Big Boss – Chapter 8

She’s so clingy

So, with splashes reaching half a person’s height, only Ye Youqing remained alone on the pier, hands on hips, watching the three in the water thrashing about.

She had initially planned to take the chance to fall into the water. When Qin Wang dived in to save Ci Ke, she intended to use the chaos to snatch back the Fenghua Pendant. However, unexpectedly, those who ended up in the water were Ci Ke and Ye Chengzhu.

With no other options, she could only lend Qin Wang a helping hand.

Calmly removing the shawl from her shoulders, she neatly folded it and placed it on the shore. Ye Youqing then leaped into the water with a graceful dive.

Thus, the people on the shore watched in stunned silence as the initially fine group of four, one after another, all jumped into the lake.

Chaotic shouting erupted like a pot boiling over, and the servants hurriedly rowed towards the scene to rescue the individuals. However, the place where the four had fallen into the water was closer to the center of the lake, and amidst the confusion, no one could reach them in time.

Though it was early spring, the lake water was piercingly cold. Their clothes tangled around their limbs, making it difficult to swim. Ye Youqing pushed her scattered hair behind her and dived into the water, trying her best to squint her eyes open.

In the pale blue water, Qin Wang’s black attire was particularly noticeable as he struggled to surface.

Ye Youqing took a turn underwater and swam towards Qin Wang. Just as he surfaced, she pulled him back down again. The man choked on water, painfully releasing a string of bubbles.

Couldn’t beat him on land, so why not in the water? Ye Youqing curved her eyes, holding onto Qin Wang to prevent him from surfacing, while her other hand searched him, forcefully snatching away a translucent pendant.

Perhaps dizzy from choking, Qin Wang was completely unaware of Ye Youqing’s actions. He continued to struggle fiercely. Satisfied, Ye Youqing securely placed the pendant away before letting go, then used Qin Wang as a springboard to propel herself out of the water.

Breathing deeply in the sharp yet sweet air, Ye Youqing looked back over the lake. The dazzling reflections on the water were shattered by the struggling people, like glittering colored glass scattered on the ground.

Qin Wang, who had also resurfaced, was ensnared by Ye Chengzhu, who couldn’t swim. The woman clung to Qin Wang’s head desperately, nearly choking him, making it impossible for anyone to swim back to shore.

What about Ci Ke? Suddenly, Ye Youqing remembered. According to the original story, Ci Ke couldn’t swim either. Her heart skipped a beat as she widened her gaze, searching carefully.

Suddenly, a hand emerged from the previously calm surface of the water, flailing twice in the air before disappearing again. Ye Youqing, relieved, quickly dove underwater, heading towards the hand.

Fortunately, I had good eyesight, otherwise, given the distance, if Ci Ke had sunk, it would have been very difficult to spot her again.

The complex sleeves and ornaments on her body were being dragged by the water, trailing behind and significantly slowing her movements. Ye Youqing silently cursed, quickly removing her outer garment and the decorative tassels at her waist, casually tossing them into the water.

The sunlight, piercing through the surface, made the lake water appear clear and deep blue, with a few beams of light forming shapes, extending to the bottom of the lake.

Suddenly, Ci Ke’s body entered her field of vision, swaying like seaweed, sinking slowly. Her lotus-pink gown fluttered with the waves, soft as butterfly wings.

Her slender arms floated in the water, seemingly devoid of any consciousness.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Ye Youqing forcefully kicked her legs, propelling herself closer to Ci Ke, grasping her icy wrist, gently pulling her into an embrace, and heading for the surface together.

With a splash, the biting air once again engulfed them. Ye Youqing quickly gasped for a few breaths. Looking back, she was surprised to find that they had already reached the painted boat. The people on the boat, anxiously extending their arms, were stunned to see Ye Youqing and Ci Ke being the ones emerging from the water.

“What are you staring at? Hurry up and pull us up!” Ye Youqing rebuked in a low voice. Prompted by her shouting, several people clumsily grabbed Ci Ke, dragging her onto the deck.

By the time someone reached out to pull Ye Youqing aboard, she had already, with one hand on the boat’s side, nimbly jumped ashore, eliciting dismayed stares.

However, her mind was preoccupied with urgency, failing to notice the discontent. She quickly walked over to Ci Ke’s side and checked her breathing with her hand. Thankfully, there was still warmth in her breath, indicating she was merely unconscious.

Ye Youqing let out a sigh of relief and, looking at the people around her, commanded, “Hurry up and bring the cloak from the bridge!”

Her tone wasn’t particularly harsh, but it carried an undeniable authority. The spoiled young man beside her was taken aback, but instinctively jumped up and hurried towards the wooden bridge. After obediently bringing back the cloak, he suddenly scratched his head, wondering why he had listened to Ye Youqing in the first place.

But it was already too late; Ye Youqing had taken the cloak, carefully wrapped it around Ci Ke, laid it down smoothly, and began applying pressure to her chest.

The woman grimaced in pain, her lips turned pale from being soaked, and clear water flowed from her mouth, dripping down her scattered hair strands.

Ye Youqing watched her pale face, suddenly in a daze. Undoubtedly, Ci Ke had been helping her.

If it weren’t for her arrival in this strange world, Ci Ke would have already been rescued by Qin Wang, avoiding such suffering.

So, in the end, is Ci Ke her variable, or is she Ci Ke’s?

“Is there a warm place on the boat?” Ye Youqing asked, and the maids around her hurriedly pointed to the stern cabin, timidly saying, “Miss Ye, there’s a brazier there, used for warming up in the evening.”

Seeing Ci Ke’s complexion gradually becoming rosier and her breathing steadier, Ye Youqing finally felt relieved. She nodded, stood up, estimated the effort needed, picked Ci Ke up, and walked briskly towards the rear of the boat.

Leaving behind a few maids looking at each other in bewilderment.

“Wasn’t it said that the legitimate daughter of the Duke’s Household deeply loved our young General Qin? And the relationship between General Qin and Ci Ke is well-known to everyone. They should be like water and fire, incompatible. How can this be…”

“Shh.” Another maid quickly covered her mouth, “Even if she is no longer favored, she is still from the Duke’s Household, not someone we can gossip about.”

In the distance, there was another commotion. It turned out that Qin Wang had finally been rescued, rolling to the shore and gasping for air. Seeing this, the family servants and maids on the painted boat rushed towards Qin Wang, and soon, the vast boat was emptied.

Ye Youqing also found a brazier and set Ci Ke down, leaning her against a pillar of the boat. The woman was still unconscious, seemingly feeling uncomfortable, her body started to move restlessly, quickly sliding down softly.

Ye Youqing frowned, stretched out her hand to hold her shoulder, and pushed her back.

However, Ci Ke did not heed, perhaps because the brazier wasn’t hot enough, her body continued to shiver from the cold. She subconsciously sought a warmer place, her cold hands slipping onto Ye Youqing’s arm, rubbing against it.

The woman’s skin was slick as a snake, a sensation unmistakably prominent. Ye Youqing couldn’t help but back away, only to find that body suddenly finding its spot, burrowing into her embrace.

Warmth surged to her cheeks, Ye Youqing’s brows nearly tied in a knot. With her hands propped behind her, pushing away and not pushing away both seemed improper.

How come this person still loves to cling to others even when passed out? If the one she was clinging to wasn’t herself at this moment, wouldn’t that be…

Ye Youqing shook her head, reached out to grab her wrist, not allowing her to come any closer. Yet, like a moth to flame, Ci Ke ignored the grasp on her wrist, pressing her face against Ye Youqing’s shoulder.

It felt quite strange, like soft ice cubes landing on her collarbone, the exhaled air spreading down her neck. Ye Youqing then realized that she had taken off her outer garment in the water, now with her arms bare.

“Are you f*cking kidding me?” Ye Youqing muttered under her breath. Using some effort, she pushed Ci Ke away from herself and used the sash of her robe to secure her to a column on the boat.

The slippery sensation disappeared, and so did the burning feeling in her heart. Ye Youqing finally let out a sigh and placed her hand into the hidden pouch at her waist, pulling out a glass fan pendant.

The unremarkable pendant spilled yellow light under the flame. This trip was not in vain, after all. Thinking about Qin Wang’s expression upon discovering the pendant’s loss was quite amusing.

“Eldest Miss!” Qin Xin’s voice came over, appearing before Ye Youqing like a gust of wind, busying herself with draping another robe over Ye Youqing to cover her bare shoulders, her face turning pale with fright, “What are you doing here? You scared me to death.”

“You seem destined to be scared to death several times a day,” Ye Youqing said, wrapping herself up and gazing down at Ci Ke.

“Find a maid later to watch over her. She should wake up in a bit.” Ye Youqing slowly got up, tidied her messy hair, and continued, “Then we’ll head back to the mansion. This place will likely remain chaotic for a few more hours.”

“This…” Qin Xin looked uncertainly at Ci Ke, who was tied to the column, then nodded and stepped forward to support Ye Youqing. The two of them left via the wooden bridge.

Only after their footsteps faded away did the woman, who seemed unconscious just moments earlier, suddenly open her eyes and looked down at the robe tightly wrapped around her.

A complex mix of emotions flickered through her pale tea-colored eyes.