Several jet skis raced across the water, splashing waves that startled egrets into flapping their wings, on the lake, some female tourists screamed, others cursed as their dresses got soaked, but every male tourist eyed the jet skis with eager excitement.
In 2004, seeing jet skis in a suburban county was rare, their powerful engines kicked up waves over two meters high, speeding across the lake, igniting the adrenaline of the guys, Wang Shuang and Geng Xiao, at seventeen or eighteen, were at that age, drawn to anything new, totally hooked on the jet skis.
Fang Long said his family’s agritourism spot didn’t offer them, too risky for accidents, Wang Shuang sighed, disappointed.
“Such a shame!”
Wen Ying didn’t think so, she was relieved Fang Long didn’t have them.
Xie Qian showed no thrill.
If Longtan Lake had jet skis, it wouldn’t be a good spot to bring Grandma for a boat ride.
Jet skis belonged in wider waters, on a lake with tourists, they were a safety hazard, just as Xie Qian thought this, a jet ski lost control, flipping two boats, the passengers plunged into the water before they could react!
“Shut it off!”
The jet ski that hit wasn’t Yu Wei’s, he saw the chaos and yelled at his friend to stop.
“Brother Wei, I, I can’t stop it—”
The engine’s roar drowned out the panic.
Yu Wei killed his own jet ski’s power, shouting, “Idiot, then head for the shore, don’t hit anyone!”
With that, he dove in to rescue the fallen tourists.
Head for the shore?
Wen Ying’s gut twisted.
“Jiao Jie, can you swim?”
“No—”
Qin Jiao’s heart raced.
Wang Shuang thumped his chest, “Don’t worry, I can!”
He’d meant to jump in and help, but knowing Qin Jiao couldn’t swim, he stayed put.
Not just the two flipped boats’ passengers lacked life jackets, Wen Ying’s group didn’t have them either, Longtan Lake was calm, no boat had ever capsized before!
Fang Long wanted to dive in but feared leaving the helm, their boat could get caught up too.
Wen Ying and Xie Qian’s eyes met, saying in unison, “I can swim.”
Good!
Because the runaway jet ski was barreling toward them, Fang Long tried to steer clear, but it was no use, all part of Yu Wenhao’s plan, how could they dodge?
“Watch out! Be careful!”
Li Mengjiao hopped in panic on the next boat.
A loud bang.
The jet ski slammed into them.
Wen Ying felt the world spin.
She reached for Qin Jiao, but the impact threw her off, she couldn’t control her fall.
She gulped lake water.
Panicking wouldn’t do, it’d only drag her down, she could swim!
July, yet Longtan Lake’s water was freezing.
Wen Ying fought to steady herself, scanning around.
A hand grabbed hers, a voice clear and crisp as snow cut through.
“Don’t panic, swim to shore.”
Xie Qian!
Her nerves settled.
She turned, seeing his young face, water droplets glistening, almost glowing.
Then she remembered Qin Jiao couldn’t swim, she searched frantically.
The rogue jet ski had crashed ashore, tourists leaped in to help.
Earlier, when the first two boats flipped, they hadn’t been this quick.
Wen Ying realized, these “tourists” were likely Boss Qin’s people! Seeing Qin Jiao pulled from the water by two of them, she finally relaxed, swimming hard for shore as Xie Qian said.
Unsure of Yu Wei’s next move, the lake wasn’t safe, her swimming was so-so, fine for herself, but she wouldn’t risk saving others, afraid she’d sink instead.
Xie Qian, confirming she could swim, turned back to aid the earlier victims.
Yu Wei was rescuing too.
Seeing Qin Jiao’s boat flip, he swam over fast.
But he faltered, suddenly surrounded by do-gooders, before he reached Qin Jiao, she was already saved.
Two “tourists” pulled Qin Jiao to shore, she’d choked on water and was shaken, but alert.
Wen Ying gripped her hand tight.
“You’re okay.”
The two “tourists” stayed close, giving them both a sense of security.
Geng Xiao’s boat was fine, docked at shore.
Li Mengjiao, pale, scanned the water, “Where’s Wang Shuang, anyone see him?”
The jet ski hit their boat—Wen Ying, Qin Jiao, Xie Qian, Wang Shuang, Fang Long, five aboard, it flipped upside down, Wen Ying and Qin Jiao were ashore, Xie Qian was helping others, Fang Long surfaced, but no Wang Shuang—
He was still in the lake!
Wen Ying leapt up.
Li Mengjiao sobbed his name.
Qin Jiao struggled to stand, “Save him!”
The two “tourists” exchanged looks, one stayed with Qin Jiao, the other dove back in.
Tang Yifeng held Li Mengjiao back, Geng Xiao jumped in.
Wang Shuang might be trapped under the boat, maybe knocked out, not surfacing now was bad.
Wen Ying glanced at Qin Jiao, then Li Mengjiao, her mind buzzing.
A chilling thought hit her!
Why hadn’t she heard of Wang Shuang last life?
Why didn’t Li Mengjiao ever mention being Qin Jiao’s friend?
Those mysteries seemed to blur into answers… Her rebirth tied her to Qin Jiao and Xie Qian, but Yu Wenhao’s scheme on Qin Jiao stayed unchanged.
Without her last life, Wang Shuang still planned this trip.
Yu Wenhao’s plot wasn’t exposed early, Qin Jiao got in trouble at Longtan Lake, “saved” by his son, a staged act to play the Qin family’s “hero”!
To outsiders, Deng Shangwei rose that way, Yu Wenhao likely drew inspiration there.
And Wang Shuang became the plot’s casualty, Yu Wenhao only arranged Qin Jiao’s rescue, Wang Shuang wasn’t pulled up in time—
Li Mengjiao thrashed in Tang Yifeng’s arms, wailing.
Wen Ying’s eyes stung.
Why Li Mengjiao didn’t fall for Xie Qian “at first sight” clicked.
At sixteen, her heart already belonged to someone.
Fang Long dove repeatedly, hunting for Wang Shuang, Geng Xiao swam halfway, several “tourists” joined.
Wen Ying shouted, “The water’s not rough, he’s near the wreck, check if he’s tangled in weeds!”
Fang Long dove again, resurfacing with a yell, “I found him! He’s caught in a net!”
Wen Ying saw Xie Qian save a kid, toss them to others, then swim hard toward Fang Long.
Xie Qian was going for Wang Shuang!
He grabbed the boat’s edge, handed Fang Long something, then dove with him.
It felt like a century.
Just two minutes, Wang Shuang surfaced with their help.
Xie Qian dragged him back, Geng Xiao supported from behind.
Fang Long and eager “tourists” aided the rest.
On shore, Wen Ying cleared Wang Shuang’s mouth and nose of muck, Xie Qian pulled his soaked phone, useless.
“Whose phone works, call 120!”
Tang Yifeng and Li Mengjiao stayed dry, their phones were fine, but Li Mengjiao was too frantic to dial, Tang Yifeng’s hands shook, he managed 120.
Xie Qian saw Wen Ying’s moves, “You’ve learned first aid?”
She nodded, “A bit, you?”
Xie Qian took over, giving Wang Shuang mouth-to-mouth, then chest compressions, relentless, tireless.
Wen Ying didn’t know he was this skilled, better than her.
When he tired, she stepped in, less precise, but CPR couldn’t stop midway.
Right then, she was beyond grateful she’d invited Xie Qian!
He was the real game-changer for Wang Shuang’s fate… After their nonstop efforts, seeing Wang Shuang twitch and breathe on his own, Wen Ying’s eyes welled up.
“Xie Qian, he’s breathing!”
Xie Qian was exhausted.
CPR drained you.
But Wang Shuang’s breath made it worth it.
Li Mengjiao trembled all over.
Tang Yifeng, Geng Xiao, Qin Jiao, all deeply thankful to Wen Ying and Xie Qian!
The 120 ambulance arrived fast, someone had called before Tang Yifeng, Wang Shuang and other victims went to the county hospital.
Throughout, Yu Wei and his crew pitched in, offering to cover treatment and lost wages for all victims.
“Our fault, sorry for the scare!”
Wen Ying thought, damn right it’s your fault, not just for jet skis, but for targeting Qin Jiao, gambling with lives.
Worse than a ransom grab!
She didn’t need to chat with Yu Wei’s group, Boss Qin arrived soon, with Wang Shuang’s parents and others’.
Mr. Wang stumbled as he walked.
Boss Qin had a son and daughter, but Mr. Wang had only Wang Shuang, losing him would’ve crushed the family.
After hospital care, Wang Shuang stabilized, Mr. Wang saw him, then grabbed Wen Ying and Xie Qian, “You didn’t just save him, you saved our whole family!”
