Early the next morning, Song Xuanhe headed directly to the company. Because Mother Song had come, he didn’t eat with Xiao Yuanmu. It wasn’t until the two of them were sitting together in the car that Song Xuanhe retroactively realized that there was something off about Xiao Yuanmu.
Although Xiao Yuanmu normally had no expression and was a man of few words—if there was no need, he would not say more than necessary—he still would look calm and innocent, which was unlike how he looked now, gaze lowered while deep in thought, surrounded by an extremely oppressing air, with a darkness occasionally flitting through his eyes.
His silence before made people think he was a handsome, melancholic youth with an aloof aura. His actions induced admiration and infatuation. But, his silence now made it seem like he was pathologically antisocial and possessed both a high IQ and meticulous thought. With one look, he could make people’s hair stand on end.
If it hadn’t been for the System confidently telling him that Xiao Yuanmu had yet to be reborn, Song Xuanhe would have let go of the steering wheel and run away by now.
They couldn’t maintain this silence. When he thought of the pool party they were about to go to, Song Xuanhe made conversation, “Can you swim?”
When Xiao Yuanmu heard his voice, he gently raised his eyes. His long eyelashes pointed in his direction before he looked back down again. “No.”
Song Xuanhe thought about what was about to happen. He pursed his lips, and his eyebrows subconsciously furrowed together. “Then, stay as far away from the pool as you can.”
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yuanmu looked up again. He stared directly at Song Xuanhe, gaze calm. “Why?”
“Afraid that you’ll fall in.”
【Even if you say that, the boss will still fall in. This is part of the main plot. It can’t be changed.】
“Can you swim?”
Song Xuanhe was just about to reply to the System when he heard Xiao Yuanmu’s voice. He turned around and looked at Xiao Yuanmu, surprised. This was the first time he’d asked him a question. This big boss had thrown the question back to him with a tone of wanting to continue the conversation.
“Yes, but just average,” Song Xuanhe said, “I don’t like the water all that much.”
Xiao Yuanmu looked away. The lights outside the car window quickly flickered past his eyes. One couldn’t tell what expression was in his eyes. He said with a casual tone, “Where did you go last night?”
“The main residence.” After saying this, Song Xuanhe recalled how he had just left after getting that call. He hadn’t told Xiao Yuanmu where he was going or when he was coming back.
“How did you get back yesterday? A taxi?”
“I walked.”
Song Xuanhe pursed his lips. Although the apartment was not far from the company, the location of the dinner party had been quite a distance away from the company. If he had walked back from there, it would have still taken him approximately half an hour even if he had walked fast.
When he thought of this, he didn’t know why, but he suddenly felt that it was rather inappropriate of him to have left Xiao Yuanmu all on his own.
……
The pool party was located in a villa district in the western suburbs. Because the villas in this district had only recently gone on the market, there weren’t many inhabitants. The streets were empty at night, and the roads were quiet. Aside from the street lamps and the ornamental lighting from the gardens, there were few lit lights within the homes on either side.
Therefore, amidst the stillness, the brightly lit, modern, two-story building that had music blasting from it was especially eye-catching. It made Xiao Yuanmu, who has always preferred the quiet, frown.
Song Xuanhe had just opened his car door when people began to congregate towards them from the lawn. There were both males and females around. Amongst them, a man cloaked in a white bathrobe came out front and wrapped an arm around Song Xuanhe’s shoulders. He said with a smile, “I’ve invited you several times before, and you’ve never come out. This time, I asked Lin , get down from there!”
Song Xuanhe was also quite nervous. He really was just a mediocre swimmer, let alone a diver. However, the System had analyzed that if he jumped down from this window, he would fall right into the water. Moreover, he would fall very close to where Xiao Yuanmu was currently flailing. He already had no time left. If Xiao Yuanmu died, so would he. Therefore, even if he was nervous, he had to jump.
Splash—
A big splash rose up from the pool. Song Xuanhe quickly held his breath. He furrowed his brows, screams from the shore entering his ears. It had been too long since he had last swam. His form wasn’t very skilled. It took him a few strokes before he got the feeling back. Then, he quickly swam over to Xiao Yuanmu.
Xiao Yuanmu could feel the water fill his nose and then his lungs. His strength gradually left his body. But when he thought of the rib-breaking force the person who had pushed him had used, a power arose in his body. He gritted his teeth and tried to go up to the surface, but no matter how he moved, the water continued to fill his mouth and nose.
He had a bad cramp in his calves. His body heat seemed to seep away with his strength. His eyes also felt full of blood. The ear-piercing screams and voices also gradually disappeared. Xiao Yuanmu slowly closed his eyes.
Actually, death wasn’t so bad.
Sooner or later, his life would end. How different could it be?
The Director’s kind smile flitted through his brain. His mind slowly calmed down. In this world, the only person who made him feel warmth, the only one he was concerned about, was the Director. He hoped that he could be filial towards her in the next world.
“Xiao Yuanmu!”
While absent-minded, a muffled, familiar voice sounded. Xiao Yuanmu opened his eyes a bit before widening them. He was astonished.
Light illuminated the top of the pool from above. The person who was doing his best to swim towards him was surrounded by that light. The azure water moved about the circle of light. The rays of light in the water were dim, falling upon the other’s moving hands and frantic face, making up the most beautiful scene Xiao Yuanmu had ever seen in his entire life.
The author has something to say:
Xiao Yuanmu: My sweetheart is a merman. One day, he’ll blow bubbles and come save me in a halo of white light.
Song Xuanhe: Is the halo you’re talking about the one that dead people have on top of their heads?
Eve: And it was at that moment, MuMu knew he was a goner <3.
Kara: Ah, this couple is so silly and awkward. I love them so much. *wipes tears* Also, now I’m wondering who the person who was supposed to save him was and where they are. Perhaps a love rival from the novel?? Either way…WHY YOU NO SAVE OUR MUMU??! ( ゜Д゜；)！？