Chapter 19: Such Perfect Harmony

"You overbearing man, let me go! I will not go out to sea with you. Let me go... You will regret this, you will definitely regret this!" Tong Xiaoman struggled, pulling back with all her might. The sight of the swaying, restless ocean filled her with a chilling sense of terror.

"No." Nalan Che uttered the word firmly. He would only regret it if he didn't bring her on board. Seeing her struggle and refuse to move, he simply scooped her up as if she were a sack of rice and strode rapidly toward the cruise ship.

Tong Xiaoman shrieked in fury, pounding on his back with her hands. "Nalan Che, you jerk! Put me down! Do you hear me? Put me down..."

He didn't even listen, determined to have his way. He boarded the ship, stepped onto the deck, and immediately ordered his subordinates to set sail.

By the time the cruise ship pulled away from the shore, Liu Yan and his team arrived too late to give chase.

Nalan Che suddenly noticed that Tong Xiaoman had gone quiet—so quiet that it felt wrong.

He quickly set her down, only to see that her face was deathly pale. A look of sheer terror was etched on her features, and her small hands were clutching tightly to the hem of his shirt.

Something was very wrong with her.

Nalan Che frowned, reached out to pat her cheek, and asked in a low, concerned voice, "Tong Xiaoman, what's the matter?"

"Water, so much water... Don't... don't leave me behind..." Tong Xiaoman screamed. Suddenly, a massive wave crashed against the hull, causing the ship to sway, and her fear became overwhelming.

She gripped his shirt tightly and collapsed into his arms, falling unconscious.

"Tong Xiaoman!" Nalan Che carried her quickly into a cabin and laid her on the soft bed.

Even in her stupor, she continued to struggle, murmuring in her sleep as if trapped in a harrowing nightmare. Her body trembled violently, and her breathing was ragged.

She was in pain.

Nalan Che immediately unbuttoned her collar to help her breathe more easily, then ordered his attendant to bring a medical kit and injected her with a sedative.

Tong Xiaoman finally grew still and drifted into a deep sleep.

Nalan Che sat by the bedside, narrowing his eyes as he looked at her with a hint of confusion. Even in her pale, disheveled state, she could not hide her captivating, peerless beauty.

What a tempting little siren.

"Little Savage, regardless of your past, I will be responsible for your future." His magnetic voice, sounding like a spell, whispered low in her ear.

She was a beacon of light; no matter where she went, she inevitably drew his gaze.

His fingertips brushed gently against her face, sweeping away the messy strands of hair. He traced the line of her straight nose down to her pale lips. He still remembered how soft and sweet they were—like a masterpiece crafted by the heavens, they were a perfect match for his own.

He gazed at her with burning eyes, the corners of his lips curling upward. A cryptic, enigmatic smile played across his handsome, domineering face.

The night, like spilled ink, gradually stained the azure sky into a deep indigo black. Tiny, shimmering stars peeked through the thin clouds, scattered across the firmament alongside a crescent moon. They twinkled and danced, their reflections shimmering on the calm surface of the sea, as if the water had been inlaid with exquisite crushed diamonds—brilliant, beautiful, and dazzling.

Tong Xiaoman slowly opened her eyes, gazing up at the luxuriously decorated ceiling.