C21 A Day of Depression

Meng Jingxian was on the verge of swearing. Why was nothing going her way today? She couldn't do this, couldn't go there—everything was off-limits.

"Fine, fine. Let's just head to the Middle Water District," she conceded. If one more thing went wrong, Meng Jingxian felt she might just lose it. She had anticipated a day of joy, only to be met with the most frustrating day imaginable.

They made their way to the Middle Water District. It was crowded, mostly with students there for a weekend swim. The majority stuck to the shallow end, leaving just a handful in the deeper waters.

Gu Panpan looked pale, and Chu Yang was visibly concerned. "Are you okay? Maybe you should take a break?"

Gu Panpan shook her head. There was no way she was going to give Meng Jingxian and Chu Yang a chance to be alone—that would be something she'd regret forever.

Meng Jingxian gave Gu Panpan a piercing look. She was beginning to suspect that Gu Panpan couldn't swim at all and that her real reason for being here was to keep an eye on Chu Yang and herself. "Can you even swim? If not, just sit down and rest," Meng Jingxian snapped, her patience worn thin.

Gu Panpan's eyes brimmed with tears, as if Meng Jingxian's words had struck a nerve. Gu Panpan frowned at the sight—it was such a hassle. She turned to Meng Jingxian with a look that seemed to carry a hint of reproach for her harsh words.

Meng Jingxian caught Chu Yang's disapproving look and fell silent. She knew Gu Panpan was his girlfriend, the one he truly cared about, but still, his look of blame stung. Tears welled up in Meng Jingxian's eyes, and she quickly turned away, diving into the pool. It wasn't anger that drove her—it was the fear of showing her vulnerability to Chu Yang.

"Just go swim. I can swim," Gu Panpan said in her delicate voice, though inside she was struggling to contain her glee. Outwardly, she maintained a facade of concern for Meng Jingxian.

Any director witnessing this scene would have been compelled to applaud. Gu Panpan was a natural-born actress, a true queen of drama. Who else could hold a candle to her in such a performance?

"Just wait a moment and take your time coming down, you'll be fine," Chu Yang instructed Gu Panpan on safety precautions before diving into the pool himself.

Gu Panpan secretly wished Chu Yang would linger a bit longer, but how could he possibly know the drama playing out in her mind?

Meng Jingxian submerged herself in the pool, a skill she had mastered for holding her breath underwater. As Chu Yang approached, she considered releasing her breath, struggling for air, and forcing him to come to her rescue—a scenario she knew he wouldn't ignore.

But she resisted using such tactics to capture Chu Yang's attention, a decision she would later regret knowing what was to come.

Gu Panpan tentatively entered the water, watching Chu Yang and Meng Jingxian drift further away. Panic set in, her balance faltered, and she plunged into the water, crying out, "Chu Yang, save me, save me!"

Chu Yang, however, was too far to hear her desperate pleas. Gu Panpan sank deeper, and eventually, not seeing Chu Yang's figure, she resigned herself to her fate and stopped struggling.

It was Ouyang Chusheng, nearby, who heard her cries. He swiftly swam to Gu Panpan and lifted her to safety. Gu Panpan, thinking her rescuer was Chu Yang, forced her eyes open only to find a stranger's face.

Ouyang Chusheng brought Gu Panpan ashore, her calls for help having drawn a crowd. While some onlookers were prepared to dive in after her, Ouyang Chusheng had already completed the rescue. Now they gathered around Gu Panpan, eager to ensure she was unharmed.

Gu Panpan managed to open her eyes and reassured everyone with a wave that she was alright. She wasn't close to losing consciousness and was quickly regaining her composure.

"Thank you," she said to the man beside her, acknowledging his disheveled appearance was a result of his heroic act.

Ouyang Chusheng hadn't realized until now just how beautiful the girl he rescued was. The rescue had been instinctual, and he certainly hadn't expected to save someone so attractive. "No worries at all, I'm just glad you're okay. Hi, I'm Ouyang Chusheng. Would you like to be friends?"

Gu Panpan, a seasoned observer of people, instantly recognized the man's intention to flirt with her. However, she couldn't bring herself to reject him, especially since he had fearlessly come to her rescue. "Hello, I'm Gu Panpan. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Sensing that something was amiss, Chu Yang and Gu Panpan made their way back to shore. All the while, Meng Jingxian's heart was racing with worry, hoping against hope that nothing had happened to Gu Panpan.

Chu Yang was the first to reach the poolside, where he found Gu Panpan sitting on the ground, soaking wet, with a stranger by her side. His heart lurched with concern. He hastened to Gu Panpan, inadvertently leaving Meng Jingxian trailing behind.

"What happened? Are you okay?" Chu Yang couldn't hide the worry in his voice.

Upon seeing Chu Yang, Gu Panpan's face lit up with a warm, sincere smile. Even Ouyang Chusheng, standing nearby, could sense the special bond between them as he glanced up at the approaching Chu Yang, realizing they were more than just friends.

"It's nothing serious. I just slipped getting into the water and ended up falling in. I couldn't get back up," Gu Panpan explained, her attention fixed solely on Chu Yang, seemingly oblivious to Ouyang Chusheng's presence, the man who had actually helped her, and showing no sign of introducing him to Chu Yang.

Ouyang Chusheng, though feeling out of place, stayed put. He was curious to see what made the man Gu Panpan cared about so special.

Eventually, Chu Yang gestured to Gu Panpan to introduce the stranger. Realizing her oversight, Gu Panpan turned to Ouyang Chusheng with an apologetic smile. "This gentleman here is the one who rescued me when I fell into the water."

"I appreciate your help," Chu Yang said to Ouyang Chusheng, extending his gratitude.

Ouyang Chusheng bristled at the response. "I saved her, not you. What gives you the right to thank me on her behalf?"

"Do you think the title of boyfriend is sufficient? Because I am her boyfriend," Chu Yang declared without much forethought. He was simply aware that it was a perilous time, and one had to be wary of everyone. Noticing the man's interest in Gu Panpan, Chu Yang felt compelled to intervene and prevent him from getting too close.

Chu Yang's bold proclamation stunned both Meng Jingxian, who was approaching, and Gu Panpan, standing right beside him. Meng Jingxian was aware of Chu Yang's relationship with Gu Panpan, but she had chosen to dull her senses and act as if she was oblivious to this fact. Now, with Chu Yang asserting his relationship with Gu Panpan so assertively, it was a shock to her system.

Gu Panpan herself was taken aback. She was conscious of their faux romance, and couldn't fathom why Chu Yang would make such a statement. Yet, the joy she felt was undeniable, especially upon witnessing Meng Jingxian's halted stride at the sound of Chu Yang's words.

Ouyang Chusheng, though privy to the special nature of their relationship, hadn't considered the possibility of them being an actual couple, particularly since he observed Gu Panpan to be older than Chu Yang. Unable to bear the situation any longer, Ouyang Chusheng decided to leave. Casting one last glance at Gu Panpan, he solidified his resolve to continue pursuing her.

"In the future, be careful not to share too much with strangers—it's dangerous," Chu Yang advised Gu Panpan with concern, realizing that she might be too trusting.

Meng Jingxian, feigning ignorance to their recent exchange, approached them as if nothing had happened. "Are you okay? Did you fall into the water earlier?"

Gu Panpan was aware of Meng Jingxian's act but chose not to call her out. In Chu Yang's presence, she didn't want to seem petty and instead opted for graciousness. "I'm fine, just a little slip that led to an unplanned dip," she replied.

The mood for further play had dissipated among the trio. After a brief discussion, they unanimously decided to head home. They agreed to meet at the entrance after changing clothes. As Chu Yang was about to enter the vehicle, he caught sight of the long-absent Zhang Tianhua, to his astonishment, standing next to Chen Le. They were about to board the same car. Chu Yang considered following them but ultimately decided against it, turning his attention back to the two women in the car.

How could Chen Le be traveling with just one person? There were several men in black flanking the vehicle, with a few other cars parked alongside. The scene was quite imposing, prompting Chu Yang to hold back from making any hasty moves.

Chu Yang hadn't anticipated that Chen Le was acquainted with Zhang Tianhua, and judging by their interactions, they seemed to have known each other for quite some time and shared a fairly good rapport. The more Chu Yang pondered, the more he sensed the possibility of an unforeseen and potentially frightening event unfolding.

Once everyone was in their vehicles, the driver ignited the engine and pulled away from the swimming complex. All had been smooth sailing until, unexpectedly, a collision occurred on the highway—a professional hit, the kind that only someone with experience could recognize as intentional.

Both the driver and Chu Yang realized their car had been rear-ended. Glancing in the rearview mirror, Chu Yang saw the vehicle that had been parked next to Zhang Tianhua and Chen Le's earlier. It appeared to be one of their henchmen.

"We've been rear-ended. How could this happen?" The driver maintained his composure, his gaze fixed on the road ahead as he deftly maneuvered the car. It was clear the driver was seasoned; he remained calm and collected, competently handling the situation without a hint of panic.