Nian Jiaojiao, diving into the water, felt as at home as a fish. Her skin seemed to breathe in the water, and Nian Jiaojiao figured if not for the necessity of eating, drinking, and relieving herself, she might as well live in the water.
After swimming for a while, Nian Jiaojiao finally saw the painted boat ahead.
By then, the painted boat was nearing the shore.
Nian Jiaojiao sped up, reaching the bottom of the boat.
She reached out.
And pushed with all her might.
The painted boat capsized, causing the women on board and the crowd watching from the shore to exclaim in surprise.
Nian Jiaojiao did not surface. Her objective achieved, she unhesitatingly swam towards the small boat she had rented, disappearing without a trace.
Climbing onto the boat, dripping wet, Nian Jiaojiao was met with Xing Yun’s startled cry:
“Wife, why did you go into the water again?!”
At that moment, Tongzi Yao had already changed into dry clothes. Xing Yun had come out to look for his wife, only to see his second elder brother standing alone at the stern of the boat.
Before he could even ask, something like a water ghost suddenly surged out of the lake, startling him greatly.
Fortunately, the figure then brushed back their hair, and he took a closer look, realizing it was his wife.
Nian Jiaojiao ignored Xing Yun’s alarm, struggling to stand up.
Xing Yun, however, suddenly blushed, his expression flickering.
Nian Jiaojiao's collar was wide open, revealing a magnificent cleavage, and her wet clothes clung to her body, perfectly outlining her voluptuous figure.
Nian Jiaojiao did not notice the change in the person opposite her. She was caught in a dilemma about whether to enter or not enter the cabin.
Suddenly, she felt a weight on her. Looking up, she saw Nan Qing draping his outer garment over her.
Sensing Nian Jiaojiao’s scrutiny, Nan Qing spoke somewhat unnaturally:
“In broad daylight, to be disheveled and indecent is not proper.”
With that, before Nian Jiaojiao could reply, he turned and returned to the cabin.
Nian Jiaojiao now understood what he was looking at, seeing Xing Yun’s eyes constantly glancing at her…
Nian Jiaojiao: …
Following that, she tightened Nan Qing’s jacket, completely shielding herself from his gaze.
Unexpectedly, Xing Yun, unable to sneak a proper look, even showed a look of regret.
Nian Jiaojiao felt speechless once more.
She never would have thought that among her husbands, Xing Yun would be the most…
…
The next day.
Nian Jiaojiao returned to Baichuan Academy listlessly.
After returning from the lake tour yesterday, Tongzi Yao had been intentionally avoiding her, and even Tong Fu, who returned later, noticed something was amiss between them.
But when Tong Fu asked Tongzi Yao, he remained silent.
And when asked about Nian Jiaojiao, he seemed to want to speak but stopped.
Even Nian Jiaojiao’s four husbands were speaking less.
The atmosphere in the entire Nian household had inexplicably become strange.
Fortunately, yesterday was the last day of the holiday, and Nian Jiaojiao, for the first time, felt how wonderful it was to go to school!
She rushed to the academy without even eating breakfast, and upon reaching her seat, she slumped down.
Li Jing arrived at the academy and saw Nian Jiaojiao looking as if she had been drained by a little fox spirit. She came to Nian Jiaojiao's seat and teased her:
“What’s wrong? Too young to be incapable?”
Nian Jiaojiao rolled her eyes at her, not wanting to bother with her.
Then, she looked up at Li Jing and said:
“Jing-jie, I have a question for you.”
Upon hearing this, Li Jing sensed a story. She pulled up a small stool, looking at Nian Jiaojiao with excitement and said:
“Go ahead!”
Nian Jiaojiao: …
She suddenly felt like not saying anything…
Li Jing was not having it. She urged:
“Tell me quickly, you can’t just say half things, that’s not fair~”
After much hesitation, Nian Jiaojiao emphasized to her:
“It’s not about me, I’m asking for a friend.”
Li Jing gave a knowing look and said:
“I understand, then tell me about your… friend’s story.”
Nian Jiaojiao: “Hmm, it’s just that my friend told me, she touched a young master’s body to save him, what should she do?”
Li Jing: “You touched, oh no, your friend touched that young master’s where?”
Nian Jiaojiao patted her chest and said:
“Here.”
Li Jing: “Although a man’s reputation is important in Da Yue, it shouldn’t be that touching someone while saving them is not allowed.”
Nian Jiaojiao’s eyes lit up:
“Right? When saving someone, it’s not a big deal, is it? The key is whether the two parties involved are clear in their hearts!”
Li Jing: “Why are you so agitated?”
Nian Jiaojiao: “Oh, it’s nothing…”
Li Jing glanced at Nian Jiaojiao, finding something amiss. She couldn’t help but ask:
“Could it be that after touching someone just once to save them, you, your friend, has to take responsibility? Could it be that you met some romantic young master?”
“Romantic young master?” Nian Jiaojiao was confused.
“Hmm, a romantic young master is someone who specifically engineers chance encounters to meet wealthy young ladies or female scholars. Especially the heroic rescue of a beauty, that’s the most fashionable trope. Nian-mei, let me tell you, you, your friend, should be wary of such men.”
Upon hearing this, Nian Jiaojiao immediately denied:
“He’s not that kind of person!”
Li Jing raised an eyebrow.
Uh…
Nian Jiaojiao quickly cleared her throat and explained:
“What I mean is, the young master my friend saved isn’t like that. They knew each other before, and that young master accidentally fell into the water. My… friend performed artificial respiration on him to save him.”
Now it was Li Jing’s turn to be confused.
“Artificial respiration? Can this method save drowning people? Is it really effective?”
Nian Jiaojiao nodded: “Of course, he had stopped breathing at the time, and it was this method that saved him.”
Upon hearing this, Li Jing excitedly grabbed Nian Jiaojiao’s hand.
Good heavens!
There was such a miraculous method in the world.
“Nian-mei, can you teach me this method? Don’t worry, I absolutely won’t let you be at a disadvantage. I’ll give you 100, no, 1000 taels!”
Nian Jiaojiao was stunned by her generosity. After a two-second pause, she quickly said:
“No, there’s no need. This method isn’t difficult. If Jing-jie wants to learn, I’ll teach you.”
Li Jing, upon hearing this, heartily patted Nian Jiaojiao’s shoulder, acting like close sisters:
“As expected of my sister, so loyal!”
Seeing that no one else had arrived in the classroom yet, Nian Jiaojiao stood up and pointed to an empty space, saying:
“Then Jing-jie, you lie down first. I’ll be the rescuer, and you’ll be the drowning person. I’ll demonstrate it to you, and then explain the points to note. You’re so smart, you’ll surely learn it quickly.”
Li Jing heard this and, not minding the dirt on the ground, walked directly to the spot Nian Jiaojiao indicated and lay down.
Nian Jiaojiao knelt beside Li Jing.
Suddenly, she forcefully tugged at Li Jing’s collar, causing it to open immediately, revealing her undergarments.
This sudden action startled Li Jing. She used her waist to try and sit up:
“Nian-mei, what are you doing?”
Nian Jiaojiao calmly pushed her back down:
“Jing-jie, do not rush. Loosening the collar of a drowning person is to help them breathe better. Oh, right, if a crowd gathers, the first thing you should do is disperse them.”
Li Jing thought it made sense and calmed down a little. However, she said to Nian Jiaojiao, her face flushed:
“Nian-mei, I understand. You can let go now.”
Little did she know how much strength she had felt just now.
She wondered what Nian-mei ate to grow so strong…