41: Chapter 41 Super Mishap

The undercurrents in the pool were turbulent, and with Lin Ran panicking and thrashing about, it made saving her significantly more difficult.

He used every ounce of his strength to hold the panicked Lin Ran steady.

He gripped her arm with one hand and strained with all his might to drag her against the current toward the bank.

Along the way, he was panting for breath, his clothes completely soaked and covered in mud.

After struggling for a long time, Zheng Jing finally managed to drag her onto the bank with great difficulty; both of them were drenched and in a sorry state.

Just as he helped her sit up steadily, the anger Zheng Jing had been bottling up exploded instantly.

He raised his hand without hesitation and slapped Lin Ran across the cheek twice with a sharp "smack, smack."

It was incredibly crisp and decisive!

The crisp sound of the slaps instantly left the still-shocked Lin Ran dazed.

She froze in place, her eyes filled with confusion and bewilderment as she stared blankly at the furious man before her.

Zheng Jing panted heavily, pointing at Lin Ran with an urgent and angry tone.

Full of exasperation, he said, "You're such a young girl, what on earth is going on with you?

You have a perfectly good life, yet you choose to jump into a deep pool and seek death!"

Lin Ran clutched her burning cheek, feeling both aggrieved and furious; it took her a long time to come to her senses.

She immediately retorted angrily, "Who's seeking death by jumping into the pool? When did I ever want to jump into the pool!"

"You were standing on such a high rock, facing the deep pool—if that's not trying to kill yourself, then what is it?"

Zheng Jing frowned deeply and asked righteously.

This remark completely infuriated Lin Ran; her eyes turned red, and her whole body trembled.

She pointed at him, her voice trembling with rage: "You're the one who's sick! You're just a lunatic!

I was just standing on the rock thinking, enjoying the scenery, and relaxing. You were down there yelling for no reason,

and your sudden shout scared me into falling off. You made me suffer for no reason,

and not only do you not apologize, but you also hit me! Are you even reasonable!"

Zheng Jing listened to her words, then looked at her aggrieved and furious appearance, and the anger on his face instantly froze.

He was completely dumbfounded.

He scratched his head, his eyes suspicious yet awkward, and stammered, "Re... really? Did I misunderstand? You weren't trying to kill yourself?"

"Duh!" Lin Ran wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and glared at him fiercely.

"I'm living just fine, why on earth would I want to kill myself? Are you brain-damaged!"

Zheng Jing finally realized that he had completely messed up with good intentions, creating a massive misunderstanding.

Panic and guilt washed over him, and looking flustered, he quickly waved his hands to apologize, his tone softening:

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I really am sorry. I didn't see clearly and misunderstood you. I really didn't mean it; please don't hold it against me."

But Lin Ran didn't want to hear his apology at all; she had a belly full of anger with nowhere to vent.

Clutching her burning, painful cheek, she didn't even want to look at him again and stood up without a word.

Only then did Zheng Jing realize, in hindsight, that he had been so focused on saving her and getting angry that he hadn't taken a proper look at the girl in front of him.

When he took a serious look, he was instantly stunned.

The girl was soaked from head to toe, her long hair sticking wetly to her shoulders, yet it still couldn't hide her outstanding appearance.

Her skin was fair and delicate, her brows and eyes were as exquisite as a painting, and her cherry-red lips were firm and rosy.

Her features were very symmetrical and defined, making her look both graceful and gentle.

Plus, with her stunning figure, she was the type of girl who was strikingly beautiful at first glance, and even better looking the second time—a true goddess-level figure!

She was a world away from his own wild, mountain-savage appearance.

Seeing Zheng Jing staring at her in a daze, Lin Ran shot him a fierce look.

She stood up, brushed the mud off her body, and turned to walk toward her G-Wagon.

She kept a cold face the whole time, with no intention of acknowledging him at all.

Watching her walk straight to the car, open the door, get in, and lock it immediately, Zheng Jing felt even more guilty.

After thinking for a long time, Zheng Jing walked to her car and lightly tapped on the window.

Lin Ran irritably rolled down the window just a crack, her eyes cold and her tone extremely bad.

She spat out two words impatiently: "What?"

"You... your dress is too thin. It's completely soaked and sticking to your body; it must be freezing."

Zheng Jing pointed at her soaked clothes and spoke somewhat awkwardly, "The wind is strong in the mountains; you'll easily catch a cold like this.

How about I go gather some firewood and build a fire for you? You can warm up and dry your clothes before you leave?"

Lin Ran looked down at herself; her long dress was completely soaked, clinging tightly to her body in a sorry state.

But the thought of being alone with him in these wild mountains to warm up meant she would inevitably be seen by him,

so her expression grew even colder, her eyes filled with wariness as she coldly refused: "That's unnecessary."

As soon as she finished speaking, she rolled up the window and stepped on the gas. The off-road vehicle roared and sped away,

leaving only a cloud of exhaust, and Zheng Jing standing there alone, looking somewhat at a loss.