Back Then, I Adored You

Although she was on a business trip, Qin Zhi’ai was left alone at the hotel while Gu Yusheng and Xiaowang were out working. She had nothing to do and dared not to go out for even a walk.

She soon discovered the hotel was well equipped with a gym, a swimming pool, and hot springs. The beach was less than 500 feet away, and on the first floor of the hotel there was a small shopping mall. The facilities couldn’t have been better. After several days, Qin Zhi’ai felt like she was on a vacation, not a business trip.

On the fifth day in Hainan, Qin Zhi’ai’s period was completely over.

Early in the morning, Xiaowang had sent her a text message similar to what he’d sent the previous four days. Master Gu would be meeting with clients, so she was free to spend her time as she wished.

As usual, Qin Zhi’ai got up at 9:30 a.m., had breakfast at the tea restaurant on the second floor, and then lounged around in her hotel room. For lunch, she went to the Hong Kong–style restaurant on the third floor.

But unlike the previous days, after lunch, Qin Zhi’ai didn’t go back to her room to work on her thesis. Instead, she went to the mall downstairs and bought a swimsuit. She was eager to go to the beach now that her period was over.

She swam in the sea for more than an hour. Exhausted, Qin Zhi’ai went ashore, wrapped herself in a bath towel, and sunned on a lounger by the water.

The beach was noisy with so many tourists. Qin Zhi’ai took out her cell phone, plugged in her headphones, and listened to music.

The bright sunshine, the blue sky, and the endless sea made her euphoric. She was in such a good mood that she began to hum and sing along with the music.

As soon as she was singing the climax of a song, her cell phone rang.

She swiped the phone without looking at the screen and said, “Hello?”

Xiaowang answered, “Secretary Qin, Master Gu said that tonight we’ll all have dinner together.”

As Qin Zhi’ai agreed, a child ran by screaming. Xiaowang asked, “Secretary Qin, where are you?”

Qin Zhi’ai was suddenly worried that Xiaowang would think she was having too much fun on the business trip. She quickly said, “I’m on the beach behind the hotel.”

Xiaowang replied, “Okay. Well, we’ll see you in the lobby at five o’clock this evening.”

“Okay.”

After hanging up the phone, the song continued. Qin Zhi’ai hummed with the rhythm and then picked up her phone to check the time. It was already 3:30 p.m.

She decided to go back in the water for just 30 minutes before going back to her room to bathe and get dressed. In less than 10 minutes, though, she felt suddenly cold. She continued playing in the water for a few more minutes and then reluctantly made her way back to the shore.

Qin Zhi’ai swam to the shore until it became shallow enough to walk instead of swim. As the water just passed her waist, she stepped on something slippery and fell on her knees without warning.

She accidentally gulped a mouthful of water and choked for just a moment. As she recovered, she started to stand up in the water and her arm was grabbed by a strong hand. She was forcefully pulled up out of the water.

“Are you alright?”

Qin Zhi’ai instinctively raised her head to the familiar voice over her head.

Gu Yusheng’s beautiful and delicate eyes suddenly met hers.

His eyes were filled with concern.