Chapter 2: Yan Xinfeng Part 1

The following day, Wei Tingxia underwent training in the intern group.

As a world-class luxury cruise liner, Stardust had top-tier service resources—each suite came with a dedicated butler trained in royal etiquette and seven on-call attendants.

From ironing the creases in newspapers to controlling cigar humidity, everything fell under the training scope. If necessary, Wei Tingxia could even elegantly explain in three languages, “Your lover is cheating in the suite next door.”

Though he still hadn’t seen Yan Xinfeng, the cruise ship’s configurations alone let Wei Tingxia clearly sense that the young master had changed dramatically.

‘The young master has his day too.’

At dinnertime, Wei Tingxia went to the deck, blowing in the sea breeze drifting from afar, chatting idly with System 0188.

Five years ago, on that rainy night when Yan Xinfeng had lost everything and held him close, the watch on his wrist had been an old model from the previous generation. Now, even the faucets in the restrooms were gold-plated.

System 0188 indicated this was normal: [According to the world line correction report, Yan Xinfeng acquired his first port on the 137th day after you left—he has the ability and background; returning to a high position is normal.]

Wei Tingxia narrowed his eyes at the dark sea horizon in the distance, clicked his tongue, and made no comment.

Five years ago, when Yan Xinfeng was struggling at the bottom of his life, Wei Tingxia had left cleanly and decisively. He had no interest in watching a loser’s pathetic struggles, so naturally, he didn’t know how the other had been consumed by rage until reason burned away, nor how he had climbed step by step to his current position.

The one thing he knew clearly was Yan Xinfeng’s hatred.

Unfortunately, hatred did nothing for Wei Tingxia’s task progress.

After checking the world collapse progress flashing red again, Wei Tingxia sighed.

To decide the next plan based on the collapse progress, the first step was to meet Yan Xinfeng.

Tricky guy.

The glaring collapse warning on the system interface flashed once more. Wei Tingxia glanced at it, his knuckles tapping irregularly on the metal railing.

The sea breeze carried a salty tang over his temple. He gazed at the distant flickering lighthouse, calculating the unavoidable reunion three days from now.

System 0188 spoke up at the right moment: [Need me to do anything?]

This perfectionist system always valued task scores above life itself. It deserved credit for Wei Tingxia topping the host leaderboard, so it bore half the blame for this mess now.

“Keep tabs on movements from all sides, especially overseas,” Wei Tingxia ordered shamelessly. His fingertip rubbed the cold railing as he unconsciously lowered his head to examine the scar on his palm.

“The rest… let me think.”

[Understood.]

The standby tone sounded, and the system interface dimmed.

The waves whimpered below his feet. Wei Tingxia took out the phone that had been powered off from his suit’s inner pocket. Warm light flowed over the black screen, reflecting his blurry silhouette.

Powered off for five years, it was probably dead by now, impossible to turn on. Wei Tingxia thought idly.

As he tried to stuff the phone back into his pocket, a metal ring slipped from the thin fabric, clinking crisply on the deck.

Wei Tingxia’s pupils contracted slightly. Almost instinctively, he crouched to catch it.

Under the dim light, the ring on the deck was a tarnished silver band, so thin it seemed ready to snap, its surface scarred by years of scratches. It looked worthless and didn’t suit Wei Tingxia at all.

Yet he carefully pocketed the ring, wiped nonexistent dust from it, and tucked it back into the hidden pocket near his heart, as if afraid of losing it again.

……

……

Three days later, passengers boarded one after another.

Wei Tingxia participated in this voyage as a service department reserve staffer. The veteran employee leading him was Zhu Ying, who had worked on the ship for three years. She was efficient and straightforward.

“Remember,” Zhu Ying instructed as they walked, “we only handle service for regular guests on the lower three decks. The big shots on the top deck have their own dedicated staff—no need for us to worry.”

Wei Tingxia nodded and memorized it, following her through the winding staff passages to the third deck’s accommodation area. The corridor was carpeted thickly, absorbing footsteps completely, leaving only the faint hum of central air conditioning.

During handover with the floor supervisor, Wei Tingxia noticed the man occasionally glancing at the dock outside the porthole—Yan Xinfeng hadn’t boarded yet, and a restrained tension hung over the entire ship. Staff went about their duties, but their movements were sharper than usual.

“Deliver these to the butler’s room in Suite 1207 first.”

Zhu Ying handed over a stack of neatly ironed linens. Wei Tingxia took them and caught the faint lavender scent on the fabric, perfectly matching the ship’s ambiance.

“Got it.”

Wei Tingxia took the linens and headed to Suite 1207 along the memorized route. Just as he stopped in front of the door, a hesitant call came from behind: “Wei Tingxia?”

The voice was utterly unfamiliar, nothing like anyone close to Yan Xinfeng.

Wei Tingxia turned and saw a casually dressed man standing at the Suite 1207 door, staring intently at his face.

System 0188 chimed in: [Wang Yufei, your middle school classmate. He dropped out in the third year of junior high and went abroad to study. Ring any bells?]

No impression at all.

Yet Wei Tingxia’s face broke into a delighted smile, as if truly immersed in the joy of reunion: “Wang Yufei?”

“Yeah, it’s me! You…” Wang Yufei took half a step forward excitedly. His gaze finally shifted from Wei Tingxia’s face to the linens in his arms.

Wei Tingxia blinked and followed his line of sight, realizing how awkward the scene was—they stood in the corridor of a luxury liner, one in server uniform holding linens, the other dressed sharply like a passenger ready for vacation.

“Ahem, sorry.” Wei Tingxia pursed his lips and switched address seamlessly, “Mr. Wang.”

“No worries,” Wang Yufei waved it off with a vague gesture, “You’re… working on the ship?”

“Just started, doing basic work.”

Wei Tingxia kept smiling, though his fingertips unconsciously tightened on the linens’ edge.

“Oh…” Wang Yufei drew out the sound, his expression shifting subtly, “Then I won’t hold up your work. Let’s catch up another time?”

“Sure!” Wei Tingxia agreed, turning to push open the butler’s room door.

The moment the lock clicked shut, System 0188 pulled up the profile.

[He only returned to City A in the last two years and doesn’t know about you and Yan Xinfeng.]

Five years ago, every notable figure in City A—whether corporate CEOs or idle rich heirs—knew how Yan family’s young master had gone mad over a man, causing a citywide scandal that nearly sent the Yan CEO to the hospital.

But this old classmate, who had gone abroad in middle school, had perfectly missed the drama.

So now, he could still gaze at Wei Tingxia’s face with such pure appreciation, letting some fanciful thoughts arise.

“No wonder.”

Wei Tingxia smoothed out the linens according to the manual’s steps. “If he knew, he probably wouldn’t even acknowledge me today.”

[So why bother with him?]

“My current access doesn’t let me onto the top deck. No access means no seeing Yan Xinfeng—of course, it’s not like I’m eager to see him now,” Wei Tingxia explained. “I need someone who can take me up there.”

He might not end up using Wang Yufei, but he needed someone like him.

[Got it.]

System 0188 went offline again.

Half an hour later, Wei Tingxia finished with the butler’s room and left.

The light at Suite 1207’s door showed guests had checked in. Wei Tingxia glanced once and hurried away.

On this cruise, Wang Yufei was a guest. If he wanted to learn about Wei Tingxia, he had plenty of ways. Wei Tingxia didn’t need to fawn over him.

Quiet waiting would do.

…

That evening, brilliant sunset spread across the sea.

With one message’s arrival, the staff activity area fell into tense chaos.

Faster than the message’s details was System 0188’s protagonist alert.

Yan Xinfeng had arrived.

Wei Tingxia slipped out of the activity area via a passage and ran to a small hallway behind the lobby, hiding behind two marble goddess statues and peering out.

Through the gap between the statues, he saw service staff at the entrance part like the Red Sea.

When Yan Xinfeng walked in, the entire lobby’s lighting seemed to adjust for him.

He wore a perfectly tailored dark gray three-piece suit, as if straight from work. His vest was buttoned to the top, accentuating his sharp waistline.

Sunset’s warm glow filtered through the dome glass onto him, revealing hidden silver thread patterns in the seemingly plain fabric, shimmering faintly with his steps.

He walked unhurriedly, right hand loosely holding his phone to his ear, the watch flashing at his cuff.

Wei Tingxia recognized it as a vintage Patek Philippe. Six years ago, during a huge fight with Yan Xinfeng, he had smashed the face of one from the same series himself.

Those with Yan Xinfeng were familiar faces. They boarded for his close friend’s pre-wedding party, jostling and laughing, one slinging an arm over Yan Xinfeng’s shoulder.

Yan Xinfeng merely tilted his head slightly, lips curving in a faint arc—polite but not warm, utterly disinterested.

His once-youthful features had matured into sharp edges under time’s polish. Power had etched new marks on him, honing him into something more reserved and unfathomable.

The young master had changed. Wei Tingxia thought.

[Are you going out to reunite with him?] System 0188 asked.

Wei Tingxia snapped back.

“I haven’t decided,” he hesitated. “If I rush out now and he snaps, what if he tosses me overboard?”

Yan Xinfeng wasn’t the amicable breakup type. Deep down, he was domineering and obsessive. When Wei Tingxia left him, it was basically a slap to his face—not to mention their other entanglements…

Their parting had been ugly; how could reunion end with a smile?

If Yan Xinfeng didn’t tear a piece of flesh from him, that would be magnanimous.

Even if Wei Tingxia felt the young master had changed, he didn’t believe time could twist someone completely.

At most, he had learned to pretend and endure, but his core remained unchanged.

[Then follow your own plan,] System 0188 said. [Call me if you need me.]

With one last glance at Yan Xinfeng outside, Wei Tingxia withdrew his gaze.

“Got it. I know what I’m doing.”

He had been away from the staff area long enough; any longer might raise suspicion. With that thought, Wei Tingxia turned and left decisively.

What he didn’t know was that two seconds after he left, a gaze suddenly shifted to the marble goddesses, searching intently.

“What are you looking at?”

His close friend’s voice pulled him back. Yan Xinfeng came to his senses and shook his head.

“Nothing.”

Even as he said it, he couldn’t help looking there again.

Behind the white goddesses was empty space.

Yan Xinfeng grew more dissatisfied the longer he looked, a trace of irritable disappointment rising in his chest—as if someone should have been there.

As if there should have been…

Someone who had long since left him.

His phone screen lit up again. Yan Xinfeng glanced and pressed it dark, ignoring the call request.

The sunset gilded the marble goddesses with a hazy golden edge. Staff trickled away through the employee passage. Amid the shifting lights and shadows, that earlier odd feeling was indeed just an illusion.

“Calling again?” Lu Zhao leaned in half a step. He had glimpsed the caller ID when the phone lit up.