567: Wish 567: Wish Mrs.
Ma’s face was a bit pale, but after drinking the gentle milk poured by You Ye, she looked somewhat better—a person her age, having witnessed such a shocking scene on the deck, was naturally frightened quite a bit.
“Are you feeling better?” Luo Qiu asked softly.
“I was really scared.” Mrs.
Ma rubbed her forehead and shook her head, “I didn’t expect it to be so terrifying…
I don’t know who could have done something so cruel.”
As she spoke, Mrs.
Ma took off the prayer beads from her hand, holding them with her fingers and muttering a few lines from the Heart Sutra—Luo Qiu knew Mrs.
Ma had believed in Buddhism for years, though she wasn’t a devout follower.
It was more a way to cultivate calm and nurture herself.
But this seemed more effective than the cup of milk.
Mrs.
Ma now smiled and said, “Luo Qiu, I’m fine, you don’t need to worry about me.
Must be pretty boring for you to stay here with me, right?”
As she spoke, Mrs.
Ma glanced at You Ye standing behind Boss Luo…
meaning that Boss Luo ought to spend proper time with his girl instead.
Luo Qiu shook his head, “It’s fine.
Anyway, the atmosphere on the ship isn’t exactly great right now.”
The scene of the murder…
probably most of the cruise guests were feeling uneasy.
On the way back, things had settled down a lot.
Many people had chosen to return to their cabins, hiding out and not ing out at all.
Some had even started plaining to the cruise staff.
Mrs.
Ma suddenly looked at You Ye and said, “You Ye, right?”
“Mrs.
Ma, is there anything I can help you with?” the maid smiled gently in response.
Mrs.
Ma paused, then apologized, “I want to have a private word with Luo Qiu, could you wait for a moment?”
The maid nodded slightly, “Then I’ll go tidy up the room for now.
Call me if you need anything.”
With that, You Ye opened the door and, before leaving, bowed again to the two of them, then gently closed the door—her movements so light that only a faint click of the lock could be heard.
“She actually called me ‘Madam.’ Such manners—I really can’t imagine any ordinary girl having that.” Mrs.
Ma sighed, “Feels just like a real young lady.
Honestly, it gives me a bit of pressure.”
Luo Qiu had considered this too…
but this was actually the simplest side of You Ye, “She’s very attentive to the little things.”
Mrs.
Ma smiled gently, then suddenly patted the back of Luo Qiu’s hand and blinked, “Luo Qiu, be honest with me…
this girl isn’t your girlfriend, is she?”
Boss Luo opened his mouth slightly.
Mrs.
Ma said quietly, “Auntie’s got more wrinkles these days, but I was young once.
People in love don’t look at each other the way you two do.
Old Ma is such a rough guy that he doesn’t notice a thing.
Ren Ziling is just imagining all sorts of things because she worries too much about you, so she’s kind of blinded by her own concerns.”
Luo Qiu smiled softly…
Age had gifted this aunt with enough wisdom.
Right now, Mrs.
Ma’s presence shone with a jadeite-like luster, pure and gentle.
Mrs.
Ma then touched Boss Luo’s face, and kindly said, “You, child, have never been one to show your feelings.
But Auntie’s watched you grow up—some things your eyes can’t hide from me…
Has something happened to you recently?”
“No.” Luo Qiu replied slowly, “I’m still myself, for now.”
“For now?”
Mrs.
Ma was startled, then shook her head, not pushing further, “Alright, if you say no, I’ll trust you.
Auntie believes, if it’s you, there won’t be any problems.
After all, you’re Luo Qiu’s child.
But if you ever need to talk, e to Auntie.
Your Uncle Ma’s buddies, except for Ye Yan, all have families.
You were the first born.
Old Ma may never say it, but I know he’s always seen you as his own son, and I’m the same.
So no matter what happens, remember—we’re always behind you.”
Luo Qiu unconsciously held Mrs.
Ma’s hand, feeling the warmth of her palm on his face, closing his eyes.
It was a while before he quietly said, “I will.”
“Good boy.” Mrs.
Ma fondly patted Luo Qiu’s forehead, then blinked and said, “But You Ye is really a wonderful girl.
Even though I don’t know what’s going on between you, are you really not considering her?”
Luo Qiu let go of Mrs.
Ma’s hand, and said softly, “Auntie, could you not tell anyone for now?”
Mrs.
Ma nodded.
She watched this child she’d seen grow up, not even twenty-one yet, and believed his future would be bright—that young people needed experiences to truly mature.
So she agreed.
Luo Qiu stood up, his voice gentle, “Auntie, you’ll live a long life.”
“Such sweet talk, boy.”
Mrs.
Ma chuckled.
She took it as Luo Qiu’s small way to cheer her up, “Alright, Auntie wants to recite the Heart Sutra a bit longer.
You go on; don’t make You Ye wait too long.
Even the best-mannered girl can get unhappy.”
“Dinner time is ing, I’ll go get you something to eat.” Luo Qiu nodded, opened the door, and left.
…
…
“Officer, I’ve told you a thousand times, I really don’t know anything!
I was just walking down the corridor, and suddenly someone hit me and I blacked out.
When I woke up, all I saw was you guys.”
Flying Eagle looked at Officer Ma with a face full of helplessness, “I really don’t know who Qian Guoliang is, let alone how he died.
You saw yourself—I was tied up in the room, what could I possibly have done?
I’d like to know why that dead guy grabbed me in the first place!”
“Officer, I’ve eaten more salt than you’ve eaten sugar!
Saying it’s got nothing to do with you, who’s going to believe that?” Officer Ma sneered, “You’d better confess, or if you don’t, I can keep you in lockup for as long as you like!”
Flying Eagle frowned, “Officer, isn’t this intimidation?
I’m a victim here, you know!
I could report you for abuse of power any second!”
“Go ahead, my desk is full of plaints, enough to burn for soup, and yours won’t make a difference.” Officer Ma said coolly, “And you, you were seen in the dead man’s room.
If you don’t tell the truth, let’s see what the court does to you.”
At that moment, a crew member hurried over, “Officer Ma, we found a lot of jewelry and valuables in this man’s room.
Some seem to belong to passengers who reported theft on the cruise.”
Flying Eagle’s expression instantly changed.
Officer Ma sneered, “Looks like we don’t even need to call you a murder suspect.
Theft alone is enough to give you a prison tour.”
Flying Eagle struggled in his chair—he was still tied up and the officer had no intention of letting him go!
The chair kept rocking, and Flying Eagle yelled, “I’m being framed!
Someone’s setting me up!
Officer, you have to believe me!
I’m innocent!!”
Another crew member came in quickly and said, “Officer Ma, we found the video.
Last night, around 8:15, this man went into the room with Qian Guoliang.
About ten minutes later, Qian Guoliang left, but this guy never came out.”
Officer Ma sneered and grabbed Flying Eagle’s collar, “So?
You still want to say you have nothing to do with Qian Guoliang?
You’d better fess up, or I’ll label you as a murder suspect right now!”
Flying Eagle opened his mouth, frowning, “That guy…
is really dead?”
Officer Ma snorted, “You won’t give up until you see The Yellow River…
You guys, drag him along, let him see the body!”
…
“Lizi, aren’t you trying hard enough?
I can’t get up here.”
In the corridor, Ren Ziling was halfway through climbing up onto the ceiling, struggling to pull herself up—but apparently having a hard time.
Lizi looked at where Ren Ziling was stuck and sighed, “Sister Ren, maybe you should think about losing some weight…”
“e on…
cut the crap and push me!
Push harder…
just a bit more, almost there!”
With her upper body already inside the ceiling, her voice sounded muffled and a little off…
Lizi took a quiet breath, “Alright, here I go!”
“Do it!
Harder!
I can take it!”
“Ahh!!
Ha!!”
“Aaaaah!!
It hurts, it hurts!!”
Finally, with Lizi’s ‘extra strength’, Subeditor Ren made it to heaven—no, wait, succeeded in climbing onto the ceiling.
Lizi clapped her hands, just about to grab something to celebrate, when she spotted a figure at the end of the corridor staring this way.
A woman, wearing sunglasses and a scarf, carrying a shoulder bag—looked just like a tourist.
But as soon as her eyes met Lizi’s, the woman quickly turned and left.
“Huh?” Lizi blinked in confusion.
“What are you looking at?
Hurry up and get up here!” Ren Ziling leaned out from above, reached out her hand, “e on, I’ll pull you up.
There’s plenty of space up here.”
“Okay.” Lizi shrugged and climbed up onto the ceiling, too.
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