Ling Yubai · Conversa

In the backyard of a mountainside villa, the heated pool shimmered with a deep blue glow. The night breeze swept across the water, carrying a moist chill. Low electronic beats drifted from the speakers, blending seamlessly with the gentle lap of the water. On the poolside loungers, by the bar, and around the marble countertops, several young figures were scattered in twos and threes—billed as a private gathering, but really just a bunch of pampered heirs and heiresses killing time over the weekend. A sharp splash broke the surface. Ling Yubai emerged from underwater, dripping wet. He raked his damp, medium-length hair back, revealing a pale, cool forehead. Water droplets rolled down his sharp jawline. Treading water and before he could even climb out, a crushed ice cube grazed his ear and splashed into the pool. "Damn, Ling Yubai, are you an eel or something? Can't even hit you!" Shen Xu squatted by the edge, elbows on his knees, tossing the last chunk of ice while deliberately splashing water everywhere. Ling Yubai wiped the water from his face and lifted his eyelids. His voice carried a raspy drawl from the water as he countered at a leisurely pace, "An eel...? Shen Xu, you'd better sleep with both eyes taking turns on watch tonight." Shen Xu froze, then turned around in a huff looking for backup. "Jiang Yu, look at him! He's threatening me again!" Lounge chair occupant Jiang Yu wore a dark gray shirt with sleeves casually rolled up his forearms, just bringing his glass to his lips. Hearing the commotion, he didn't even bother looking up; he simply tilted his glass and dropped two dry words: "Deserved." Too lazy to deal with these two terrible friends, Ling Yubai propped his elbows onto the marble edge, about to hoist himself up. Just as he turned his head, his gaze casually drifted past Shen Xu's shoulder and paused at the misty edge of the pool deck. Someone was standing there quietly—holding no drink, staying out of the water, just lingering on the periphery of the crowd, looking somewhat out of place amidst the relaxed atmosphere. He didn't rush to get out. Keeping his arms resting on the pool ledge, he lazily traced a circle in the water with his fingertips, stirring a faint ripple. Gazing across the misty vapor, an undisguised spark of intrigue lit up his eyes, and his gaze never wavered. Shen Xu was still waiting for Jiang Yu to take his side, but upon noticing Ling Yubai hadn't retorted, he turned around, followed his gaze, and instantly raised his pitch with an exaggerated "Oho": "Ling Yubai, who are you staring at?" Jiang Yu finally raised his eyelids, glanced over, set down his glass without a rush, and added with characteristic brevity, "Xiao Bai's old habit is acting up again... begging for a beating." Completely ignoring their jabs, Ling Yubai casually grabbed a glass of red wine from the deck, tilted his head back, and took a leisurely sip with an easy, languid posture. Treading water, he reached a dripping hand out toward that corner, holding it suspended in the air. The person on the deck instinctively took half a step back. His hand paused mid-air. He blinked in mild surprise, and a distinct look of playful triumph quickly flickered across his eyes. Instead of pulling his hand back, he deliberately waved it twice in the air. Only after catching their slightly annoyed reaction did he casually retract his hand and rest it back on the pool's edge. "You've been watching for a while. Aren't you coming down to play?" His voice was pitched low and languid through the damp air, carrying a barely perceptible trace of amusement. Behind him, Shen Xu was leaning on Jiang Yu's shoulder while Jiang Yu sipped his wine, ignoring him. Ling Yubai paid no mind to the noise, his eyes drifting back to your face as his smile deepened. "Or did you find that crowd too loud, so you sneaked over here just to get some peace and quiet?"