Chapter 55: Chapter Fifty-Four: Titanic, Setting Sail

On the morning of April 10, 1912, crowds surged at Southampton Port.

That passenger liner, claimed to be the world's largest in volume and most luxurious in interior facilities, the Titanic, finally unveiled its mysterious veil under the gaze of countless onlookers.

Its tickets were divided into three classes; first class had unparalleled luxury, not only equipped with a pet room and smoking lounge, but also left a large observation deck in the rooms, allowing the wealthy to fully enjoy a seafaring life built with money.

In contrast were the passengers of third class.

Since this ship sailed from Dayingguo to Yingguo (Mei Jian) Niu Yue, according to the immigration laws of Yingguo at that time, all vessels had to isolate third-class passengers to control foreign immigrants and prevent disease, so they, in a society that proclaimed human rights, freedom, and equality for all, were arranged in a cramped area to undergo various ridiculous inspections, even as detailed as checking each person's mouth and hair.

Even so, many people still wanted to board this dream ship.

Su Qing stood at the bow, facing the warm sunshine and gentle breeze, looking down at the envious crowd below, and murmured in his heart: "There's no need to envy; not boarding this ship is actually your greatest luck in life!"

He shook his head, gathered his thoughts, and paid the highest respect to the beautiful sea and sky before him.

He quietly admired the scenery, bearing witness to its beauty with his eyes.

Suddenly looking back, Su Qing saw a convoy slowly stopping at the dock below.

Next, a girl wearing a purple bow hat stepped out of the first car.

She was tranquil, charming, yet her expression was cold; soft sunlight fell on her, making her appear so pure and noble.

Just then, the girl lifted her head, and her eyes met Su Qing's.

Su Qing smiled slightly; the girl blinked a little, then lowered her head expressionlessly, turned to the man behind her and criticized: "I don't see what's so surprising about this; its size still can't compare to the Mauritania."

"'It is a hundred feet larger than the Mauritania and far more luxurious,' the man explained with a smile."

But the woman was not convinced, turned and walked away; the man helplessly turned to a middle-aged woman who had just gotten out of the car and complained.

As for what they were complaining about, Su Qing didn't continue listening; his newly acquired ability was indeed useful and convenient, but he wasn't bored enough to listen to family gossip.

Su Qing's gaze fell on the girl, and he murmured: "Lu Si!"

Lu Si Diweite Bukete, from high society, was a noble girl.

Because her father died early, the family's fortune was nearly gone; her mother sent her to college, cultivating her into a refined lady in order to catch a golden turtle son-in-law and maintain their upper-class lifestyle.

This time they boarded the Titanic to go to Yingguo (Mei Jian) to become engaged to the son of the Steel King, Ka Er, whom they had hooked as a golden turtle son-in-law.

Although Lu Si strongly resisted this forced marriage, she was nonetheless powerless to oppose it.

"Whooo…"

The whistle sounded.

Su Qing withdrew his thoughts and noticed that Lu Si's party had already boarded the ship.

Immediately, he turned his gaze to the left side of the port.

There he saw a cargo ship much smaller than the Titanic docked there.

At this moment, the cargo ship had, under the joint assistance of Captain Fedeli and a dozen crew members, completed preparations to set sail at any time.

Moreover, the two new employees, Jie Ke and Fabuliaoqi, were also now aboard the Morris.

Having seen the movie, one knows the Titanic is destined to sink; that ill-fated pair will also end up in the Da Xi Yang, so Su Qing naturally will not let them take any risks.

As for himself, there's nothing to worry about.

With his current skills, even if the Titanic exploded on the spot, he could escape unharmed.

What's more, it's merely a simple sinking.

"Whooo…"

The whistle sounded again, and then the ship moved.

With the turning of the propeller, the giant liner set out for the Da Xi Yang.

On the other side, the Morris also sounded a whistle and activated its propeller.

Jie Ke heard the sound, quickly ran out of the cabin onto the deck, and waved goodbye to the people on the dock.

But there was no one he knew on the dock; he was simply too happy at the moment.

He was about to go to Niu Yue, his longed-for holy land, firmly believing his new life would undergo a complete transformation there, just as he had met his boss a few days earlier.

Jie Ke pulled Fabuliaoqi to the bow, looked far ahead, and excitedly shouted loudly.

Jie Ke pulled Fabuliaoqi to the bow; Yao gazed into the distance, shouting excitedly.

"My new life, I'm here!"

"My new life, I have come!"

At this moment, Jie Ke felt that Su Qing was the turning point of his life; meeting Su Qing was his fortune.

No matter how excited they were.

At this moment, on the Titanic's deck, the red-faced, white-bearded Captain Shi Misi raised his teacup, gazing at the Morris three hundred feet astern, and asked his assistant beside him: "Who bought Fedeli's ship?"

"'I heard it's an Eastern merchant,' assistant Hua Laisi replied: 'He is currently on our ship.'"

"'Hmm,' Captain Shi Misi nodded, thought for a while, and sighed: 'Fedeli is a decent man, a pity. But it's fine this way; at least he and his crew have a job to make a living.'"

After a brief moment of reflection, Captain Shi Misi regained his composure, took a sip of tea, and turned back to the bridge.

"'This is the captain of the Titanic!' Su Qing leaned on the rail, watching the retreating figure, his eyes full of curiosity."

In history, this captain has been controversial; some say he sank with the ship into the Da Xi Yang; others say he grabbed a child and jumped into a lifeboat to survive; still others claim he chose to clutch a wooden plank and commit suicide… In short, there are many versions of the story.

However, in the movie, this captain indeed locked himself in the bridge and sank together with the Titanic into the Da Xi Yang.

While Su Qing was idly daydreaming, Lu Si was dining with her fiancé Ka Er in the restaurant, and everyone at their table were socialite nobles.

Fiancé Ka Er and the socialites chatted away; besides profit and money, there was nothing else in their talk—masters like Picasso and Monet were, in their eyes, merely minor figures of no consequence.

This was completely contrary to Lu Si's values regarding artwork.

To the third-class passengers, Yingguo symbolized freedom and hope, but to Lu Si, this ship was a prison sending her to Yingguo; everything she did was restricted, even what she ate had to be decided by her fiancé Ka Er.

She was like a marionette, her life controlled by others; this journey brought her not a hint of joy.

Thus, she disregarded noble etiquette, left a group of gentlemen behind, rose on her own, left the restaurant, and ran onto the deck to get some fresh air.

Then, disregarding noble etiquette, she left a group of gentlemen behind, rose alone and left the dining hall, and ran to the deck to get some fresh air.

And Su Qing, who had been waiting for a long time, also saw her at once.

It must be said, Lu Si's beauty and melancholic demeanor are indeed very attractive.

Even after having undergone Selinna, this month's goddess baptism, Su Qing was somewhat entranced.

But fortunately his will was steadfast; after just a moment he came to his senses, then picked up his sketchpad and paintbrush and walked toward Lu Si.

"Hello, miss, excuse me, may I draw a picture for you?"