327 Youâre So Nervous
â100! 99! 98!â
The countdown began, and shrill cheers came from the crowd. Zachary jumped to the side of the wooden bridge and screamed.
âWhatâs going on? Why hasnât Joseph come up?â Isabella asked anxiously.
âHe will succeed if he can hold his breath for 100 seconds under the water.â
âEveryone is counting down,â Cedric said as he walked forward and let Isabella stand between him and the shipâs rail.
âHold his breath for 100 seconds?â
Isabella exclaimed in surprise. âThatâs almost two minutes! There will be problems!â
âThatâs right.â
Cedric smiled. âItâs more challenging, isnât it? Thatâs a punishment.â
.....
Isabella nodded silently. The countdown reached 53.
âHe will be fine.â
Cedric looked at Isabellaâs nervous face and comforted her, âIf Joseph canât bear it, heâll come up. This wonât be dangerous.â
âI hope so.â
Isabella clenched her fists.
Although it wouldnât be dangerous, Joseph was competitive and sometimes stubborn. If he felt that he would be embarrassed if he couldnât hold his breath for 100 seconds, then he probably wouldnât come up even if he died!
This idiot!
â5! 4! 3!â
At the end of the countdown, Isabella finally breathed a sigh of relief, but Joseph did not come up.
The crowd wondered what had happened. Cedric also approached the rail and looked down.
âWhatâs going on?â Zachary asked. âWhy hasnât Joseph come up yet?â
Zachary picked up the loudspeaker and shouted, âIt has been 100 seconds! Joseph! Come up!â
But there was still no response.
Isabella immediately grabbed the rail nervously. âStop shouting! Something might have happened! Hurry to look for Joseph!â
âI donât think so.â
Jayden laughed. âI guess Joseph just wants to break the record and stay under the water for a longer time. Letâs wait and see!â
Everyone around laughed. Isabella was instantly enraged. âWhy are you still laughing? Joseph hasnât come out!â
Isabella shouted to the people on the small boat next to her, âHurry to save Joseph!â
âWhat?â
It was a little noisy. The people on the small boat could not hear Isabella. They only heard Zachary who was holding a loudspeaker. Isabella panicked and turned to push the crowd away. She snatched the loudspeaker from Zacharyâs hand and shouted at the boat below, âSomething might have happened! Save Joseph!â
When the people on the small boat heard this, someone immediately jumped down and started searching. Almost at the same time, Joseph came out of the water and wiped his face.
âGood job!â
Everyone cheered, and Jayden clapped his hands. â123 seconds! Joseph! Amazing!â
âItâs not a big deal.â
Joseph stepped on the water and smiled evilly on the deck, immediately causing the cheers of beautiful girls. Isabella closed her eyes and breathed a sigh of relief.
âIsabella...â
âWhy were you so nervous just now?â Cedric asked as he leaned over from behind.
âNo... I wasnât.â
Isabella suddenly came back to her senses. âI thought something would happen to Mr. Joseph.â
Isabella said, âThis game is too dangerous. It is not good.â
Cedricâs eyes flickered. âThe four of us have been playing this kind of game since we were young. It isnât dangerous. Joseph is a good swimmer among us. We were all very calm, and only you were so nervous.â
Cedric paused for a moment. He gently pushed Isabella against the rail, approached her suggestively, and looked down at her. âIsabella, you know what? You looked so anxious just now. You were more nervous than us, who grew up with Joseph and even Stella. Iâve known you for so long and always thought that you were a timid and gentle girl. It was the first time I saw you angry.â
Isabella looked at Cedricâs gentle eyes. For some reason, she saw a hint of sharpness in them. She smiled awkwardly. âDid I act so strangely? I just...â
âI donât like you being so concerned about other men.â
âAlthough I know that you are only concerned about Josephâs life, I donât like it.â Cedricâs warm breath touched the top of Isabellaâs head as he leaned his chest against Isabellaâs face.
Isabella was stunned. âCedric...â
Cedric smiled and stroked Isabellaâs long hair. âCan you learn to only care about me like this in the future? Let me care about others.â
Isabella lowered her eyes and said, âOkay.â
Cedric smiled and kissed Isabella on the forehead.
Joseph climbed up the ladder and happened to see this scene.
Stella handed Joseph a towel. He threw it on Cedricâs back. âHey! Cedric! I just held my breath for 123 seconds. Arenât you going down to try? Isnât it embarrassing to lose to me?â
Cedric took away the towel and shook his head with a smile. âI wonât. You scared Isabella just now. If I try, Isabella will cry.â
Joseph looked at Isabella with a sharp gaze and said evilly, âDid I scare you when I was underwater?â
Isabella pursed her lips. âI thought that Cedric and the others had gone too far and caused trouble. Thatâs all.â
Then, Isabella hurriedly hugged Cedric. âLetâs go, Cedric. Iâm hungry. Letâs eat something together.â
Cedric immediately smiled and said, âOkay, letâs eat something together.â
Joseph saw Cedric put his hand around Isabellaâs shoulders. Josephâs lips were tightly pursed and his brows were furrowed. He was angry!
âHere you are, Joseph. Drips of water still roll down your body.â
Stella took another towel and handed it to Joseph. Joseph looked at Stellaâs beautiful and obedient expression. There was even a teardrop that softened the muscles on her face. âWhatâs wrong? Stella?â
âIâm fine.â Stella forced a smile and said, âYou didnât come up. I thought that something had happened to you.â
Josephâs expression immediately softened. He reached out to wipe away the tears on Stellaâs face. âYou fool. Donât you remember that I am a good swimmer? How did I get into trouble?â
Stella broke into a smile. âThatâs right. I was worried for nothing. Maybe itâs because of my recent emotions. Didnât the doctor say that I was a little depressed? Donât worry about me.â
Joseph held Stellaâs hand and said gently, âWell, donât cry. There is a ball tonight. I specially prepared and organized it for you. I hope you can relax a little. The doctor said that you must relax completely.â
âOkay!â
Stella revealed a beautiful smile and left with Joseph.