The Consequences of Rejection

While she tried to cough out all the water she had swallowed, Sun Mei trod through the water towards Mr. Wu.

When she saw his head emerge from the water, she let out a sigh of relief.

"Are you okay?"

At first, she thought that she had been the one to ask this question. However, as she slowly regained all her senses, she realized that several of the spectators who had come to watch the show were looking at her and Mr. Wu worriedly while offering their help.

"I… I think so," she said as she approached Mr. Wu, who was just as drenched as she was.

"What happened?" they both wondered out loud.

"A gentleman pushed you in and ran away," a lady standing near them told them.

"Oh, it was not a gentleman!" said a familiar voice.

Sun Mei turned and saw Yu Zan, who was glaring at nobody in particular. Her friend was holding Lily in her arms as she tried to get as close to her and Mr. Wu as possible without actually diving into the fountain herself.

"It was the jerk we met yesterday outisde the casino!" Yu Zan said furiously. "The one who wouldn't take a hint?"

"We only met one jerk yesterday outside the casino," Sun Mei said impatiently as she tried to squeeze the water out of her shirt. Her hair, which was dripping wet, would be next.

"Not if you count his friend," said Yu Zan.

"I don't. Jerks come in package deals. I'm used to it."

"Well, this time, he was alone."

Sun Mei threw her hands in the air. "Why would anyone do that?"

"Maybe he thought you and Mr. Wu were a couple and got jealous?" Yu Zan suggested. "I mean, jerks don't handle rejection well."

Sun Mei turned to look at Mr. Wu. Her boss was currently wiping his forehead unsuccessfully with his wet sleeve.

"I'm so sorry for this, Mr. Wu."

"I'm not sorry," Mr. Wu told her as he jumped out of the fountain and offered his hand to help her out.

"You are not?" Sun Mei asked after she landed on solid, dry ground again. A kind young mother immediately offered them a couple of towels that she kept in her bag.

"No," said Mr. Wu after thanking the woman. "I would have been sorrier if you had agreed to go out with a guy who would do something like this. At least you can tell when someone is a complete idiot."

"Thank you?" Sun Mei said in confusion.

Yu Zan frowned. "What if she had rejected a murderer and then that murderer killed you out of misplaced jealously? Wouldn't you be sorry then, even though she would technically have made the right call?"

Mr. Wu and Sun Mei stared at her in disbelief.

"Way to ruin my argument, Yu Zan," Mr. Wu said eventually.

"Way to make me feel afraid of every stranger I meet in the same breath," Sun Mei added.

Yu Zan smiled. "You are both welcome! Shall we go now?"

"Yes!" Mr. Wu and Sun Mei answered simultaneously.

Lily, who had been quiet so far, objected to this idea. "I want to jump in the pool too!"