Chapter 28 I must see her with my own eyes and bring her back…

As dusk deepened, the sea breeze brought a noticeable chill.

Shen Jinhuai pulled the girl he was kissing into his arms, closed his eyes, and deepened the kiss.

After an unknown amount of time, the man slowly backed away.

He raised his hand, his thumb lingeringly tracing Wen Yu's moist lips from her kisses, his eyes filled with tenderness.

"The sea breeze is getting a bit chilly."

Shen Jinhuai took Wen Yu's hand, his voice gentle: "Let's go back, okay?"

Wen Yu was dizzy from the kisses and had no idea what message Shen Jinhuai had received in his earpiece not long ago.

She nodded obediently, letting Shen Jinhuai lead her by the hand, slowly walking back the way they came.

The afterglow of the setting sun cast long shadows of the two people, closely intertwined.

When we returned to the villa, dinner was already prepared.

Shen Jinhuai meticulously served Wen Yu food, peeled shrimp for her, and wiped the corners of her mouth.

The two shared the changes in light and shadow they had captured that afternoon, and Wen Yu's eyes sparkled throughout.

Occasionally, she would feel that Shen Jinhuai's gaze lingered on her for an unusually long time compared to before.

The man's gaze grew even more intense and profound, as if he were confirming something, or perhaps protecting something.

Wen Yu didn't understand where Shen Jinhuai's unease came from.

She took his hand, leaned down, and kissed the corner of his mouth.

That evening, Shen Jinhuai took Wen Yu to watch an old movie in the media room.

The film was heartwarming and romantic. In the second half, Wen Yu leaned on his shoulder and fell asleep without realizing it.

Shen Jinhuai carried Wen Yu back to the bedroom and only left quietly after confirming that she was sound asleep.

A few minutes later, in the study on the first floor.

“Mr. Shen, that ship is a modified fast reconnaissance boat. Although it doesn’t have any obvious markings, its navigation characteristics are highly consistent with the model of a batch of the best modified ships of a certain shipping subsidiary of the Zhou family.”

The subordinate's voice came through the phone: "They lingered 12 nautical miles away for about a few minutes, attempting multi-band scanning, but our camouflage layer and jamming system effectively blocked them."

"It has now moved far away, but the trajectory shows that it is not returning to the regular route, but rather detouring in the nearby area."

The person on the other end of the phone paused slightly, then hesitated before reporting, "President Chen, the smokescreen effect in South America is waning. Zhou Yingchen's men have changed direction and are intensifying their investigations, mainly targeting several air routes near Haicheng. Our backup contact point is currently under attack by hackers."

Before his subordinate's report had even finished, Shen Jinhuai's gentle aura vanished instantly.

His fingers tightened around the phone, his knuckles turning white.

A moment later,

"We will continue to closely monitor all abnormal activity in all waters near the islands, and raise the alert level to the highest level."

Shen Jinhuai's eyes were cold and his voice was icy: "Activate the security procedures for the second backup communication point. If necessary, we can abandon it. Continue to interfere with their judgment and steer the information in a different direction. Also, maintain normal daily operations on the island and do not show any signs of tension."

"clear."

After hanging up the phone, Shen Jinhuai leaned back in his chair and rubbed his temples wearily.

As expected, Zhou Yingchen was not completely fooled by the smokescreen from South America; he began to adopt a more direct and riskier approach to probing.

Reconnaissance boat?

This means that the other party has significantly narrowed down the search area, and may even have deduced that Wen Yu is on the island through some loopholes that he has not yet noticed.

The timeframe was more pressing than Shen Jinhuai had anticipated.

But Wen Yu is now...

The night was deep, and the light in the study didn't go out until the early hours of the morning.

Shen Jinhuai arrived at Wen Yu's bedroom door, stood there for a long time, and then gently pushed the door open and went in.

Wen Yu was fast asleep on the bed, seemingly dreaming of something wonderful, with a slight smile playing on her lips.

Shen Jinhuai sat on the edge of the bed and gently touched Wen Yu's cheek.

After a long while, he tucked the blanket around Wen Yu before turning and leaving the bedroom.

The next day

"The weather has been great these past few days. Would you like to visit Lover's Bay? The water there is clearer, and you can see lots of tropical fish."

Lover's Bay is a more secluded but better-equipped small bay on the other side of the island.

No matter who you are, you have to go through the main island to get here; you can't see anything from the outside.

Wen Yu, unsuspecting, exclaimed, "Really? I want to go!"

"good."

Shen Jinhuai smiled and placed the peeled egg into the plate in front of Wen Yu: "Then I'll take you there this afternoon."

In the afternoon, the sun shone brightly and the sea breeze was gentle.

Lover's Bay, as its name suggests, is a turquoise bay surrounded by heart-shaped coral sand.

The seawater is crystal clear, allowing you to clearly see colorful tropical fish swimming among the coral reefs.

Shen Jinhuai was very well prepared, with sun umbrellas, deck chairs, chilled juice, and professional snorkeling equipment.

"Want to give it a try?"

Shen Jinhuai picked up his snorkeling gear and looked at Wen Yu tenderly.

Wen Yu was a little scared: "I, I'm not very good at swimming."

"You don't need to know how to swim, don't worry, I'm here for you."

Shen Jinhuai reached out his hand to Wen Yu, his eyes full of encouragement and reassuring strength: "I'll take you."

Meeting the man's deep gaze, Wen Yu nodded and let him help her put on her gear.

Shen Jinhuai took Wen Yu's hand and boarded the ship. When they reached a certain point, he led her down the steps that led to the seabed.

The seawater was warm from the sun, but Wen Yu still couldn't help but shrink back in fear.

Shen Jinhuai swam in the sea, steadily supporting Wen Yu's waist, and half-encircled her in his arms.

"Don't be afraid, relax, I'm here."

"I will not let go of you."

Shen Jinhuai's deep and pleasant voice soothed Wen Yu's tension.

She took a deep breath inside her mask and protective gear, released her grip on the steps, and let Shen Jinhuai carry her into the sea.

With the mask and protective gear connected to a breathing tube, Wen Yu found that she could breathe freely and was no longer afraid.

Then, a brand new and dazzling world unfolded before Wen Yu's eyes.

Corals of various shapes floated and swayed with the shimmering seawater, while colorful little fish swam curiously around Wen Yu in groups.

Sunlight pierced through the water's surface, casting shimmering luster; the scene before me was so clear and dreamlike it was almost unbelievable.

Wen Yu turned her head in surprise to look at Shen Jinhuai.

This was a world she had never seen before.

It was unfamiliar, yet it brought joy to my heart.

Shen Jinhuai stayed close by, his eyes behind the mirror intently fixed on Wen Yu.

It seems that she is the most precious sight in this underwater world.

Shen Jinhuai held Wen Yu's hand and led her swimming in the sea, allowing Wen Yu's outstretched fingertips to occasionally brush against smooth coral or curious little fish that approached.

In this secluded, azure world, there is sunshine, coral, little fish, and them.

Wen Yu's face was beaming with a radiant smile.

If it weren't for the inconvenience of wearing a diving mask, Wen Yu would have loved to kiss Shen Jinhuai.

She didn't just stick out two fingers and tap them near her lips under the mask, but then she brought those two fingers close to Shen Jinhuai's cheek.

The two looked into each other's eyes, their eyebrows curved, their smiles gentle and sweet.

After snorkeling, back on the beach, Wen Yu was still immersed in the awe of the underwater world she had just experienced.

Her cheeks were flushed with excitement and the sun, and her eyes sparkled.

Shen Jinhuai leaned back in his recliner, glancing sideways at Wen Yu's excited and sweet smile, a gentle smile playing on his lips.

"This place is so beautiful."

Wen Yu turned to the side and planted a kiss on Shen Jinhuai's lips. Before he could pout and kiss her back, she playfully stepped back, picked up Shen Jinhuai's juice, took a sip, and happily lay down on the recliner next to him: "It feels like the whole world is just us now."

Do you like it?

Shen Jinhuai reached out and tucked a strand of wet hair behind Wen Yu's ear, his fingertips inadvertently brushing against her slightly hot earlobe.

Wen Yu trembled slightly, but did not flinch. Instead, she turned to face Shen Jinhuai.

"I like it, but not because of this sea."

Wen Yu nodded very seriously: "Shen Jinhuai, I like being with you, wherever we are."

Shen Jinhuai was slightly taken aback.

Under the sunlight, Wen Yu's wet hair clung to her forehead, and seawater slid down her slender neck, disappearing into the towel she was wrapped in.

The girl's clear eyes reflected the blue sea and sky, as well as the man's surprise and delight.

In an instant, a strong possessiveness and indescribable complex emotions surged in the man's chest.

Shen Jinhuai's prominent Adam's apple bobbed uncontrollably.

He leaned forward, his tall shadow looming over the girl before him.

As they drew closer, Wen Yu's heart began to race, and she instinctively closed her eyes.

However, the expected kiss did not land on Wen Yu's lips.

The man's forehead touched Wen Yu's forehead, their noses met, and their breaths mingled.

“Xiaoyu,”

The man whispered, his voice unusually hoarse: "Remember what you said."

Upon hearing this, Wen Yu opened her eyes and was caught off guard by the man's deep, ocean-like gaze.

The man's eyes held emotions that Wen Yu couldn't understand, yet they inexplicably made her feel at ease.

She gave a serious "hmm" and took the initiative to hook her arms around his neck.

Soft lips pressed against the man's lips.

As the sun sets, it paints the sea and sky in a brilliant golden-red hue, with the distant sea surface shimmering in the sunlight.

Time seemed to stretch out at this moment; it was peaceful and beautiful.

After a long kiss, Shen Jinhuai gazed at the girl's beautiful cheeks, flushed red by the sunset, in his arms.

A moment later, he took half a step back and got off the beach chair.

Then, in the romantic afterglow of the setting sun, which covered the fine sand, Shen Jinhuai slowly knelt down on one knee.

He looked up at Wen Yu, his deep eyes filled with a light more intense than the sunset.

Shen Jinhuai took out a velvet box from his pocket and carefully opened it in front of Wen Yu.

An exquisitely designed diamond ring was presented to Wen Yu.

The main diamond is a large, flawless diamond that refracts a brilliant, soft light in the afterglow of the setting sun.

It is surrounded by a delicate ring of light pink diamonds, like stars surrounding the moon.

Wen Yu stared in surprise, her heart pounding like a drum.

"Xiaoyu, will you marry me? Let me take care of you and protect you legitimately for the rest of my life."

Kneeling on one knee, Shen Jinhuai's gaze was intense, his voice low and husky with barely suppressed emotion: "Xiaoyu, I want us to be together for the rest of our lives."

Seeing this, Wen Yu's tears welled up uncontrollably. Her nose stung, and after a while, she nodded vigorously, her voice choked with emotion: "Okay."

In an instant, Shen Jinhuai's eyes burst forth with uncontrollable ecstasy and relief.

He pulled Wen Yu into a tight embrace, lowered his head, kissed away the tears from the corners of her eyes, and kissed her lips deeply.

The man's burning tongue pried open Wen Yu's teeth and plunged in.

It's so intense, it's irresistible.

Before long, the man's kiss moved away from Wen Yu's lips, landing on her sensitive earlobe, and then down the graceful line of her neck.

The man's hot breath sprayed onto Wen Yu's collarbone, sending shivers down her spine.

This unfamiliar yet uncontrollable passion caused Wen Yu to clench her fingers tightly around the man's shirt, her fingertips trembling from the force.

Shen Jinhuai's kiss landed on the edge of the girl's thin, damp dress neckline beneath the bath towel, and continued to explore downwards.

But the next moment, all the kisses and touches abruptly stopped.

Shen Jinhuai frantically propped himself up, hovering above Wen Yu, his chest heaving violently and his breathing heavy.

In the dim light, beads of sweat trickled down the man's forehead, and an uncontrollable desire surged in his eyes, like the deep sea in a storm.

The surroundings were eerily quiet.

All that remained were the sounds of their disordered breathing and the echoing of waves in the distance.

Wen Yu opened her misty eyes blankly, looking at Shen Jinhuai in front of her with confusion.

Her cheeks were flushed, her lips were slightly swollen, and her eyes were filled with confusion at the sudden interruption of their intimacy.

"Jinhuai?"

Wen Yu softly called the man's name in front of her, her voice slightly hoarse from the emotion she felt.

Shen Jinhuai closed his eyes tightly, his Adam's apple bobbing violently.

When he opened his eyes again, the terrifying desire in them had been forcibly suppressed, replaced by a complex restraint.

The man reached out and gently wiped away the ambiguous water stains from Wen Yu's lips with his fingertips.

"I'm so excited that you said yes."

The man's voice was hoarse and barely audible, filled with obvious suppressed frustration: "I...I couldn't control myself."

Shen Jinhuai took a deep breath, averting his gaze from Wen Yu, seemingly unable to bear looking at her appearance any longer: "Um, I'm going to wash my face."

After saying this, Shen Jinhuai hurriedly turned over, quickly straightened his disheveled clothes, and strode away from the parasol where he was resting without looking back.

Wen Yu stared blankly at the tall back of the man who was almost fleeing in panic, unable to suppress a smile.

So, her man is so shy.

Wen Yu suppressed a laugh and got off the beach chair as well.

With her hands behind her back, she walked briskly towards Shen Jinhuai, who was frantically washing his face with cold water.

Meanwhile, in City A, at the top floor president's office of the Zhou Group.

The office was brightly lit, and the air was thick with the smell of coffee and tobacco.

The ashtray was overflowing with cigarette butts, and several empty coffee cups were scattered haphazardly on the expensive mahogany desk.

Zhou Shiye slammed the tablet computer in his hand onto the ground with a loud thud.

His eyes were bloodshot, and he had stubble on his chin. His usually meticulously groomed hair was sticking up in a messy manner.

Zhou Shiye irritably ran his fingers through his hair, his Adam's apple bobbing, his voice hoarse from prolonged sleep deprivation and extreme anxiety.

“Brother, all the indirect clues we can investigate point to Shen Jinhuai. The foundation, those ships, and the suspicious flight records of several planes that are indirectly related to him… Each and every one of these things is inextricably linked to Shen Jinhuai, but we just can’t find any irrefutable evidence that directly connects Shen Jinhuai to this matter.”

"This guy is fucking cunning."

Zhou Shiye became more and more excited as he spoke, and slammed his fist on the table, making the coffee cup shake.

He took a deep drag of his cigarette, then irritably stubbed it out in the already full ashtray, his voice hoarse:

“I found that he injected a huge amount of money into a ship management company registered overseas through seven or eight layers of shell companies. This company owns many modified yachts with excellent performance, capable of long-distance voyages without relying on any supplies.”

"The ship's activity over the past year has been like a ghost. The last traceable signal disappeared in this godforsaken place, and then it vanished as if it had evaporated from the face of the earth."

Zhou Yingchen stood by the window, listening to Zhou Shiye's irritable voice. His tall back revealed an indescribable sense of fatigue.

He didn't look at his enraged brother; his deep gaze was fixed on the view outside the window, his fingertips tracing the surface of a cold metal lighter.

In other words,

Zhou Yingchen's voice was low, slow, hoarse, and suppressed: "It's possible that he used this ship, which is in a signal blind spot, to complete the final leg of his voyage and reach a private island on the edge of Haicheng, which is hundreds of thousands of miles overseas?"

"Yes, he must have hidden Xiaoyu there."

Zhou Shiye almost roared, "Our ship mobilized high-altitude reconnaissance satellites to conduct high-frequency scans of that private island, but they couldn't find anything. It's possible that Xiaoyu is being controlled by Shen Jinhuai on the island."

But then, as if all his strength had been drained, his tall frame swayed erratically. He barely managed to steady himself by bracing himself on the table, and his voice lowered.

"Xiaoyu, she must have been deceived and bewitched by that hypocritical bastard Shen Jinhuai to go with him..."

The last few words were filled with panic.

Zhou Shiye wasn't sure whether Wen Yu's departure was intentional on Shen Jinhuai's part, or whether she had consciously and voluntarily left them.

The office was silent.

Zhou Yingchen turned around and walked to his desk.

He reached out and picked up the somewhat old silver photo frame from the corner of the table.

The photo in the frame is of Wen Yu taken a few years ago.

She was wearing a simple white dress, standing under the blooming cherry blossoms at the Zhou family's old house, turning back with a gentle smile, her eyes clear and innocent, naive and innocent.

That was the earliest image in their memories, and the one they most wanted to protect.

The man's fingertips traced the surface of the glass repeatedly, a suppressed undercurrent in his eyes.

If Wen Yu's escape was voluntary, does that mean that if they find her, they can bring her back?

Zhou Yingchen closed his eyes.

When he opened his eyes again, the complex emotions surging in them were forcibly suppressed, leaving only the cold decisiveness of a hunter locking onto his target.

"Let's go find her."

The man spoke slowly and deliberately, his voice filled with an obsessive determination: "I must see her with my own eyes and bring her back."