Since ancient times, the methods to make someone keep a secret have been nothing more than coercion and inducement.
But overall, inducement is far more effective than coercion.
Just like the one hundred and eight heroes of Liangshan Marsh in Water Margin, without exception, each one was forced into becoming an outlaw. In such a situation, the more they were coerced, the more they resisted.
In the end, it was inducement that worked.
Although Ma Lan was no hero or great man, if even heroes and great men could not pass this hurdle, she certainly could not either.
With this luxurious tropical island in the South Pacific right before her eyes, even if a gun were held to her head, she would not dare contact the outside world.
Thus, Xiao Churan let out a sigh of relief.
No matter what, they were settled now. She only hoped that her and her family’s distance would allow Ye Chen to focus entirely on his quest for revenge.
But at the thought of Ye Chen, a surge of intense longing immediately welled up in her heart.
People are not actually afraid of passionate, earth-shattering love. The more it comes like a tsunami, roaring and magnificent in a way that shakes the heavens and earth, the quicker it often fades. Yesterday, one might be willing to die for the other, but today, one looks back at yesterday’s self as a fool and can no longer muster that enthusiasm.
What people fear most is the love that boils the frog slowly in warm water.
Over a long time together, one does not feel much love, but in truth, in that prolonged companionship, a strong mutual dependence has already formed. It is just that everyone has grown accustomed to this feeling, and no one realises how important the other is.
But once separated, one realises how painful it is to lose the other.
Xiao Churan felt that her feelings for Ye Chen were particularly like the relationship between water and fish.
When living in the water, everything feels utterly ordinary: a flick of the gills allows breathing, a swish of the tail enables swimming, without realising that it is all because of the water’s embrace. But suddenly one day, upon leaving the water, through the loss of water, one truly understands the meaning of its existence.
So, thinking of these things, her eyes reddened, and she could not help but let tears flow.
Xiao Changkun and Ma Lan did not share Xiao Churan’s melancholy. Like two wolves, they busied themselves familiarising every inch of their territory. This villa was enormous, so vast that for a moment, one could not fully construct its outline in one’s mind.
However, Ma Lan, relying on her exceptional talent, found the best bedroom suite and then proudly declared it as her own.
Of course, her relationship with Xiao Changkun had eased considerably, and they no longer lived separately, so this best suite became the couple’s bedchamber.
Described as a suite, it was actually more like a large house.
Upon entering, there was first a living room over a hundred square metres. The living room was fifteen metres long and eight metres wide, utterly luxurious.
The living room connected to an equally fifteen-metre-long semi-circular large terrace with a radius exceeding six metres. The terrace faced the sea, and the humid, hot tropical sea breeze blew in one’s face, opening every pore and bringing extreme comfort.
To the left of the living room was an equally sea-facing large bedroom. A two-metre-two-wide grand bed faced the ocean directly, and beside the floor-to-ceiling windows was a bathtub from a top luxury brand. In Ma Lan’s view, lying there for a soak could make one’s heart soar to the skies.
Behind the bedroom was a walk-in wardrobe. The wardrobe’s cabinets showed no visible panelling; all panels were wrapped in leather, with an exquisite touch. The cabinet handles and hardware were so refined that if removed, one might mistake them for custom accessories from some high-end brand.
The two of them touched here and there in the bedroom and bathroom. After looking around, Ma Lan emerged in tears and said to Xiao Changkun, “I thought living in Tomson Riviera was the life of the elite, but coming here, I realise that life can be this refined…”
Xiao Changkun also sighed, “Look at those cabinets fitted almost perfectly with the surrounding walls. The gaps are not only so narrow as to be nearly invisible, but perfectly aligned top to bottom. This level of craftsmanship is beyond what ordinary luxury brands can achieve. Even the built-in wardrobes in Tomson Riviera’s luxury villas cannot reach such perfection.”
With that, he quickly added, “There is another room to the right of the living room. Let me go and see.”
Ma Lan immediately followed, “Wait, I will come with you.”
Entering the room on the right revealed a space comparable to Marlon Brando’s study in The Godfather.
The room was entirely solid wood, with floors, walls, desks, and chairs all of top-grade walnut wood, exuding a retro American style. The wide American-style desk was particularly exquisite. Xiao Changkun could not resist sitting in the swivel chair, propping his legs on the desk, and clucking his tongue in admiration, “The only thing between me and Marlon Brando is a fine Cuban cigar.”
As he said this, he lowered his head and noticed a low cabinet with a transparent glass door beside the desk. Glancing inside, it was densely packed with cigars.
He excitedly stepped forward and pulled it open, discovering that it was filled with the renowned Cohiba cigars.
