The weather had been unpredictable recently, with few days without rain.

Although the sunlight was blindingly white after the sky brightened completely, and most of its usual heat had been absorbed by the lingering clouds, it was still considered a rare good day.

The cruise ship was loaded with passengers at the pier. Not long after leaving the port, it was met with a moist sea breeze.

The ship’s speed was not fast. Nearby, there were many jagged black reefs standing tall. White seabirds chased the mast, circling and accompanying the cruise ship.

The seawater was a cold color between blue and light gray. Ripples spread out in circles along the waterline of the massive hull.

Jian Huaiyi had already arranged the activities. He accompanied Mrs. Luo for a simple tour on the ship, and then they went for spa and beauty treatments.

Luo Chengxiu and Luo Jun each had business contacts to greet and socialize with. They needed to go around and say some meaningless pleasantries to maintain stable cooperation and expand their new network.

Luo Cheng, on her own, was restless and dejectedly followed her father and brother.

After her unhappy parting with Luo Zhi in the garden, she had returned to her room and sulked for half the night.

Once the initial novelty of being on board had passed, Luo Cheng couldn’t help but feel annoyed again.

If she really had to make a comparison, the decor and various functional venues of this cruise ship were not much different from some of the high-end clubs and luxury resort hotels that Jian Huaiyi had taken her to.

Of course, the cruise ship moved, and the scenery at sea was, after all, different from that on land. If they were sailing under a cloudless blue sky, or if they waited until late at night, when the ship’s hull cut through the water illuminated by the late-night fireworks show… the experience would be completely different.

But in this kind of weather, which was neither sunny nor overcast, there were of course no such sights to enjoy.

Luo Cheng just looked around for a while, then felt her interest wane and lowered her head again.

…She had thought that her father and big brother would at least ask where Luo Zhi had gone.

Luo Zhi had actually always wanted to leave, to go to a place where no one knew him, and start a new life alone—Luo Cheng actually knew this.

It wasn’t that he had only recently had this plan. Many years ago, Luo Zhi had mentioned it to Luo Cheng.

At that time, Luo Zhi’s leg injury had just healed, and he was still being fostered at the Ren family’s home.

Luo Cheng was young and didn’t yet understand what had happened in the family. Their relationship was not as stiff as it was now.

Luo Zhi had completely stopped living at the Luo family’s home, but he would often come to see her, conjuring up all sorts of little trinkets that Luo Cheng liked. Occasionally, because he really couldn’t refuse his sister’s request, he would secretly take Luo Cheng out to play.

The Luo family had always been strict with their children. It was a rare opportunity for Luo Cheng to go out, and everything she saw was new. She played until she was so tired that she fell asleep while watching a movie.

When she woke up again, she was on Luo Zhi’s back.

Luo Zhi was carrying her on his back, walking under the stars. She was wearing Luo Zhi’s coat.

She found it boring and pestered Luo Zhi to talk. So Luo Zhi began to speak, slowly telling her about his future plans and goals.

Luo Cheng wanted to hear stories, not his boring memorization of maps. After listening for a while, she began to get impatient. Not long after, she was attracted by a small stall on the roadside and shook Luo Zhi’s shoulder, wanting to buy new snacks.

Luo Zhi realized that his little sister was not interested in what he was saying, so he smiled and voluntarily stopped talking.

…Recalling this period, Luo Cheng had no impression at all of where Luo Zhi had said he wanted to go.

She also couldn’t figure out how the good-tempered Luo Zhi of that time had gradually grown into such an incorrigible misbehaving person, stirring up the entire family.

But Luo Cheng at least remembered that Luo Zhi had long wanted to take his car and travel around.

Luo Zhi had been counting the days until he turned eighteen. The month he turned eighteen, Luo Zhi got his driver’s license and made other preparations.

He had originally planned to leave at the end of the year, but for some reason, he later changed his mind and stayed.

…

Later, he took over Huaisheng Entertainment. Luo Zhi’s work became busier and busier every day, one person doing the work of ten. He no longer had any chance to bring up those old plans.

This time, Luo Zhi had suddenly disappeared from the center of the storm. Luo Cheng guessed that he had probably remembered this matter because he had a rare moment of leisure.

As Luo Cheng thought about it, she unconsciously kneaded the corner of her clothes and became annoyed again.

After she grew up and became sensible, she finally learned about the things that had happened in the family and what kind of person Luo Zhi was, so she consciously drew a line with him.

She didn’t want to owe Luo Zhi anything.

If Luo Chengxiu or Luo Jun asked, she would take the opportunity to cover for Luo Zhi a few words, so that the Luo family would not look for him again. That would be her apology for the words she had said in front of the hotel.

But when the family left this morning, no one saw Luo Zhi, and no one asked a single word.

…

Did no one care where Luo Zhi went?

Luo Cheng couldn’t just bring up the topic herself and then cover for him. That would be too stupid. But she had prepared her words for a whole night, and now they were completely useless, not of any use at all…

Perhaps because she was too concerned about this matter, Luo Cheng was particularly sensitive to Luo Zhi’s name at this moment. She suddenly vaguely heard someone mention it and subconsciously looked over.

The person who mentioned “Luo Zhi” was talking to Luo Jun.

The other party was the same age as Luo Jun, and their status was also similar. He was the heir to a large-scale multinational jewelry group.

Luo Jun had a very close relationship with their family. When he first took over the company’s affairs from his father, the first eight-figure deal Luo Jun signed was with this group.

At that time, the negotiations between the two sides were not smooth, and they were on the verge of collapse several times. In the end, it was because of a detail so small it couldn’t be smaller that the cooperation was pulled back from the brink of a breakdown.

On the final day of negotiations, the tie clip Luo Jun was wearing happened to be the most proud design of the group’s founder when he was just starting out as a designer.

Because of being squeezed out by others, this design was forcibly removed from the market not long after its launch, which provoked the founder to leave and create his own brand, leading to the scale of today’s multinational group.

Although the price of such a small thing was not high, because the sales volume was quite limited at that time, it would take a lot of effort to buy it through various channels.

…

Of course, Luo Cheng also knew about this matter.

She had heard her big brother mention it more than once. Second Brother Jian had spent a lot of effort to find out about that founder’s past, and then went through great lengths to buy this set of out-of-print design tie clips.

Her father had always been strict with her big brother and would never help him in any occasion. Her big brother’s resume at that time was not enough to convince everyone. Successfully securing this deal became the beginning of him establishing a firm foothold in the circle.

Later, Second Brother Jian became her big brother’s assistant. The two of them supported each other and went through the most difficult period…

“I didn’t expect you to still be wearing this,” the other party smiled. “Does it have a special meaning?”

Remembering the past, Luo Jun’s expression softened slightly, and he nodded.

“Your second brother is also very capable. If he weren’t uninterested in these things, his talent might not be worse than yours… It was that kid who used a roundabout strategy back then, coaxing the old man to the point where he almost took him as a student, which allowed you to find out about our family’s background.”

The other party hadn’t been back in the country for some years. Holding his wine, he tried his best to recall. “What was his name? Luo, Luo—”

“He changed his name,” Luo Jun said. “He now takes his mother’s surname, Jian. His name is Jian Huaiyi.”

“Not him. Isn’t that your assistant? I mean your younger brother,” the other party tapped his forehead. “Right, Luo Zhi.”

The other party asked curiously, “Why would your family name a child ‘Zhi’?”

Luo Jun did not speak, but slowly frowned.

They were all regulars in the business world. Seeing Luo Jun’s expression, the other party realized that this question might have been too abrupt and laughed it off. “This wine is not bad.”

Luo Jun agreed and also picked up his wine glass and took a sip.

They still had to go elsewhere to greet and connect. The conversation ended there. The other party finished his wine, smiled and said goodbye to Luo Jun, and then walked to other places.

Luo Cheng glanced at Luo Jun’s expression and said in a small voice, “Big brother…”

“Let’s go back,” Luo Jun put down his wine glass. “He probably remembered it wrong.”

Luo Cheng breathed a sigh of relief and nodded.

During that time, the Luo family’s children were indeed in a mess, and their names were changed back and forth. It was possible to remember it wrong.

She followed Luo Jun’s footsteps, racking her brains to say something more, but found that her big brother was walking slower and slower, and finally stopped.

Luo Cheng was a little confused. She also stopped and looked in the direction of Luo Jun’s line of sight, and suddenly her eyes widened in astonishment.

The two people standing by the ship’s railing were Jian Huaiyi and… Luo Zhi.

Luo Zhi was leaning against the ship’s railing. Jian Huaiyi had one hand on the railing and was holding an empty wine glass in the other.

The two were standing very close, seemingly talking in low voices.

How could Luo Zhi be on the cruise ship?

What did he follow them for, what kind of mischief was he up to, where did he get the ticket?

What was he going to do to Jian Huaiyi?

Luo Zhi had caused too much trouble. These questions had already become a conditioned reflex. There was no need to think, they just jumped out habitually the moment she saw that person.

Luo Cheng was just thinking about it in her head, but Luo Jun had already quickened his pace with a cold face and pulled Jian Huaiyi behind him.

Jian Huaiyi also seemed not to have expected Luo Jun to appear suddenly. He was startled and stunned for a few seconds before he spoke. “Big brother…”

“It’s none of your business,” Luo Jun frowned, his eyes fixed on Luo Zhi. “What did you follow us for?”

Luo Zhi’s eyelashes were still lowered, and he stood quietly as if he hadn’t noticed.

Luo Cheng held her breath and didn’t dare to make a sound. She had always been afraid of her big brother’s anger. She shrank in a corner, looking at Luo Zhi in disbelief.

…Compared to the figure in the garden last night, the current Luo Zhi was not pathetic at all.

It seemed that someone was taking care of him. Luo Zhi’s complexion was slightly better, and there was a very faint trace of color on his face. His short hair was still a little damp, as if he had just taken a hot bath.

Luo Zhi was wearing a trench coat. Perhaps because he hadn’t worn it like this for a long time, it was only now that others could see particularly clearly how much weight he had lost during this period.

The sea breeze wrapped around him. The hem of his coat was empty and tangled, then fell down without any support.

Luo Jun was angered by his ignoring him. He pinched Luo Zhi’s jaw, forcing him to look up.

Before he could speak, he first noticed the overwhelming smell of alcohol.

“Who let you drink?” Luo Jun’s tone was even colder. “How much did you drink?”

Luo Zhi seemed to have only just realized that someone was talking to him at this moment.

His eyelashes trembled slightly, and he slowly lifted them. His dark, empty eyes found Luo Jun’s position.

Such a simple action seemed extremely difficult for him. Even watching him lift his eyes like this made people unconsciously hold their breath, lest the slight airflow add more burden to this process.

Even Luo Jun, who had come to find fault, was a little stunned at this moment and couldn’t say any more severe reprimands.

Unfortunately, Luo Zhi was not sensible. He just moved his gaze in his direction and gave no more reaction.

Luo Jun didn’t fall for this. His gaze turned cold, and he said in a deep voice, “Luo Zhi, answer me.”

“Big brother,” Jian Huaiyi came up to persuade him. “Little Zhi is probably drunk. Don’t be angry. I’ll take him back to his room…”

Luo Jun raised his hand and blocked him.

Jian Huaiyi was stunned for a moment, then frowned without a trace and lowered his head, pushing back.

“I have something to ask you,” Luo Jun warned him. “Luo Zhi, don’t play this game with me.”

Luo Jun’s tone was still no different from before. Although it was cold and heavy, he didn’t get angry at every turn like usual. “Answer clearly, and I can choose not to pursue the matter of you sneaking onto the ship.”

Luo Zhi looked at him, as if trying to distinguish something, but this distinguishing seemed too tiring for those eyes, and the little bit of strength he had gathered was quickly exhausted.

Luo Zhi slowly lowered his eyelashes, and then his head also drooped.

This time, a faint anger finally rose in Luo Jun’s eyes. He grabbed Luo Zhi’s shoulder and shook it hard, but the feedback force made him frown tightly.

The bony shoulders that were a little uncomfortable to the touch were stiff under his palm, neither obedient nor resistant.

Like a lifeless puppet.

Luo Jun frowned tightly and took a step forward, but was blocked by Jian Huaiyi. “Big brother, don’t be like this.”

Jian Huaiyi moved his arm away and shielded Luo Zhi behind him.

Jian Huaiyi was slightly taller than Luo Zhi. With this block, Luo Jun could hardly see Luo Zhi.

A wave of annoyance suddenly rose in Luo Jun’s heart, but before he could sort out his thoughts and speak, the hull of the ship under their feet suddenly stopped heavily without any warning, and then shook violently.

Before people had time to figure out what had happened, a sharp alarm had already sounded.

The massive hull began to tilt at an incredible speed.

What is it like when a floating iceberg suddenly collapses? A kind of completely irresistible overturning seemed to be happening with a roar, but everything was as quiet as a silent film with only visual effects, all the noise was isolated further away.

The people on the deck lost their balance. Panicked passengers were pushed down the gangway. Someone waved their arms in terror and kept shouting.

The cruise ship’s broadcast seemed to be saying some emergency avoidance notice. People began to lose their grip on things around them and slid down the increasingly steep deck…

More and more people fell into the icy cold seawater.

Luo Jun was dragged onto a lifeboat by a crew member. He saw Luo Cheng being rescued onto another lifeboat, her face pale as she curled into a ball, her body trembling violently.

Luo Jun’s own hands were also trembling.

The accident happened too quickly and too suddenly. He hadn’t had time to develop a more detailed and clear fear of the shipwreck. The trembling was because the water was too cold.

The water was too cold, like tiny ice shards drilling into his bones and chest, as if it were sucking the life out of him every second.

The number of people a lifeboat could carry was limited, and it had already exceeded the warning waterline. A crew member shouted in the churning icy sea, “One more! Only one more!”

Luo Jun searched anxiously in the sea. He quickly found him, grabbed Jian Huaiyi’s arm with force, and pulled him onto the lifeboat.

Then, he realized the meaning of what the crew member was shouting.

The water was too cold.

Jian Huaiyi was so cold his face was pale. He leaned stiffly in a corner of the lifeboat.

When the cruise ship overturned, Jian Huaiyi and Luo Zhi were right by the ship’s railing. The two of them were thrown out with that force almost without any buffer, directly into the seawater.

Luo Jun had checked his body and confirmed that there were no external injuries. He then breathed a sigh of relief and fell down exhausted.

After the initial chaos, the rescue finally became more orderly.

“…It’s my fault.”

Jian Huaiyi curled up, his voice trembling slightly. “I shouldn’t have persuaded Mom and Dad to come, and you and little sister…”

“Who knew something like this would happen? It has nothing to do with you,” Luo Jun pressed his temples. He thought of the timid and thin boy who had been brought home, and his expression softened slightly. “Don’t blame yourself.”

Luo Cheng had already been rescued onto another patrol boat. His parents were not on the deck, so they were probably fine.

The cruise ship accident was most likely due to hitting a reef and running aground, which caused the hull to leak and the ship to tilt.

Shipwrecks now were not as ferocious and terrifying as in the movies. As long as they were handled in a timely and proper manner, they would not cause too tragic consequences.

Luo Jun had regained his composure. He quickly sorted through his thoughts and breathed a sigh of relief. “Where’s Luo Zhi?”

Jian Huaiyi was stunned for a moment. “What?”

Luo Jun handed him the hot water distributed by the crew.

The first time he considered his family’s safety, Luo Jun had indeed forgotten Luo Zhi.

It wasn’t that he had any deep hatred for him, wishing that Luo Zhi would really have an accident and lose his life.

It was just that so many years of neglect had become a habit. Because he never paid attention, his subconscious had really automatically skipped over such a person.

…

But when he came to his senses, Luo Jun didn’t feel very worried.

Jian Huaiyi had fallen with Luo Zhi. Based on his understanding of Jian Huaiyi, the other would have probably pushed Luo Zhi to the rescue crew first. Luo Zhi was probably already on a lifeboat.

Luo Jun thought he hadn’t heard clearly and asked again, “Where’s Luo Zhi?”

Jian Huaiyi stared at him, his face whiter than before. After a long while, he hesitantly turned his gaze back to the sea.

It had become calm.

The cruise ship had been sailing all day. The sky had darkened, and the seawater had also turned pitch black.

When the searchlight swept over, the water surface rippled.

Luo Jun slowly frowned.

For some reason, he raised his hand and slowly felt along his tie to the bottom.

The accident had been sudden, and the situation just now was too chaotic. No one had paid attention to a tie, let alone more specific details.

It was only now that he discovered that something was missing from his tie.

The tie clip he had been using had quietly fallen off in some corner he hadn’t noticed at all, and had sunk into the dark, icy water.