Song Xi had checked before setting off that there was a swimming pool in the north district that would be open until nine o'clock in the evening.
So even without her phone, she was confident that she had enough time.
But fate had other plans. When she finally reached the entrance of the swimming pool, she saw a sign hanging on the door.
"Due to facility issues, the swimming pool is temporarily closed today."
This sentence was like a dagger to her heart.
Song Xi was covered in sweat from exhaustion. She couldn't take it anymore and, disregarding her celebrity status, she sat down on the ground, clutching the canvas bag containing several pairs of swimming goggles.
Damn it…
With less than ten hours left until the 24-hour deadline, what was she going to do!
Just then, an old man with white hair approached.
"Young lady, the swimming pool is closed today. Come back tomorrow. It's getting late, you should head back."
Song Xi was wearing a mask and felt suffocated. Seeing that there was no one around, she took it off.
"Okay, thank you."
She stood up, utterly exhausted, and took two steps forward before turning back. "Oh, Grandpa, do you know of any other swimming pools open around here at this hour?"
The old man stroked his beard and thought carefully. "...There is one, but that pool is very different from this one. It's expensive, and it's open twenty-four hours a day."
Expense didn't matter now; the most important thing was to be able to test the unique properties of these goggles!
"What is that swimming pool called?"
"Bo You Ge."
Bo You Ge was one of the top-tier high-end swimming pools in City A, with both indoor and outdoor facilities. It covered an area of over 10,000 square meters and offered a wide range of activities, serving as a center for lessons, fitness, and leisure. The pool water was filtered 24 hours a day, with depths ranging from 1.3 meters to 3.5 meters, catering to the needs of people from all walks of life.
Of course, such a high-end establishment came with a price tag to match, starting in the four digits, and it operated on a membership basis.
Because Song Xi couldn't swim, she had never known about such a place.
She assumed it was just a swimming pool with luxurious decoration and couldn't possibly be that expensive, so Song Xi walked in without hesitation.
Meanwhile, inside Bo You Ge, two agile figures plunged into the water with a splash.
The man's muscular arms broke the surface of the water, followed by a few sparkling droplets. They competed fiercely, each giving their all. As the water splashed, their speed increased. Finally, a hand with well-defined knuckles touched the floor first, with the other man close behind.
The latter slapped the water in frustration. "I thought your speed would have dropped after not swimming for a few months, but you're still strong."
Lou Yu Ming took off his goggles and threw them at Shao Cheng. "Watch your mouth."
Shao Cheng put on a bathrobe and walked over. "What's wrong? Why are you so short-tempered? Who upset you?"
This was an obvious rhetorical question. He had handled the matter concerning Zhang Qi so cleanly that, even if it didn't eliminate the threat entirely, it had thoroughly humiliated the Zhang family. He should have been happy, yet he had worn a stern expression since entering the water. The only person who could have affected his mood was Song Xi.
He glanced at him and, pretending to be nonchalant, asked, "By the way, are you still taking that herbal medicine? If not, I won't have people get it. It's troublesome to air-freight it."
Lou Yu Ming remained silent, his chiseled features tight, his deep, dark eyes fixed on something in the distance.
"I'm asking you a question," Shao Cheng said, taking a sip of red wine. "You've taken so much, but I haven't seen any feedback from you."
With that, a towel was thrown at him, and Shao Cheng, quick as lightning, caught it with his bare hands.
Lou Yu Ming's gaze was cold, like a knife.
Feedback? Ever since that trending topic incident, he and Song Xi hadn't spoken properly. What kind of feedback could there be!
"Are you still arguing?" Shao Cheng was exasperated. This woman was just too much trouble.
"Just send her something to appease her. It's quite embarrassing to have another man resolve issues for your woman."
Lou Yu Ming shot him a glare.
Shao Cheng chuckled sheepishly. "Women need to be appeased. Don't expect her to come to you."
Lou Yu Ming responded to his advice with an undisguised scoff. "How many serious relationships have you had?"
Just as Shao Cheng was about to count his romantic conquests on his fingers, Lou Yu Ming unexpectedly added, "I mean serious ones."
Shao Cheng's throat suddenly felt constricted. He waved his hand dismissively and snorted, "Are you serious about Song Xi?"
"At least she's the first person in years who has managed to get me to this point."
"Then why aren't you rushing to appease her? Buy her bags, jewelry, whatever she likes."
Lou Yu Ming's voice deepened. "I did appease her." He had already avenged Zhang Qi for her; what else could she possibly want?
"?"
Lou Yu Ming lost interest in continuing the conversation and stood up, leaving behind only his words: "You wouldn't understand!"
"I wouldn't understand?" Shao Cheng chased after him, emphasizing, "Say that again if you dare!"