As Xu Guimin approached the swimming pool, he kept trying to muster up his courage.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Finally, he could hear some voices more clearly.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Zhengyang, slow down."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Xu Guimin turned on his phone''s shlight and shone it over. Hearing Zhengyang''s name made him feel a little less afraid.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Who''s there?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
There was a ssh from the pool.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Xu Guimin moved closer, shining his light on the part of the pool where he had heard the voices. The water''s surface rippled with waves.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Xu Guimin continued forward, determined to see for himself whether there were people or ghosts in the water.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Come out!"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Xu Guimin shone the light directly at that spot. Bubbles were stilling up from the water, but no one was responding to him.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"If you don''te out, I''m going to call people to drag the pool," Xu Guimin said sternly.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"I''ll count to three. One, two..."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Before Xu Guimin could reach three, someone emerged from underwater.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Dad. It''s me."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Xu Guimin was startled. "What are you doing here?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The man clearly hadn''t expected to find his own son in the swimming pool, much less his son embracing a woman.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Dad, it''s me. Don''t be angry."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"What''s going on here?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The woman in Xu Zhengyang''s arms clung to him, showing only her back to Xu Guimin. She was wearing a swimsuit, so Xu Guimin couldn''t make out her face.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Dad."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Xu Zhengyang just called out once. As a man himself, Xu Guimin of course knew what his son was up to.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Who is she?" Xu Guimin asked.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The woman buried her head even lower. Whoever she was, being caught like this was truly embarrassing.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"I''ll turn around. You two get out and put some clothes on first, then we''ll talk."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
After saying this, Xu Guimin turned his back to them.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Two minutester, Xu Guimin heard movement behind him.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Dad, we''re ready."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Xu Guimin turned around. The two had wrapped themselves in towels. Xu Guimin focused his gaze on the woman, feeling she looked familiar but unable to ce where he had seen her before.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Who are you?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Xu Guimin kept his eyes fixed on the woman.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"I..."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Before she could finish, Xu Guimin realized who she was - the family''s housekeeper.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"What were you thinking? Isn''t the house big enough for you? Of all ces to go in the middle of the night, you choose the swimming pool. Is it for the thrill, or some other experience?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Xu Guimin was furious. He knew Xu Zhengyang always had girlfriends and didn''t usually interfere in his son''s personal affairs. But he never imagined his son would act so inappropriately in the family pool.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Go back and reflect on your actions. Your girlfriend is pregnant, and this is how you behave? How inconsiderate can you be?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"And you," he turned to the woman, "as a housekeeper, don''t you know what you should and shouldn''t do? Tomorrow morning, pack your things and leave."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Meanwhile, at Ziyue Manor.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Shu Yi was lying awake again. After much thought, she realized it was her own fault. Her soft-heartedness had led her to agree to Chang Zhiyuan''s request to bring her back. She had brought this upon herself, making the same mistake over and over. But she couldn''t help it - seeing him in such pain made her suffer too. It wasn''t just Chang Zhiyuan who had been drinking; she had been drinking as well.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Usually, when she was working on set, she didn''t dare drink. Filming from dawn to dusk left her exhausted and with no energy to think about rtionship matters. But once she had some downtime, she couldn''t help but think of him.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
She had always known she was a hopeless romantic, trying her best to control it, constantly torn between reason and emotion. On her days off, she would have a little drink to help her sleep, but in the middle of the night...<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
She would still dream of him.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
As usual, Shu Yi went downstairs to the kitchen cab where she kept her hidden stash of alcohol.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
As soon as she reached the first floor, she was startled. The lights were off, and Chang Zhiyuan was sitting on the sofa, just a dark silhouette.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Why aren''t you sleeping? What are you doing here?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Shu Yi put a hand to her chest, trying to calm herself.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Thinking about you."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Shu Yi was momentarily speechless, then said, "You''ve been drinking. Go to bed quickly."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Chang Zhiyuan seemed not to have heard Shu Yi''s words and continued staring nkly at the TV.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Shu Yi didn''t linger downstairs. After finding a bottle of alcohol in the kitchen cab, she went straight back upstairs.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Chang Zhiyuan followed her up.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Why are you following me?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"To look at you."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"What''s there to look at?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Shu Yi, holding the bottle, turned her head and continued climbing.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"I want to drink too."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Chang Zhiyuan''s voice was small, like a child whining.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"..."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"You''ve already had a lot to drink tonight. Go to sleep."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Can''t sleep."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Shu Yi sighed. There was a bar next to the balcony on the second floor. She gave up trying to persuade Chang Zhiyuan to go to bed.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
So, the two of them sat down on the chairs by the bar, facing each other, on the balcony at one in the morning.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Shu Yi and Chang Zhiyuan started drinking, one ss after another.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"I still like you, woman. I order you to unblock me immediately."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Chang Zhiyuan used the meekest tone to say the toughest words.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"What? Blocked? When did I ever block you?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Shu Yi looked at her phone, shaking her head.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Hehe, you''re drunk," Chang Zhiyuan said, looking at Shu Yi with a silly grin.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"I''m not drunk. I''m perfectly sober. How am I drunk? Don''t say I''m drunk. Hmph!"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
After saying this, Shu Yi passed out, her face on the bar.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"You say you''re not drunk, but look at you now. Stubborn girl."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Using hisst bit of consciousness, Chang Zhiyuan took Shu Yi''s hand and used her fingerprint to unlock her phone. He opened her contacts and scrolled through but couldn''t find his name.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"I don''t even have a name in her phone." After saying this, Chang Zhiyuan had a sudden idea. He input his own phone number and, surprisingly, there was an entry with a note.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Dog Man."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Seeing these words, Chang Zhiyuan''s first reaction was anger. Why had shebeled him as "Dog Man"? How was he like a dog? But then he smiled happily. Having abel was better than having none at all. And "Dog Man" was special, wasn''t it? Dogs were great, after all.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Dog Man, ah, Dog Man~~"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Chang Zhiyuan started singing to himself, then picked up his ss and took a couple of big gulps before passing out as well.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The two of them remained slumped at the bar all night until 9 am the next morning when Shu Yi finally woke up.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
She stretched her neck and yawned, opening her eyes to see Chang Zhiyuan''s face.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Her mind quickly recapped the events of the previous night: she couldn''t sleep, went downstairs for a drink, Chang Zhiyuan shamelessly followed her up, then they drank a lot, and after that... she couldn''t remember.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Shu Yi felt sore all over. Who in their right mind would sleep sitting up all night? She must have some serious issues.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Chang Zhiyuan suddenly opened his eyes, immediately seeing Shu Yi''s face. He instantly felt like he was dreaming or hallucinating.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Can I kiss you, woman?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Chang Zhiyuan wanted to take advantage of what he thought was a dream to do things he couldn''t normally do.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
As he said this, he leaned in, moving his lips towards Shu Yi''s face.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Shu Yi was dumbfounded. What was wrong with him so early in the morning? She quickly raised her left hand and pressed it against Chang Zhiyuan''s face, pushing him away.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0