Chapter 41

Chapter 41

The massive ship, like a whale, bore the golden sunset on its back as it sailed across the sea.

In two more days, their sea voyage would officially come to an end.

If nothing unexpected happened, they would return triumphantly with that 6.5-billion-dollar card and the immeasurably valuable young master of the Qin family.

Yan Shiqi occasionally read books. Often, on afternoons nearing dusk, he would sit on the sofa by the sea-view window, the pages giving off a soft, warm yellow glow.

Xie Yunshen leaned his head against the table opposite, watching his boss, his eyes already heavy with sleep.

Yi Wuyi sometimes suspected he was sleeping with his eyes open, but every time he called his name, he would respond immediately.

"A-Xie."

"...Hmm."

"Are you asleep?" Yi Wuyi whispered by his ear.

Xie Yunshen's slightly closed eyes snapped open instantly. He looked at him with full alertness, declaring solemnly, "No way I'd fall asleep on the job."

"..."

Yan Shiqi lifted his gaze from the book. "Go sleep in the bed."

Xie Yunshen looked at the setting sun outside the window. "Mr. Yan, someone once said—taking a dusk nap is like cozying up to a demon."

"Who said that?" This unusual idea clearly piqued Yan Shiqi's interest.

"It was the great philosopher Xie right before your eyes," Yi Wuyi chimed in from the side, holding a water glass.

Xie Yunshen gave him an appreciative look. "As expected of Old Wu, you truly understand me."

Yi Wuyi rarely quipped back, "You study philosophy? I think philosophy should be studying you instead."

Yan Shiqi watched Xie Yunshen's hearty smile, then slowly shifted his gaze to the golden seascape outside the window, his eyes calm and clear. "If it were with a loved one, a dusk nap would become a luxury."

"Why?" Xie Yunshen walked over to him.

Yan Shiqi turned his head, looked at Xie Yunshen, then averted his gaze after three seconds. "Love, time, freedom—who can possess all three at once?"

Xie Yunshen was taken aback for a moment. Staring at Yan Shiqi's pensive profile, he had a sudden, terrifying realization.

He walked to the corner, leaning in close to Yi Wuyi and asked softly, "Does Mr. Yan... have a secret crush?"

Yi Wuyi was stunned. "Why would you say that..."

"Based on my years of intermittently indulging in romance novels, usually only someone with expectations about love would make a comment like that."

"I think Mr. Yan isn't the type to be tangled up in personal romantic affairs."

"Tsk, looks like you're still single and inexperienced, huh?" Xie Yunshen raised an eyebrow.

Although Xie Yunshen hadn't been in a relationship either, someone as "honest" as Old Wu was practically made to be "teased."

"..." Yi Wuyi had nothing to say; he truly had never been in love.

Xie Yunshen suddenly realized something. "Right, it's Miss Bai!"

"..." Yi Wuyi paused for a moment, then laughed. "Rather than believing Mr. Yan has feelings for Miss Bai, I'd sooner believe Mr. Yan has feelings for you..."

He cut himself off, suddenly beginning to self-reflect. He had already been led astray by Xie Yunshen; now he actually dared to gossip about his master's private matters right to his face.

Xie Yunshen had privileges; he did not.

Moreover, although Yan Shiqi treated Xie Yunshen somewhat differently, to connect this "difference" to romantic love—to believe Mr. Yan could like a man—judging by Yan Shiqi's previous attitude towards Yan Shizhou dating a man, the chances were next to none.

He would rather believe that the various privileges Yan Shiqi granted Xie Yunshen were based on Xie Yunshen's contributions to the Yan family, a form of indulgence Yan Shiqi showed towards a reliable right-hand man.

After all, Xie Yunshen's one-sided enthusiasm was hard to refuse.

Xie Yunshen was still waiting for him to continue. "What?"

Yi Wuyi gave his shoulder a reassuring pat, then turned away to avoid his suspicious gaze. "Nothing."

Night had fallen completely, the entire sea surface losing all light. A heavy rainstorm struck without warning, with thunder, lightning, and howling wind and rain.

The nightlife on the cruise ship was just beginning, while the master of Room A02 had already turned off the lights, preparing to sleep.

Xie Yunshen sat on the sofa by the window, his eyes open in the darkness.

For the past few days, he and Yi Wuyi had been taking turns standing guard. Today was his turn for the first half of the night.

The clock on the wall ticked slowly. As drowsiness weighed on his eyelids, Xie Yunshen couldn't help but wonder: What was I trying to pull earlier?

Saying a dusk nap was like contacting a demon—now he'd rather kiss a demon if it meant he could close his eyes and sleep soundly.

(Still a gentle reminder: the next two pages contain slightly scary atmosphere descriptions. Feel free to skip if you prefer. <3)

However, soon, a slight noise jolted him awake, banishing all sleepiness.

"You can't kill me... You can't kill me..." Just as he was about to close his eyes, an eerie voice sounded in his ear.

Xie Yunshen stiffened abruptly; he was sure he hadn't misheard.

The lightning outside occasionally illuminated the pitch-black room.

This fleeting light only heightened the terror and unknowability of the darkness.

Xie Yunshen's gaze snapped towards the wall. Red bloodstains flickered in and out of sight with the lightning.

"Old Wu..." Xie Yunshen tried calling to Yi Wuyi, who was sleeping soundly in bed, but his voice was drowned out by the thunder.

Yi Wuyi, who usually woke at the slightest noise, was sleeping exceptionally deeply tonight!

"You can't kill me... Shangguan... I swear I know nothing!" Amidst the flashes of lightning and rolls of thunder, the voice grew clearer, sharp and mournful cries mixed with resentful indignation!

Xie Yunshen slowly lifted his feet, searching for the source of the sound in the darkness.

He stopped in front of a low cabinet; the sound was coming from inside.

They had never opened this cabinet before.

At this moment, Xie Yunshen's gaze appeared exceptionally resolute in the lightning flashes. He raised his hand and placed it on the cabinet door handle.

"You can't kill me... Ah!" A terrifying, shrill scream erupted from inside the cabinet.

Xie Yunshen's pupils trembled violently.

Suddenly, someone turned on the lights, and the entire room instantly became bright.

Yan Shiqi pushed back the covers to get out of bed, but was held down by the shoulder by this six-foot-two giant.

"Mr. Yan, there's no need to be afraid!" Xie Yunshen said with a solemn face.

Yan Shiqi: "..."

Yi Wuyi, who had woken up at the same time as Yan Shiqi, watched the scene: "..."

The guy telling others not to be afraid was brazenly standing right behind them!

"Don't kill me... don't kill me..." By now, the looping voice from the cabinet was no longer threatening; it even seemed a bit comical.

Yi Wuyi walked over to the cabinet. With a sharp gaze, he paused for two seconds before wrenching the door open. The cabinet was empty—there was nothing inside.

Xie Yunshen, who had peeked out from behind Yan Shiqi, took a sharp breath at the sight of the empty cabinet.

This was clearly even more terrifying!

Yan Shiqi turned around and silently held out his arms.

Xie Yunshen was momentarily stunned, then his hands, which had been resting on Yan Shiqi's shoulders, instinctively wrapped around him in a hug.

The one who had said not to be afraid was now holding on tighter than anyone else.

Xie Yunshen thought to himself: "Who understands the worth of this embrace? How could the world ever do without someone like Mr. Yan? He's practically the savior of this world."

Yi Wuyi: "..."

He was now questioning how much credibility his earlier speculation about Mr. Yan's sexual orientation really had.

The glitching voice continued.

Yi Wuyi crouched down and reached into the pitch-black darkness beneath the cabinet!

Xie Yunshen froze.

In Xie Yunshen's eyes at that moment, Yi Wuyi was as brave as a general charging into battle!

Yi Wuyi pulled out a digital voice recorder from underneath.

Its indicator light was still faintly blinking.

"It was probably the thunderstorm that caused this recorder to glitch."

Yan Shiqi took the recorder. The number nine was written on it.

"Could this be something left behind by that guy named Beer?" Xie Yunshen recalled what Yan Shiying had said earlier.

"So, Pi Jiu might be the murdered wealthy businessman?" Yi Wuyi added.

"Could the document Yan Shiying is looking for also be in this room?"

Thus, the three of them began searching the room.

Yan Shiqi walked over to the bookshelf. He had nearly finished examining the row of decorative books on the shelf.

Only one book remained unread. Judging by its gaudy title, it seemed to be a romance novel. Whether by genre, appearance, or thickness, it was conspicuously out of place among the collection of history and philosophy works.

Yan Shiqi wiped the dusty cover with a cloth and opened the book. Several pages were noticeably different in color from the others.

His expression suddenly changed.

Just as Xie Yunshen was about to lean in, Yan Shiqi very naturally closed the book.

"No need to keep looking. Let's sleep." Though his tone wasn't the least bit stern, his words left no room for argument.

Since Yan Shiqi had spoken, Xie Yunshen and Yi Wuyi had no choice but to obediently go to sleep.

But a problem arose: where would Xie Yunshen sleep?

Previously, he and Old Wu had taken turns keeping watch, so one bed was just enough for them to use in rotation.

Before Yi Wuyi could even get into bed, Xie Yunshen had already jumped the gun and claimed a spot: "Old Wu, I'm a very quiet sleeper."

Tonight, in his eyes, Yi Wuyi was comparable to Wu Song the tiger-slayer. Sleeping next to him felt incredibly safe.

Although Mr. Yan was like a talisman against evil, even someone as dense as Xie Yunshen wouldn't dare squeeze into the same bed as the big boss.

Yi Wuyi instinctively glanced at Yan Shiqi on the other bed.

He didn't know why he had that subconscious reaction.

Yan Shiqi lay with his eyes closed, revealing not a single clue for others to decipher.

As soon as Yi Wuyi lay down, he realized Xie Yunshen had already fallen asleep.

This guy really could switch to sleep mode in an instant.

Thus, for the latter half of the night, both Yi Wuyi and Xie Yunshen slept soundly.

Only Mr. Yan was unable to sleep; his insomnia seemed to have worsened.

After a long while, he stood up, first looking toward Xie Yunshen sleeping on the other bed.

Then he slowly walked to the bookshelf, pulled out that book, and gazed into the darkness, his eyes gleaming with a profound light.