Xu Qiu’er sank beneath the surface, her black hair swirling in the water. Long Hanxie shouted, “Someone, rescue her!” Immediately, someone dove in, caught Xu Qiu’er’s sinking body, and surfaced, holding her with one hand.
The water was cold, and Xu Qiu’er’s long hair floated around the rescuer’s neck. Her faint breath brushed against his ear, bringing a cool fragrance from her skin and hair.
Xu Qiu’er opened her tightly closed eyes, with water droplets trembling on her eyelashes.
Long Hanxie’s lips moved, wanting to speak, but when he met Xu Qiu’er’s gaze – calm and proud – he was stunned. He gritted his teeth, rushed forward, and snatched Xu Qiu’er from Gongson Jinyu’s arms, then released her.
Xu Qiu’er sank into the lake once again without struggle.
Long Hanxie stared at the spot where she had disappeared, feeling his heart sink alongside her. The intensity of his heartbeat was almost unbearable.
As the wind rippled across the lake, trembling servants rushed to the scene and saw Gongson Jinyu emerging from the water with Xu Qiu’er.
“We are late and deserve to die,” the servants panicked.
Long Hanxie snapped, “Go away. No one is allowed to approach without my order.”
Gloomily, he addressed the drenched Gongson Jinyu, “Why are you here?”
Before she could respond, Xu Qiu’er’s low laugh echoed, “Jinyu was waiting at my request. I wanted to see if the lord would jump into this cold lake for me. It seems I was wrong; the lord doesn’t want me as much as I imagined.” She stood up and coldly passed Long Hanxie’s stiff body, thinking, because you hesitated, because you were considering, so I apologize, my lord, we can only be enemies.
Long Hanxie stared at her back, silent for a long time.
Xu Qiu’er swallowed the black medicinal liquid, frowning. Despite her accustomedness to taking medicine, she found it very bitter. Her body was weak, having been immersed in the winter lake, which caused a persistent high fever. Long Hanxie had sent imperial doctors to prescribe medicine, but with little effect.
