Chapter 62: Chapter Fifty-Nine: Conclusion and the Lingering Glow of the Sunset

Ka Er, do you really intend to deny it? What you did last night, you, you bastard.

On the fourth day of the Titanic's voyage, namely the morning of April 14, a woman's anguished wail echoed inside the first-class cabin.

Su Qing was awakened by the noise, recalled last night's events, quickly washed up, and went out to check.

Just after turning a corner, he saw a crowd gathered in front of Ka Er's childhood sweetheart's door.

Upon closer look, they were all nobles and wealthy people who had met at the banquet, even Mrs. Mo Li among them.

They stood around the door, each with different expressions, but one could still see the fire of gossip burning in their eyes.

"Watching a show is indeed human nature."

Su Qing muttered to himself, his face also showing a gloating expression as he moved closer.

"Good morning, Mr. Su!" Mrs. Mo Li saw him and greeted him with a smile.

Others politely nodded, then lost interest and turned their heads back to look inside the room.

Su Qing politely returned Mrs. Mo Li's greeting, then looked into the room and saw Ka Er slumped in a chair, his right hand propping his right forehead, his expression unseen; opposite him sat a beautiful woman collapsed on the floor, continually wiping her tears.

Of course, there were more than just them in the room; Lu Si and her mother were also inside.

At this moment, Lu Si sat in a chair, her face showing no joy or anger, like an outsider, coldly observing everything.

Meanwhile, her mother stood to the side, glancing left at Ka Er and right at the woman on the floor, her expression shifting as if she wanted to speak but held back, ultimately saying nothing.

It's not surprising she feels this way; a man merely desires a woman—if he wants something, he can do it in private. Who would barge into a girl's room in the dead of night and ruthlessly ruin her without a word?

More importantly, he did this on the eve of his engagement to his own daughter, and even got everyone in first class to know about it.

Does she not care about face? Doesn't the DeWitt Buchte family care about face!

Su Qing watched Lu Si's mother's changing expression, as vivid as a Peking opera, and roughly understood what his future mother-in-law was thinking.

She had thought that by using her daughter to catch a golden turtle son-in-law, she would never lack food or clothing and could continue her luxurious life as an upper-class lady, but she never expected this golden turtle son-in-law to deviate from the script, sneak attack on her childhood sweetheart, and make it known to everyone, leaving her now in a dilemma.

Indeed, that is the case; Mrs. Buchte is now truly in a difficult position.

Logically, her daughter should be Ka Er's official fiancée, but the problem is they are not yet engaged, so both parties remain free to choose partners.

This is a bit tricky; one cannot really expect her daughter to withdraw voluntarily.

Her future luxurious life would entirely depend on Ka Er's support!

"Miss, are you alright?" A commotion came from the doorway as a middle-aged woman pushed through the crowd into the room and gently helped the woman sit back on the bed.

Dai Wei wiped her tears with a handkerchief, looked at Ka Er, wanting to say something but not knowing what, her eyes full of desolation.

"Young Master Ka Er, I have already informed your father and Miss Dai Wei's father by radio about last night's incident; you should consider how to explain things to them after disembarking!" The middle-aged woman stared at the silent, head-down Ka Er, her tone very firm.

Having said that, she took Miss Dai Wei's hand and left the room.

"I..." Ka Er's body jolted at the woman's words; he could no longer stay silent, lifted his head with bloodshot eyes to watch the two departing, opened his mouth to speak but could utter nothing, and in the end all his thousands of words reduced to one: "Fuck!"

"I think it should belong to Miss Dai Wei!" The hitherto silent Lu Si suddenly stood up, shoved a box into Ka Er's hand, and walked toward the door.

"Lu Si... Lu Si..."

Ka Er and Lu Si's mother both reacted, shouting in succession to stop her, but Lu Si paid no heed, weaving through the crowd and jogging away.

As she left, Ka Er's face darkened; looking down at the box in his hand containing the 'Heart of the Ocean', he realized he and Lu Si were over.

Moreover, even if they didn't break up, it would be impossible for them to be together.

Dai Wei's family and his were old family friends; the two households had originally intended to marry and strengthen ties, but he had fallen for Lu Si, disregarding both sides' opposition to be with her.

Because of his mother's indulgence, there was no choice; his father could only agree.

But now he has no room to choose; for the rest of his life he can only marry Dai Wei.

"Who set me up?"

Thinking of his situation, Ka Er felt his back teeth about to shatter.

He struggled to recall last night's memories, trying to figure out who had schemed against him.

But after pondering a while, his mind remained a blank; he only remembered what happened before sleep, with no recollection afterward, and upon waking this morning he found himself already in Dai Wei's bed.

Such a result left Ka Er extremely vexed, yet there was nothing he could do.

Moreover, he no longer had the inclination to investigate who had plotted against him.

Now he needs to think carefully about how to explain things to his father and Dai Wei's father upon returning to New York.

Just thinking of those two elders' gazes, sharp as swords, made Ka Er's head tingle; ignoring noble etiquette, he brushed aside Lu Si's mother and the people at the door, striding quickly toward the room.

As he walked, he couldn't stop cursing in his heart: "Fuck, fuck..."

Lu Si's mother stood dazed in the room, watching the retreating Ka Er, her mouth twitching as she cried inwardly: "Ka Er, don't go; without you, how can I live?!"

Outside the door, the onlookers saw that all the participants in the farce had left, with nothing left to gossip about, and each went off to attend to their own affairs.

Meanwhile, at a corner of the deck,

Lu Si took Su Qing's hand, her eyes full of joy, and said: "I am finally free."

"Mm!" Su Qing nodded, his face also bearing a smile.

Now Ka Er's problem has been smoothly resolved; he and Lu Si no longer need to avoid each other. They can openly be together.

"Kiss me!" Lu Si exclaimed, overcome with emotion.

Su Qing looked at the lovestruck Lu Si before him; what else could he do? Naturally, he satisfied her.

As they embraced and kissed, the time happened to be nine in the morning, when the Titanic received its first warning from the Caronia, indicating that icebergs and floating ice lay ahead.

Captain Shi Mi Si paid it no heed, knowing icebergs were common this season and that they were steaming ahead fast enough to soon leave the icebergs behind.

Actually, given the Titanic's maiden voyage experience, it lacked the conditions for full speed, but Captain Shi Mi Si, veteran and renowned as the world's most experienced captain, decided to retire after the Titanic's maiden voyage ended.

Furthermore, the ship's owner, seeking to suppress rivals and gain more news coverage, urged Captain Shi Mi Si to proceed at full speed, so that when he retired he would break the existing speed record.

As a pride of the steel industrial age, the Titanic's glory was something no one could refuse, Captain Shi Mi Si included.

The day thus swiftly passed as the Titanic steamed ahead at full speed.

Soon, the time arrived at evening.

Su Qing and Lu Si stood at the bow, gazing at the setting sun on the horizon; at this moment there were no extra words, their two hearts tightly connected.

As the afterglow of the setting sun shone on each other's faces, this moment became eternity.