82: Could he be the ray of light that illuminates Gu Xiaoxiao's world?

With a loud 'thud'!

Gu Xiaoxiao's body crashed into the river, splashing up a huge amount of water and sending ripples spreading outwards.

The pink baseball cap on her head was flung off by the impact, floating alone on the river, like a flower destroyed and withered by wind and rain.

It bobbed up and down with the river's current, appearing so helpless and desolate.

After Gu Xiaoxiao plunged into the river, she felt her eyes blur for a moment, and the icy river water poured into her collar like thousands of ice needles.

It was cold, bone-chillingly, terrifyingly cold.

The river, like a surging beast, mercilessly swept her into its depths.

She couldn't swim, and under this overwhelming force, her body no longer felt like her own; she could only instinctively flail her arms in panic, and her slender, fair legs kicked blindly in the dark depths.

Gu Xiaoxiao felt like a fragile leaf, drifting with the current, rising and falling in the turbulent river.

Bitter, icy river water poured frantically into her mouth; the taste permeated her oral cavity, both bitter and astringent, much like her state of mind at that moment.

The river water under the night sky was as black as ink, and the sky was overcast with dark clouds, completely obscuring the already faint moonlight.

She stretched out her hands, desperately reaching upwards, but it was as if she was swallowed by endless darkness, with no glimmer of light to offer her hope.

Every struggle was accompanied by the river's violent impact; her strength was rapidly fading, and her body grew heavier and heavier.

In the distance, the city lights reflected blurry shadows on the river, but they had no connection to her; she could only struggle alone in the icy river.

In a daze, she saw Zhao Jiaqi on the bank, calling out anxiously, and many other people watching her from the shore.

Their mouths opened and closed continuously, seemingly saying something, but at this moment, Gu Xiaoxiao only felt a roaring in her ears and heard nothing.

Those anxious faces seemed to be separated by a transparent barrier, placing her in a completely different world.

Past experiences flashed through her mind like a revolving lantern; all the laughter and tears, successes and failures, became blurred in this moment of life and death.

However, when the scene finally settled, she was surprised to find that the most profound impression was the three months she spent with Lu Chen.

Gu Xiaoxiao didn't know where she found the courage to jump into the river; it was just a moment of impulsive rashness that led her to make such an irrational choice.

In her instantaneous judgment, she believed that perhaps only this method could make Lu Chen notice her again.

So she did it.

Completely disregarding any consequences.

Gu Xiaoxiao knew she might die here, and she couldn't articulate whether her feeling at this moment was regret or something else; it was as tangled as a mess of threads.

There was both remorse for her reckless behavior and a hint of obsession and unwillingness regarding Lu Chen.

Perhaps death was imminent, but the complex emotions she held for Lu Chen intensified in this desperate situation, like a flame burning in the darkness, faint yet refusing to be extinguished.

In the icy river, she awaited an unknown fate, her thoughts gradually engulfed by darkness.

Gu Xiaoxiao's struggles gradually weakened, and her body sank into the river, her dark long hair fanning out like waterweeds, and her white dress swirling freely in the turbulent currents.

The scene was dreamlike and picturesque, yet imbued with endless beauty and despair.

Her eyes slowly closed, as if she was about to be forever swallowed by the dark river.

Just as Gu Xiaoxiao's consciousness was about to completely sink.

Suddenly, a strong and upright figure, like a Heavenly God, descended into the ink-black river.

The next moment,

Gu Xiaoxiao only felt a powerful arm wrap around her waist; the muscles on that arm were taut, as if containing endless strength.

He lifted her slowly and steadily from the endless abyss, with force and deliberation.

The river water churned in layers of whirlpools around him, yet it could not hinder his upward force.

Gu Xiaoxiao's heart trembled, and her long, curved eyelashes quivered slightly; she forced her eyes open, wanting to see clearly who the person behind her truly was.

Could it be him... Gu Xiaoxiao's eyes widened, disregarding the pressure of the river water on them, and her gaze moved backward.

Until she saw that familiar face... Gu Xiaoxiao's heart suddenly settled, and an unprecedented sense of security enveloped her, as if even now, in the underworld, she would not be afraid.

As he lifted her, Gu Xiaoxiao felt her body gradually detach from the bone-chilling river water.

She slowly leaned her head against his chest, feeling his strong heartbeat.

The moment she left the river, it was as if a ray of light suddenly struck the world, instantly illuminating her entire world... The moment Gu Xiaoxiao's feet touched the deck of the luxury yacht, she collapsed weakly onto the ground.

Her face was as pale as paper, her lips bloodless and unconsciously trembling slightly, and a few damp strands of hair clung to her cheeks and neck, giving her a cool, desolate beauty.

The cold wind howled over the river, cutting through the night sky like a sharp whistle, stirring up layers of icy mist.

Gu Xiaoxiao instinctively hugged her arms tightly.

Lu Chen knelt beside her, placing her on the deck; water droplets slid from his handsome face, falling onto Gu Xiaoxiao's face.

That slight coolness brought Gu Xiaoxiao a bit of conscious clarity.

She slowly opened her eyes, still retaining fear and confusion in her gaze; what first came into view was the lead-gray sky, then her vision focused, and she saw Lu Chen, who was completely drenched before her.

The surrounding crowd gathered, and a cacophony of discussions entered her ears.

But her world seemed to contain only this person who had given her a second life.

Gu Xiaoxiao gazed steadily at Lu Chen, with nothing else in her eyes.

At this moment,

"Lu Chen, are you alright!" a soft, charming voice suddenly sounded by her ear.

Gu Xiaoxiao's gaze shifted slightly, and she saw a beautiful woman, holding a small girl by the hand, appear before her, her face anxious, asking with concern in her eyes.

Isn't this the woman who was just with Lu Chen?

The moment Gu Xiaoxiao's gaze met the woman's, it paused slightly, her eyelashes fluttered gently, and a trace of undetectable panic and awkwardness flashed across her face.

The closer the woman got, the more chaotic her heart became, her eyes interwoven with confusion, unease, and a hint of inexplicable hostility.

Gao Xuewei's face was as delicate as a porcelain doll, her skin fairer than snow, her eyes bright and deep, her nose elegantly upturned, and her lips like cherries.

She was dressed fashionably and elegantly, a white long dress perfectly outlining her figure, its hem gently swaying in the wind, adding a touch of liveliness.

The pearl necklace around her neck emitted a soft glow, complementing her overall demeanor perfectly.

Gu Xiaoxiao subconsciously clutched her wet dress, a sense of inferiority welling up in her heart, and she unconsciously cowered slightly towards Lu Chen, like a startled fawn.

Gao Xuewei carefully examined Lu Chen, and after realizing he was unharmed, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Only then did she turn her gaze to Gu Xiaoxiao.