Chapter 4 — The Cruise on the High Seas
1036 Words
Xu Suyue exclaimed in shock, “Damn! You’re incredible!”
Lu Mingyu replied calmly, “It’s confidential.”
Xu Suyue said, “Of course I’ll keep it secret! Everyone in the Lu family is insane—except you, of course… Wait, which school are you attending?”
Lu Mingyu responded, “Royal College of Art.”
Xu Suyue blinked. “Huh?”
Lu Mingyu clarified, “The Royal College of Art—the top-ranked art institution in the world.”
Xu Suyue screamed again, “What?! That’s amazing! How did you even get in?!”
Lu Mingyu chuckled at her excitement. “You’ve seen my portfolio.”
Something occurred to Xu Suyue, and she asked, “But a school like that must be crazy expensive, right? Didn’t the Lu family cut you off? How did you handle the financial documents? And what about living expenses and accommodation? Also, when did you even take the IELTS?”
The more she thought about it, the more impossible it all seemed.
She couldn’t figure it out, no matter how hard she tried.
Lu Mingyu said, “Do you remember half a year ago? When you came back home for the spring holiday?”
Xu Suyue paused. “Yeah! You said your room was too small, so you were painting in my basement. You worked on a huge piece, didn’t you?”
Lu Mingyu nodded. “I shipped it to a gallery in Yaodu and sold it.”
After taxes and commissions, the remaining amount barely met the minimum financial requirement for RCA.
Xu Suyue was dumbfounded. “That painting sold for that much?! Oh my god, Lu Mingyu, you’re a genius!”
Lu Mingyu replied, “The buyer was generous. I didn’t expect it either.”
Xu Suyue kept gushing, “But your planning is insane! You even chose a gallery in Yaodu on purpose! No wonder the Lu family didn’t suspect a thing—I didn’t either! And now you’re suddenly in London!”
Lu Mingyu couldn’t help but laugh at her antics.
Xu Suyue then frowned. “But… what about your grandmother?”
Lu Mingyu’s smile faded. “They didn’t let me see her for three whole years. There’s no point in dragging it out.”
Her room was tucked away at the far end of the third floor in the main building, while her grandmother’s was in a small annex in the back courtyard. Though they lived in the same estate, the Lu family made sure the two never crossed paths—not once in three years.
Her grandfather had passed early, and the family’s affairs were dictated by her uncle, Lu Qiuliang.
Lu Mingyu’s father was the second son, who had given up his inheritance and moved to Yaodu with her mother.
Lu Mingyu had been born, raised, and schooled there. The three of them had been happy.
But when she was twelve, a car accident took her parents’ lives.
The Lu family brought her back to Xizi City.
From that moment, everything changed.
Xu Suyue cursed under her breath. “Forget them! Eat well, live comfortably. If you need anything, just tell me—I’ll send you money. Just study hard, I’ll take care of you!”
—
Three months later.
A colossal cruise ship set sail from Xiangshan Bay, gliding slowly into the open sea.
Inside, lights shimmered with opulence. It was a playground of excess, teeming with revelers and extravagant indulgence.
The elevator descended slowly from the top deck. As soon as the doors opened, several bodyguards stepped forward, blocking the passengers’ view.
At the center walked a tall man clad in a sleek black collarless suit. His presence was magnetic, commanding attention even in passing, yet he moved so quickly that no one managed a good look.
Beside him was another young man of similar age, striding confidently and never straying from his side.
Yan Tianzuo, in a flamboyant floral shirt, trailed just half a step behind Duan Xiuming, chattering non-stop.
“Brother Ming, I want to go to Xizi City too! When this whole thing’s over, can’t I trade assignments with Zhan Xiang?”
Duan Xiuming ignored him, clearly in no mood for conversation.
Unaware of his mood, Yan Tianzuo went on, “Zhan Xiang says Xizi City is drop-dead gorgeous! I want to see the ancient trees too—and sip tea in one of those forest bars!”
Duan Xiuming gave a strange, twisted smile. “Xizi…”
Yan Tianzuo lit up. “Yes! That’s the place! Xizi City, land of Xizi beauties! I can’t wait! When we wrap up business in Xiangjiang, take me with you, okay? I want to see those stunning Southern belles!”
Duan Xiuming’s smile vanished. His eyes turned icy, and his steps grew longer and faster.
Xizi City, Xizi beauties—what a joke.
She vanished into thin air. He had searched for three months—nothing.
Only then did Yan Tianzuo notice Duan Xiuming’s expression. He instantly shut up and lowered his head.
Had he said something wrong?
What…?
—
In one of the cruise’s lavish dining rooms, three women and one man sat around a table.
Lu Mingyu was quietly eating her meal.
Xu Wenjun looked over. “Mingyu, aren’t you going to enjoy the last day? Come to the casino with us?”
Lu Mingyu shook her head. “I’m broke.”
Xu Wenjun smiled generously. “No worries, I’ll cover you. Just play some small games.”
Lu Mingyu shook her head again. “I don’t gamble.”
He tried once more. “Well, you don’t have to gamble. Just come in and have a look. You’re already here, after all.”
Xu Suyue glared at him. “Can you stop already? She said no—are you deaf or what?!”
Xu Wenjun didn’t respond again, but his mood clearly soured.
Lu Mingyu’s mood was even worse.
She had flown in from Xiangjiang Airport on a whim, thinking it might be inspiring for her art to see more of the world.
She boarded this specific cruise ship because she’d heard the owner was an avid art collector—supposedly, original works by world-renowned artists adorned the halls…
- Writer
