Volume 1, Chapter 9: Seeing the Words is Like Seeing the Person

“Sanbao, why are you back so late? I didn’t dare call earlier, afraid I might ruin your plans.”

“There was an unexpected incident.”

“Is there something juicy tonight? Is the scoop true?”

“He’s a scumbag, confirmed.”

Susan snorted coldly, blaming everything she suffered tonight on Ting Lin, growing even more resentful in her heart.

“So, are you going to expose him tonight? Our public account has been waiting for this new special report!”

“No.”

Susan’s spirit drooped like a frostbitten eggplant.

“Why not? Even if he’s a swimmer, even if you have some grudge against swimming or some soft spot for handsome swimmers, you can’t be soft-hearted! Think about Miss D! You said you had to help her get justice! Wait, could he be your first love? It can’t be that melodramatic, right?”

Xiao Rui was anxious on the other end of the video call, practically wanting to leap out of the computer.

“Impossible! Even if I can’t recognize how he looks now, I know for sure he wouldn’t be someone like Ting Lin! Besides, his background shows that Ting Lin’s family is ordinary, it doesn’t match.”

“Then why hesitate?”

“The evidence is gone.” Susan hung her head, weak and dispirited.

“What about a double backup? Considering you went to the swimming pool, you even prepared a waterproof bag in advance.”

Hearing this, Susan gave a wry smile and scratched her head, looking helplessly at the video.

“Rui, you know it was the swimming pool…”

Xiao Rui suddenly slapped her forehead, full of regret. She should have given up her date today and gone with Susan.

“Looks like it’s impossible to guard against everything. Tell me, what exactly happened? I can bear any outcome.”

“My phone went haywire and froze; only two photos were saved, which aren’t enough. The recording pen worked fine, but when I ran…”

“Was it intercepted?”

“No, but… it was lost!”

Then Susan recounted the entire ordeal.

Xiao Rui’s expression shifted wildly—shock, worry, helplessness, and sympathy. When Susan mentioned jumping into the water, she slammed the table in outrage.

“Thank God you’re okay. How could you dare jump into the water? You’ve tried swimming lessons 800 times without success, only learned to hold your breath for half a minute at most—you’re risking your life! Luckily, there’s Jiang Ming, your guardian angel! Otherwise, I’d skin Ting Lin alive and go with you to the grave, and still couldn’t bring you back! Jiang Ming is handsome, low-key, and kind. Last time you misunderstood him, he repaid kindness with kindness. Honestly, you should just give yourself to him.” Because Jiang Ming saved Susan, Xiao Rui instantly became his fan.

“What nonsense! I won’t deny that Jiang Ming is even more handsome in person than on TV, but… he’s indifferent to women!”

Thinking of Jiang Ming’s aloof, cold, and unapproachable demeanor, Susan felt a chill run through her. She shook her head violently and stared at Xiao Rui in the video, resolutely saying:

“That rare beauty on a high mountain peak—I’m way out of his league.”

“Maybe it’s just a façade? In so many novels, the stoic male lead drops his act and becomes so passionate the heroine can’t handle it! Sanbao, you can’t be so judgmental—especially not as a journalist!”

“Who he is has nothing to do with me. What matters now is investigating that Lin guy.”

“How can it be unrelated? He’s another lifesaver for you!”

Susan was stunned. She didn’t even know the name of the lifesaver from ten years ago, but this time, at least she knew who he was. Xiao Rui’s logic hit the mark.

“Fine, if you want to investigate, go ahead. Getting to know him better will help you repay him later. Now, seriously, Rui, since undercover work is impossible, I have to reluctantly accept the boss’s earlier suggestion—go in and observe Ting Lin from the inside.”

As she spoke, Susan buried her hands in her hair, clearly distressed and helpless.

“Ah? A whole night of thrills and chills, and you want to stay permanently?”

Susan lifted her head again, eyes full of determination.

“What else? Let that hypocritical scoundrel continue enjoying his benefits from the fans while doing nothing? I’ve said it before…”

“The truth can be delayed, but it must never be drowned.”

Susan and Xiao Rui spoke in unison, exchanging a knowing smile.

…

Uncle Chen’s investigation was efficient. Before Jiang Ming went to sleep that night, he received the news.

“Underwater exposé?”

Looking at the public account Uncle Chen sent, Jiang Ming frowned slightly.

“They even claim to be serious journalists, but in the end, they’re just paparazzi! Underwater exposé? Are they paparazzi specializing in swimming events?” Jiang Ming thought bitterly, feeling a faint disappointment.

He remembered that girl from ten years ago, who was resolutely determined to fulfill her mother’s unrealized dream and be a truth-seeking reporter who would never back down despite any hardship. He knew his expectations were silly—after all, how could the two women he saved from drowning be the same person?

…

However, as he opened the public account and browsed through past articles, watching the writing grow from naive to sharp and mature, Jiang Ming’s brow gradually relaxed.

Though the publishing platform was unofficial, the comments behind the eye-catching stories conveyed a unique and positive worldview.

He had to admit, this was a thoughtful author.

At that moment, Uncle Chen sent Jiang Ming the most fitting profile of a Zoe after compiling and analyzing the data.

“There are 410 Zoes related to Jiangzhou online. The best match is the author of this public account. Her earliest articles exposed social issues; this year she shifted to sports. Recently, a famous football association scandal started because of her widely discussed post. This account is very popular, with over 100,000 reads per article lately. Various parties want to collaborate, but this account is mysterious, seems financially independent, rarely cooperates or runs ads. Zoe never appears publicly, so people are curious about her background. But her previous reports have proven truthful. How do you know her? What kind of woman is she? Is she pretty? Reliable? Any chance of bringing her back to the old house?”

Probably having watched Jiang Ming grow up, Uncle Chen sincerely cared for him. Knowing he might never get a reply, he still asked.

Jiang Ming stared at the public account, deep in thought.

How do I know her?

To say it plainly, it’s a strange coincidence for an international swimmer to keep running into a non-swimmer.

What kind of woman is she?

Like her public account—mysterious and unique, full of fighting spirit and energy.

Is she pretty?

With delicate features, a full chest and slim waist, she’d be considered beautiful by any standard. But the most captivating thing is her eyes, which have a magnetic pull. That stubborn and calm resilience in the face of adversity is unforgettable.

Reliable?

Though sometimes a bit scatterbrained, her sense of justice is unmistakable.

As for… bringing her back to the old house?

Uncle Chen was overthinking it, and Jiang Ming wasn’t thinking that far ahead either.

With that thought, Jiang Ming smiled with ease.

Interesting—amid his calm, monotonous training and secret longing, a new splash had suddenly stirred.