Chapter 54: Yi Xun (Part 4)

Seeing that he had responded, she provocatively asked, “What’s the matter? Are you thirsty?”

Naturally, there was no reply.

The man tightened his hold on her arm and quickened his pace, striding swiftly down the stairs.

This made his footing a bit unsteady, so Gu Yao had to exert some effort, genuinely clutching his neck to keep from falling.

They soon reached her room’s door. He stopped but did not put her down. Instead, he bent slightly, aligning her with the door lock. “Open it.”

Gu Yao took out the room card from her bag, tapped it against the lock, and the door beeped open.

As for how Su Yu knew her room number, she didn’t bother asking. After all, the entire cruise ship was his property; no matter what he wanted to know, someone would inform him.

The man carried her straight inside. After turning on the lights, he gently nudged the door shut with his leg. Then he came to the small sofa and put her down.

The sofa was soft and comfortable. Once seated, Gu Yao leaned back, sinking into it. She kicked off her shoes, tucked her feet in, and crossed her legs comfortably.

After settling in, she glanced up at him and asked, “Why aren’t you leaving yet? Thanks for your help. The door is right there.”

She deliberately pointed.

He showed no intention of leaving.

Crossing his arms, he stared at her for a moment before slowly leaning forward, resting his hands on the sofa’s armrests, enclosing her.

“Why wouldn’t I leave? You know very well why,” the man said, his eyes deep and star-like. His cheek inched closer, high nose, handsome brows and eyes, firm lips—all just inches away.

“Why?” Gu Yao raised an eyebrow, relaxed and unflinching, calmly meeting his gaze with a hint of expectation.

Su Yu’s eyes shifted and caught a silver gleam from the slender hand she hid by her side.

She was truly formidable.

He loosened his grip on the armrest, straightened up, and chin slightly raised. “That thing can’t hurt me.”

“But didn’t you step back just now?” Gu Yao smiled triumphantly, spreading her right hand to reveal a small surgical scalpel in her palm.

At the very moment she spoke, her vision flickered. She wasn’t sure what move Su Yu had made, but when she looked again, the scalpel was already in his hand.

His long fingers twirled the blade once and placed it on the nearby table. Then he turned back to face her, his rough fingertip gently tracing her delicate chin.

“Let go!” Gu Yao raised an eyebrow, looking slightly annoyed but still didn’t evade.

He held her in a chokehold. Though it didn’t hurt, any rash struggle would be courting disaster.

“I’m thirsty. Do you have water?” Her reaction did not satisfy him; he didn’t release her but instead lifted her chin higher, eyes fixed on her red lips, with a suggestive intent.

“Yes, but do you dare to drink it?” Gu Yao glared at him, refusing to yield. In her mind, she was thinking that if push came to shove, she’d bite him.

Within the small space, their heartbeats were audible—hers quick and erratic, his steady and composed, each beat ringing in her ears.

Gu Yao bit her lip, about to strike his lower body with her leg—better to fight and fall together than remain locked in this stalemate.

Fortunately, after a moment, he voluntarily released her chin, gave her a mysterious look, and turned toward the door.

The pressure disappeared instantly, and Gu Yao exhaled, though the suffocating feeling lingered.

Gritting her teeth and glaring at his back, she propped herself up and shouted, “Hey, I’m hungry—really hungry! I’ve just done surgery for three whole hours. You can’t not give me even a bite, right?”

“What do you want to eat?” Su Yu held the door handle and turned.

“Some hot noodles.”

“All right.” The door closed softly behind him, and his footsteps faded away.

The empty room still seemed to carry his scent. Gu Yao expressionless, tossed a cushion onto the bed, then got up to open the balcony door.

The cool air drifted in, and the fog had thinned considerably.

Soon a waiter brought the noodles, served in a large bowl. The noodles were hand-rolled, surprisingly tasty and homely.

She slurped it all down, breaking a sweat, and the cold sensation vanished.

Setting the bowl near the door, she headed to the bathroom for a shower. The hot water eased her fatigue. After drying off, she lay on the bed and soon fell asleep.

The next morning she woke past nine. The sky had cleared completely, and the sea stretched endlessly again.

After washing up, she went to the dining hall for breakfast. The meals were included in the ticket price, so the place was crowded even though breakfast time was almost over, and seats were mostly full.

Gu Yao found a corner seat and ordered bacon and eggs with bread. Shortly after, a plate of vegetable salad appeared unexpectedly.

She looked puzzled. The tall waiter smiled, “We thought you might not have enough, so the chef made some extra. It doesn’t cost extra anyway, so why not?”

“Thank you,” she nodded and started eating while eavesdropping on gossip at the next table.

“Did the ship dock briefly last night? I heard an ambulance,” a young woman said.

Her boyfriend replied, “Yeah, I heard it too. The ambulance came for a patient—probably the one who collapsed on deck yesterday afternoon. I heard she relapsed at night and nearly died. The ship’s doctor operated and saved her.”

“There’s a doctor on the cruise ship?”

“Not only that, but the doctor is excellent. The ambulance doctor today was amazed when he saw the surgery, said it was so perfect he couldn’t believe it.”

They chatted back and forth for a while, then switched to celebrity gossip, which Gu Yao lost interest in. Having finished eating, she stood to leave.

“Dr. Gu,” someone called from beside her.

“It’s you?” Gu Yao sized him up and recognized the ship’s doctor, Yu Ninghai.

“Dr. Gu, do you have a moment?” The ship doctor asked cautiously.

Seeing him look like he was bursting to say something, Gu Yao nodded, “I have a little time. What is it?”

He studied her carefully, “Dr. Gu, do you know a piano prodigy named Gu Shijin? She was famous but vanished at fifteen, whereabouts unknown. She looks a lot like you.”

“I don’t know who that is,” Gu Yao shook her head, expression unreadable.

Only after leaving the dining hall did her gaze grow cold, and she irritably ran a hand through her hair.

After that small incident, the days passed peacefully. The cruise had left the country and was sailing through foreign waters, soon to reach its destination.

Gu Yao discovered a new pastime—the hot springs pool on the second deck. Since it required an extra fee, it was usually empty, almost like having the pool to herself.

She spent nearly the whole afternoon there, resting on the edge sipping ice-cold cola when tired.

When Su Yu came by, she had just finished a lap. Popping her head out of the water, she brushed her soaked black hair back, revealing a smooth, full forehead.

“Do you need something?” Seeing his reflection on the water’s surface, she swam to the edge but didn’t get out. Leaning her slender, pale arms on the edge, she tilted her head slightly. Her bare face resembled a lotus flower emerging from water.

Yet her eyes remained cold and carried a trace of indifferent laziness.

His gaze lingered on her flawless skin, then on her two exquisite collarbones before he finally spoke.

“After we dock tomorrow, I’ll fly straight back home. I won’t follow the ship for the second half of the trip.”

“Oh? Why tell me that?” Gu Yao glanced at him, eyes fixed on the rippling pool, tapping the water lightly.

“We’ll meet again,” he said calmly, not angry, then turned to leave.

“Wait.” She called out as he reached the door.

When he turned, she gave a half-smile and said, “Only those destined meet over and over. I don’t think we’re meant to, Mr. Su Yu.”

“Is that so?” The man raised an eyebrow, noncommittal.

The cruise docked on schedule the next day.

The Japanese port city was small but picturesque, with remarkably fresh air.

After disembarking, Gu Yao wandered about. She ate the local famous cold soba noodles, then began her shopping spree.

With a list from Yi Xun on her phone, she first stocked up at a drugstore before exploring roadside shops.

Japanese vintage stores were quite renowned and plentiful—from hats to clothes, accessories, and bags.

Gu Yao liked these very much—especially clothes and dresses. Buying them meant she could mix and match beautifully without worrying about wearing the same outfit as someone else.