Chapter Forty-One: Hero or Scoundrel

By the time Little Jade reached the shore, she was utterly exhausted, collapsing powerless on the beach as the gentle waves caressed the soft sand and tenderly brushed her pale calves.

“Tan Yu, are you alright?” Teacher Xiao Xiao had already made it ashore and, seeing that Little Jade was safe, ran over in relief.

She shook her head numbly. Having just survived a brush with death, the little one sat quietly, at a loss for words, her wide eyes vacant as she stared at the rolling waves.

“Just now, someone in a plaid shirt went in to save you. He still hasn’t come up, and Wang Yue and Tian Hai went in after him too.” Seeing that Little Jade was merely frightened and otherwise unharmed, Teacher Xiao Xiao’s heart eased, but recalling that three others were still missing, her anxiety returned.

“Plaid shirt?” Little Jade seemed to come back to herself, looking at Teacher Xiao Xiao before turning to search for Chu Dong’s figure. The students were all gathered together, but there was no sign of him. With a start, she leapt up and dashed back toward the sea.

“Wait!” Xiao Rou caught hold of her. Having just gotten her to shore, how could she let her go into danger again?

“No, Big Brother Chu is missing! Brother Chu Dong…” Little Jade had no idea if her unruly yet always-surprising “brother-in-law” could swim, but if he had died saving her, she couldn’t accept it. Her desperate, piercing cry split the sky.

“Don’t worry, it’ll be alright, it’ll be alright.” Though she said it, Xiao Rou’s arms trembled as she held Little Jade. She too had no idea whether her two students or this Brother Chu would be okay, her eyes fixed anxiously on the sea.

Suddenly, more than a hundred meters from shore, a dark figure appeared, slowly making its way toward land.

Just when Qiangzi had barely gotten acquainted with a few girls, trouble broke out. He hadn’t seen exactly who was in danger, but his swimming skills were only enough to show off near the shore; if he really went out, he wouldn’t even know if he could save himself. Still, realizing it might be Chu Dong in trouble, he couldn’t sit still and dove in, swimming back and forth several times without finding anyone.

Chu Dong, meanwhile, had one arm cradling each of the two unconscious boys, holding their faces above water to keep them from drowning, kicking his legs as he slowly made his way back. When Qiangzi finally found him and took over Wang Yue, Chu Dong could finally breathe a sigh of relief. Teaching them a lesson was enough—if he’d really let them drown, he wouldn’t escape responsibility.

Once ashore, Chu Dong felt lightheaded, unsteady on his feet. He managed to force a wan smile at the tearful, distraught Little Jade before collapsing onto the soft sand.

Wang Yue and Tian Hai were hauled up the beach by several other boys. Someone, imitating what they’d seen in movies and on TV, turned their heads to the side and pressed vigorously on their chests and stomachs. It actually worked—mouthfuls of seawater were forced out, and gradually they regained consciousness.

Qiangzi was the only one present who knew Chu Dong was a strong swimmer. Seeing him lying motionless on the ground, Qiangzi propped himself up on his elbows, catching his breath.

Little Jade, seeing Chu Dong still unmoving, thought he was in danger. Running over, she mimicked what she’d just seen and pressed down on his chest, tears welling in her big eyes, ready to spill over again.

Chu Dong had only wanted to give her a scare, but his eyelids were genuinely heavy and he didn’t move.

How could Tan Yu know it was a trick? Seeing her “brother-in-law” still unresponsive, she steeled herself, covered his eyes with a small hand, leaned down, and blew air into his mouth. But her technique left much to be desired; it was more like a gust from a hair dryer, and not a wisp of breath made it in.

Seeing the three of them safely returned, Xiao Rou finally relaxed. Still, since Wang Yue and Tian Hai were her responsibility, she was about to go check on them when Little Jade grabbed her. “Teacher Xiao, Brother Chu isn’t breathing! Wuwu…”

Xiao Rou had no choice but to come over. Watching Little Jade administer her ineffectual resuscitation, she pulled her away. “That won’t work.”

“Huh? Then what should we do? Teacher Xiao, please save Brother Chu, please save him…” Little Jade shook Xiao Rou’s shoulders, sobbing.

Though Xiao Rou was young and inexperienced, anyone could see Chu Dong was just exhausted. After all, someone who could drag two people out of the sea was unlikely to have drowned himself. At first, she meant to take over from Little Jade, but as a young woman, she hesitated at the final step. Yet, seeing Chu Dong’s closed eyes beneath his sword-like brows and pressed by Little Jade’s urgent pleas, she closed her beautiful eyes, pinched his nose, and pressed her soft, pink lips to his, giving him a forceful breath.

Just as Chu Dong was about to open his eyes, he saw an exquisite face approaching. He marveled at the Creator’s handiwork, gifting Xiao Rou such beauty, and held his breath. But when those soft lips touched his, giving him artificial respiration, he came back to life.

How sweet it was—if God had known such a beauty would appear and bestow a gentle kiss, perhaps He would have readily sacrificed Himself for the rescue.

He parted his white teeth slightly, his agile tongue gently brushing the warm lips, then opened his eyes wide, staring intently at Xiao Rou, who was surprised that her “lifesaving” had taken such a turn.

“I just wanted to rest a bit; I didn’t expect you all to…” Chu Dong was a little embarrassed. They’d tried to save him out of kindness, and he’d somehow ended up “taking advantage” of an angelic beauty—a situation hard to explain.

“You—you…” Xiao Rou’s beautiful eyes widened in anger, words failing her. Pointing at the sheepish Chu Dong as he sat up, she stamped her foot and ran off.

“Ah—!” Little Jade’s shrill voice startled Chu Dong, who clapped his hands over his ears, but before he could lower them, she pounced on him. Fearing she’d fall, he caught her, and as he toppled backward, the little girl bit down hard on his shoulder. He couldn’t very well toss her aside, so he grimaced and endured. She didn’t care if he was in pain; she scrambled up, kicked him twice in the backside for good measure, and ran after Teacher Xiao Xiao.

Grimacing, Chu Dong pulled open his shirt to reveal a fresh, red, oval bite mark. Watching the two girls run off together, he muttered a line that made Qiangzi, who was walking over, spit in disgust.

“Heavens, their faces change faster than flipping a page. How did I, the great hero, end up a scoundrel?”