As Colin stepped up to Surui, he kissed the back of her hand.
Surui trembled with fear, the tear tracks on her face already dried by the howling wind.
Colin whispered in Surui's ear, "Your prince will come to save you."
As Colin looked up, his eyes met the knight's. Wang Ziran also looked at Colin nervously; both of them had very bad memories of Colin.
Xu Shuming quickly walked over. He invited Colin, who was a distinguished guest as a current shareholder of the Su Corporation!
Xu Shuming: "Mr. Colin, your sudden arrival is quite a surprise."
Colin chuckled and nodded at Xu Shuming.
Colin: "How far along is the proposal?"
Xu Shuming: "We're just about to put on the ring."
Colin: "Ah, then I'm not too late. I must witness such a spectacular scene firsthand."
Colin tilted his head slightly and looked up at the dark sky.
At Xu Shuming's signal, the proposal was to continue.
Emmanuel was already on one knee, holding up the diamond ring.
Colin: "The show is about to begin."
Xu Shuming didn't understand what he meant, assuming he meant he wanted to see his daughter receive the ring.
Just as everyone held their breath, another helicopter flew in from the darkness.
This one was bigger, and more formidable!
A powerful searchlight shone directly onto the deck!
The intense light made everyone instinctively raise their hands to shield their eyes, making it impossible to see what was happening above.
Emmanuel: "The ring!!!"
In the chaos, Emmanuel accidentally dropped the ring, which clinked and bounced away.
Emmanuel's bodyguards had to brace themselves against the wind and bend down to search for the ring…
The other guests at the venue were struggling to stand in the wind, let alone help search for a ring…
This was truly a disastrous proposal ceremony…
Xu Shuming's face turned grim, but Colin watched with great interest, as if determined to see it through to the end.
At this moment, a ladder was lowered from the helicopter, just within Surui's reach if she stood on tiptoe.
Surui looked up. She couldn't clearly see who was on the helicopter, but she felt it was a man, and he was extending a hand to her.
Surui turned to look at Xu Shuming, then at Colin beside him. For a brief moment, Colin seemed to nod at her.
Surui looked up again. The man was shouting her name, but she couldn't hear or see him clearly. Yet, deep in her heart, she was certain!
This was the prince she had been waiting for. When the princess was in trouble, she knew the prince would come to her rescue!
Surui immediately climbed the ladder, eager to reach the top and see the prince's face.
Xu Shuming: "Emmanuel! Surui!!!"
By the time Emmanuel finally managed to retrieve the ring, Surui was halfway up the ladder.
Emmanuel shouted Surui's name, but before he could reach her, the helicopter ascended.
Emmanuel couldn't catch her. He could only watch helplessly as Surui stood on the ladder, blew him a kiss, and disappeared into the sky.
Colin: "Oh, she flew away."
Colin said with a touch of regret.
Xu Shuming didn't know how to explain. Emmanuel, enraged, threw the ring in his hand into the air.
Colin patted Xu Shuming on the shoulder, as if to comfort him.
Xu Shuming immediately called for his bodyguards.
Xu Shuming: "Find out who took Miss!"
Xu Shuming abandoned Colin and rushed to Emmanuel's side, offering continuous explanations and apologies. He swore he would get Surui back.
Emmanuel: "Is this what you meant by she would agree?"
Xu Shuming: "I thought at sea she wouldn't escape, and with so many people watching, she would agree."
"Mr. Emmanuel, I truly didn't expect someone would take her away by helicopter…"
Emmanuel's furious gaze shifted to the onlookers, especially Colin. Others might not know about the helicopter, but he did!
He had seen Colin's helicopters many times!
It must have been Colin who helped the person who took Surui away!
But he couldn't afford to offend Colin, yet he still wanted an explanation!
Emmanuel stormed over to Colin, frightening Xu Shuming into further silence.
He dared not slight either of these men. He had expected Emmanuel to blame Colin for disrupting the ceremony.
Emmanuel: "Mr. Colin, shall we talk?"
Colin: "Certainly."
Colin was extremely excited. He gently pushed aside Xu Shuming, who tried to intervene, and the two walked away to a secluded spot.
Seeing they were alone, Emmanuel finally exploded.
Emmanuel: "Mr. Colin, isn't this going a bit too far?"
Colin: "What did I do?"
Emmanuel: "Let's not even mention your bizarre entrance that disrupted the ceremony and caused chaos…"
Colin: "Oh, I have money. I can appear however I please."
Emmanuel: "Who was in your helicopter?"
Colin: "Hmm? My helicopter? Oh, you mean that one."
Emmanuel: "Don't play dumb!"
Colin: "I sold it. I don't know who was on it."
Emmanuel: "You don't know? Do you dare say it wasn't you who arranged this on purpose!?"
Colin: "And if it was, so what? You're forcing someone who doesn't love you to marry you. If Miss Su was willing to marry you, she wouldn't leave even if an aircraft carrier showed up."
Emmanuel: "So, you're interfering?"
Colin: "I can't stand seeing you lie to someone, kid."
Emmanuel: "Who did I lie to?"
Colin: "How about this: you pretend you don't know it was me, and I'll keep your little secret for you."
Emmanuel: "What secret do I have!"
Colin: "Tsk, tsk, tsk, you're still pretending? Aren't you using your identity as the son of a banking family to trick the Su family into marrying their daughter to you?"
Emmanuel: "My identity is genuine!"
Colin: "But you're dying!"
"Even if you get married and have children, after you die, your wife and children won't be able to inherit your family's assets."
"Or, if your father takes pity and brings your child back, Surui will get nothing, and the Su family won't get a single cent."
Emmanuel glanced around cautiously, very worried that Xu Shuming or Mrs. Su might overhear this.
Emmanuel: "So what! They willingly married their daughter to me!"
Colin: "Your self-deception is very much like your father's."
"Don't you know deep down that they were willing to marry their daughter to you because they were after your family's wealth?"
"Thinking that way, they could gain your family's support? To people like them, your family is a treasure chest!"
Emmanuel: "Then what do you want?"
Colin: "Like I said, you don't mention who took Miss Su, and I won't tell Xu Shuming and Mrs. Su about you becoming a disinherited young master of your family."
Emmanuel: "That's all?"
Colin: "You should know how to make Xu Shuming less involved, right?"
As Emmanuel left, he cast a resentful glance at Colin, but ultimately swallowed his pride.
Colin looked up at the dark sky. This was his second rescue, and both times it was the same girl. If it happened one more time, he would consider it love.
Maggie: "Cheers."
Colin drank his champagne with a smile, while Maggie waited for him to finish before pouring her own glass into the sea.
Colin: "Ah, it's poisoned…"
Colin pretended to clutch his stomach in pain, then leaned into Maggie, making her giggle.
Although Emmanuel's proposal ceremony was disrupted, the guests on the cruise ship still needed to celebrate, as Xu Shuming was about to announce some happy news related to the Su Corporation.
Xu Shuming, holding Mrs. Su's hand, stepped onto the stage.
They both bowed in apology for the chaotic scene just moments ago, but everyone was understanding. Surui was now considered to have fled in fear of marriage.
Jokes aside, Xu Shuming had to maintain his composure and see the evening's banquet through.
Xu Shuming: "Additionally, I have one more matter to share with everyone."
Mrs. Su smiled along, unaware of what Xu Shuming was about to say.
Xu Shuming extended his hand to Colin, and all eyes followed.
Xu Shuming: "I want to thank Mr. Colin for his collaboration with the Su Corporation over the years."
"After much consideration, we have acquired another highly capable textile enterprise. I believe that in the near future, Datong will become a prominent subsidiary of the Su Corporation, bringing great honor to the company."
Thunderous applause erupted from the audience. Mrs. Su on stage nearly fainted. She had never imagined that after Lawyer Ma mentioned selling Datong that morning, Datong would become a subsidiary of the Su Corporation in just one night!
And Xu Shuming, looking at Mrs. Su's shocked expression, was immensely pleased!
He had always suspected Mrs. Su had some connection to ATL, but he could never find any evidence. It was only after Lawyer Ma sold Datong to him that his doubts were completely resolved.
Xu Shuming: "How is it? How does it feel to be betrayed by a friend?"
Mrs. Su stared at Xu Shuming, too stunned to speak.
Xu Shuming: "Thank you for driving away Ou Yunchen and handing over the position to Lawyer Ma."
Mrs. Su: "What does that have to do with me…"
Xu Shuming: "Don't deny it. Lawyer Ma was working for you, but despite all your calculations, you didn't expect to lose to me again."
Mrs. Su: "..."
Xu Shuming: "You are just like your father. If he had treated me better back then, trusted me more, I wouldn't have developed such a vengeful desire."
Xu Shuming: "Therefore, if you had trusted Ou Yunchen a bit more, perhaps he would have firmly held onto ATL for you, and you would have had a chance to challenge me in the future."
Xu Shuming: "But none of that matters now. You have nothing left, Mrs. Su."
Xu Shuming put his arm around Mrs. Su's waist, forcing her to smile for the cameras.
Xu Shuming: "Oh, right. Your only remaining asset is your daughter. So, if you don't want me to kick you out of the Su family right now, you'd better bring her back."