Chapter 796: 43: Cannon Fodder in the Real World (43)

He took Jiang Lai to the shallow sea six meters below, guiding her to see glowing jellyfish and leisurely swimming turtles. During this, Jiang Lai got her foot entangled by a sea eel, and A Wen immediately gestured for her not to panic, swimming over to easily lure the eel away with food.

Jiang Lai gave him a thumbs-up, and A Wen smiled while making a two-finger upward gesture to tell her she looked beautiful when she smiled.

At this moment, Shi Yubai swam over, held Jiang Lai’s hand, and made an upward gesture, signaling that he might be suffocating.

Seeing this, Jiang Lai swam up with him, while A Wen and his friend guarded on both sides, constantly watching Shi Yubai’s state.

On the shore, after removing the oxygen mask, Shi Yubai looked somewhat pale, his lips trembled lightly showing some cyanosis, water droplets slid off his long eyelashes, revealing his red eyes as if he’d been crying.

"Sorry, it seems the goggles had a problem and leaked. I didn’t expect the new goggles to have issues. I’m really sorry, I wanted to show you the sea creatures..."

A Wen felt very guilty, especially after seeing Shi Yubai’s eyes, he became somewhat flustered.

After all, Shi Yubai’s identity seemed unusual, and A Wen worried he might have to compensate.

Fortunately, Shi Yubai shook his head.

"I didn’t check carefully before entering the water, it’s not just your fault.

However, next time when taking people underwater, it’d be best to get a diving instructor certificate first, or else you might be reported by customers—your local law is very strict, you could even end up in prison."

A Wen was scared to speechlessness upon hearing this.

Finally, he kept thanking Shi Yubai, grateful for his warning.

After this, he no longer dared to take Jiang Lai underwater.

Even though Shi Yubai said he wouldn’t report him, A Wen continuously shook his head and refused.

Jiang Lai was not very interested.

Shi Yubai, with reddened eyes, asked her.

"Do you want to play more? If you do, we can find a professional coach to go underwater."

"No need."

With something like this happening, all the thrill was gone, so no desire to go underwater remained.

Shi Yubai lowered his eyes.

"Sorry, because of me, you didn’t have a good time."

Jiang Lai looked at him, pursed her lips, and finally shook her head.

"There will be lots of chances in the future."

She turned around, helplessly placed her hands behind her head, and looked up at the sky.

They didn’t stay ashore for long; when leaving, A Wen came to see them off.

In broken English, he asked Jiang Lai and Shi Yubai when they’d come back to play here.

Jiang Lai told him she’d be back to dive next spring.

Later on, the cruise went out to sea; Shi Yubai returned to wash up, and a phone call came in. Jiang Lai initially planned to pretend she didn’t see it, but then decided to answer the call.

"Speak."

When it comes to mimicking the tone, Jiang Lai was an expert.

With just one word, she managed to perfectly replicate Shi Yubai’s usual tone.

Finally, the other party spoke up.

"Boss, it’s been handled."

Handled what, was not mentioned, so Jiang Lai asked again.

"Like I said?"

"Yes, as you requested, that fisherman has been chosen as a sailor and joined the crew, with no incidents he’ll never return for life."

"Okay."

Hanging up the phone, Jiang Lai gazed intently at the vast sea outside.

"Still as usual... unchanged."

She wanted someone to talk to, but Little Buding seemed dead silent at that moment, remained mute.

Jiang Lai cursed, pretending he was dead.

She sat alone on the sofa, quietly watching the gray sky ahead.

A fog rose over the sea.

She remembered there was one very important thing she hadn’t done.

Just then, Little Buding suddenly spoke.

"Jiang Lai, don’t believe what the person beside you says."

"I thought you were dead."

"I risked my life telling you this, if caught, I’d be not far from death."

Having said this, he immediately went offline again, like a thief fearing discovery.

Rarely has he managed to say something, and it is nonsense.

Damn it, Jiang Lai felt a bit irritated, not bothering with the ship’s complete range of entertainment facilities, she just stared at the sea in a daze.

In the following days, she behaved normally, in coastal countries eating, drinking, playing, and taking quite a few photos with Shi Yubai.

At first, when Jiang Lai took out the camera, Shi Yubai thought she was going to take photos, and naturally took it over intending to capture her.

Instead, Jiang Lai gestured to him.

"Come and let’s take it together."

Unable to suppress the smile at the corner of his mouth, Shi Yubai stood beside Jiang Lai, took the camera, and raised it high.

After taking the photo, he looked at the pictures on the camera, beside him, Jiang Lai wearing a floral strap dress smiled beautifully at the camera.

She smiled happily, her smile reaching her eyes.

Shi Yubai turned sideways, couldn’t help leaning down to kiss her nose tip lightly.

"You’ll slowly like me, right?"

"I don’t know."

"It’s okay, I’ll wait patiently."

After the New Year, Mr. Huang went home.

Not seeing Jiang Lai at home, he directly called her.

"What? Traveling around the world? You child, why are you running around right after taking over the Jiang Family instead of managing the company?

Come back, come back quickly."

Shi Yubai chimed in nearby.

"Even if we return now it’d take seven, eight days; however, we’ve had enough fun, we can head back tomorrow."

Jiang Lai hadn’t expected him to agree to return so decisively.

But after being on the ship for so long, there wasn’t much interest left.

Eight days later, the cruise docked.

As soon as she got off, Jiang Lai saw Huang Lai waiting at the port, wearing a coat and hat, harshly watching Shi Yubai beside him.

The two walked closer, he coldly tapped his cane.

"Yubai, things are a bit busy on Nanhai’s side recently, pack up tonight and head over there."

In the past, regardless of what Mr. Huang said, Shi Yubai would nod in agreement.

Today, he replied coldly.

"I’ve already sent Ali there on Nanhai’s side, no need to worry—everything has been arranged so you can enjoy the New Year peacefully."

"You’re quite remarkable, have you already figured out my intentions?"

"You said once the first step to becoming a successor is learning to read faces and gestures, you praised me for it."

Mr. Huang kept a stern expression, anyone could see the fury brewing inside him.

"If you don’t go then don’t, you owe me a New Year’s dinner, so let’s go, make it up to me now."

Jiang Lai’s voice helped ease the tense atmosphere a bit.

She pulled Shi Yubai along and got into the car together.

In the car, Mr. Huang remained silent, even at home he sat alone on the sofa staring at Jiang Lai and Shi Yubai.

For dinner, Shi Yubai wanted to cook himself.

While he was busy in the kitchen, Jiang Lai sat beside Mr. Huang, accompanying him while watching TV dramas.

"I understand Yubai, and I understand you—he’s not suitable for you."

"I find him pretty good; he’s handsome, has outstanding abilities, his family background needs no investigation, and there’re no entanglements outside. Most importantly, he’s wholeheartedly devoted to me—isn’t that enough?"