Chapter 9

When the red-haired Qian was found, the blood on his body had almost drained dry.

He had been away from the box for quite some time, but the people in the same box with him didn’t pay it much mind. They just assumed he was off fooling around and venting with some lover in the bathroom again. That was until one of them urgently needed to use the restroom and saw the fresh red blood flowing out from the stall, scaring him out of his wits. He immediately ran to the most authoritative Box 1 to report it.

The death was extremely gruesome. Countless wounds slashed by a sharp blade had disfigured his face completely, and there wasn’t a single intact piece of flesh on his body. The worst were the dozens of stab wounds to his stomach—even if he had been found immediately, King Yama couldn’t have saved him. No one could imagine what grudge could lead to such ruthless treatment.

Zhong Nian stood outside the restroom perimeter and glimpsed Qian Shao’s horrific state through the cracks, pursing his pale lips.

The ship’s security wasn’t bad. They immediately checked the surveillance, called emergency rescue lines, sent distress signals, and tried every possible way to contact the outside world…

But inexplicably, nothing worked.

The surveillance was destroyed, the satellite communication equipment malfunctioned without response…

So they could only strictly seal off information for the time being to avoid causing panic among the passengers. Fortunately, the incident happened on the second floor, and not many people knew about it. The accident was well concealed.

The decision was made by Sheng Chu, who remained exceptionally calm, as if handling some trivial, inconsequential issue.

“Keep sending up smoke and distress whistles, find the nearest docking point, strengthen patrols and security, and… continue all activities as if nothing happened. Got it?”

When he gave the orders, the important senior staff present also included the First Mate—Charles.

Zhong Nian hesitated for half a second, then quietly chased after him once the meeting broke up, grabbing Charles’s coat corner.

Charles turned his head and caught the signal from those pleading ink-blue eyes looking up at him. He led Zhong Nian around a corner to a secluded spot.

“You saw it?” Charles straightened the bent rabbit ear on his head and smoothed the slightly messy strands of hair by his ear. “Don’t worry, it won’t be a big deal. There are so many people on this ship. The one who died had it coming anyway—too many evil deeds in the past, totally normal for someone to hate him. Vendettas like this usually don’t involve innocent bystanders.”

Zhong Nian shook his head.

He wasn’t worried about that, and he hadn’t sought out Charles just for reassurance.

“There’s something I want to tell you.”

The accidents that night, along with all the oddities, had greatly intensified the unease brewing in his heart over the past two days.

He had just overheard that it would take eight hours to reach shore at full speed.

Who knew what other accidents might happen in the meantime.

He believed this was just the beginning.

Now, he had no other choice. After thinking it over, the best person to turn to was Charles.

Decent character, more familiar to him than others, and with some authority on the ship.

“It’s something very important. You might not believe it when I say it, but I guarantee it’s all true.”

Zhong Nian’s expression was serious, his two eyes filled with earnestness.

Seeing this, Charles straightened up too, listening attentively. “Go ahead.”

Zhong Nian beckoned him closer and tugged his sleeve to signal him to lean down.

Charles hesitated for two seconds but complied, watching as the young man tiptoed up, his vermilion lips drawing near…

In that moment, his pupils dilated, his heartbeat accelerated uncontrollably, his blood boiled, and his spine visibly stiffened.

Had he pulled him into the corner to confess?

He hadn’t agreed yet—jumping straight to a kiss was too fast…

Reason told Charles he should sternly stop the young man’s rash and untimely behavior, but it was as if he were under some spell; he couldn’t move, and his lips parted involuntarily, eager to receive—

But the imagined scenario didn’t happen. Those soft, kissable crimson lips didn’t head for his mouth or touch any skin. They merely came close to his ear, whispering with a fragrant breath.

“There’s a bomb on the ship.”

Five words.

Charles’s racing heartbeat went dead silent, as if exploded.

His expression changed, the affection in his eyes fading entirely as he stared quietly at Zhong Nian.

“I’m serious,” Zhong Nian said, thinking his silence meant disbelief, and hurried to prove it. “I heard it with my own ears.”

Charles grew solemn. “Tell me the details.”

Zhong Nian recounted the entire incident from that night.

“Your colleague saved you? What’s his name?”

Zhong Nian answered, “Zhan Lu, a chef who makes really good food. He doesn’t know what I overheard, but he can vouch that I ran into trouble that night.”

“He doesn’t know…” Charles mused thoughtfully. “So, you haven’t told anyone else about this?”

Zhong Nian nodded. “Just you.”

Something in those words seemed to please Charles, and he smiled lightly. “Got it. Thanks for telling me. I’m pretty surprised—you trust me that much.”

Zhong Nian looked at him without blinking. “You’re a good person, right?”

Charles just smiled, without answering.

–

“I’ll compensate the Qian Family with a few collaborations when we get back,” Sheng Chu said in the box.

Zong Xing Yi tsked. “His death has nothing to do with us. Why compensate?”

Sheng Chu replied, “He’s on the same ship, after all.”

Zong Xing Yi scoffed disdainfully. He showed no sympathy for Red Hair’s death—only indifference and impatience.

He had arrived at the scene a step late because changing pants took time. After glancing at the gruesome sight in the restroom, he turned away and said only, “Finally got his payback. Deserves it.”

He wasn’t the only one. Everyone who knew Red Hair’s misdeeds felt no pity or sorrow for the deceased. They were more concerned about the missing killer.

The incident happening on the ship was both good and bad—the killer couldn’t escape, but it was hard to say if there would be another victim.

Sheng Chu had left the Boxing Arena to handle it. In the box now were just a few highly alert bodyguards, Zong Xing Yi, Guan Shan Yue, and Zhong Nian.

Zhong Nian stayed silent, making himself invisible while mulling over his recent talk with Charles.

Charles had promised to thoroughly investigate suspicious personnel and the hidden bomb, but he demanded Zhong Nian keep silent and not spread it around.

It shouldn’t take long… The ship was big, but with so many people, even if they couldn’t find the person, they could at least locate the bomb.

Lost in thought, he didn’t even hear someone calling him.

Until his wrist was yanked, staggering him forward a step. His eyes widened like a startled cat.

Zong Xing Yi paused, then released his wrist. “I was calling you. Didn’t you hear?”

Zhong Nian straightened up. “Sorry, is there anything you need, sir?”

Zong Xing Yi cleared his throat lightly at the young man’s soft, obedient question, then turned and sat back on the sofa. “Pour me a drink.”

Zhong Nian professionally poured white wine from a bottle into a tall-stemmed glass and presented it to Zong Xing Yi. “Here you are.”

“Do you drink?” Zong Xing Yi rubbed the gem earring in his ear, his gaze shifting aside. “Drinking alone is pretty boring.”

Zhong Nian smiled. “Sorry, I don’t drink much.”

“Oh… Juice is fine too.” Zong Xing Yi stood, poured a glass of watermelon juice, and imperiously ordered, “Sit down and drink.”

Zhong Nian: “…”

No choice—Zhong Nian sat, took the glass of watermelon juice, and clinked it with Zong Xing Yi’s.

“You’re Zhong Nian, right?” Zong Xing Yi asked.

Zhong Nian was a bit confused about his intentions. “Yes, Zong Shao.”

Zong Xing Yi frowned. “Don’t call me Zong Shao.”

“?”

“Call me by name—Zong Xing Yi.”

“…Okay.” Zhong Nian agreed, took a sip of watermelon juice with his head down, and when he looked up, found Zong Xing Yi staring at him, as if expectantly waiting for something.

Zhong Nian thought for a moment and tentatively said, “Zong Xing Yi?”

A satisfied smile immediately bloomed on Zong Xing Yi’s face.

This Eldest Young Master of the Zong Family is not only a bit silly but also kinda weird, Zhong Nian thought, staring at the ice cubes in his glass. Without any guard up, one of his hands was suddenly grasped.

The Zong Family Eldest Young Master turned his hand over and over, exclaiming stiffly, “Wow, your hand is so small… Oh right, I can read palms. Let me take a good look for you!”

“…”

This scene felt oddly familiar.

Zhong Nian looked up and met eyes with Guan Shan Yue on the opposite sofa.