Chapter 24: That Is Too Much

"If they never dock, is there really no way to track their whereabouts?" Zhao Yi’s brow was furrowed so tightly he could have crushed a fly between them.

"You know what kind of position Che holds. If he intends to hide, no one can find him." If he didn't even have that level of capability, how could he possibly be the CEO of the Dicha Group?

Zhao Yi understood that what he said was the truth; he simply hoped that Che would take good care of Xiao Man and keep her safe from harm.

Qin Ran, rarely seeing him so silent, knew he must be deeply worried about Tong Xiao Man. She offered comfort, "Che is a man of responsibility. Since he took Xiao Man away in front of everyone, he will surely look after her."

Zhao Yi sighed, "You know about what happened to Xiao Man when she was a child. She has a fear of the sea..."

"Zhao Yi, you cannot treat her like a flower in a greenhouse forever just because she fears the sea. If she doesn't bravely overcome this obstacle, she will be trapped in the past for the rest of her life."

This voyage might just be an opportunity—an opportunity for her to finally move past her history.

"I understand, but..." Zhao Yi couldn't bring himself to continue.

"Enough with the 'buts.' What is meant to happen will happen. Whether she can overcome it depends on her own fate."

"Alright, sweetheart, I want to see you..."

Before he could finish his sentence, his dedicated assistant entered to remind him, "Mr. Zhao, it is time for the meeting."

Zhao Yi gritted his teeth, "Damn it, tell them not to wait."

A dry, amused chuckle came from the other end of the line as Qin Ran replied, "It’s very unkind to keep the elders waiting. Go to your meeting, I’m busy."

Before he could offer a rebuttal, she hung up the phone without a second thought.

"What a heartless woman." Zhao Yi stared at his disconnected phone, gnashing his teeth in frustration.

"Mr. Zhao, are you ready for the meeting?" his assistant, Jack, asked with practiced patience.

Was that not a ridiculous question? Zhao Yi glared at him before storming off to the meeting, filled with resentment.

***

Hungry, so hungry.

She truly hadn't expected that man's heart to be so cold and so dark. He said he wouldn't give her anything to eat, and he meant it.

Tong Xiao Man had spent the better part of the night starving. Lying on the bed, she nearly gnawed her pillow to shreds.

It was unbearable. She couldn't sleep; her mind was consumed entirely by thoughts of food. She clutched her quilt, tossing from the head of the bed to the foot, from one side to the other, nearly rolling off the edge entirely.

The sensation of hunger felt like an invisible set of claws, raking and scratching at her stomach until it began to cramp.

"Ah..." She couldn't take it anymore. Tong Xiao Man grabbed her pillow and threw it violently onto the floor.

Just then, a faint, tantalizing aroma of food drifted in through the crack in the door. Her stomach let out another loud, rumbling protest.

"This is too much. Eating in the middle of the night—he’s clearly trying to tempt me." Tears streaming down her face, Tong Xiao Man jumped out of bed, cracked the door open, and peered out, sniffing the air deeply.

"Damn it, this is outrageous. He's actually doing it on the deck." He knew full well that stepping out there would trigger her phobia, yet he did it anyway.

Steady footsteps approached from outside. Nalan Che stood before the door and looked at her. "Are you hungry?"

"Isn't that a stupid question?" She was already so famished she felt like skin and bone. Tong Xiao Man’s eyes welled up, and she was on the verge of tears.

"Come." Nalan Che held out his large, sturdy hand toward her.

She shook her head and took a step back, speaking with great difficulty, "I can't. As soon as I see that endless, boundless sea, I just can't endure it..."