The Amnesiac Drama Queen Is Crashing the Live Stream - Chapter 20.2

The early summer lake water, though not as bone-chilling as in winter, was still cold enough to make one shiver.

The moment the sports car, unable to brake due to inertia, plunged into the lake, water rushed in through the wide-open windows as if competing to get inside. All the controls in the car seemed to have failed.

Xia Xingtang panicked and cried for help, “Help, is anyone there, save me!”

Her faint breaths did nothing to free her from her predicament. The warmth in her body was gradually fading, and as she struggled, the water surged even more violently into the car, accelerating its descent.

Just as the water was about to reach the top of the window, Xia Xingtang mustered her last bit of strength and pushed herself out through the window, only to be met with even colder lake water.

At first, she could barely use the partially submerged car as a support.

But as the water voraciously swallowed the vehicle, Xia Xingtang had no choice but to rely on herself to stay afloat.

She managed to stay on the surface for only a few seconds before the water pressure dragged her down, her strength failing as she sank.

When she first fell into the water, she had held onto a sliver of hope that her twenty-three-year-old self had learned how to swim.

But as she miraculously climbed out of the car, the fear that surged from deep within made it painfully clear: she didn’t know how to swim.

The water eventually flooded her nostrils, and a suffocating agony overwhelmed her. Struggling desperately in the water, Xia Xingtang could not escape the fate of being submerged completely.

Bubbles escaped weakly from her mouth; she had no idea how much water she had swallowed.

As her consciousness began to fade, regret washed over her.

Why had she driven here?

How had she ended up in the lake?

How? Was she about to die?

They say that before death, a person’s life flashes before their eyes like a revolving lantern. But for her, after losing her memory, only vague recollections from before the age of sixteen remained.

And the fragments of time she had spent with Pei Luoqing over the past month or so.

Although Pei Luoqing had kept things from her, playing along with the “spouse” charade, her intentions didn’t seem entirely malicious.

In her final moments, she decided to reluctantly forgive Pei Luoqing.

After all, her time seemed only enough to remember Pei Luoqing alone.

Just as Xia Xingtang’s consciousness was about to fade completely, a warm arm wrapped around her back from behind, halting her descent.

The firm grip jolted her awake, and her survival instincts surged forth.

She struggled to open her eyes and, as if in a hallucination, glimpsed a blurry white figure through the murky water.

A faint, elusive scent of cold fragrance drifted past her nostrils with the current, like a touch of icy green in the snow, crisp and alluring.

The fragrance inexplicably brought her a sense of calm.

As the figure pulled her closer, their faces brushed against each other. Overwhelmed by a growing sense of familiarity and the suffocating lack of oxygen, Xia Xingtang pressed herself against the person, desperately seeking air.

Their hair tangled freely underwater, her loose-knit sweater already in disarray, revealing a delicate and vulnerable collarbone.

A low, instinctual moan escaped her throat. After a moment of brushing against the other’s lips, she fiercely sought the vitality within, demanding life.

In that moment, she couldn’t tell if it was her imagination.

At first, the other person seemed to clench their teeth tightly, not yielding an inch.

But as she pressed closer, they relented, parting just enough. A warm, soft sensation spread through her mouth, sending a tingling, electric current coursing through her entire body.

When Xia Xingtang regained consciousness, her head was already lifted above the water, and she gasped for fresh air in ragged breaths.

Yet her entire body clung tightly to the person beside her like a koala, as violent coughs wracked her frame.

Her eyes brimmed with droplets, whether from the water or her own tears, it was impossible to tell.

After nervously turning to confirm the identity of the person holding her, Xia Xingtang finally let out a sigh of relief.

She wrapped her arms tightly around Pei Luoqing’s neck, allowing herself to be carried toward the shore, a sense of liberation washing over her as though she had narrowly escaped death.

The one who had tricked her into coming here was Pei Luoqing, and in the end, the one who saved her was also Pei Luoqing.

Her heart felt heavy and stifled. Taking advantage of the fact that Pei Luoqing couldn’t see her expression, she quietly shed a few tears, letting them fall into the water and vanish without a trace.

Pei Luoqing carefully helped her ashore and guided her to a patch of grass nearby, studying Xia Xingtang closely.

Now, Xia Xingtang’s emotions were laid bare for all to see.

Her body trembled from the cold water, her eyes were red-rimmed, and her face was deathly pale, she exuded a fragile, almost heartbreaking beauty.

Her shimmering eyes still held traces of lingering fear, and even her usually vibrant lips were drained of color. She looked as though her soul had momentarily left her body, evoking a deep sense of pity.

Recalling Xia Xingtang’s time in the hospital, even the faintest scratch on her forehead had been meticulously bandaged.

A young lady accustomed to a life of comfort and care, encountering such an ordeal was unlikely something she could emotionally recover from quickly.

Pei Luoqing gave Xia Xingtang ample time, only gently patting her back when she coughed, offering silent reassurance.

A few seconds later, Xia Xingtang seemed to have caught her breath, only to suddenly push Pei Luoqing away.

But her strength was feeble, barely enough to move Pei Luoqing an inch.

Instead, she turned her back, hugged her knees, and buried her face in them, looking utterly wronged and pitiful.

For a moment, Pei Luoqing felt at a loss, even holding her breath for a few seconds.

She turned gently and patted Xia Xingtang’s shoulder. “Xia Xingtang?”

“Hmph…”

Xia Xingtang didn’t move, but from the side, Pei Luoqing could still see her tightly pressed lips and trembling body.

Though the sun provided some warmth, the two were drenched, and with every gust of wind, their skin felt chilled all over again.

Pei Luoqing glanced around and spotted the white jacket she had taken off before entering the water not far away. She stood up.

At first, Xia Xingtang paid no mind to the sound of footsteps retreating behind her.

But when Pei Luoqing didn’t return after what felt like an eternity, she anxiously turned to look, just in time to see Pei Luoqing, only a few steps away, deliberately walking softly.

In that moment, two conflicting emotions surged within her.

One was the relief that Pei Luoqing had returned, that she hadn’t been abandoned. The other was the embarrassment of being caught needing Pei Luoqing.

Fortunately, Pei Luoqing said nothing. She simply wrapped the jacket around Xia Xingtang and pulled out a pack of tissues from the car.

Frowning slightly, she began to wipe Xia Xingtang’s face.

Though Xia Xingtang had somewhat recovered, her eyes remained red as she stared at Pei Luoqing. Suddenly, something flashed in her mind, and she abruptly slapped Pei Luoqing’s hand away before turning her back once more.

Pei Luoqing wasn’t angered by the dropped tissue. Only then did it belatedly occur to her, shouldn’t she be comforting someone?

After all, it was her own decision to deliberately appear at this summit, to orchestrate a chance encounter, that had provoked Xia Xingtang’s emotional outburst.

And indirectly led to this accident.

Pei Luoqing simply knelt on one knee, leaning forward slightly, and spoke as gently as possible: “Tangtang, if you don’t want to dry off first, how about coming back to the car with me? I’ll take you to change your clothes, alright?”

Xia Xingtang’s arms, wrapped around her knees, seemed to loosen slightly. Pei Luoqing pressed on: “Tangtang, if you have any grievances against me, let’s talk after you’ve changed, okay?”

Then, Pei Luoqing watched as her exceedingly delicate little wife buried her head even deeper, like an ostrich.

After a long pause, she finally mumbled, “Don’t wipe my face so carelessly, you’ll ruin my makeup!”

Her tone carried a hint of reproach, as if she had suffered some great injustice at Pei Luoqing’s hands.

Pei Luoqing: …

Pei Luoqing began to reassess Xia Xingtang.

So, Xia Xingtang had been sitting alone for so long, sulking for so long, all because of her makeup?

Not because she was physically uncomfortable from falling into the water, nor because of the fear of nearly drowning?

Recalling how Xia Xingtang had preened like a peacock before leaving the house that day, Pei Luoqing actually found her current behavior… somewhat reasonable?

It felt a bit absurd.

Just as Pei Luoqing was questioning her own perception, Xia Xingtang suddenly leaned in, unusually exposing her entire face to Pei Luoqing.

She complained, “It’s all because of your wiping earlier, I don’t know if you’ve rubbed off my waterproof makeup. Quick, check if it’s smudged!”

Since they were at a resort where some physical activity was expected, Xia Xingtang had specifically chosen waterproof, sweatproof makeup that day, determined to defend her beauty at all costs.

But after all the commotion, she had no idea what state her face was in.

Adhering to the principle that as long as she couldn’t see it, she was still beautiful, Xia Xingtang entrusted this crucial task to Pei Luoqing.

However, Pei Luoqing’s earlier patience had vanished. She lazily plopped down beside Xia Xingtang, using a handful of tissues to wipe her own face. “So, this is what you’re worried about?”

“What else should I be worried about?” Xia Xingtang thought for a moment, then her tone grew agitated again. “Oh no, oh no, oh no! I think I rubbed my face against your neck earlier. I must look absolutely hideous now.”

Pei Luoqing had expected Xia Xingtang to say something profound about surviving a near-death experience, but instead, she was still fixated on her appearance.

She fell silent for a moment, digesting Xia Xingtang’s train of thought, before finally resigning herself to the fact that it had taken three years of marriage to truly understand her wife.

As Xia Xingtang’s muttering continued beside her, Pei Luoqing felt a throbbing at her temples.

She conceded, “It’s not smudged.”

Xia Xingtang clearly didn’t believe her. “Really?”

“No.” Pei Luoqing grabbed the tissue box, pulled out a stack of tissues, and unceremoniously pressed them all onto Xia Xingtang’s face. “If there’s no makeup left, it can’t possibly smudge.”

Just as Xia Xingtang had breathed a sigh of relief, hearing those words made her wilt instantly. She frantically snatched the tissues off her face.

If there was nothing left, it couldn’t possibly be smeared.

Didn’t that mean, it had all been wiped away?

Why hadn’t she been a little more careful just now? How could she have rubbed it all off?

Wait!

Xia Xingtang stared at Pei Luoqing’s yellowish collar in front of her, recalling her actions in the water moments ago.

Suddenly, an extremely awkward memory surfaced.

Earlier, not only had she rubbed her face against Pei Luoqing’s neck for a long time in the water…

But underwater, it seemed, perhaps, maybe, had she also forcefully kissed Pei Luoqing?

Was it an illusion?

It must have been an illusion.

Help!