Shen Qingqing angrily demanded, "Where are they?"
The butler and Mr. Z arrived slowly and unhurriedly. Upon hearing her question, the butler explained, "They are still packing their belongings. On my way here, I heard some people arguing about what to take..."
At this critical moment, they were still debating what to pack?!
Shen Qingqing was furious. Gritting her teeth, she declared, "Never mind them. There's a yacht in the rear hold. Let's get on it and go."
She turned and headed towards the storage room. Fu Jingshu, King, and the old man followed without a word.
Even Zhao Qian hesitated for a moment before following suit.
Pei Ji, however, was torn. As the young prince of Country H, those were his subjects, and many of them had connections with the royal family. It was difficult for him to abandon them now...
Before he could fully process his thoughts, he saw Mr. Z and the butler had already gone ahead.
The sky outside grew darker, and the calm sea began to churn. Gigantic waves surged skyward, one after another.
The howling wind, laden with monstrous waves, crashed down upon the cruise ship!
Those who were still rushing to escape finally saw the dire situation before them. Their eyes widened, they held their breath, their chests straining as if about to burst.
With a loud "crack" and the sickening sound of splintering wood!
The cruise ship was slammed down, its hull quickly covered in a spiderweb of cracks. Seawater surged in from all directions, flooding the vessel.
The panicked crowd scrambled for a way out, but there was no escape.
Before Shen Qingqing and the others could reach the storage room, a violent tremor rocked the ship. Just as they regained their footing, a chilling sensation washed over them.
Fu Jingshu immediately pulled her into his embrace, shielding her with his body.
The cruise ship capsized.
Under the onslaught of the storm, this massive cruise ship was utterly defenseless, flipping into the water like a mere toy.
As they plunged into the water, icy coldness engulfed their limbs.
Shen Qingqing was almost paralyzed for a moment, her limbs feeling as if wrapped in frost and devoid of sensation. But soon, a burning body enfolded her.
Warmth rapidly spread from their point of contact, and she felt as if she had come back to life, clinging to the hot body.
With synchronized movements of their legs, they quickly broke the surface. The sea had finally calmed.
But their cruise ship continued to sink. Shen Qingqing looked around, unable to see the old man or King.
"Look."
Fu Jingshu, holding her, said in a low voice.
Shen Qingqing followed his gaze and saw a solitary island not far away, their destination.
"We have to swim there," he said by her ear.
"Okay."
Shen Qingqing subtly reached down with one hand, touching her left leg. A warmth, distinct from the icy seawater, was slowly seeping out.
She pursed her lips, letting the seawater carry away the faint warmth on her fingertips.
"Let's go."
With all their might, the two began to swim towards the island.
Although the uninhabited island didn't appear to be far, for some reason, they seemed to have been swimming for a very long time. As their strength gradually ebbed, her pace began to slow.
Fu Jingshu noticed immediately, wrapping his arm around her waist. "Are you okay?"
She nodded, water dripping down her face in streams.
No one would notice that mixed with the water was sweat.
Fu Jingshu stared at her for a moment, then frowned. "No, are you hurt?"
With her usual stamina, she shouldn't be tiring after swimming for such a short time, and her face was deathly pale.
Shen Qingqing bit her pale lips. "No, you swim on. I'll keep up."
But Fu Jingshu could never leave her behind. His thin lips pressed into a tight line. He took a rope from his backpack and tied them together, then found a piece of wood about a person's length floating on the surface.
It must have fallen from the cruise ship.
He handed it to Shen Qingqing. "Hold onto this. I'll tow you."
Shen Qingqing immediately shook her head. "No, that will consume too much of your energy."
"It's okay, listen to me."
He tied a secure knot in the rope, ensuring they would not be separated under any circumstances, and then turned, spreading his limbs to propel through the water.
Swimming alone, he was at ease, but carrying a person and a piece of wood, his speed visibly decreased.
Shen Qingqing grew anxious. "Jingshu, stop. You swim on by yourself. I'll hold onto the wood; I won't sink."
The man remained silent, not even looking back, only moving his limbs faster.
Shen Qingqing, holding the wood, gritted her teeth and touched her injured leg. That leg was now as cold as ice; she couldn't even feel it.
"Jingshu..."
"Don't be afraid. I'll get you to shore."
She felt dizzy spells, but she persisted in watching his retreating back.
Soon, her grip on the wood began to weaken. She feared that at any moment, her hand would slip, and she bit her tongue hard.
The pain instantly cleared her head.
She used the extra rope to tie it to the wood, so that even if she let go, the wood would keep her from sinking.
After completing this, she had exhausted all her strength, yet her gaze remained stubbornly fixed ahead.
"Jingshu..."
She murmured, her voice very low, and slowly closed her eyes.
Fu Jingshu paused. The moment he turned back, he witnessed a scene that made his eyes blaze with fury: Shen Qingqing's hands hung limply at her sides as she began to sink into the water.
"Qingqing!"
After he desperately pulled his wife into his arms, his heart, which had almost leaped out of his throat, finally settled back into his chest.
But the next second, his heart felt as if it were being squeezed silently.
"Wake up. Don't scare me..."
He held the unconscious woman tightly, gritted his teeth, and looked up at the deserted island, which was now within close reach.
He untied the rope and firmly secured her to himself, doubling his weight.
Yet, he was willing to bear it, and with all his might, he propelled himself forward.
...
Shen Qingqing's vision was pitch black, as if she were in a thick fog.
She could see neither ahead nor behind, as if the world contained only her. Her mind was muddled, and she instinctively walked forward.
After an unknown amount of time, her feet suddenly lost their footing!
She gasped and her eyes flew open. Above her was a clear blue sky. Geese flew past with outstretched wings, dark clouds slowly dispersed, revealing the sun.
She raised a hand to shield her eyes, belatedly realizing her body was sore and weak.
The memories of before she fainted flooded back. She quickly sat up and looked around, only to find herself on the land by the sea. Giant rocks, trees, and various plants surrounded her, but the familiar person was nowhere to be seen.
A wave of panic washed over her.
"Jingshu? Fu Jingshu?!"
As she spoke, she found her throat was sore and her voice hoarse and unpleasant.
She searched everywhere but couldn't find him. Just as she was about to stand up, a sharp pain shot through her leg. A pale, waterlogged wound on her thigh was no longer bleeding, but her leg had swollen considerably.
Gritting her teeth and enduring the intense pain, she used a nearby stick as a crutch and finally managed to stand. She scanned the surroundings but had no idea where to look for him.