Ruan Xi was shocked.
Her face was written all over with “This is bad” and “How could this happen,” as she played dumb: “…A thousand yuan? I’ve never spent that kind of money, you know.”
She paused, then added, emphasizing that she absolutely, absolutely hadn’t spent a single extra cent.
Cheng Daichuan’s comment was: “No progress.”
“What do you mean, no progress?”
“Lying.”
“How could… No, I didn’t!”
Ruan Xi stared at Cheng Daichuan, countless thoughts flashing through her mind, until her gaze finally landed on the upturned corner of his lips.
She knew she couldn’t keep pretending, and slumped against the railing like a deflated balloon.
Ruan Xi and Shi Chao weren’t skilled enough— whenever they tried to play mysterious, Cheng Daichuan could always see right through them with ease.
She could accept that before, but this time, no matter how she thought about it, this was something only she could possibly know!
Unwilling to give up, Ruan Xi shook Cheng Daichuan’s arm, asking how he found out.
According to the Shi Chao Intelligence Squad (version from three years ago):
Cheng Daichuan had played soccer since elementary school; after turning twelve, there were always two pairs of small dumbbells on his bedroom windowsill; in high school, when he went shopping for a new bicycle, he casually picked up an ab wheel at the sports shop next door…
He looked slender, but actually hid a lot of muscle.
His arms, legs, and abs all felt firm to the touch…
His arms were definitely firm.
As for the rest—
Ruan Xi had never touched Cheng Daichuan’s legs or abs; that was all from Shi Chao.
But when she tugged his arm and shook him, he didn’t tense up at all, didn’t resist, didn’t stop her— he just lowered his head and laughed, letting her shake him around as much as she liked.
The two of them swayed in the fading glow of dusk, like flames on a candle.
Cheng Daichuan, still being shaken, ended the recording on his phone clamped in the tripod, took it down, and put the stand away.
He tilted his head toward the Cabin: “Let’s go.”
Ruan Xi clung to Cheng Daichuan’s arm, unwilling to let go, trailing after him step by step: “Cheng Daichuan, come on, tell me—how did you find out? Was it written on the ticket?”
“No.”
“Then how…”
Cheng Daichuan answered with another question, head down, scrolling through the cruise APP: “There’s a Welcome Ball later, want to go?”
“Yay, a ball! Of course I want to go… Wait, no, you still haven’t told me how you figured it out…”
“Guess.”
“I can’t guess at all!”
They bickered all the way through the Viewing Garden. The brochure said there were over ten thousand plants in the garden.
She caught glimpses of a few— Pu Kui, Tian Tang Niao, and Chun Yu— the ones Aunt Shang had mentioned before…
Even though she was anxious to know the answer, she was still distracted by the carefully designed scenery.
Ruan Xi sighed: What a beautiful view.
After sunset, the sky quickly darkened, and lights gradually flickered on across the cruise ship.
There was an open-air Coffee Shop on the deck, which felt especially atmospheric as night fell.
A singer stood on the Coffee Shop’s Mini Stage singing English songs, the rhythm gentle, like a lover’s whisper.
As they passed by, Cheng Daichuan said something.
Ruan Xi only caught the singer’s soulful “wherever you go” and “wherever you do” and asked, “What did you just say?”
Cheng Daichuan suddenly stopped, turning slightly closer.
Ruan Xi saw Cheng Daichuan’s features becoming clearer and clearer, even the shadow of his lashes on his lower eyelid.
Her question caught in her throat, and she instinctively held her breath.
Cheng Daichuan leaned in, speaking softly by Ruan Xi’s ear: “I said, the answer is here.”
A different kind of warmth, unlike the evening breeze, brushed her ear, and his phone was pressed into her hand.
Only after Cheng Daichuan turned and continued walking did Ruan Xi rub her ear and let out a long breath.
What was that, whispering all of a sudden.
All she could think of was the kissing scene from Titanic, she was so nervous she could die.
Ever since they’d met, Cheng Daichuan’s phone password had never changed— it was the least secure “000000.”
Ruan Xi unlocked the phone and saw the chat history.
The profile picture was very familiar—it was the travel agency salesperson she’d friended yesterday and contacted again today.
The conversation was simple, clear at a glance.
Cheng Daichuan asked if there were any second-person half-price tickets for today’s departure.
The reply was the same as the one Ruan Xi had gotten: sold out, but if he knew someone, he could still get one, but it would cost an extra thousand yuan.
Cheng Daichuan hadn’t replied after that.
The salesperson, on the other hand, became anxious, sending over a lot of the sales pitches and pictures Ruan Xi had seen.
They even said the ticket sale cutoff was approaching and urged Cheng Daichuan to decide quickly.
Ruan Xi looked at the time of the messages, fuming, her words stumbling in her anger: “He… how did he still have tickets this afternoon? Didn’t he say they were sold out?!”
Cheng Daichuan took back his phone and rubbed the top of Ruan Xi’s head: “Sales pitch for making money.”
“Big liar!”
Ruan Xi was furious, but after a few steps, her phone suddenly vibrated.
It was a transfer notification— Cheng Daichuan had sent her a thousand yuan on Alipay.
“…That’s not what I meant, I didn’t want you to cover this.”
Cheng Daichuan said, “I know.”
“Then you…”
He smiled: “If you have to treat me, how about buying me a drink?”
Ruan Xi asked, “Alcohol? Where can I get that?”
“There should be some at the ball.”
“Oh…”
Drinking was fine; they were both adults anyway.
Maybe after a drink, Cheng Daichuan would loosen up and talk about what was weighing on his mind?
But besides being scammed out of a thousand yuan, Ruan Xi still felt a little uneasy.
It was only when they got in the Elevator that she suddenly remembered— she didn’t know where she’d gotten the idea, maybe from a TV show or just hearsay…
These Welcome Balls on cruise ships seemed to require more formal attire.
“Cheng Daichuan, did you bring a suit?”
“No.”
“I didn’t bring anything to wear for a ball either.”
Cheng Daichuan leaned against the Elevator and suggested, “Check the gift from Madam Shang in the room.”
Shang Auntie usually dressed plainly and didn’t wear jewelry, since it was more convenient for tending to her plants.
But she was a romantic and ceremonial elder— she’d wear a long pearl necklace on Children’s Day, and secretly open a bottle of red wine to celebrate with the three of them.
Ruan Xi remembered the mysterious look in Shang Auntie’s eyes before they left and her own eyes lit up.
The black gift bag from Aunt Shang’s Family was very large, with two Gift Boxes inside.
One read “For my son,” the other “For Xixi.”
Ruan Xi opened hers, and sure enough, it was a dress—a delicate, beautiful Little Black Dress.
She exclaimed, “It’s gorgeous! I have to call and thank Aunt Shang!”
Underneath the dress, the Rose Pattern Tissue Paper was puffed up, as if there were more things inside.
Lifting the paper, Ruan Xi’s face instantly turned red.
Cheng Daichuan probably didn’t know what Madam Shang had prepared either and was about to come over for a look.
Ruan Xi, face burning, spread her arms wide, like the mother hen in the eagle-and-chicks game, blocking him as much as she could.
How could she let Cheng Daichuan see?
Inside the box were Chest Pads to go with the dress, and a Blue Striped Bikini.
Ruan Xi’s blush was obvious, and Cheng Daichuan seemed to realize something, stepping back and looking away: “I’m not looking.”
The in-room broadcast began:
The cruise will soon enter night sailing mode.
Passengers attending the Welcome Ball, please arrive at the venue fifteen minutes early…
Ruan Xi hugged the Gift Box: “I’ll go change in the bathroom. Can you… change out here?”
Cheng Daichuan pressed the switch, and the Curtain slowly closed.
He nodded, saying that was fine.
Ruan Xi changed into the Little Black Dress in the bathroom, then cracked the door open just a bit: “Cheng Daichuan, are you done changing?”
“Done.”
Cheng Daichuan seemed to be on a video call—Ruan Xi heard Shang Auntie’s voice.
Shang Auntie said, “My son is so handsome, I really do have great taste.”
Ruan Xi peeked out and saw Cheng Daichuan had set his phone on a shelf of the TV stand.
He was wearing a black shirt and black dress pants, no tie, the top two buttons of his shirt casually undone.
He leaned against the shelf, fastening his cuffs: “The clothes are nice, just a bit warm.”
Shang Auntie laughed, “There’ll be air conditioning on the ship—being handsome is what matters.”
Ruan Xi had worn this kind of dress for university events before and had never been shy.
But with Cheng Daichuan there, she felt a little embarrassed to come out.
As she hesitated, she suddenly heard Shang Auntie mention her: “How’s the dress I gave Xixi? Does it fit?”
Ruan Xi ran out of the bathroom, trying her best to ignore Cheng Daichuan’s presence: “It fits perfectly! I really love it, thank you, Aunt Shang, you really went to so much trouble.”
Cheng Daichuan’s Mother laughed, “Oh, I fell in love with that dress at first sight. Xixi looks wonderful in it. No need to be so polite with Auntie—later, I’ll have your parents treat me to dinner.”
Ruan Xi said happily, “Then they’d better give you a feast!”
Cheng Daichuan picked up his phone, ready to say goodbye to Madam Shang and head to the ball.
With a third person in the room, Ruan Xi felt much more relaxed. She still wasn’t done talking with Aunt Shang, so she reached out both hands and grabbed Cheng Daichuan’s wrist to stop him from hanging up.
She leaned toward his phone, showing off the light makeup she’d put on to match her Little Black Dress: “Aunt Shang, I put on mascara.”
Ruan Xi pouted her shiny lips at the camera, “And lip gloss, grapefruit shade.”
Cheng Daichuan seemed completely uninterested in girls’ makeup, saying blandly, “You talk to her yourself.”
Ruan Xi pouted, “Hmph,” then asked, “Aunt Shang, does it look good?”
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Cheng Daichuan turn his back to them, open the fridge, and pull out a chilled can of Coke, popping it open and drinking as if none of this concerned him.
Hmph!!!
Cheng Daichuan’s Mother said, “That color really suits you, Xixi. Oh, by the way, Xixi, do you have a little jacket or something? The dress is backless— I’m worried you’ll catch a chill with the air conditioning.”
Ruan Xi, with her short hair, had smooth, fair skin from the nape of her neck down her back, her waist not overly slim but with a hint of alluring curves— the view from behind was graceful.
She turned to look at her suitcase, wondering if she’d brought a jacket to match her dress.
Cheng Daichuan, for some reason, seemed to choke on his Coke and suddenly started coughing.