Chapter 14: Heartache

“Hold on tight!” The shore safety officer warned. The turbulent waters ahead converged, leaving them little time to brace. The raft plunged down with the roaring white waves.
With Lin Sitian’s cry of surprise, the raft nearly capsized as it hit the water. They barely steadied the raft, and then the rapid currents made it hard to think. Their bodies jolted with the raft, adrenaline surging.
When the rapids finally calmed, the raft was half – full of water, and both were soaked.
As the raft drifted into a wider, calmer stretch, flanked by rocky gorges and towering trees that blocked most sunlight, only scattered specks of light danced on the water.
“So beautiful.” Lin Sitian sighed sincerely. Beautiful scenery is soothing, but sharing it with someone you like is even more captivating—this was her little secret. When she saw pictures of this rafting spot online, she immediately thought of experiencing it with Zhou Sheng. But a day trip felt too rushed, and inviting only him might make him uncomfortable. So she roped in friends for this outing.
“Zhou Sheng…” The girl, moved by the romantic scenery, turned to find no resonance—Zhou Sheng was bailing water out with his helmet, scoop by scoop.
Noticing her look, Zhou Sheng asked seriously, “What’s wrong?”
Splash, another scoop.
Lin Sitian wanted to cry. She felt every scoop was a tear for her. “You’re bailing water.”
“So? If we don’t get rid of the water, we’ll never reach shore by sunset.” Zhou Sheng said.
It’s a practical problem; you can’t say he’s wrong.
“Don’t you think the scenery here is beautiful?”
Zhou Sheng glanced up. “Hmm, nice.”
Splash, another scoop.
Lin Sitian realized she was wrong. Every scoop was the water she’d “flooded her brain” with when making this decision. ——Why did she expect so much from a bookworm who only cares about studying?
Lin Sitian sighed, took off her helmet, and joined him in bailing.
It was like a couple working together to get home.
Zhou Sheng, the doer, silently bailed most of the water. Just as the raft was nearly empty, there was a “plop”. When he looked up, Lin Sitian was gone.
“…Lin Sitian?”
Zhou Sheng realized she was missing.
Her helmet floated on the water, and her life jacket had somehow come loose, drifting toward him.
Without thinking, he dropped his helmet, leaned over the raft, and plunged into the water. The stream wasn’t deep, but for non – swimmers, not touching the bottom was the same. Zhou Sheng knew that feeling—he’d struggled to learn swimming that summer.
“Lin Sitian——” Zhou Sheng checked the left, then rushed to the raft’s right, still seeing no sign of her struggling.
Never had he felt such panic.
His vision blurred, fingers gripping the raft turning pale.
But Zhou Sheng stayed calm. Seeing no safety officers around and the others far ahead, he quickly took off his life jacket. If Lin Sitian was in the water, he had to dive—he could swim, he could save her.
Lin Sitian. Lin Sitian. Lin Sitian.
The name repeated in his mind like a mantra.
It felt like an eternity, but only ten seconds passed. Just as Zhou Sheng was about to jump in, someone called, “Zhou Sheng!”
He turned, startled, to see Lin Sitian climb onto the raft, half her body hanging over the edge. Fresh from the water, she shook her hair, water droplets flying onto his face. He raised a hand to shield himself.
Through the water droplets, he saw the girl glistening, water beads on her neck, collarbone, and arms—like fish scales in the sun. The little mermaid swayed in the water, biting her lip, smiling at him.
“I… I thought… you fell.” The weight off his heart made him sink back into the raft.
Then his chest heaved, catching up on the oxygen he’d missed. Still, his gaze never left her.
“I can swim…” Lin Sitian, a bit embarrassed, pushed back her wet hair. “And I’m good at it. I grew up by the water.”
She clung to the raft easily, no exaggeration.
Zhou Sheng said nothing, his breathing still ragged, eyes fixed on her.
His woodenness made Lin Sitian worry she’d scared him. She hurried to explain, “Really, I’m fine! Just teasing you. Look——” She dove back in, quickly retrieved the floating gear, tossed it onto the raft, then sat near Zhou Sheng at the stern, pushing the raft faster. Her pale legs rippled in the stream like a mermaid’s tail.
A hand suddenly grasped her wrist. “Get up here.”
Lin Sitian looked up. Zhou Sheng, regaining his composure, leaned over in the dappled light.
“Get up, Lin Sitian.” He urged again.
As if afraid the fish would slip away if he didn’t hurry.
Lin Sitian hooked her arms over the raft, resting her chin on the edge. Her big, damp eyes looked up at Zhou Sheng.
“If I really died here, would your heart ache?”
It wasn’t a melodramatic question—she was curious. Would this bookworm care? Seeing his panic earlier, she felt a little happy. She knew it was silly, but a little joy wasn’t a crime, right?
Zhou Sheng’s face stiffened. He bit his lip. “Can you think of something serious, Lin Sitian?”
She stared at him, “Would it?”
The question was pointless. Most people would say “yes” out of politeness, even for a stranger—basic human compassion.
But she wanted to hear “yes” from Zhou Sheng.
Zhou Sheng leaned close, his cool fingers brushing her jaw. His fingertips trembled as they touched her.
“Don’t say that…”
“Stop it.”
His Adam’s apple bobbed.
“I now…”
“I really ache.”
——Lin Sitian, don’t tease me.
What’s it like when your mind goes blank?
Bizarre, wonderful. Everything slowed—even the water’s sound seemed muffled. The stream gently lifted her, floating her until she felt weightless, only aware of Zhou Sheng’s breath nearby.
He reached for her arm, ready to pull her up. Before he could, Lin Sitian spoke, “Zhou Sheng…”
He asked—
What’s wrong.
Afraid his voice might startle the little fish, it softened to a whisper, barely audible.
“Don’t move.” She kicked the water, arm tensing. “…Get up first.”
Even in calm waters, he wanted to be ready—no risks with Lin Sitian.
“Okay.” Lin Sitian finally gave in.
“Hey—why are you still here?” Wang Yue and Cui Qian waved from their raft behind.
“Water in the raft—slow going!” Lin Sitian cupped her hands to shout.
By the time the raft docked, Meng Qiaoyu and others waited on shore.
“Why so long?” Meng Qiaoyu asked, reaching to help Lin Sitian out.
Lin Sitian took his hand, stepping off the raft.
Zhou Sheng glanced at her hand in Meng Qiaoyu’s, hesitated, then followed ashore.
On shore, Lin Sitian’s wet clothes left puddles.
Meng Qiaoyu frowned. “What happened? Did you capsize?”
“No,” Zhou Sheng interrupted, walking to Lin Sitian. “Go change clothes.”
“Oh.”
“No capsize? Then why soaked? Lin Sitian—are you bleeding?” Meng Qiaoyu, confused, noticed Lin Sitian heading to the changing room and called out.
Hearing this, Zhou Sheng’s eyes shot to Lin Sitian. She hadn’t turned; her upper body was covered by a T – shirt and orange life jacket, lower body in black shorts—nothing odd. But on her left calf, a four – centimeter wound bled, water washing the blood down.
Zhou Sheng’s heart skipped. When did she get hurt?
“Bleeding?” Lin Sitian heard, turned to their gaze. “Huh? I just felt something wet on my leg…”
“Lin…”
“Lin Sitian, are you an idiot? No feeling at all?” Meng Qiaoyu cut in. “How’d you get hurt in the raft?”
“How would I… know.” Lin Sitian felt guilty.
Zhou Sheng rushed over, kneeling to check.
His fingers pressed around the wound—a shallow, thin cut, slightly swollen, blood oozing, lightened by water. Earlier, Lin Sitian had used her right leg, so neither noticed.
“Go change. Rinse the wound first.” Zhou Sheng said.
When Lin Sitian went to the changing room, Meng Qiaoyu looked at Zhou Sheng. “So you said ‘she can take care of herself’? Looks like you didn’t care.”
Zhou Sheng rested his elbow on his knee, silent.
No excuse—Lin Sitian was hurt, and he missed it. His fault.
“I should’ve never listened to you.” Meng Qiaoyu, removing his life jacket, walked past. “If you’re not serious, stop messing around. No idea what you want.”
After a while, Lin Sitian emerged from the changing room, wrapped in a towel, head covered. Seeing Zhou Sheng waiting, she hurried over. “Aren’t you changing?”
“I’ll take you to the wound first. Not in a hurry.”
“It’s fine. I can rinse it. No sun now—you’ll catch a cold, you just got over one.”
“I’m fine. Come.” Zhou Sheng grabbed her hand and walked to the tap.
So bossy.
Wang Yang and Gao Xue, coming over, stopped at the sight. Lin Sitian panicked, heart racing—secretly blaming Zhou Sheng, but her lips curled up.
The icy mountain spring rinsed Lin Sitian’s wound. Zhou Sheng, crouching beside her, used his T – shirt corner to wipe mud and weeds from around the cut. He stayed quiet, head down. Lin Sitian hesitated to break the silence when Zhou Sheng spoke—
“Did you hide it on purpose?”
Lin Sitian shook her head. “I really didn’t know. It’s not serious, just… a little, tiny, pain.” She emphasized “tiny”.
Zhou Sheng looked up, staring into Lin Sitian’s eyes—innocent or feigning innocence. Their gazes locked, and finally, he couldn’t bring himself to scold her.
He missed it, he didn’t take care of her—what’s the use of blaming her?
“Over here——” Meng Qiaoyu’s voice came. “Took me ages to find you. I asked the staff—they have a first – aid kit. Let’s get it treated.”
“Oh, no need. Zhou Sheng rinsed it. Such a small cut will heal in two days.”
“You’re so careless…”
“Meng Qiaoyu, stop the personal attacks!”
Meng Qiaoyu Retract your chin.”I… didn’t mean that.”
The tap turned off. Zhou Sheng stood up slowly. “Lin Sitian, go get it treated.”
“Huh?”
Zhou Sheng tilted his head, gesturing to the first – aid station. “Don’t want a scar.”
His gentle look as he glanced at her flustered Lin Sitian.
That expression—like coaxing her.
Coaxing her, yes, he was coaxing her.
A little sparrow of joy fluttered in Lin Sitian’s heart, nearly making her dizzy with excitement.
“Then… I’ll go.” She hid her inner turmoil, forcing a calm reply.
Zhou Sheng was about to go with her when Meng Qiaoyu stopped him.
“Stay. Change out of your wet life jacket first.”
Right—Zhou Sheng hadn’t changed. Lin Sitian patted his shoulder. “I’ll go with Meng Qiaoyu. You change.”
“I can wait…”
“We’re going!” Lin Sitian followed Meng Qiaoyu, waving back at Zhou Sheng. “Don’t catch a cold, Mr. Sickly Zhou!”
Zhou Sheng stood still as tourists passed, not moving until Lin Sitian’s figure disappeared.
He lowered his head, picking up the towel, covering his burning cheeks in the shade.
He must be really “sick”.