Chapter 54: Yue'er aids her beloved brother in the stormy waves
Public opinion hailed Xiao Xiangyue as a deity, but friends and family around the world, seeing the photos and reports, were filled with worry. Luo Gulan from England, Lady Daisy from Sweden, Sun Mu from New York, Yi Shui from Taiwan, Yi Han from Hong Kong, Lu Hankun from Los Angeles, Ike from Paris, Jin Er from Japan, Princess Bena from Norway, and the Brook Brothers from Spain all called to ask what was going on.
Xiao Xiangyue felt deeply sorry for causing everyone so much worry. Luo Gulan had just called to say that Tianci would be turning ten next month, and she missed her two younger brothers dearly, so she wanted to celebrate his birthday on the cruise ship. After turning seven, Tianci had been attending a prestigious public school in England, and the school had activities scheduled during the winter and summer holidays, so it had been a while since they'd seen each other. So, she discussed with Luo Guyun the idea of inviting all their friends and family to a birthday party for Tianci on the cruise ship.
The two had originally planned to visit the da Cunha Islands to see penguins, but they turned the boat around and headed for South America, intending to stop at the port of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which had convenient air transportation and would make it easy for everyone to board and return.
On a deck the size of three tennis courts, a massive, multi-tiered, rotating cake stood in the center. Colorful balloons and streamers adorned the ship with extraordinary splendor. Guests, in groups of three or four, clutching champagne, red wine, and coffee, chatted in lounge chairs or leaned against the railings. Attracted by the roar of airplane engines, they all looked up at the sky.
Two helicopters circled in the sky, sometimes passing parallel to each other, their propellers almost touching, drawing gasps from the crowd. Other times, they alternated between high and low, flying close together like an aerial ballet, leaving everyone breathless. Suddenly, they hovered in mid-air, dropping two massive banners that fluttered in the wind over the azure sea. One read in Chinese: "Ci'er, Happy Birthday." The other bore Tianci's English name: "HAPPY BIRTHDAY JACK." Then, the helicopters skimmed low over the deck, showering the sky with colorful pieces of paper bearing various wishes and mixed with red envelopes.
The plane came to a steady stop on the platform above the deck. Luo Guoyun and Yi Shui took off their helmets and jumped down the gangway. The guests responded with warm applause and cheers, spraying champagne and spreading cake. The scene was extremely cheerful and lively.
Luo Gulan went to greet him and said happily, "The uncles prepared a very unique birthday party for Ci'er. Ci'er is so happy!" Luo Guyun smiled and said, "It was all Yue'er's idea. We are responsible for the work." Yi Shui said, "It's a pity that Tianci was born too late. He didn't see us flying fighter jets back then!"
In the crowd not far away, Xiao Xiangyue was half-crouching as Tianci was feeding him a piece of cream cake. Luo Guyun hurried over and scolded him, "Ci'er, your uncle can't eat cream. I told you before, how could you forget it again?" Xiao Xiangyue stood up, stuck out her tongue at Tianci, and shook him by the arm, saying, "Yue'er only licked it, she didn't eat it at all! ... Today is Ci'er's birthday, brother, please don't be so mean to him..."
Over the years, Tianci, doted on by Luo Gulan, had become increasingly arrogant. Not long ago, he bullied a classmate at school and was nearly expelled. The public school he attended was mostly populated by children of royal families, and the victim was the Duke's youngest son. Yi Han later personally called the Duke and offered to sell him a thriving ocean shipping line, thus settling the matter. Although Luo Guyun loved his nephew, he felt his sister spoiled him too much and was inevitably harsh on him.
Night fell. The cruise ship was ablaze with lights, a scene of lavish bustle and extravagance. The birthday dinner was buffet style. Brazilian barbecue is incredibly famous, and the chefs from Rio's most renowned barbecue restaurant were specially invited aboard. Waiters shuttled between the guests, grilling beef, lamb, chicken, and various sausages, grilled to a golden crisp on flat iron rods over a meter long, with juicy, tender interiors. Using long, sharp steel knives, they shaved the beef, lamb, chicken, and various sausages onto the plates in front of them. The air was filled with enticing aromas.
Luo Guyun and Xiao Xiangyue sat together with their relatives and friends, eating and chatting.
"Everyone marvels at and praises that photo. My heart aches when I see that picture! Yue'er has been shot twice, could it be a third time? Bullets have no eyes, brother Yun should have taken him away from the dangerous place quickly! And you let him play the piano? I don't know what you were thinking..." Luo Gulan complained to Luo Guyun as he put a big chicken leg on the Tianci plate.
Mrs. Daisy also said: "My brother is afraid of blood. Even if he won't be hurt, he shouldn't see the bloody scene..."
Xiao Xiangyue retorted loudly: "You all misunderstood my brother! He was right behind me at the time. Even if a bullet flew towards me, he was blocking it in front of me and couldn't hurt me..." Sun Mu chuckled: "I still say that, don't even think about saying anything bad about his brother in front of Yue'er in this lifetime!"
"The two sisters have indeed wronged the third brother. Although the background of Paul's photo was deliberately blurred, only the people with weapons around him were highlighted. The world doesn't understand why, but don't we know it? The figure behind Yue'er is obviously the third brother. At that time, the third brother must have used his body to protect Yue'er..." Yi Shui hurriedly explained.
Princess Bena remembered, "I heard that the Norwegian Nobel Peace Prize Committee has decided to award this year's Peace Prize to Xiangyue. The official letter will be sent to the Royal Swedish Academy of Music in a few days."
"Xiangyue has already announced that she will no longer accept any awards. Why don't we contact the committee and reject it..." Xiao Xiangyue said to Princess Bena.
Yi Han smiled and said, "Yue'er announced that she would no longer accept music awards. This Nobel Peace Prize has nothing to do with music. For the sake of the Moren Consortium's business, Yue'er should not refuse..."
Everyone asked in unison: "Why?"
Yi Han chewed a piece of beef and said loudly, "Over the years, in the business world, as long as we give the slightest hint that the Moen Group seems to have some connection with Yue'er, they will be more willing to talk to us! We have been running rampant in Africa lately! Just last month, we acquired several rare mineral deposits at very favorable prices! So, the greater Yue'er's influence, the easier it is for us to do business..."
Yi Shui laughed loudly: "Second brother, you are a money-grubber! Yue'er has become your tool to make money!"
"Take from the people and give back to the people! Isn't it true that the Yunyue Foundation has provided insufficient support for children, medical care, and education projects around the world over the years?" Yi Han said confidently.
Lu Hankun turned his head to Xiao Xiangyue and said, "Brother, I think it's best for me not to refuse this award. This is not only a personal honor for you, but also a glory for all of us Chinese..."
Luo Guyun asked the waiter to carve a piece of tender and juicy fillet steak and placed it on the plate in front of Xiao Xiangyue. He handed her a cup of tangerine peel and hawthorn water to help digestion and reduce greasiness. He said, "No matter what business or award, nothing is more important than having enough to eat and drink! It's rare that Yue'er has such a good appetite today. It seems that this Brazilian barbecue will be on our regular menu from now on..."
The next morning, Luo Guyun had just returned to his room after morning exercise when he saw Tianci running towards him from the other end of the corridor. Luo Gulan chased after him: "Ci'er, slow down, be careful not to fall!"
The cruise ship had hundreds of suites. The top floor was Luo Guyun and Xiao Xiangyue's private space. This time, Luo Gulan had come over, and to help the siblings get closer, she had specially arranged for her sister's family to stay on the same floor with them, in a luxurious Arabian-style suite at the end of the corridor.
Luo Gulan caught up with him: "Uncles haven't gotten up yet! Let's go later!" Tianci shouted: "No! If we miss the time, we won't be able to see it! The old captain said yesterday that we must go before sunrise!"
Luo Guyun frowned: "What are you yelling about? My uncle is still sleeping, don't disturb him!"
"Ci'er heard yesterday that dolphins would come out to play in the nearby Dolphin Bay before sunrise, so he insisted on taking a small boat to see the dolphins..." Luo Gulan said.
Luo Guyun thought for a moment: "Uncle, let the guards take Ci'er with you, okay?" Tianci said coquettishly: "No, no, no! I want my uncles to accompany me!" Luo Guyun had no choice but to go along with him: "Okay... then uncle will accompany Ci'er..." Tianci still refused: "No, no, no, I want my uncle to go too!"
Although Tianci was a little afraid of Luo Guyun, he was his mother's uncle after all, a natural blood relationship, and he was both afraid and happy to be close to him. Xiao Xiangyue heard the noise and got up, and after hearing the reason, she was happy to accompany the child.
The cruise ship was equipped with several speedboats. The two of them had often taken them there before, either out fishing or observing various marine life up close. Luo Guyun, figuring the speedboat trip to Dolphin Bay would only take a dozen minutes, so he didn't inform anyone else. He simply spoke to his personal attendant, Daxue, and instructed her to have the kitchen prepare some millet porridge with water chestnuts, yam, and other ingredients to help digestion and strengthen the spleen, so they could have breakfast together upon their return. He took the elevator directly to the lower deck, instructed the sailors to lower the speedboat, and boarded the ship with Xiao Xiangyue, Luo Gulan, and Tianci.
The wind was strong on the speedboat, and it was still a bit chilly in the morning. Luo Guyun regretted not bringing a coat for Yue'er. Xiao Xiangyue hugged his waist from behind, clinging to his back like a koala, and said playfully, "Haha, with brother in front blocking the wind, Yue'er can't be blown at all..."
Tianci was so excited on the boat that he couldn't stop for a moment. He climbed up the side and then to the stern. Luo Gulan couldn't control him at all. Luo Guyun was afraid that he would accidentally fall into the sea. Just when she wanted to ask her sister to put a life jacket on him, she heard Luo Gulan scream. Tianci, who was playing at the stern, had somehow fallen into the sea! He struggled desperately in the water and was about to sink... Luo Guyun didn't have time to think about it. He jumped into the sea, grabbed him, and lifted him out of the water with all his strength, swimming towards the side of the boat. Xiao Xiangyue and Luo Gulan worked together to pull Tianci back to the boat in a hurry.
Just as Luo Guyun breathed a sigh of relief and prepared to climb aboard, a massive shark swam over, its maw wide open, latched onto his arm, and dragged him deeper into the sea. No matter how hard he struggled, the shark wouldn't let go, quickly staining the water red with blood... Smelling blood, a group of dark creatures swam closer in the distance. In a moment of crisis, Xiao Xiangyue pulled out her ever-present knife, dove into the sea, and swam toward him, shouting, "Brother, catch this!" Luo Guyun took the knife and stabbed it into the shark's eye. The pained shark finally released its grip.
The two supported each other and swam towards the speedboat. They used all their strength and climbed onto the boat just before the sharks caught up. After recovering from the shock, Luo Guyun was found with the wound pierced by the shark's sharp teeth so deep that the bone was visible, and blood was gushing out. Xiao Xiangyue choked on several mouthfuls of sea water and coughed violently. She couldn't speak, but just hugged Luo Guyun tightly, and tried her best to cover his bleeding wound with both hands. Luo Guyun gasped in pain and couldn't speak. Seeing that Xiao Xiangyue was choking and coughing violently, he raised his uninjured hand and pounded his chest.
Luo Gulan was so frightened that her face turned pale and she was completely confused. In her panic, a small boat appeared on the sea and was heading towards them quickly. Luo Gulan saw her savior and waved desperately: "Here! Here!"
Guard Captain Wu Fang hadn't seen Luo Guyun and Xiao Xiangyue at breakfast, so he asked Daxue, who said the general and Ye'er had gone with Master Tianci to see dolphins. Hearing the captain say sharks were common in the area, he became concerned and rushed over with several guards.
The guards carried them back on stretchers, covered in blood. The guests on the boat were all alarmed, and Sun Mu hurried to check on the two men's injuries. Xiao Xiangyue, who had recovered a little, said, "Brother Sun, hurry... hurry and save my brother, he's bleeding so much..." Luo Guyun said with difficulty, "Third brother is fine... Yue'er is coughing badly..."
Fortunately, the cruise ship was well-equipped with first aid. Sun Mu examined both of them carefully. Xiao Xiangyue had only choked on seawater and was not seriously injured. Luo Guyun's wound, though deep, hadn't broken the bone. He had the laceration sutured, received a tetanus shot, and bandaged it. However, his injured arm was temporarily immobilized and would need to recuperate for a few days.
At lunch time, everyone sat around a large round table in the Chinese restaurant to eat.
Luo Guyun was injured and couldn't eat spicy food, so Sun Mu specifically ordered lighter dishes that would help with wound healing. The Five Red Soup, made with angelica, red dates, red beans, red peanuts, and wolfberries, was a perfect blood-tonifying soup. Xiao Xiangyue sat beside Luo Guyun, carefully cooling the soup before feeding him spoonful by spoonful.
While enjoying Yue'er's care, Luo Guyun recounted the terrifying scene that happened that morning: "That beast must have been two meters long! It was very strong in the water and wouldn't let go after biting me! If Yue'er hadn't handed me the knife in time, I'm afraid I would have become a shark meal by now..."
Yi Shui teased, "Tianci is your destiny! Yue'er twisted her ankle that year, and this time, my third brother injured his hand. But... it seems to be exactly what you want! Look at Yue'er, she's always by your side. Whatever my third brother wants, she eagerly delivers it to him without him even asking. Look how happy he is!"
Luo Guyun was very proud: "That's right! You always say that I am considerate and attentive to Yue'er. But Yue'er is the one who is considerate of me! Whatever dish I want to eat, as soon as I think of it in my mind, he will send it to my mouth just at the right time, as if he can read my mind. This is what it means to be in perfect harmony..." Xiao Xiangyue said distressedly: "Brother Sun said that although my brother didn't hurt his bones, his artery was ruptured. His arm must not be moved. If the wound is involved, he will bleed profusely..."
Sun Mu was thankful: "Yue'er's lungs are not good, and she can't hold her breath for a long time. Her swimming skills are not good to begin with, and she can only swim shallowly in the pool. I heard that she was almost caught by a group of sharks. Thinking about it is really scary..."
"I was so scared at that time! Yue'er didn't hesitate for even a second, just like when she blocked the bullet for Yundi, she didn't consider her own safety at all, and jumped into the sea..." Luo Gulan was still a little frightened.
Luo Guyun's eyes seemed to shimmer, his expression distant. He didn't respond, but instead used his uninjured hand to hold Xiao Xiangyue's hand under the table, stroking it again and again.
Mrs. Daisy said emotionally: "Over the years, I have seen the best form of love from the general and my brother! Accompanying each other, achieving each other, running towards each other..."
"The two of them, one has military power that can stabilize the country and is rich enough to rival an nation. The other has amazing talent and beauty that can captivate the whole world. How can ordinary people compare to them?" Yi Shui teased.
"Brother, you are wrong! Even if Yue'er and I were always begging on the road or working as farmers in Lizhuang, we would definitely live a happy life! It has nothing to do with wealth or status!" Luo Guyun swallowed a piece of stewed pork tendon that Xiao Xiangyue fed to his mouth, came to his senses, and retorted.
Yi Shui was helpless: "Okay...you guys are showing off your affection to the sky, and your Versailles style is so high that it reaches the clouds, but we have no ears to listen and no eyes to see!"
Yi Han urged: "After dinner, let's go play mahjong. Let Yue'er help you draw the cards. You're sure to win!" Luo Guyun laughed: "People say that success in love leads to failure in gambling! Third brother won't fall for your tricks... Yue'er choked on sea water this morning and got a fright. I have to take him back to his room to rest and drink some lung-moistening soup..."
That evening, a small music party was held on the cruise ship. Guests took to the stage one after another to perform, creating a lively and joyful atmosphere. Luo Guyun leaned over and whispered coquettishly, "I want to hear 'The Dough Kneading Song'..." Xiao Xiangyue was confused: "What 'The Dough Kneading Song'?" Luo Guyun replied, "It's the one Yue'er played on the violin while I was kneading dough the year we got married..." Xiao Xiangyue's eyes widened: "When did you learn to give random names to songs, brother? That song doesn't even have a name!" She picked up her violin and leisurely stepped onto the stage.
The plaintive, lingering music of the zither lingered in the night sky above the sea. The guests were mesmerized, eager to learn the name of the piece. They wondered why they had never heard Xiangyue play it before...
After the party, the two returned to their room. Xiao Xiangyue said, "Yue'er is always restless when she sleeps. She likes to rub against me when she is half asleep. I am worried that she will touch her wound. I will ask Daxue to make the bed and bedding on the ground. I will sleep on the floor to accompany you these few days." Luo Guyun said anxiously, "No, if you have to sleep on the floor, it should be you!" Xiao Xiangyue thought for a while and said, "Then put another bed in the bedroom, okay?" Luo Guyun objected, "No! I can't sleep at night without someone hugging me! Besides, what's this little injury? I can do a hundred push-ups on Yue'er with one hand. If you don't believe me, try it..." He stretched out his foot, tripped Xiao Xiangyue onto the couch, and lay on top of her.
As they were laughing and joking, the bedroom door was not closed and Luo Gulan knocked and came in. The two of them straightened their clothes and stood properly. Luo Guyun hurriedly said, "Sister, please sit down and talk."
Luo Gulan sat on the sofa, hesitant to speak: "I came here this time for Ci'er's birthday, and secondly... there are some things I want to say to you in person... These words are only suitable for my sister to say, others may not care about this..."
Luo Guyun pulled Xiao Xiangyue to sit on the couch and said, "Sister, if you have anything to say, feel free to speak."
Luo Gulan said, "Sister, I know you are deeply in love. I am very happy to see you living a happy life these years. However, there are three kinds of unfilial behavior, and the worst is to have no descendants! Now that science and technology are advanced, could you consider surrogacy to continue your family lineage..."
Luo Guyun said sternly, "From the day I chose Yue'er, I haven't considered the issue of offspring! If that's what you're talking about, don't mention it again."
"You don't need to be present for surrogacy, and there is no need for physical contact. You just need to provide sperm, and I will arrange everything. You can choose mixed-race or the same race... as many as you want!" Luo Gulan explained quickly.
Luo Guyun said unhappily, "Sister, do you think we're studs? Just find a womb to bear our child? If the child isn't born with Yue'er, what's the point?" He nudged the person next to him and put on a playful smile, "Besides... I heard that childbirth is extremely painful for women. Even if Yue'er can give birth, I wouldn't want him to!"
Xiao Xiangyue glared at him, pursed her lips and said nothing.
Luo Gulan added: "If you are worried about Yue'er being a public figure and worrying about her reputation, don't worry, brothers. Everything will be kept highly confidential! We will ensure that not a single word will leak out..."
Luo Guyun sighed, "Everyone says having many children brings happiness, but I feel that sharing a house with Yue'er, three meals a day, four seasons a year, is more than enough to satisfy what the world calls perfection... Continuing the family line is just a biological instinct. Holding your hand and growing old together is a higher level of happiness!"
Luo Gulan said, "Your genes are so high-quality, wouldn't it be a pity to waste them?"
Luo Guyun raised his voice: "The meaning of life does not lie in the continuation of genes, but in the harmony of souls. Humans are as small as dust in the universe. After thousands of years, who will remember who? Living a good life in this life is a blessing from heaven. Brother is not a greedy person!"
Luo Gulan was a little anxious: "If everyone is like you and doesn't consider passing on the family line, then won't the human race soon become extinct?"
Luo Guyun placed his uninjured arm on Xiao Xiangyue's shoulder, crossed his legs, and said with a smile, "On a smaller scale, there are many families willing to have eight or ten children, and we two are no exception! On a larger scale, if we hadn't contributed to the reproduction of mankind... Yue'er's music would surely be passed down through the ages! Although my younger brother is not talented, he used to defend the country and protect the people. Now, he is abroad. The wealth created by the Moren Consortium and the charitable donations of the Yunyue Foundation have contributed a little to the progress of human society... I'm afraid that this has made up for our contribution?"
"You are still young and cannot understand it. When you are old in the future, you will feel lonely and empty without children to take care of you... Besides, a hundred years later, there will always be someone to see you off to the end..." Luo Gulan said earnestly.
Luo Guyun said disdainfully, "Raising children to provide for old age is just the thinking of ordinary people! Big brother is right about this. Yue'er and I, one is a warrior who can protect the country and rich enough to rival a nation. The other is a talented and beautiful woman. There's no need to think about those things at all! What's the point of sending us off? How pedantic! If we both die, burn us both to ashes, find a clay pot, and combine our ashes. You are in me, I am in you, and we're buried in a cup of desolate soil. Wouldn't that be wonderful!"
"You...you, talking about life and death is ridiculous!" Luo Gulan's face changed.
Seeing his sister anxious, Luo Guyun quickly moved to sit on the sofa, holding her shoulders and coaxing her, "Brother, you know that you are so stubborn about the issue of offspring because you suffered injustice in the Feng family. But don't we already have Ci'er now? Let's raise Ci'er well, and taking care of him in his old age and seeing him to the end will not be a problem!"
Luo Gulan wiped her tears and said, "It's okay that I can't convince you for now... Fortunately, men can still have children in their seventies and eighties. Think about it carefully. Whenever you want, I will arrange it at any time..."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
