The Leading Stars

Еxtra Сhарtеr - Swimming

Еarly in the mоrning, Вayunуe chаngеd intо hеr swimsuit аnd jоyfully dаshed into the skyline pооl, splаshing up sеvеrаl sрraуs оf wаtеr thаt alsо drenched Diао Zhuo.

Вayunyе’s comrаdes-in-arms wеrе sсаttеrеd аll over thе сountrу, аlwаys аble tо tеll you thе mоst fun plаces. This bаy made реоplе forget all thеir саres оnсе thе tidе rеcеdеd.

Yestеrdaу, she and Diаo Zhuо sреnt the аftеrnооn catching сrabs by the seasidе. They rеleasеd them аll bеforе leaving, but still had a great time. The highlands had their own beauty, and the coast had its own charm, especially since this travel companion suited her taste perfectly.

Diao Zhuo swam several laps, wiped his face, and leaned against the poolside to rest. The muscular lines of his strong upper body caught the eyes of several passing girls, instantly overshadowing a few delicate-looking young men playing in the pool.

"Wow… look at that guy, what a great figure…"

"Pfft, guys who train to get that kind of body are all gay. Stop looking."

"He came with a woman."

"Really? Where??"

Bayunye, lurking underwater like a shark, slowly approached him and suddenly grabbed his calf, pulling him down. He had already spotted her and remained unfazed. As she tugged at him, he took a deep breath and sank underwater, embracing her and kissing her. This move made her surrender completely—if she didn’t breathe air soon, she’d drown!

"You jerk!" Bayunye shook the water off her face, glaring at him and pointing.

"There’s an even bigger jerk. Want to see?" He tossed her the words and swam away.

Bayunye dove back underwater with a splash, swimming swiftly after him. Once she caught up, she blocked his path, treading water as she asked, "How about a race?"

"Again?" Diao Zhuo stopped. "What kind of race?"

"Of course, who swims faster."

"What’s the prize for winning?"

"That expression of yours clearly means you think you’ll definitely win." Bayunye hit the nail on the head. "Last time in Badanjilin, when we raced driving up the sand dunes, you lost yourself to me."

A smile flickered in Diao Zhuo’s eyes. "A glorious defeat."

Bayunye didn’t dwell too deeply on the meaning of his words and asked, "What else do you have left to lose?"

"Let’s race first, then talk."

Bayunye swam with him to one side of the pool. "Breaststroke or freestyle?"

"Butterfly stroke. Whoever finishes three laps first wins."

Butterfly stroke? This man is ruthless! Bayunye asked in surprise, "Who… who learns butterfly stroke for fun? Freestyle is much faster over the same distance."

Diao Zhuo raised his thumb and pointed at himself. "Let me reintroduce myself. I’m Diao Zhuo, a former member of the school swimming team, specializing in butterfly stroke. I once won the 200-meter butterfly stroke championship at the National University Games."

So, she was about to race a former national butterfly stroke champion in butterfly stroke?

"Master Ba, are you in?" Diao Zhuo asked.

"I’m in!"

"Do you need me to give you a head start?"

"No need!" That was Master Ba for you—knowing the mountain had tigers, she still chose to climb it!

Well, the result was naturally a crushing defeat.

"Damn it…" Bayunye gasped for breath, clinging to the poolside like a dying frog.

"Master Ba, what are you planning to lose to me?" Diao Zhuo asked calmly, swimming leisurely around her a few times.

"I’ll treat you to a seafood feast tonight."

He scoffed. "Years of butterfly stroke training are only worth a few hundred bucks of seafood?"

"Make it a thousand yuan’s worth." Bayunye said magnanimously.

He still looked unimpressed.Fair is fair. Bayunye caught her breath, lifted her chin, and asked, "What do you want?"

Diao Zhuo fixed his gaze on her, reached out to pull her closer, and said, "From now on, alive, you're my woman; dead, you're my ghost."

Bayunye was taken aback, recalling the wager from their last sand dune climbing competition—if she won, he would be hers in life and death. Now that she had lost, it seemed the roles had reversed?

As she pondered, Diao Zhuo wrapped his arms around her, resting his forehead against the tip of her nose in an intimate gesture. In truth, between the two of them, there were never so many wins or losses. Two people who were once worlds apart, having weathered countless hardships and now walking hand in hand, were simply living out a story of mutual belonging—a reunion play of their own making.