Lying!

As Mandy was lost in her thoughts, Hazel took out a deck of cards from her bag and said, "Ladies and gentlemen, let's have some fun, shall we?" With three people, they could play one of her favorite card games. She began shuffling the cards and arranging the deck.

Mandy turned to her with a disdainful look. Though they had always played this game with Eva, but this would only bore Zac who was used to playing golf, polo and yacht. How could she force him to play such cheap card games?

Just as Mandy had guessed, it was true that Zac had never played such card games before. Nevertheless, his curiosity was piqued and he was soon very interested in it. "How do you play it?" he asked innocently.

Hazel's eyes widened in amazement as if she had just heard the biggest revelation of the century. "You don't know how to play 'Fight Against Landlords'?"

"Is it strange?" Zac asked while raising an eyebrow.

Hazel was puzzled. This was the most popular poker game in China. Primary school students often play this game, so how come he didn't know how to play it?

"Do you know how to play 'Go Fish'?"

Zac shook his head.

"What about 'Old Maid'?"

Zac continued shaking his head.

Hazel was speechless. She was starting to think that this man was not from the same planet as her. Was he from Mars?

"Do you know how to play poker?" continued Hazel.

Zac shrugged. Actually, he rarely played with cards. When he was in New York, he had learned about poker but he only played it occasionally.

In his silence, Mandy took the opportunity to cut in, "What's the fun in cards? Zac, let's go sailing, shall we?" She smiled sweetly and hoped that she could finally have a moment with him.

Zac ignored her words. Instead, he looked at Hazel and said, "You can teach me how to play."

Hazel took a glance at her upset friend and feigned nausea. "Oh! Why do I feel dizzy all of a sudden?" She held her forehead and continued in a weak voice, "It must be because of the seawater I had swallowed earlier. I'll take a nap first. You guys should go to the speedboat."

Sadness flashed through Zac's eyes. Was she playing the same trick again to push him away?

Was he really nothing to her?

"Teach me, right here, right now! I won't let you off until I learn it!" Zac snarled at her in frustration. Her inexplicable words and actions made him want to squeeze into her heart to see what was in it. How could she ignore him easily?

Feeling helpless, Hazel rolled her eyes and raised her hands in surrender. She had tried her best for her friend. Zac was just too smart to be fooled easily.

Mandy was extremely disappointed. She put on her sunglasses to cover her red eyes. She had been the apple of everyone's eyes since childhood. Everyone wanted to make friends with her, and many men had run after her. Why was Zac treating her so coldly?

She lay on the back of the chair and secretly gazed at him through the sunglasses. He was so excellent and perfect. There was no one else in her eyes other than him. She would never be discouraged, and in whatever way, she would try her best to impress him!

Hazel started explaining the rules to him, and turned on the game application on her phone to let him practice. Zac had already grasped the mechanics of the game, but he deliberately pretended not to know and let her guide beside him.

After winning five rounds, Hazel sighed deeply, as if she was tired from finishing a tough task. "You are a promising student and my efforts had not been wasted. Finally, I can take a nap." She covered her mouth and yawned deliberately. Mandy saw this as an opportunity. She stood up and asked Hazel to accompany her in buying a swimming ring.

She was stunned for a moment and didn't react immediately. Narrowing her eyes, she asked, "Why do you want a swimming ring?" Mandy was a good swimmer and as strong as a fish. How could she need a swimming ring?

"I don't know how to swim. Of course, I need to buy a swimming ring," she replied in annoyed tone. Then, Mandy dragged her away, not wanting her to spill the beans.

While walking towards the stall, Mandy released her hands and stared seriously at Hazel. "From now on, I can't swim. Keep it a secret!"

Hazel nodded in a daze. What trick was she playing?

When they went back to their seats, Mandy took off her sunglasses and summoned all of her courage to invite her dream lover. "Zac, how about we take a swim?" she suggested.

"I'm playing the Fight Against Landlords. Go on your own," Zac said, without even looking up at her. He was too focused on the phone.

Mandy had already been refused for so many times, so she had gotten used to it. She secretly pinched Hazel a few times on the waist, as if asking her to instigate the entire thing.

Hazel groaned in her heart. After what had happened, she didn't want to go into the waters again. However, she knew that if she didn't go, Zac wouldn't bother going either.

She didn't expect that she would risk her life trying to play matchmaker.

Sighing, she stretched her hand over the screen of the phone. "We can play at home. We don't get to go to the beach every day, you know. Why don't we enjoy ourselves?"

Zac narrowed his eyes. "You want to go? Are you deaf?" She wanted to go alone?

Hazel frowned. "I remember everything that you've said, so obviously, I wouldn't go alone. That's why I want you to go with me." Her eyelashes fluttered.

His eyes gleamed with affection as he picked up the floater on the table. Without another word, he placed it over her head. "Follow me then. Don't run around," he advised.

Hazel smiled and gave Mandy the OK signal.

Mandy smiled stiffly. Instead of gratitude, she couldn't help but feel a little bit jealous. Although he was cold towards her, he was an absolute gentleman when he faced Hazel. Even if he was a ruthless man, he was warm towards her best friend.

That wasn't a good sign.

Zac took off his shirt, revealing his well-defined muscles.

"Wow, you have a great figure!"

"He's so handsome!"

"Prince charming, shall we meet in the dressing room at the back?"

Soon enough, they were being crowded by different women. In fact, those women were excited that they were practically salivating in front of him.

Seeing that he was headed towards the water, everyone stood up and rushed towards the sea. Obviously, all of them wanted an up-close sight of the man.

Holding her forehead, Hazel closed her eyes.

She patted Mandy's shoulder sympathetically. "It's obvious you have competition. You should keep an eye on your prince charming," she teased.

"Please, they're all ugly," Mandy snorted before gazing at Hazel thoughtfully. Truth be told, she actually found her friend to be the most threatening.

Since Zac was a germaphobe, he took her to the middle of the sea where there weren't any people crowding around them. Mandy had no choice but to follow.

Every time Hazel tried to swim one meter further to give the two a chance to talk, Zac would pull her right back. He gazed at her sharply.

"Stay next to me. I'll take you wherever you want to go," he ordered.

"Okay." Hazel made a face. It seemed that she wouldn't be able to escape from him.

While they were talking, Mandy removed the air valve in her swimming ring.

Soon, she pretended to be scared and screamed. Mandy swam towards him, placing her arms around Zac's neck. "My swimming ring is broken. What am I going to do?" she shrieked.

She pretended to tremble at the sight of the waters as she pressed her whole body against the man. The moment her skin rubbed against his, he pushed her away.

Taking a deep breath, Hazel knew what Mandy was up to. Although Hazel knew that Mandy could swim, she couldn't just sit there and watch him pushing her mercilessly.

She clenched her fists. "What the hell are you doing?" she demanded. "Mandy couldn't swim. Go and save her!"

Zac's eyes flashed. He already knew that Mandy was pretending. In fact, he had seen her remove the air valve from her swimming ring. Even then, Hazel continued to act with her. What did she take him for?

He suppressed his anger deep in his heart as he sighed.