Chapter 633: Probing the Undercurrents

Xu Jijun heard Chen Xiaoyu's seemingly innocent question; the gentle smile at the corners of his mouth deepened slightly, but a fleeting sharpness flashed in his eyes.

He turned around, the sea breeze fluttering the hem of his coat, his posture still composed.

"Cruise ship?"

Xu Jijun shook his head lightly, his gaze turning once more to the endless dark sea.

Striking a pose as if deep in thought: "That kind of extreme luxury is a mockery of this corrupt world; even the starry sky one sees is distorted, the true starry sky……"

He paused.

His voice carried a near‑poetic low tone: "I like a down‑to‑earth life, I like this world's most sincere and simplest side. Like…… I like a woman; she can be imperfect, even have disabled legs, but her spirit is pure……"

Chen Xiaoyu didn't know that in this world there was a woman with disabled legs named Han Jinling.

Hearing Xu Jijun's words.

Her first feeling was doubt, sensing that this guy really was a bit out of the ordinary. While admiring him, she also didn't dare let down her guard.

The gentler and more affectionate a man appears on the surface, the more ruthless he becomes when he turns harsh.

Chen Xiaoyu tensed up.

Still wearing a faint smile, she said: "Brother Xu, you speak so profoundly. I'm not well‑educated; I can't grasp your world. The fishing boat's conditions are really limited, the night wind is strong, I'm afraid you won't get used to staying here. How about I have the kitchen make you a bowl of hot ginger tea? Drink it to warm up, then rest a while before returning to your cabin?"

Xiao Yu tried to seize the initiative with concern and arrangements, and also to probe whether he intended to stay for Along time.

Xu Jijun turned his head, giving her a meaningful look: "Thank you for the thought, but I prefer standing like this. Blowing in the sea breeze is nice too; it keeps my mind clear."

As he spoke, Xu Jijun suddenly added in a deeper tone: "Go about your business, don't worry about me. I'd like to be alone quietly for a while; I'll call you if anything comes up."

Beneath that calm, casual tone, Chen Xiaoyu felt uneasy; it was clear the other was turning the tables, forgetting who was the actual owner of this ship!

Alarm bells rang in Chen Xiaoyu's mind.

On the surface she remained composed, even showing a hint of an understanding smile: "All right, Brother Xu. Take your time gazing at the stars; call me if anything comes up."

After saying that, she turned and left, her steps steady as she went down the gangway, without a hint of hesitation, as if she were simply obeying the guest's request.

Yet her heart pounded wildly in her chest.

Reaching the turn of the gangway, as her view left the upper deck, she instantly pressed herself against the cold bulkhead, held her breath, and listened carefully for any movement on the deck.

The sea wind howled.

The sound of waves striking the hull was incessant.

Chen Xiaoyu focused her energy, straining to filter out the noise and pricking up her ears to listen.

As expected.

Moments later, an extremely faint, almost whisper‑like conversation came from the upper deck—Xu Jijun was on the phone with Fan Ge.

Chen Xiaoyu cautiously poked half her head out to look at the deck.

This completely confirmed one thing—the ship's mobile signal had indeed been blocked by Xu Jijun using special means, because he was holding a satellite phone, prepared in advance.

All that could be seen was Xu Jijun lowering his head slightly, his voice kept very low.

But in this relatively quiet night, when the wind was favorable, the intermittent conversation still drifted into Chen Xiaoyu's ears.

"……Dongfan……I've already boarded the ship……"

"……I regret to inform you that everything on the ship is under my control……"

"……I don't want to hurt anyone……"

"……provided you don't force me……"

"……I hope you can personally bring Jinling over……as well as Wu Changsheng and Huang Duoduo……none may be missing, to exchange them for the hostages on the ship……"

"……as long as you don't act rashly, I can guarantee that no one on the ship will be harmed……"

"……you know my temperament……"

"……don't play tricks, otherwise you'll bear the consequences……"

"……Xiao Yu is still so young, with a wonderful life ahead and a bright future; if she becomes a sacrifice in this struggle, that would truly be regrettable……"

The fragmented conversation, each word like a cold stone, hammered heavily into Chen Xiaoyu's heart.

Control everything on the ship!

Exchange hostages!

And he warned Fan Ge not to play tricks, otherwise he'd bear the consequences!

Just from these few points, after a little thought Xiao Yu understood what had happened tonight—indeed, her own life and those of everyone on the ship had become bargaining chips in Xu Jijun's negotiation with Fan Ge.

A chill unlike any she had felt before shot up from her feet to her head.

Chen Xiaoyu forced herself to stay calm, needing to hear more details! She risked moving another half step upward, almost focusing all her hearing on the top.

At this moment……

Xu Jijun's voice also rose a little, carrying an icy resolve: "……Lin Dongfan, I'm not negotiating with you! Give me an hour to prepare; tonight at eleven I want to see the people! Otherwise, get ready to collect the corpses of Xiao Yu and the others—I mean what I say, you should know my temper……"

Xu Jijun hung up after saying that.

Yet he remained standing where he was, staring at the pitch‑black sea, motionless, like a sculpture cold and devoid of feeling.

Chen Xiaoyu quickly shrank back into the shadows, her back against the bulkhead, her heart nearly leaping out of her throat.

Hostage exchange at 11 p. m. tonight!

Only one hour left!

I can't wait any longer; I must seize control of the situation on the ship and definitely not drag Fan Ge down! I don't know if he's brought a gun—if he has a gun……

Thinking that, Xiao Yu instinctively gripped the stun baton in her hand.

This little gadget in her hand does have some power, but compared to a gun's force, this stun baton is at best a child's toy.

What if she misses and fails to stun Xu Jijun?

Then everyone on the ship would become hostages, forcing Fan Ge into a passive compromise.

As she thought, Chen Xiaoyu came up with an idea: "If a head‑on clash won't work, maybe I can just desert—you have your net of heaven and earth, but I, Xiao Yu, can't sneak out through a hole?"

Say it, then do it.

Xiao Yu hurriedly ran back to the rest cabin and ordered his paternal uncle Chen Dingchao: "Uncle, immediately gather all the crew on the ship, quietly launch the lifeboats, and leave this ship."

Hearing that, Chen Dingchao looked completely bewildered.

He pondered in surprise: "The ship is going to sink? No way, this is a vessel worth several tens of millions, its quality rivals a warship; it couldn't possibly sink."

"It's not that the ship will sink; something big has happened—Xu Jijun is going to hijack the ship." Xiao Yu lowered his voice, unable to hide his anxiety.

Chen Dingchao grew more bewildered the more he heard: "Hijack the ship? Why would he hijack the ship? I'll go find him!"

"Come back!"

Xiao Yu hastily grabbed the thoughtless Chen Dingchao.

Using his authority as ship captain, he ordered Chen Dingchao: "Listen, immediately gather all the crew and launch the lifeboats! Leave this ship quietly! Anyone who dares to alert Xu Jijun bears the consequences for their own life or death!"