Reply to Keats - Chap 53
53. Don’t Play Tricks, Chen Wan
Chen Wan kept his gaze fixed on Zhao Shengge’s face with extreme restraint, refusing to let it drop lower. Yet Zhao Shengge’s body, no matter the part, had an undeniable presence. Chen Wan appeared composed on the surface, but his mind was already in a haze.
Zhao Shengge walked barefoot along the edge of the pool. Chen Wan strode ahead, picked up the shoes, bent down, and placed them by his feet.
Zhao Shengge looked down at him as he bowed his head in submission, then suddenly pulled him up. He put the shoes on himself but didn’t let go of Chen Wan’s arm. As a result, that part of Chen Wan’s arm turned damp and very warm from the contact.
Worried that Zhao Shengge might catch a cold, and aware that servants occasionally passed by the path, Chen Wan took a white towel and said, “Want to put this on?”
Zhao Shengge wrinkled his nose slightly as if finding it troublesome. But Chen Wan continued holding the towel up with both arms, so Zhao Shengge leaned forward slightly. Chen Wan caught on and draped it over his shoulders.
His arms passed around Zhao Shengge’s back from the front, creating a fleeting illusion of an embrace.
Zhao Shengge lowered his head, quiet and docile like a big cat, letting Chen Wan handle him as he pleased.
The wet tips of his hair brushed against Chen Wan’s cheek and earlobe. Droplets of water landed on his shoulder one by one.
Chen Wan held his breath, suppressing his wildly beating heart that couldn’t take such provocation. Even the effortless smile he wore lost some of its ease.
It wasn’t that he saw him through rose-tinted glasses, but Zhao Shengge truly was a feast for the eyes. When he was younger and hadn’t yet acquired this air of mystery and authority, some had called him a male model of the negotiation table.
Once the towel was in place, Chen Wan helped him gather his belongings, and they walked back to the villa together.
There were more servants around the villa area. Zhao Shengge kept his gaze straight ahead, walking as if no one else existed.
Chen Wan escorted him to the door. Zhao Shengge asked, “Coming in?”
Chen Wan was sorely tempted, but he shook his head. “It’s late. I’m heading out to sea with Dr. Fang early tomorrow.”
The research vessel and the unmanned boat were scheduled to arrive on the island in the early hours of the morning. The following day would involve the most comprehensive data collection to date. The workload was considerable, so departure was planned at dawn.
Zhao Shengge simply said, “Good night, Chen Wan.”
“Good night, Zhao Shengge.”
Chen Wan waited until he went inside, then returned to his own room. He locked himself in the bathroom, staring at himself in the mirror with self-loathing.
The sound of running water filled the air. Someone murmured a name with equal parts longing and anguish, “Zhao Shengge…”
On the last day at Ting Island, Explorer set sail. The weather had improved from the day before; the wind and waves were relatively mild.
Although not particularly large, the research ship stood out clearly at sea. Li Shenghui had assigned several additional personnel to serve under Zhao Shengge’s command. Though Zhao Shengge’s team was elite, they were unfamiliar with the area.
Today’s voyage would be two to three times longer than yesterday’s, passing through various ports, docks, and villages. To ensure smooth passage, Li Shenghui had even suggested that one of his most trusted deputies, Lin Lian, accompany them. Among the tribal fishermen and locals, Lin Lian’s presence was as effective as Li Shenghui’s own, ensuring that no one would obstruct or trouble them.
No one knew what benefits Zhao Shengge had promised Li Shenghui. But after reaching a consensus through a private discussion in the tea room, the latter had acted as if pledging loyalty to an emperor.
Zhao Shengge appreciated the gesture. Favoring the strategy of allying with the distant and attacking the near, and given that Ting Island posed no real threat, he was willing to pursue diplomacy to achieve a win-win outcome.
Chen Wan raised no objections; he had already investigated the backgrounds of several of Li Shenghui’s deputies down to the eighteenth generation.
The Explorer was Minglong’s most significant project in recent years, apart from Whale Ship No. 17. It was co-developed with the mainland and built there, marking the first major cooperative scientific research venture between the two sides. The project has generated tremendous buzz across the Asia-Pacific region and even globally.
The ocean surface was calm. After Fang Jian completed the final data collection, Explorer began its return journey. Chen Wan, thinking about how he and Zhao Shengge would be heading alone to Beach 19—also known as Feiling Island—the next day, couldn’t help but feel a flutter of eager anticipation.
Two hours later, the research ship signaled for docking. The engine sounded slightly louder than usual.
Zhao Shengge was listening to Fang Jian discuss assumptions about upper-layer sediment displacement in marine rock formations. Chen Wan was comparing real-time readings of tidal energy flux. When he happened to glance up, he narrowed his eyes.
Although the vessel had signaled to dock, the bow had not turned at all. Any farther forward, and they would enter a zone of dangerous undercurrents.
A sudden sense of unease washed over Chen Wan. Without alerting anyone, he placed a hand on the Beretta at his waist and walked over to the window to observe.
Lin Lian, who had been guarding the deck all day, seemed to sense it too. He gave Chen Wan an extremely subtle nod.
Li Jiaming!
The promises Zhao Shengge had made to Li Shenghui in recent days had effectively backed Li Jiaming into a corner, leaving him with no room to retreat. They had been on high alert the entire time, wary of Li Jiaming’s next move.
Despite all their precautions, a mistake had still slipped through on the very last day. Chen Wan reviewed everything in his mind but couldn’t pinpoint where the failure had occurred.
The ship had docked once that day, and every part of it had been manned.
Li Jiaming’s people were clever. The vessel was now in a dangerous bay with weak signal coverage, making it difficult to detect whether the navigation route had veered off course.
But Chen Wan had grown up fighting his way in Xiaolan Mountain. He possessed a natural sensitivity to danger and a vigilance honed through experience.
He walked up to Zhao Shengge. A single glance was all it took for the other man to understand.
Without another word, Zhao Shengge immediately ordered Fang Jian to be taken to the lower cabin. They had enough bodyguards on board, including both Zhao Shengge’s men and those sent by Li Shenghui. But it was anyone’s guess… how many outsiders had slipped in.
They were exposed, while the enemy remained hidden. The ship was still drifting in open waters, the weather was changing, and the helm was now in enemy hands.
Zhao Shengge remained composed as he contacted his deputy and simultaneously sent their location to Li Shenghui. Then he pulled Chen Wan along and entered an area accessible only through Zhao Shengge’s facial recognition.
Chen Wan grabbed his wrist in return, his voice low and steady. “Zhao Shengge, you go to the secure cabin.”
The verification zone was only temporarily safe. If Lin Lian failed to identify and neutralize Li Jiaming’s people quickly, the entire ship’s system could be compromised.
Although Explorer was only a medium-sized research vessel, it had exceptionally strong capabilities. It could perform virtual anchoring, deploy deep-sea base stations, conduct vertical localization cruising, multi-beam seabed mapping, and other underwater operations. It was also equipped with a secure compartment.
The secure compartment functioned like an emergency Noah’s Ark—resistant to low temperatures and high pressure. Bullets meant nothing; even a bomb exploding on the ship wouldn’t damage the cabin.
In an emergency, the compartment could automatically detach from the main vessel and maintain stable operation at a depth of fifty meters below sea level. It was capable of continuing to function through hurricanes and turbulent waves for up to 72 hours, and it was equipped with a positioning system, enough for those inside to await rescue.
However, this kind of small compartment was made from a new type of fully enclosed, high-pressure material. Its impenetrability also meant extremely strong airtightness and limited oxygen storage. And since this level was already beneath the surface, two people wouldn’t survive long enough for Li Shenghui’s rescue craft to arrive.
A vessel could usually only be outfitted with one or two such compartments. Any more would interfere with the ship’s normal operational functions.
Zhao Shengge looked at him for two seconds and said, “Take me there.”
Seeing that Zhao Shengge didn’t argue, Chen Wan breathed a sigh of relief and escorted him down the gangway to the lower level, beneath the surface.
As soon as the door to the sealed compartment opened, someone behind suddenly shoved Chen Wan inside. He reacted instantly, jamming his gun against the doorframe.
He had kept a backup plan.
Unfortunately, just as Chen Wan understood Zhao Shengge, Zhao Shengge understood Chen Wan just as well.
Zhao Shengge wasn’t the least bit surprised that Chen Wan had held something in reserve. The deck above them began to vibrate abnormally. Zhao Shengge immediately drew a Colt Python revolver.
His hands were large, and the gun exuded a commanding presence. With ease, he knocked away Chen Wan’s compact, refined Beretta and said coolly, “Chen Wan, I don’t want to point a gun at you. You said you’d be obedient. Don’t make me angry at a time like this.”
Explorer had two secure compartments. One had already been assigned to the defenseless Fang Jian. The other, Zhao Shengge had unilaterally decided to give to Chen Wan.
Unluckily, Chen Wan had also unilaterally decided to give it to Zhao Shengge.
Footsteps echoed hurriedly overhead. Zhao Shengge gripped Chen Wan’s wrists with one hand like iron chains, lifted his chin slightly, and ordered gently, “Get in.”
With his other hand, he grabbed a hemp rope from the side of the ship and bound Chen Wan’s wrists tightly, showing no mercy and allowing no resistance.
“No matter what you hear, don’t come out.” Zhao Shengge’s tone wasn’t fierce, but his presence was overwhelming.
“Zhao Shengge,” Chen Wan called, raising his hands, now tied to a pillar. “You tied it too tight. I can’t reach the temperature control button.”
If things truly deteriorated to the point that the secure compartment had to detach from the ship, there was no telling how long it would drift at sea. If it happened to float near an iceberg, the internal temperature would need to be increased. At the very least, those inside needed some basic freedom of movement.
“Don’t play tricks, Chen Wan,” Zhao Shengge warned mildly, but he still returned to adjust the rope, leaving just enough slack for Chen Wan to move around within the cramped space.
Zhao Shengge was extremely cautious and had a powerful grip, giving Chen Wan almost no room to resist.
Although Chen Wan had been in plenty of fights since childhood, his physique and strength were no match for Zhao Shengge’s.
To prevent him from struggling, Zhao Shengge stayed very close—so close that Chen Wan could almost hear the strong beating of his heart.
Chen Wan didn’t appear to be resisting. He simply lowered his eyes and said softly, “Zhao Shengge, I think my wrists still hurt a little.”
Zhao Shengge frowned. Chen Wan didn’t sound like he was whining, yet he still seemed like he was acting spoiled.
In a low voice, Zhao Shengge said, “Be quiet.”
He didn’t want Chen Wan to speak again. His voice disrupted his thoughts too easily.
Seeing the clear red marks left on Chen Wan’s pale wrists, Zhao Shengge’s expression didn’t change in the slightest. Still, he loosened the bindings a little.
Chen Wan didn’t stay quiet. As if accepting his inferiority in skill, he let Zhao Shengge tie his hands. After calming his thoughts, he asked, “Where are you planning to exit later?”
Zhao Shengge didn’t respond. He kept his head down and continued binding him tightly.
Chen Wan leaned in again and said, “Take the starboard side—the escape ladder over there is more hidden.”
Zhao Shengge leaned back slightly, kept his head lowered as he worked, and gave a faint “Mm” to indicate he’d heard.
As Zhao Shengge tied the final knot, Chen Wan gave a few last instructions, but Zhao Shengge didn’t want to talk to him anymore and stayed silent.
“Did you hear what I said?” Chen Wan suddenly placed his hand over Zhao Shengge’s, giving it a light tug.
His hand was soft and warm, the pads of his fingers brushing lightly against Zhao Shengge’s palm.
It was subtle, but enough to make Zhao Shengge frown as if being harassed. He was just about to tell Chen Wan to behave when, in the next second, the hemp rope slipped right out of his hand that had just been tickled.
The rope twisted skillfully, looping around and binding his own wrist instead. Zhao Shengge’s brows furrowed sharply.
While they had been talking, Chen Wan had already undone and redirected the rope without him noticing.
In terms of raw skill and physical strength, Chen Wan couldn’t match Zhao Shengge, who had undergone systematic training from a young age. But when it came to underhanded tricks and dirty tactics, Zhao Shengge was no match for Chen Wan, who had grown up in the chaotic, murky depths of society.
The things Chen Wan knew were far dirtier than anything Zhao Shengge had ever learned.
