Chapter 42

At noon the next day, Yan Shiqi and the others went to the open-air restaurant to eat. Yan Shiying was there as well.

The sea breeze blew gently, and the relaxed, carefree faces of the young travelers behind them stood in stark contrast to the habitual calm and restraint on Yan Shiqi’s face.

Yan Shiqi looked at the younger brother opposite him. “Since Pi Jiu is dead, there is no need to pursue that document further. We disembark tomorrow; I want you to come back with me.”

Yan Shiying frowned. “Why stop the investigation? It likely holds a massive secret regarding the Top Star Sect.” Quitting halfway was not Shiying’s style, nor was it something Yan Shiqi would have taught him.

“Out of all those insurance companies, why did Yang Zhongxu entrust his secret to the one you started? Do you think he didn’t investigate who owned the company before making the deposit?”

Yan Shiying countered, “That makes me even more curious. This secret might concern the Yan family. Brother, aren’t you curious at all?”

This sharp and logical deduction left both Xie Yunshen and Yi Wuyi surprised. Perhaps this matter really was connected to the Yans. Conversely, Yan Shiqi’s attitude at this moment was indeed somewhat suspicious.

“Why don’t you consider that it might be a trap? It’s dangerous here,” Yan Shiqi said, looking up at him with an undisguised warning in his eyes. Whenever they appeared in public, members of the Striped Hats would appear in their vicinity from time to time.

Yan Shiying rubbed his brow. “So? We just keep avoiding it? This is exactly how you are—cautious, cold, always overthinking and over-analyzing. That’s why the Yan family is always on the defensive!”

Yan Shiqi stared at him, a trace of a self-deprecating smile crossing his lower lip [Read on BaiLianTales]before he lowered his eyes and remained silent.

Xie Yunshen looked at Yan Shiqi with concern. He felt that the Bigshot’s state today was off. Usually, if anyone dared to talk back to him like that—even his own brother—they would be sternly warned. He recalled his attitude toward Yan Shizhou. But today, Yan Shiqi was unexpectedly quiet, even displaying a subtle, unreadable gloom.

This feeling was much like the first day Xie had transmigrated: a sense of lonely silence.

Yan Shiying grew even more flustered. Why didn’t Eldest Brother teach me a lesson with his usual nuclear-deterrent attitude? Actually, Shiying just didn’t want to miss this chance; he felt this might be the only way he could help his brother and the family. He didn’t want to argue, but he always seemed to lose control in front of his brother, letting his attitude run wild and putting himself in an improper position.

In his hardened heart, a long-lost, subtle sense of guilt and apology emerged.

The temperature in the room plummeted. Seeing the relationship they had finally mended beginning to freeze over again, Xie Yunshen was speechless. He desperately wanted to shake Shiying: You tsundere! Your brother is doing this for the sake of the whole family! He had previously told Yan Shiqi to praise this brother more, but now he couldn’t blame Shiqi; with Shiying’s stubbornness and insistence on doing things his own way, who could find the words to praise him?

Both brothers were masters at changing the subject to ease the mood, yet both remained deadlocked, neither willing to break the silence.

Under this atmosphere, Yi Wuyi took the initiative to pivot. “Second Young Master, what about the boy from before?”

Yan Shiying said, “I will have him leave this place before we depart.” Calling Sand a “boy” was because most people his age were still in university, and with Sand’s semi-civilized, dependent nature, he was no different from a child. “Call him ‘Six O’Clock’ (Liu Dian). It was exactly 6:00 PM when I found him, so I gave him that name. ‘Sand’ doesn’t sound good.”

Six O’Clock? That’s actually worse than Sand… Xie Yunshen complained internally while biting his bread.

Yan Shiqi finally spoke: “How do you plan to get him off the ship?”

“Every half month, a ship from the water company comes to deliver fresh water. There’s a window of a few hours to operate.”

“When?”

Yan Shiying looked at the sea. “Tomorrow. Tomorrow is the water delivery. Coincidentally, a group of travelers is also disembarking tomorrow. The Arena’s attention will be on them. I’ll have Liu Dian leave on the water ship.”

The sky grew dark once again. Night returned, and Yan Shiqi sat alone on the sofa, his quiet gaze piercing the pitch-black ocean and landing on the distant, empty void.

Xie Yunshen stood at the bedroom door, watching Yan Shiqi’s reflection in the glass. He had been sitting like that for a long time. Yesterday at this same spot, Yan Shiqi had been in the mood to discuss philosophy.

Yi Wuyi nudged Xie Yunshen, signaling him with his eyes.

“What?”

“You should go check on Mr. Yan,” Yi Wuyi whispered.

Xie Yunshen gave him a massive question mark. Are you joking? If it’s a problem bothering the Bigshot, is me going over there going to help? Although he had read the book, his knowledge of the key plot points was fragmented at best.

Yi Wuyi reached out and shoved him inside. The shove read the original at bailiantales.com was perfectly aimed, landing him right by the sofa.

Having come this far, Xie Yunshen adopted a “death or glory” mindset. He launched a zero-frame start, grabbing Yan Shiqi’s shoulders with both hands, his eyes full of determined strength: “Mr. Yan!”

Yan Shiqi raised his dark eyes to look at him.

Damn Old Five, shoving me in here like this. At least give me time to draft a script! Xie Yunshen squeezed out after a long pause: “…Fighting!”

Yan Shiqi: “…”

Yi Wuyi outside the door: “…”

Xie Yunshen felt he was indeed quite ridiculous. He paused, then opened his arms wide. “How about… a Mama Hug?” His expression was as solemn as if he were facing certain death.

“No,” Yan Shiqi said, slowly starting to laugh. The smile spread from the corners of his mouth to his eyes. But the furrow between his brows remained deeply set.

Xie Yunshen gripped his shoulders again, their faces so close their eyes nearly touched their respective souls. Yan Shiqi looked at him in surprise. Then, Xie suddenly hugged him tightly to his chest and said, “Mr. Yan, no matter what happens, Old Five and I will always support you.”

The person in his arms was motionless. Xie Yunshen froze, let go, and saw Yan Shiqi frowning, his breath slightly hurried.

“Old Five! Come quick! Did I give Mr. Yan a heart attack from the impact?”

Yi Wuyi rushed in at the sound. Yan Shiqi had already recovered. “I’m fine.”

“Did I use too much force?” Xie Yunshen asked, rubbing Yan Shiqi’s back while doubting himself. He was sure he’d used just the right amount.

Yi Wuyi made a “straight man” comment: “Did you use the same strength you use when fighting?”

Xie Yunshen’s mouth fell open, unable to defend himself. “…Am I that stupid?”

Yan Shiqi pressed his hand down, signaling, “I’m fine.”

Guiltily, Xie Yunshen tucked his head into Yan Shiqi’s chest and rubbed against him. “Mr. Yan, I’m sorry…”

Yan Shiqi closed his eyes. “Don’t seduce me.”

“…Huh?” Xie Yunshen jolted, snapping his head up.

Yi Wuyi couldn’t help but laugh.

The next day, the travel agency’s tender arrived at the cruise ship to collect the departing guests. Before leaving, Yan Shiqi needed to retrieve the card from the safe at the deposit office.

From the moment they stepped into the office, numerous Striped Hats were moving about. Xie Yunshen saw the repressed greed and restraint in their eyes. They were dying for that 6.5 billion but were held back by the ship’s rules.

The person in charge of the deposit office was the “Mustache” man who had clashed with Yan Shiying earlier. He narrowed his eyes into slits with a forced smile. “Mr. Yan, congratulations. You are the most successful Banker our Arena has ever seen. The luck of the kid by your side is truly something.” His gaze landed on Xie Yunshen, showing unabashed resentment.

Yan Shiqi replied, “In fact, it’s a win-win. Isn’t 6.5 billion a massive advertisement for the cruise and the Arena? I believe after today, your foot traffic will be even more frenzied.”

Mustache was taken aback, then smiled knowingly. “You have a point.” He placed the gold card on the counter.

Yan Shiqi took it. “Thank you.”

Everything seemed peaceful. They walked out of the office to head toward the boarding point. Yet Xie Yunshen and Yi Wuyi didn’t dare relax—the other side had “truth” (guns).

At the gangway leading to the tender, Arena guards were patrolling everywhere, staring at everyone for fear that Sand would take the chance to escape. Here, Yan Shiqi saw Yan Shiying. He was carrying a briefcase.

“I’m going back with you,” Shiying said to Yan Shiqi.

“And Sand… I mean, Liu Dian?”

“I already sent him onto the water company’s ship. That ship left half an hour ago. For a stranger, I’ve done more than enough. ​stolen content​The rest is up to him.” Yan Shiying looked out at the ocean toward the blurred shape of the departing ship.

Yan Shiqi didn’t look at him or speak; he simply pressed his hand on Shiying’s shoulder.

Xie Yunshen thought: This development is way too different from the original book. In the original, Sand stayed with the Male Lead for two years before being recognized by the Qin family. Now, out on his own, could he still become that Young Master of the Northern Region?

“XIE! YUN! SHEN!” A terrifying roar suddenly echoed across the sky.

The roar startled everyone. Xie Yunshen turned and frowned in disgust. It was the tycoon’s son. He was sitting in a motorized auxiliary wheelchair, with several bandages wrapped around him. He’d only been in the hospital for a few days—how was he out so soon?

Then again, although they treated him like a ball, he and Old Five hadn’t actually kicked his head; they’d targeted his buttocks and shoulders. Standing behind him were several bodyguards in black, each holding a… “Truth.”

The tycoon pointed at Xie Yunshen and Yi Wuyi, his voice sharp and trembling with savage fury. “Kill those two! One head is worth a hundred million! A hand or a leg is twenty million! An eyeball is fifty million! Don’t touch their torsos; I want to save them for desecrating their corpses!”

He had clearly gone insane.

“Second Young Master, take Mr. Yan and disembark first,” Xie Yunshen said.

No one responded. He looked back to find Shiying had already led Yan Shiqi into the departing crowd and was quite far away.

Xie Yunshen: “…”

Yan Shiqi occasionally looked back at them, and Shiying threw a briefcase toward them from a distance. Yi Wuyi caught the briefcase and opened it. Inside were two “Truths” (handguns).