Before the footsteps approach, you take a deep breath and jump into the water. It's early summer already, and the lake water isn't particularly cold. Only the darkness keeps bringing you a fear of unknown danger.
Guard: Matron, are you sure you've seen someone sneaky?
Matron: 100% sure! There can be no mistake! I saw someone who kept coming this way and didn't listen to my call!
Guard: Scatter and search! Let's find out this bold thief who dares to get into the mansion!
You can vaguely hear the voice of guards searching around the lake. Although you feel lucky for your decision to hide in the lake, you are also afraid that you will still be found.
Xiu Ying: (No, even if they haven't found me, I may still get myself drowned.)
The guards' voices still persist, and you feel yourself running out of breath. Fear grows in your mind. What should you do? It is then you realize someone else in the lake is approaching you!
Xiu Ying: (What? Is it a man? But how can I not detect that there is someone else in the lake?)
That person quickly swims towards you in the dark lake. Instinctively you want to escape, but he is faster and takes you into his arms.
Xiu Ying: (Are you a man or a ghost?!)
The next moment, this person gently snaps on your forehead. You immediately relax with the familiar. It turns out that he is Yin Zhen.
Xiu Ying: (When did he come? How does he know I'm in the lake? And what is he doing here?)
There are many questions in your mind, yet you know you can't get the answer right now. Because of holding your breath for too long, your heart is pounding fast and your mind is a mess. In a daze, you are gently pushed forward. The next instant, he lunges forward and presses his lips upon yours.
You feel like a wave of fire surging through your body, and you heart almost jumps out of your heart. Although you are still in the cool lake water, you feel too hot and too shock to make any response. As you stop holding your breath, you have also... drunk some unpleasant lake water.
Xiu Ying: (...Yin Zhen?)
You don't know how long you have been in the water, but there is no more sound in your ears, and everything has calmed down. Yin Zhen holds your waist and swims towards the lake shore. The moonlight shines in the dark, and you can finally breathe in despite your still pounding heart.
Yin Zhen: We gotta leave as soon as possible before they spot us.
Yin Zhen helps you out of the lake and leads you to avoid any potential guard. Your mind hasn't resumed clear, and you can do nothing but follow his lead.
Yin Zhen: [smile faintly] I guess I can sell you now without any effort.
Ashamed, you pretend that you didn't hear his words and ignore him. However, he only gets closer.
Yin Zhen: Is your mind not clear enough to answer me?
Xiu Ying: I don't want to answer you.
Yin Zhen: Well, all right, since it's all my fault, you have every right not to answer me. I'll wait for you to calm down.
Your face blushes again, and you quickly lift away your gaze. Suddenly you feel yourself being carried on Yin Zhen's back.
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