The lights on the cruise ship made the sea sparkle with ripples. Gao Qiong saw Satan sitting for a long while before he wheeled himself back to the cabin, his expression calm as if nothing had happened.
But Gao Qiong understood—the fact that he hadn’t called A Zuo to push him was the clearest sign of Satan’s inner turmoil.
Gao Qiong kicked the railing. This definitely wasn’t Miss Bei Yao—Miss Bei Yao would never kiss Satan.
She waited for Satan to grow disappointed in the imposter.
Or for the imposter to become afraid of Satan once they reached land.
The sea breeze carried a distinct salty, fishy scent, and the moon shone exceptionally bright that night.
Someone spent the entire night sleepless.
The morning sunlight bathed the entire deck, and the sea was tranquil as the sun began to rise.
When A Zuo wheeled Pei Chuan out of the cabin, everyone’s eyes widened in astonishment.
The man’s expression was calm, but on his cold, stern face was a black tattoo of the letter "S." If not for the loyal A Zuo following behind him, everyone would have almost mistaken him for someone else. How many years had it been since they had last seen Satan’s true face?
Facing the subtle yet shocked gazes, Pei Chuan remained remarkably composed.
He wasn’t quite used to it internally. After wearing the mask for so long, his skin had taken on a pale, icy pallor.
He wasn’t accustomed to the strange looks he would receive during the upcoming meeting, so he extended his hand to the girl beside him: "Give it back to me." Stop playing around.
Bei Yao, holding the fallen angel mask in her hand, hid it behind her back.
Pei Chuan said gently, "Be good."
Bei Yao felt somewhat awkward. Just a few days ago, she and Pei Chuan had been peers, but now, Satan seemed so much older than her.
She returned the mask to him, and Pei Chuan put it on himself. The expressions of his subordinates remained peculiar.
The men were to discuss matters after breakfast. The ship was mostly filled with rough, rugged men, with only Gao Qiong and Bei Yao as the two women. Pei Chuan glanced at Bei Yao beside him and said to Gao Qiong, "Keep her company for a walk."
Gao Qiong replied reluctantly, "Yes."
After the implantation of "Wang Sheng," Gao Qiong’s loyalty was beyond doubt. She dutifully followed Bei Yao, and Bei Yao, afraid of causing trouble for Pei Chuan, did not refuse in order to put his mind at ease.
The island where "Bei Yao" was buried had no women’s clothing, so the clothes she wore were brought by Gao Qiong. Remembering the kiss Bei Yao had given Satan the previous night, Gao Qiong now regarded Bei Yao with extreme displeasure.
Her critical gaze swept over Bei Yao’s figure.
Bei Yao asked her, "What are you looking at?"
Gao Qiong’s eyes finally settled on Bei Yao’s chest.
Bei Yao felt unnerved by her blatant stare and grew somewhat flustered and annoyed.
Gao Qiong’s eyes burned with intensity. Goodness, she would have needed breast implants to fill out the dress Bei Yao was wearing, yet this little vixen managed to wear it so fittingly.
Gao Qiong said, "Hey, imposter, have you ever heard the saying, 'Those who rely on beauty to please others will find love fading as beauty fades'?"
Bei Yao: "…" She wasn’t foolish and understood what Gao Qiong meant. Just as Gao Qiong disliked her, she didn’t like Gao Qiong either.
Bei Yao wasn’t usually one to nitpick, but the thought of Gao Qiong being by Pei Chuan’s side all these years made her feel sour inside. Deliberately provoking Gao Qiong, she said, "At least having beauty is better than having none. Pei Chuan likes someone like me."Gao Qiong’s eyelids twitched. “Tell me, what do you actually want? The method for reincarnation and Satan’s life are non-negotiable. But if there’s anything else, just say it—I can help you. Your superiors must have sent you here with some purpose, right?” She couldn’t take it anymore! If only this nuisance would leave, she’d gladly send her off like escorting a Buddha!
Bei Yao glanced at her, her expression serious. “I do have a purpose.”
Gao Qiong brightened. “What is it?”
Bei Yao’s eyes curved into crescents. “To win Satan’s affection.”
“You’re messing with me!”
Bei Yao was baffled. “Why can’t you handle the truth?”
Gao Qiong couldn’t be bothered to speak with her anymore, and Bei Yao had no intention of engaging further. She decided to explore the cruise ship on her own.
The ship was incredibly luxurious, reminding her of the movie Titanic. Having grown up in a landlocked city, Bei Yao had never been to sea before. Now, bathed in the gentle ocean breeze, she felt lighthearted as she wandered around.
Around her, time seemed to stand still, filled with a sense of contentment and joy. Gao Qiong noticed this atmosphere—the happiness was almost contagious. Her expression shifted, and she snorted disdainfully. “Country bumpkin.”
Bei Yao paid her no mind.
By noon, it was time for lunch, but she hadn’t even caught a glimpse of Pei Chuan. Meals were simply delivered to her room.
Pei Chuan seemed exceptionally busy, occupied until late at night with no sign of respite.
Bei Yao glanced toward the main hall several times, a pang of disappointment in her heart. She stretched out her fingers, letting the twilight glow brush against her fingertips.
Gao Qiong gloated. “Who was it this morning boasting that Satan only likes someone like you? Even though Satan is busy, it’s not like he’d refuse to see you at all. Stop flattering yourself.”
Late that night, Bei Yao knocked on Pei Chuan’s door. A calm male voice responded from the other side, “Come in.”
Bei Yao pushed the door open to find him reading.
Pei Chuan looked at the hesitant girl in the doorway. “What’s wrong?”
Bei Yao said, “Nothing.”
She wasn’t the clingy type, but this world left her feeling deeply insecure. The tenderness and intimacy Pei Chuan had shown her the previous night lingered in her memory, yet today he seemed distant and aloof. Confused and anxious, Bei Yao didn’t know what to make of it.
Pei Chuan said, “Get some rest.”
Her spirits seemed to deflate instantly. Crestfallen, she trudged back to her room.
Pei Chuan felt a twinge of pity watching her retreating figure, but in the end, he said nothing.
Only after she had left did he cover his chest and cough lightly.
When Yu Shangxian arrived with the doctor, he frowned. “When did this start?” It was the first time Pei Chuan had experienced sudden chest pains during a discussion.
Pei Chuan remained composed. “It’s nothing. Let the doctor examine me first.”
The doctor conducted a checkup and, after a long while, said, “You must take better care of yourself. Avoid extreme emotional fluctuations.”
Pei Chuan replied, “I understand.”
Yu Shangxian, rarely angered, snapped, “Who was it? We haven’t leaked the island’s location, and your health was fine until now. I’ll interrogate everyone on the island. If no one talks, I’ll have them all executed.”
Pei Chuan looked up. “You’re overthinking it. It’s not a big deal.”
Not a big deal? Then why did the pain make him faint?
Yu Shangxian hesitated, wanting to say more, but Pei Chuan cut him off coldly. “The doctor stays. You may leave. Keep this under wraps.”
It was a firm order. Yu Shangxian lowered his gaze and replied, “Understood.”
The night breeze gradually soothed his anger, replacing it with sharp-witted clarity.Yu Shangxian ran into Gao Qiong as soon as he stepped out. Gao Qiong was in a good mood and said, "The imposter's lights went out very early. She must have been shut out."
Yu Shangxian narrowed his eyes slightly. "After spending these past two days with this young lady, what do you think of her?"
Gao Qiong had initially wanted to curse a storm, but Bei Yao wasn’t someone easy to dislike. She pouted and said, "She’s just so-so."
"Do you think she has some ulterior motive for coming here? Could she harm Satan?"
Gao Qiong exclaimed excitedly, "So you also think there’s something off about her, right? She’s definitely up to no good!"
Yu Shangxian glanced at Gao Qiong’s expression and felt like he was talking to a brick wall. He smiled faintly without showing any emotion.
"The year Miss Bei Yao died, do you remember what Satan did?"
"He released that flawed Rebirth serum, causing chaos. Then he locked himself in his room. Everyone thought he couldn’t handle her death, but our Satan is tough! He came back after a few days as if nothing happened and led us to become even stronger. Why do you ask?"
Yu Shangxian replied thoughtfully, "No reason."
"You’re being weird. I’m going to see Satan."
Yu Shangxian stopped her. "Satan is resting."
"So early?"
Gao Qiong thought about it and decided it was better that he was resting rather than stargazing with the imposter. Satisfied, she returned to her room.
Yu Shangxian paused for a moment, a sudden suspicion crossing his mind.
The next day, when Pei Chuan woke up, he looked noticeably better.
A-Zuo, simple and honest, came to push his wheelchair and asked with concern, "How are you feeling, Satan?"
Pei Chuan replied, "I’m fine."
In the second-floor dining room, the morning light was faint. Pei Chuan frowned. "Where is she?"
Gao Qiong glanced around but didn’t see Bei Yao. Noticing Pei Chuan’s gaze, she shook her head. "I don’t know either. I walked with her yesterday, and she went back to sleep very early."
Except for the day she left the island, Bei Yao was never late. She was punctual and polite, never causing anyone embarrassment.
Gao Qiong said, "Please eat first. I’ll go get her."
Seeing Pei Chuan lower his eyes without speaking, Yu Shangxian smiled and said, "That young lady is only nineteen. Most of us are nearly a generation older than her. Satan, have you ever taken care of a little sister before? She’s probably feeling lonely and acting out. You were busy with meetings all day yesterday and didn’t see her."
His words carried an implication, which displeased Gao Qiong. How dare that little vixen throw a tantrum! Giving Satan the cold shoulder! If she were given a rocket, she’d probably try to fly to the moon!
Pei Chuan said, "You all eat. I’ll go check on her."
A-Zuo hurried over to push the wheelchair, but Pei Chuan raised his hand to decline.
Pei Chuan went to Bei Yao’s room by himself.
He knocked on the door and said gently, "Bei Yao, I’m sorry for not understanding how you felt. This world is unfamiliar to you. It’s my fault for leaving you alone all this time."
The room remained quiet. Pei Chuan recalled Yu Shangxian’s words—was she throwing a tantrum? He sighed softly. "How about I spend the day with you today? We can stop the boat and go fishing on the sea."
He fell silent. He was a dull person, never good at charming little girls, and he had never been good at making her happy in the past.
He said, "If there’s anything you like or want, you can tell me."He waited outside her room. The morning sea breeze was gentle, and several wind chimes in her room tinkled crisply. Pei Chuan sat for a long time before reaching out to push the door open.
The room was empty. The string of seashell wind chimes swayed in the breeze, the quilt on her bed was neatly arranged, and two tropical fish swam back and forth in a glass orb.
Everything was tidy and vibrant—only Bei Yao was absent from the room. She hadn’t been taken by anyone.
He closed his eyes briefly.
He’d rather believe Yu Shangxian’s words were true—that she was just throwing a tantrum.
What could he even resent? At twenty-seven years old, he had finally grasped a truth: no matter how formidable his methods, he could never outmatch fate.
It could bring her into his life as it pleased, and just as quietly take her away. Stirring up a pool of spring water only to mock his wretchedness. Pei Chuan pressed a hand to his chest, seeming deeply sorrowful, yet not entirely so.
With Pei Chuan absent, no one in the dining room dared to start the meal.
The entire morning passed without Pei Chuan’s return. Just as everyone was exchanging suggestive glances and Gao Qiong’s expression turned grim, Pei Chuan returned alone.
He was remarkably calm. “Let’s eat.”
Gao Qiong stared at him in surprise—no lipstick marks on his neck, his clothes impeccably neat. Unable to decipher the situation, she glanced at Yu Shangxian, who also frowned in puzzlement and asked, “Will the young lady not be joining us for the meal?”
Pei Chuan replied evenly, “She won’t be coming.”
The sea was azure, the sky pale. Pei Chuan added, “She has gone home. Lock that room.”
No one understood what had happened or what “gone home” meant. A flicker of surprise crossed Yu Shangxian’s eyes.
The meal proceeded with everyone on edge, fearing Pei Chuan might suddenly erupt in anger. Yet he remained composed throughout, finishing his meal, wiping his fingers clean, and then having A Zuo wheel him to the study.
After he had gone, Gao Qiong speculated, “Did Satan throw the impostor into the sea as fish food?”
Yu Shangxian raised an eyebrow. “Aren’t you pleased?”
“No… not exactly. It’s just that this feels too capricious. He didn’t really care for the impostor, right?”
Yu Shangxian smiled faintly. “Who knows?”
Gao Qiong muttered, “He definitely didn’t. Otherwise, how could he be so calm when someone just disappears?” Even Gao Qiong felt somewhat unsettled by the impostor’s absence. Though the impostor was annoying, there were times she was quite pleasing to the eye, wasn’t she? Gao Qiong often threatened to implant her with the “Wang Sheng,” but she never actually went through with it!
For a person to vanish just like that… Gao Qiong rubbed her nose, at a loss for words. She craned her neck, searching around, but found no trace of the impostor.
There were two days left on the sea voyage when Bei Yao opened her eyes.
The surroundings were dimly lit. She caught the scent of seawater and damp wood.
Her wrists were shackled to a wooden post. A man walked in.
“Yu Shangxian?”
“Are you alright?”
Bei Yao frowned. “You impersonated Pei Chuan to lure me over—what are you trying to do?”
She had received an internal call from Pei Chuan asking her to come, but the moment she stepped out, she was knocked unconscious and hidden in the lowest level of the ship—a place occasionally used for storing cargo. For a moment, countless thoughts raced through Bei Yao’s mind, such as plots to harm Pei Chuan and seize power.Yu Shangxian raised his hand: "Don't overcomplicate things, I mean no harm. I'm just too curious about one thing, and afraid that Satan might get himself killed one day, which is why I dared to be so bold as to invite you here for a while."
Bei Yao caught the key phrase: "What do you mean Satan might die?"
"Do you know what Wangsheng is?"
Bei Yao had heard this term from Gao Qiong before, yet everyone had been tight-lipped and hadn't explained it to her.
Yu Shangxian began explaining patiently: "Wangsheng is a chip that can control human thoughts and emotions. It's implanted in the brain and can completely dominate a person's thinking and behavior—it can't be removed and its commands can't be disobeyed."
Bei Yao looked at him, her expression growing serious.
Yu Shangxian said: "You guessed right, both Gao Qiong and I have Wangsheng implanted in us. But the Wangsheng in our bodies is the mature final version. It doesn't usually harm us, but the initial version of Wangsheng—back when Satan allowed it to circulate—was secretly purchased by wealthy people, and many died during the implantation process."
Bei Yao pressed her lips together without speaking.
"Ha, don't be so tense." Yu Shangxian raised an eyebrow. "I just suspect—I suspect that Satan implanted Wangsheng in himself from the very beginning. Someone as proud as him wouldn't let others be his master, so he probably gave commands to himself instead. What were those commands? Let's guess."
Yu Shangxian tapped his chin: "It was only after you arrived that he started showing reactions of disobeying Wangsheng's commands—heart pain."
His smiling expression made Bei Yao want to kick him.
Seeing Bei Yao's anxious look, Yu Shangxian said: "I suspect when he first implanted Wangsheng, the command was to not love you so much, to continue living like a normal person. You show up and he appears calm on the surface, but internally his Wangsheng is acting up. How terrifying, tsk tsk."
Yu Shangxian said: "Let me untie you first."
He friendly untied Bei Yao, who asked him: "Is there any solution for Wangsheng?"
"None. When you die, you turn to dust. Speaking of which, this is karma for the sins we committed—retribution that we'll all have to face eventually. Looking at how heartbroken you appear, it's not like there's no solution at all. You just need to make sure Satan doesn't long for you anymore."
Bei Yao couldn't help twitching her lips: "Is this why you tricked me into coming here?"
Yu Shangxian didn't see anything wrong with this at all and nodded.
"Have you ever loved anyone?"
Yu Shangxian raised an eyebrow and shook his head.
"..." No wonder, no wonder. Bei Yao didn't know where Pei Chuan found these two bizarre assistants.
He actually thought that if someone couldn't see or hear, they would stop longing.
Is this how all geniuses are so peculiar? The two of them looked at each other, and Yu Shangxian said: "Won't that work? Then what do you suggest?"
As they were talking, the skylight suddenly opened, revealing Pei Chuan's masked face.
In the June weather, with the sea breeze blowing gently outside, the Fallen Angel mask appeared particularly aloof. He looked down, meeting the gaze of Bei Yao who was sitting in the warehouse looking up.
Her clear pupils reflected his image.
Yu Shangxian standing nearby shuddered.
But Pei Chuan simply reached out his hand: "Come up."
Although this entire incident was due to Yu Shangxian's foolishness, Bei Yao felt inexplicably guilty, wondering if Pei Chuan had heard their conversation below.Yu Shangxian was quite clever. As soon as Bei Yao climbed up the ladder, he fell to his knees with a thud.
Yu Shangxian confessed his fault with excessive enthusiasm: "I'm guilty, I admit my mistake. I'll jump into the sea myself to feed the fish."
With that, he headed upstairs. Not long after, Bei Yao heard a faint "plop."
Yu Shangxian had tied a rope around himself and jumped into the sea, being dragged along by the cruise ship with a look of utter despair. Pei Chuan watched the farce unfold without uttering a word throughout.
After Yu Shangxian left, Pei Chuan looked up at Bei Yao, his tone surprisingly gentle: "The warehouse below is damp. Your dress got wet. Go back and change."
Although it was midsummer, the weather was overcast, and the sea breeze carried a chill.
Bei Yao bit her lip. She wanted to approach him but felt momentarily lost. Every smile she gave him, every touch, had actually been churning into waves of pain within him through Wangsheng.
Bei Yao didn't know what would happen if one defied Wangsheng, but seeing how conscious Gao Qiong and Yu Shangxian were made it clear—the experience must be worse than death.
She opened her mouth slightly, then obediently went to change as he suggested.
Pei Chuan said nothing more.
When she came out in her new dress, the faint sunlight illuminated her bright canary yellow dress, making her look like a summer flower in full bloom.
Pei Chuan nodded to her: "Come here."
He made a gesture, and soon the cruise ship came to a stop.
The sea was calm and still, mirroring the man's steady demeanor. He picked up a fishing rod and said to her, "I didn't have time to accompany you yesterday. I'm free today and can play with you."
Noticing Bei Yao's silence with her head bowed, he asked: "Don't you like this? What would you prefer?"
Bei Yao shook her head while holding the fishing rod. At the stern, Yu Shangxian still dangled with a lifeless expression. She guessed Pei Chuan hadn't heard her conversation with Yu Shangxian but had simply seen them together when he opened the underground warehouse.
Pei Chuan paused: "Do you find me boring?"
Bei Yao said: "Not at all."
Pei Chuan continued: "There are many things I don't understand. I'm not good at guessing what girls are thinking. If you're angry that I didn't accompany you yesterday, it won't happen again. Don't team up with Yu Shangxian to hide from me. I would think you've gone home."
He spoke these words calmly, yet Bei Yao felt inexplicably teary-eyed. So he thought she was throwing a tantrum and hiding from him together with Yu Shangxian.
She suddenly asked: "What if I really went home?" Would you then return to your original peace? Even as the world's worst Satan, at least his heart would be untroubled.
He turned his head. Behind the fallen celestial mask, his gaze was unexpectedly gentle as water. The June sea climate was perfect—neither warm nor cool.
He said: "I would miss you." If you went home, I would long for you.
Bei Yao's eyes reddened instantly.
When Satan missed her, each remembrance tore his heart apart.
His gentle yearning was a pain that ripped through every breath.
He would remember, not forget.
So whether she left or stayed, he could never escape the torment brought by Wangsheng. For the first time, Bei Yao actually wished the one he loved had become Gao Qiong.
His single statement of missing her nearly made her choke up.
Pei Chuan asked: "Did I say something wrong?"
Why was the little girl crying?
His fingers paused slightly, then gently touched her cheek.
She pointed to his chest. Pei Chuan wore a black shirt, and beneath her fingers, his body temperature was scalding hot. She asked him softly: "Does it hurt here?"Pei Chuan stiffened.
She asked again, "How many times does it hurt every day?"
Beneath the mask, the man remained silent for a long while before finally speaking, "One hundred and three times."
"Rebirth" had told him not to love anymore, that he must live well. Back then, it was through rebirth that he managed to survive, and over time, he didn't think of her as much anymore. He thought she had left his world forever, but one day, she returned, embodying the very image he had once yearned for the most. In a single day, he fell in love with her all over again—one hundred and three times in total.
Bei Yao held the man's broad hand: "Satan," she said, "I'm not going home."
He watched her in silence.
"Satan." She gazed into the man's tranquil dark eyes, calling him by his current name. "Bei Yao loves you very much."
In your wordless stillness, your unspoken silence, across the long river of time, you never let her fade from memory.
Author's note: I thought I could finish writing, but realized I need to address Satan and the afterlife. There are still some extra chapters left, next update will be before 23:30 on the 17th.
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