman?

While she hesitated, the sound of Lin Jin falling into the sea came from behind her.

Cheng Sangluo subconsciously spun around. The deck was empty. Her breath hitched, and a familiar sense of drowning gripped her chest.

“Lin Jin? Lin Jin!”

Cheng Sangluo tentatively called out once, then the next call was laced with panic. Without a moment’s hesitation, she leaped and plunged into the sea.

The azure water had a jelly-like clarity—a false illusion of the deep abyss.

Lin Jin was falling freely on her back, without any struggle. The satin robe she wore billowed in the water like agile fish fins.

Facing death, she was eerily calm.

She simply stared at the sea surface, silently counting when the person she wanted to see would appear, and if she could measure all her expectations with the same speed.

When she saw Cheng Sangluo break through the white waves and swim toward her recklessly, she smiled—a smile for having gambled her life and won a moment of softness.

Cheng Sangluo held her breath, her hands working in rhythm with her legs, stroking the water, accelerating quickly.

When she grabbed Lin Jin’s wrist, the thought Don’t hurt her flashed in her subconscious. So, her grip was steady, but not full-strength.

Lin Jin clung to the puppy’s arm, slowly pressing against her chest.

In the submerged humming sound, she desperately sought Cheng Sangluo’s heartbeat.

Closing her eyes and listening closely, the beat was powerful and chaotic. Was it because she worried about her safety?

Cheng Sangluo almost half-supported Lin Jin as they surfaced.

She swept the hair from her forehead, breathing heavily, and urgently roared: “Are you crazy? Do you want to die?”

Lin Jin hugged her neck tightly, panting and laughing uproariously: “Hahahaha… Is this the first day you’ve found out… how crazy I am…”

After a burst of laughter, her eyes softened as she gazed at Cheng Sangluo, asking seriously: “You were worried about me, weren’t you?”

“I would save anyone who fell into the water. It’s not because you’re special.” Cheng Sangluo was exasperated, but dared not let go, afraid the crazy woman would disappear again: “You reckless lunatic, what else can you do besides torture me?”

“I can also drug you… make you lose your job… make you worry about me…” Lin Jin deliberately mentioned things that would anger Cheng Sangluo, then suddenly rubbed her ear with her teeth: “And also… take very good care of your little chrysanthemum…”

Cheng Sangluo couldn’t use force in the water, so she had to let her get away with the teasing.

The slight tickle trailed from her ear, driving her mad with discomfort.

“Flirting in the water… you two are quite the pair…”

Gu Shinian and a group of people appeared on the deck, now playfully teasing them with interest.

Lin Jin raised a seductive eyebrow, complaining: “If you hadn’t come to interrupt, we might have kept flirting for a while longer.”

She hugged Cheng Sangluo, wanting to linger a bit more, unwilling to let go so soon.

However, the puppy was reluctant, urging: “What are you dawdling for? Get up!”

“I hate to let you go.” Lin Jin deliberately breathed into her ear, murmuring: “This hug was exchanged for my life, you know~”

Cheng Sangluo glanced at the people watching the spectacle on the boat, desperately suppressing her urge to explode, only able to whisper a warning: “After today, I don’t want to see you again. Take care of yourself.”

“A one-sided threat doesn’t count. What if I want to see you? Actually, it’s easy. I have plenty of ways to deal with you.” Lin Jin sat on the edge of the deck, pinching the puppy’s cheek amidst the chaos, secretly smiling that she had gotten her way.

“You should have drowned in the sea.” Cheng Sangluo slapped away the restless hand, then slapped the crazy woman back into the water.

Lin Jin didn’t get angry, swaying her body as gracefully as a fish in the water.

She unexpectedly grabbed Cheng Sangluo’s foot, trying to pull her into the water: “Little puppy, come down quickly. I can’t get up without you~”

Cheng Sangluo was completely fed up with the clingy person: “Ugh, you are so annoying!”

On the deck, the crowd dispersed after the show.

Gu Shinian gave Cheng Sangluo a meaningful look and walked into the cabin with Ji Nanxing’s arm linked in hers.

Bai Mu stuck close to Shu Wan, covering almost every possible topic in a non-stop chatter, like a bird.

“Drink some water to soothe your throat.” Shu Wan unscrewed a bottle cap, handed the water to Bai Mu, and then instructed a server to bring some towels.

She looked at Cheng Sangluo, who had jumped back into the sea. Her eyes showed deep interest, and she couldn’t help but smile: “Your friend’s skin is very dark.”

Bai Mu happily drank the mineral water, teasing: “She used to be a special forces soldier. She was even darker then, dark and shiny.”

“Oh? Special Forces.” Shu Wan raised an eyebrow and pondered, growing more interested: “Female Special Forces are rare. She must be particularly capable.”

“Of course! If Sister Shu is looking for a bodyguard, I can introduce her to you.” Bai Mu remembered Cheng Sangluo’s job situation and seized the opportunity to recommend her.

Shu Wan’s gaze remained fixed on Cheng Sangluo. Hearing the possibility of an introduction, she left a suggestive hint: “If I need one someday, I will definitely contact you.”

Just then, a server brought the towels. She naturally took one and walked to the edge of the deck, beckoning: “Come up quickly. We still need to blow out the candles for Shinian later.”

Cheng Sangluo met Shu Wan’s eyes. The delicate gentleness was clear like water, causing her to involuntarily smile: “Okay.”

Lin Jin, enjoying her time teasing the puppy, was suddenly annoyed by Shu Wan’s interruption. The smile on her lips instantly vanished.

She narrowed her eyes and sneered: “Director Shu, you really like to meddle in other people’s business.”

The Next Day, Morning.

Cheng Sangluo lay in the small attic, her sweat-damp hair clinging to her burning cheekbones.

She was curled up like a shrimp under a hole-ridden blanket. Chills came in relentless waves and had lasted almost all night.

It was likely because she caught a cold and fell into the water on the yacht, resulting in this fierce fever.

She weakly lifted the cup. Her throat felt like it was being rubbed with sandpaper, and every swallow of water brought a sharp, knife-like pain.

She hesitated about buying fever reducers, but the thought of spending money quickly dismissed the idea.

She clutched the edge of the blanket, preparing to sink back into a daze, hoping the fever would break after she slept.

While her consciousness was hazy, scattered footsteps suddenly echoed from the stairwell.

With a loud crash.

The wooden door of the small attic was violently smashed open.

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