Chapter 256: Chapter 256

Liu Zhiyuan wanted everyone to get along, so naturally, he didn’t oppose. After all, it didn’t matter when; it was just going to be a swim outing. Ye Ling didn’t want to go but didn’t want to stand out by refusing, so she tagged along to the side of the deep creek. This small creek was wide, nearly twenty meters, shallow on both sides and deep in the middle, though the deep part only reached the waist. The bottom was covered in pebbles, and it was quite a nice way to enjoy the summer by playing in the water for a while.

Ye Ling didn’t have a swimsuit; she came out in her dress and only walked along the shallow parts at the edge, taking off her shoes and leaving them on the bank. The boys went behind some bushes to change clothes. Even though Zhao Guodong had been relentless with his words on the bus, he knew to bring swimming trunks for playing here. After the boys changed into their trunks and came out, Ye Qian and Liu Rui quickly turned their backs, looking shy. Compared to Ye Ling, who was calmly playing at the edge of the creek, they seemed a bit petty.

Liu Rui noticed this, adjusted her expression, and then looked up. As for Ye Qian, she felt like Ye Ling had laughed at her, so, although she kept a smile on her face and pretended with Liu Rui as if nothing had happened, there was no smile in her eyes. Ye Ling didn’t care about what Ye Qian thought; she just found a big stone by the water to sit on, put her feet in the creek, and looked at the opposite mountains and the blue sky, feeling her mood improving.

The boys were already like geese in the water, splashing around in the creek. The deep part was more than ten meters wide. Wang Ping was shouting to decide the victor, and the commotion attracted the adults over as well, with Liu Wujiang standing by the bank, watching the lively scene and smiling.

"He Ping, your daughter Ye Ling notices everything, but she’s too quiet. Look at even my usually timid Liu Rui, she’s having fun." Liu Wujiang sighed again, "This child might be too withdrawn, right? The summer’s almost over. When you go back this time, just bring her home. There’s nothing so serious that would keep her distant from home. I heard about some of it, but it’s nothing major. She’s at that teenage phase; she doesn’t realize you’re doing this for her own good and won’t understand in the future, either." The most update n0vels are published on NoveIＦire.net

Ye He Ping responded on the surface, but inside he gave a bittersweet smile. Nothing serious? If he were to lay out everything his wife did, he wouldn’t need to be in the army anymore; he’d pack up in shame and leave.

He had thought about bringing his daughter home after this gathering, especially since she was soon to head off to college out of town. But after this morning’s incident, he didn’t even have the face to speak to his daughter anymore. If it hadn’t been for his daughter’s persuasion back then, the family might have already broken up. At that time, he was resolved to divorce. Now, seeing his youngest daughter carefully coddling him, Ye He Ping couldn’t help but feel soft-hearted.

The boys’ competition had already started. Wang Ping was shouting the most, but his speed was lacking. Xiang Weilai, with a nonchalant attitude about winning or losing, left everyone behind. By the time he got out of the water and cleared his ears, the others were only starting to emerge one by one.

Wang Ping was the last to get up on shore, and since it was a round-trip, he was still panting, "No way, this round doesn’t count. I’ve just gotten in the water and haven’t found my balance yet. Let’s do it over, one more time."

Xiang Weilai ignored him, nodded at Liu Zhiyuan, "I’ll get it from your place tonight."

Liu Zhiyuan gave a bitter smile but nodded. He originally thought Xiang Weilai would get his hint and slow down during the race, even lose to the opponent. But it turned out just the opposite; the guy won straight away.

Xiang Weilai turned and went back in the water to swim again.

Wang Ping came over and circled Liu Zhiyuan, "Let’s race once more."

"If Weilai agrees, I have no objections." Liu Zhiyuan looked helplessly toward the water.

Zhao Guodong was also ready to go; he was just a little behind Xiang Weilai. In the end, Weilai beat him, too. Naturally, his thoughts were the same as Wang Ping’s, to have another round. Zhang Linong, on the other hand, didn’t care about the race at all; after getting out of the deep water, he went back in to continue swimming.

Sun Mingjie was quite pleased that, after all, their team had won. Dong Haoyu, who didn’t talk much and was easygoing, didn’t join in the conversation, instead following Xiang Weilai into the creek. Having been in the water once, they couldn’t stop at just winning once.

With Liu Zhiyuan’s words, Wang Ping went to pester Xiang Weilai but wasn’t as sharp as usual. Liu Zhiyuan walked over to Ye Ling, "You didn’t bring a swimsuit, did you? I guess since it’s your first time here, you didn’t know you could swim here."

Liu Zhiyuan initiated a conversation. If it were usual, Ye Ling would definitely avoid giving him a chance to talk to her. Now unable to dodge, she simply said, "I can’t swim."

Ye Qian and Liu Rui came over as well. "Sister, I can teach you. I brought two sets of swimsuits. I guessed yesterday Brother Guodong might have forgotten to tell you this."

"Ye Qian, you’re so considerate." Compared to the considerate Ye Qian, Liu Rui liked Ye Qian more. As for Ye Ling, having little interaction and finding her too gloomy, she didn’t particularly like her.

Ye Ling directly refused, "No need, I don’t want to learn."

"You should try learning." Liu Wujiang and Ye He Ping had somehow come over as well. With so many people standing around, Ye Ling found it hard to keep sitting, so she stood up. Liu Wujiang spoke again, "Once you’re in the military, you’ll have to learn all these things. We can’t have our soldiers waiting for someone else to save them when they’re in water, can we? It’s just us here, so try learning first. Even if you can’t master it in a short time, at least it builds courage."

"That’s right, sister. Uncle Liu said so; let’s go change clothes. Xiao Rui will come with us too." Ye Qian came over warmly, linking her arm with Ye Ling’s.

Ye Ling, without giving her face, withdrew her arm in public, "Let’s wait to learn in school. I’m really... not convenient today."

After speaking, she deliberately lowered her head shyly.

For a moment, Ye Qian’s face looked like she was about to cry, feeling wronged but couldn’t express it. Compared to Ye Ling’s cold and hard demeanor, Ye Ling seemed too unfeeling.

Everyone felt sorry for Ye Qian. But upon hearing Ye Ling’s words and seeing her shy demeanor, Mr. Liu also looked embarrassed. When a girl says "not convenient," it usually means she’s on her period, thinking he had been persuading her here the whole time. Mr. Liu grew increasingly awkward.

And Ye Ling’s earlier hardness towards Ye Qian was suddenly not an issue. After all, if it hadn’t been for Ye Qian trying to take Ye Ling swimming, everyone wouldn’t have been embarrassed. So it was understandable why Ye Ling responded the way she did.

Ye Qian was about to cry out of frustration from being set up by Ye Ling, and Ye He Ping, also feeling awkward, cleared his throat and said, "Since that’s the case, Ye Qian, don’t drag your sister into the water." (To be continued. If you work, you’re welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for it with recommendation votes and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)