Tears welling in his eyes, Lou Tingxue cried, “Zhu Dongfeng, you lied to me again! To think I went out of my way to cook for you so you could eat something good! Now I see it was completely pointless! It would’ve been better off fed to a dog!”
Lin Shi and Wen Xiao exchanged a terrified glance.
Nobody in this world dared to scold their master like that—Young Master Lou’s days were surely numbered.
Zhu Dongfeng, however, merely glanced at the food container on the deck.
In Lou Tingxue’s fit of rage, several dishes inside had been ruined, yet their colors and presentation had looked truly exquisite.
Lou Tingxue actually cooked for him…
Lou Tingxue felt that if he didn’t run now, he wouldn’t be able to keep up the act much longer.
Turning on his heel, he sprinted off. Though tears shimmered in his eyes, the corners of his mouth twitched, threatening to curve upward. He hastily covered his mouth with his sleeve, terrified he might burst out laughing.
This was hilarious! He had never put on such a dramatic act before—what kind of tragic idol drama heroine was he being?!
To everyone else, however, he looked utterly devastated.
Covering his mouth with his sleeve, tears shimmering in his eyes—he truly looked pitiful and heart-wrenching! How could their master bear to bully him like this?
The path from the main cabin to the side cabin wasn’t long, yet Zhu Dongfeng walked it with heavy steps.
For the first time in his life, he experienced a sense of helplessness. As he raised his hand to push open the door, he hesitated for a brief moment, but ultimately pushed the door open.
Lou Tingxue had his back turned, hunched over as he packed a small bundle. His movements were hurried and disorganized, clearly set on leaving.
“You’re leaving?” Zhu Dongfeng asked, knowing the answer full well.
Hearing the familiar voice at the door, Lou Tingxue’s movements snapped to a halt.
Taking a deep breath, he slowly turned around. His eyelids were still red, yet his cheeks were flushed with anger. He looked like a cat with its fur puffed up—both pitiable and endearing.
“Zhu Dongfeng, how long do you plan to keep up this act?” Lou Tingxue demanded in annoyance.
Stepping forward, he looked straight into the other man’s eyes. “I trusted you so much, yet you lied to me! First you lied that you would let me go, and then you talked bad about me behind my back! What are you trying to get out of me? Why are you so set on keeping me here?!”
Could he really be after my backside?!
Lou Tingxue expected another round of quibbling or nonchalant brushed-off excuses.
Yet Zhu Dongfeng simply looked at him silently for a long time so long that Lou Tingxue began to feel uncomfortable.
Only then did Zhu Dongfeng let out a low chuckle. He raised a hand, intending to touch Lou Tingxue’s cheek, but as the youth flinched, he shifted his path and lightly brushed a speck of dust off his shoulder instead.
“Perhaps because my heart favors you.”
The words were spoken casually, yet they struck like a bolt of lightning, booming through Lou Tingxue’s mind.
Lou Tingxue stared blankly at Zhu Dongfeng, his eyes wide with utter disbelief.
He could clearly feel his cheeks warming at an alarming rate; heat scorched from the tips of his ears down to his neck, leaving even his fingertips burning.
Yet this was not bashfulness it was pure anger!
So it really was this! Zhu Dongfeng was after his looks!
Even though he had already stated he liked men wait, no, women! Zhu Dongfeng still wanted to keep him bound to his side! How utterly despicable!
Lou Tingxue opened his mouth, his throat feeling blocked, and only managed to choke out after a long pause: “You… what nonsense are you talking?!”
Zhu Dongfeng looked at him with a light smile. “I am not talking nonsense, but speaking my heart’s desire. Young Master Lou possesses incomparable beauty—there is no one more handsome under heaven, nor is there anyone wealthier than I. It just so happens that you are a Kunze and I am a Qianyuan. We are truly a match made in heaven.”
“But I don’t like men!” Lou Tingxue was furious.
At these words, the smile on Zhu Dongfeng’s face faded slightly.
Raising an eyebrow, a flicker of genuine surprise crossed his eyes. “You don’t like male Qianyuan? Could it be you prefer female Qianyuan? There are only two or three female Qianyuan in this world, and all are prominent, legendary figures. Young Master Lou may be disappointed.”
Hearing this, Lou Tingxue felt as though he had caught a lifesaver.
Striking while the iron was hot, he pleaded eagerly, “Yes! Exactly! I like women! Zhu Dongfeng, you must not force me! And although I like women, I am already married to someone else—I am currently another person’s… wife! You can’t abandon all morality! You can’t be a male homewrecker!”
Silence fell over the cabin, broken only by the faint sound of ocean waves crashing outside, striking rhythmically against their hearts.
Lou Tingxue took a deep breath, turning his head to look at the rolling waves outside. “In fifteen days, when the Ten-Thousand-Dan Vessel reaches Great Liang, I will leave. You must not entangle yourself with me any longer!”
After speaking, he waited for a long time, but the expected rebuttal or unsettling laugh never came.
Lou Tingxue couldn’t help looking up, only to find Zhu Dongfeng watching him.
The man wore an ambiguous smile neither angry nor defensive, simply gazing at him quietly.
“Do you agree or not?” Lou Tingxue probed again.
“Alright.” A single, nonchalant word.
Yet Lou Tingxue’s heart sank inexplicably.
He couldn’t help looking up at Zhu Dongfeng, asking cautiously, “Truly?”
Zhu Dongfeng grinned. “Young Master Lou is truly fascinating. Just now, you used a thousand words and all sorts of tricks to make me let you go. Now that I actually agree to let you go, you seem reluctant to leave.”
“Who said I don’t want to leave?! Since you said it, you better keep your word!” Fearing he might back out, Lou Tingxue pressed the point as soon as he saw hope.
Zhu Dongfeng smiled without a word.
Lou Tingxue added, “A word spoken by a gentleman cannot be overtaken by a team of four horses. As a prominent figure, Boss Zhu surely won’t lie to me.”
Zhu Dongfeng let out a few chuckles and reached out, intending to pull him into his arms.
Having anticipated this, Lou Tingxue promptly sidestepped to dodge. Settling for second best, Zhu Dongfeng merely hooked his fingertips gently through a stray lock of hair by the youth’s temple.
“I am hungry. Go make me another portion of food,” Zhu Dongfeng said.
Lou Tingxue thought of the food container he had smashed earlier.
He snapped crossly, “Boss Zhu owns two Fan Towers brimming with endless delicacies. How could you care for the simple dishes I cook? Don’t tease me.”
Yet Zhu Dongfeng looked at him with utmost seriousness. “As long as one pays money at Fan Tower, anyone can taste delicacies. But the food in that container was made personally by Young Master Lou for me.”
Pausing, he added softly, “Exclusively for me.”
Looking into his eyes, Lou Tingxue lowered his gaze.
Still feeling displeased and determined to make things difficult for Zhu Dongfeng, he said, “No. Not unless Boss Zhu apologizes to me.”
Zhu Dongfeng played along smoothly, offering sweet words with a smile: “Young Master Lou is magnanimous—do not lower yourself to my level. I spoke so much nonsense tonight only because I was drunk, especially hurting your feelings. I truly deserve a beating. I wonder if Young Master Lou can forgive me?”
Lou Tingxue knew when to accept a grace. “Fine then. Since you put it that way, if I don’t forgive you, it’ll make me look too petty.”
Outside the room, a group had been waiting, including Yuwei.
She had only stepped away for a short while, yet her master had managed to make the youth cry. She felt both anxious and furious—if Young Master Lou refused to reconcile with her master, this affinity would be utterly ruined.
Fortunately, after a while, Zhu Dongfeng stepped out alongside Lou Tingxue, clearly having coaxed him back to good spirits.
Everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief.
Acting as if he didn’t know why they were waiting outside, Zhu Dongfeng feigned surprise and waved his hand. “What are you all waiting here for? The night is late and the dew is heavy—go rest quickly.”
Hearing this, the crowd dispersed in a flash.
Zhu Dongfeng turned to Lou Tingxue, smiling as he said, “They worry too much. Don’t mind them, Young Master Lou.”
Lou Tingxue understood the situation clearly in his heart and knew when to quit while he was ahead, so he didn’t press the matter.
The two went to the ship’s galley, where Lou Tingxue skillfully prepared two small dishes for him.
Zhu Dongfeng looked down at the two aromatic, beautifully presented dishes and thoroughly finished every last bite right in front of Lou Tingxue.
“I didn’t expect Young Master Lou to possess such wonderful culinary skills,” Zhu Dongfeng praised with a smile.
Lou Tingxue smiled faintly. “As long as you like it.”
He had read many cookbooks in the past. As a wealthy third-generation heir, he had never needed to step into a kitchen, but unexpectedly, the culinary knowledge he had accumulated came in handy after his transmigration.
After a moment, Lou Tingxue asked, “Boss Zhu, when will the Ten-Thousand-Dan Vessel set sail for Great Liang?”
Zhu Dongfeng looked at him and sighed. “Originally, I planned to set sail within these few days, but the business deal in Great Zhou remains unresolved. I’m afraid we can only set sail once I’ve concluded it.”
Lou Tingxue’s brows knit together instantly.
The deal Zhu Dongfeng mentioned was likely the very business negotiation he had overheard earlier today.
Lou Tingxue remarked, “Boss Zhu, forgive me for being blunt, but I accidentally overheard your conversation when I passed by today. Though I don’t know the specifics of your deal, those three men clearly have no intention of letting you succeed.”
Zhu Dongfeng let out another sigh. “I am aware of this. However, I prepared for an entire year for this business deal, and my sole purpose in coming here was to conclude it. Ah, well, we shall simply wait a few more days.”
Lou Tingxue felt a headache coming on, harboring bitterness he couldn’t voice.
Those three men were deliberately making things difficult for Zhu Dongfeng, eager to see him fail. Yet Zhu Dongfeng insisted on staying until the deal was done before leaving—who knew how long that would take?
Zhu Dongfeng suddenly added, “Rest assured, Young Master Lou. Give me a little more time—seven days… no, three days! I will surely close this deal, then safely deliver you back to Great Liang.”
Seeing his insistence, Lou Tingxue could only say, “Then I wish Boss Zhu every success.”
Following that day, Zhu Dongfeng treated him with even greater warmth, to which Lou Tingxue responded with feigned gentleness, keeping the atmosphere between them fairly harmonious.
However, Lou Tingxue was desperate to return. He had assumed Zhu Dongfeng would finalize the business within seven days, yet half a month had passed with no success! Judging by the momentum, it looked like it would drag on for another ten days to half a month!
Lou Tingxue felt the ocean breeze, growing increasingly annoyed the more he thought about it.
Right at that moment, Wen Xiao let out a muffled groan not far away. His body tipped straight forward, crashing heavily onto the bluestone floor.
Curled up on the deck, his face was deathly pale as his hands clutched tightly at the unhealed wound on his abdomen. Cold sweat drenched his hairline in an instant, and he even spat out a mouthful of bloody water.
This sudden turn of events shocked everyone present.
Lin Shi rushed over to support Wen Xiao’s upper body. “Wen Xiao, what’s wrong with you?!”
“Pain… it hurts so much… my stomach hurts…” Wen Xiao’s voice was feeble, yet laced with excruciating agony.
“Could it be poison?!” Lin Shi’s expression turned pale with shock.
Within moments, Zhu Dongfeng rushed over.
With a grim expression, he darted forward, crouching down to support Wen Xiao, only to feel his skin burning hot to the touch.
Zhu Dongfeng froze on the spot.
Furious, a rare sight for him, he bellowed, “What are you all standing around for?! Hurry and fetch a doctor!”
Panicked, the crew scattered, frantically rushing off to find a doctor.
Before long, Lin Shi returned hastily with an old, white-bearded physician.
The old physician began taking his pulse, examining his tongue, and pressing his abdomen. After fussing over him for a while, his brows tied into a tight knot. “This young gentleman’s pulse is erratic and his breath is weak. I truly cannot discern the root cause—I am helpless!”
Gasping heavily, Wen Xiao’s vision gradually blurred.
He struggled to open his eyes, looking at the people gathered around him, his voice faint as a mosquito. “Master… I’m afraid I won’t make it! Lin Shi, we’ve been brothers… serve Master well in the future!”
“Stop talking nonsense!” Lin Shi’s eyes turned red.
In a moment of life and death, even a burly man like him couldn’t hold back his tears.
Grasping Wen Xiao’s shoulders, Lin Shi pleaded, “Let the doctor think of another way! You will get better—don’t say such disheartening words!”
The old physician let out a sigh. “This… I am truly powerless! In all my years of practicing medicine, I have never encountered such a condition!”
Hearing this, everyone was consumed with grief.
Miss Yuwei even burst into tears. “Doctor, please look again! Wen Xiao is our brother—he can’t just die like this!”
“This…” The old physician looked troubled.
Zhu Dongfeng gazed down at Wen Xiao in total silence, his amber eyes motionless.
Yet the veins on his temples throbbed violently. Anyone familiar with him knew he was far from calm—in fact, he was on the brink of composure.
Standing in the corner all this time, Lou Tingxue slowly stepped forward.
Glancing at Wen Xiao’s pale face, the bleeding gums exposed when he groaned in pain, and the long-unhealed wound on his abdomen, he remarked calmly: “He isn’t suffering from an incurable disease. He just hasn’t been eating certain foods.”