If they failed, the entire world would collapse. When that happened, he himself, Zhou Yanxing, Cen Chi—perhaps even every single person in this world—would vanish without a trace.
But there was no suitable candidate within his social circle.
He couldn’t ask someone like Xiao Wang or Xiao Jia—coworkers. Not only would it be too easy to blow their cover, but it’d be unbearably awkward. They saw each other every day. And with Zhou Yanxing’s intimidating aura, those two would probably spill the entire truth before he even opened his mouth.
He couldn’t ask a player like Jiang Yi either.
Fabricating someone out of thin air… wasn’t a viable solution either.
Chi Zhan knew better than anyone: when it came to lying, the most effective strategy was to lace truth with fiction—half real, half false. That way, it was harder to see through.
Preoccupied with his thoughts, Chi Zhan looked up to see Zhou Yanxing already standing outside the door. He’d also showered and changed into a clean black shirt, looking sharp and refreshed as he sized up Chi Zhan.
Chi Zhan’s hair was jet black and fluffy, the tips still slightly damp. Against the backdrop of his fair, clear skin, the image struck Zhou Yanxing—reminding him of a little white kitten he’d once seen in the rain as a child.
Big eyes, soaked through, staring at him so pitifully—yet too afraid to come closer.
When danger came, it would just curl up in a corner, trembling alone, licking its wounds in silence.
Even after being brought home, it wouldn’t dare move a muscle. Only after a long while would it finally leap into his arms.
“You’ve been here this long and haven’t gone out once,” Zhou Yanxing said, arms crossed. “The air in the room isn’t good.”
Every room was equipped with a state-of-the-art air purifier. How could the air possibly be bad?
“President Zhou, maybe we shouldn’t go out. What if that person shows up and tries to hurt you…”
“Let him come. I’m only afraid that he won’t dare to make a move.”
“……”
Most people would do everything they could to stay out of danger. Zhou Yanxing was the only one who ran toward it.
A sudden thought struck Chi Zhan.Â
“President Zhou, how about you wear a tracker too? Just in case something happens, we’ll be able to find you.”
Six little dots of confusion practically appeared over Zhou Yanxing’s head.Â
“Secretary Chi, what exactly do you spend your days thinking about?”
But Chi Zhan truly thought it was a good idea. Since Zhou Yanxing was the key figure here, he should be the one wearing the tracker.
Zhou Yanxing stopped him from removing his watch.Â
“No one can threaten me.”
Chi Zhan frowned.Â
“But I’m worried…”
“What’s there to worry about? I’ve got a tough life. I used to get into fights all the time, never lost once.”
“…?”
“What’s with that look? You don’t believe me?” Zhou Yanxing clicked his tongue. “I’ll give you both hands and let you have three moves—you still wouldn’t land a hit on me.”
“……”
They stepped out onto the deck. The sky over the sea was a deep, inky blue. The weather was on their side tonight. The Milky Way spilled like a silken ribbon across the heavens, studded with a scattering of brilliant stars. Fireworks bloomed over the water—heart-shaped, star-shaped, with long, shimmering tails tinged in gold. It was a stunning, breathtaking sight.
Somewhere, soft and romantic English music played in the background.
People swayed gently to the melody, exchanging quiet words with those beside them.
Chi Zhan’s phone buzzed. It was probably Xiao Wang messaging him. But the fireworks were too beautiful. He wanted to watch them through to the end. The mildly salty sea breeze brushed across his forehead. It felt refreshing.
Zhou Yanxing stood beside him, the hem of his shirt rustling in the wind.
He didn’t particularly care for fireworks. To him, they were all style and no substance.
They couldn’t compare to a good meal. Or a worthwhile investment. But Chi Zhan was clearly absorbed in them, a faint smile playing on his lips. His eyes sparkled, mirroring each burst and bloom of the fireworks—vibrant and dazzling.
It was as if the colors of the entire world were reflected in his eyes.
Zhou Yanxing looked away.
Although this cruise hadn’t been anything remarkable…
These fireworks weren’t half bad.
***
The fireworks show lasted a full two minutes. Only after the final golden streak faded into silence did Chi Zhan take out his phone.
It was indeed a message from Xiao Wang.
[Xiao Wang: Secretary Chi, I looked into the records from that time. No one made any calls. But on Wednesday afternoon, the power went out at the office. Any incoming calls during that period wouldn’t have been logged.]
Zhou Yanxing, however, had taken the matter seriously, calling frequently to check on the investigation. But progress onboard the ship was slow—most people weren’t cooperative, and given their status, they couldn’t be forced to answer questions.
Eventually, they did find someone who fit the criteria. He said he’d injured his hand while peeling an apple, which was why he had on a bandage.
Chi Zhan saw him but didn’t think he matched the person he’d encountered.
He couldn’t help but wonder—had his memory been wrong?
The ship was expected to arrive at its destination around six or seven in the morning. Night had deepened. Chi Zhan forced himself to stay awake, diligently reviewing tomorrow’s work documents, though he couldn’t stop yawning.
Seeing how utterly exhausted Chi Zhan looked, Zhou Yanxing told him to go to bed.
“I’m not sleepy,” Chi Zhan insisted.
“Right. Not sleepy. Your head’s already nodding,” Zhou Yanxing said as he took away the laptop without room for argument. “Sleep.”
Sometimes Chi Zhan was genuinely impressed by Zhou Yanxing. He even suspected the man could go an entire day without rest and still be brimming with energy. How did he manage that?
Was it one of those innate advantages of being a romance target?
Chi Zhan had no choice but to go to bed first.
Before falling asleep, he sent a message to Seven, asking if he’d be at the base tomorrow. If so, they could proceed with the interview.
Seven, as usual, didn’t respond.
He always seemed busy. The timing of his replies felt like pure chance.
If you were lucky, he’d reply quickly. If not, even ten hours could pass with nothing.
Chi Zhan waited a bit but received no reply. Before he knew it, he’d drifted off.
When he next woke, it was to the sound of his alarm. Dawn had just begun to break, the room still dim with early morning haze. Chi Zhan, still groggy, got up to wash. As he glanced toward the living room, he spotted Zhou Yanxing still awake, wearing Bluetooth earbuds and talking on the phone.
The person still hadn’t been found.
