Lu Qing continued to gently ruffle Qin Miaomiao’s soft strands of hair with one hand, his cold and sharp gaze slipping toward him as he spoke indifferently:
"Excessive? It seems you don’t know the meaning of excessive yet. Han Shu, go and bring some sea snakes."
Sea snakes? Chu Yunhao was startled. In the vastness of the ocean, how was anyone supposed to find sea snakes?
Even Qin Miaomiao thought he must be joking. Leaning toward his ear, she asked, "Are you trying to scare them?"
Her warm breath lingered near his nose, her soft body tempting him with the urge to absorb her into himself entirely. When she leaned close to his ear, her breath fragrant and heated, it stirred his heart with a fierce tremor.
His gaze darkened slightly. His hand slid downward, wrapping firmly around her soft, delicate waist.
"Do you think I’m joking?"
Only then did Qin Miaomiao realize she was perhaps too close to him! Although she relied on him as her support and held close as an act, wasn’t this a bit too intimate?
Just then, Su Moli stared fixatedly at that slightly distorted face, a look of deep resentment in her eyes. That venomous gaze evoked countless terrible memories for Qin Miaomiao.
She buried her head back into Lu Qing’s embrace, her body trembling slightly. He noticed something unusual about her and asked in a low voice:
"That woman... The way she looks at me... It’s terrifying."
Only then did Lu Qing bestow Su Moli a brief glance, his expression sinking visibly:
"Hideous people are prone to cause trouble. Han Shu, throw her into the sea."
At this moment, Chu Yunhao could no longer sit still. His face darkened as he said, "Young Master Lu, aren’t you acting excessively cruel?"
"What, do you want to join them in the sea too?"
Chu Yunhao didn’t dare to utter another word. He knew Lu Qing was serious. If he said even one more thing, chances were he’d be thrown into the sea as well.
A piercing scream suddenly rang out—Su Moli had been hurled into the sea. Unable to swim, she sank rapidly below the surface.
At this moment, Zhao Zhao was holding onto Zhao Li, ensuring she wouldn’t drown. Now Su Moli had been thrown in as well—another person who couldn’t swim. If he didn’t go save her, she would undoubtedly drown.
"Cousin, hold on! I’ll come rescue you."
As he said this, he began to release Zhao Li to swim toward Su Moli, but Zhao Li clung to him desperately like her lifeline, refusing to let him go.
"No, Brother, I can’t swim. If you leave me , I’ll drown."
"Just for one moment! If I don’t go now, Cousin will drown."
Seeing this, Zhao Li gripped him even tighter, refusing to let him go even if she died. Determined, Zhao Zhao unexpectedly kicked her away and swam rapidly toward Su Moli.
Su Moli had swallowed several mouthfuls of water. She felt she was on the verge of drowning!
Suddenly, someone came to save her. Naturally, she clung to Zhao Zhao like he was her lifeline, grabbing onto him desperately.
"Cousin, don’t be afraid. I’m here to save you."
The threat of death left Su Moli so terrified she couldn’t even speak.
"Brother, hurry and save me! I’m drowning!"
Zhao Li shouted desperately, her arms flailing wildly as the seawater swallowed her head. She struggled ceaselessly.
Zhao Zhao dragged Su Moli while swimming toward Zhao Li. Unfortunately, hauling a person behind him left him utterly exhausted. His legs cramped, and his body faltered—at this rate, all three of them would perish in the sea!
"Young Master Lu, if this keeps up, people are going to die! Do you truly want to bear the label of a killer?"
Chu Yunhao spoke out righteously, like the voice of justice. Lu Qing, however, didn’t spare him so much as a glance. His fingers idly traced the smooth and tender skin along Qin Miaomiao’s neck as he asked softly:
"Miaomiao, do you want their lives?"
It was as if, with just a nod of her head, the lives of all three people would be forfeited.
Everyone stared in horror at Lu Qing and the woman in his arms. Just what kind of woman was she—to have such sway over him, making him act so