"Hum."
The steel ship with four massive funnels let out a hum. The scene shifted to a tavern at the port where The Eternal was docked.
Four young men were gathered around a drinking table, gambling.
Jack and his companion wagered all the money they had on them, while the two on the other side wagered two tickets for The Eternal.
In the end, Jack won the gamble with sheer luck and successfully boarded The Eternal.
Fang Qiu's characterization of Jack was also excellent.
Especially after boarding The Eternal, seeing the passengers at the railing bidding farewell to people at the port, Jack also ran to the railing to wave and shout his goodbyes.
His companion beside him asked.
"Do you know anyone down there?"
"No, but that doesn't matter."
Bai Qing continued reading.
Under Fang Qiu's pen, Jack and Rose seemed to exist in two different worlds.
Rose's side was quiet, elegant, luxurious, and spacious, filled with paintings she liked—unknown, yet rich in artistic flair.
Like a cage.
The other side was noisy, vulgar, crude, and cramped.
Like paradise.
Although both were on the same ship, a strong contrast was formed. It had to be said that Fang Qiu's writing had improved even further compared to Your Lie in April.
It was full of details.
Bai Qing nodded with satisfaction and continued reading.
Rose loved paintings, but her fiancé was a vulgar man who only loved money, possessing not a shred of true aristocratic bearing.
Thus, the ship set sail.
Jack, meanwhile, went to the bow with his partner, watching the fish jumping out of the water below the ship.
He spread his arms, feeling the wind on his face, feeling as if he were flying.
Time passed.
After his excitement, Jack sat on the deck with his companion; he was painting with a brush.
At this moment, he saw Rose, who had come out for fresh air after an unpleasantness with her noble parents.
For a moment, he was mesmerized.
His companion told him to banish that thought; she was a noble girl.
Rose, sensing Jack's gaze, merely glanced at him indifferently before looking away.
At this time, Rose's fiancé Cal appeared. However, Rose did not give Cal a pleasant look; she turned and left.
Reading this, Bai Qing couldn't help but nod.
If Rose had developed feelings for Jack just from a glance here, the story would inevitably fall into clichés.
Although Jack was handsome, for a girl like Rose, what she sought wasn't looks, nor money.
But talent and understanding.
That was why she didn't like her fiancé.
That night.
Jack sat on a deck chair smoking, looking at the starry sky, involuntarily recalling the sorrowful noble girl he saw during the day.
Just then.
Rose, intending to jump into the sea to end her life, happened to pass by where Jack was lying.
She climbed over the railing, looking at the cold, pitch-black sea, hesitating whether to jump.
Just then, Jack called out to her.
"If you jump, I jump."
This was their first conversation.
Afterwards, Jack told Rose that the seawater was very cold at night.
Cold enough to feel like ten thousand arrows piercing your heart, like millions of needles pricking your whole body, unable to think; the only thing you could feel was pain.
As he spoke, he took off his clothes and shoes, looking as if he really intended to jump after her.
Finally, persuaded by Jack, Rose gave up on suicide.
However, as Rose turned to return to the deck, her foot slipped, and she fell off the side.
Jack grabbed her and used his strength to pull Rose back from over the railing.
However, Rose's scream as she fell also alerted the sailors. Rose's fiancé and others, hearing the commotion, rushed over and mistook Jack for a criminal trying to violate Rose. Without a word, they tried to arrest him.
Rose hurriedly explained, saying she slipped and almost fell into the water, and it was Jack who saved her.
But Rose's fiancé Cal didn't believe it at all—who saves someone by taking off their clothes and shoes first? But out of regard for the many people around and the dignity of nobility, he didn't say much.
To thank Jack, Cal invited him to dinner the next evening.
In reality, it was to take the opportunity to humiliate Jack.
Jack indicated he would certainly attend.
"The male and female leads have crossed paths; the main storyline has begun."
A smile tugged at the corner of Bai Qing's mouth.
Fang Qiu really economized on space; there wasn't a single superfluous plot point, nor even a superfluous sentence.
Every dialogue and every action of the characters highlighted their distinct personalities.
That night, Cal found Rose and placed a massive gemstone around her neck.
This gem was called the Heart of Mondstadt. It was said to be a divine object once worn by the Anemo Archon.
And he expressed his feelings to Rose.
Although the Heart of Mondstadt was beautiful, if placed on her by Cal, it became a shackle.
Although Fang Qiu didn't write it explicitly, Bai Qing could clearly perceive Rose's thoughts through Fang Qiu's description of demeanor and action.
The next day.
Rose went to find Jack to thank him.
Thanking Jack for saving her life and helping her conceal her suicide attempt.
The two walked along the deck, chatting.
During the chat, Rose discovered Jack was an artist, and painted very well.
The more they talked, the more they clicked, and Rose gradually let down her aristocratic guard.
Just then, they encountered Rose's mother.
Rose's mother disliked Jack very much, identifying him as a threat.
However, a noblewoman whom other nobles considered nouveau riche appreciated Jack.
After the dinner whistle blew, the noblewoman took him to her room and gave him a set of noble attire to change into.
Soon, it was time for the evening banquet.
Jack, dressed in noble attire, was very dashing. Imitating the etiquette of the nobles, he walked into the banquet hall with Rose.
Everyone thought Jack was a talented young man from some wealthy noble family.
However, after taking their seats, Rose's mother mercilessly exposed Jack, asking him to speak about his experience living in steerage.
"It's quite nice, there are no rats."
The crowd chuckled softly.
Cal then explained Jack's identity and why a commoner was present.
Rose, however, stated that Jack was also an artist.
The crowd was dismissive.
Under the verbal attacks of several nobles, Jack appeared very calm, and with a few words, he made the crowd change their opinion of him considerably.
However, the celebrities and nobles present still looked down on Jack from the bottom of their hearts.
After the meal, it was time for the noble men to smoke and discuss economics and politics, and Jack knew it was time for him to leave.
So, taking advantage of a hand-kissing greeting, he slipped Rose a note. The content of the note asked her to meet him under the big clock in a while.
Seeing Rose arrive as promised, Jack's lips curled upward, and he said only one sentence.
"Do you want to see a real party?"
Reading this, Bai Qing couldn't help but smile knowingly.
The story was thoroughly on track.
She was very curious about the subsequent development of the story.
However, at the same time, she was also very curious.
Unexpectedly, Fang Qiu knew Mondstadt noble etiquette so well; under the powerful brushstrokes, Bai Qing even felt as if she were personally on the scene.
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