Savage Kiss - Chapter 10

Xu Qingyi had no choice but to speak up herself. But just as she reached the door of the cockpit, she saw Shen Yanzhou standing there, she had no idea when he had entered.

Was he the pilot?

Ma Xu followed in from behind, his face stern as he scolded, “The girl hasn’t even gotten off yet, why are you setting sail? Are you blind?”

Standing behind Xu Qingyi, Ma Xu berated Shen Yanzhou while clasping his hands together in a silent plea for mercy.

Shen Yanzhou played along with cautious reluctance. “Then… should we turn back?”

Ma Xu suspected he had deliberately set sail suddenly, was this some kind of guilt-tripping act?

He raised his voice even louder, continuing his performance as the heartless boss: “Do you think this yacht runs on water? It burns fuel, man! You paying for that?”

Shen Yanzhou apologized, “Sorry, I thought she was your guest… Deduct it from my pay.”

Xu Qingyi hadn’t realized turning back would come at such a cost. He was just working a side gig, it couldn’t be easy for him. Her heart softened.

“Forget it, I was too slow getting off.”

Ma Xu immediately jumped in, “Don’t worry, we’ll be back by tonight! Just treat it as a half-day cruise, alright?”

Then he turned back to Shen Yanzhou, still playing the tyrant. “Food on board is limited. Your share goes to the lady, you can starve.”

Shen Yanzhou said nothing more. After setting the yacht on autopilot, he turned and walked out without another word.

Xu Qingyi opened her mouth but couldn’t find the words.

The large fishing yacht had a lounge, a restroom, and an entertainment area.

The food and drinks Ma Xu had brought were already laid out, and a group of people sat in a circle playing cards.

Xu Qingyi was genuinely uncomfortable, but Ma Xu was genuinely enthusiastic, pulling up a chair for her and setting snacks in front of her. “Watch them play, it’s hilarious. They’re all idiots!”

The group immediately started pelting Ma Xu with melon seeds.

Food was limited?

Shen Yanzhou had disappeared somewhere but eventually returned, only to find the last remaining seat was next to her.

He sat down without hesitation, though he didn’t speak to her.

“Ma Xu, is this your girlfriend?” someone asked with a grin while shuffling the cards.

Ma Xu kicked the guy under the table but kept smiling. “She’s Shen Yanzhou’s friend.”

All eyes turned to Shen Yanzhou.

He remained indifferent, neither confirming nor denying.

The group, all sharp-witted, quickly changed the subject, shouting, “Whoever loses this round has to jump in and play mermaid!”

Xu Qingyi couldn’t stand sitting there any longer. While they were distracted, she slipped away to the other side to admire the sea view.

The sun was nearly set, and the horizon was painted with a breathtaking sunset.

She had wanted to take a photo, but when she caught Shen Yanzhou approaching out of the corner of her eye, she froze in place.

He stopped right beside her and didn’t move.

What was he doing?

Xu Qingyi waited, but he remained silent, making her feel like she was running out of air.

Then, suddenly, he leaned down, his arm reaching past her.

The movement was eerily similar to that day in the car when he had opened the door for her.

Xu Qingyi instinctively leaned back, her heart pounding so hard she couldn’t stand.

Only to realize he was just reaching for the fishing rod beside her.

So… she had taken the seat Shen Yanzhou usually used for fishing?

“Stay seated,” Shen Yanzhou muttered disinterestedly before tossing the fishing line back into the water.

Silence fell between them.

The sky darkened.

Finally, the yacht began its return journey.

Out of nowhere, Shen Yanzhou spoke. “Ma Xu has a wife.”

Xu Qingyi turned to look at him, baffled. She wasn’t in charge of the Book of Matches, why was he telling her this?

And the way he said it… carried an inexplicable weight.

“Who is Ma Xu?” she asked.

Shen Yanzhou pulled his gaze back from the sea and looked down at her.

“Weren’t you playing with him?”

Playing?

Xu Qingyi understood exactly what he meant by “playing”, it was the kind of purely physical relationship he had mentioned in the car that night.

She blinked, piecing it together. “You mean the restaurant owner?”

“I took a side job delivering something to his yacht, but before I could get off, we set sail. There’s nothing between us.”

The corner of Shen Yanzhou’s mouth seemed to twitch slightly.

He didn’t believe her?

That did bother Xu Qingyi a little.

“Last night, I sent the message to you by mistake. Sorry.”

Was that it?

He must have seen the text and assumed she was sending it to a new fling, Ma Xu.

It wasn’t like she just picked up random guys off the street for fun.

Whatever.

She didn’t feel like explaining further. “Think whatever you want.”

Shen Yanzhou stared at her face for a long time, his expression unreadable, half-hidden in the dim ocean light.

Over the past few days, Shen Yanzhou had regretted turning her down in the car.

When the fishing boat docked, Xu Qingyi felt as if she had just been released from prison, finally free of tension.

As she descended the ladder, Ma Xu, seeing Shen Yanzhou make no move to help, stepped forward to offer a hand.

Xu Qingyi thanked him but didn’t take his help. Instead, she jumped down lightly on her own, landing steadily.

Ma Xu gasped, “Holy shit!” His heart nearly leapt out of his throat.

The girl looked so delicate and fair, if she had fallen, it would have been disastrous.

Shen Yanzhou immediately turned his head, taking a large step forward, his hand halfway outstretched.

Xu Qingyi didn’t notice. She waved at Ma Xu and hurried off.

Ma Xu tentatively glanced at Shen Yanzhou. “Where does she live? Is it far? She doesn’t have a car.”

Shen Yanzhou shoved his hands back into his pockets. “Asking so many questions… why? are you offering her a ride?”

Then he walked past Ma Xu and left.

Ma Xu watched as Shen Yanzhou followed Xu Qingyi at a distance, clearly intending to see her home.

He pulled out his phone and sent Shen Yanzhou a WeChat message: [Bro, my bad. I thought you and the little missus were fighting and wanted to help patch things up. Tomorrow at “Heartbreaker,” my treat!]

The beach wasn’t too far from her apartment, but Xu Qingyi was dressed lightly and felt chilly. Besides, she wasn’t in the mood for a walk, so she hailed a ride.

As she got into the car, she caught a glimpse of Shen Yanzhou standing not far away.

Back in her room, Xu Qingyi took a quick shower and logged into the game.

“Mi” immediately pulled her into a team and started a match.

After two rounds, Xu Qingyi felt bored and logged off. “Mi,” noticing how aggressively she had been plowing through the game that night, cautiously asked:

[Bad mood? Want me to take you to a bar?]

[Are you by the coast? There’s a place called “Heartbreaker.”]

[My ex’s new flame works there. Mind checking them out for me?]

It was a small favor, so Xu Qingyi agreed.

“Heartbreaker” was the hottest bar in the coastal district.

Once inside, Xu Qingyi video-called “Mi Baby” on WeChat, pointing the camera outward.

She let “Mi Baby” scan the crowd to see if the person she was looking for was among the night’s entertainers.

But “Mi Baby” got distracted, squealing, “So hot, so hot! Qi Bao, can you get his WeChat for me?”

Xu Qingyi knew her friend was usually flighty, constantly sending her photos of muscular men, loving one today and another tomorrow. She thought it was just another joke.

Turns out, she actually wanted her to go ask.

Xu Qingyi followed the camera’s direction and saw three men sitting in a booth by the edge.

Her eyes immediately landed on Shen Yanzhou.

“You want his WeChat?”