Breaking News: At 10:23 AM, flight MU5735 of N Airlines, while on a mission, lost contact over the Pacific…
Water—surging from all directions—rushed in, the pressure in her chest felt unbearable, and the suffocating sensation made Lin He flail her limbs desperately.
Suddenly, she felt as if something buoyant beneath her was lifting her upward. She wasn't sure how much time had passed, but the sound of the waves faded away, and she opened her eyes wide in shock.
How did she end up in a bathtub?!
Lin He vividly remembered being on a plane bound for Country A when the plane suddenly shook violently as the flight attendant was serving meals. Then, someone screamed that the wing was emitting black smoke.
The plane plunged into the ocean. People scrambled to put on life vests, but the rising water was faster than their frantic efforts, and the cabin's water level kept rising…
At this moment, Lin He was confused—was this a dream or reality?
The itching in her throat prompted a series of coughs, and at that moment, footsteps approached and the door swung open.
Upon seeing a familiar face, Lin He's eyes welled up with tears. Pouting, she reached out, seeking a comforting embrace, whining softly, "Qiao Qiao!"
Her long eyelashes were still wet, and unable to discern whether this was a dream or reality, Lin He was overwhelmed with an indescribable sense of fear.
Jiang Qiao was Summer He's husband. They had been high school sweethearts, and after finishing their studies, they entered into marriage. If there was anyone in this world who doted on Summer He the most, it was Jiang Qiao, no one could come close.
Lin He thought Jiang Qiao would embrace her, kiss her cheek, and reassure her that the dream wasn't real, telling her not to be afraid because he was by her side.
But the next moment, her throat was tightly squeezed.
It was then that Lin He realized something was wrong. The man in front of her resembled Jiang Qiao but also didn't.
"Who sent you? To dare pretend to be him, you must be very bold!"
The man's cold, sharp gaze fixed on Lin He's face, as though he was longing for something through her. But in less than a second, that emotion was replaced with a harsh, sinister look, and the overwhelming aura of murderous intent made Lin He's pupils constrict.
She had no doubt that at that moment, the man before her wished to kill her.
"Two choices: either you go change this face yourself, or I'll destroy it for you."
His tone was light, but the underlying pressure made it clear—it was not a joke.
With that, he stood upright, took a tissue from the side, and wiped his hands as if touching something filthy.
Lin He's hair was still dripping wet. She shivered—not just from the cold, but from fear.
In her memory, Jiang Qiao had always worn a smile, indulging her whims. She had once told him she liked his youthful, fresh look, and even when he became a father and a CEO of a conglomerate, he never changed his appearance to something more mature like other executives.
Lin He had joked about his "boyish" charm, saying he lacked the charisma to carry a mature look.
Jiang Qiao just smiled and said nothing, maintaining his clean, youthful appearance, always exuding a scent of sunshine.
But the person in front of her now was different. His hair was neatly combed in a side part, and his black shirt—tailored to fit—had two buttons undone. His once clear eyes were now dark and cold, emitting an intimidating chill.
The Jiang Qiao in her memory had been a warm, clingy cat, lazily stretching out in the sun, while the person before her now resembled a panther, lurking in the shadows, its fangs bared, ready to strike when least expected.
Her gaze fell on the man's collarbone, where a barely noticeable scar remained—a scar from when he had saved her years ago, cut by a shattered window.
Lin He's lips trembled as she looked at the fine lines around his eyes—though they carried the depth of time...
"How have you aged?"
The changes were dramatic, but Lin He was sure the man before her was Jiang Qiao.
His eyes, sharp as an eagle's, narrowed slightly. His face darkened even further with disgust as he coldly said, "Your voice is convincing, but unfortunately, I never settle for substitutes. Whoever sent you, if you don't want to die…"
"Qiao Qiao, you don't recognize me? What is this? Am I dreaming, or did I cross over? This is too much!"
Her harsh words were cut off abruptly.
Furious, Lin He splashed water with her hands, her anger rising as she barked, "Are you Jiang Qiao?!"
Jiang Qiao didn't respond, simply glaring at her with a cold expression. If anyone else saw his face like that, they'd be terrified—it meant that Jiang Qiao was about to unleash hell.
At first, Lin He was afraid, but now, her adrenaline surged. Coupled with the man's familiar face, her fear turned to anger.
"Did you used to live in Yun City's Rui'an District, East Alley?! Were you always so capable, except when it came to singing?! Didn't you have an allergy to mangoes, but you ate them anyway because I loved them?! You…"
Lin He continued, her words flowing like a torrent.
She touched her sore throat, feeling the tears welling up again. She was both angry and aggrieved. She was already terrified, and now she was being treated like this.
As she cried, she felt embarrassed, wiping her tears away childishly with her sleeve. Because it was Jiang Qiao who had choked her, the sense of injustice doubled.
What Lin He didn't notice was that the man in front of her had grown paler with every word she said. His hands, hanging by his sides, trembled uncontrollably, and his eyes, once filled with fury, now burned with an even deeper, more terrifying red…
"Who are you?"
His voice was hoarse, filled with a distinct quiver, as though those three words had been wrung from him with great effort.
"I'm Lin He! Who else could I be?!"
Lin He stepped out of the bathtub, her tears clouding her vision as she grabbed a bathrobe and shoved the person beside her out of the way.
"Get away, you annoying idiot!"
"Annoying idiot" was the term Lin He always used when she was angry with Jiang Qiao.
Jiang Qiao stumbled as he was pushed out of the room, leaning against the wall, gasping for breath as though he had just been saved from drowning. Then, as though realizing something, he slammed his fist hard into the wall.
His furrowed brows relaxed a little as he stared at his bloodied knuckles in a daze.
It hurt.
Inside the bathroom, Lin He changed out of her wet clothes and put on the bathrobe. After venting her emotions, she was still confused about what was going on. She was certain that the plane crash wasn't a dream, and she had been wearing the same clothes as when she was on the plane.
But how had she ended up here? And what was going on with Jiang Qiao?
Just as she was about to go out and talk to him, the door suddenly burst open, and she was tightly embraced.
The familiar embrace made Lin He's tense nerves relax slightly. She mumbled, "What's going on? The plane crashed into the ocean, and now I'm here. And what was with your attitude just now…"
Her voice faltered as she noticed something wet on her neck. Jiang Qiao… was crying?
"He He, you disappeared for fifteen years. I've been going mad searching for you. He He…"
Feeling the tightening of his arms around her waist, Lin He was stunned.
What?!