When Lu Jiaying was eighteen, she experienced a harrowing ordeal. In that ordeal, she and Melody narrowly escaped death, but she lost her brother forever.
She thought her life would just continue like that, perhaps facing some storms in the business world.
She never expected to experience an escape at sea one day.
Under Jiang Jingyu's command and encouragement, just like escaping with Melody that night, she truly managed it.
She climbed up from the bottom of a bottomless cliff.
When Jiang Jingyu climbed up first and then pulled her up entirely, and the two of them lay on the flat ground, she once again felt the tenacity and beauty of life.
Although in normal, calm times, when work difficulties couldn't be broken through, she often felt life was meaningless and couldn't find the joy of living.
But when truly facing death, she still had a strong will to survive.
Perhaps only when one truly faces death can they understand her inner feelings.
There's a saying online: "Take it easy, except for life and death, everything else is just a scratch."
Regardless of identity, status, age, or race, all differences are insignificant in the face of life and death.
Since she could even fight against death, and fight against it together with Jiang Jingyu, what else could matter?
She hadn't done anything wrong to anyone. She simply liked someone a few years younger than herself.
The two of them hadn't committed evil deeds or harmed anyone's interests. Why should they face opposition?
Moreover, as Jiang Jingyu said, how could she be sure that others would definitely oppose them?
Zhan Beijue and Jiang Nanfang had unusually broad perspectives, and Melody and Lu Qingxu were very understanding people. If she didn't try, how could she be sure that she and Jiang Jingyu truly had no chance?
Even now, lying on the wet muddy ground, Jiang Jingyu still propped his arm under her head, protecting her with all his might.
When facing death, he hadn't abandoned her. How could she conclude that he was unreliable in matters of romance?
Thinking this way, after lying for a while, Lu Jiaying suddenly felt a surge of courage.
She abruptly turned over and looked at Jiang Jingyu's face.
The rain was still falling, pattering on her face, making it hard to open her eyes. Feeling Lu Jiaying move, Jiang Jingyu opened his eyes and squinted at her.
Although she was cold and her face was a little pale, her hair and clothes were all wet and sticking to her body, her eyes were clear, and a faint smile lingered on her lips.
A wave of heartache washed over him, and he couldn't help but reach out to brush her hair aside.
"What's wrong? What are you smiling about? Do you think you performed well just now and want me to praise you?"
He squinted his eyes, with a hint of roguishness.
His skin was young, so clean that not even a single pore was visible. His features were so superior, so handsome, and his voice was so pleasant.
The more Lu Jiaying looked, the more she felt she had struck gold, and the more she was glad she hadn't let him go.
If heaven sent such a gem your way, there must be a reason. Lu Jiaying, how could you refuse him?
"Yes, I think I performed very well. Just like when you complete a task and need me to praise you, I need your praise."
Unconsciously, she adopted a slightly coquettish tone.
Jiang Jingyu loved her tone, her intonation, and her demeanor so much.
It felt as if they were lovers, as if she had completely let down her guard with him.
A shiver ran through his entire body, and a strange sensation surged towards a certain place.
He hadn't known before that when you like someone, any word from her, under any circumstances, could electrify you.
He really wanted to rush over and hug her, kiss her, and encourage her in the way he desired, but he was afraid she wouldn't like it.
"Mhm. You did well."
He mimicked Lu Jiaying's tone, looking at her and smiling.
"But you still need to work hard, there's still plenty of room for improvement. I believe you can do it in the future. Keep it up, Xiao Lu."
Lu Jiaying wasn't foolish; how could she not tell he was imitating her?
She couldn't help but let out a chuckle, lowered her head, and rested it on his chest, playfully hitting him.
"You're annoying, stop copying me."
Jiang Jingyu was stunned by her action.
What was going on? She was acting coquettishly with him again, and initiating physical contact. What was Lu Jiaying doing?
Didn't she know how captivating she was like this? If this continued, he wouldn't be polite.
He placed his hands on Lu Jiaying's shoulders, wanting to ask her what was wrong, but Lu Jiaying wriggled like a caterpillar, moving her head closer to him.
Just like the time they had a face-to-face greeting, she pressed her face against his and whispered in his ear.
"Jiang Jingyu, do you stand by what you said yesterday?"
In an instant, it was as if the sky had been split open by some divine craftsmanship, a beam of bright light shone directly into Jiang Jingyu's eyes, and at the same time, moving background music sounded in his ears.
Had Lu Jiaying's recent experience changed her perception of him and made her feel something? Was she making a move?
He was both surprised and delighted. "What do you mean?"
He asked her, his voice trembling.
"What else could it mean? Didn't you ask me to be your girlfriend yesterday? Does that still count?"
This was the first time in her life she had such a relationship with someone of the opposite sex, and she was the one initiating it.
Lu Jiaying was so embarrassed that she couldn't bear to face him.
As soon as Jiang Jingyu heard this, he let out a whoop, hugged her, and flipped them over, switching their positions.
Surprise, joy, and emotion all appeared on his face, making him look exceptionally spirited.
"Really? Are you serious? Lu Jiaying, you're not joking with me, are you?"
Seeing him like this, Lu Jiaying became even more hesitant to look at him, turning her face away.
"Who would joke about something like this when they have nothing better to do?"
"That's great! Of course, it counts! I came all this way for this, so why wouldn't it count?"
Jiang Jingyu excitedly pulled her into his embrace, as if he had gained the whole world.
"I'm so happy, the boat we made today was totally worth it!"
"You have no idea how upset I was these past few days when you were dating Lu Kai. I've wanted to make things clear with you for a long time, and I've finally waited for this day!"
They lingered in the rain for another ten minutes or so, and when Jiang Jingyu snapped out of his joy, he realized that Lu Jiaying's hands and face were already quite cold.
"Look at me, I got too excited and forgot to help you up from the ground first. Come on, let's find a place to stay and change out of our wet clothes. You've been in the rain for so long, you must not catch a cold."
This was a small fishing village, so dilapidated that it only had a few low-lying flat houses.
With such heavy rain and strong winds, not a single person was out, and every house was shut tight.
The two walked around the village for a while longer, and finally confirmed that there were no guesthouses or inns for them to stay in. They could only knock on a door.
Fortunately, the person who opened the door was a young woman who looked easy to get along with.
Jiang Jingyu paid money and bought the right to use her room.