The car pulled up at the port.

A scorching heat wave hit us outside.

We’d been riding in the air-conditioned car and hadn’t noticed it, but stepping out was like being plunged into a stark contrast. This kind of heat wasn’t like the summer heat back home—it was dry and searing, as if it were sucking the moisture right out of your skin.

In fact, Qin Qinxi found Dubai’s climate even harder to adjust to. Back when she was in Syria, the harsh and unpredictable weather had made her ill several times.

The Middle East is a desert region, so she’d been mentally prepared for that—but standing here in person, she felt as though she were about to be baked dry by the sun.

She followed Vio onto the deck and boarded the ship.

This luxury cruise ship was far more impressive than the last one—less chaotic, yet still quite grand.

She walked with the man toward the elevator, and out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of a half-open door. The space inside looked huge; it seemed to be a casino.

It was extremely open.

Qin Qinxi was startled and quickly averted her gaze, not daring to look again.

They entered the elevator. It was utterly silent.

Inside the elevator, there were only she, this towering man, and the Ice Face.

No one said a word; the atmosphere was unbearably tense.

Suddenly, her stomach let out an embarrassing little growl.

Qin Qinxi felt even more mortified.

She really was hungry—and she couldn’t help but admire this towering man.

He, like her, hadn’t eaten breakfast, yet he didn’t seem hungry at all.

Could it be that while they were down below, he’d secretly eaten something without her?

Qin Qinxi stole a glance at the two men standing ahead of her.

They hadn’t moved a muscle; they probably hadn’t heard.

Vio, of course, had heard. A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

Once they stepped out of the elevator, Qin Qinxi realized this floor was the dining area.

A middle-aged man with European and American features was already waiting outside.

He was dressed in a formal suit, looking impeccably gentlemanly and deeply respectful.

Qin Qinxi thought he looked very upscale—the suit had a luxurious texture, and he wore an expensive designer watch on his wrist.

But when their group was led into a private VIP dining room, Qin Qinxi finally understood that he wasn’t the person they were supposed to meet.

Only then did she notice the name tag pinned to his chest: “General Manager, VIP Area,” written in English.

Inside the room sat two other middle-aged men, also of European and American descent—one standing, one seated.

The seated man looked more imposing, and both were neatly dressed in suits.

Upon seeing Vio and his party, he immediately stood up, bowing deeply as he approached, extending his hand from a distance.

Vio merely gave him a faint, expressionless smile, slipped his hands into his pockets, and walked right past him.

Qin Qinxi even caught a glimpse of the embarrassment on his face.

But he quickly masked it with a polite smile, his gaze falling on her, and smoothly shifted the conversation.

“Mr. Mansero, is this your companion?”

His tone was casual, as if he’d just asked out of curiosity.

Vio was notorious for his aversion to women. No matter how many women they sent over to get close to him, the outcomes were always disastrous.

He was infamous for being ruthless and cold-hearted.

As long as he sensed any danger, he saw no distinction between men and women—everyone faced the same fate.

“Guess,” Vio replied simply, effectively shutting down the conversation.

The man froze for a moment, his smile nearly slipping off his face.

Qin Qinxi felt a bit at a loss. She smiled at him, quickly fell in line with Vio, and sat down beside him, behaving impeccably.

Bali didn’t take a seat. His job was to protect his boss’s safety at all times, so he had to detect danger even before his boss did.

The man returned to his seat, his smile now adjusted to a proper, restrained curve.

Deep down, he was actually quite nervous.

Today, Vio was dressed very formally, which suggested he took their deal today rather seriously.

End of Chapter 30: Chapter 30