"You seem quite close with those waitstaff," Secretary Liu remarked as they left the meeting room, having noticed Chao Musheng handing water to the servers.
On the Moonlight cruise ship, waitstaff were hardly considered living beings in the eyes of the privileged—merely furniture serving their needs. Who would care if a chair or table grew tired?
Fortunately, Xiao Chao wasn’t that kind of person. No wonder Secretary Liu had found him particularly likable at first glance.
With that, he handed Chao Musheng a folder. "Here, the biographical information on He Yi you wanted."
"Thanks, Liu-ge. You really are the most capable man in the secretarial world." Chao Musheng accepted the documents. He had only asked Secretary Liu for the materials that morning, and now they were already prepared—proof of unparalleled professionalism.
"Don’t mention it. Just a small favor." Secretary Liu’s expression turned regretful. "The documents arrived two hours ago, but I didn’t want to disrupt your focus during the meeting."
As Chao Musheng flipped through the file, he understood why Secretary Liu had hesitated.
Anyone would feel sorrow seeing the life of a bright young girl cut short in her prime.
The records listed He Yi’s numerous academic awards, a testament to her excellence.
Her parents divorced when she was six, and she was raised solely by her mother. Barely two weeks after He Yi’s fatal fall, her mother died in a car accident.
During her second year of high school, Song Cheng had pursued her, but she was devoted to her studies and rejected his advances.
The documents didn’t mention whether Song Cheng had continued harassing her after the rejection, but he left the country three days after her death.
"Don’t read it now. Eat first." Su Chenzhu closed the folder in Chao Musheng’s hands, his tone uncharacteristically firm.
Snapping out of his thoughts, Chao Musheng followed Su Chenzhu to their table in the dining room.
Through the window, the azure sea stretched endlessly. Resting his chin on one hand, Chao Musheng sighed.
"Orange sherbet. Try it." Su Chenzhu took the ice cream from the waiter and placed it before Chao Musheng.
Perhaps because children were the primary consumers of ice cream, the bowl came with a cute figurine, and the spoon handle was shaped like a mischievous-looking dog.
Secretary Liu glanced at the dessert, then at his boss’s unusually gentle expression, struck by a sense of déjà vu.
Ah, yes—this was how he coaxed his nephew when the boy was upset.
"It’s the little rascal dog." Chao Musheng noticed the cheeky canine on the spoon, a reference to a decades-old cartoon he used to watch alone at home as a child.
Even now, if he passed an electronics store playing the film, he’d stop to watch a few scenes.
Few children today knew of the cartoon, so he was surprised to find its merchandise on the ship.
"What little rascal dog?" Secretary Liu, seeing Chao Musheng’s mood lift, leaned in to examine the spoon but found nothing remarkable.
"It’s from an old cartoon. Watching it made me really want a dog back then." Chao Musheng took a bite of ice cream, his eyes brightening.
"Did you ever get one?" Secretary Liu pressed curiously. Su Chenzhu watched him too.
"No." Chao Musheng shook his head. "I was too young, busy with school. I couldn’t have taken full responsibility for a pet."
"Fair enough. Studying was exhausting—eyes open, books in hand. No time for a puppy." Secretary Liu nodded sagely.
"Or maybe I just didn’t want it enough to make it work." Chao Musheng traced the spoon handle. "If you truly love something, you’ll always find time for it."
"Xiao Chao." Secretary Liu smiled knowingly. "When you do find a partner, you’ll be an incredibly responsible man."
"Huh?" Chao Musheng couldn’t fathom how the topic had veered so far.
"People like you don’t make decisions lightly. Once you commit, you give it your all." Secretary Liu raised his glass in a toast. "Your lover would feel very secure and happy."
"Liu-ge, don’t turn everything into a romance novel." Chao Musheng clinked his glass against Secretary Liu’s. "Romanticizing things isn’t good for career growth."
"I’m complimenting you." Secretary Liu sighed. "You’re still too young to understand how rare true love is."
Intrigued by his solemn tone, Chao Musheng asked, "Liu-ge, do you have some heart-wrenching love story?"
Faced with his expectant gaze, Secretary Liu quietly set down his glass. "No."
Love was a rarity—not something everyone experienced.
If Zhao Kuo could theorize about war without experience, why couldn’t he philosophize about love?
They exchanged a glance, then mutually decided to drop the subject.
A hand offered Chao Musheng a napkin, which he took reflexively. "Thank you, Mr. Su."
The gesture was effortless, the acceptance natural.
"Tsk." Xiaojuan, watching from a corner, scratched her head, feeling an odd itch—as if something new was sprouting in her mind.
"Juan-jie, even if your hair’s thick, don’t mess with it like that." Xiao Liu followed her gaze. "Relax, you’re still Chao-ge’s number one sidekick. Brother Hu can’t compete."
"He’s nowhere close." Xiaojuan crossed her arms. "Back when I rode the bus home with Chao-ge every day, that little gecko was still who-knows-where."
"Chao-ge rides the bus?" Xiao Liu blinked. "He doesn’t have a car?"
Xiaojuan froze, recalling Chao Musheng’s luxurious penthouse and Aunt Chao’s high-end vehicles. It dawned on her that someone like him didn’t need to take public transport like her or Ze.
Had he been accompanying them on purpose?
With his sharp mind, he must have noticed her and Ze’s initial attempts to curry favor.
"Juan-jie, what’s wrong?" Xiao Liu nudged her elbow. "Spacing out?"
"Nothing." Xiaojuan met his gaze firmly. "No matter what, I have to stop what’s coming."
"Yeah." Xiao Liu nodded. If this world was real, the Moonlight carried thousands of passengers and crew—living people whose lives couldn’t be ignored.
"How could one person sink a massive cruise ship with so many staff aboard?" Xiao Liu frowned. "This isn’t some rickety fishing boat. It doesn’t just capsize."
"Because we’ve been thinking about it wrong from the start." Brother Hu emerged from the shadows, flashing Xiaojuan an ingratiating grin.
"Let's step outside to talk." Seeing that Xiaojuan wasn't keen on engaging with Brother Hu, Xiao Liu pulled the two of them to a quiet, secluded spot on the 15th floor. "What kind of mental trap have we fallen into?"
Xiaojuan: "The desire for revenge might belong to multiple people."
Brother Hu: "The system never said there’s only one person seeking revenge."
They spoke almost simultaneously.
"Sister Juan, great minds really do think alike." Brother Hu glanced at Xiaojuan a few more times. "There’s a huge problem on the Moonlight—the extreme inequality between passengers and crew. In just these past few days, I’ve already witnessed multiple instances of passengers humiliating the crew."
Xiao Liu didn’t feel this as deeply as Brother Hu. After the first two days, neither she nor Xiaojuan had encountered any further harassment from passengers. Not only were their assigned tasks light, but the other passengers had also treated them kindly.
"The big shots on the 15th floor are all smart people. Even if Brother Chao just showed a little extra kindness to Sister Juan, they wouldn’t dare cause trouble for you." Brother Hu’s tone was complicated. "This morning, I saw a passenger demand a server hold out their hand to catch his cigarette ashes. He dropped the still-burning stub right into their palm. The server’s skin blistered, but they didn’t dare even frown."
Xiao Liu: "Does the Captain not intervene?"
"The Moonlight’s reputation as the world’s most luxurious cruise ship was built by the Captain himself. Why would he interfere?" Brother Hu sighed. "This place is just one giant hierarchy—a vanity fair where high-ranking passengers look down on those below, passengers bully the staff, and the staff exist solely to cater to the passengers’ whims."
Could it be that none of the oppressed crew members harbored resentment?
"Thankfully, this is just a simulation. Otherwise, who could endure this kind of life indefinitely?" Brother Hu shook his head. "And there’s a hidden plotline in this scenario."
"What plotline?"
Seeing Xiaojuan finally willing to engage with him, Brother Hu perked up. "An insider among the NPCs told me that the Moonlight’s current first mate is newly assigned. The cruise company seems to be grooming him to replace the Captain. The crew apparently really want him to take over soon."
"Why would they prefer a newcomer over the Captain they’ve worked with for years?"
"Because the first mate doesn’t tolerate passengers abusing the staff. He’s even argued with the Captain over it—a lot of the crew know about this."
"If I were part of the Moonlight’s crew, I’d want the first mate to become Captain too." Brother Hu reached for his pocket, then remembered that as a server in this simulation, he couldn’t smoke. He suppressed the craving. "Too bad they don’t know the Moonlight is doomed to never reach port. They’ll all end up as ghosts beneath the waves."
This simulation felt too real—so real that sometimes he forgot it was just a fabricated scenario.
What a shame.
If he had a choice, he wouldn’t want the Moonlight to sink. He’d grown fond of Brother Chao, and even the coworkers who gossiped with him in private.
"Do you know where the first mate is?" Xiaojuan frowned. Perhaps the first mate was the key to preventing the Moonlight’s destruction.
"No idea. All I know is that after clashing with the Captain, he’s been buried under extra duties." Brother Hu found Xiaojuan’s attitude odd—she didn’t seem like she wanted the ship to sink. "Why are you looking for him?"
Xiaojuan replied dismissively: "For world peace."
"Huh?" Brother Hu turned to Xiao Liu.
"For love and..." Xiao Liu hesitated before adding, "Justice?"
Wasn’t that what protagonists in those old shounen anime used to say?
She’d been trapped in this infinite world for so long, she could barely remember the cartoons she’d watched religiously as a child.
"What kind of nonsense is that?" Brother Hu looked utterly lost, feeling distinctly brushed off.
"Thanks for the intel." Xiaojuan shoved a biscuit into Brother Hu’s hand.
"Just one biscuit?" Brother Hu was appalled. The legendary "Queen of Grinding" was this stingy?
"It’s from Brother Chao." Xiaojuan held out her hand. "Give it back if you don’t want it."
"Didn’t say I didn’t want it. Looks delicious." Brother Hu tossed the biscuit into his mouth.
[Ding! HP +1]
This wasn’t a biscuit—it was a lifesaving potion!
Brother Hu didn’t ask why Xiaojuan had Chao Musheng’s biscuits, and Xiaojuan didn’t question how he’d gathered so much useful intel.
Players cooperating while keeping each other at arm’s length—that was just how things worked.
"Mr. Shen, I truly apologize." The Director looked at Shen Ran in his wheelchair, face full of regret. "Regarding the dance role in the film... we’ve already found someone else. Hopefully, we can collaborate next time."
Faced with the Director’s personal visit to apologize, Shen Ran forced a smile. "It’s fine. I understand."
"You..." The Director glanced at the bandages on Shen Ran’s feet, hesitating before offering advice. "If there’s any misunderstanding between you and the Song family, you should clear it up as soon as possible."
If the Song Group’s chairman hadn’t personally called to blacklist Shen Ran, he wouldn’t have given up such a perfect candidate.
"I see. Thank you." Shen Ran didn’t seem surprised. His tone remained calm. "I wish your film great success."
"Ah..." The Director couldn’t bear to face him any longer. After setting down a gift basket, he hurried out.
"I’d like to take a walk." Shen Ran said to the nurse. "Just some fresh air on the deck. You don’t need to accompany me."
"Mr. Shen..." The female nurse wanted to console him, but the male nurse tugged her sleeve, silencing her.
Once Shen Ran left, the female nurse asked, "Mr. Chao told us to take good care of him. How can we let him go alone?"
"Right now, he probably wants to be by himself." The male nurse shook his head. "But we should still inform Mr. Chao."
"Honestly, the Song family has no conscience." The female nurse muttered under her breath. "They’ll get what’s coming to them."
No wonder they were losing their minds, claiming ghosts were haunting them. People who’d done so much evil deserved to be scared out of their wits.
Not far from his room, Shen Ran received a call from the dance troupe leader.
[Xiao Shen, there’s nothing we can do. You... should try contacting other troupes willing to take you in.]
The line went dead. Shen Ran stared at his phone screen before letting out a bitter laugh.
In that moment, all his years of endurance and silent suffering became a joke.
The sound of shoes brushing against carpet came from behind. He turned to see the newcomer. "Captain?"
"When the powerful want to crush an ordinary person, a single word is enough." The Captain removed his gloves, shadows from the overhead light deepening the severity of his expression. "You don’t seem ready to accept this?"
Shen Ran’s lips twitched, but he remained silent.
The Captain took a step forward, about to speak, when he suddenly looked toward the end of the corridor.
"Brother Shen."
Chao Musheng emerged from the end of the corridor in a tailored suit, the diamond tie clip on his necktie gleaming brilliantly—yet even its sparkle paled in comparison to the radiance of his smile.
"Good afternoon, Captain." Chao Musheng walked up to Shen Ran, waved at the Captain, and without waiting for a response, began pushing Shen Ran outward. "I just found a great spot for tea and conversation. You’re coming with me!"
By the time he finished speaking, he was already propelling Shen Ran into a run.
The wind from their sprint tousled Shen Ran’s hair, the strands flying wildly across his face.
"Chao-ge, slow down," Shen Ran pleaded, gripping the wheelchair’s armrest with one hand while using the other to brush away the unruly locks. He nearly felt like he was about to take flight.
"Relax, I’ve got this. You won’t fall."
Chao Musheng pushed Shen Ran ahead at full speed, while four bodyguards chased after them. Soon, their figures vanished down the hallway.
The Captain adjusted the brim of his hat, glanced at the now-empty corridor, and turned toward the cockpit.
"So, what do you think? Great view, right?"
The sea breeze brushed against Shen Ran’s face as he absently cradled his glass of chilled watermelon juice, his gaze drifting toward Chao Musheng on the other side of the table.
Beneath the shade of the parasol, Chao Musheng lounged carelessly on a beach chair, his formal attire doing nothing to suppress the untamed, free-spirited aura around him.
"Want to feed the seagulls?" Chao Musheng broke off a piece of bread from the table and placed the crumbs into Shen Ran’s palm. "Wait for it."
He lightly tapped a silver spoon against a dessert plate twice, and miraculously, a seagull circling nearby flapped its wings and landed right on Shen Ran’s knee.
It hopped a few times before pecking at the bread in Shen Ran’s hand.
The soft feathers brushing against his wrist sent an inexplicable tickle straight to Shen Ran’s heart.
The seagull didn’t seem afraid of him at all. After finishing the bread, it hopped to the ground and lingered beneath the table, weaving between the chairs without flying away.
"Was one piece of bread enough?" Shen Ran hesitated, unsure if he should offer more.
"No need. It’s already full—just treating this as a temporary resting spot." Chao Musheng shrugged off his suit jacket, revealing a perfectly fitted dress shirt underneath. As he picked up another piece of bread, a new seagull swooped down.
Watching this scene, Shen Ran finally understood why some romance novels described certain characters as "the boy in the white shirt"—a symbol of pure, effortless beauty.
"You must have a lot of admirers," Shen Ran murmured, noticing how the seagull nuzzled its head against Chao Musheng’s palm. Strangely, the turmoil in his heart gradually settled.
He didn’t understand it himself.
"Of course! From eighty-year-old grandparents to infants who can’t even speak yet—everyone loves me." Chao Musheng grinned, utterly unapologetic. "What can I say? I’m just that outstanding. Hard to stay humble."
Shen Ran let out a quiet laugh.
How bizarre. Despite everything that had happened, he could still find it in himself to smile.
"Whoever falls for you in the future will have plenty of little worries," Shen Ran mused, the corner of his lips lifting. Huh. So he still had the energy to joke around.
"Why?" Chao Musheng tilted his head in confusion, and the seagull resting in his palm mimicked the motion, turning to stare at Shen Ran.
Shen Ran reached out, cautiously stroking the seagull’s head. Surprisingly, the notorious "sea bandit" didn’t shy away.
"Because you’re loved by so many. Their affection might just drown in the crowd, unnoticed by you." Shen Ran met Chao Musheng’s gaze. "I bet people confess to you all the time?"
At this age, meeting someone so extraordinary—it was hard not to be moved.
"Not really," Chao Musheng mused. Whether friends or classmates, he got along with everyone, but very few had actually confessed to him.
Most seemed to prefer staying friends.
"Maybe because liking someone as incredible as you requires a lot of courage and confidence."
Something—or someone—too perfect drew endless admiration, but few dared to claim them.
Maybe, in the moment of approaching, they’d ask themselves over and over:
Am I good enough?
Could I ever keep them?
Shen Ran averted his eyes, afraid that if he stared too long, he’d start entertaining impossible fantasies.
The greatest pain in life was yearning for what was never meant to be yours.
"Ah, Shen-ge, so you were just praising me in a roundabout way." Chao Musheng lifted his hand, letting the seagull take off. "Next time, just say it outright. My skin’s thick—I can take it."
Shen Ran took a sip of his juice, smiling silently.
"Listening to you flatter me almost made me forget something important." Chao Musheng straightened. "A friend of mine owns an entertainment company. They’re collaborating with the National Dance Troupe on a performance soon, but they haven’t found the right dancer yet. He asked me to check—would you be willing to switch companies? If so, he’s prepared to cover your breach fees."
Shen Ran stared into Chao Musheng’s star-like eyes, his heart soaking in a bittersweet concoction of sugar and vinegar.
"Chao Musheng… thank you."
It was impossible not to be drawn to someone so radiant.
"If you agree, I should be thanking you. You’d be doing me a favor with my friend." Chao Musheng beamed. "I’ve seen your performance videos online. If you sign with his company, he’s the one getting the steal."
"To make sure you don’t change your mind, I’ll have him bring the contract right now!" Chao Musheng tapped rapidly on his phone, then glanced up when Shen Ran didn’t object. "I’m really calling him, okay? With me here, I’ll make sure you get a killer signing bonus."
"Caw! Caw!"
The seagulls overhead cried out, their voices far from melodious.
Shen Ran tilted his head back, gazing past the parasol at the sky. The sunlight stung his eyes, drawing out a faint glimmer of tears.
"Yeah."
The sun today was so bright.
Five minutes later, Lian Hai arrived, huffing as he carried two copies of the contract. He shoved the documents and a pen into Shen Ran’s hands.
"Sign. With Chao-ge here, you know I wouldn’t screw you over."
"Sign nothing yet!" Chao Musheng snatched the pen away the moment Shen Ran moved to write. "Read every single clause first. What if Lian Hai and I are secretly scheming against you?"
Shen Ran: "I trust you."
"Doesn’t matter how much you trust me." Chao Musheng refused to let go of the pen. "Remember—no one, no matter how reliable, is more important than yourself. Right now, your job is to compare both contracts line by line. No oversights."
Under Chao Musheng’s stern gaze, Shen Ran had no choice but to scrutinize every term. Even the usually domineering Lian Hai sat patiently beside him, explaining each clause in detail.
Though no legal expert, Shen Ran could tell the contract was exceptionally generous—most notably, it included a detailed plan for his dance career.
He glanced at Chao Musheng, who was now idly scrolling through his phone, then signed his name.
"Welcome aboard." Lian Hai shook Shen Ran’s hand warmly. "Looking forward to working with you."
"Thank you for your care, President Lian." Shen Ran's gaze subtly lingered on Chao Musheng.
"I'm not too familiar with your industry, so you two should discuss it further." Chao Musheng tucked his phone away, stood up, and draped his suit jacket over his arm. "I’ll head back to handle some work."
As he passed Lian Hai, Chao Musheng rested a hand on his shoulder. "Brother Hai, Shen Ran is a friend of mine. When he performs on stage in the future, don’t forget to save me some tickets."
"I’d forget anyone before forgetting you, Brother Chao," Lian Hai replied. "I’ve organized a little gathering tonight—don’t forget to come."
"The weather might get rough these next couple of nights. You should probably stay in." Remembering Uncle Chao’s warning, Chao Musheng declined the invitation. "I’ll treat you to dinner once we’re off the ship."
"Alright." Lian Hai thought for a moment. "Then I’ll cancel tonight’s plans too."
His greatest virtue was valuing his life and listening to good advice.
After Chao Musheng left, Lian Hai turned to Shen Ran. "Focus on recovering. Once you’re healed, I’ll arrange your stage performances. Don’t worry—the Song family’s influence doesn’t reach me."
"Did Brother Chao ask you to help me?" Shen Ran looked down at the contract already signed by Lian Hai. "I’ve caused trouble for you both."
"Hey, don’t overthink it. A dance talent like you—letting someone else sign you would be my loss." Lian Hai rubbed his nose. "I’m just securing my advantage first."
Shen Ran smiled. He really was a lucky man.
"Well, well, look who’s sneaking back from skipping work." Secretary Liu handed Chao Musheng a stack of documents as he returned. "Why did you leave in such a hurry earlier?"
"A friend had an accident." Chao Musheng tossed his suit jacket onto the sofa, took the files with one hand, and sat beside Secretary Liu.
Secretary Liu: "Everything resolved?"
"All taken care of." Chao Musheng opened his laptop, processed the data from the documents, and sent it to the executive office. "For a major company like Song Corporation, would changing its chairman significantly impact the employees?"
"There’ll be short-term effects, but if someone like Song Cheng takes over, that’d be disastrous for the staff." Secretary Liu flipped through the files without looking up. "The company’s already planning to acquire Song Corporation. The Song family might actually enjoy a stress-free Lunar New Year this time."
"The company’s acquiring Song Corporation?" Chao Musheng was surprised. "Why?"
From Kunlun’s perspective, there was no strategic need for it.
"Maybe," Secretary Liu teased, "the weather’s getting cold."
Chao Musheng: "..."
"Brother Liu, cut back on those CEO dramas." Chao Musheng glanced around the room but didn’t see Su Chenzhu.
"This was a decision the boss made right after lunch. What do I know?" Secretary Liu suddenly paused mid-flip and looked up at Chao Musheng.
Chao Musheng closed his laptop and noticed a set of "Silly Dog" merchandise tableware on the desk.
"Brother Liu, did you buy this?" He picked up a spoon to examine it.
"Not me." Secretary Liu shook his head. "You left in a hurry after lunch. I came back early to prepare some documents—maybe the boss brought it."
Who knew the boss had such a playful side?
