When he reached the elevator for the upper deck there was no security in sight like previously. He exited the elevator with a spring in his step expecting to find Luo Muchen waiting for him alone but he wasn’t alone.

His heart sank at the sight of Lee Ya sitting beside Luo Muchen and the two of them seemed cordial which was a first ever since they got trapped in this game. Even in the real world, they disliked each other. His initial excitement turned to disappointment as he stood unmoving.

His gaze shifted towards Luo Muchen, silently questioning why Lee Ya was there. Luo Muchen ignored him as he turned his gaze away. He had made an announcement calling Qie Xieling over to the upper deck but before he arrived, Lee Ya invited herself and what she had to say wasn’t pleasing in the slightest.

Lee Ya wore a radiant smile, her cheeks flushed with excitement. She patted the seat next to her, a hopeful gesture inviting Qie Xieling to sit next to her.

"I would much prefer to stand," he said and Bo Ailun who was here as background decoration felt like he shouldn’t be here. Like a dog, he could sense an impending storm heading in their direction and he didn’t want to be collateral damage.

"Sit," said Luo Muchen and Qie Xieling subconsciously sat down not out of fear but because he was so used to listening to Luo Muchen.

Luo Muchen was a little surprised. With Qie Xieling’s attitude, he expected him to challenge him the same way he challenged him when he broke into his leisure room. This time Qie Xieling didn’t put up a fight. He just slumped down obediently and acted like it was the most natural thing.

Lee Ya was nothing like when they spoke in her cabin. She appeared quite bashful like a bride on her wedding day, her innocent infatuation with Qie Xieling evident for all to see. When Qie Xieling caught a glimpse of the affectionate glances she stole in his direction he moved away slightly to create some distance lest she pounced on him.

"You wanted to see me, captain," said Qie Xieling trying to break the ice but the thing he really wanted to say he couldn’t say it right now especially not in front of Lee Ya.

A mischievous glint flashed in Luo Muchen’s eyes as he turned to Qie Xieling and said, "She said she likes you and that’s why she invited you to her cabin."

Qie Xieling, "..."

"Brother... I," she said as she lowered her head shyly while picking at her fingers.

Qie Xieling was dumbfounded. Lee Ya must have known that he might spill the beans on what they really talked about in the cabin thus she jumped the gun and said that the meeting was because she liked him. Even if Qie Xieling with his current status was to expose to Luo Muchen what Lee Ya truly said in the cabin, who would he believe? Would he believe his beloved half-sister or Qie Xieling the murderer and criminal with no loyalties?

’Fuck,’ he swore internally while rubbing his temples.

"I will give you my blessings right now if you so wish...," said Luo Muchen and Qie Xieling glared at him his eyes directly saying, "Don’t you fucking dare."

Like an angry cat, he was about to show his claws and hiss at him. Luo Muchen found this so amusing that he took it a step further.

"I can even officiate your marriage right here and you don’t have to stay in the lower deck. You can directly move in with her," he continued to say and Qie Xieling clenched his jaw tightly his eyes burning holes in Luo Muchen’s skin.

"Brother... that... we are still getting acquainted," she stuttered her cheeks bright red you would think she had been slapped in the face.

"YaYa, you know that according to Zeden customs, if a woman and a man stay in the same room with the door closed and without a chaperone, it is a shameful thing. More especially if that woman is the deposed princess of Zeden. You followed me here to suffer so I can only do right by you and marry you off to the man of your dreams."

Qie Xieling bit his lower lip hard to the point of drawing blood. His expression directly translated to, "I dare you. Go ahead, I fuckin dare you."

Luo Muchen locked eyes with Qie Xieling and felt a sharp pang in his heart for some reason. He didn’t think Qie Xieling would be this mad.

Qie Xieling abruptly got up and headed straight to the door but before he could step out Luo Muchen threatened, "If you walk out now... I will consider it as your resignation. You will be dropped off at the next supply station."

Qie Xieling’s steps paused as his Adam’s apple rolled suppressing his anger. He wanted to leave but he also couldn’t afford to be kicked off this warship as he wouldn’t be able to complete his task whatever it was in this world.

He turned back and sat back down but this time he didn’t glance in Luo Muchen’s direction. He completely ignored him, treating him like air.

Lee Ya hooked Qie Xieling’s arm and said sweetly. "Lin-ge, I am not in your heart now but I promise if you get to know me you will also like me too... Muchen, don’t you think we look good together?"

Luo Muchen glanced at their arms hooked together and said, "YaYa, restrain yourself," and Lee Ya let him go but she was still so close making Qie Xieling feel suffocated.

Lee Ya opened the bento on the coffee table and said, "I brought these so we can share. They are freshly baked." Inside were soft ginger cookies that seemed so warm and inviting but Qie Xieling was still afraid of being poisoned.

She passed the bento to Luo Muchen first and he took one. But when she passed it to Qie Xieling he didn’t take one.

"Ah Lin-ge, don’t be shy," she said before she fed him the cookie and ate the other half.

Qie Xieling, "..."

"You can leave. I have business to attend to," said Luo Muchen seeming quite irritable all of a sudden. Lee Ya got up obediently and grabbed Qie Xieling’s hand to leave together but Luo Muchen said, "He stays. I have an important matter to discuss with him."