Chapter 8: Room Card

When Cheng Daichuan said, “Did you really read it carefully,” Ruan Xi definitely had a moment— 0.01 seconds— of utter panic.

But the words that followed, “room assignment,” calmed her down again.

If you think about it, this Cruise Ship trip was really a spur-of-the-moment decision.

Yesterday, Dusk handed them the flyer, and that night they decided to set out today. Not even twenty-four hours had passed, and now they were already waiting to board.

Such a short time to decide on the next half month of travel— mixed in with Ruan Xi’s feelings, which she desperately tried to hide under the guise of friendship— it all felt a little rushed.

To be honest, Ruan Xi hadn’t really had time to carefully look over the Cruise Ship’s route or the cabin introductions.

She had planned to study them after boarding.

So when she realized Cheng Daichuan wasn’t asking about those things, but about the room assignments, Ruan Xi slumped her shoulders in relief, even feeling a little bit resentful…

Ruan Xi said, “Of course I read it carefully. Why don’t you trust your friend? Am I the type to use the ‘second person half price’ deal to lower the average price and then hog the best room for myself?”

Cheng Daichuan looked at Ruan Xi without saying anything.

“Really, I even sent you photos, didn’t I? We have the same room type.”

To back up her words, Ruan Xi pulled out her phone and showed Cheng Daichuan their chat history.

She pointed at the two lines in the chat: “Hello, may I ask what room type the half-price ticket is for?” “This one!” She showed off to him proudly.

The message was clear: See, see, I specifically asked the sales staff. I’m definitely not the kind of person who tricks her friends.

Cheng Daichuan probably hadn’t slept enough; he looked a bit tired, pinched his brow, and just replied, “Mm.”

Unlike the sleepy Cheng Daichuan, Ruan Xi couldn’t suppress her swirling emotions, not even with a game.

She couldn’t focus on counting cards, and in a major slip-up, nearly lost the game.

The game was already prompting her: “Time is running out.” Holding Cheng Daichuan’s phone, her brain spun rapidly, trying to figure out a way out.

A well-defined hand reached over from beside her.

Cheng Daichuan’s fingertips tapped the phone screen, rearranging the attack order and dealing damage she hadn’t calculated.

The waiting area sofas at the Cruise Center were two-seaters. When Cheng Daichuan leaned in to operate the game, their distance suddenly closed.

Ruan Xi caught a faint, fresh scent from him. In the next round, her mind went blank, and she threw away her advantage, handing the win to her opponent.

She was speechless at herself and turned to look at him.

He gave her a thumbs-up.

What a sarcastic thumbs-up!

Expressionless, Ruan Xi exited the game. “Boring. I’m done.”

He laughed. “Angry?”

She replied, “Of course not.”

The phone vibrated, and a pink pig avatar popped up on the screen.

Ruan Xi silently shoved the phone into Cheng Daichuan’s hand. After a few seconds, she finally spoke: “Looks like a girl is looking for you.”

Cheng Daichuan said, “It’s Shi Chao.”

“…Wasn’t Shi Chao’s avatar that Grand Prize football trophy? When did he change it?”

“Last night. Lost at Truth or Dare.”

Ruan Xi asked, “You’ve already been in touch?”

“This morning, by phone.”

“Why didn’t Shi Chao come with you?”

“Went to his grandma’s house.”

On the big screen, the words for ticket check scrolled by. Cheng Daichuan put away his phone. “Let’s go, time to line up.”

Security check, ticket check, checking in luggage… None of these steps were a problem.

It was Ruan Xi’s first time on a Cruise Ship. Following the other tourists out of the Cruise Center, she hummed a tune she made up on the spot and even pulled out her phone, wanting to film a departure vlog for Shi Chao and her other friends and family.

She raised her phone. “Hi, this is Xi Xi and Chuan Chuan’s first Cruise Ship trip. Chuan Chuan, look here.”

Chuan Chuan wasn’t very cooperative. He glanced at the camera, then dropped his head to look at his phone.

Ruan Xi really wanted to nudge him, but since she was filming, she let it go. While reporting their boarding time, she was already brainstorming other ways to get Cheng Daichuan’s attention.

Suddenly, she remembered one of Shi Chao’s hundred nicknames for Cheng Daichuan.

Not the usual ones like Boss Cheng, Boss, Dad Cheng, Good Guy Cheng, or Chuan Bao…

What came to mind was Chuan Ge.

The fresh sea breeze blew away the heat of the sun, and the vast ocean sparkled with dazzling light.

Afraid her fisherman’s hat would get blown away, Ruan Xi took it off and stuffed it into her small crossbody bag. In high spirits, she adapted one of Shi Chao’s invented nicknames: “Gege, look at the camera!”

Her voice was soft and cheerful, almost coquettish.

Cheng Daichuan paused in his scrolling, looked up, and flicked the back of Ruan Xi’s head. “Speak properly.”

Right now, Ruan Xi’s face was still all smiles, every strand of hair radiating lively, happy energy.

She didn’t mind Cheng Daichuan’s light “attack,” shook her head, and switched her phone to the rear camera to film the Dusk: “This is the Cruise Ship we’re about to board…”

But when they followed the passenger line into the ship and reached the Service Desk to collect their Room Card, Ruan Xi couldn’t smile anymore.

All the staff in the cabin wore dark blue suit vests and white short-sleeved shirts.

The receptionist had a friendly professional smile, tapping away on the computer keyboard. “Thank you for waiting. Here are your Room Cards.”

Ruan Xi tried to force a smile, but when she saw the two Room Cards with exactly the same room number, she failed…

Her cheeks weren’t just hot anymore; her whole body felt like it was about to catch fire.

Ruan Xi didn’t know how to face Cheng Daichuan behind her.

The Cruise Ship trip was her idea.

She was the one who got the tickets.

Now… how did the two of them end up in the same room?

How was she supposed to explain this to him?

She did have a bit of a crush on her friend, and seeing a pink avatar message Cheng Daichuan would make her secretly a little jealous.

But honestly, she only wanted to stay in a neighboring room with Cheng Daichuan, just like in high school, being neighbors…

She absolutely didn’t have any inappropriate intentions.

Now it looked like she was some kind of player, trying to lure him back to the room for… who knows what…

Cheng Daichuan asked, “What’s wrong?”

Ruan Xi didn’t even dare turn around, hurriedly tossed out a “Nothing,” and forced herself to talk to the receptionist, trying to figure out if she’d been tricked by the sales staff.

But from what the receptionist said, the half-price deal was only valid for double rooms.

A floral-scented perfume lingered in the cabin, and the speakers played a familiar but unnameable classical piano piece.

Ruan Xi took a deep breath and finally turned around. “What do we do, Cheng Daichuan? I think I messed up…”

Cheng Daichuan’s eyelid twitched.

It had always been like this.

When they first became friends, Ruan Xi, under the influence of Cheng Daichuan and Shi Chao, downloaded Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft.

At first, she was excited to show off, but after the newbie protection period ended, she started getting crushed by all sorts of opponents.

After losing a few matches in a row, Ruan Xi panicked, slammed her phone on the table, and turned to Cheng Daichuan, looking especially aggrieved: “What do I do, Cheng Daichuan? I can’t beat them.”

Cheng Daichuan hadn’t said much at the time, but after that day, he—a player who usually prided himself on winning with skill—suddenly became a pay-to-win player and bought a few skins for his account.

After that, Ruan Xi never played on her own account again.

Cheng Daichuan said, “You didn’t mess up.”

Ruan Xi was stunned. “You knew about this already?”

“It was in the brochure.”

There were other passengers waiting to get their Room Cards, so they couldn’t linger. They quickly followed the signs, registered for WiFi at the Service Desk, and, guided by the staff, downloaded the APP to book activities.

Once everything was done, he took the Room Cards and the complimentary Cruise Map, and led Ruan Xi away from the Service Desk.

Ruan Xi couldn’t help but feel a bit of awe for Cheng Daichuan.

Look how calm he is, how straightforward!

Back when they used to hang out, they’d sometimes stay up all night doing homework, playing games, watching shows, or just chatting about anything and everything.

If it had been Shi Chao who messed up like this, he probably wouldn’t even care.

Not only would he not overthink it like she did, he might even be excited and say it was better to share a room—it saves money and makes it easier to chat at night…

With her mental prep done, Ruan Xi asked Cheng Daichuan tentatively, “So, you don’t mind sharing a room like this?”

Cheng Daichuan said, “Don’t be silly. Of course not.”

Ruan Xi smiled again. “Then let’s go find our room.”

The receptionist had said their room was in the Balcony Room Area on the fifth floor.

Ruan Xi followed Cheng Daichuan up.

As they passed an open room, she was holding the Cruise Map and discussing with Cheng Daichuan which decks they should explore first. She glanced inside and saw a suitcase and a neatly made double bed…

Her heart tightened, and she fell silent.

The Cruise Ship’s service was attentive; their suitcases had already been delivered to the door of their room.

Every staff member they met warmly greeted them, welcoming them aboard the Dusk.

The hallway was carpeted, clean, and tidy.

Everything looked great—except she had no idea what the inside of their room would be like.

Cheng Daichuan had already swiped the Room Card to open the door. Ruan Xi’s suitcase was so full she couldn’t drag it across the carpet.

He picked up her suitcase with one hand, easily, the veins standing out on his arm.

Cheng Daichuan carried Ruan Xi’s suitcase inside, then went back to the door for his own. He turned and looked at Ruan Xi, as if to ask, Why aren’t you coming in?

Ruan Xi clung to the doorframe, hesitated, and finally peeked around Cheng Daichuan to look inside.

After looking, she exclaimed in delight, “You scared me— I thought there would only be one bed inside!”