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Chapter 48 – Take Off His Clothes
The floral shirt in Lin Keying’s hand had an exceptionally aesthetic color scheme. Although the pattern was intricate, it didn’t appear chaotic or gaudy; instead, it exuded a kind of bold beauty.
On an average man, it would be a disaster—but on someone like Cheng Wanting, with his powerful aura and strong features, he could easily carry and suppress that flamboyance.
As Lin Keying enthusiastically explained, she stuffed the floral shirt into the man’s hands, not forgetting to seek praise. “How is it, hubby? Do you like it?”
Cheng Wanting glanced down indifferently at the flashy shirt that only his cousin Chen Songxian liked to wear, comparing it to his own wardrobe filled with nothing but neutral blacks, whites, and grays…
His molars clenched slightly. “Mm.”
Yang Minghui quickly raised his hand to take the shirt for the young master. “Young master, I’ll hold onto this for you.”
This floral shirt… was it meant for the wrong person?!
The cargo ship docked in Malaysia, where it would stay for half a day. Lin Keying sampled local Peranakan cuisine. The laksa, with its base of coconut milk and curry, infused with various Southeast Asian spices, was paired with fish cakes, shrimp, tofu puffs, boiled eggs, and young calamansi, while the rice noodles soaked up the rich, complex broth.
It was Lin Keying’s first time eating such food—it tasted a little strange, but not bad.
The five of them each had a bowl. After finishing lunch, they walked along the dock, moving inland. As they distanced from the coast, the streets grew busier, and shops began lining the alleys. Many locals in traditional attire passed by without sparing a glance at the group of outsiders.
Having lived near the docks for years, the locals were long accustomed to the influx of foreigners wandering around during unloading periods.
As Lin Keying admired the Southeast Asian scenery, she asked about her godparents’ thrilling business ventures in the region from years ago.
Guo Changda, who had weathered many storms, spoke calmly of past dangers. “Back then, your godmother and I were doing business running around Malacca and almost got sold.”
“Got sold?” Lin Keying vaguely recalled that over a hundred years ago, Chinese laborers were indeed tricked into coming to Malacca, supposedly to work, but young women were actually trafficked.
Zhao Fengzhen reminisced with a sigh. “Your godfather and I had saved a bit by scavenging. We shipped condiments, canned food, and tea from Hong Kong to sell in Malacca—the profits were high and money came fast. But things were chaotic here. Many would rob at gunpoint, not just stealing goods but intending to kill and sell us off—to coal mines and red-light districts.”
“Luckily, we were young and nimble. We fought our way out and barely escaped with our lives,” Guo Changda now spoke more serenely, his gaze steady like someone who’d ultimately triumphed. “Later, we weren’t discouraged and dared to return. With better precautions, we subdued those people completely and eventually took over the entire market.”
Lin Keying listened with bated breath, utterly impressed by their courage and resilience. “Godfather, godmother, you two are incredible! Life back then was really like dancing on the edge of a knife—it couldn’t have been easy.”
The couple basked in her praise. Who wouldn’t enjoy hearing a lively, charming young woman enthusiastically admire and revere them? In high spirits, they continued to recount their adventures in detail.
Cheng Wanting walked alongside them. A man who had never been this relaxed since adulthood, this was his first time putting aside work to wander the streets idly.
The woman beside him, listening to her godparents’ heroic stories, had bright, sparkling eyes. Even his secretary, Yang Minghui, was animatedly clamoring to hear more.
His gaze lingered on his newlywed wife, who was oblivious to it, then shifted to his secretary…
Yang Minghui turned his head and met the young master’s glance, quickly redirecting the topic to boost his bonus. “Madam, speaking of thrilling business stories, our young master has plenty as well. Back in the day, he negotiated cooperation with the Malaysian government all by himself. At just eighteen, he secured the port here for the Cheng family—it was a perilous endeavor too.”
Lin Keying’s curiosity spiked. She immediately looked at her husband with starry eyes. “Really? Hubby, that’s amazing! Tell me more—what happened?”
Their deep gazes met. Cheng Wanting saw his reflection in her clear eyes, and the corners of his lips lifted slightly. “The port we’re at now is the one I acquired back then.”
“So this port is yours too!” Lin Keying was astonished by how widespread her husband’s business empire was.
That afternoon at the port, Yang Minghui once again heard that the young master had doubled his bonus and was deeply touched.
Ever since Miss Lin came to Hong Kong City, his bonuses had doubled repeatedly. He couldn’t help but get excited—Miss Lin should’ve come sooner!
By evening, unloading in Malaysia was complete. Some passengers whose destination was Malaysia disembarked, while new passengers boarded. Those who had gone ashore earlier returned to the ship by 6:30 p.m., as per regulations.
Cheng Wanting controlled the actual ownership of this port, with a contract spanning sixty years.
With the vast ocean behind it, the white cruise ship lay quietly on the azure sea, waiting for its master.
Cheng Wanting stood casually, listening to the port manager’s report.
On the deck, Lin Keying stood in the sea breeze, reluctant to leave land. On their journey south, they were about to set sail again.
Coming to Malaysia had been an unplanned detour for Cheng Wanting, so he took the opportunity to inspect his assets here. After checking the port’s container throughput and pointing out critical logistics issues, he ordered stricter inspections on other ships’ loading and unloading before leaving.
When he returned to the deck, the woman standing in the wind waved at him, her long hair fluttering wildly. “Mr. Cheng, we’re waiting for you~”
After Cheng Wanting boarded, the ship’s horn sounded again, and they slowly headed toward South Africa.
On the night they left Malaysia, Lin Keying “kicked” her husband out of their room. With some passengers disembarking, there would surely be empty rooms available.
Lin Keying had worried he might argue that new passengers had taken the rooms, but surprisingly, he didn’t resist this time. He packed his clothes and moved into the room next door—Room 806.
The ship sailed for another half month and finally reached South Africa in early October.
There were two ports of call in South Africa, from north to south. In the past, Chen Songxian avoided South Africa like the plague, but now, thinking of leaving behind his dull academic life, he was filled with anticipation.
Yang Minghui personally supervised Chen Songxian packing. “Young master Chen, the young master hopes you’ll work hard at the company and help strengthen the Chen family’s garment business in Africa.”
Chen Songxian cheerfully packed his luggage, eager to escape.
At least in South Africa, there would be no cousin to force him to study and read. “Brother Yang, don’t worry. I’m a changed man now. By the way, where’s my cousin? I want to say goodbye.”
Chen Songxian would disembark at the northeastern port of South Africa, while Cheng Wanting’s group would disembark at the northwestern port. Yang Minghui found it reasonable that he wanted to bid farewell, so he went downstairs to check if the young master was available.
Room 807 downstairs.
At that moment, Cheng Wanting was indeed busy.
He had recently handed off much of his work and was only managing remotely, but that didn’t mean a workaholic could truly relax—in fact, his mind often still churned with concerns.
Today, having arrived in South Africa, the woman beside him had set her sights on him.
“Young master, do you not like the floral shirt I bought you? Why aren’t you wearing it?” Lin Keying had discovered the shirt tucked away at the bottom of his wardrobe, untouched.
Having admired the man’s suited, formal appearance enough, Lin Keying now wanted to strip away his prim facade and see the serious man flustered in a flamboyant shirt.
Cheng Wanting glanced at the colorful shirt in her hands, almost seeing someone’s name written on it—it was exactly the kind of shirt the flirtatious Chen family playboy always wore.
“You really want me to wear it?” Cheng Wanting’s expression showed little emotion.
“Mm!”
“Then come put it on for me.” Cheng Wanting took her hand and placed it on the buttons of his black shirt. “If you want to see it, take it off yourself.”
Lin Keying’s fingertips burned, and so did her chest.
He wasn’t refusing to wear the floral shirt?!
His words were vaguely suggestive too. Lin Keying’s expression shifted repeatedly, but she stubbornly resisted the urge to flee.
Fine, I’ll undress him!
If he’s not afraid, why should I be?
Her slender fingers brushed the cool golden metal as she unfastened the first button beneath his Adam’s apple.
Cheng Wanting lowered his gaze, seeing the top of her dark head. He could feel her soft fingers lightly graze his skin through the thin shirt, sending tingling sensations through him. Her gentle breaths skimmed over his throat, making it hard to breathe.
Heat surged downward, gathering in one spot, scorching and intense, making his body tense.
They were very close. As she unbuttoned the first button, the shirt parted slightly at the top, revealing a hint of bronzed skin.
Just as she prepared to continue—determined to make him wear the floral shirt today—she saw his Adam’s apple bob with difficulty, and a low, husky voice followed.
“All right, I’ll put it on. You wait outside.”
Lin Keying, who had only undone the first button, was “kicked” out of the room to wait. She was already satisfied with his concession. Too bad she didn’t have a camera—she really wanted to snap a commemorative photo.
The thought grew stronger. Lin Keying knocked on the door and called out, “Young master, once you’ve changed, come to my room. I’m going to get my camera.”
A long time later, a hoarse voice responded from inside. By then, she had already disappeared next door.