The stressful examination week finally came to an end. For some majors, classes would continue, but for Qin Wei, the semester had ended.
Although there were still many unsatisfactory parts on the test papers, they had already been handed in, so there was no way to correct those parts anymore.
After all, time cannot flow backwards...
A passing grade will do.
Some matters need perfection, such as polishing a film or TV production. Other matters just need to get by, like exams. One must learn to let go of oneself.
The start of vacation also meant the start of work. The accumulated advertisements and event recordings had to be completed by someone, it seemed work had returned to its tracks, the same as many years ago - standing under the spotlight, receiving attention and adoration.
Yet it also seemed a little different...
"Weiwei, have you received the invitation to the New Year's Eve party? It's been decided, on the Prince Cruise Ship, when the ship will sail into international waters. At midnight on New Year's when crossing into the new year, there will be fireworks over the ocean."
At an event, Qin Wei met Shen Qingqing. She was well-informed, and knew more details earlier than others.
"Oh, yes, I received it," Qin Wei nodded.
The most popular entertainers had all received it. It was a rare industry gathering at the end of the year.
Having regained A-list status and become the spokesperson for three international top brands, Qin Wei had received the invitation early on.
Shen Qingqing started looking forward to it, "I know the owner of that cruise line. I'll have him prepare the best rooms for us, and I'll send over a case of fine wine and fresh ingredients earlier too. We can celebrate again that night!"
Seeing Shen Qingqing say this, Qin Wei's eyes brimmed with laughter.
That's right, it was different from the past - she used to only have herself, but now she had many good friends, and they loved each other sincerely.
...
On December 31st, the wind at the harbor was strong. Stepping out from the air-conditioned car, the chill could be felt distinctly. The wind carried moisture and was icy cold and piercing.
Having to wear thin yet beautiful dresses in this season was simply preposterous...
"Put this on, don't catch a cold."
Qin Wei breathed into her hands. Suddenly, her shoulders felt a weight - a thick men's coat was draped over them. Turning back to look, it was...
"Su Yang? Aren't you cold?"
Su Yang shook his head, "I'm not cold. This is Kai Ge's coat... Don't refuse it. He knew you would refuse it, so he deliberately avoided suspicion..."
Qin Wei turned her head and saw Shen Kai standing not far away, wearing a thin yet impeccable suit, standing tall in the cold wind.
She was a little touched, but not swayed emotionally. Still, it was for her sake, so Qin Wei felt she should express her warmth, "I'll have my assistant bring him ginger soup when I go up..."
Having said that, she looked at Su Yang again:
"Haven't seen you in a long time, what have you been busy with?"
"My thesis."
Su Yang sniffed, thinking of his thesis made him feel even more dejected. He hugged his pitiful self,
"I've only written 10,000 words so far."
Qin Wei asked him, "How many more words do you need?"
Su Yang pinched his philtrum, "My wish is to get my degree before 40."
Alright.
After all, they were good friends. Qin Wei really didn't want to keep pouring salt on his wounds. She tried hard to change the topic, then went aboard the ship. Just as Shen Qingqing said, their rooms were among the best on the cruise.
The single rooms were relatively spacious compared to cruise ship standards, though much smaller than hotel rooms on land of course. But the exquisite layout and completeness made up for it.
After a brief rest, everyone gathered in the ballroom. The cruise was far bigger than most people imagined - medium sized cruise ships like this could easily accommodate over 2,000 people.
The ballroom here was also very big, like being on land. If you didn't look out the window at the vast ocean, you wouldn't even feel you were on a ship.
The party tonight would be held here. Before midnight, all attendees would go up to the top deck to watch the spectacular fireworks over the ocean.
More and more people gradually arrived. Qin Wei saw not only Shen Qingqing, YouYou and Wei Lai, but many directors and entertainers she had worked with before too. After brief small talk, she finally saw her roommate.
"That crown isn't bad. I think it suits me more."
Qin Wei's gaze was first drawn to the accessory she was wearing today - that unattainable diamond crown she had seen on the 22nd floor before.
"If you think it suits you, go buy it yourself. As spokesperson for DB customized jewelry, I can give you an 20% discount."
Qiao Sixiao raised her champagne glass,
"Long time no see. Do you have time now to tell me why there's 500,000 less in my card?"
"Bought some things," Qin Wei clinked her non-alcoholic bubble water against her glass,
"Don't fuss over it. I bought..."
Qin Wei's smile faded a little,
"I'll tell you about it later. I need to step out for a bit."
Qiao Sixiao assumed she just wanted to gloss over it, so didn't pursue it further, busy with networking instead. Qin Wei put her glass down, took a glass of champagne, and left the ballroom.
She followed that hurrying figure, leaving the cabin and walking down the stairs towards the staff area.
The long missing Huo Yu had actually appeared on the cruise!
...
Speaking of which, a month ago, Qin Wei had passed the thing Mu Chen wanted to him - a customized fountain pen from Montblanc, a gift she received from her father when she turned 18. But she didn't care for it, throwing it on the tea table for years and gradually forgetting about it, just like she forgot about that father of hers.
She had lived 18 years, and in her memories only saw him 6 times in elementary school, every time he would only stay home half a day before hurriedly leaving again. She never saw him after that, except that year she turned 18 and received a gift from him.
But money meant little to Qin Wei at that time, she didn't care for his gift.
Later when she remembered it, she passed the item to Mu Chen, unaware that the pen's base had a hidden compartment that required some skill to open. Supposedly there was a chip inside that recorded the whereabouts of that huge sum of money, along with account and login details.
There were also records of various illegal transactions - the tainted history behind the meteoric rise of Fire Rain Group's top management.
The hidden net was tightening step by step.
Qin Wei didn't actually know the specifics, she only knew the enforcement actions against the company caused huge ripples, forcing change across many implicated sectors. She didn't pay attention to deeper details either.
She only knew Huo Yu had slipped through the net and was wanted nationwide.
She didn't expect to run into him here.
Huo Yu walked downstairs and into a room. No one else was around. Without time to notify anyone else, Qin Wei tiptoed over, and heard Huo Yu arguing fiercely over something with a foreign language-speaking man inside the room.
The two men inside suddenly fell silent in unison.
"Ms Qin shouldn't have come here."
Qin Wei felt her heart skip a beat as she turned around to see a man in black with a baseball cap.
"Sheng Lin..."
Qin Wei swallowed, this person was Huo Yu's former friend, yet for some reason had firmly stood by Huo Yu's side, protecting him throughout his escape - an indispensable accomplice.
"Ms Qin has had too much to drink. This is the staff area, not a place you should even be."
Sheng Lin stated, then glanced at Huo Yu,
"She's drunk like this. We should still send her back to avoid any incidents."
Huo Yu shook his head. He no longer had energy to fret over grudges and grievances, saying to Sheng Lin:
"The drunkest are most prone to incidents. Finish her off, what if she's just pretending? You can never trust an actress."
Having said that, Huo Yu hurriedly left. From the corner of her eye, Qin Wei clearly saw the blonde blue-eyed man sneakily shutting the door again inside the room.
"Then... I'm sorry, Weiwei..."
