Chapter 846: Xiao He: I’m really a method actor!
Everyone saw Bao Wenyu's hesitation and conflict.
Xiao He exchanged a glance with the others without leaving a trace.
If what they had imagined earlier was true, then they might really need an inside man.
That is, they needed someone from the Bao Family to help them, at least to give them a hand at a critical moment.
After all, this Cruise Ship belonged to the Bao Family; even if Bao Wenyu was just an illegitimate child, he ultimately held a certain amount of deterrent power and command over the people on the Cruise Ship.
Besides, if things escalated and ended up being attributed to the power struggle among the Bao Family themselves, then it wouldn't have much to do with them on the surface, right?
Although the people present were doing something like this for the first time, their non-verbal communication was exceptionally tacit. Soon, Xiao He took the initiative and said, "Does Young President Bao have something to say? Look, it's getting late, and we still need to eat. Why don't I have the waiter add a pair of chopsticks so we can all have a good chat?"
Without waiting for Bao Wenyu to decline, he had someone come in to prepare the bowls and chopsticks and introduced the people around him to Bao Wenyu.
However, during the introductions, Xiao He deliberately avoided mentioning Tong Junhui.
Fortunately, Tong Junhui, with his facial scar, was sitting with the burly Lao Qi, and they really looked like bodyguards. Bao Wenyu didn't even glance at them twice, quickly averting his gaze and getting drawn into the conversational atmosphere deliberately created by Shu Han and Liu Rulan.
Soon, the host and guests were all enjoying themselves.
Bao Wenyu finally revealed some more information to Xiao He.
"Actually, a while ago, the relationship between my father and my eldest brother suddenly turned sour, and they had a huge argument. This time, the luck-bringing beads seem to be something my eldest brother specifically sought out to curry favor with him."
"And regarding the luck-bringing beads... I still suggest, Brother Xiao, that you don't go. It's a hot potato. The crackdown on feudal superstition is very strict nowadays; it's not appropriate for you to get involved. I really can't think of any reason why you must go."
Bao Wenyu had summoned a lot of courage to say this. Although his words were still stammered and half-hidden, he had said just about everything that needed to be said.
Furthermore, from his own perspective, he revealed some other things that everyone wasn't too sure about.
For example, regarding the luck-bringing beads, Bao Xingsheng himself might not be fully aware of the situation.
As for why it was said he wasn't fully aware, it was naturally because the entire Cruise Ship belonged to him. If other members of the Bao Family wanted to open a Feng Shui shop or sell luck-bringing beads on the Cruise Ship, Xiao He didn't believe Bao Xingsheng knew nothing about it.
That old guy was likely just turning a blind eye.
Xiao He tapped his fingers on the table while falling into deep thought.
So, did he allow Bao Wenyin's little tricks and let Bao Wenyin use the luck-bringing beads to curry favor with him?
Or perhaps... had he actually given up on Bao Wenyin? And was therefore letting Bao Wenyin court disaster?
What exactly was his attitude regarding the luck-bringing beads?
Xiao He always felt there was something strange about it.
But if the luck-bringing beads were really as they had imagined, then even if there was something strange about it, they had to go and investigate. They couldn't just leave it alone and let those innocent people continue to live in misery.
So, Xiao He carefully chose his words and bullshitted with great seriousness: "Actually, you should know that I've been filming a work related to Feng Shui recently, which involves some of this knowledge to some extent. So, I want to get a closer look and witness it myself to broaden my horizons."
"Huh?"
Bao Wenyu, who had been full of doubts, was truly stunned this time.
He even slightly suspected that Xiao He had some unknown hobby, but it turned out Xiao He was doing all this just to get into character?
Ah, you actors play like this?
Bao Wenyu subconsciously looked at the other actor, Shu Han.
And Shu Han also had a look of sudden realization, smiling and saying: "Ah, that's true! After all, Xiao He is a method actor! He was able to win his current Best Actor award because of this drive! Such actors are really rare nowadays... uh, come to think of it, this is a rare opportunity. Being able to see other masters performing rituals on-site is indeed a good opportunity for us ordinary actors to observe and learn."
Hahaha, this kid Xiao He, he really has the nerve to say any kind of nonsense!
Shu Han, who was also helping Xiao He smooth things over and telling lies without blinking, displayed his Best Actor-level acting skills and chimed in to support Xiao He's words.
Bao Wenyu's mouth twitched.
He strongly suspected that these two were bluffing him, and he had evidence.
Xiao He seemed to hear Bao Wenyu's skepticism and still calmly stated his point of view: "Enriching my character, experiencing as much as possible—that is my life credo."
Bao Wenyu:...
Others:... Shut your mouth, hold it in! Don't laugh out loud!
In any case, in the end, Bao Wenyu looked convinced and readily agreed to help cover for Xiao He, ensuring no one else would know that Xiao He was also attending the luck-bringing beads gathering.
However, before leaving, Xiao He suddenly asked him another completely unrelated question: "What kind of person do you think the newly appointed President He is?"
"Eh? President He? Young President He?"
Although the newly appointed head of the He family was considered equal in status to the heads of the other two families, he was a generation younger. The Hong Kong business circle still valued these things, so people generally liked to add a "Young" before his title to better distinguish age and generation.
Therefore, when Bao Wenyu heard Xiao He call him "President He," he was momentarily stunned.
"Yes, that's the President He who was with President Bao and the others today."
Xiao He gave him a definitive answer.
"Young President He..."
Bao Wenyu pondered for a moment and gave Xiao He an unexpected answer: "My father said he is a cunning opportunist. Back when the He family was fighting for power, he kept a low profile and just watched from the sidelines. Once things reached a white-hot stage, he was able to quickly enter the fray and secure victory in one fell swoop."
"So, although the He family was undergoing a power transition during that time, and our two families were watching like tigers eyeing their prey, in the end, the three families remained in a very delicate balance."
"An opportunist..."
Xiao He savored this sentence in his mouth and suddenly smiled.
"Young President Bao, I find that your father is sometimes quite accurate when judging people."
It's just that when it comes to himself, his eye for finding a successor is actually not that good.
...
Meanwhile, on the other side.
Taking advantage of the break when he went to the deck to smoke with other bodyguards, Cheng Bei quickly read through the pile of messages that had accumulated on his phone.
The more he read, the more serious the expression on his face became.
Thinking of some things he had also investigated just now, Cheng Bei finally took a deep breath, immediately switched interfaces, and started sending messages.
"A-Nan—"
"A-Nan—"
"A-Nan!"
Someone behind him suddenly patted Cheng Bei on the shoulder. Cheng Bei did not show any panic, just silently turned off his phone screen, and then placed the cigarette he was holding between his lips back between his fingers: "What's wrong?"
"Nothing, just chatting casually."
The bodyguard didn't notice anything unusual about Cheng Bei and instead chatted with him about everyday life, laughing and talking.
-
On the silent sea late at night, the Cruise Ship was like a lonely boat, swaying as it moved forward.
And further away on the pitch-black sea surface, a small cargo ship was slowly sailing towards this side at this moment.