Chapter 286: Don't be afraid it's me

Nan Jiaojiao sighed.

She kicked off her high heels and plunged into the water with a fierce dive, first reaching Lady Qi but Lady Qi waved her off underwater and pointed further down.

Her eyes, barely open to a slit, peered into the depths and suddenly, she choked on a mouthful of water.

Without a word, Nan Jiaojiao brought her to the surface before heading deeper.

The sea was cold and boundless, not at all like the confined space of a swimming pool.

Hesitating for a moment ran the risk that some large creature from the deep might snatch the child away.

Fortunately, after swimming down a distance, Nan Jiaojiao vaguely made out a plank.

She guessed it encircled an area and was connected to the cruise ship, meaning there was a bottom.

Feeling slightly relieved, she put more strength into her strokes.

Soon she found the young master.

Clutching the child in one arm, she swam up with the other.

When she broke the surface, the swaddling clothes around the child had soaked up water, becoming heavy.

Near freezing, she used all her might to hand the child to someone above.

Nan Jiaojiao was so exhausted she had no strength left, clinging onto something to rest for a bit.

“Quick, save us!

Our miss is still in the water; go down and rescue her!”

Lady Qi’s frantic voice rang out overhead.

Nan Jiaojiao looked up; from her angle, it was hard to see the people on the deck.

She only heard a few splashes as people jumped into the water, the large waves they created hitting her face.

Nan Jiaojiao choked on another mouthful of water and slipped, falling into the water.

Suddenly, a hand hooked around her waist, and a man’s arm encircled her.

With a push, he lifted her out of the water.

Reacting instinctively, Nan Jiaojiao made a dodging movement and brushed the wet hair from her face, but the person enveloped her in his arms again, pressing her tightly against his chest.

“Don’t be afraid, it’s me.”

Just as Nan Jiaojiao was about to react, she heard this voice and her hands dropped.

“Hold on to me.”

Bo Yanching swam upwards with her, but Nan Jiaojiao did not embrace him, merely resting her hands lightly on his shoulders.

Someone nearby handed over a pole.

Bo Yanching had intended to pass Nan Jiaojiao up first, but seeing the pole, he grabbed it himself.

While ascending, he kicked against the side of the cruise ship, taking it step by step.

With one arm around her, the veins on his neck bulged from the effort.

Once they were on deck, Bo Yanching immediately lifted the person in his arms, checking her over, “Are you alright?”

Nan Jiaojiao shook her head.

Lady Qi came over wrapped in a blanket, her lips white from the cold, her voice trembled with chill, “Are you hurt?

There’s a doctor on board.”

Bo Yanching said, “It’s okay, but please can Lady Qi prepare two sets of clean clothes?”

“Look at me, how careless!”

Lady Qi immediately instructed those around her to prepare two rooms for them to change.

When Nan Jiaojiao was being carried away by Bo Yanching, she saw Lady Qi standing alone outside the crowd, drenched.

The Qi Family were all fussing over the child, afraid he would catch cold; his clothes inside and out were changed, and the doctor was pressing on his chest and pinching his philtrum, finally getting the child to spit out some seawater.

Madam Qi quickly lifted the child into her arms, hurrying indoors.

A whole crowd followed, treating the illegitimate child like a treasure.

No one cared for Lady Qi.

Qi Zheng passed by her, glaring at her with contempt as if she were an enemy.

He walked past Lady Qi, then after a few steps, he turned back furiously and dragged her inside.

Nan Jiaojiao heard Qi Zheng utter the words, “Shameful, vile woman!”

Her heart jolted.

She looked up at Bo Yanching, her eyes misty from the seawater, as if a veil separated them, making it hard to see him clearly.