"The guy who went upstairs earlier clearly isn’t simple. He barely said a word the whole time, yet no one dared to talk back to him."
"The one who got beaten black and blue even had to bow his head and apologize to the guy who hit him. What a loser."
A few players who had been hiding farther away cautiously emerged from the corners after everyone else had left. Though they hadn’t seen how the fight started, they clearly witnessed someone getting beaten up one-sidedly and then forced to apologize.
"I can’t stand pretty boys who throw their weight around," grumbled a brawny player, his muscles bulging. Assigned the role of a sailor in this game scenario, he found it hard to get close to the wealthy passengers upstairs.
"Could the ‘revenge’ the system mentioned be about that beaten guy getting back at the pretty boy?"
A scrawny player’s eyes darted around as he whispered to the muscular one, "Think about it—the main quest didn’t refresh until they started fighting. That can’t just be a coincidence."
"That pretty boy has power and connections, even ties to the ship’s second-in-command. No wonder the victim wants to sink the whole damn ship," the scrawny player fawned, buttering up the brawny one. "But with you here, Brother Wu, that pretty boy’s gonna learn some manners sooner or later."
"Damn right!" Brother Wu flexed his biceps proudly, showing off to the other players.
The others eyed the scrawny player skeptically. This guy didn’t seem trustworthy, egging on the muscle-bound fool to charge ahead and get himself killed.
Still, his analysis made sense—the main quest had refreshed right around the time of the fight.
If they were the ones who’d been beaten, wanting revenge wouldn’t be strange.
But was the hatred really so deep that they’d drag the entire ship down with them?
---
"Mr. Shen, your leg bone is severely displaced. We need to reset it as soon as possible."
The medic’s voice was gentle, almost soothing. "Don’t be afraid. We’ll administer local anesthesia—it won’t be too painful."
Even the most hardened hearts would soften at the sight of the horrific bruises covering the young man’s body.
Those rich brats really treated people like dirt!
"It’s fine." Shen Ran stared at his twisted left leg, his tone steady. "I’m not afraid of pain."
The nurse disinfecting his wounds flinched slightly at his words. In her thirties, her eyes were warm and kind. "No young man is truly unafraid of pain. The medical equipment on this ship is top-tier—we’ll make sure you’re as comfortable as possible."
Thankfully, the sea was calm today, making the procedure much easier.
"Judging by the swelling, the injury occurred at least two days ago," the doctor remarked coldly, eyeing the swollen, bruised mess of Shen Ran’s leg. He was the resident physician aboard the Moonchaser, and scenes like this were nothing new.
This wasn’t the first case, and it wouldn’t be the last.
"Mr. Shen has no companions. He was sent here by a guest from the 15th floor," an assistant whispered. "The guest arranged for caretakers."
A 15th-floor guest?
The doctor nodded. "Understood."
Local anesthesia didn’t knock him out. Shen Ran remained fully conscious, watching as his leg was manipulated like a broken stick. He had no control over it.
For the first time, fear gripped him. If his leg was ruined, would this be what it felt like?
"Mr. Shen, don’t be afraid." The nurse noticed his racing heartbeat on the monitor and gently covered his eyes with a blindfold. "It’ll be over soon."
The darkness hid his sight but not his imagination.
---
"Doctor," Shen Ran rasped when the blindfold was removed, his leg now wrapped in thick bandages. "Once it heals… will I still be able to dance?"
The question gave both doctor and nurse pause. They exchanged glances. "You’re a dancer?"
"I’m the lead classical dancer in my troupe." Shen Ran’s fingers clenched the bedsheet, his face pale. "Will I… still be able to perform?"
"Of course." The doctor removed his mask. "I’m a professional orthopedic surgeon. Trust my skills."
"That’s not what I meant—" Shen Ran hurried to explain. "Thank you, Doctor."
As long as he could still dance, everything would be okay.
"For the next month, rest well and avoid reinjury," the doctor said, pausing at the door. He glanced back. "If you run into trouble you can’t handle… try seeking help from the ship’s chief officer. This is his first assignment aboard the Moonchaser. Rumor has it he’s upright, straightforward, and well-liked in the company."
An upright man wouldn’t tolerate injustice.
A well-liked man had the influence to stand against it.
Only someone who refused to play by the Moonchaser’s rules could be this young man’s lifeline.
The medical staff understood the implication but kept their heads down, pretending not to hear.
"Wheel the patient out."
They moved in perfect sync, erasing the conversation as if it had never happened.
---
"Mr. Shen, hello." A middle-aged man and woman waited outside. The man introduced himself as Shen Ran was wheeled out. "We’ve been assigned by Mr. Chao to care for you."
The woman asked the doctor about post-treatment instructions.
"Mr. Shen’s leg bone was displaced. He needs ample rest," the doctor said carefully. "If possible, keep him bedridden. Use a wheelchair for mobility, and avoid further injury."
"Understood." The woman smiled politely. "We’ll follow your instructions precisely."
Shen Ran suddenly looked down at himself. "My coat—where’s the coat that was draped over me?!"
"Here, Mr. Shen." A nurse handed him the garment.
"Thank you." Clutching the coat to his chest, he let the pair push him into the elevator.
He stared blankly at the floor, indifferent to where they were taking him.
---
The elevator stopped at the 6th floor. Shen Ran belatedly noticed the sudden increase in crew members in sailor uniforms.
"He’s here?" A tall, imposing man—Chief Officer Chao—stood by a doorway and called inside, "Musheng, they’ve brought him down."
Shen Ran stared at the unfamiliar man, unsure why he was waiting there.
Then a head peeked out from behind the door.
A faint smile finally touched Shen Ran’s pale lips.
It was Mr. Chao.
"This is my uncle, you can call him Chief Officer Chao." Chao Musheng took the half-peeled orange from Chief Officer Chao's hand and shared it with Shen Ran: "Your room is arranged next to his. The adjacent rooms are all occupied by the ship's crew."
"Thank you, Mr. Chao." Shen Ran clutched the orange tightly in his hand, its faint citrus scent drifting into his nose—sweet and warm, so sweet it made him want to cry. "Hello, Uncle Chao."
Ever since Song Cheng had started harassing him, he had never felt as safe as he did in this moment. No need to worry about being humiliated by Song Cheng, no mocking laughter from Song Cheng's friends, none of those icy, scornful stares.
Chao Musheng: "Quick, try the orange! How does it taste?"
Shen Ran obediently placed a segment into his mouth. In an instant, an overwhelming sourness shot straight to his brain, eroding all his emotions and twisting his delicate features into a pained expression.
"Seems like it's really sour." Chao Musheng handed the orange back to Chief Officer Chao, who promptly smacked him on the hand. "You little rascal, making others taste-test your sour oranges again!"
"Ouch!" Chao Musheng ducked behind Shen Ran's wheelchair, pushing him into the nearby room. "Uncle, I was just joking around with Shen Ran! Don’t hit me!"
Still reeling from the sour orange, Shen Ran now experienced the thrill of a wheelchair drift. He felt less like a person and more like a human shield for Chao Musheng to evade his uncle's wrath.
"Stop running! Don’t let Shen Ran fall!" Chief Officer Chao watched as Chao Musheng spun the wheelchair in circles and finally gave up the chase. "Always causing trouble!"
"Two hours ago, you were praising me as the role model for all the kids in the village. How quickly you’ve changed your tune!" Chao Musheng clicked his tongue. "A man’s face is truly fickle."
Chief Officer Chao: "Do you want me to tattle to your grandparents?"
"Uncle, I was just joking!" Chao Musheng flashed an ingratiating smile before turning to Shen Ran. "Right, Brother Shen?"
Shen Ran’s head was still spinning, but hearing Chao Musheng’s question, he nodded along reflexively.
Only after nodding did he realize—Chao Musheng had called him "Brother Shen."
He stared blankly at Chao Musheng, his voice slightly choked. "Yeah, I’m fine."
"Then rest early tonight. I’ll come find you tomorrow." Chao Musheng pulled a violet-gold badge from his pocket and waved it in front of Shen Ran. "I’ll take you on a tour of the entire Moonchaser."
"Wait!" Chief Officer Chao grabbed Chao Musheng’s wrist, staring at the badge. "Where did you get this?"
Did he even know what this badge represented, to just casually pull it out like that?
"My boss gave it to me." Chao Musheng looked puzzled. "He had a whole box of them and told me to take one for fun. I’m not that shameless, so I only took this one. Is there something wrong with it?"
Brother Liu had one too, though his was gold instead of violet.
"Your boss is Mr. Su?" Chief Officer Chao released Chao Musheng’s hand. "The violet-gold badge represents the highest-tier guest status on the Moonchaser. With it, you could even order the captain around."
"In other words, you’re now the man who holds the fate of every crew member on this ship." Chief Officer Chao’s gaze held a hint of envy as he studied the badge. "Musheng, when you get back, work hard for Mr. Su. Otherwise, even if you’re clinging to his coattails, you won’t feel secure, right?"
"Huh?" Chao Musheng turned the badge over in his hands several times. This thing was that powerful?
"When Mr. Su gave it to me, he just said it would let me have free rein on the Moonchaser." Carefully, he tucked the badge back into his pocket, patting it twice for good measure.
"But for someone like Mr. Su, the Moonchaser’s violet-gold badge probably isn’t anything special." Chief Officer Chao ruffled Chao Musheng’s hair. "I’ve been sailing for twenty or thirty years, and I don’t understand the intricacies between high-profile figures. But when you were in trouble, Mr. Su personally stepped in to back you up. That means he values you."
"Of course! I’m Kunlun Group’s technical consultant." Chao Musheng’s eyes sparkled. "Uncle, does that make me your connection now?"
"What do you mean?" Chief Officer Chao didn’t follow.
"A chief officer is impressive, but there’s still the captain above you." Chao Musheng patted his badge-filled pocket. "But now it’s different—you’ve got me, your golden nephew! From now on, you’re on equal footing with the captain!"
"Stop spouting nonsense. Take your badge and go play somewhere else." Chief Officer Chao grabbed Chao Musheng by the collar and dragged him out. "Go on, don’t disturb the injured patient."
Even with a violet-gold badge, his nephew was still someone he could lift with one hand.
"Brother Shen, I’ll come find you tomorrow!" Chao Musheng called out just before the door closed, already making plans for their next meeting.
"Okay." Shen Ran touched the corners of his lips, realizing he had been smiling just now.
Chief Officer.
So Chao Musheng’s uncle was the Moonchaser’s chief officer—the person the doctor had hinted could help him.
The two attendants assigned to him were tidying up his room. Shen Ran wheeled himself to the window, gazing out at the dark expanse of the sea, gripping the jacket draped over his knees tightly.
"Mr. Su." Chao Musheng returned to his room to find Su Chenzhu sitting on the sofa in a robe, reading a book. His hair was still slightly damp, softening his usual air of aristocratic sharpness.
"Back already?" Su Chenzhu closed the book and poured him a glass of warm milk. "How is Mr. Shen’s condition?"
"Physically, it’s not too serious. The bigger issue is psychological—the therapist said he has self-destructive tendencies." Chao Musheng accepted the milk with a grateful smile. "I didn’t think placing him above the 12th floor was appropriate, so I arranged for him to stay on the 6th floor."
The 6th floor was just below the bridge, mostly housing crew and staff. While not as luxurious as the suites above the 10th floor, it kept him far from those wealthy heirs.
"Good." Su Chenzhu waited for Chao Musheng to finish the milk before taking the empty glass and washing it at the sink.
His back turned, the sound of running water muffled his words slightly. "You and the Song family don’t get along?"
"From birth till now, I’ve never even stepped foot inside the Song family’s gates. We don’t have a relationship to speak of." Chao Musheng walked over to Su Chenzhu’s side. "Mr. Su, let me do that."
"It’s just a glass." Su Chenzhu placed the clean glass on the rack. "The Song family hasn’t treated you well."
"People’s hearts are naturally biased." Chao Musheng had never considered the Songs as family, so their indifference didn’t upset him. "I’ve never lacked love from elders. Whether the Songs are good or not doesn’t matter to me."
Who wasn’t their grandparents’ darling, after all?
Back in Chao Family Bay, he was his grandparents’ precious treasure too.
As if on cue, his grandparents’ video call came through.
"Grandma, Grandpa." Chao Musheng quickly answered, waving cheerfully at the screen. "Good evening!"
"Musheng, did you get seasick today?" Grandma fussed. "Before boarding, I told your parents to prepare motion sickness medicine for you. Did they remember?"
"I'm fine, no seasickness. They packed some, but I didn’t need it." Chao Musheng glanced at Su Chenzhu beside him and shifted his phone slightly. "Grandma, Grandpa, this is Mr. Su, my boss. Remember the mineral water sponsored for our village’s cultural event last time? That was from his company."
Su Chenzhu stiffened as his face appeared on the video call, his pupils flickering nervously. "Hello, Grandma, Grandpa."
Chao Musheng whipped his head around in shock—Boss, what kind of greeting is that?!
"Oh, hello, Mr. Su! You’re so young to already be such a big boss!" Grandma beamed, her eyes crinkling. "So handsome and capable. Musheng, you should learn more from him."
Musheng peeked at Su Chenzhu, whose ears had turned red from the praise, and cleared his throat. "Grandma, Grandpa, let me show you my room—it’s super luxurious."
He panned the phone around the suite, and when he returned, Su Chenzhu was still standing by the sink.
"How lovely! I never knew ship cabins could be this spacious."
"If you’d like, I can arrange a trip for you both," Su Chenzhu offered, picking up a towel to dry his already-air-dried hands. "You can stay in this very room."
"Oh no, we couldn’t trouble you like that! Grandpa and I get seasick easily. Just have Musheng send us photos from the ship," Grandma chuckled. "Mr. Su, do you like peaches? After you disembark, I’ll send Musheng a few crates to share with you."
"I do." Su Chenzhu twisted the towel into a tight rope. "Thank you, Grandma."
"Don’t mention it! Our Chaojiawan peaches are the sweetest. I’ll send extra if you enjoy them. But remember, fruit isn’t a meal—balance your diet for good health!"
Grandma launched into a lengthy health lecture, and Su Chenzhu nodded along patiently. By the end, she’d dropped the formal "Mr. Su" and was affectionately calling him "Little Su."
After hanging up, Musheng scratched his head sheepishly. "Mr. Su, my grandma can be a bit overwhelming…"
"Not at all. She and Grandpa are wonderful," Su Chenzhu murmured, untangling the towel with downcast eyes. "I never had elders who doted on me. This is the first time I’ve felt… cared for like that."
"Oh." Musheng suddenly found the sight of Su Chenzhu fidgeting with the towel oddly heartbreaking.
He stole a few glances. "Mr. Su, I’ll head back to my room to freshen up."
"Alright." Su Chenzhu tossed the towel into the bin. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight."
The luxury cruise ship glided silently across the dark sea as the moon rose, painting the balcony in silver light.
In the darkness, Musheng thought he heard something weeping—each sob laced with despair.
He jolted awake, moonlight now spilling into the room. Pushing off the covers, he stepped onto the balcony. The night breeze chilled his skin, scattering the remnants of sleep.
The ship moved leisurely, the rhythmic waves against the hull clear from the balcony. Musheng leaned back in his chair, staring at the enormous, radiant moon. The view from the deck must be even better.
"Brother Wu, the 15th floor is insane—even the handrails are gold-plated!" A younger crew member eyed the eerie oil paintings lining the walls, too unsettled to look closely.
Brother Wu adjusted his white uniform. "That’s why so many staff fight for assignments here."
"Brother Wu… something’s off." The younger man shuddered. "How long have we been walking this hallway?"
Brother Wu halted, staring down the endless corridor.
The 15th floor cabins aren’t this densely packed.
Damn it. They’d stumbled into the dungeon’s folded space.
No wonder the supervisor had so easily accepted bribes to transfer them here—the 15th floor was far deadlier than lower decks.
"Brother Wu, our tools aren’t working. We’re trapped."
Brother Wu masked his panic. "Stay calm. Follow me."
The younger man clung to his sleeve, too terrified to speak.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Their footsteps echoed hollowly, as if they were the last living souls in the world.
Musheng opened his door to find two crewmen circling the hallway like lost ducks, the trailing one gripping the other’s uniform with solemn intensity.
"Are you two…" Musheng blinked as they completed their eighth lap. "Playing a two-person game of tag?"
The words shattered the corridor’s eerie silence. Brother Wu and his companion turned, the sudden glow above Musheng’s head not a mere light but a halo of salvation.
The hallway snapped back to normal, the icy floor replaced by plush carpet.
We’re out?!
The younger man nearly dropped to his knees.
"Good evening, sir. We’re newly transferred staff assigned to patrol," Brother Wu said carefully, noting Musheng’s lack of player/NPC markers. "How may we assist you?"
If we hadn’t met a guest tonight, would we have been stuck there forever?
"Just heading to the deck to see the moon." Musheng eyed their dazed expressions. "There’s a staff lounge at the end of the hall. Wait there—guests will ring for service if needed."
Brother Wu’s jaw tightened. The supervisor played us.
He’d never mentioned this protocol during briefing.
"Little Qi, wait in the lounge. Alert me if any guests need help." Brother Wu wasn’t about to let their savior wander alone. "Sir, the deck isn’t safe at night. Let me accompany you."
When Musheng didn’t refuse, Brother Wu followed him outside. The moon hung massive and luminous overhead.
Musheng snapped a few photos before handing his phone to Brother Wu. "Take one of me, please."
Brother Wu accepted it reverently, capturing the scene with painstaking care.
The man was photogenic—so much so that even the moon seemed brighter in his presence.
"Thanks." Musheng grinned, reclaiming his phone. "Your turn. Let me take yours."
Brother Wu froze for a moment, then handed his phone over to the young man under his amused gaze, stiffly flashing a peace sign at the camera.
After taking the photo, the young man didn’t linger on the deck for long. Accompanied by Brother Wu, he returned to his room on the 15th floor.
Only a native could stay in the premium suites on the 15th floor—never a player.
Had he and Little Qi really encountered a kind native without any markings?
In the morning, as breakfast was served, Secretary Liu had just picked up his chopsticks when the boss arranged all the most visually appealing dishes right in front of Chao Musheng.
Secretary Liu was baffled. What was the meaning of this?
"Take a picture," Su Chenzhu said, adjusting the last plate and straightening the slightly crooked placemat. "Make sure to send it to Grandma and Grandpa afterward."
Secretary Liu: Huh?
Since when did the boss have grandparents? How did he not know about this?
