NOVEL NEXT Chapter 24:
Chapter 24: Falling Into The Water:
Han Mei’s emotions were impossible to read. Her calm demeanor gave nothing away, leaving Wang Zhenxing curious about whether he had managed to charm her.
His eyes studied her intently, trying to discern her thoughts, but Han Mei concealed her emotions flawlessly.
‘I dressed up so carefully, yet it seems to have no effect on her…’ Wang Zhenxing thought, feeling a tinge of disappointment.
Unexpectedly, Han Mei spoke, her voice steady. “This charity summit is a noble endeavor. Whether the donations are large or small, it all comes from the heart.”
Her statement surprised those nearby. Many were confused—wasn’t Fenghua Group actively suppressing the Zhenxing Group? Instead of embarrassing Wang Zhenxing, Han Mei appeared to be defending him.
Wang Zhenxing was equally puzzled. ‘What is this woman plotting?’
With a faint smile, Han Mei extended her hand. “Mr. Wang, I’ve heard much about you. It’s a pleasure to finally meet.”
Startled, Wang Zhenxing’s gaze shifted to her hand. Her fingers were slender and elegant, devoid of nail polish or adornments, yet they appeared delicate and beautiful.
“I’m not well-known. You flatter me, Miss Han,” he said, reaching out to shake her hand.
As their hands touched, he noticed a slight tremor in hers. This unexpected detail left him momentarily surprised. Han Mei, a woman of her stature and poise, shouldn’t be nervous about something as simple as a handshake.
After the handshake, Han Mei moved on to converse with government officials. Most of the guests’ attention followed her as she walked away.
Wang Zhenxing, by comparison, blended into the crowd.
With his modest net worth relative to the other attendees, few paid him any notice.
Checking the time on his gold watch, he realized the summit was fifteen minutes away. His mind began racing with plans.
‘Han Mei is a tough one to read. Even her earlier show of kindness might just be a tactic to lower my guard before striking. People like her are all too common in the business world.’
Deciding to act, he meandered casually on the deck, a glass of wine in hand. Reaching the railing, he pretended to admire the shoreline view before suddenly “falling” over the edge.
There was a loud splash.
“What was that noise?”
Some guests near the railing peered over to investigate and saw someone struggling in the water below.
“Someone fell in!” a voice called out.
The socializing guests stopped abruptly, rushing to the railing to see what was happening. Among them was Han Mei.
“Who is it? Who fell into the water?” she asked.
The dim lighting made it difficult to identify the person. All they could see was a figure splashing frantically, clearly unable to swim.
“It’s Mr. Wang from the Zhenxing Group,” someone confirmed.
“Where’s the lifeguard?!” Han Mei demanded urgently.
While others ran to alert the crew, Wang Zhenxing continued his act, thrashing about for a moment before gradually sinking into the water.
As a time traveler, he had mastered basic skills, including swimming. No one at the summit knew this, and he planned to feign unconsciousness, spending some time in the hospital to avoid the summit altogether.
His plan was well-calculated. With advanced medical knowledge, faking an illness would be easy, and his high luck level—over 300—made him confident nothing would go wrong.
The onlookers at the railing grew anxious as the water stilled. The lifeguards hadn’t arrived yet, and while some guests could swim, none were willing to risk their lives. After all, these were wealthy, influential individuals unaccustomed to personal danger.
Suddenly, the sound of a zipper broke the silence.
To everyone’s shock, Han Mei stepped forward. She had shed her evening dress, revealing simple clothing underneath, baring her arms and legs. Without hesitation, she jumped into the water.
A spotlight illuminated the scene as Han Mei swam through the dark waters. Spotting Wang Zhenxing sinking slowly, she headed toward him.
Unaware it was Han Mei, Wang Zhenxing pretended to flail weakly. When she reached him, his “struggles” caused him to accidentally touch a part of her body he shouldn’t have.
‘Her… fierceness rivals Xu Yourou’s,’ he thought wryly before going limp to feign unconsciousness.
Han Mei, relieved that he had stopped thrashing, grabbed his arm and began pulling him to the surface. However, his tall, muscular frame made the task difficult.
Struggling with the weight, Han Mei paused momentarily and did something unexpected—she leaned in, pressing her lips to his to give him air.
Even in his act, Wang Zhenxing was startled.
‘What’s going on? She’s supposed to be suppressing my company, so why is she risking her life to save me? Is she truly kind-hearted?’
Doubt filled his mind. Han Mei’s son, Han Jie, was undoubtedly a villain. Could someone like Han Mei, his mother, really be driven by pure intentions?
As if to answer his thoughts, a notification appeared in his mind.
[The villain Han Mei’s favorability toward the host has increased to 60 (admiration). The host has influenced the plot and earned 300 counterattack points!]
The prompt made everything clearer.
This wasn’t just an act of kindness—Han Mei had fallen for him at first sight. Though she hid it well, her feelings were evident in her actions.
‘It seems my streak of luck with women has begun,’ he mused.
While his elementary-level luck didn’t have a strong influence on heroines, it seemed to work wonders on female supporting characters and villains.
What started as a simple plan to feign illness had unexpectedly turned into a moment of unexpected reward.
…
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