Unfortunately, the “steampunk” reference wouldn’t be understood by anyone if she mentioned it, so Lin Yuchan could only appreciate it to herself for a few seconds. Then she took off her dirty clothes, dirty shoes, and headwrap, first thanking the scholarly genius Xu Jianyin repeatedly, then ran off to claim credit and request a reward from Boss Su.

“Let me tell you, if I gain another three pounds I absolutely won’t be able to squeeze into…”

Su Minguan’s eyes curved in a smile, striding forward to meet her, directly pulling her into his embrace and hugging her tightly.

“Which first-class cabin do you want?” He gently nuzzled her hair, saying with complete seriousness, “I’ll go kick someone out right now.”

Lin Yuchan was mortified beyond words, mumbling and struggling desperately in his arms.

The ship workers all turned their heads away in unison. Time and again, they’d watched their boss lower his standards, but being paid by him and eating his food, they couldn’t very well voice their opinions about it, so they could only passively fall into moral decay.

Su Minguan chuckled softly, not loosening his grip.

He discovered he was indeed quite the scoundrel. Ever since this girl had tempted him into removing some of the shackles of worldly morality, he’d instead come to enjoy being shameless in public—of course, only in front of his trusted brothers who knew him well, and only under safe circumstances, pushing boundaries as much as possible to annoy a whole crowd.

Watching others feel somewhat displeased yet unable to do anything about him filled him with particular satisfaction.

From the corner of his eye, he glimpsed poor engineering nerd Xu Jianyin completely petrified, with a head poking out from behind the boiler, shaking gently, uncertain whether to speak up in indignation or take the opportunity to steal a few more glances.

Lin Yuchan struggled with renewed effort and finally broke free from his embrace, glaring at him angrily.

Su Minguan teased: “I thought you…”

She lightly gritted her teeth, pointing at her cheek, then at his chest.

Su Minguan looked down, his vision going dark.

Having been too eager to embrace her earlier, combined with the dim interior lighting, he hadn’t noticed that her face was also streaked with several lines of oil and soot, which had now transferred entirely onto his clothes from their embrace!

His freshly laundered new robe!

Amid the gentle rumbling of machinery came several bold and reckless bursts of rough laughter.

Lin Yuchan spun around and ran: “I’m going to wash my face.”

Xu Jianyin, possessing the meticulous spirit of a craftsman, tested all the common mechanical functions once more, confirming there were no further malfunctions before emerging from the upper maintenance passage, also covered head to toe in grime.

Su Minguan quickly adjusted his demeanor, inviting him to rest, having people prepare hot water for him to wash his face and hands, and preparing a gift of thanks…

“No, no,” Xu Jianyin demurred bashfully, “I came to help on my father’s orders. I’ve also benefited greatly today. Moreover, Father said that it’s not easy for Chinese people to have a steamship, and this is a virtuous and charitable deed, so he wouldn’t let me take your money! Take it back, take it back…”

Despite Su Minguan’s usual social adeptness in business dealings, today he encountered a stubborn engineering expert who rendered all social conventions ineffective. The slightest politeness made the man blow his beard and glare, though his beard wasn’t fully grown, rather asymmetrical on both sides, and trembling violently around his lips.

“Don’t want it! Won’t take it! Not a single cent!”

Su Minguan, helpless, had people wrap up a large package of local specialties brought from downstream.

Only then did Xu Jianyin accept it, feeling embarrassed for a long while before saying: “That globe in the pilot house, could I possibly take another look at it?”

That was natural. Su Minguan had someone escort him there, with the pilot house stocked with a pot of Shaoxing wine specifically for him to drink while examining the globe.

Only then did Su Minguan go change into clean clothes, wash his hands and face, sit in a warm place for a while, and finally catch his breath properly.

Half an hour later, Xu Jianyin was yawning continuously, finally bidding reluctant farewell to that globe.

When Su Minguan pushed open the door, Lin Yuchan was also there, huddled around a lamp, “using her strengths to attack others’ weaknesses,” earnestly demonstrating the Earth’s rotation to Xu Jianyin.

Xu Jianyin seemed like a martial arts protagonist who had just opened his meridians, his whole being floating, that awkward restraint around girls completely vanished, eyebrows dancing with delight, his eyes full of flickering light.

“No wonder the seasonal winds at sea are like that… so when it turns here it’s the spring equinox… if someone wanted to travel around the world, going west versus going east would differ by a day, Miss Lin, I never thought of this before…”

Hearing Su Minguan enter, Xu Jianyin suddenly snapped back to reality, leaping back three to five steps to maintain a proper distance from Miss Lin.

“Uh, Brother Su, I’ve lingered too long, haha.”

With his intelligence, he couldn’t figure out why he’d been acting like an excited fool today, where had his usual shyness and reserve gone?

Forced silence was too awkward. His face flushed red, looking at Lin Yuchan, then at Su Minguan, afraid of causing some misunderstanding, hastily trying to clear himself while continuing the awkward conversation: “Miss Lin, haha, if only my sister were like you, there’d be much more joy at home, hahaha… when might we be able to attend your wedding feast…”

Lin Yuchan was putting away the small flags and markers on the globe, secretly giving him a meaningful look and whispering a few words. Xu Jianyin immediately fell silent, nodding with a red face.

Su Minguan couldn’t help but purse his lips in amusement.

His girl being so cordial with another man had initially triggered his instinctive resistance. His little flower, carefully tended in the garden, blooming toward someone else, discussing things he wasn’t particularly good at.

However, she had long since made her position clear: two young people of opposite sexes needn’t necessarily discuss romance when together. They could be acquaintances, friends, or very good friends.

She had already accommodated him so much; knowing gratitude, he was also trying to adapt to some of her habits.

Moreover, Young Master Xu Jianyin truly posed no threat to him. After this night, Su Minguan almost wished she would chat with him for several more hours, to better highlight his own charming, suave, sweet, and lovable qualities as a refined young master.

Seeing Su Minguan enter, Lin Yuchan also blushed slightly, then generously smiled at Xu Jianyin: “Look, the one who’s come to send guests away.”

Su Minguan politely said: “The ship is too humble, we have no proper place to accommodate honored guests overnight. Young Master Xu can return early to rest, so your father won’t worry. I’ve also met your father once—please give him my regards.”

Xu Jianyin hastily agreed. Although he’d helped them greatly today, many ship workers were still awake to accommodate him alone, the pilot house was lit all night with food and wine prepared just so he could examine a globe—he felt quite bad about it.

“I, I should indeed go, until we meet again…”

He turned back to look at that globe, steeling his resolve, picked up the package of specialties, and prepared to leave.

After taking two steps, he couldn’t help but feel reluctant, running back to spin the globe half a turn, carefully examining the Qing Dynasty’s territory as if trying to memorize every river and mountain, before finally turning away, looking back with every third step.

Lin Yuchan felt somewhat apologetic, saying quietly: “It’s very expensive. This is our ship’s treasure.”

Xu Jianyin asked with feigned casualness: “To buy a globe like this, how much silver would it cost?”

Lin Yuchan quickly glanced at Su Minguan, telling the truth: “Over a hundred silver dollars. And you might not even be able to buy one in China.”

Xu Jianyin hesitated long in the doorway before turning around.

“Brother Su, Miss Lin.” His face alternated between red and pale as he slowly drew a bulging small envelope from his bosom, “I, I have two hundred taels of silver, converted to silver dollars, it might be two hundred seventy or eighty. This was from last time… last time assisting in steamship construction and being rewarded by Commander Zeng for meritorious service. My father told me to save it for bride money…”

Su Minguan and Lin Yuchan exchanged glances, seeing surprise in each other’s eyes.

Who would have thought Young Master Xu was hiding his wealth—quite the little rich man!

Hesitating until the very end before bringing it up, he must have been anxiously deliberating for a long time, truly unable to bear giving up, so despite risking being disliked, he had to try.

Lin Yuchan showed a troubled expression, shooting another glance at Su Minguan.

Su Minguan found it somewhat amusing. She had said earlier, “Only if someone offers double the price will I sell,” and now here was a sucker volunteering himself.

If only this knack for prophetic words worked so well in business.

He walked behind her, lowering his voice gently: “It was given to you; you decide what to do with it.”

Lin Yuchan shifted her shoe tips uneasily. She had just carefully washed her face, carrying a faint scent of soap.

She whispered, “Boss Su, would you do business with over double the profit?”

His eyebrows raised slightly as he bent down to examine the navigation charts on the table, pretending not to hear.

Lin Yuchan made up her mind, accepting the banknotes from Xu Jianyin’s hands.

“You must maintain it well when you return. Don’t wash it with soap water, oil it regularly.” She instructed seriously, “Also, no keeping it to yourself—as you said just now, anyone among the scholars at the entire Anqing Inner Arsenal who wants to see it, you must let them see. If any high official considers this a rare object and demands you give it to him for his collection, you must not give it…”

Xu Jianyin breathed a sigh of relief, laughing somewhat nervously: “Naturally, naturally. Miss needn’t say more.”

He held the wrapped globe as if it were precious treasure, moving gingerly as though carrying his newborn child. Each step was taken with extreme care, and upon stepping off the gangplank, he couldn’t help but kiss it through the cloth wrapping.

“Miss Lin, thank you so much, I can never repay this kindness. In the future when we build new steamships, please come aboard. I’ve imposed so much today, so embarrassing…”

He thanked them effusively with beaming smiles, as if he’d come specifically to take advantage of them tonight.

Sitting in the narrow patrol boat, across the distant night, one hand cradling the globe while the other waved vigorously.

Lin Yuchan returned to the cabin clutching the banknotes.

Someone blocked her path ahead, one hand braced against the wall in a highway robbery pose. The kerosene lamp behind him outlined a villain’s halo.

Lin Yuchan felt somewhat guilty, making a show of extending the envelope forward: “I’ll split it with you half and half.”

Su Minguan looked at her with seeming amusement, reaching out to accept.

She quickly pulled it back, saying sheepishly: “You said it was given to me, to dispose of as I wished… Though I loved that globe, he gave too much…”

“Mm, gave too much.”

Su Minguan looked deeply at her, slowly raising his hand to smooth a strand of hair at her temple.

Lin Yuchan forced herself to stay calm, smiling: “I’m tired.”

Her right hand grew warm as he enveloped it, gently opening her fingers one by one.

Lin Yuchan’s face flushed as she found she couldn’t match his strength, could only submit resignedly, letting him gently extract the envelope from her hand.

Su Minguan opened the envelope, pulling out several sheets of paper, examining them front and back.

They were just ordinary sheets of white paper, covered with chaotic rough drafts—Xu Jianyin’s notes from repairing the steam engine earlier.

In an auction house two centuries later, they might fetch record-breaking prices; but at this moment, they were worthless.

Lin Yuchan was speechless, saying guiltily in a low voice: “I’m sorry.”

Su Minguan smiled with understanding.

“Amei, acting is fine, but next time remember to find a cleverer partner.”

He stepped slightly aside to let her pass, walking away unhurriedly.

Lin Yuchan chased after him, grabbing his sleeve, saying with insufficient confidence: “They’re all very poor, they can’t afford that kind of money…”

“As I said, that was your thing; you can give it to whoever you want.” Su Minguan’s voice was calm, revealing neither joy nor anger. Only when turning a corner did his peripheral vision show a moment of dejection: “Anyway, before I gave it to you, I never asked if you liked it.”

Lin Yuchan’s heart suddenly ached, almost running to catch up with him: “I really do like it…”

Tempered by years of harsh survival trials, he could appear cheerful, affable, and socially adept, yet beneath layers of protective shells, he remained that abandoned, lonely youth, bearing countless battle scars from fighting the entire world.

The midnight hour was exceptionally cold, the most insecure time of all.

Su Minguan turned back, seeing the panic and remorse in her eyes.

Something in his heart gently collapsed. He sighed.

“The globe was indeed sent by the trading company to offset debts,” he said quietly, “but I used many favors to arrange that. I saw you always liked these things.”

Having said this, Su Minguan gently folded the draft papers in his hand, tucked them back in the envelope, and returned it to her hands.

Lin Yuchan was stunned.

If she hadn’t so readily given it away today, would he have kept these details buried in his heart forever?

Letting her think the globe had fallen from heaven, suddenly thrust upon him by someone.

She grabbed his hem, forcefully pushing him against the wall, gently embracing him, patiently explaining: “Mr. Xu, father and son, and others in the arsenal, they don’t seek fame or profit, devoting their entire lives to Western learning research, yet can’t even buy a proper globe. I just felt they needed that globe more than I did. Even if you’re angry with me, I would still have given it.

“I was also foolish, thinking if I appeared more money-grubbing, maybe it wouldn’t displease you…”

The girl’s gaze was cautious, tinged with placation. Yet her tone was exceptionally firm, clearly uncompromising.

Su Minguan couldn’t help but gently stroke the back of her head. The fine hair at her nape was soft and fluffy, pleasant to the touch.

He said, “Then you could have discussed it with me.”

Seeing his attitude soften, Lin Yuchan immediately seized the opportunity, laughing: “There was no mirror then, you don’t know how you looked glaring at me, like you wanted to devour me. I’d barely mentioned the word ‘give’ and you reacted like that—I didn’t dare discuss it.”

Su Minguan felt unconvinced, coldly replying: “Then you—you could have begged me more. Could have begged me more in different ways.”

This was really being unreasonable while in the right. She pulled his hand down from her head, gripping it firmly, dragging him back to the sleeping cabin.

“Anyway, I deceived you, that was wrong of me. Now I’m making amends, please be magnanimous, Young Master, don’t take it to heart.”

Su Minguan asked with a stern face: “How will you make amends?”

“I… I’ll dance for you.”

Seeing her speak so seriously, Su Minguan’s pupils contracted, nearly laughing aloud.

The sleeping cabin’s floor space was only three to five feet around—standing two people already felt crowded, and she wanted to dance?

He sat down, leaning back, prepared to enjoy the show.

Lin Yuchan was true to her word, opening a drawer to find paper and scissors, deftly cutting out several little people in skirts, spreading them on the table.

Then she found a rubber rod from the toolbox, rubbed it against the fur hat on the wall several times, and suspended it above the little paper figures.

The winter air was dry, the rubber rod charged with static electricity.

One little paper figure moved, then another, floating lightly up to the rubber rod, then floating lightly down again. Rising and falling in succession, bustling and lively, truly like dancing.

Some paper figures were head-down, feet-up, as if doing handstands; some lay horizontally, as if ascending into the air; others spread their wings like white cranes, hung upside down, or stood on one leg like golden roosters…

Lin Yuchan sneaked a glance at Su Minguan. The ice in his brow and eyes had begun to thaw, watching with fascination.

Throwing caution to the wind, she began providing musical accompaniment.

Her singing was mediocre, knowing nothing of fashionable opera or ballads, only able to sing Cantonese nursery rhymes.

“A little bird fell in the water, fell in the water, fell in the water; a little bird fell in the water, swept away by the current…”

With a snort, Su Minguan finally couldn’t hold back, laughing like a pleasure-seeking tyrant, completely satisfied.

This person wasn’t skilled at coaxing either, just going through the motions.

“Where did you learn all this nonsense? Truly frivolous pursuits.” He snatched the rubber rod, saying with great interest, “Let me try.”

The great leader indeed had exceptional organizational abilities. Under his command, each little figure was remarkably lazy, lying motionless.

Because the static electricity was gone.

Lin Yuchan laughed until she swayed like flowers in the wind.

Su Minguan felt embarrassed, asking: “What’s the principle?”

Lin Yuchan briefly explained the principle of friction generating electricity, then instructed him to rub the rubber rod again. The little figures finally became industrious, walking moonwalks according to his wishes.

The tyrant was delighted, nodding approvingly.

Lin Yuchan asked with a smile: “Not angry with me anymore?”

Su Minguan seriously weighed this. Suddenly looking at her, he said quietly:

“Three more months.”

Lin Yuchan was momentarily confused: “What?”

“Three more months and one day, plus five and a half hours.” Su Minguan smiled quietly, “Amei, hold on a little longer. In these three months, one day, and five and a half hours, don’t do this anymore. At least maintain appearances.”

Lin Yuchan was stunned for a long moment, then laughed despite herself, a wave of heat rushing to her neck and into her chest. Her heart ached slightly, stirred to pieces by that string of precise time calculations.

She asked with feigned lightness: “And after the deadline passes?”

Su Minguan’s eyes darkened slightly, saying quietly: “Whatever you want.”

He extended his left index finger. The glass bottle cut had long since healed, leaving only faint skin patterns.

But occasionally his heart still ached, thinking that perhaps Miss Lin had pitied him that day, momentarily confused, which led her to return and embrace him, bringing him back to the human world.

Fearing she might regret it forever, he’d casually mentioned a one-year agreement, deciding to let her go when she turned eighteen.

Young people are spirited, with exciting lives just beginning, making one year seem very long.

He had thought then that having such a year of connection would be enough to soothe his insignificant stirrings, and future reminiscences would also be pleasurable.

A year was also enough time for her to get it out of her system. To learn that men were just so-so. Others’ strange looks would also be sufficient to extinguish her bizarre stubbornness.

What he should be doing now was encouraging her to return to a normal life path, find an honest man to marry.

Unexpectedly, when the contract truly entered countdown, Su Minguan discovered that human self-control was limited. Selfish desires were boundless.

“Just singing and dancing isn’t enough.” He suddenly reneged, gently caressing her shoulder, his Adam’s apple visibly rolling, “Not satisfied.”

She didn’t sense any danger, laughing as she asked: “Then what else do you want?”

Su Minguan’s peripheral vision caught that narrow single bed, with her hair ribbon spread beside the pillow, a small copper dish on the bedside shelf holding her removed earrings.

Originally his private office space, now everywhere bore traces of her presence.

His fingers suddenly tightened. She was usually so meticulous, yet now was unguarded, even asking how to satisfy him, handing over all negotiating power—if he made demands, would she dare agree?

Right here, right now, he could push this little thing onto the bed with one hand, pressing down her thin arms with their slight muscle, pressing her narrow waist, ruthlessly taking advantage until his anger subsided…

Knowing he was no gentleman, yet still boarding his ship, occupying his cabin, taking his bed, and giving his things to other men.

He suddenly exhaled heavily, abruptly standing up. The charming little paper figures on the table rose into the air, fluttering down gracefully.

Su Minguan took the thick cloak hanging on the wall, put it on, and pushed out the door.

“Hey, wait…”

Lin Yuchan was at a loss, not knowing where such great anger came from, hurriedly throwing on thick clothes and a hat, chasing after him up several flights of stairs.

The top deck of the ship was rarely visited. During sailing it was cold and windy, with no passengers deliberately coming up to suffer.

Now with the steamship quietly moored, there was no wind on the deck, with some fallen leaves and dust accumulated in corners, the ground snow-white under heavy moonlight.

The Anqing wharf, several li away, showed dim lights from night sentries.

Water flowed, the wilderness empty.

Su Minguan turned back, pulling the bundled-up little girl into his arms.

Several layers of thick clothing blocked body heat. A chill rose from the ground, cooling his burning head.

“I’m still angry with you.” Su Minguan turned his head, his gaze indicating the deck below and the inky black river water beneath, saying seriously, “Not just today. Also, the day before, when you jumped from there, I nearly went mad with worry. I’m still angry.”

Lin Yuchan quickly said: “I was…”

“To save someone. I know. But I’m just selfish, just hold grudges. I initially thought you’d fallen by accident. I forgot everything then—the ship’s operation, business affairs, all the brothers depending on me for their livelihood, a whole ship of noisy passengers—I treated them all as nonexistent. I thought then, if I couldn’t find you, I’d also stay in the Yangtze River and not come up.”

Lin Yuchan pressed her lips together, rigid and helpless.

Su Minguan was usually deeply guarded, with countless twists and turns in his heart, revealing perhaps one in a hundred of his thoughts. Even the occasional sincere word was carefully calculated and mixed with jokes and teasing for safety.

This was the first time he’d been so direct and candid, laying bare his inner vulnerability for her to see. His voice was pressed in his throat, restrainedly turning his face away, moonlight outlining a bitter smile at his lips.

He sighed softly, pulling her hat with both hands to let the fuzzy brim cover her ears.

“Amei, you always make me so angry, I’ll have a short life.”

His heart was wide open for just those few seconds, then his expression closed off, returning to that cynical tone.

Lin Yuchan looked down, seeing her chest rising and falling slightly beyond her control. Cold air rushed into her lungs as she forcibly inhaled through her nose.

In the boundless silence, his voice was like transparent hail, striking her heart blow by blow. Making her want to embrace him regardless of everything, to melt that ice, to breathe warmth gently into that frostbitten heart.

“I was wrong.” She said stubbornly, “But if I had to choose again, I wouldn’t change my mind. I’d still jump into the Yangtze, but would have someone notify you first. I’d still give away the globe, but wouldn’t lie about selling it for money—I’d tell the truth… If you blame me, I can only bear it. If you’re unhappy, I can only…”

She looked up, seeing Su Minguan’s increasingly dark expression, suddenly stood on tiptoe, clasping his neck, quickly pecking at his tense, trembling lips.

So soft.

Learning his cynical manner, she smiled mischievously, whispering to finish: “Coax you.”

Before her words fell, she saw Su Minguan’s face turn cold.

Then that refined, extraordinary face descended in the night, capturing those unreasonable red lips without allowing argument.

The moonlight was ethereal.