Chapter 1 — After the Rushing Water

When the boat drifted into the strong current, my boyfriend did not hesitate to remove my safety lock. He put my life jacket on his best friend, then pulled her into a safe area with calmer water. The swift current swept me toward the reef. I desperately called for help, but my best friend stood on the shore, holding her stomach and laughing loudly. My boyfriend wiped the water from her face: "Vi Vi said you never dare to go into the water, this time just consider it training your liver." To Vi sat on the shore, laughing so much that he couldn't straighten his back. "Niem Niem, aren't you an underwater photographer? Aren't you scared of even a little water like this?" Waiting until I crawled to shore with my whole body covered in injuries, he was thoughtfully ordering a hot drink for his best friend. He still remembers that To Vi can't drink cold drinks, so he specifically told her to put on ice. But he gave me a glass of fruit tea with mango juice added. "I'm allergic to mango." My voice was hoarse. He laughed lightly, not paying attention: "It's just a little juice. If you don't drink it, just decant the rest." I watched the backs of the two of them leave, shoulder to shoulder, and suddenly felt the river water on my body cold to the bone. I thought he would protect me forever. Only now have I discovered that he doesn't even care about my life. From then on, I didn't need him anymore. The throat is tight, every breath brings with it a dull pain. I took the last two anti-allergy pills out of my medicine bag and swallowed them. Co Tu pushed the camping car door and walked in. When he clearly saw the scratch on my knee that was still bleeding, his expression changed slightly. I almost thought he would still be heartbroken, but the next second, he said: "I've booked a private room at the seafood restaurant tonight, which is the hardest restaurant to book here." "Today's incident is over, don't show your attitude to Vi Vi anymore." He squatted in front of me to disinfect my wound. If it were before, I would have softened my heart when I saw him bowing his head to treat my wound. But now, I only remember when the water poured into my mouth and nose, the person he pulled away was To Vi, not me. "Give me the waterproof box on the table." I didn't want to continue his words, my voice was hoarse. Inside it contained the original documentary I was about to submit to the International Nature Film Festival. That's the passion I risked my life countless times over the past year to film. Just as Co Tu was about to stand up, the picnic car door was pushed open. To Vi walked in holding my waterproof box. The black box was covered with colorful cartoon stickers. "A Tu, look, haven't I made it much cuter?" I looked at the box in her arms, my chest sank. "Give it back to me." I held out my hand, my voice hoarse. To Vi blinked, took a half step back behind Co Tu: "Nim Niem, don't look at me like that, it's so scary I'll die." I quickly walked forward and reached out to take it back, but she deliberately dodged to the side. During the struggle, I discovered that the lock of the waterproof box had been loosened by her. To Vi tripped over a folding chair under her feet, her hand loosened, the waterproof box hit the aquarium tank next to it which was not covered. With a "boom" sound, water splashed everywhere. I rushed forward to take the box out of the fish tank, the back of my hand hit the edge of the glass, a gash in my skin. But I no longer paid attention to the pain, I knelt on the ground and picked the lock. The inner layer has been flooded with water. The original's outer shell was soaked, the water stains on the edge of the drive like a slowly spreading ring of mold. At that moment, I no longer heard any sound in my ears. A whole year. Thirty-seven dives, six undercurrent deflections, two oxygen warnings, all for that footage. This moment

everything becomes a joke. Co Tu's first reaction was to pull To Vi behind him. I looked at Co Tu, each word biting hard, the dull pain in my heart welled up again. "What she destroyed was my original contest entry." Co Tu glanced at the water-soaked drive: "I will find the best data recovery team, I will pay whatever it costs. Don't show your attitude to Vi Vi." I took out the broken drive right in front of him and threw it in the trash next to it. Co Tu frowned: "Do you have to do everything so cruelly?" I didn't answer, I reached out and took off a sea snail whistle from his car key. That was the self-defense whistle I gave him when I went to the beach. "You don't deserve to hold this anymore." Co Tu's eyebrows furrowed even tighter, finally realizing that I wasn't angry. To Vi hid behind him, muttering in a low voice: "Is Niem Niem still blaming you for the boat drifting?" Co Tu was silent for a few seconds, patting To Vi's shoulder: "She was agitated today, just wait until she calms down." The moment the door closed, I turned the latch, locking the car door. The computer screen lit up, the mailbox of the organizers of the International Nature Film Festival was stopped at the draft interface. Letter of explanation for withdrawal from the competition. I looked at it for a long time, my finger hanging on the send button, but never pressed it down. Finally, I deleted that letter, opened the cloud folder. In the backup hard drive, there is still part of the original document. As long as I get it back, I still have a chance. When the boarding announcement rang out early in the morning, I slung my backpack over my shoulder. Last night I stayed up all night. Log in to the system and cancel the right to unlock the apartment shared with Co Tu. Unlink all common credit cards, eventually leaving the club's internal project team. Having done it all, I just feel tired. When I put on my backpack and prepare to board the train to leave. Co Tu's car suddenly braked outside the boarding gate. He wasn't even wearing his coat yet, holding a medical bag in his hand, blocking it in front of me. In the bag, I could see specific anti-allergic medicine, pain reliever medicine and nutritional meals. "You didn't handle it well last night. I bought the medicine, you take it first, we'll talk about other things later." I took the medicine, but had no intention of returning with him. Co Tu's face darkened. Perhaps he still thought that if he just brought the blood to me, I would be like before, swallowing all my self-pity. Just as he was about to open his mouth, To Vi chased after him, loudly shouting: "In the bag there is a lens shared by the club, we can't let her take it away!" The surrounding tourists waiting for the train all turned their heads to look and pointed at us. Someone said in a low voice: "Are you running away with public equipment?" My fingers stiffened. When I was surrounded by so many people, my breath began to choke again. Co Tu stood a few steps away, clearly knowing that I bought that set of lenses myself, but did not speak up immediately. I took a look at him. With just that one look, I understood. He was waiting for me to bow. So I squatted down, opened my backpack and took out the payment history. "This set of lenses is my personal property." "You say one more thing that it is a shared item, now I will report to the police." To Vi was angry with the eyes of the people around, and quickly rushed forward to snatch the lens bag from the backpack. "On what basis did you bring it! This was clearly bought by A Tu!" She pulled the bag with force, scratching her nails wildly. During the struggle, the custom diving watch strap on my wrist was pulled off by her. The heavy watch fell hard on the stone steps, the screen went black. That diving watch was Co Tu's birthday gift to me. He once said: "Nim Niem, when diving at night, let this watch be with you for me." It's like one

The thin rope pulled me from the suffocating depths of the sea back to the human world. Now that string has broken. To Vi leaned close to Co Tu. "My hand hurts. Did Niem Niem intentionally knock you over just now?" She complained. Co Tu didn't even look at me. He grabbed her wrist and turned it over to check. And I squatted in front of the stone steps, picking up the pieces of the broken diving watch. The screen was black, my fingertips brushed against broken glass, blood oozed out, but I no longer felt pain. Finally, Co Tu saw the broken piece in my hand. "I will ask the manufacturer to remake one for you, the parameters will remain the same, the outer shell will be changed to a more expensive material." I raised my head to look at him. The words that had been repeated over and over to explain were suddenly choked in my throat. It's not that I can't say it, it's that I finally understand, saying it is useless. The boarding announcement loudspeaker rang overhead, and a mechanical female voice continuously urged passengers to get on the train. I put the broken watch in my pocket, picked up my backpack and walked towards the boarding gate. Co Tu raised his hand to stop me, I took a step back. "Don't touch me." I didn't look at him anymore, turned around and walked onto the deck. This time, Co Tu's footsteps stopped in place. He frowned at me, as if he finally realized something was wrong, but still refused to believe I was really going to leave. The phone in my pocket vibrated. I took it out and saw the message Co Tu sent: "I have contacted the manufacturer, the watch can be rebuilt. Don't scare me with the breakup." I stared at that text for a few seconds, suddenly feeling that even anger was unnecessary. Until now he still thinks I just want him to comfort me. I opened the chat box and set his messages to do not disturb mode. From this moment on, every word he said, I didn't want to accept anymore. I went to the local diving training base. When the red light lit on the card machine, I realized Co Tu was one step ahead of me. The receptionist avoided my eyes: "Miss Tham, access to the equipment room and temporary training area is jointly managed by the sponsor." I tightened my access card. The backup hard drive is inside. That's my last chance. Just by rebuilding from the beginning, the film's competition status can still be maintained. The door to the resort was pushed open, and Co Tu stood there, as if he had predicted I would come. I stepped forward. Co Tu pushed the tablet in front of me. On the screen was the additional seven-day Film Festival deadline he had won for me. Swipe down to see the backup document number, sea area license, and fleet arrangement. He remembers how I named the material, remembers when I filmed which part of the coral was lacking oxygen, remembers which group of scenes is most suitable to add to the end of the film. But he still doesn't remember, when I was trapped in a closed water area, I would be so scared that I couldn't breathe. "I know how important the original is to you. I can help you make up for the loss." Co Tu lowered his voice: "The fleet and equipment are all arranged by me." I looked at him: “What are the conditions?” Co Tu took out a printed statement of clarification from the side and gave it to me. The boat accident was due to a misunderstanding during group activities. To Vi had no subjective malice, Tham Niem was strongly stimulated by an old wound, leading to a dispute that was later expanded. His voice was very natural: "Nien Niem, as long as you record a video to make it clear, everyone has a way out." "After public opinion calms down, I will work with you to make up for the movie." I reached for the other bag of medicine. The red spot on my neck began to heat up, and the swelling in my throat became more and more obvious. As soon as her fingertips touched the edge of the plastic bag, Co Tu was one step faster and held it back. He pursed his lips, picked up the bag, and placed it in the equipment cabinet

behind and lock it.