From humble beginnings to the pinnacle of life

Her sudden question startled me slightly, but I quickly smiled and replied:

"If I say I regret it, can you stay away from me?"

Su Qing looked at me intently and said in a serious tone:

"Sure. As long as you say to yourself that you don't want to see me again, I will never bother you again."

Although I was always annoyed by her, especially when I first met her, I wished she would disappear from my life as soon as possible.

But after spending more than a month together, bickering and arguing, I've long since gotten used to her presence.

Whenever she's around, my tense nerves always relax unconsciously.

I know why she suddenly asked that question. All the troubles that have happened in the past month have originated from her, and she has been blaming herself.

But I am an adult, and I cannot shirk responsibility and put all the blame on her.

I smiled, but instead of continuing as she was saying, I said:

"Even if you avoid me, do you think Fang Heng will just give up and stop bothering you?"

"It won't completely disappear, but at least it won't continue to drag you down." Su Qing's tone was low, clearly indicating that she had seriously considered this matter.

At this moment, I saw a Su Qing who was completely different from her usual willful and arrogant self.

She learned to be considerate of others and to think about me.

I tilted my head back and took a sip of beer, then said softly:

"What would you think if I said I've gotten used to you being around me?"

Su Qing's eyes widened slightly, and she stared at me in astonishment. Then, she said in an exaggerated tone:

"You're used to me being around? Wow! You wouldn't happen to have fallen for me, would you?"

I rolled my eyes and teased them on purpose:

"What are you thinking? I could like anyone but you! It's just a habit, like bickering with you or something, it's just a spice in life."

Su Qing immediately glared back at me defiantly:

"You talk as if I would like you!"

I chuckled softly. "Let's not argue about that. I just wanted to say that being with you is truly relaxing and comfortable."

"But what if Fang Heng continues to escalate his attacks on you?" Su Qing's voice was full of worry.

I gave a bitter laugh, spread my hands, and said, "I'm already penniless and all alone, what's there to be afraid of? If he really wants to kill me, then I'll risk my life to be with him."

Su Qing agreed with my answer, immediately picked up a can of beer, pulled the tab, and held it up towards me:

"Just because you said that, let's have a toast!"

"Are you still drinking? This is your second can!" I quickly reminded her.

Su Qing didn't care at all, and raised her chin as she said:

"I'm in great shape! I'll laugh at you if you can't drink anymore."

I laughed and clinked cans with her, then tilted my head back and drank it all in one gulp.

Su Qing also took a big gulp, then reached out and picked up a braised chicken foot to gnaw on, completely unlike her usual reserved young lady demeanor.

Once she sheds her elaborate disguise, she becomes casual and genuine; where is there any trace of her former rich girl persona?

However, this makes her seem more real and down-to-earth.

I looked at her and casually said:

"Do you know the origin of the custom of saying 'Let's drink to the last drop' when people toast?"

While gnawing on a chicken foot, Su Qing asked indistinctly:

Why?

"In ancient times, before going to war, soldiers would drink a bowl of wine, say a few words to each other, and then leave. No one knew who would go to the battlefield first or who would face life and death first."

Su Qing was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and asked doubtfully:

"Really? You're not making this up to fool me, are you?"

"I read this in a book before, and I think it makes a lot of sense."

Su Qing raised an eyebrow and looked me up and down, with a hint of teasing:

"Hey, the guy who's always running errands and delivering packages is actually reading a book?"

"What's wrong? Who says a deliveryman like me can't read?"

Just as Su Qing was about to reply, a mournful and anxious cry suddenly came from afar.

"My child! My child! Help! Someone please save my child!"

"My son fell into the river! Is there anyone who can swim? Please help me!"

Su Qing and I immediately turned our heads to look at the sound. Not far away on the river, a figure was struggling and bobbing in the turbulent water, about to sink.

There was only one woman on the shore, crying and screaming in despair. Everyone around her was far away, and for a moment no one dared to go into the water.

It's likely that the child was playing in the water nearby and accidentally slipped and fell into the river.

Without thinking twice, I shoved the phone into Su Qing's hand and spoke rapidly:

"Hold this for me!"

Before I could finish speaking, I rushed over, not even having time to take off my clothes and shoes.

He leaped into the river.

Fortunately, it's summer now, so the river water isn't cold.

The current was far more turbulent than it appeared, and the undercurrents pulled at the body, making it very difficult to maintain one's balance.

I gritted my teeth and swam with all my might in the direction where the child was struggling.

As the distance drew closer, a huge wave suddenly rushed over, instantly sweeping him into the water. He choked on several mouthfuls of river water and felt dizzy.

The heart-wrenching screams of Su Qing echoed in my ears:

"Lin Ye! Be careful!"

I fought off the dizziness and struggled to surface, but the child was nowhere to be seen.

Someone on the shore shouted instructions:

"Left! The child is on your left! Quick!"

I immediately turned my head and sure enough, I saw only a pair of small hands on the surface of the water, about to sink completely.

I used all my strength to turn around and swim forward desperately again, struggling against the turbulent river.

He had only one thought in his mind: he had to save the child.

They swam for an unknown amount of time over a distance of just a few meters.

Finally, he grabbed the child's wrist, lifted him out of the water, held his chin with his other hand to prevent him from struggling, and swam towards the shore with him.

By this time, a number of passersby had gathered on the shore, and they threw two swimming rings down.

The child's mother was crying uncontrollably on the shore, while Su Qing stepped directly into the shallow water, her eyes filled with anxiety as she stared at the river.

I recently suffered a knife wound. Although the wound has healed, my strength is far from recovered. In addition, the continuous impact of the river makes my arm sore and painful with every stroke, and my strength is rapidly depleting.

I grabbed onto one of the swimming rings, but the current was still strong, and I couldn't hold on with the rings at all. I could only grit my teeth and move step by step toward the shore.

Finally, when they were able to step onto the riverbed, the people on the shore immediately reached out to help them, holding hands to bring the child ashore.

Su Qing ran over quickly and grabbed my arm tightly.

I followed her lead and walked ashore. As soon as I stood up, all my strength was instantly drained, and I collapsed onto the ground, panting heavily. I was soaked to the bone, my limbs were weak, and I was filled with lingering fear.

On the other side, a crowd surrounded the child who had fallen into the water.

A moment later, the sound of a child crying came from the room, and the anxiety that had been hanging over me finally subsided; the child was unharmed.

The child's mother hurried up to me, bowing repeatedly in gratitude, her voice trembling with tears:

"Thank you! Thank you so much for saving my son! May I ask your name?"

I weakly waved my hand, not wanting to leave my name.

Su Qing immediately spoke up: "His name is Lin Ye."