Chapter 3573: Boiling the Frog in Warm Water

Since ancient times, the means to make a person keep a secret have been nothing more than threats and inducements.

But overall, inducements are far more effective than threats.

Just like the 108 heroes of Liangshan Marsh, they were all forced to become outlaws, and in such a situation, the more they were pressured, the more they resisted.

In the end, it was still inducement that worked.

Although Ma Lan is not exactly a hero, if even heroes cannot pass this test, then she certainly cannot.

This luxurious tropical island in the South Pacific is right before her eyes; even with a gun pointed at her, she dares not contact the outside world.

Thus, Xiao Churan also breathed a sigh of relief.

No matter what, this counts as settling down; I only hope that my distance from my family will allow Ye Chen to focus wholeheartedly on his revenge.

But thinking of Ye Chen, a surge of longing immediately rises in her heart.

People are not actually afraid of passionate, sweeping love; the more intense, tsunami-like, earth-shaking love that surges in all at once, the faster it tends to dissipate—yesterday one could die for the other, today one feels yesterday's self was a fool, and thus can no longer summon that fervor.

What people fear most is love like boiling a frog in warm water.

After a long time together, one does not feel particularly in love, but in fact, during the prolonged companionship, the two have already developed a strong mutual reliance; it's just that everyone has grown accustomed to this feeling, and no one feels how important the other is.

But once separated, one realizes how painful it is to lose the other.

Xiao Churan feels that her feelings for Ye Chen are especially like the relationship between water and fish.

Living in water, one only feels everything is ordinary; moving the gills allows breathing, wagging the tail allows swimming, and one does not realize these are due to the water's embrace—until one day suddenly leaving the water, only then, through losing the water, does one truly understand the meaning of water's existence.

So thinking of these things, her eye sockets redden, and she cannot help but burst into tears.

Xiao Changkun and Ma Lan are not as wistful as Xiao Churan; they are like two wolves, busy familiarizing themselves with every inch of their territory—this villa is too large, so large that for a time one cannot fully construct its outline in the mind.

Nevertheless, Ma Lan, relying on her excellent talent, found the best bedroom suite and proudly declared she would claim it as her own.

Of course, her relationship with Xiao Changkun has eased considerably; they are no longer living separately, so this best suite has become their bridal chamber.

Though called a suite, it is actually little different from a large house.

Entering, one first passes through a living room of over a hundred square meters; the living room is fifteen meters long, eight meters wide, and extremely luxurious.

The living room connects to a similarly fifteen-meter-long semicircular terrace with a radius exceeding six meters, facing the sea; the tropical, humid sea breeze blows in, opening every pore of the body, extremely comfortable.

From the left side of the living room, entering leads to a similarly sea-facing large bedroom, with a 2.2-meter-wide bed directly facing the sea, and beside the floor-to-ceiling window is a top-brand bathtub; in Ma Lan's view, lying here to take a bath, her heart could fly to the heavens.

Behind the bedroom is a walk-in closet; the closet's cabinets show no panels, as all panels are covered in leather, with a feel so good it's indescribable; the cabinet handles and hardware are so exquisite that removing them makes one think they are some high-end brand's custom-made ornaments.

The two of them fiddled in the bedroom and bathroom, touching this and looking at that; after Ma Lan came out with tears in her eyes, she said to Xiao Changkun: "I thought living in Tang Chen Yi Pin was already the life of the elite, but coming here I realize life can actually be this refined..."

Xiao Changkun also sighed: "Look at how these cabinets fit, almost perfectly flush with the surrounding walls—the gaps are so narrow they're nearly invisible, and top and bottom are completely aligned; this craftsmanship is beyond what ordinary luxury brands can achieve, and even the cabinets in Tang Chen Yi Pin's luxury villas cannot reach this level of perfection."

Having said that, he quickly added: "There's still a room on the right side of the living room; I'll go take a look."

Ma Lan immediately followed: "Wait, I'm coming with you."

Entering the right-side room, one finds a room comparable to Don Vito Corleone's study in the film *The Godfather*.

The room is fully solid wood renovated—floor, walls, furniture—all made of top-grade walnut, giving a very retro American style; the large American desk is exceptionally exquisite; Xiao Changkun couldn't help but sit in the swivel chair, propping his legs on the desk, and sighing: "I and Marlon Brando differ only by a fine Cuban cigar."

Having said that, he lowered his head and discovered a low cabinet with a transparent glass door beside the desk; at a glance, the inside is packed full of cigars.

He delightedly stepped forward and pulled it open, finding inside nothing but the world-famous Cohiba cigars.

He carefully drew one out, held it in his hand to examine closely, and exclaimed: "I seem to have seen someone smoking this series of cigars at Tianxiang Fu; they said it costs over twenty thousand per stick..."

Ma Lan said incredulously: "That expensive?! Who's crazy enough to spend over twenty thousand on a single cigar? With that money, what couldn't one do?"

Xiao Changkun brought the cigar to his nose, sniffed it, and sighed: "Ah, you don't understand—rich people make money so fast, some earn millions in a day; you say he earns so much, how does he spend it? Smoking two twenty-thousand-dollar cigars a day is nothing; no matter how extravagant, money only grows the more you spend—otherwise, look at all the world's top ingredients, wines, and cigars: who are they sold to? Aren't they all sold to those top tycoons?"

Ma Lan murmured: "Being rich is truly great!"

Having said that, fearing all this might vanish, she hurriedly urged him: "Xiao Changkun, you'd better pay attention—no matter what, don't let outsiders know we're living this well here."

Xiao Changkun found a lighter, hesitated repeatedly, but still lit the cigar, took a beautiful puff, and then said: "Rest assured, even if my late father came in a dream to ask me, I wouldn't tell."

Ma Lan approvingly said: "That's about right!"

As they were speaking, they heard someone knocking at the door; they came to the living room and opened it; several girls pushing luggage carts walked over, one of whom respectfully said: "Mr. Xiao, Mrs. Xiao, we have prepared some daily necessities and a change of clothes for you two; the clothes are custom-made according to your measurements; would you like us to first help you put things away? If you have any other needs, please let us know—we'll prepare them as soon as possible."

Ma Lan said delightedly: "You're too thoughtful! By the way, I came in a hurry this time and didn't bring all my cosmetics—do you have any good skincare products?"

The girl immediately said: "Yes, Mrs. Xiao, we've prepared for you the finest top-grade caviar skincare set."

Saying so, she took out from one of the boxes a complete large set of skincare products.

"Oh my!" Ma Lan exclaimed delightedly: "You prepared such good skincare for me? You're too generous!"

The girl smiled: "This is all arranged by Mr. Ye."

Ma Lan overjoyed, then asked her: "How long is this set meant to last? If it's a long time, I'll use it sparingly."

The girl explained: "No limit—when you run out, just tell me, and I'll replenish it for you right away."

Ma Lan widened her eyes and said: "Then… can I use face cream and essence to drench my skin like others do?!"

The so-called "drenching the skin" means using face cream and essence as one would a face mask.

Normally applying face cream, if only using an amount the size of a fingernail cap, drenching requires at least a quail-egg-sized dollop.

A bottle of face cream costing several thousand yuan, if used sparingly, can last half a year, but if used for drenching, at most five or six times.

Although Ma Lan's life is somewhat relaxed, she hasn't relaxed to this extent, so she watches people post various note-based science popularizations daily, but she has always been unwilling to waste so much.

Now hearing these are unlimited, replenished when used up, she immediately thought of this very method she had always been unwilling to waste on.

At this moment, Xiao Changkun also couldn't help but ask: "By the way, can the Cohiba cigars in the cigar cabinet be replenished after they're smoked?"

"Yes, sir." The girl respectfully said: "The cigar cabinet in the room, as well as the liquor cabinet, soft drink cabinet, and snack cabinet in the living room, are all equipped with weight sensors; when they detect low stock, we will replenish them immediately—you can use them with peace of mind."

Xiao Changkun was also instantly delighted.

Such a leisurely life—he had never truly experienced it before.

Meanwhile, Xiao Churan did not go to choose her own room; instead, she walked out alone from the first floor of the villa to the beach not far from the sea, sat cross-legged hugging her knees, and gazed blankly at the emerald green ocean.

Sun Mengmeng walked over and respectfully said: "Ms. Xiao, Uncle and Aunt are settled; would you like to see the rooms? We still have a few bedrooms available for selection."

Xiao Churan shook her head: "It doesn't matter to me; I can live in any room."

Sun Mengmeng said: "We have prepared many daily necessities and clothes for you and your uncle and aunt. Choose a room, and I will have someone send them over."

Xiao Churan said lightly: "You handle the arrangements. I want to be alone for a while."

Sun Mengmeng nodded in understanding and said: "Okay, Ms. Xiao. You stay here for a moment while I go arrange things. It's almost dinner time, so I'll come back in an hour to call you. How does that sound?"

Xiao Churan nodded slightly: "Go ahead and get busy."

Sun Mengmeng respectfully said goodbye and left, leaving Xiao Churan sitting alone on the beach in a daze.

Her mind was almost entirely filled with Ye Chen. Gazing at the endless sea, she couldn't help but whisper softly: "Ye Chen, I truly hope that in this lifetime, I can see you again..."