Chapter 54

“AHHH——”

Rong Yin screamed, barreling down the silver-white ski slope like a fluorescent green, colorfully-helmeted dumpling wrapped in a snowsuit. Even though she was desperately trying to snowplow with her legs, she still cannonballed into Lu Zhi’s arms like a little firecracker.

Lu Zhi wrapped her arms around her, bringing her to a sudden stop. Their puffy snowsuits collided with a muffled “poof.”

The young girl’s face was flushed red now, whether from the cold wind or excitement. Because she wore a half-face mask, there was a bit of white frost on her thick, dark eyelashes.

“So fun!” Rong Yin’s voice trembled with excitement.

Lu Zhi smiled. “It would be even better if you could learn how to stop.”

“Aiya, have a little patience with me,” Rong Yin said, rubbing her eyes with her sleeve. “I’m already amazing, okay? Today’s my first time skiing, and being able to ski like this is definitely a natural gift!”

“Fine.” Lu Zhi had long accepted her narcissistic mindset, reaching out to pull down the arm she was using to messily rub her face.

Honestly, as a beginner skier, Rong Yin’s balance was indeed very good. She barely fell a few times before she could ski down smoothly. It was likely related to her dance background.

The only thing was, she still hadn’t learned how to brake. Every time, Lu Zhi had to act as a human obstacle barrier in front of her. Fortunately, Rong Yin controlled her speed well. Every time she was about to crash, she could slow down, so it never really hurt.

They were using twin-tip skis now. After descending from the height, there was no momentum, making it difficult for a beginner to start again. Rong Yin quickly adopted a snowplow stance and shuffled towards the conveyor belt beside the ski run, a ski pole in each hand. Her swaying back looked exactly like a penguin.

When she reached the top, she saw He Li and his friends. They were all veterans, skiing on single boards, and had chosen the highest jump platform.

Although Lu Zhi was also a veteran, since they were out together, she couldn’t possibly abandon Rong Yin for the advanced slopes. Instead, she stayed by Rong Yin’s side, replacing the role of the private ski resort’s instructor.

He Li was clearly waiting for her. As soon as Lu Zhi landed, he pushed the goggles on his helmet up onto his forehead, revealing a pair of deep-set eyes. “They’re betting on a dual-board downhill race. Want to come play?”

Lu Zhi was just supporting Rong Yin, who had barely gotten her balance after coming off the conveyor belt. She looked up at the sound of his voice and saw the clear fighting spirit in He Li’s eyes.

Over the past half-year, she had interacted with this young master quite a bit and had come to understand his temperament.

On the surface, He Li appeared polite and courteous, acting like a gentleman. But in reality, he possessed the common faults of all those in power: domineering, arrogant, and never willing to accept defeat. Lu Zhi had beaten him a few times at horse racing and snooker. He seemed calm and even generously offered his appreciation, but inside, he was always thinking about surpassing her in something else.

But by the same token, Lu Zhi also understood that the key reason she, a “commoner,” could be taken seriously by these so-called “upper-class” people raised in luxury was that she always won.

So Lu Zhi didn’t hesitate, smiling as she asked, “What’s the bet?”

He Li’s fighting spirit intensified. Like an athlete warming up, he shook his arms a couple of times. “Just speed. Is that okay?”

Lu Zhi glanced at Rong Yin.

Rong Yin was stunned for a moment, then smiled, a look of complete trust on her face. She casually said, “Go ahead. I’ll go to the observation deck and cheer you on.”

Lu Zhi said “Mm,” then turned back to He Li. “Okay.”

After a slight pause, she asked, “What’s the stake you guys are betting?”

“They’re rather dull, betting on a free dinner tonight,” He Li chuckled, a meaningful look in his eyes. “But I was thinking of using that sci-fi movie you mentioned as our personal stake, just between you and me.”

Lu Zhi raised an eyebrow.

Regarding that sci-fi movie, she had already acted as an intermediary to introduce the Director Wang to He Li. But the last feedback was that the other party’s company was still evaluating it. Now it seemed He Li was interested in the film; otherwise, he wouldn’t be bringing it up now.

“Well, either way, you’re sure to win no matter what,” Lu Zhi said with a double meaning, smiling.

“You’re that confident?”

“Of course.”

The two continued chatting casually as they walked towards the advanced slope.

Rong Yin, with Lu Zhi’s help, took off her skis and went to the observation deck.

Four people were already standing at the advanced slope of the ski resort: three men and one woman. They were all the elite among the wealthy and powerful youth, elite children raised with money from childhood. Skiing, a luxury sport in the eyes of ordinary people, was just a dispensable hobby for them.

“We’re just playing around, no risking your life now,” the young woman on the left kindly reminded.

Lu Zhi smiled at her and pulled down the goggles on her helmet.

Although they said it was just for fun, the moment the referee blew the whistle, everyone shot out like sharp arrows.

Lu Zhi forcefully pushed off with her ski poles and leaped down the 30-degree advanced slope.

Under the high-speed impact of the skis, crystalline snow particles splashed up. The cold, biting wind howled past her ears. Everything in sight was a vast expanse of white, glittering under the sunlight. With every leap into the air, the blue sky and white clouds seemed within arm’s reach.

Lu Zhi actually enjoyed similar sports quite a lot—skydiving, scuba diving, flying gliders… Sporting equipment granted by modern technology allowed one to easily feel life breaking free from the constraints of the physical body, chasing freedom and flight between heaven and earth. And the adrenaline surging in the brain during weightlessness brought an ultimate pleasure and excitement, comparable to a sustained heroin high.

Lu Zhi was wearing a black snowsuit. In the vast white world between heaven and earth, she was like a wild eagle, fierce, unrestrained, invincible, destined to soar in eternal solitude within her own airspace.

Without a doubt, she was the first to rush across the finish line.

He Li was second.

He Li’s expression was complex. “You…”

Lu Zhi pushed up her goggles and turned at the sound. Her usually calm, pale face was now flushed with the exertion of exercise, her breathing somewhat disordered. Only her eyes, though bright, still held a deep, silent blackness, like two meteorites from ancient times, unchanging and overlooking all.

In that single glance, He Li’s blood surged, desire rushing up from his tailbone down below his navel at a lightning-fast speed. His body even trembled slightly.

But Lu Zhi quickly recovered, smiled at He Li, and said simply, “You let me win.”

After taking the gondola back, Rong Yin and the others had already learned the race results from the referee.

“I knew you were better.” Rong Yin ran over and hugged her arm, whispering.

Lu Zhi patted her head.

Winter days were short. By the time everyone finished playing, it was 5 PM. The sun had already set, so they all went back inside the resort.

In the evening, they ate at the restaurant inside the holiday resort. The group chatted about fun, war, the economy…

After finishing her meal, Rong Yin just played on her phone by herself, like a child following the adults out for fun. She didn’t need to say any pleasantries to socialize; she just had to be a little tag-along, eating, drinking, and having fun.

It was only when she occasionally heard Lu Zhi talking about stocks that she remembered her assets had been entrusted to Lu Zhi to manage months ago. Out of boredom and curiosity, she logged into her account.

When Lu Zhi had sorted things out back then, excluding the villa whose property rights were still under the company name, the total cash in all of Rong Yin’s bank cards added up to less than three million.

Of course, for a girl not yet twenty-three to earn that much money, she was absolutely top-tier among the general populace. But for Rong Yin, who had been in the entertainment industry for four years and had noteworthy works, advertisements, and endorsements every year as a traffic starlet, this money was truly insufficient.

Moreover, Rong Yin had just left this money in her bank account without doing any financial management.

When Lu Zhi said she would manage her money for her, Rong Yin had hesitated briefly, but later, caught up in her feelings, she had completely forgotten about these matters.

So, when she saw that string of numbers, she found it a bit unbelievable. She tugged on Lu Zhi’s sleeve, pointing her finger at her phone screen, her face full of confusion.

Lu Zhi turned her head and glanced. “What’s wrong?”

“This much money, it’s… mine?” Rong Yin’s eyes were wide.

Lu Zhi said, “Of course, it’s yours.”

Rong Yin’s expression was solemn. After a moment, she reached out, picked up a glass from the table, and downed it in one gulp. She didn’t even notice it was Lu Zhi’s glass, still half-full of red wine.

Lu Zhi exclaimed, “Hey!” and snatched the glass away. “We’re going to the hot springs later. Why are you drinking so fast?”

“I’m excited!” Rong Yin grabbed her hand, her eyes sparkling, her cheeks pink. She looked beautiful and adorable.

Lu Zhi didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. She could only move the wine glasses on the table away from her, leaving only a glass of orange juice.

After dinner, the group went to soak in the hot springs. They were all young people who didn’t fuss over trifles; they didn’t mind mixed-gender bathing—in fact, they quite enjoyed it.

But Lu Zhi naturally wouldn’t let Rong Yin join them. So, while Rong Yin was in the restroom, she went to the front desk to select a private small pool.

“Their Osmanthus small pool is nice.” He Li walked over, wearing a white bathrobe tied at the waist. Broad shoulders, narrow waist, his exposed arm muscles had a smooth, flowing line.

Lu Zhi nodded, her gaze quickly scanning the ordering screen.

“If you don’t mind, would you like to join me?” His slightly low voice carried an almost explicit hint.

Lu Zhi gave an ambiguous smile at his words.

Truly worthy of the invincible Young Master. How direct.

She looked up, her eyes landing directly on He Li’s face. “I’m sorry, I already have a partner.”

He Li frowned. With his status, investigating an ordinary person was easy. He naturally knew there was no close man around Lu Zhi. Where did this ‘partner’ come from?

“Rong Yin, over here.” Lu Zhi’s gaze, however, passed through him to look at Rong Yin, who was in the main hall searching for her. She waved her hand.

Rong Yin trotted over, her hair loosely tied up in a bun, her exquisite face perfectly revealed. “Have you chosen?”

Lu Zhi nodded. “Yes, Mr. He recommended the Osmanthus pool.”

Rong Yin gave an “Oh,” having no particular opinion. She wasn’t close to He Li and didn’t say much to him, just giving a polite smile.

Lu Zhi then grabbed Rong Yin’s hand, interlacing their fingers. She smiled just as politely at He Li. “Thank you for your affection.”

He Li was naturally a smart man. Watching Lu Zhi intimately hold hands with and wrap an arm around Rong Yin’s waist, his face went through a kaleidoscope of colors, finally settling into an extremely ugly, gloomy expression. His usual mask of gentle politeness nearly cracked. After a long silence, he finally managed an “Mm” as a response before turning and leaving.

“What’s wrong with him?”

“A failed courtship attempt.”

“…Huh?”