Chapter 63: The Cause of the Shipwreck

Time came to 10 p. m. on April 14.

Titanic sailed at 22.3 knots (about 45 km/h) in the dark, cold Atlantic, like a dagger slicing a slit on black velvet.

In this era, the ship's maximum speed was 23 knots, showing that Titanic's speed had nearly reached its limit.

At this time, if an emergency occurred, it would be very hard to brake.

In April, coinciding with a warm winter, icebergs in the Arctic Ocean drifted farther south than usual, so ships traveling the North Atlantic often received iceberg warnings from other vessels, and Titanic was no exception.

"Captain, we've received iceberg warnings from several ships—should we slow down?" Wireless operator Spike said anxiously.

"No no no, Mr. Spike, don't worry—our ship is the finest in the world; we'll soon toss the iceberg astern." Smith laughed, shook his head, and lightly dismissed the suggestion.

But just in case, he took the coffee from Fifth Officer Luo Yi, took a sip, and said to First Officer Murdoch beside him: "Notify Fleet to keep watch for icebergs at all times and report immediately if anything is seen."

"Yes, Captain!" Luo Yi nodded and headed toward the watchtower.

Seeing the captain not take it seriously, Spike sighed and also left, returning to the wireless room.

"How is it?" the man sitting before the wireless set with headphones on turned his head and asked.

"Captain Smith hasn't taken our advice." Spike took off his coat, casually sat in a chair, his eyes full of resignation.

"Don't worry." The wireless boy smiled and reassured: "We should trust Smith, after all he's the most experienced captain in the world."

"Got it." Spike rolled his eyes, not wanting to speak.

Elsewhere, the first officer came to the watchtower and said to the lad inside: "The captain's order: keep a close watch for icebergs."

"I know." Fleet first nodded, then spread his hands helplessly and said: "That bastard Cole, I don't know where he put the binoculars on his leave—I've been unable to find them."

"It's fine; just pay more attention, our ship is very fast." First Officer Murdoch didn't mind; he had great confidence in Titanic, believing icebergs could never catch up to them.

"All right." Fleet nodded and could only strain his eyes to observe the sea ahead.

The Atlantic at night was pitch black, but fortunately the ship's lights were on, so it wasn't completely invisible; one could barely make out the nearby situation.

"It's ten o'clock, just over an hour more." Su Qing leaned on the bow's railing, gazing at the ink‑black water below, silently calculating.

Su Qing didn't know exactly when Titanic hit the iceberg; he only remembered it happened after eleven p. m. and before midnight.

This isn't his fault—after all, tonight Lu Si had a revealing scene that was utterly captivating; with a beautiful woman to look at, who would bother watching the clock?

"What's wrong? You look preoccupied." Lu Si leaned in, curious.

Su Qing turned his head to look at the beauty, thought it over, and decided to give Lu Si a preventive shot: "After nightfall my heart grows uneasy; I constantly feel that danger will strike tonight. For safety, don't stray too far from me."

"Got it." Lu Si nodded, recalling what she'd seen on the ship, and said worriedly: "I noticed earlier that the number of lifeboats seemed insufficient; I fear they won't hold everyone aboard."

As her words fell, a voice came from nearby.

"Lu Si, you're such a thoughtful girl."

Hearing the sound, Su Qing and Lu Si turned toward it and saw a middle‑aged man in a Western suit.

After seeing the man's face, Lu Si felt a flicker of surprise—she hadn't expected to meet Titanic's designer—and politely greeted: "Good evening, Mr. Andrew."

Andrew returned the greeting gently: "You too, Lu Si."

After the greetings, his face showed regret as he said: "Lu Si, I deeply regret what has happened with your fiancé."

Lu Si immediately responded: "Karl is no longer my fiancé."

"Sorry." Assuming Lu Si was speaking out of hurt, Andrew quickly changed the subject: "Lu Si, look at this part of the deck."

Upon hearing that, Lu Si immediately shifted her focus.

Seeing that the topic had been shifted, Andrew immediately began to explain: "I originally installed a rack on this deck to hang lifeboats, but someone said it would make the deck overly crowded, so the proposal was rejected; now the lifeboats aboard can hold only half the people."

"If an accident occurs, wouldn't that leave half the people unable to escape?" Lu Si said, somewhat worried.

"It's fine, Lu Si." Andrew, confident in his life's work, comforted her: "The ship I designed for you can be said to be impregnable; lifeboats are merely decoration."

Leaning on the railing, silent Su Qing watched Andrew's brimming confidence and really wanted to retort: "Impregnable, my ass!"

"Who is this gentleman?" Andrew, having finished with Lu Si, finally had a moment to ask Su Qing.

"I'm Su Qing, a merchant and painter." Su Qing introduced with a smile.

"Mr. Su, pleased to meet you." Andrew, though not fond of yellow skin, knew anyone at this level was no ordinary person—either nobility or wealth—and not someone a mere designer could provoke, so he was exceedingly friendly.

As the saying goes, don't strike a smiling face.

Su Qing also returned the kindness: "Me too, Mr. Andrew."

Meanwhile, as the three chatted, the ship's wireless cabin received a telegram from the California: "You bastard, didn't you hear what I said? There's an iceberg ahead, an iceberg."

Spike sat calmly in his chair, sipping coffee, and told the wireless boy on the headset: "I already told you to shut it off."

The wireless boy, face full of sullen defiance, retorted: "This guy actually dares to insult me—I'll definitely talk back, I won't let it go."

As he spoke, he picked up the microphone: "Listen… shut up… I'm working! For God's sake, shut up!"

At the same time, the California, nearest to Titanic, received a telegram.

The wireless operator, hearing the telegram's content, angrily told his colleague: "This arrogant, rude bastard! He actually dares to tell me to shut up!"

Another wireless operator, listening, also looked grim and said: "Turn off the transmitter and ignore this bastard."

"You're right—let that damned bastard go to hell!"

The two immediately shut down the wireless machine, left the wireless room, glanced at the sea dotted with much floating ice, and bid each other good night before going to sleep.

The night grew deeper.

On Titanic, the time also came to eleven thirty.

The deck conversation had long ended; at this moment, Su Qing was dealing with Lu Si's mother.

"Lu Si, do you really want to be with him?" Mrs. Buckett looked at her daughter, tightly holding Su Qing's hand, and frowned.

Lu Si broke free of the cage, her nature releasing boldness; facing her mother's question, she firmly replied: "Mom, I've decided to live with Su Qing after disembarking."

"You……" Mrs. Buckett's lip twitched; she suddenly felt that the daughter she had raised for eighteen years was now a stranger.

"Karl and I are impossible, you know that." Lu Si, regardless of her mother's changing expression, continued: "Mom, I am not a tool; I am a living person, your daughter, and I have the freedom to choose whom I love."

Having said that, without waiting for her mother to speak, she grabbed Su Qing's hand and left directly.

"No, Lu Si..."

Mrs. Bu Ke Te stood dazedly on the deck, watching her daughter's retreating back, her heart filled with turmoil and speechlessness.

Lu Si is her daughter; if there really were a way, she would also want to bless her daughter, but the family situation is dire, and they are about to run out of resources.

After her husband's death, he left them nothing but his good reputation and a pile of debts; that reputation is now their last bit of capital.

Originally, in her view, Ka Er and her daughter were a perfect match; as long as they got engaged, her family would be saved, and she could continue to enjoy a luxurious life.

But she never expected that Ka Er would sneak into another woman's room on the eve of the engagement.

She heard that the woman who was sneaked upon came from a wealthy family and had long-standing ties with Ka Er's family; this time they slept together, and the deed is done.

Although Ka Er hasn't expressed his position yet, judging by his attitude toward her today, there's a ninety percent chance that his engagement to Lu Si is off.

So, she has been considering her backup plan today, preparing to, before reaching New York, catch another wealthy husband on the Titanic.

Just now she came to find Lu Si in order to discuss this matter with her.

But she didn't expect that Lu Si had already taken action and caught a man.

Although he is a yellow-skinned Easterner, she had seen him before and knew he was also a first-class passenger, so his wealth is probably not low either.

She had originally wanted to pull Lu Si aside and indirectly ask about that Eastern man's property, but she didn't expect Lu Si's reaction to be so strong; without letting her finish speaking, Lu Si grabbed the man and left.

"Ah, she didn't even let me finish my words."

"I hope he's super rich, otherwise how will I get by in the future!"

"..."

Mrs. Bu Ke Te helplessly shook her head, about to return to her room to look for Lu Si again to inquire.

But just as she turned around, she heard a tremendous collision-scraping sound.

"Boom... Crack..."

Then came a violent shaking.

Mrs. Bu Ke Te fell to the ground, her face full of panic as she looked toward the direction the sound came from.

She saw that an iceberg had appeared on the sea surface at some point; at that moment, the Titanic was sailing past the iceberg.

Although she lacked experience, she still had a bad premonition.

This time things are likely to go badly!