True, if Zhao Qin really wanted to mess with Zhu Xiangxiang, why give herself a Truth card? Wouldn't that be asking for trouble?
Zhu Xiangxiang tugged Sun Yi, "Let it go, I lost the bet fair and square."
"The seawater is so deep, your body won't be able to handle it." The seawater was very cold at night, and Zhu Xiangxiang, a delicate and pampered rich young lady, wouldn't be able to take it.
"Sun Yi, if you really can't bear to see your sweetheart suffer, you might as well jump in with her, at least they'll have each other for company," Li Jiaojiao joked.
Zhu Xiangxiang's face was slightly pale, but she remained calm, a reminder of why she was Jiangcheng's number one socialite - her grace was unrivaled.
Sun Yi, being the ultimate protector, insisted, "I'll jump if I have to."
Originally, Zhao Qin planned to have the person who drew the Dare card ask the person with the Truth card a question, and while others wouldn't know their identities, they'd be able to enjoy the scene. But now with the Truth card in her possession, she could only change the rules…
However, before she could come up with a new plan, Zhu Xiangxiang took the lead of laughing: "I remember when we used to play Truth or Dare, the person who drew the Dare card would ask the person with the Truth card a question. Am I right?"
Zhao Qin stiffened and said, "Different people have different ways of playing."
"I think it's the most fair to let me ask you a question, is that okay?" Zhu Xiangxiang smiled gently, and it was impossible to refuse.
Zhao Qin clenched her teeth and forced a smile, "Fine, go ahead and ask."
Charles Gao took pleasure in the imminent chaos: "Two women are at each other's throats, the show is starting."
He poured a glass of champagne for Ming Jing, but she shook her head, "I don't drink this stuff."
"What do you drink, then? Soda? Milk?"
"Nothing, let's just watch quietly."
Charles Gao quietly looked at the young girl's indifferent profile amid the night, feeling an increasing sense of mysterious untouchability.
He knew Zhao Qin well enough to be sure she would never leave the Truth card for herself. He had been observing her earlier, and ascertained that she intended the Dare card for Zhu Xiangxiang. Their rivalry wasn't surprising, but the Truth card… His thoughts turned to the undercurrents between Ming Jing and Zhao Qin during the card drawing.
Managing to outwit Zhao Qin was certainly interesting.
Zhu Xiangxiang thought for a moment and said, "My question is - who is the first person you've hurt since you were born?"
What a poisonous question.
As the female bully of Shengde High School, Zhao Qin had bullied countless people - too many to fit in a single truck.
Zhao Qin's viciousness wasn't a secret, and she wasn't afraid of others gossiping about her. She candidly answered, "When I was seven years old, the daughter of our housekeeper came to our house for a short stay. She kicked my golden retriever, which made me very angry. So, I shaved her head while she was sleeping."
The next day, the girl woke up to find her head completely bald and was so frightened that she wet herself. Zhao Qin mocked and took pictures of her, permanently scarring her with a deep psychological trauma, which led to depression and eventually her suicide at fifteen.
No one, including Li Jiaojiao, knew about this incident.
"It was just shaving a head, no big deal. I know how much Zhao Qin treasures her golden retriever, so this punishment was mild," someone commented.
"Hair is so important to a girl. If I woke up one morning to find myself bald, I would go crazy," another chimed in.
The crowd discussed Zhao Qin's cruelty with renewed vigor.
Zhu Xiangxiang nodded, stood up, and walked to the deck, gazing down at the turbulent sea.
Charles Gao, fearing an accident, ordered a lifeguard to wait in a small yacht below.
Sun Yi came over and said, "Don't be scared, Xiangxiang. I'll jump with you."
Zhu Xiangxiang smiled and shook her head, "I can't let you suffer with me anymore. Don't worry, there's a lifeguard below. I'll be fine."
Her perseverance and consideration deeply touched Sun Yi's heart, and his disgust for Zhao Qin grew even more intense.
Zhu Xiangxiang looked around, the expressions of those present displaying sympathy, schadenfreude, or anticipation for the upcoming drama; each person's gaze betrayed their true feelings.
Only Ming Jing and Jiang Jinchen were the exceptions.With such indifferent attitude, even if she were to jump off a cliff today, the two probably wouldn't even furrow their brows.
Zhu Xiangxiang let out a bitter smile, climbed onto the railing.
She had dressed deliberately for tonight, wearing a flowing white dress. Her elegant gown flitting as the night breeze brushed the hem; she seemed to be ready to ride the wind away.
The hearts of many men present were instantly moved by the fragile beauty of her silhouette, wishing they could take the plunge for her.
Li Jiaojiao hooked her lips, a malicious smile flashing in her eyes.
Zhu Xiangxiang, I have prepared a big surprise for you. Wait for it!
Zhu Xiangxiang spread her arms, closed her eyes, and leaped with all her might.
"Ah…." A timid scream.
With a "splash," a huge wave rose from where she fell.
Just at that moment, the rain started pouring down heavily, forcing everyone to hurriedly return to their rooms, except for Sun Yi, who remained leaning against the railing, looking down into the water.
Zhu Xiangxiang had learned how to swim, so as she hit the water, she tried to resurface. But suddenly her foot was entangled by something, pulling her down into the depths.
Filled with terror, Zhu Xiangxiang thought, "I must have had the terrible luck to be caught in an underwater plant."
She struggled to swim upwards, but the icy water quickly sapped her strength. Despite her exhaustion, her will to survive kept her from surrendering. Biting her tongue, she fought to stay conscious.
Where was the lifeguard? Why hadn't anyone come to rescue her?
In an instant, Zhu Xiangxiang thought of a possibility: Zhao Qin had planned this whole thing to quietly put her to death.
Filled with hatred, Zhu Xiangxiang vowed that if she could escape alive, she would never let Zhao Qin go.
Sun Yi was somewhat acrophobic; seeing the deep water below, he hesitated and ultimately did not jump in.
"Zhu Xiangxiang? Where's the lifeguard? Where the hell are they? Someone's going to die…."
The torrential rain came down, drowning out his cries.
Suddenly, a figure raced out of a room, swift as lightning and leaped onto the railing. Their lithe silhouette was as graceful as a crane, and without any hesitation, they jumped.
If Sun Yi was not mistaken, the person who just jumped was the girl Charles Gao had been hovering around all night.
Of all the people there, only she stepped up.
Tao Xingxing ran out with an umbrella, leaned on the railing, and shouted, "Ming Jing… you must be alright."
Charles Gao angrily yelled: "Where is the damn lifeguard?!"
Zhu Xiangxiang felt desperate, was she really going to meet her end here?
She wouldn't accept that!
Suddenly, someone broke through the water, wrapped their arms around her waist, and carried her to the surface>.
Zhu Xiangxiang's consciousness was already fading, but she remembered that this person's face was indifferent, yet gentle, just as striking as when they first met.
With that memory, she fell into complete unconsciousness.
Ming Jing hoisted Zhu Xiangxiang onto the deck, but as she was about to pull herself up, a sudden enormous wave crashed into her, sweeping her away.
"Ming Jing…" Charles Gao's heart-wrenching cry echoed in Ming Jing's fading consciousness.
Suddenly, a figure leaped onto the yacht, carried the unconscious Zhu Xiangxiang on board and drove the yacht away from the area.
"Call the police; I'm going to look for her."
Charles Gao strained his voice, yelling, "Jiang Jinchen, you must bring her back to me!"