The topmost deck of the cruise ship was the most luxurious and offered the best view.
It was dusk, the sun setting, painting the horizon where the water met the sky in a vibrant crimson and gold.
A few geese flew by, enhancing the scene's tranquility and beauty.
Meng Yiren stood on the deck, surrounded by a handful of distinguished travelers, all with presidential suite bookings, who, like her, were privileged to admire the scenery.
Suddenly, a group of people in work uniforms broke the evening's peace. They were all staff members of the cruise ship.
"Excuse me, esteemed passengers. A helicopter will be landing here shortly. For your safety, please move behind the safety line."
As soon as the staff member finished speaking, the roar of a helicopter grew louder, its shape becoming clearer.
"Who is it? A helicopter? Those cost hundreds of millions, right? I heard the annual maintenance alone is ten million."
"Who is it, making such a grand entrance?"
"No need to guess, it must be someone important. We'll know when they arrive."
"Indeed."
...
Before long, a sleek, all-black helicopter landed slowly on the cruise ship's deck.
The wind from the rotor blades made it impossible to open one's eyes.
Inside the helicopter, Lu Xing's gaze, through the window, immediately found Meng Yiren standing at the edge of the deck.
"Miss Tang, Meng Yiren is there. Do you want to go down and capture her?"
Tang Xiaomin followed Lu Xing's gaze and indeed saw Meng Yiren.
She hadn't seen her in a while; she dressed herself much better now, her taste in clothing having elevated.
"She's on the cruise ship, she can't go anywhere right now."
Tang Xiaomin wasn't worried about Meng Yiren escaping.
A staff member in a black suit opened the helicopter door, and under the watchful eyes of the onlookers, Tang Xiaomin slowly descended.
Seeing such a beautiful woman, the people around were captivated by her beauty and aura. Both men and women stared solely at her.
"I thought it was some middle-aged tycoon, but it turns out to be a young beauty."
"Could she be the daughter of some rich boss? Her demeanor is certainly like that."
"What if she's some boss's kept mistress? With her looks, what kind of rich man can't she snare?"
All sorts of comments were made.
However, not a single person called her ugly.
Meng Yiren was stunned, forgetting to breathe.
Why had Tang Xiaomin come here?
And she didn't believe Tang Xiaomin's arrival was a coincidence.
Was she here to find Yan Jue?
While she was lost in thought, Tang Xiaomin and Lu Xing had already walked up to her. Tang Xiaomin was looking at her with a decidedly unpleasant expression.
Lu Xing spoke first, questioning her.
"Meng Yiren, where is President Yan?"
He used to call her Yiren, but now he included her surname, indicating their growing estrangement.
Meng Yiren couldn't pretend not to be flustered.
Tang Xiaomin's temper was like Yan Jue's, unpredictable. And if she got angry, she could really resort to violence.
Taking a deep breath, she calmed herself.
"It seems you already know he's alive. It's quite a coincidence; I was just planning to send him to Modu. I didn't expect you to find us so quickly. This is rather unexpected."
"Then why didn't you notify us immediately? What are your intentions?" Lu Xing demanded harshly, disregarding the curious glances of those around them.
Meng Yiren spread her hands in a gesture of helplessness.
"Because he doesn't want to go back."
"How could he not want to go back? It must be because of you."
Meng Yiren spread her hands again.
"Alright, if you won't believe me even after I tell you, then there's nothing I can do."
"You..."
Lu Xing gritted his teeth in anger. In the next second, he viciously twisted Meng Yiren's hands and kicked her leg.
Meng Yiren fell to her knees with a thud.
She glared up at Tang Xiaomin, filled with anger and resentment.
"You always bully me like this. Is this the only way you can find some abnormal sense of superiority?"
"Tang Xiaomin, what else can you do besides using violence against me?"
At this point, the onlookers on the deck couldn't stand it and intervened.
"Sir, please speak calmly. How can you bully a woman like this? What kind of man are you?"
"You're mistaken, that man is that woman's subordinate. He's just doing her bidding. It's that young lady who's being arrogant and bullying others."
"I can't believe she looks so beautiful, yet she's so ruthless. I really misjudged her."
...
Gaining the crowd's support, a hint of smugness appeared on Meng Yiren's face.
It was as if she was saying to Tang Xiaomin: See? Your cruelty is being scorned and condemned by everyone, facing universal condemnation.
Tang Xiaomin ignored the whispers of the crowd.
This time, no matter what, she couldn't let Meng Yiren go. Her intuition told her that Meng Yiren would become increasingly dangerous.
Just like Zhang Guo'er, raising someone with a dark heart could lead to disaster.
She said indifferently, "Take her away."
"Yes."
Lu Xing pulled Meng Yiren up from the ground and pushed her away.
Meng Yiren sensed something was wrong and her expression changed instantly. Struggling, she cried out.
"In broad daylight, under the bright heavens, what are you trying to do to me?"
"Help! Someone save me!"
Meng Yiren's cries were effective.
People kept speaking out to stop them, but no one dared to step forward and intervene.
Everyone feared trouble, especially the VIPs on the top deck of a luxury cruise ship; they were all people of means.
It was better to avoid more trouble than create it. Wasn't it wonderful to live a life of wealth and comfort?
There was no need to offend someone for a stranger, and it was clear this person was powerful and ill-tempered.
Meng Yiren completely panicked and struggled incessantly.
Just as she was on the verge of despair, Yan Jue's tall, imposing figure suddenly appeared before them.
Meng Yiren's face lit up with joy, and she excitedly shouted.
"Yan Jue, save me! They're going to harm me!"
Lu Xing was completely stunned to see Yan Jue again.
Carelessly, Meng Yiren broke free from his grasp.
Meng Yiren ran straight to Yan Jue's side and nestled close to him, seeking protection.
"You're finally here. If you had come any later, I would have been captured by them." She said in a tone that sounded like a spoiled child.
"President Yan, you're really okay. This is truly wonderful," Lu Xing said excitedly, unconsciously looking at Tang Xiaomin.
Tang Xiaomin stood frozen in place, finally seeing the person she had longed for day and night.
All along the way, she had been filled with unease, fearing this was all a dream.
Now that she truly saw him, she was so overwhelmed with emotion that she didn't know what to do.
The several months of not seeing each other felt like centuries.
The days she spent without him were like years.