Undercurrents beneath the calm surface

The piercing alarm finally stopped, the emergency lights were replaced by soft deck lighting, and the violent rocking of the cruise ship gradually subsided, leaving only the gentle, rhythmic undulation of the waves.

On the deck, a thrilling farce ended in an unexpected and embarrassing way.

Assistant Wang directed the security personnel to remove Sun Man, who was in a daze and completely speechless, from the scene, and began to systematically evacuate and reassure the alarmed executives.

The top deck, which had been in complete chaos just moments before, quickly returned to an eerie tranquility, like the aftermath of a storm.

Only Feng Jinxuan, Yu Jinli, and Feng Jinhong remained, along with a few security personnel who dared not approach from a distance.

The sea breeze was still biting, blowing the suit jacket that belonged to Feng Jinxuan on Yu Jinli's shoulders and messing up her carefully styled hair.

Feng Jinhong leaned against the railing, the glass of red wine in his hand having been put down at some point. He took out a clean white handkerchief from his pocket and slowly and deliberately wiped the collar of his clothes that Sun Man had just wrinkled, his movements as elegant as if he were brushing away the dust from a work of art.

He raised his head and looked at Feng Jinxuan and Yu Jinli, his face now once again wearing that gentle, harmless, and apologetic "elder brother" mask.

"Jinxuan, sister-in-law, I'm so sorry." He sighed softly, his tone filled with just the right amount of helplessness and exhaustion. "I never expected that Director Sun... Sigh, it's my fault as the vice president for not paying attention to the mental health of my subordinates in time, which led to this embarrassing incident tonight and caused you all distress."

These words were perfectly worded, both absolving himself of any wrongdoing and projecting the image of a responsible and caring boss.

Looking at the man in front of her, whose acting skills were superb, Yu Jinli felt a wave of nausea wash over her.

“Cousin, you flatter me.” Feng Jinxuan’s voice was calm and undisturbed, like a deep pool of frozen water. “The company has many employees, and you are very busy. It is inevitable that you will occasionally make mistakes.”

"That may be true, but it is ultimately my responsibility." Feng Jinhong shook his head with a look of self-reproach. He stepped forward, his gaze falling on Yu Jinli, his eyes filled with the concern of an elder for a younger generation.

"Sister-in-law, are you alright? The scene was so chaotic just now, were you hurt?"

His tone was so gentle it was almost sweet.

But Yu Jinli sensed a cold, snake-like probing in the depths of his seemingly gentle eyes.

He was testing himself.

Test yourself to see how much you actually saw and heard in the darkness.

Alarm bells rang in Yu Jinli's mind.

She shrank back behind Feng Jinxuan almost imperceptibly, forcing a pale but polite smile onto her face.

"Thank you for your concern, cousin. I'm fine. It was too dark just now, and I couldn't see anything. Luckily, Jinxuan protected me the whole time."

She deliberately spoke ambiguously, both to show her "ignorance" and to subtly flaunt her "affection," thus asserting her dominance.

"That's good, that's good." Feng Jinhong's smile seemed even more sincere. "Seeing how good your relationship is, I, as your older brother, can rest assured."

He changed the subject and looked at Feng Jinxuan, saying earnestly, "Jinxuan, I know you're stubborn. But the company is at a critical juncture right now, and stability is paramount. As for Director Sun's matter, I think we should classify it as a personal mental health issue and handle it discreetly. Let's not escalate it further, as it could damage the company's reputation and discourage other hardworking employees."

These words sounded grand and dignified, every sentence seemingly for the sake of the company's overall interests.

But Yu Jinli heard the blatant threat and warning in his words.

He was telling Feng Jinxuan: This matter ends here, don't investigate any further. Otherwise, don't blame me for using "company reputation" and "employee morale" to pressure you.

Yu Jinli looked nervously at Feng Jinxuan, wondering how he would deal with this kind of moral blackmail.

Feng Jinxuan listened quietly, his face remaining expressionless.

He reached out and, with remarkable ease, gently pulled Yu Jinli's slightly slipped suit jacket back onto her shoulders.

Then, he raised his eyes and looked at his cousin.

“My cousin is right.” He spoke slowly, his voice calm, but it sent a chill down Yu Jinli’s spine. “Stability is indeed paramount.”

A barely perceptible hint of smugness flashed in Feng Jinhong's eyes.

“Therefore,” Feng Jinxuan’s tone shifted, his eyes instantly turning sharp as knives, “in order to ensure the absolute stability of the company’s future, I have decided to formally propose at next Monday’s board meeting to initiate the group’s highest-level ‘internal security review’ procedure.”

For a fleeting moment, the smile on Feng Jinhong's face froze.

“What I’m investigating isn’t the mental health of a particular employee,” Feng Jinxuan said, his voice clear and distinct, echoing across the empty deck. “It’s about our entire group, from project sites to cruise ship security, and the backgrounds of senior management, to whether there are any… unknown security risks.”

"After all, my safety is the greatest guarantee of stability for the group. Isn't that right, cousin?"

This is an open strategy.

A calculated scheme that Feng Jinhong could neither refuse nor oppose.

Yu Jinli silently cheered for Feng Jinxuan.

She thought that Feng Jinhong would finally break off all pretense of civility this time.

However, she still underestimated how terrifying this man was.

The stiffness on Feng Jinhong's face lasted for less than a second.

Instead of getting angry, he showed an expression of "deep regret" and "sudden realization".

He stepped forward, grasped Feng Jinxuan's hand tightly, and spoke with emotion, his voice filled with an older brother's love and self-reproach for his younger brother.

"Jinxuan! You're right! You're absolutely right!" He said with a pained expression. "I was foolish! I only thought about settling things peacefully, but I forgot that you were the biggest victim! Don't worry, as your older brother, I will fully support you in this matter!"

Yu Jinli: "...?"

This script is wrong!

Feng Jinhong's performance continued.

He turned around and loudly ordered Assistant Wang, who was directing operations in the distance, "Assistant Wang! Immediately issue a notice to establish a 'President's Security Task Force,' with myself as the team leader! A thorough investigation is essential! Find out everyone and everything that could potentially threaten Jin Xuan's safety! Leave no one unpunished!"

His words were spoken with righteous indignation and awe-inspiring conviction, as if he were the one who cared most about Feng Jinxuan's safety.

Those executives who hadn't gone far, upon hearing these words, all cast approving and admiring glances their way.

Yu Jinli stared in disbelief at the incredible reversal before her eyes.

Feng Jinxuan's powerful punch was like hitting a ball of top-grade Tai Chi cotton.

Instead of harming the other party, he used their strength against them and seized control of the "internal review" process.

He easily defused a conspiracy against him into a political show orchestrated by himself to demonstrate his "brotherly affection."

This man... is terrifying.

After Feng Jinhong finished his entire performance, he released Feng Jinxuan's hand and put on his gentle smile again.

"Jinxuan, don't worry. With your brother here, this kind of thing will never happen again."

After saying this, he turned around with a satisfied expression and slowly left, surrounded by a group of senior executives.

That figure, composed and elegant, resembled a general who had just won a brilliant victory.

Only after he completely disappeared from sight did Yu Jinli feel that the string that had been taut all along finally loosen.

She let out a long sigh of relief, only to realize that her back was soaked with cold sweat.

“Boss,” she looked at the man beside her, her eyes filled with complex emotions, “we… seem to have lost.”

"uncertain."

Feng Jinxuan did not respond to her compliment.

He simply turned around and stood beside her, gazing together at the boundless, dark sea in the distance, its surface flickering with the city lights.

The sea breeze carries a salty, damp smell.

Silence spread between the two.

After a long while, Yu Jinli finally couldn't help but ask the question that had been lingering in her heart.

"You...have you suspected him for a while now?" she asked softly. "Why?"

Feng Jinxuan did not answer immediately.

His gaze seemed to pierce through the darkness before him, looking towards a long-forgotten, distant past.

“Three years ago,” his voice was very soft and faint, like smoke blown away by the sea breeze, “I was in a car accident.”

"The official investigation concluded that the brakes failed. But I remember very clearly that before the out-of-control truck hit me, I saw my cousin's car parked at the intersection not far away."

"He sat in the car and, through the window, gave me the same gentle smile as tonight."