They had just been discussing serious matters when Li Yan suddenly mentioned going swimming, leaving Yue Yao a little stunned. She thought for a moment and felt it seemed inappropriate. It wasn't particularly hot right now, and it was evening, plus Zhang Yurong wasn't around. Two people going swimming alone would certainly arouse suspicion.

Yet her heart was full of hesitation, because if she missed this chance, who knew when she would get another. Normally, with Zhang Yurong at home, it was even more inconvenient for the two of them to go swimming alone. And Zhang Yurong was unwilling to go with Li Yan, so the three of them going together was also unlikely for now...

Seeing that she did not refuse, Li Yan promptly stood up and went upstairs. "Alright then, I'll go start filling the pool."

The indoor swimming pool upstairs usually had its water changed daily during hotter months. Since it wasn't that hot now, they didn't swim every day, so the water wasn't changed as frequently. Even if the water-changing speed was fast, it was best to start early.

Watching Li Yan's back, Yue Yao patted her chest to calm her racing heart. She recalled last night's events, and this morning's events too, wondering if something might happen... something she secretly wanted but was afraid to pursue.

After struggling for a few minutes watching TV, Yue Yao got up and went upstairs. When Li Yan had phoned earlier, Yurong was out having dinner, which meant it wouldn't end quickly — plus the time to get back, it would be at least an hour, right? Swimming together for a while, even if nothing else happened, seemed pretty nice.

...

When the water was ready and Li Yan had changed into swim trunks thinking Yue Yao was too shy to come over, he saw the door open. In the light from the doorway, Yue Yao appeared dreamlike, like a moonlight fairy.

"I thought you weren't coming," Li Yan greeted with a smile. To avoid awkwardness, he swam away from the spot where she would enter the pool.

Yue Yao came in and walked to the poolside, still wearing the sexy nightgown from earlier.

Li Yan noticed she didn't seem intent on changing into a swimsuit, thinking perhaps she only came to chat. Considering that Zhang Yurong would be back soon, he felt relieved.

However, just as that thought crossed his mind, his eyes witnessed something else:

Yue Yao stood barefoot by the pool, and then slowly lifted the hem of her nightgown. As the short gown already reached her knees, she quickly unveiled her thighs, continuing upward...

Li Yan's eyes widened. Was she planning to come down in just her underwear without changing into a swimsuit?

Unexpected, unexpected! But I like it...

The gown continued to rise, revealing long and shapely legs, the gentle curve of hips, her slender waist… Of course, Li Yan didn't see Yue Yao's underwear because she had already changed into a swimsuit in her room before coming.

Still, seeing her swim shorts made his blood race. The sight was as arousing as seeing underwear, because... as Yue Yao lifted and removed the gown, it unveiled a sky-blue floral bikini!

Yue Yao's undressing was a simple act, yet in Li Yan's eyes, it seemed like slow motion, allowing him to see every detail clearly. Finally, when he felt the pace return to normal, Yue Yao had placed her gown on a chair by the pool, covered her chest with both hands, and sat down at the pool's edge, dipping her fair feet into the water.

Li Yan's stunned expression was evident, and Yue Yao saw it all. This made her somewhat gratified, as it showed she wasn't just a helpful friend but also a woman of attraction in his eyes.

"Your swimsuit... is beautiful... Of course, you're even more beautiful." Li Yan couldn't help but compliment.

Feeling shy, Yue Yao avoided his gaze. Sitting at the poolside, she sensed his fiery gaze on her scantily clad bikini, not nearly enough to hide anything, so she slid forward like a mermaid, silently into the pool.

"Actually… that's Yurong's too."

"Oh? Like those pajamas, nightgowns you mentioned were bought by her but she never dares to wear them due to their revealing nature?" Li Yan was intrigued, musing that this ice-cold beauty also secretly had an alluring side. Combined in one person, it was indeed a tantalizing tension. If well-developed and guided...

"Actually... when we swim together, she also wears bikinis," Yue Yao revealed another tidbit.

Li Yan shook his head, "Not fair, not fair! She's closer to you than to me. I've never seen her in a bikini..." He thought he must find an opportunity for all of them to swim together; otherwise, what a pity.

"Haha, you're jealous again." Despite being in the water now, Yue Yao was still reserved, staying near the edge, keeping distance from Li Yan.

"Ha-ha, not really jealous, just showing you. If other men saw her, then I'd be jealous and envious. But I believe she'll eventually wear it for me to see!"

Yue Yao's desires were simple — to share a pool with Li Yan, just the two of them swimming together was a small happiness and a small contentment for her, no need for intimate contact.

Li Yan had already experienced an intense battle with Hai Fu, so although Yue Yao gave him endless excitement, he remained rational. Thus, while they chatted and swam separately, it was relaxed and pleasant. Perhaps revealing themselves and sharing the water made Yue Yao less restrained than usual; she recalled how last night Li Yan tricked Yurong, making the two women laugh at his antics, prompting her to splash water at him playfully.

Li Yan had never seen Yue Yao so lively before, and naturally, he went along with her playfulness. He knew that Yue Yao was under a lot of pressure too, and she regarded him as her spiritual support, her final reliance, which allowed her to withstand these pressures. Now, given the opportunity, he wanted to accompany her properly.

...

Happiness, happiness, when you're happy, time often flies by quickly, and that's why it's called happiness.

The two of them had a great time, but Yue Yao still hadn't forgotten Zhang Yurong. Estimating that quite a bit of time had passed and Yurong might be coming back, she lingered a while longer, then got up, wrapped her wet body in a towel, and left, taking her nightdress with her.

Once Yue Yao left, Li Yan also found it boring, swam a bit more alone, and then got up to go shower.

After his shower, Li Yan went downstairs to wait for Zhang Yurong, and at the staircase, he encountered Yue Yao, who had also just showered. Yue Yao blushed a little, as if the two had been having a secret affair, making her feel a bit guilty like a thief, so she whispered, "Go wait for her, I'll head back to my room."

Seeing her demeanor, Li Yan shook his head with amusement.

He didn't wait long before Zhang Yurong returned. Seeing her slightly tired look, Li Yan hurried over to help her with her bag.

His reaction surprised Zhang Yurong a bit; it's like the sun rose from the west. She suspiciously looked Li Yan over from left to right and top to bottom.

"What's up? Did flowers grow on me? Did I become more handsome?" Li Yan touched his chin and deliberately asked with a smile.

Zhang Yurong lightly frowned, then coldly asked, "Did you do something that betrays me?"

Li Yan was startled, oh my, is this woman part dog? But I've been swimming so long and even showered; even a divine dog Lassie couldn't smell anything. Did my guilty conscience somehow give something away?

His shock was only inside; outwardly, he maintained a calm smile, "Why ask that? Why would I do something to betray you without reason?"

"You! Something's up." Zhang Yurong sat herself on the sofa, her gaze still scrutinizing Li Yan.

Li Yan felt it was both amusing and exasperating, "I say, my dear wife, what problem do I have?"

"Your behavior today is abnormal! It's the first time you've waited for me in the living room, and you'd come over to help me with my bag, and that feigned composed smile on your face, plus the early shower to destroy evidence... All of it looks like a guilty conscience!"

After hearing Zhang Yurong's calm analysis, Li Yan finally understood that she was reasoning it out, which instantly set him at ease.

He directly sat down beside Zhang Yurong, moving closer to her.

Zhang Yurong subtly shifted her fragrant hips, immediately sliding half a foot away, her eyes glaring at him, "Why so close? Back up what you say!"

Li Yan followed her move, "I haven't even touched you, there's still a few inches of space here."

"Hmph!"

"Yurong, I didn't expect you to have the potential as a detective. Your analysis was quite reasonable just now, but you're not quite a detective yet; you overlooked one important detail... hmph hmph!"

"What?" Zhang Yurong looked at him skeptically, wanting to see how this guy would try to dodge.

"You overlooked your abnormal behavior today; actually, it's your abnormality that triggered my abnormality — a chain reaction!"

Zhang Yurong immediately lowered her face, "What do you mean?"

Li Yan, who had been smiling, suddenly realized she seemed to misunderstand, so he didn't flaunt his eloquence; he directly said:

"The first time waiting for you is because usually, you're at home waiting for me to come back; coming over to help with your bag and the smile on my face was because while waiting for you, I finally understood the feeling you have at home while I go drinking or playing outside, so I felt ashamed and wanted to treat you better. As for the shower... is a shower wrong too? While waiting for you, I was worried something might happen to you outside, so feeling anxious, I needed to find something to do."

Now it was Zhang Yurong's turn to be surprised; was he really thinking this? Was he really waiting and caring about me? Initially, during the first few months, almost half a year, they didn't interfere with each other, but later due to various contacts, when he didn't come back late some nights, she occasionally worried about him. Later, she started waiting for him, feeling relieved only when he returned, even if she never said anything, she felt more at ease.

Unexpectedly, this guy finally experienced such a day, also had a day when he waited for me to come back, which made Zhang Yurong feel both a little sour and slightly excited inside.

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