Chapter 369: Chapter 278: Is This What’s Called Digging a Pit for Oneself?
What could he do? A guy with a girlfriend that beautiful had every right to be smug.
The blond youth cursed under his breath—what a waste of a beautiful flower on a pile of crap. Then, fuming, he turned and stormed away.
Watching the guy storm off in a rage, Lin Li was completely bewildered. He couldn’t figure out why the man had suddenly gotten so furious.
If he could have heard the man’s furious thoughts, he would have been utterly dumbfounded.
He would have cried foul, insisting that his detached expression was just him trying to distract himself. It wasn’t some declaration of ownership or a smug display at all...
Su Yue, still clinging to Lin Li’s arm, leaned lightly against him. "That annoying guy is finally gone," she said, watching the blond man leave.
"Lin Li, you have no idea how persistent he was. No matter how many times I said no, he just wouldn’t stop pestering me."
Lin Li nodded, gently pushing Su Yue away. "I saw," he said. "I just got out of the shower in the changing room and spotted you two from a distance."
Pushed away, Su Yue shot Lin Li a look, then brought up the question she had asked earlier.
"I was swimming in the ocean, and my phone was in a locker in the changing room, so I had no idea you texted and called me...
"I only just got my phone and saw your messages. I was about to reply when I saw that guy pestering you..." Lin Li explained as he started walking toward the hotel.
Su Yue hurried to catch up, falling into step beside him. She glanced at the plastic bag in his hand, which held his swim trunks, then looked up at him and said with a smile.
"You really meant what you said! You mentioned wanting to practice your swimming, and you started right away. I thought you were just talking..."
Lin Li shot a sidelong glance at Su Yue. "It’s all because you thoroughly trounced me in the ocean earlier," he said irritably. "If I don’t work on my swimming, you’re just going to keep kicking my butt...
"Let me tell you, after practicing all afternoon, I feel like my swimming has improved a ton. A few more sessions, and I’ll be able to leave you in my wake."
"Hmph..." Hearing this, Su Yue let out a smug little scoff. "As if you could surpass me by just cramming at the last minute. Once we’re back in the water, you’ll still be no match for me."
’This woman is really full of herself,’ Lin Li thought. ’If I were a normal person, she’d be right. There’s no way someone could beat her just by cramming.
’But I’m not a normal person anymore. You just get ready to face the music!’ The corner of Lin Li’s mouth lifted into a smirk, his expression one of complete confidence.
Su Yue saw his confident expression and wondered where he got the nerve to think he could beat her at swimming after just a few days of practice.
"Lin Li." Su Yue suddenly stopped and called his name.
"What is it?" Lin Li looked at her, puzzled. He saw her bright, dark eyes dart about playfully. ’Is she plotting something?’ he wondered, instantly on his guard.
Seeing him watch her so warily, the corners of Su Yue’s lips, which held both a smile and a hint of a pout, curved into an enchanting arc. She asked with a voice full of mirth.
"What’s with you? Why are you looking at me like I’m a thief?"
Lin Li’s lip twitched. "Don’t even try that with me. With that look on your face, I bet you’re up to no good.
"I’m warning you now, whatever scheme you’re cooking up, you’d better drop it. I’m not falling for it..."
"Oh, my!" Su Yue exclaimed, her face falling into an expression of theatrical sadness. "I can’t believe that’s what you think of me. I’m so hurt!"
’This drama queen... Does she really think the same old act will work on me again?’ Lin Li thought, watching her feign heartbreak. Anyone else would have been completely fooled by her performance.
But they had known each other for years. Lin Li had become a seasoned veteran in their games and wouldn’t be fooled by her masterful acting anymore.
Su Yue saw his resolve was unshakable, his expression clearly saying, ’No matter what you do, I’m not falling for it.’
She instantly dropped the heartbroken act, tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, and addressed him with a straightforward tone.
"Lin Li, since you’re so sure you can train your lousy swimming skills enough to beat me in the few days we have left in Qiong City, how about we have a race?"
"A race?"
"That’s right. Since you’re so confident, three days from now—on our last day in Qiong City—we’ll race in the ocean. The first one back to shore wins."
Lin Li, who had been on guard for some kind of trick, considered the rules she laid out. ’The race is simple, and the advantage is all mine,’ he thought. He nodded immediately.
"You’re on! In three days, I’m going to beat you so badly you won’t know what hit you."
"Hmph..." Su Yue, completely confident in her own swimming ability, scoffed dismissively. "Lin Li, you’re getting ahead of yourself. Don’t be too crushed when you lose."
Having improved his swimming immensely after just one afternoon, Lin Li was supremely confident he could beat Su Yue in three days. He chuckled and said,
"I may not have practiced for long, but I’m about to show you that there’s always a bigger fish. Just you wait. You’re going down!"
After a few more rounds of verbal sparring, Su Yue suddenly proposed, "A race should have some stakes. Otherwise, it’s not as much fun."
"Stakes? What kind of stakes?" Lin Li asked, his guard back up.
"How about this: for the race in three days, the winner gets to make one request of the loser," Su Yue said with a radiant smile.
"So... make one request?" A hint of uncertainty crossed Lin Li’s face.
"That’s right. One request. And it can be *anything*," Su Yue said, clasping her hands behind her back and leaning forward. Her well-defined figure was accentuated, and through the slightly open collar of her top, a captivating glimpse of fair skin was visible.
"Uh... *Anything*? Isn’t that raising the stakes a little high?" Lin Li said, looking at Su Yue’s radiant smile. His gaze was involuntarily drawn to the sliver of fair skin inadvertently revealed by her open collar.
Su Yue noticed where he was looking. If it had been anyone else staring at her like that, she would have shot them a look of undisguised disgust.
But with him, she didn’t seem to mind at all. The enchanting curve of her lips widened as she smiled. "What’s wrong? Weren’t you just saying how you were going to crush me? Getting scared now?"
"..." Lin Li was left speechless by her blatant goading. The only reason he’d questioned the high stakes was because Su Yue had no idea he was a Second Order High Rank Cultivator.
For him, winning the race in three days was practically in the bag.
After all, if a Second Order High Rank Cultivator who was actually taking the race seriously still lost to a normal person, he might as well go find a block of frozen tofu and bash his head in.
"I’m talking to you! Stop spacing out. If you’re scared you’ll lose, we can just forget the whole thing," Su Yue said, seeing Lin Li just staring at her. Afraid he was about to back out, she goaded him again.
"Sigh..." Lin Li let out a breath. "Since you’re so insistent, fine. Have it your way. Just don’t be a sore loser when I win."
...
