A genuine smile appeared on Chen Xiao's lips.
He had a vague feeling that Lao Tian had agreed with his decision not to join the service center from the very beginning—though he didn't know why. Logically speaking, Lao Tian, a long-time member of the service center, should have wanted him to join, right?
The steam car didn't take the two back to the Champagne Inn, but went directly to the dock.
Their yacht was already full of oil, and Chen Xiao also saw the people on the dock carrying strange metal barrels one by one into the yacht's cabin.
"These are all the things I bought... Oh, this is cell repair fluid. Sigh, the price has gone up so much lately, a barrel is now 980 yuan..." Old Tian sighed, "I only have 5,500 yuan on me. I can't buy too much, besides the cell repair fluid, I also need to buy some other consumable equipment. Now a set of counterfeit anti-magnetic leather gear costs 200 yuan! Damn it... Prices are skyrocketing. Looks like I'll have to bring more money next time I come."
After saying that, Old Tian waved goodbye to the men who were unloading the cargo onto the ship: "Thanks, guys! I'll treat you to some beer from Old Billy's next time I come back."
Watching Lao Tian nonchalantly start the yacht, which slowly left the dock...
"Don't you have anything you want to ask me?" Chen Xiao stood next to Lao Tian.
Old Tian took a cigarette that he always had tucked behind his ear, sniffed it, and then lit it: "What do I have to ask you? You've already made your decision, it's pointless for me to ask."
As the yacht departed the dock, the small town of Jiayuan came into view in the distance...
Chen Xiao suddenly felt a strange sensation.
In fact, he had been prepared all the way up to where he was: those service company people had nice words, but before he left the island, a group of people might suddenly appear, forcibly arrest him, and lock him up!
However, the yacht was getting further and further away from the island...
They really just let me leave like that? They didn't try to stop me at all?
Could it be that... the people at the service center are really a group of noble idealists?
Chen Xiao suddenly felt a sense of relief, though he appeared relaxed. However, his nerves had been on edge the whole time, and now that he had relaxed, he felt weak and slumped down on the chair next to him.
"Old Tian... can you tell me if my decision was the right one?" Chen Xiao suddenly felt a little lost.
"I can't tell you whether it's right or wrong." Old Tian continued steering the yacht without turning his head, and said calmly, "I only know one thing: you control your own destiny. Every life... deserves respect! And the first principle of respect is independence and freedom! Isn't that right?"
"But...you work for the service company, shouldn't you..."
"Don't forget, I'm retired." Old Tian finally turned around and smiled at Chen Xiao: "I'm a free man now!"
The yacht quickly left the island, heading east and once again passing through that white, misty area.
Two hours later, the yacht was already sailing on the vast South Pacific Ocean.
Sunlight shines on the sea, creating a golden expanse of rolling waves in the distance, while the sky is a clear, deep blue.
Chen Xiao's initially somewhat depressed mood finally eased with the expansive sea view. He leaned against the deck, gazing up at the sky, letting the sea breeze blow through his hair.
Suddenly, he heard a gurgling sound from the cabin beside him, as if something had fallen over.
The ship was probably rocking, and the barrels containing cell repair fluid in the cabin probably tipped over.
"Go in and take a look, Chen Xiao." Old Tian drove with peace of mind: "Those things are very expensive, be careful not to spill them."
Chen Xiao crawled into the cabin, but after just one glance, he was stunned!
The lid of a bucket containing cell repair fluid was open, and a girl was struggling to crawl out. Half of her body was already out, and she was supporting herself on the edge of the bucket with her hands, trying hard to pull her legs out...
When Chen Xiao walked in, the girl was stunned for a moment and stared at him for a while.
The two looked into each other's eyes, and for a moment they seemed to have forgotten to speak.
Finally, the girl gave an awkward smile, her eyes looking somewhat guilty.
"Hi! Hello." Her braid had come undone. "Could you... help me out? I think I'm stuck."
Chen Xiao swallowed hard.
"What's wrong? Is the cell repair fluid alright?" Old Tian's voice came from outside, followed by footsteps.
When Lao Tian entered the cabin and saw the girl standing in the bucket, the kind smile on his face immediately turned into one as if he had seen a ghost!
He raised his hand and pointed at the girl. The girl sighed, looking at Lao Tian with some pity, and kindly whispered, "Well... if you want to call out, just call out... don't hold it in, it'll hurt your health."
"ah!!!!!!!!"
Amid Lao Tian's exclamation, the girl covered her ears with both hands, looking pitiful and innocent.
After Lao Tian finished shouting, he immediately rushed over. He lifted the girl out of the bucket with both hands, then picked up the bucket, turned it upside down, and tried to pour it down...
"Don't pour it out, there's not a drop of water in it." The girl stood beside her cautiously, smiling, "If there were water, how would I hide?"
"My cell repair fluid!!!" Old Tian glared at the girl angrily: "Champagne!! What are you doing! Where is my cell repair fluid!"
Champagne curled her lip, looking completely indifferent: "Of course I poured it out."
"What are you doing here?!" Old Tian glared at the female innkeeper.
Champagne seemed a little disdainful: "Is that even a question? Of course, it's running away from home."
Old Tian stared at the champagne for a moment, then stormed out of the cabin: "Turn around! We're going back to the island! I'll take you back! And you have to compensate me for my losses!!"
Champagne wasn't in a hurry. She leisurely followed Lao Tian out of the cabin and watched as Lao Tian seemed to be turning the yacht around.
"Are you really sure you want to do this, dear Uncle Tian?" "Nonsense!" Old Tian retorted angrily.
“Alright.” Champagne sighed, sat down, and slowly chuckled, “It’s not impossible for you to take me back. At most, I’ll get a scolding from my mother, and then I can continue being the innkeeper. But you’ll be in trouble, Old Tian.”
"What's so terrible about me?"