Chapter 108: Behind the Splendor

After the exhausting journey of the day, the guests were completely worn out, longing only to leave the road behind and reach the luxurious hotel on Black Island, where they could sink into the embrace of a soft bed.

Around six forty-five in the evening, at Magani Pier, everyone changed back into the outfits they had worn at the start of the day and boarded their respective boats.

Chu Yao and Xu Junze separated from the others, boarding the 26-foot sports boat provided by St. Boli Guesthouse in low spirits.

The other three pairs of guests, however, boarded an enormous, dazzlingly luxurious cruise ship.

The viewers in the live stream were astonished—

[Damn, the production team is loaded]

[So it really is luxurious! I thought they were exaggerating]

[Did they really rent out the whole cruise ship just to film the show?]

[How much investment did they get for this season, to be so generous!]

...

As the journey began, Chu Yao and Xu Junze stood on the sports boat, gazing from afar at the spectacular cruise ship, filled with indescribable feelings.

They didn’t even need to set foot on that cruise ship; just from the exterior, they could tell it would be comfortable and fun. Multiple decks, all sorts of leisure and entertainment facilities—everything one could wish for.

By contrast, their little sports boat seemed a joke.

They had been just five dollars short of boarding that luxury cruise ship—just five dollars. It was such a pity.

Later, they learned that Li Jiayan and Wen Yiming had managed to exchange enough money for the cruise ship tickets partly thanks to Lu Zhou and Qi Jiajia, who provided two extra dollars when Li Jiayan asked for it. Ye Fangfei and Zhang Chen also had an extra three dollars, which ended up unused.

Xu Junze thought, if they had been the first group to reach the guesthouse and hadn’t left, choosing instead to wait for the others, perhaps the extra coins from Lu Zhou and Zhang Chen would have gone to them.

Three plus two—that’s exactly the five dollars they lacked.

Chu Yao now felt a twinge of regret as well. If only she hadn’t insisted on going back to look for a new purse, hadn’t overestimated her own stamina, perhaps it would be them on the cruise ship now, not Li Jiayan and Wen Yiming.

But that’s how life is—full of drama and without any antidote for regret.

The disparity between the two modes of transportation seemed to symbolize something deeper.

A luxury above, and a humble craft below—was it a hidden mockery of their backgrounds?

Of the three teams who boarded the cruise ship, didn’t every one of them come from a better family than the two of them?

Oh, unless Lu Zhou was hiding the truth about his family background—then he’d be the exception...

With the sea breeze blowing and the cruise ship’s horn sounding in the distance, Chu Yao was suddenly overwhelmed with emotion.

She had actually done quite well for herself, relying on her own efforts. In her professional field, when it came to personal achievements, she could outshine Li Jiayan and Qi Jiajia. But some insecurities are etched into one’s bones—no amount of pretending can erase them.

There seemed to be a kind of nobility about the others, a confidence that radiated from within, something she felt she could never achieve, no matter how hard she tried to mask it.

The cruise ship’s horn inexplicably became a sorrowful tune, and the strong-willed Chu Yao shed silent tears.

In the live stream—

[Why is she crying?]

[Just because she didn’t get on the luxury cruise ship? Isn’t that a bit much?]

[Hug for Yao Yao—don’t cry. After the show, we’ll pay for a cruise ourselves—it’s not about the money.]

[If I were just five dollars short, I’d probably cry too, haha]

...

Xu Junze caught sight of Chu Yao’s tears. For a moment, he could almost sense her thoughts. He wanted to hug her, but it didn’t seem appropriate, so he simply patted her shoulder gently.

“We’re so tired today, it would be a waste to be on a luxury cruise. I bet they don’t even have the energy to enjoy it,” he said, trying to comfort her in a lighthearted tone.

Chu Yao hastily wiped away her tears and gave him a smile, pretending nothing had happened.

Meanwhile, on the cruise ship—

After boarding, Li Jiayan and Qi Jiajia marveled at the ship’s facilities and elegant environment.

“This is quite different from the cruises I’ve taken before. I really like the design,” Li Jiayan said as she wandered around.

Qi Jiajia replied, “I’ve been on a few big cruises abroad before, and this one is really impressive. The production team went all out.”

Wen Yiming chimed in, “Right? And the craziest part is, we only spent a hundred dollars to get on this cruise.”

Lu Zhou listened, realizing he was the only one among them experiencing a cruise for the first time in his life, so he chose to remain silent and quietly take it all in.

Of course, he wasn’t the only silent one; Ye Fangfei and Zhang Chen were quiet as well.

But Lu Zhou figured these two were simply numb, having seen too many extravagant things.

There were not only the show’s guests on board, but also many other passengers of all colors and backgrounds, making the place lively, almost like a bustling shopping street.

“I’m starving. Let’s find something to eat,” Ye Fangfei said, rubbing her stomach.

She voiced what everyone was feeling.

Soon, they all headed for the dining area.

Free food and drink—what a treat.

“Yiming, thank goodness we managed to get the cruise tickets in the end, or we’d be missing out,” Li Jiayan said in the upscale Western restaurant.

“Yeah, I’m really curious what Yao Yao and Junze will have for dinner,” Wen Yiming said, cutting into his steak with a grin.

“Probably a quick meal prepared by the production team,” Qi Jiajia guessed, feeling the stark contrast in treatment and glad she and Lu Zhou had performed well enough to earn the cruise tickets.

“Their conditions might not be as good, but at least they have their own private world—something we can’t experience,” Zhang Chen interjected.

He still thought that if Ye Fangfei didn’t get seasick, he’d much rather be on the sports boat with her, enjoying a romantic private night, maybe even trying a little night fishing or sneaking a kiss—how wonderful that would be.

Now, with so many people on the cruise ship, it was hard to focus—it just wasn’t the same.

Ye Fangfei, not paying attention to their conversation, felt even sleepier after eating. She put down her utensils and said, “I need to find somewhere to sleep.”

Zhang Chen immediately set down his knife, wiped his mouth, and asked, “Want me to help you find your room?”

She shook her head. “I don’t want to sleep in a room—it’s too stuffy and I might get seasick again. I’ll find an open, breezy spot.”

Lu Zhou pointed upward and suggested, “Let’s go to the top deck lounge.”

Qi Jiajia looked at Lu Zhou and proposed, “Let’s all go? There’s a lot to do on the top deck—there’s a theater, sports court, bar, amusement park…”

“We can go, but I don’t plan to play—I’m too tired. I’ll just lie down and watch,” Lu Zhou replied with a smile.

“That’s fine; watching is good too,” Qi Jiajia said cheerfully.

So, after eating and drinking their fill, everyone headed to the top deck.

Xu Junze was right—they were too exhausted to enjoy the entertainment. Once on the top deck, they found a comfortable spot in the open-air lounge and simply lay back to rest.

The journey to Black Island would take nearly two hours.

On the top deck, the three pairs of guests reclined on the lounge chairs, and exhaustion from two days of travel left them with little energy to enjoy the view. Soon, they all drifted off to sleep.

A bright moon hung in the night sky, and the sea breeze swept past their ears, carrying the faint hum of passengers’ conversations. Lu Zhou drifted into dreams.

He didn’t know how long he’d slept, but suddenly, real music began to play close by. His eyelids fluttered; as the sound grew clearer, he realized he wasn’t dreaming.

He slowly opened his eyes to a moonlit sky.

Fully awake, the music became even more distinct.

What a magnificent piece! The music surged, its rhythm building layer upon layer, stirring his blood. His fingers tapped in time with the melody.

Violin, cello, drums, cymbals, flute, trumpet… even vocals…

It was a symphony.

Every instrument sounded vivid and real, not the polished, post-processed kind.

Realizing this, Lu Zhou sat up abruptly.

This was a live performance!

Not only that, but the orchestra sounded extremely professional. It was a joy to listen to.

Every cell in his body tingled with excitement. He turned around, scanning for the performers, but saw no one—though the sound was so clear, they had to be close.

He left his lounge chair and walked toward the railing. With each step, the music grew louder.

Drawing closer, he was surprised to see a familiar figure.

Ye Fangfei was there, leaning on the railing, gazing down, her back to him.

Had she also been awakened by the music?

He joined her, following her gaze down to the open-air performance area half a deck below, where a large symphony orchestra was playing passionately.

Ye Fangfei sensed someone beside her and turned to see Lu Zhou, offering him a smile.

Neither spoke; they simply stood side by side, quietly appreciating the performance.

It was a grand, majestic piece—just listening conjured images of galloping horses and soldiers charging into battle.

The opening was tense and foreboding, as if war was imminent. Then the percussion built in intensity, as if the battle had erupted—a desperate struggle.

Did they win or lose? The tempo softened, becoming mournful, as the soldiers rested and regrouped, only for the rhythm to rise again in tragic, fierce combat, reaching a powerful climax.

What a piece! Who could have composed it?

Lu Zhou was so moved, goosebumps rose on his arms.

He stretched his arm in front of Ye Fangfei.

She glanced at his skin, dotted with goosebumps, and laughed.

She leaned in close and whispered in his ear, “Shall we go down and have a look?”

Lu Zhou nodded. Ye Fangfei turned and hurried toward the stairs, lifting the sides of her ankle-length skirt as she went, Lu Zhou following close behind.

When they reached the lower deck, Lu Zhou realized the orchestra he had seen from above was only a part of the whole—now, faced with the full, grand ensemble, he was stunned.

What kind of cruise ship was this, to have such a professional orchestra performing on board?

The audience seats were packed, everyone focused on the music.

Ye Fangfei led Lu Zhou through the crowd, sneaking up to the front rows.

To witness such a large orchestra perform such a grand piece was a feast for the eyes and ears.

As the piece ended, the driving rhythm cut off abruptly.

Thunderous applause erupted.

“Great music!” Lu Zhou exclaimed, clapping with excitement.

Ye Fangfei rose on tiptoe, smiling, “I absolutely love this symphony—what a surprise to hear it here.”

“What’s it called?” Lu Zhou asked eagerly.

“Seven Swords' Victory!” Ye Fangfei replied.

“This orchestra is something else—top tier,” Lu Zhou said, gazing at the musicians.

“Definitely. It’s odd though; I’ve never heard of cruise ships hosting orchestras of this caliber,” Ye Fangfei mused.

At that moment, the conductor and several principal musicians stood to bow to the audience, prompting another wave of applause as the crowd gradually dispersed.

In the center of the front row, a well-dressed man slowly rose, buttoning his jacket with elegance and accepting a glass of red wine from a waiting bartender.

Several men and women beside him also stood, raised their glasses, and chatted amiably.

Lu Zhou’s attention was drawn to them.

The well-dressed man turned and glanced in their direction, his gaze pausing briefly on Lu Zhou before settling on Ye Fangfei. He looked to be in his thirties, refined and courteous, with a smile in his dark eyes and a slight upward curve to his lips.

Lu Zhou frowned slightly and looked at Ye Fangfei, noticing she was gazing back at the man, a hint of surprise in her expression.

Did they know each other?

Then Lu Zhou saw the man raise his glass to Ye Fangfei—a clear gesture of a toast from across the distance.

Ye Fangfei stepped forward and smiled, “What a coincidence.”

“It is quite the coincidence. Your show’s trip to Black Island happened to coincide with our company’s annual cruise holiday. The production team asked if we could let you use some cabins for filming. At first, I wasn’t interested, but when I saw you were part of the show, how could I not help, considering the friendship between our families?” the man replied, his manner gentle and urbane.

Ye Fangfei raised her brows slightly, scanning the orchestra, and smiled, “No wonder the cruise’s entertainment is so lavish—you really went all out, hiring such a professional orchestra. Your employees are lucky indeed.”

“Now you’re also one of us on this ship, so the happiness is yours as well,” he replied with a sip of wine. “If you like the orchestra, I can ask them to keep playing.”

Ye Fangfei smiled, “Thank you, but I still have a show to film. They won’t allow camera crews in here, so I can’t stay long. I’ll take my leave.”

“Of course.”

Ye Fangfei returned to Lu Zhou. As they prepared to leave, Zhang Chen’s voice called out behind them, “So this is where you ran off to! I woke up and you were gone.”

He had awakened and come searching. Seeing Lu Zhou with Ye Fangfei, he frowned, “Why are you here? Shouldn’t you be with your own partner? Why are you always hanging around her?”

Lu Zhou: “...”

“Zhang Chen, don’t start,” Ye Fangfei shot him a look and explained, “We heard great music and were drawn over. It’s a musician’s instinct. Don’t jump to conclusions.”

With that, she headed for the exit.

Zhang Chen paused, then suddenly noticed another figure and his eyes widened in surprise.

“Ting’an! You’re here on the cruise too?” he exclaimed, recognizing the man in the suit as Gao Ting’an, and quickly walked over with a smile.

As Lu Zhou left, he heard Zhang Chen greet the suited man warmly.

The unexpected encounter made Lu Zhou thoughtful.

The man in the suit, Ye Fangfei, Zhang Chen—they were clearly part of the same circle: the upper class, the wealthy elite.

“On vacation,”

Lu Zhou heard the man say to Zhang Chen before heading out and catching up with Ye Fangfei.

Back inside—

“What a coincidence!” Zhang Chen said to Gao Ting’an.

“It is,” Gao Ting’an replied, taking his eyes off Ye Fangfei as she left.

Zhang Chen waved to the bartender for a glass of wine. “Come on, Ting’an, let’s have a drink. It’s been ages since we last met—wasn’t it at my brother’s birthday last year?”

“That’s right.”

They clinked glasses and took a sip.

“I’m here filming a reality show with Fangfei. We happened to get on this cruise, heading to Black Island,” Zhang Chen explained.

“I know.” Gao Ting’an patted Zhang Chen’s shoulder, half-smiling. “Do your best. Your father has invested a lot in matchmaking you with Ye Fangfei.”

“Heh, so you know all about it? Did my brother tell you?” Zhang Chen asked awkwardly.

“Your brother? You overestimate your brother’s relationship with me. Family matters like this wouldn’t come up. You and Fangfei being on such a popular show—news travels fast in our circle.”

Gao Ting’an clinked glasses with Zhang Chen, finished his wine, and patted his shoulder. “Good luck, little Chen.”

“You’re probably live streaming now. I won’t keep you—go do your job.”

With that, Gao Ting’an left, laughing and chatting with his companions.

Zhang Chen watched him go, the smile fading from his lips.

“Damn, who was he implying?” he muttered, wiping his mouth with his thumb and angrily setting his glass back on the tray before leaving.

Thanks to Autumn Leaf’s Grasshopper for the reward of 6666 Qidian coins! (Such a pleasing number!)

Thanks to Blue Lightning Wings for the reward of 500 Qidian coins!

Thanks to Reader 20210301106450086568 for the reward of 100 Qidian coins!

(End of this chapter)