Chapter 39

There was an excellent Western-style restaurant on the ship. Yan Shiqi took the initiative to call Yan Shiying to join them for a meal. For the two brothers, sitting at the same table was a rare occurrence.

Xie Yunshen took a bite of a homemade cocktail sausage dipped in sauce and let out a sigh of appreciation. “Old Five, I’ve tasted it—every dish here perfectly hits the spot for me.”

Hearing this, Yi Wuyi remarked, “Ever since you injured your head, I don’t think your appetite has ever not been good.”

Xie Yunshen gave an awkward laugh, as the “head injury” coincided exactly with when he transmigrated into the book. “Well, I’m at the age where I’m constantly growing.”

As he spoke, Xie Yunshen used a clean fork to skewer a few small sausages, arranged them on a plate into a cute little dog shape, and placed it in front of Yan Shiqi.

Yan Shiqi looked at the plate. Seeing the sausages arranged like a little puppy, he couldn’t help but smile.

Yan Shiying closed his eyes and tsked. “Seriously… did you call me here just to watch the harmony and affection of your little family of three?”

Xie Yunshen froze. “Huh?”

Yan Shiqi said, “When we disembark, ​read the original at bailiantales.com​come home with me. Shizhou hasn’t seen you in a long time.”

Yan Shiying weighed his words. “Wait a bit longer. I still have things to do.”

“What things? Must they be completed on this ship?”

“…” Silence.

“You can’t say?”

Yan Shiying’s brow furrowed tightly. “There’s nothing to say. It’s just work.”

“And that boy? How will you handle him? Once I leave, you’ll be isolated and without help on this ship.” Yan Shiqi’s gaze was sharp.

Looking at his elder brother, Yan Shiying finally confessed: “You know about what happened with Yang Zhongxu recently, right?”

At those words, both Xie Yunshen and Yi Wuyi paused their eating and exchanged a glance.

Yan Shiqi asked, “What does his business have to do with you?”

“Before Yang Zhongxu died, he stored a legacy statement in a safe at my insurance company. The legacy includes a document. According to the agreement, if he met with an accidental death, this legacy and the document were to be transferred to his son.”

Yan Shiqi turned solemn. “Where is that document?”

“Brother, I know what you want to ask, but Yang Zhongxu was a cunning fox. The legacy is indeed in the safe, but I haven’t found the document yet. He stated in the will that he had previously handed the document to a man named Pi Jiu. The last place that man was seen was on this cruise ship.”

Xie Yunshen asked curiously, “Beer? (Pi Jiu sounds like ‘beer’ in Chinese)”

Yi Wuyi asked, “Little Xie, do you know something?”

“I really don’t know this one.”

In the novel, Yang Zhongxu wasn’t supposed to die until much later. Because he died early, certain plots were bound to change. For instance, Yan Shiying appearing on this ship was not in the original book. Xie Yunshen realized he could no longer be just a bystander; he had taken a side with the Yan family and become a part of the story’s skeletal structure.

Yan Shiqi asked, “And his son?”

“After that ‘Black Impermanence’ live stream, his illegitimate son was nearly fed a bullet by locals abroad. No one knows where he’s fled to now. ​bailiantales.com​So, I haven’t been able to deliver the legacy yet.”

Yan Shiqi took a sip of tea, looking down at the sausage dog on his plate. The dog was plump, resembling a balloon animal floating in an amusement park.

Yan Shiying put down his napkin and suddenly asked, “Do you know who Black Impermanence is?”

“Why?”

“I watched that stream too. There’s a bounty on the foreign web now, and the amount has reached an absurd level. The posts about him are getting crazier by the day. I figured since you’re in the Southern Province, you might have some news.”

“Surely you aren’t interested in the bounty?” Yan Shiqi asked meaningfully.

“I’m just curious what kind of person he is.”

Yi Wuyi looked up at Xie Yunshen. Regarding the identity, he hoped for a hint as to whether they should tell the others. Xie Yunshen picked up a piece of red rice sausage, patted Yi Wuyi’s shoulder, and said deeply, “Old Five, trust me, this flavor is even better!”

Yi Wuyi was speechless. “…”

“I’m heading back.” Yan Shiying stood up. The beef cheese and sausages he had ordered unauthorized copyfor takeout had arrived. There was someone waiting to be fed back in his room.

Yan Shiqi suddenly spoke: “Shiying.”

Yan Shiying turned and saw Yan Shiqi stand up and walk over to him. Yan Shiqi placed a hand on his shoulder, studying him for a moment. His tone was heavy with gravity: “Whether it’s Shizhou or you, you both tend to get impulsive when you care about something. While I believe you have the ability to protect yourself, the situation on this ship is too complex. I hope that before you make any decisions or if you have any needs, you can tell me. I will always help you.”

Because of the warm palm on his shoulder and those heart-to-heart, intellectual words, it took Yan Shiying a while to respond. This man, who had lived alone for years and grown up between caution and recklessness—a man seen as a successful adult by outsiders—couldn’t help but show a natural sense of humility and rawness before his brother.

But he instinctively replied, “Brother should focus on protecting himself first.” Then he turned and walked out of the restaurant with a steady, though slightly hurried, pace.

Xie Yunshen was certain that on the way back, this tsundere brother would be replaying his brother’s words, mulling over the affirmation and care he’d been given. He’d probably even wonder if his own reply was inappropriate.

Yan Shiqi watched him disappear into the elevator before slowly returning to the table.

“Mr. Yan, is the design not to your liking?” Xie Yunshen noticed he hadn’t touched a single bite. He leaned in to look at the sausage dog.

Yan Shiqi looked at him. “It looks a lot like you.”

Xie Yunshen immediately scrutinized it. “…Does it?”

Yan Shiqi forked the dog’s tail and put it in his mouth.

“Is my tail delicious?” Xie Yunshen raised an eyebrow.

Yi Wuyi immediately began to cough violently as if he’d choked. “I beg you…” Stop talking.

Xie Yunshen expertly patted his back. “…” Old Five is really being too dramatic.

A long-awaited smile appeared on Yan Shiqi’s lips.

A sharp voice came from behind: “Isn’t this Mr. Yan? We meet again.”

Xie Yunshen and Yi Wuyi stopped immediately, looking warily at the man walking toward them. It was the foreign tycoon’s son from the beast arena. The guy’s eyes were always filled with calculated schemes, and his voice was always raised as if to make a point. “The two bodyguards are here as well.”

Yan Shiqi looked at him with a polite, minimal nod. “Mr. Choi.”

Just then, Master Bai appeared. “Mr. Yan, since we’ve bailiantales.combumped into each other, would you be interested in a round at the court?”

“The court?” Xie Yunshen felt that Yan Shiqi was interested.

“Yes, we’ve been playing there for a few days. Today we’re playing Las Vegas style—either stroke play or match play is fine. How about a team with me?”

“Master Bai, you’re betting on golf, aren’t you?”

Master Bai knew Yan Shiqi wasn’t fond of gambling. He smiled. “Nothing big. One million per stroke.”

Seeing Yan Shiqi unmoved, Master Bai shifted his gaze to Xie Yunshen. He leaned in and whispered in Xie’s ear, “I can’t stand this kid; he keeps mocking us people from Country A. Have your Master kill his arrogance.”

“?” Xie Yunshen found Master Bai a bit odd. Why tell a bodyguard all this?

The tycoon’s son waved a hand. “Master Bai, let’s go. No matter what help you find, as far as I’m concerned, people from Country A playing golf are like sparrows fighting roosters—overestimating themselves!”

Xie Yunshen interjected, “You really are as flashy as you are pretentious. A natural-born cucumber.”

“What does that mean?” The tycoon’s son narrowed his eyes cautiously.

“Ready to be picked/beaten (a pun in Chinese).”

The tycoon’s son wasn’t provoked; instead, he laughed. “Just a coward who doesn’t dare to play. Words are just tough talk!”

“Mr. Yan, look at him!” Xie Yunshen looked at Yan Shiqi in disbelief.

Yan Shiqi lowered his head and rubbed his brow. Behind him, Master Bai smiled, hiding his satisfaction: Mission accomplished.

A fancy straw poked into a glass of ice-cold orange juice. Xie Yunshen sat by the ship’s golf course and took a large gulp. He had heard this cruise was as big as a small island, but he never imagined it would have a golf course.

Being a Southern Province family, Master Bai was naturally teamed with Yan Shiqi. The portly man from the VIP room and the arrogant tycoon’s son formed the other team.

“Old Five, who is this second-generation kid?” Xie Yunshen handed a glass of chilled watermelon juice to Yi Wuyi.

Yi Wuyi took the juice. “He’s the youngest son of the great Choi conglomerate from Country B. He’s a regular on this ship, and I heard he’s extremely good at betting on golf.”

“And Mr. Yan?”

“Why do you think Master Bai invited him to the team?”

“So Mr. Yan is pretty good.” Xie Yunshen raised an eyebrow.

Yi Wuyi nodded. “When the old Master was alive, he loved taking Mr. Yan to play golf with other heads of families. He was very proud of him. Although I haven’t seen this kid’s skills, I think with his restless temper, he’s no match for Mr. Yan.”

Xie Yunshen didn’t know how to play golf or the rules. In his mind, golf was a game for middle-aged businessmen and elderly chairmen. To get the ball in, they would bend over and keep shifting their angles, which didn’t look very elegant.

But Yan Shiqi was different. He only needed to glance at the distant target, look down at the ball, and swing the club as effortlessly as signing a document. It looked so easy. Yet, he was serious about everything he did; his brow was furrowed, but his movements were fluid and decisive. This created a sense of conflicting yet harmonious beauty.

He hadn’t changed clothes, just rolled up his sleeves to reveal his pale forearms. As he walked on the soft grass, his white shirt was tucked neatly into a black belt. In motion, it subtly highlighted the curve of his waist. The proportion of his black trousers and white shirt under the sun was just right.

Every curve was beautiful—the curve of his waist and hips, the swing of his arms, or the slight frown when he looked up. Everything glowed under the sun.

Xie Yunshen slowly put down his juice. For some reason, the more he drank, the thirstier he became. Do I really have such a deep ‘Bigshot filter’ for Mr. Yan?

“Has Mr. Yan ever been in love or had a girlfriend?” he suddenly asked.

Yi Wuyi shook his head. “I can’t imagine what Mr. Yan would look like in love.”

Xie Yunshen tried to imagine a scene of Mr. Yan on a date with a girlfriend whose face was blurred out and couldn’t help but get goosebumps. No, that’s not right.