Translated by Eve
“Yuanmu, you’re here.” Zhou Nan was the first to speak. He pointed at the spot next to Song Xuanhe and beamed, “How could you let Song Xiao Er eat breakfast all alone? Without you, he just eats a few pieces of bread. He’s eating without tasting the food.”
Song Xuanhe came back to himself when he head Zhou Nan’s teasing. His lips twitched and he looked away. “Come sit.”
Xiao Yuanmu’s gaze swept over Hayden and Jiang Deyi who were standing on the side. When he saw the infatuated, stunned expression on Jiang Deyi’s face, his own eyes darkened slightly and loathing flashed through them. He sat down and asked in a cool voice, “Who are they?”“Schroder Family’s Hayden Schroder.” Song Xuanhe introduced them in a flat tone. “Next to him is his friend, Mr. Jiang Deyi. They wanted to sit here with me and buy the cufflinks I won at the auction yesterday.”
Xiao Yuanmu’s eyes darkened even more. He turned to look at the tall Hayden Schroder. He knew the Schroder Family but he had never seen Hayden before. He just hadn’t expected that the Schroder Family’s people would dare try to steal what belonged to him.
Hayden was bewildered at Xiao Yuanmu’s gaze. He didn’t know why, but he felt like he’d seen Xiao Yuanmu somewhere before. However, to him, all East Asians looked alike. Even after wracking his brains, he couldn’t recall where he’d seen him before.
“It’s already been settled.” Song Xuanhe didn’t like Schroder or his friend. However, he had also grown up in an influential family. He would still do introductions. However, they would be curt. He didn’t want to talk about them.
After the introductions, Song Xuanhe rested his chin on his hand and looked at Hayden. “Mr. Schroder, is there anything else?”
Song Xuanhe interrupted Hayden Schroder’s thoughts. He stopped overthinking things and simply cast a malicious look at the unruly Song Xuanhe. He then pulled Jiang Deyi, who still had a dazed look on his face, away.
After they left, Zhou Nan frowned. “Is that Schroder guy sick in the head? He actually attempted to publicly buy those cufflinks from you for his little lover. Does he not care about his reputation?”Guan Zhi laughed. “He’s Hoffman’s people. The Song Family poses no threats to him. He had been determined to win when he came. How could he have found it embarrassing?”
Guan Zhi was used to being blunt. He hadn’t avoided saying that the Song Family was lesser than the Schroder Family just now. However, as soon as the words had left his mouth, he suddenly realized that this could make Song Xuanhe unhappy. He couldn’t help but press his lips together and turn to glance at Song Xuanhe.
Contrary to what he expected, Song Xuanhe was still looking at their departing backs with his chin on his hand. When he noticed Guan Zhi’s gaze, he perfunctorily said, “That’s right.”
Guan Zhi: ….
Guan Zhi snorted.
“The Schroder Family’s just one of Hoffman’s dogs.” Guan Zhi raised his chin. He glanced at Song Xuanhe and pretended to be haughty. “After he saw me, he didn’t dare do anything to you. You don’t have to be afraid.”
Song Xuanhe’s eyes curved into a smile. “Do I look afraid?”
Guan Zhi choked. He pursed his lips and glared at the other. He then coldly said, “I don’t care if you’re scared. If the Schroders come looking to cause trouble, you can come find me.”
Song Xuanhe was just about to reply when he heard Xiao Yuanmu ask him, “Did you only eat this?”
He then added, “I’ll go with you to grab more.” Xiao Yuanmu stood up, his slender, pale fingers grabbing onto Song Xuanhe’s hand that had been holding his chin up. He pulled gently and then held his other hand palm up to catch Song Xuanhe’s falling chin that had suddenly lost its support. He then gazed into Song Xuanhe’s eyes that had widened with surprise and anger. With his refreshing voice, he said, “You drank too much last night. You should have some congee for breakfast.”
Song Xuanhe raised his chin and backed up a bit. He wanted to throw Xiao Yuanmu’s hold off, but when he thought about how this was a public place and how Zhou Nan and them were here, he could only force himself to bear with it. He said, “I’m full.”
Xiao Yuanmu took his hand back, the pad of his thumb carelessly brushing against Song Xuanhe’s jaw. His gaze was cool but there was a familiar warmth to it. He said, “Then go with me to get food.”
Zhou Nan, who hadn’t even eaten much of his breakfast yet but had been given a mouthful of dog food, waved his hand with all his strength, breaking up their eye contact. He said with disdain, “Go go go, go quickly. Stop burning my eyes.”
Xiao Yuanmu took this opportunity to pull Song Xuanhe up. Under the other’s gaze, he listened to his heart and rubbed Song Xuanhe’s head with slightly curled fingers. “Let’s go.”
“Are you guys going or what?!” Zhou Nan said, “If you guys don’t leave, I’m leaving.”
Song Xuanhe gave Zhou Nan a warning glance. Before the other could read his gaze, Xiao Yuanmu pulled Song Xuanhe forwards, leading him out of the dining room.
It was already almost ten o’clock. The majority of the cruise’s guests had already woken up. Although most people ate in their own rooms, there were still more guests in the dining hall than when Song Xuanhe had arrived.
When extraordinarily attractive people were together, they would become even more eye-catching.
Song Xuanhe didn’t throw off Xiao Yuanmu’s hand. He let the other pull him over to the food area. He had already pushed that conjecture to the depths of his mind. When he thought of Xiao Yuanmu’s expression last night, his instincts told him that it would be best to remain calm and just watch.
“What kind of congee do you want?”
Xiao Yuanmu’s voice echoed in his ear. Song Xuanhe came back to himself and turned to look at the abundant, varied congees in the congee station, expression unchanging. He simply picked the one that he has had most often. He said to the waiter who was helping to plate the congee: “Seafood congee, thanks.”
When he received the bowl from the waiter, he turned to look at Xiao Yuanmu but found the other deep in thought. He didn’t know what the other was thinking about.
Xiao Yuanmu noticed Song Xuanhe’s gaze. His eyes paused on him slightly but no expression showed on his face. He then said to the waiter in a cool voice, “Another bowl of seafood congee.”
Song Xuanhe didn’t think too much of it. He was about to head back to the dining room as he watched Xiao Yuanmu receive his own bowl of seafood congee. However, he heard Xiao Yuanmu say, “There’s stir-fried egg in tomato sauce over there.”
Song Xuanhe’s steps paused. He looked back to appraise Xiao Yuanmu’s gaze. When he couldn’t see anything out of the ordinary, he looked away and said, “No need.”
Xiao Yuanmu stared at the back of the other’s head. Something flickered through his eyes but he didn’t say anything else.
When the two of them returned, aside from Zhou Nan and Guan Zhi, Xiao Ranyun and Xiao Shenglin had also arrived.
When Xiao Ranyun saw Song Xuanhe and Xiao Yuanmu walk over side-by-side, she fell into a bit of a daze. She then furrowed her brows, puzzled. When she had seen Yuanmu gege yesterday, although both the deck and private room had been lit up, she hadn’t been able to see him as clearly as she could now in broad daylight.
Yesterday, she had felt like Xiao Yuanmu had felt very familiar to her. She had felt a strong desire to get closer to him. But today, the strange familiarity seemed to have grown stronger.
She didn’t know where this feeling came from. Nonetheless, she couldn’t avert her gaze.
Noticing Xiao Ranyun’s gaze, Xiao Yuanmu met her eyes with a calm look. The warmth in his eyes didn’t change because of her. His expression was still that of indifference.
Song Xuanhe had been walking next to Xiao Yuanmu so he naturally had caught sight of Xiao Ranyun’s expression. Moreover, he had noticed that Xiao Yuanmu had treated her more gently than usual. Therefore, he turned to check on Xiao Yuanmu’s face at once.
But Xiao Yuanmu hadn’t reacted at all. He was as indifferent and distant as ever.
Song Xuanhe pursed his lips and then sat down. He then spoke in a seemingly inadvertent tone, “Lin zi, I didn’t ask yesterday, but how come I didn’t know that you had a younger sister?”
When Xiao Shenglin heard this, he smiled kindly. “Ranran is my cousin. We don’t see each other often so I’ve never mentioned her.”
Xiao Ranyun was pulled back to the present by Song Xuanhe’s words. She smiled, “It’s because I’m never in the country, ah. Actually, most of the kids in our family have been sent to study abroad since young. It’s only Gege who had been allowed to stay in the country. Although he did go abroad for university, he came back to this country after graduating. Therefore, we rarely got to see each other.”
“There aren’t many people of the Xiao Family in this country to begin with.” Zhou Nan looked at Song Xuanhe like the other was an idiot. He said, “Don’t tell me you didn’t even know that?”
Song Xuanhe’s pupils constricted. His hand that had been scooping up congee paused. He swallowed down the mouthful in his mouth and was about to retort when he suddenly saw Sun Jinren run out with dishevelled hair. The other walked forward while speaking onto his phone, appearing deeply worried. Although he was a heavy man, he wasn’t slow at all.
Xiao Shenglin also noticed him. Xiao Ranyun frowned. She put down her utensils and said, “Why am I so unlucky? It’s only breakfast.”
No one acknowledged Xiao Ranyun’s words because they were all watching Sun Jinren’s actions.
All they saw was Sun Jinren hang up and then turn to tug on a middle-aged man sitting at a table close to him. He bent down and said in earnest words, “Song ge, may I bother you to help me out? Could you help me speak to the Captain and ask him to dispatch a boat to take me to shore? Something urgent has cropped up at my company and I must return at once.”
Sun Jinren’s voice was really loud. Song Xuanhe and his party were all able to clearly hear his words. Xiao Ranyun widened her eyes, shocked. She whispered, “Has he gone crazy?”
This cruise was set to sail for one day and two nights. It would return to Lan City’s port on the morning of the third day. Currently, it was only the morning of the second day. They were more-or-less as far from the shore as possible. They weren’t near any coastal cities right now—it was nothing but endless seawater. If he had asked to get off the ship yesterday, then they could have called for a speed boat. But now, it would be really difficult to reach land.
Moreover, even if they managed to reach the shore, it absolutely wouldn’t be Lan City’s port.
The cruise ship obviously had spare boats for emergencies. It was just that those boats were strictly meant for emergencies. No one was allowed to use them. Furthermore, the Captain would not let guests ride on those so rashly. If they wanted to get on those speedboats for a quick ride in the ocean for fun, then fine, but what Sun Jinren wanted was for that speedboat to bring him back to the city.
Unless there was something wrong with the Captain’s head, he would not agree.
Or rather, unless there was something wrong with them in their head, no guest would raise such a preposterous request.
Therefore, Xiao Ranyun didn’t mean it as an insult. She actually thought that there was something wrong with him.
The ‘Song ge’ he asked naturally didn’t agree to the request. That person furrowed his brows and said, “The cruise will dock tomorrow morning. If something’s happened, you can deal with it via teleconference. There’s no need for you to head over there personally. In any case, unless there are special circumstances, the Captain would never approve of letting a boat leave.”
Sun Jinren was so anxious he had broken out into a sweat. This issue concerned his entire family. Therefore, when he heard ‘Song ge’ say this, he still insisted anxiously. “My company’s matter is extremely urgent, Song ge. If you help me this once, I promise to repay you at a suitable time in the future.”
‘Song ge’ frowned. He didn’t feel any concern for the other. However, he had some misgivings, given that they were in public. He lowered his voice and said, “Even if it’s me, the Captain would not approve of it. Did you think that the captain of this ship is an ordinary person? He doesn’t need to give me any face at all. Give up. Wait until the ship docks.”
“By the time this ship docks, I’ll be done for!” Sun Jinren shouted. “I can’t wait!”
“Song ge’s” face grew cold. “Even if you can’t wait, you’ll have to wait. I cannot help you. The only way you can go back is if you have the ability to have a private aircraft pick you up, or if you give your coordinates to your subordinates and have them bring a boat to pick you up. In any case, the Captain will not have his crew take you back on one of their boats.”
When the surrounding people heard this, they all nodded inwardly. Zhou Nan smiled. “Song Jiani is impulsive but Boss Song’s prudent. Although he’s furious, he’s still able to hold back his temper and speak properly.”
This Boss Song was Song Jiani’s father. He was also the person who had brought Sun Jinren onto this cruise.
Meanwhile, Song Xuanhe furrowed his brows slightly. He had not expected that Song Jiani’s father would have been the person to have brought Sun Jinren onboard. If that was the case, the scene where Sun Jinren asked him for Xiao Yuanmu…had that solely been because of Sun Jinren’s lust or because of Song Jiani’s incitement?
Furthermore, although Sun Jinren was a flatterer and lustful, considering the fact that he had been able to build up his company from scratch and make it into one of the top companies in the industry, he likely wasn’t an idiot. His behaviour yesterday had made it clear that he knew just who everyone on the ship was. If it weren’t because things were truly urgent, he would probably never have forgotten himself in worry like this.
But Song Xuanhe remembered that the scene of Sun Jinren asking for Xiao Yuanmu was supposed to happen three days after they got off the cruise. The book had never described Sun Jinren leaving the ship in a hurry like this. But if such an urgent matter actually had happened, would Sun Jinren really have been able to resolve it within three days and still be in the mood to ask him for Xiao Yuanmu at the biannual gathering in the Capital?
Song Xuanhe was suspicious. Meanwhile, Sun Jinren still hadn’t let go of Song Jiani’s father, Song Qiyi.
Song Xuanhe didn’t know what Song Qiyi had said, but Sun Jinren had calmed down a lot. He also seemed to understand that there were many eyes here. Therefore, he had lowered his voice. “Someone’s trying to acquire the Jinren Group with malicious intentions. There had been no wind of this in the past. But this morning, I woke up and saw that they had already acquired twenty percent of my company’s shares. If this continues, I won’t be able to protect my company.”
Upon hearing that, Song Qiyi was truly astonished and finally realized the severity of this situation. But even so, he really had no way of helping Sun Jinren get off the boat. Therefore, he could only lower his voice and say, “Let me give you some advice. The Captain will not make an exception for you. However, we’re close to Japan’s west coast. The Guan Family has businesses in Japan. If you can get Guan Zhi to relent, then it would be very easy for the Guan Family’s airlines to send a plane over. They can take you back to the country. Even if the planes can’t come over, as long as you can get Guan Zhi to give his family a call, they will send a boat over. You can then fly back after reaching Japan’s shores. Flying from Japan to Lan City only takes a few hours. If all goes well, you’ll be able to get back by noon.”
Sun Jinren’s expression flickered rapidly. At this moment, he finally realized that Song Qiyi really had no way of helping him. But the problem was, he wasn’t acquainted with the Guan Family’s successor. He had also heard that the young master’s temper wasn’t good. There was no way he would help him arrange a flight. If the other only needed to help him summon a boat, then perhaps, but definitely not this.
“Song ge.” Sun Jinren said, “Do you know what room Mr. Guan is in, or a way to get in contact with him?”
Song Qiyi raised his head and met eyes with Song Xuanhe who was looking over here from a ways away. He furrowed his brows and was about to look away when he noticed that Guan Zhi was sitting with Song Xuanhe.
Sun Jinren saw Song Qiyi’s expression change. He subconsciously followed the other’s gaze and saw Song Xuanhe and Xiao Yuanmu. He was on the verge of bankruptcy so he wasn’t in the mood to think about looking for a lover. Therefore, he asked, “Song ge, what are you looking at?”
Song Qiyi sighed quietly. In the past, rather than Song Xuanhe, he had hoped that his daughter would marry Song Xuanlin. However, his daughter had been dead set on Song Xuanhe so he could only help her. What he had not expected was that Song Xuanhe would dislike his daughter and even embarrass her over some man in public.
Back then, the reason he had agreed to take Sun Jinren aboard and had purposely brought him in front of the Song couple, was to get Song Jiabao to reveal that Song Xuanhe was only playing with Xiao Yuanmu. He had wanted Sun Jinren to take an interest in Xiao Yuanmu. Then, he and Song Guochao would team up to pressure Song Xuanhe so that he would have no choice but to give Xiao Yuanmu to Sun Jinren.
But what he hadn’t expected was that, in this short amount of time, Song Xuanhe, who used to hang out with only good-for-nothings, would suddenly turn his life around. Not only did he return to the upper class circles, he had even made friends with Zhou Nan and Wei Chen. Right now, he was also sitting at the same table as the Guan Family successor.
If this was the case, he needed to rethink his daughter’s marriage. He had thought that Song Xuanhe would be easy to control in the past. Now, he realized that he might have been wrong.
Sun Jinren didn’t know what Song Qiyi was thinking. When he saw the other don a gloomy expression and remain silent, a feeling of unease sprung forth in his chest. He asked, “Song lao ge, what are you looking at? This matter is urgent. How about you give Guan shaoye’s contact information first? I’m in a hurry to find him.”
Song Qiyi sighed and said, “You don’t have to go looking for him. Guan shaoye is currently sitting at Song Xuanhe’s table. Over there, where Zhou Nan is.”
Sun Jinren was taken aback. When he looked over again, he saw that Song Xuanhe and friends were currently chatting with a young man. All Sun Jinren thought was that it felt like everything was turning dark around him. His last shred of hope had disappeared.
Song Xuanhe couldn’t hear what Song Qiyi and Sun Jinren were saying in hushed voices. Regardless, neither he nor his friends cared anymore. However, when they saw them look in their direction, they felt baffled.
Guan Zhi frowned. “What’s the fatty looking over here for?”
Zhou Nan raised a brow. “He’s not just looking over here, he’s making his way over too.”
When the people at the table heard this, they all looked over and saw that Sun Jinren really was moving his hefty body over at a quick speed. The anxiety on his face hadn’t decreased at all. Rather, it seemed like there was now panic and apprehension as well.
A moment later, Sun Jinren reached their table. He first looked at Guan Zhi and then looked at Song Xuanhe and Xiao Yuanmu. He said, “Actually, I wanted to apologize to Song shaoye and Mr. Xiao again for yesterday’s matter. I drank too much yesterday. I hope you can forgive me. When we go back, whatever Song shaoye and Mr. Xiao wants in compensation, I will pay.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the expressions of every single person on the table changed, except for Xiao Yuanmu, who remained calm the whole time. His expression didn’t change in the least.
Seeing that no one spoke, Sun Jinren grit his teeth. “Mr. Xiao, what I said to you yesterday was utterly shameful. As long as you forgive me, I will compensate you to the best of my abilities.”
There were no ripples in Xiao Yuanmu’s eyes. It was like he hadn’t heard anything Sun Jinren had said. He only lowered his gaze and calmly stirred his congee. His jade-like knuckles seemed more like white porcelain than the porcelain spoon in his hand did. His calm movements looked elegant and noble.
Sun Jinren was shocked. Although he was not born of an aristocratic family, he had had many interactions with scions of rich families over the years. Yesterday, he hadn’t been able to get a good look on the deck. However, when he looked at Xiao Yuanmu, he was shocked that this person, who he had thought to be a sex toy, actually had a calmer, more noble air than any of the rich young masters he had met in the past.
Not only this, but the other also had an oppressing aura of someone who had existed at the top for a long time. This aura was difficult for even young masters who lived like princes to cultivate. Only someone who had been at the top commanding others for many years would be able to exert such an aura.
The reason why Sun Jinren, who had only graduated from elementary school, was able to climb all the way up here, was because he was an expert at reading people. His eyes were sharp and he had never been wrong with his judgements. It was precisely because of this that he had never offended any influential person who could help him. This was the reason why he had been able to climb up to his current position.
But now, he saw a noble air exuding off of an orphan. How could he not be shocked?
It couldn’t be that Song Qiyi had teamed up with Song Guochao to swindle him? Or was it because the Song Family didn’t want Song Xuanhe to be with a man? Did they purposely push him out to offend this person?
The more Sun Jinren thought about this, the more afraid he became. His tone changed accordingly as he apologized once more. There was now a sliver of fear. “Mr. Xiao, it was truly my error to fail to recognize you. I offended you. I hope that you, Your Excellency, can be so magnanimous as to forgive me.”
The people at the table all exchanged glances. Their eyes flickered back and forth between Sun Jinren and Xiao Yuanmu. They weren’t blind nor deaf, so they could obviously read the fear within Sun Jinren’s expression and words.
It was just that…what had Xiao Yuanmu done to make Sun Jinren so afraid of him?
Song Xuanhe was also shocked. However, he knew that Xiao Yuanmu couldn’t have done anything. First of all, Xiao Yuanmu didn’t have the ability to do anything. Secondly, he knew that Xiao Yuanmu had been with him all night yesterday. He couldn’t have done anything to Sun Jinren.
“Why did you come over here?” As the only person who didn’t know about what happened yesterday, Guan Zhi’s face filled with impatience. He said, “If you have no business with us, don’t disrupt our breakfast.”
Sun Jinren suddenly came back to himself. He recalled how his company was in imminent peril and what his original goal had been in coming over. He promptly turned to look at Guan Zhi and pleaded, “Guan shaoye, urgent matters have cropped up at my company. I beg you to send a boat over to take me to Japan. I just need to be sent to shore. I will definitely repay you in the future.”
Guan Zhi looked confused. Sun Jinren had clearly been looking for Song Xuanhe and Xiao Yuanmu just now. Why was he suddenly talking to him?
Meanwhile, everyone else understood. Yesterday, Sun Jinren had offended Song Xuanhe. Today, he had a request for Guan Zhi but had seen that Song Xuanhe and Guan Zhi’s relationship was quite good. Before asking for Guan Zhi’s help, he would have to first resolve the issue between himself and Song Xuanhe.
“Why should I help you?” Guan Zhi snorted coldly. Although he didn’t understand what was happening, he could tell that this man had been in conflict with Song Xuanhe in the past. Even if there wasn’t a conflict between them, he wouldn’t help a stranger with no rhyme or reason either.
Xiao Yuanmu, who had been silent all this time, finally looked up. His tone was as calm and cold as his eyes. “Boss Sun, there’s no need to be in such a hurry. Your company cannot be saved anyway. You might as well enjoy your time on the cruise.”
Sun Jinren was shocked. When he met with Xiao Yuanmu’s cold gaze, his own pupils constricted and his expression morphed into one of utter shock and fear.
Someone had started to acquire his company with malicious intentions starting last night. He had only gotten news of it this morning. Prior to that, the only person who he had offended, the only one who would want revenge…there could only be this man before him!
Eve: MuMu back at it again with that PDA ah ah ah~
