Chapter 100: An Unexpected Incident

Wan Qi Weihao reminded Xuan Xuan again that only after he went up could they proceed. He glanced below, and though this new and thrilling experience piqued his youthful curiosity, he called out and leapt boldly.

Xuan Xuan watched Wan Qi Weihao descend swiftly, nearly skimming the water’s surface before bouncing back into the air.

Her eyes lit up—this was truly fascinating. She called over a nearby instructor, saying, “Let me try.”

No one in the Wan Qi family was unaware that Xuan Xuan was the most favored among them. The instructor, having just heard Wan Qi Weihao’s warning, dared not obey her command outright. He looked awkwardly at Wan Qi Weihan, silently hoping he would intervene and temper the young lady’s enthusiasm.

Otherwise, once Wan Qi Weihao came back up, he feared for his skin.

Wan Qi Weihan was about to speak when Xuan Xuan said, “If not, I’ll have you go down without any equipment.”

The instructor shivered. Seeing her serious expression, letting her try meant that if anything happened when Wan Qi Weihao came up, he’d be held responsible. But refusing meant he might “accidentally” fall into the water himself.

Wan Qi Weihan glanced at Xuan Xuan, then at Wan Qi Weihao. Judging that all preparations were complete and it was about time for Wan Qi Weihao to return, he said to the instructor, “Get Xuan Xuan ready first, but don’t come down yet.”

Xuan Xuan nodded. The instructor approached to help her gear up. Wan Qi Weihan called another person, “Help me get set up.”

Ai Zhe stepped forward a few steps, preparing to approach as well.

Xuan Guo immediately sensed Ai Zhe’s intention and hurriedly stepped in front of him, a hint of shyness in her expression. “Ai Zhe, come with me, I’m scared.”

To cooperate with them, Xuan Guo had already arranged for a change of clothes to avoid making Ai Zhe feel out of place among the Wan Qi family.

Ai Zhe didn’t stop moving. He bypassed Xuan Guo with a cold remark, “If you’re scared, don’t play.”

Xuan Guo lowered her gaze, a flicker of resentment shining through. Why was it always Xuan Xuan who received favor? One day, I will make you bow.

“I’m coming too.”

Wan Qi Weihan glanced at Ai Zhe and snorted softly. He couldn’t very well refuse him.

He carefully inspected all Xuan Xuan’s joints, checking for any issues, and held her back from jumping first.

Wan Qi Weihao’s presence was more imposing than Wan Qi Weihan’s. Though they were twins, born less than an hour apart, Wan Qi Weihan held no sway in Wan Qi Weihao’s presence.

Xuan Xuan didn’t put him in an awkward position. Only when Wan Qi Weihao, who was below, began ascending in the observation elevator did she ask, “Are you ready?”

Wan Qi Weihao replied, “Wait, I’ll go with you.”

His face was pale; the earlier thrill had been intense, taking a toll on his body. Xuan Xuan wasn’t pleased—still waiting?

Wan Qi Weihan noticed his brother’s complexion and said, “I’ll go with Xuan Xuan.”

Ai Zhe also glanced at Wan Qi Weihao.

Wan Qi Weihao hesitated, looking at the two of them. They seemed capable enough; even if he went down now, it wouldn’t make much difference.

Xuan Xuan giggled, ignoring them, and leapt boldly. The two men followed, one after the other. Wan Qi Weihao watched them anxiously.

Xuan Xuan dropped straight from the platform, staring at the deep blue water below, then looked up at the sky. A lightness washed over her that was indescribable. Speed increased, and the vapor evaporating from the sunlit surface brushed against her face. She couldn’t help but laugh softly.

Ai Zhe’s eyes were fixed solely on her, that agile figure. He didn’t know when it happened, but no one else could enter his gaze but her.

Through the transparent jumping platform, Xuan Guo saw Ai Zhe’s look toward Xuan Xuan, and her face darkened with envy. Why must you always block my way?

She shut her eyes tight and thought, “It’s not my fault; you forced me.” She glanced at Wan Qi Weihao, who was intently watching Xuan Xuan, then at Xuan Xuan bouncing back up from the water’s surface. The bungee cords chosen for the platform were the best, with the finest elasticity. Xuan Xuan seemed able to scoop up a handful of water before being propelled back a short distance beneath the platform.

Such a sensation, as if her entire body were weightless, compelled Xuan Xuan to admit it was truly fascinating.

Once more, she descended from the air.

Silently, Xuan Guo raised her hand—“It’s not my fault; you forced me.”

Xuan Guo harbored a secret, her greatest assurance: a rare corrosive supernatural ability.

As for the bungee cords, she could easily cause them to snap without exerting much power—but she was unwilling to let them break completely. If they snapped now, Wan Qi Weihao and the other two men would have just enough time to rescue Xuan Xuan. She corroded most of the cord, timing it so that it would break just as it reached full stretch.

A cold smile crossed her lips. “Let’s see how you survive and come back.”

I want to enter the Wan Qi household, but you stand in my way. I want to enter the Ai family, and you block me again.

Even under investigation, no one ever discovered her corrosive ability, and the damage left on the cord would be scarcely noticeable—that was why she felt so confident.

Xuan Xuan was less than a hundred meters from the water. Traveling at three hundred kilometers per hour, that distance would pass in a blink. Suddenly, the cord behind her snapped.

Wan Qi Weihao, who had been watching her closely from above, was the first to notice the break. His heart shattered as he shouted, “Xuan Xuan!”

Without hesitation, and with no protective measures, he plunged from the platform.

But by the time Wan Qi Weihao reached her, Xuan Xuan had likely already fallen into the water. Though the water offered some cushioning, the impact from such a height was brutal, and her body...

Wan Qi Weihao dared not think further. He only wished he had grabbed the cord as it fell—if he had, it might have provided some buffer, enough time for those below to rescue her.

Hearing Wan Qi Weihao’s shout, Wan Qi Weihan and Ai Zhe’s eyes turned toward Xuan Xuan simultaneously. Without hesitation, they cut their own cords behind them, but Xuan Xuan had jumped earlier and was too far ahead.

Ai Zhe’s mind went blank. If anything happened to Xuan Xuan, he would hate his own weakness. Already moving swiftly, Ai Zhe’s wind-element acceleration pushed his speed even higher.

Wan Qi Weihan followed behind Ai Zhe, leaping through space with his own ability.

Xuan Xuan had planned to use magic to float when she noticed the cord snap, but seeing Ai Zhe arriving behind her, and knowing her father didn’t want others to discover her powers, she subtly controlled her descent speed with wind elemental magic. Ai Zhe caught her just before she hit the water.

Using wind abilities, he gently lifted them both, holding Xuan Xuan in his arms. Ai Zhe felt a surreal sensation.

He gazed intently at her, breathing a slight sigh of relief. Thank goodness I caught you—thank goodness, thank goodness.

Only then did Xuan Xuan notice Ai Zhe had removed his glasses while bungee jumping. Now, he looked a little closer to his real age.

Looking closely, Ai Zhe was not unattractive nor unpleasant—in fact, quite handsome, fully deserving the “beautiful boy” description Xuan Xuan had given him.

His golden, slightly curled hair shimmered in the sunlight, as if gilding his delicate features.

His eyes, usually hidden behind glasses, were even more striking—golden and crystal clear, without a trace of impurity.

With his glasses off, Xuan Xuan noticed his remarkably long eyelashes, almost unbelievable in length.

Noticing her gaze, Ai Zhe’s pale face tinged with a faint blush.

Still, he kept his eyes firmly on Xuan Xuan, unwilling to look away. He had never been this close to her before. The girl in his arms was so real—not a dream’s illusion nor a distant silhouette, but solid and tangible.

At that moment, Wan Qi Weihan arrived, his face betraying unmistakable anxiety. Roughly, almost harshly, he took Xuan Xuan from Ai Zhe’s embrace and asked, “Are you alright?”

Ai Zhe looked at the two of them, a hint of disappointment flickering in his eyes. His hands remained in the posture of holding Xuan Xuan, uncertain where to place them now.

Wan Qi Weihao climbed down from the platform. Seeing Xuan Xuan safely caught, he exhaled heavily. “Let’s go up and talk.”

The four ascended the platform. Wan Qi Weihao carefully examined Xuan Xuan, asking, “Are you hurt?”

Xuan Xuan shook her head, aware she had frightened them. “I’m fine. Not a scratch.”

Satisfied she was unharmed, Wan Qi Weihao turned to the trembling instructors and asked sternly, “What happened? Why did Xuan Xuan’s cord snap?”

“It seems to have decayed,” one of the instructors answered.

“Seems? Decayed?” Wan Qi Weihao sneered twice. “Do you take me for a fool?”

This amusement park had just opened. Everything inside was selected for the highest quality, safety, and novelty. Yet something had decayed? “I think all of you want to die.”

Wan Qi Weihao was barely in his twenties, but his bearing was unlike any ordinary youth. His commanding presence caused onlookers to step back, for the schoolboy they knew was a far cry from this man.

“Please spare me, Young Master Weihao!” The two instructors’ legs buckled, and they collapsed to the ground. Who dared defy the Wan Qi family, especially in the imperial capital? Only the most perceptive remained in their positions.

Especially with Miss Xuan Xuan’s recent accident—if anything had happened, no amount of life could compensate. One of the instructors steadied himself and said, “Young Master Weihao, we are old servants of the Wan Qi family. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be here serving you. Even if given a hundred chances, we would not dare.”

Wan Qi Weihao knew they were afraid. He only wanted to intimidate them into telling the truth. “So, what really happened?”

“We just checked. It was the cord,” the instructor stood respectfully and replied, “But before going up, we were absolutely certain the cords were flawless.”