In the summer, He Xian started swimming again. Whenever he had free time, he would go swimming for a while.
Lin Sitao has nothing to do on Saturday night, so he goes swimming with him.
It was He Xian who suggested going swimming together. Lin Sitao also liked swimming, but he was not very good at it. He had no posture and just played in the water. He Xian swam better than him and had a beautiful posture. When Lin Sitao was sitting by the swimming pool to rest, he stared at He Xian and felt that he swam away in the blink of an eye.
They went to the hotel's swimming pool, which was sparsely populated. One night, there were only a few people in the pool. Lin Sitao was tired from swimming and sat by the pool. He Xian swam back and forth again and came to him. When he came closer, he reached out and touched Lin Sitao's ankle underwater.
His movements were clearly visible in the blue and transparent water. Fortunately, there were few people around and no one noticed. Even so, Lin Sitao's heart skipped a beat and he kicked He Xian in the face.
He Xian laughed, took off his goggles and sat next to him.
Lin Sitao whispered, "Aren't you afraid of running into acquaintances now?"
He Xian said: "Don't be afraid. When you meet me, just introduce me to others. You are my love, my dearest."
As if to prove that he couldn't speak carelessly, he had just finished speaking when an acquaintance came over.
Ding Shengguang came with his girl. He saw He Xian first and immediately called out happily, "Little He!"
He Xian and Lin Sitao smiled at each other. They both understood each other's subtext.
"Do you dare to say that just now?"
"See if I dare."
Ding Shengguang also saw Lin Sitao at this time. He knew that He Xian had always been hanging out with this young man and they had not broken up, but it was the first time he saw He Xian taking him out to play. He smiled and asked He Xian: "Can you introduce him to someone?"
He Xian said: "This is Xiao Lin, Lin Sitao, we have been together for more than half a year."
The girl behind Ding Shengguang stared at Lin Sitao with eyes flickering.
Lin Sitao was a little surprised to hear He Xian being so frank. But Ding Shengguang was considered He Xian's confidant, and the two had such a close relationship, so Lin Sitao guessed that Ding Shengguang must have known something.
The double date turned into a four-person date. Ding Shengguang's girlfriend was Qiao Xiyun, who was only one year younger than Lin Sitao. Ding Shengguang often took her out to play. After swimming for a while, they went to a buffet and drank some wine. The four of them had a pretty good chat.
Qiao Yueming asked for Lin Sitao's contact information.
After that, she and Lin Sitao chatted several times online. A few days later, she went to Lin Sitao's unit to do some work and asked him out for dinner.
Qiao Yueming is tall and slender, only slightly shorter than Lin Sitao. They are about the same age, and the two easily became familiar with each other as they talked.
She had a standard oval face, long hair falling to her shoulders, and a gentle yet charming look, very similar to a famous actress.
She talked about the last time they went swimming together: "… Playing in the swimming pool is not enough, let's go to the beach together next time when we have time. My hometown is by the sea, and it's more fun to go to the beach with more people in the summer." She spoke happily, and her beaming look was very pleasing.
Lin Sitao was immediately infected and said with a smile that it would be nice to go to the beach. But he could also see that Qiao Yueming didn't come here just to arrange a trip.
Sure enough, after a while, Qiao Yueming said, "Ding Shengguang sometimes takes me to play with his friends. I can't get along with the companions his friends bring... You are different. I think I can get along with you." Her expression was more restrained, and there was a hint of melancholy between her brows, but she was still very beautiful.
Lin Sitao didn't quite understand what she meant, so he asked Qiao Yueming: "What's so special about me?"
Qiao Yueming said, "You are not special, you are normal. We can talk like normal friends, and you won't look at me with the eyes of those people." She sighed, "Let me be frank, everyone in Ding Shengguang's circle is either rich or noble. Those who are married and have a regular girlfriend all look for someone of equal status. Of course, there are also those who keep young girls..."
She paused and said, "I come from an ordinary family and work as a music teacher in school. I am not from the same world as them. More than once, they have thought that I am being supported by Ding Shengguang."
Lin Sitao really didn't know what to say.
The two were silent for a while, and then Qiao Yueming asked him: "Have you ever been misunderstood?"
Lin Sitao was finally able to speak: "I don't know. No one knows about what happened between He Xian and me yet."
Qiao Yueming nodded: "You are really carefree."
Seeing that she was a little embarrassed, Lin Sitao comforted her, "I think other people's opinions are their own business. As long as you have a clear conscience, don't always think about how others see you."
He knew that this was not convincing, but it was better than nothing.
Qiao Yueming lowered his eyes and said, "If only things were that simple..."
There were some things she couldn't say. Ding Shengguang helped her get into a better primary school. She drove the car he bought and often received gifts from him. She herself was confused.
She had a boyfriend before. Although he came from a wealthy family, he was very tight with money. After dating for two or three years, the gifts he gave her were no more than 500 yuan. People around him said that if he was unwilling to spend money on her, he didn't love her. Now Ding Shengguang is spending money on her generously, and some people are talking about her being kept.
She seemed to have gone from one extreme to another.
She quickly changed her expression to a cheerful one and laughed again: "If Ding Shengguang is hanging out with others, you must tell me." She explained: "... Others must be protecting Ding Shengguang. You are on my side, right?"
Lin Sitao smiled: "How could it be possible if he likes you so much?"
Qiao Yueming smiled and said, "People's hearts are the most fickle, so I have to be careful. If Ding Shengguang has had a relationship with another woman besides me, I will have no choice but to leave - you probably don't know Ding Shengguang's history."
Lin Sitao was intrigued by her and asked He Xian about Ding Shengguang when he returned.
"He has always been popular with women and has had a steady stream of girlfriends. At his most exaggerated point, he probably changed seven or eight girlfriends in a year... Why do you think of asking this?"
Lin Sitao did not mention what Qiao Yueming asked him to help keep an eye out for. He only vaguely said that someone asked him to find out. He then added, "Besides, he is your friend. You two get along so well. Isn't it said that people are divided into groups?"
He Xian immediately added: "I am different from him. I have always criticized his relationships with men and women."
Lin Sitao was sitting on the floor eating watermelon. When he heard him say that, he raised his eyes and glanced at him.
He Xian just felt that the gaze was alluring, so he sat down next to him, held Lin Sitao's wrist and licked it - the watermelon juice flowed down his palm.
"You can tell the person who asked you to inquire that Ding Shengguang seems to have really changed his mind recently and put all his attention on Xiao Qiao." He Xian seemed to have guessed who had gone to see Lin Sitao, but he did not point it out.
At the end of summer, Qiao Yueming took advantage of the tail end of the summer vacation to go back to her hometown. She called Lin Sitao to invite him to play. Lin Sitao was busy with work, so he could only make an appointment for next time.
In September, Qiao Yueming came back and not only brought a large box of seafood to He Xian and Lin Sitao, but also good news - Ding Shengguang proposed to her in her hometown.
To celebrate this event, everyone got together again. Lin Sitao and Qiao Yueming were young and both liked to have a barbecue, so Ding Shengguang planned to have a barbecue at his villa.
He Xian listened to their discussion and said, "Barbecuing is more fun with more people. Xiao Han happens to be in the city recently, so ask her to go too—Xiao Qiao likes her very much."
He said it as naturally as possible.
On the day of the barbecue, Shen Zhouhan came as expected. When she saw Lin Sitao, she smiled at him and didn't say much. She just invited him to come to her concert if he had the chance.
Lin Sitao felt that she was similar to He Xian—not only in appearance, but also in personality. Therefore, he had a good impression of her.
Everyone was busy preparing food for the barbecue.
Qiao Yueming was smiling in the kitchen, and Lin Sitao teased her, "Are you relieved now?"
Qiao Yueming smiled and said, "Who knows? Maybe I'll be more nervous after getting married."
She breathed a sigh of relief: "Of course I'm still happy now - at least I can make some people shut up, and I will be the legal Mrs. Ding."
She looked at Lin Sitao meaningfully: "Don't lose to those people."
Lin Sitao knew what she meant. She told him not to be shaken by rumors. But he didn't think about it. He just wanted He Xian.