With a loud "plop!", the water column shot up into the air and turned into a gentle drizzle. Beneath the misty rain in the pool, Jiang Hai and Afra were already locked in a tight embrace.
"Huh? Jiang Hai, what are you doing?" Bernice, from the next room, was momentarily stunned by the sound and called out loudly. At her words, Jiang Hai quickly stood up from the pool.
After awkwardly adjusting himself, Jiang Hai managed to slip away from Afra.
"Oh, I just took a dive." Jiang Hai mumbled, trying to brush it off with a nonsensical explanation.
As he spoke, Afra, without hesitation, crouched down in front of him, observing Jiang Hai closely, then leaned in...
"Really, how old are you?" Bernice muttered under her breath in response to Jiang Hai's weak explanation.
"Heh...hiss, hey..." Jiang Hai gave an awkward smile. Glancing at Afra, he slowly leaned back against the stone at the edge of the bath. He couldn't say much at that moment. While he enjoyed the situation, he had to be careful not to make too much noise.
About twenty minutes later, Afra looked up at him and whispered in his ear, "My mouth is tired..."
Hearing this, Jiang Hai knew exactly what she meant. There was no need to tease her further. She had made her intentions clear.
Now that she was practically offering herself, why hold back? He immediately picked Afra up and carried her to the shore. And so, the battle resumed.
Back on the other side of the bathroom, the girls, worn out from a busy day, were much less physically resilient than Jiang Hai, who seemed like a monster compared to them. With the addition of a hot spring bath, everyone closed their eyes to rest and soak, preparing to go back to sleep. But not everyone was in the mood to relax. Dinah Taylor, ever the social one, noticed that no one was talking. She swam away from the group to find her friend Afra. When she couldn't find her, Dinah grew concerned.
Quietly, she climbed ashore and looked inside the bathroom. To her surprise, it was empty.
Wrapping herself in a bath towel, she decided to go out and search. Just as she reached the door to the women's bathroom, a low sound from next door caught her attention. It puzzled her, but her curiosity got the better of her, so she quietly approached the men's bathroom.
Peeking inside, she saw Afra lying on a bench in the men's locker room, clutching a towel in both hands. She had stuffed one end of the towel into her mouth to stifle any sound.
On the other side, Jiang Hai was engaged in a physical struggle with Afra's slender legs, showcasing his muscular strength.
It was obvious what was happening. Dina was stunned. Just as she was about to scream, she instinctively covered her mouth, standing frozen, watching the scene unfold in front of her...
Unknowingly, she began to lose herself in the moment, her mind wandering into Afra's perspective. The more she watched, the more she felt an unexpected pull, her views and understanding of everything shifting.
Time passed—whether it was twenty minutes, forty minutes, or even longer, Dina couldn't tell. Eventually, Jiang Hai stopped, and Afra, panting heavily, closed her eyes with a look of satisfaction as she basked in the aftermath.
Dina, now in a state of disarray, took a few deep breaths, regained her composure, and walked back to the women's bathroom. She stepped into the tub, trying to shake off what she had just witnessed...
About ten minutes later, Afra returned, and the rest of the women, having washed themselves once more, went back to their rooms.
Apart from Afra and Dina, no one else knew about the events that transpired just next door. Dina, however, now looked at Afra differently. They shared the same villa.
After changing into their clothes, everyone went their separate ways. Jiang Hai had already returned to his room to sleep.
As for Afra, despite her physical exhaustion, she felt an unexpected satisfaction deep within.
Dina, watching Afra's retreating back, bit her lip. If given the chance, maybe she wouldn't be completely out of the running...
Back across the ocean, it was noon in China. At a modeling and entertainment agency, Ai Xiaoxi and Feng Yunchen had just finished lunch and were returning to their office.
As people in a semi-official relationship with Jiang Hai, their status within the company had improved significantly, though not due to Jiang Hai himself. The real reason lay with Qi Li.
Although Qi Li had wanted to strangle the two women, as the saying goes, "You can't touch them with Jiang Hai around." She had to protect them.
While Qi Li's affection for Jiang Hai was genuine, her concern was more practical. Her main business was the four restaurants, and Jiang Hai was her only supplier. Any disruption between them could cost her both her marriage and the financial stability of her businesses.
That's why Qi Li swallowed her pride and watched over these two women, despite her personal feelings. She knew that Jiang Hai, being the kind-hearted man he was, would never let the woman he first fought with suffer. Thus, Qi Li protected them.
In the past, a wealthy businessman had shielded Feng Yunchen, but now, with the Qi family's power, no one dared to interfere with them. Recently, Jiang Hai had even reached a secretive agreement with the courts, ensuring that the Qi family's influence could grow unchecked.
In just a month, the Qi family's assets had surged by almost 10%. Nobody dared to stand in their way. The Qi family was now a dominant force in the capital.
However, as the old Chinese saying goes, "A big tree attracts the wind." The Qi family's rise had not gone unnoticed.
Though their expansion was steady, they were cautious, following Jiang Hai's advice to avoid exposing any weaknesses. If they kept a low profile, they could continue making vast amounts of money without inviting trouble.
Despite their careful approach, the Qi family had risen to the top tier of the capital's elite in a very short time.
In the office, after sitting down, Feng Yunchen casually asked, "What are we having for dinner?"
"We just finished lunch, and you're already thinking about dinner? Sister Chen, aren't you worried about getting fat?" Ai Xiaoxi chuckled, turning on her computer while waiting for it to start up.
"Why should I worry about getting fat? Jiang Hai likes girls with a bit of muscle. When I put on some weight, I'll work it into muscle. He'll love me even more!" Feng Yunchen replied, checking her makeup while tilting her neck.
"Sure, but the key is to train quickly. Otherwise, if you stay a bit chubby for too long, Jiang Hai might lose interest and you'll have nowhere to complain." Ai Xiaoxi smirked, her eyes narrowing as she glanced at Feng Yunchen.
"Tsk... have you already decided?" Feng Yunchen asked seriously as she closed her makeup box.
"Well, I'm still hesitating." Ai Xiaoxi sighed, her expression conflicted.
"If it were me, I'd go for it already. You're not even married!" Feng Yunchen teased, a hint of regret in her voice. If she were in Ai Xiaoxi's shoes, she would've already flown to Jiang Hai.
But Feng Yunchen wasn't, and she had her own dark past. She knew she couldn't stay by Jiang Hai's side for long.
"Let's just think about dinner," Ai Xiaoxi said, forcing a smile, though deep down she too longed to find Jiang Hai. But if she did, there were things she hadn't yet figured out...