The two men rolling on the ground had no time to pay attention to Yang Houcheng’s words. Because the door had opened, they rolled directly to the doorway.

Yang Houcheng bent down, trying to help the two up: “What madness has gotten into you two?”

Chi Can was desperately clutching Shao Mingyuan’s neck. Seeing Yang Houcheng come to interfere, he kicked out, sending Yang Houcheng staggering backward.

The two men, locked in fierce combat, quickly rolled out into the corridor.

Yang Houcheng, having been kicked for no reason, watched as these two made complete fools of themselves. His anger flared up, and he chased after them, lifting his foot to kick Chi Can, but held his foot up for a long time, unable to find a place to land it.

If he accidentally kicked Tingquan, he wouldn’t be able to bear the consequences of settling scores later.

The corridor had rooms connected along it. Hearing the commotion, several Jinwu Guards cracked their doors open and quietly poked their heads out.

Yang Houcheng turned and roared: “Mind your own business, all of you!”

Many heads retreated, but the door cracks opened even wider.

Coroner Qian simply pushed his door open, moved a small stool outside by the ship’s railing, and while enjoying the river breeze and eating peanuts, watched the excitement unfold.

Shao Mingyuan and Chi Can had already rolled onto the deck.

Yang Houcheng, fearing the two might fall overboard, anxiously rubbed his hands: “What on earth happened between you two? You’re not wearing split-pants anymore—are you fighting over a sugar figurine?”

Chi Can, using all his strength to grapple with Shao Mingyuan, thought distractedly: Indeed, we are fighting over a person, but it’s not a sugar figurine that can be handed over…

Without realizing it, the two had rolled to the ship’s railing.

Yang Houcheng rushed over and desperately pulled them apart: “If you keep rolling, you’ll fall overboard! Do you want to feed the fish in the river?”

Shao Mingyuan had not fought back much most of the time, intentionally letting Chi Can vent his anger. After being separated, he silently sat up.

Chi Can lie on the deck, gasping for breath.

He was too handsome by nature. Because of the fight, his jet-black hair had come loose, and his clothes were disheveled. Lying on the deck like this, even men couldn’t help but feel their hearts skip a beat at the sight.

Yang Houcheng could already feel those burning gazes from behind the doors and couldn’t help but darken his expression.

When they were young and went out to play, there were often shameless people who would harass Shixi!

“Have you all eaten too much? No dinner tonight!”

A succession of door-closing sounds followed, and those spectating gazes finally disappeared.

Seeing that Chi Can wasn’t getting up, just lying on the deck with red eyes glaring at Shao Mingyuan, Yang Houcheng was even more shocked.

What tremendous shock had Shixi suffered? Someone so fastidious about cleanliness was now disregarding everything.

He looked at his other friend and saw Shao Mingyuan sitting silently with a grave expression.

Yang Houcheng’s heart sank further: This is bad, something serious has happened.

“Tingquan, what exactly is wrong with you two?”

Shao Mingyuan remained silent, glancing at Chi Can.

Yang Houcheng reached out to help Chi Can up: “Can’t you talk things through properly? You can’t beat Tingquan anyway—”

Chi Can directly slap Yang Houcheng’s hand away.

Was this bastard here to mediate or to add fuel to the fire?

“Shao Mingyuan, come with me!” Chi Can climbed up.

Shao Mingyuan wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and stood up as well.

“Where are you going?” Yang Houcheng called after them.

“Mind your own business!” Chi Can threw back this response and strode away.

Shao Mingyuan patted Yang Houcheng’s arm: “It’s nothing.”

Watching the two leave, Yang Houcheng hesitated for a moment but didn’t chase after them.

He should go discuss this with Miss Li. Miss Li was smarter than him—maybe she would know what was going on.

Yang Houcheng walked to Qiao Zhao’s door and found her standing in the doorway with a complex expression.

“Miss Li, you gave Tingquan acupuncture today, right? Do you know what’s wrong with them?”

Qiao Zhao didn’t answer.

Two people fighting because of her—just thinking about such a thing was mortifying. Should she announce it to the world?

“I’m not entirely sure. Brother Yang should ask them directly.” With that, Qiao Zhao curtsied slightly and turned back into her room.

Yang Houcheng was left standing there, completely baffled.

What was wrong with everyone today?

Knowing that those two had left him behind and must have something to discuss, Yang Houcheng felt stifled and walked to the ship’s railing for some air.

Coroner Qian finished his peanuts, brushed the shells off his clothes, and got up to leave. As he passed Yang Houcheng, he let out a long sigh: “Young people, ah.”

Still, dealing with corpses was much more peaceful.

Ships weren’t like land—indoor conversations were more appropriate.

Shao Mingyuan’s room was in complete disarray. Chi Can walked straight back to his room. After Shao Mingyuan entered, he casually closed the door.

He ignored Shao Mingyuan entirely, sat directly at the table, and gulped down some cold tea, breathing heavily.

Shao Mingyuan sat across from him and reached for the teapot.

Chi Can pressed down on his hand and sneered: “This is my room. Shao Mingyuan, I didn’t invite you to drink, and you have the nerve to help yourself?”

Shao Mingyuan looked deeply into Chi Can’s eyes and sighed softly: “Shixi, must we be so hostile toward each other?”

“Hostile?” Chi Can laughed mockingly. “Shao Mingyuan, you’re the one who drew the sword. What did you say that day?”

Seeing Shao Mingyuan remain silent, he raised an eyebrow and slammed his teacup heavily on the table: “If you’ve forgotten, let me remind you. You said you had no intentions toward Miss Li and told me to rest assured. Did I mishear?”

“You didn’t mishear. I did say that.”

Hearing his confirmation, Chi Can burst into laughter, his laugh filled with uncontrollable anger. He slammed his fist hard on the table: “Then what about now? You fucking went behind my back to confess to Miss Li? Shao Mingyuan, if you like Miss Li, say it openly and honestly. I wouldn’t blame you—matters of the heart are matters of the heart, brotherhood is brotherhood. But what are you now? You used words to placate me, treating me like a fool to be deceived?”

By the end, he could barely continue speaking. His hands braced against the table as he panted heavily, his face flushed red with rage.

“Shixi, is that the kind of person I am in your heart?”

“Originally, you weren’t in my heart, but your current behavior is.”

Perhaps having had a good fight had helped. Though Chi Can was still furious, he could at least speak rationally now.

“Shao Tingquan, my heart is in great pain. When I heard that ‘mm’ you said to Chen Guang, I wanted to stab myself. Because stabbing myself wouldn’t hurt as much as your stab…”

Chi Can covered his face with both hands, gradually burying his head lower.

What pained him wasn’t just that his brother-like friend had fallen for the same girl he liked, but his friend’s methods.

How was this different from stabbing someone in the back?

“Shao Mingyuan, get out. I want to be alone.”

Shao Mingyuan sat without moving.

“Get out!” Chi Can kicked over the round stool with his feet, his eyes blazing with fury.

Shao Mingyuan bent down to right the spinning stool and looked directly into Chi Can’s eyes: “Shixi, being alone won’t solve the problem.”