JR Chapter 39

Jiang Yuanmu didn’t answer Mo Lin’s question. He seemed a bit angry and just stood on the pier, staring intently at Mo Lin, scrutinizing her.

“Are you okay?”

Mo Lin was puzzled. “What’s wrong?”

Only then did Jiang Yuanmu seem to breathe a sigh of relief. “Why was your phone off?” His voice was still deep.

Mo Lin was taken aback and pulled out her phone, realizing it had been off since it overheated and shut down earlier. She had been using Lulu’s phone to take photos and hadn’t noticed.

“It overheated and shut off by itself.”

As soon as Mo Lin finished speaking, Ji Ming, who had caught up, exclaimed breathlessly.

“You scared us to death, sis. You can’t do this. He was terrified, and I got exhausted too…”

Mo Lin immediately understood. “I wasn’t in any danger.” She looked at Jiang Yuanmu, “Sorry, I thought I explained everything clearly in my message.”

Jiang Yuanmu responded, “It was clear.”

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have found her.

A five-day, four-night trip with no signal and no way to respond to messages or calls—Jiang Yuanmu could only think of a sea voyage. It was a last-minute plan, and a large group trip wouldn’t work. Only a private small group sea trip was possible. Such trips were rare, and finding one at this specific time even more so. A quick check with travel agencies confirmed it.

On the way, both Ji Ming and his rational mind kept reminding him that Mo Lin just wanted to take a trip to relax and think about their relationship.

Even Jiang Yuanmu knew that she must have left in such a hurry to escape him, not even packing her clothes and luggage.

In their contract, in Jiang Yuanmu’s previous understanding, at any moment in the past, Jiang Yuanmu believed that in such a situation, he would remain polite and gentlemanly, giving Mo Lin the time and space she needed to think about what she wanted and didn’t want.

What he needed was just to wait for Mo Lin’s decision.

In relationships, knowing when to advance and retreat determines a qualified partner.

But…

But there’s always this “but.”

All politeness, rationality, and ideal states lost control of his body in the chaos of emotions.

When he couldn’t reach her by phone, he couldn’t control his worry. When there was no reply to his messages, he couldn’t help but think wildly.

In the car, his friends’ dissuasion and rational tugging felt like countless ropes trying to pull him back to his original position. But his pounding heart was like an uncontrollable wild bull, breaking all the shackles.

He wanted to see her.

This was his only thought.

To confirm her safety, to confirm that there was no disgust in her expression towards him.

That would be enough.

Rationality said that was enough and that he should leave.

So Jiang Yuanmu turned and boarded the sailboat beside him.

“Boss, really, are you going?” Ji Ming panicked, starting to tug at Jiang Yuanmu as he followed him onto the boat.

He Ye also looked at Cheng Lulu, who was ignoring him, and boarded the sailboat.

Mo Lin turned back to exchange a glance with Cheng Lulu, who was pretending to be busy.

Cheng Lulu thought for a moment and shook her sunscreen visor, “Let them come along. With two boats, let’s see what they can do.”

Mo Lin looked at the cabin of the other boat and lowered her gaze slightly. She touched her heart, without saying a word.

On the other side, Ji Ming watched as Jiang Yuanmu threw his simple backpack on the floor of the master bedroom and tried to persuade him earnestly, “You’ve seen her, she’s fine! We should go back. If you’re really worried, He Ye can go. It’s not great for his live stream to take a sudden break, but it won’t affect much. You…”

Jiang Yuanmu sat on the bed in the master bedroom, looking at Ji Ming. “I should be able to take leave too. Five days and four nights. After the team-building event, you’ll need to handle the company’s matters.”

“But… the company’s matters are important.”

“There are many important things.”

Jiang Yuanmu noticed a strand of hair caught in the zipper of his grey sun-protective jacket. It wasn’t completely black, appearing somewhat dark brown in the sunlight streaming into the cabin.

It was Mo Lin’s hair.

Jiang Yuanmu grasped the strand in his palm. “Right now, I think I’ve encountered something more important.”

Ji Ming, somewhat sarcastically, retorted, “Your love?”

Jiang Yuanmu actually smiled. “The company won’t go bankrupt in five days and four nights.”

“Then I won’t have time to play!” Ji Ming lamented. Knowing Jiang Yuanmu wouldn’t be dissuaded, he sighed deeply. “Fine. Since starting this company, you haven’t taken a break. You’ve been as diligent as if you never had a job… You’ve made up your mind. As your bro, I have to support you. You go have fun, I’ll stay and watch over the base.”

Jiang Yuanmu glanced at Ji Ming. “It’s not that exhausting. The company has its operational logic.”

“I don’t care, I’m the one who’s tired. Still, with me, your capable partner, President Jiang, you can just enjoy.”

Ji Ming disembarked, leaving Jiang Yuanmu, He Ye, and their four crew members on the blue sailboat.

Ji Ming watched the two semi-automatic sailboats leave the dock and head towards the vast sea. He clasped his hands and muttered a prayer to the blue ocean:

“Heaven help him succeed this time! If he’s working overtime, I’ll take it. He loves to work! Let him do more, and I’ll do less…”

Of course, those on the boat couldn’t hear Ji Ming’s words. After an hour at sea, they couldn’t even hear each other due to the turbulence caused by the wind and waves.

The once-enthusiastic Cheng Lulu, who had declared, “I want to be the Pirate King!” was now seasick.

She lay limp on the side of the boat, having vomited until she was dehydrated and weak as a dried seaweed, her energy sapped by the waves and the rocking boat.

Mo Lin first felt numbness in her fingers, then in her legs, before moving to the opposite side of the boat to vomit.

Their seasickness affected the captain, sailor, and navigator, who also began to vomit. Only the tour guide, who was in better physical condition, remained busy providing water and care for everyone.

The crew, used to this, recovered quickly, and the captain dutifully explained to the exhausted and nearly deaf Mo Lin and Cheng Lulu, “The sea is rough today. Seasickness is worse. Hang in there; you’ll get used to it.”

Mo Lin found that closing her eyes and trying to sleep made her feel a bit better. She attempted to rest inside the cabin, but as she made her way below deck, she immediately felt worse.

The smell of engine oil was strong inside, and the close proximity of items made her dizziness even worse in the swaying environment. She quickly climbed back up to the deck, feeling even more nauseous.

She met the tour guide’s meaningful gaze and finally understood the words spoken before departure.

So, this trip had its share of discomfort for many travelers.

Mo Lin decided to lie down on the deck.

On the other boat, Jiang Yuanmu and He Ye were not spared by fate either.

Both of them were leaning over their respective railings, vomiting extensively. They tried to glance towards the direction of Cheng Lulu and Mo Lin occasionally.

On the vast sea, with the distance between the boats, they could only see the outline of the other boat and vague figures. Seeing clearly amidst the rocking was impossible.

Their captain, who had already vomited and recovered, told them, “Hang in there. The sea is a bit rough today. We have to sail for over twenty hours to reach the first reef stopping point.”

Jiang Yuanmu fought his dizziness and asked the captain, “Can you contact the other boat and check on their situation? Do they need to turn back?”

“Wait a moment, I’ll use the radio to ask.”

Meanwhile, on “the other boat,” Cheng Lulu and Mo Lin had wedged themselves into the gaps between the dining table and the “sofa,” falling asleep in exhaustion.

The fixed dining table and seats on the deck provided a snug fit when padded with thick blankets.

Once they lay down and closed their eyes, the dizziness lessened, and the rocking boat felt more like a gently swaying cradle, making them feel much more comfortable.

When the captain and tour guide asked if they wanted to turn back, they both waved their hands, not wanting to be disturbed.

They dared not open their eyes or eat anything, as the bathroom was inside the cabin, and going down would be even more painful.

The sailboats continued their journey from day into night, constantly buffeted by wind and waves. At one point, the waves grew stronger, lifting the bow of the sailboat high and then slamming it down hard, with spray splashing onto Mo Lin’s face.

Mo Lin didn’t wake up, and she couldn’t tell if she was unconscious or asleep during those twenty-plus hours. She remained wedged between the sofa and the dining table, eyes closed.

She occasionally heard sounds—the relentless waves, the crew’s conversations, Cheng Lulu’s cries…

Yes, her cries…

“I feel like I’m dying… Ugh… I’m dying…”

Mo Lin wanted to open her eyes and check on Cheng Lulu but couldn’t manage it.

Half-asleep, she thought of the other boat. How were they doing? Was Jiang Yuanmu also feeling terrible? Was he…

Already complaining about her on the boat…

The journey, muddled with semi-consciousness and constant waves, finally came to an end when the boat anchored.

Cheng Lulu had stopped crying, but Mo Lin hadn’t woken up until someone gently lifted her, wiped her face with a cool towel, and rubbed her eyes. Slowly, she emerged from her stupor.

To her surprise, the person she saw wasn’t supposed to be on her boat—Jiang Yuanmu.

Jiang Yuanmu breathed a sigh of relief, a mix of exasperation and amusement in his voice. “They said you passed out from seasickness. I didn’t believe it at first…”

Mo Lin sat up, realizing she had been lying on the sofa, cradled in Jiang Yuanmu’s arms. Behind him was the stunning sunset and ocean, a view unseen in the city or nearshore areas.

Jiang Yuanmu looked exhausted, his face was pale.

But his eyes were bright, filled with her reflection.

In that moment, perhaps due to the seasickness unbalancing her heart rate, Mo Lin felt her fingertips twitch as she looked into Jiang Yuanmu’s eyes. She wanted to reach out and touch his face.

But she stopped herself as soon as she realized it.

“Why are you here?” Mo Lin lowered her gaze, choosing to ask.

“The captain contacted us via radio, saying your seasickness was severe. He Ye and I took a dinghy to check on you.”

“And… you? Seasick?”

“It was rough on the way, but once we stopped and the waves calmed, it got better.”

Mo Lin nodded, noticing the cool towel in Jiang Yuanmu’s hand. “Thank you for caring about me.”

Jiang Yuanmu nodded too. “You’re welcome. Given my feelings for you, it’s only natural.”

“Then… thank you for your feelings.”

Jiang Yuanmu raised an eyebrow. “Are you rejecting me?”

Mo Lin was taken aback. “I didn’t mean that. I’m just genuinely grateful.” She thought for a moment and explained, “Very few people care about me like this. I appreciate your feelings.”

“Perhaps…” Jiang Yuanmu turned to Mo Lin, “you should prepare a thank-you gift, like reciprocating my feelings.”

Mo Lin turned to him, staring intently. Their eyes met, and there was a hint of playfulness in both.

“Forced deals aren’t part of modern business etiquette.”

“Just trying to fight for what I want, I am not really breaking any rules.” Jiang Yuanmu paused, then looked at Mo Lin seriously, “I fight for what I want, and you choose what you want. Whatever the outcome, I have no objections.”

Their gazes locked, emotions roiling like the waves from the previous night.

Mo Lin turned away, raising her hand to touch her chest.

Something seemed to be stirring within her.