The luxury yacht sailed steadily out of the port, the azure sea vast and boundless before it.
As the Second Young Miss of the Mortari family, Coletta moved smoothly among the guests, receiving all sorts of visitors on behalf of her family. She guided conversations, pointed out the scenery, and arranged activities—everything was perfectly in order.
During this time, she proactively sought advice on maritime trade from several merchants who had previously harbored doubts about her. Her humble and eager-to-learn attitude won her a great deal of favor.
Rover leaned against the railing at the stern of the ship, holding a glass of soda. His golden eyes calmly observed Coletta not far away.
He watched her like a seabird that had finally found its true flight path—composed and beautiful.
She no longer subconsciously searched the crowd for Cantarella's figure, nor did she frequently look to him for validation. Instead, she had completely immersed herself in the responsibility of ensuring the success of this networking event.
Undoubtedly, this sincere and focused effort moved him far more than any deliberate performance.
The daylight hours passed quickly. The yacht sailed to a certain area in the coastal waters of Laguna and began to circle.
By now, the sun had begun to sink in the west, dyeing the sky and sea in magnificent colors.
Coletta clapped her hands, drawing everyone's attention.
"Distinguished guests, please allow me to introduce a friend who sings with her soul—Miss Xiakong Toccata."
"Her voice is the free wind of Laguna."
She personally led Xiakong, who was holding her theorbo and looking somewhat nervous, to a specially arranged performance area—a small, open-air stage protruding about half a meter from the deck.
Xiakong still wore her cyan-green dress. Her short red hair was blown slightly messy by the sea breeze. Looking down at the numerous prominent guests, especially those wearing priest robes, her green eyes betrayed her nervousness, and her palms couldn't help but sweat.
Seeing this daughter of a "sinner" family, a "wanted criminal" who had once publicly slammed the Convent in the square, appear so grandly before them, the expressions of the Convent priests and Preceptory members were quite ugly, yet they dared not act out.
For no other reason than that Xiakong was personally invited by Coletta to perform for everyone. Causing trouble here was tantamount to slapping the Mortari family in the face. Furthermore...
The gazes of the Convent priests invariably drifted toward the man with golden eyes dressed in black, standing slightly apart from the crowd.
At this moment, he was standing beside Cantarella. Both held wine glasses in their hands, their expressions focused on Xiakong, who was about to perform on stage.
The Convent members knew full well that this man truly wouldn't give them any face; if he decided to act, he would act without hesitation. If they still wanted to see the sun tomorrow, it was best not to stir up trouble.
Returning their gaze to the stage, Xiakong still seemed a little nervous, and Coletta was still giving her mental encouragement.
"Coletta, I... I'm afraid I won't do well..."
Hearing this, Coletta patted her shoulder encouragingly and whispered, "Don't be afraid. Just sing what you want to sing, like you normally do in the square."
Xiakong took a deep breath and nodded at Coletta. Her gaze then involuntarily drifted toward Rover not far away. He was leaning against a railing a bit further back with the Fesale Family Head. He gave her a slight nod, his eyes calm and encouraging.
In that instant, Xiakong felt completely at ease.
She closed her eyes. When she opened them again, only a passion and determination for music remained within them.
The setting sun dyed her red hair into breathtaking liquid amber, and the hem of her cyan-green starry sky dress fluttered lightly with the rhythm of the ocean waves.
"A song titled Echoes of the Tide," her voice was ethereal, carrying the unique rhythmic sense of a poet. "Dedicated to the sea that embraces all, dedicated to the wind that chases freedom, and dedicated to all travelers who never forget their original intentions, even when they lose their way."
As Xiakong sang the first line of lyrics, the sea breeze seemed to stagnate.
"The river runs soft through the morning light..."
Her singing voice, like tiny pearls soaked in the morning light, flowed slowly from the sixteen strings of her theorbo alongside its accompaniment.
"It carries the songs of the fading night..."
The guests invariably quieted down.
"I follow the breeze where the wild birds go..."
The lyrics did not directly attack anyone; instead, they were filled with a yearning for authenticity, courage, distant lands, and a bright future.
"With dreams in my pocket and steps so slow..."
She sang of river water flowing gently over the morning light, sang of the wind and flying birds forever guiding the way, and sang of the most sincere dreams hidden at the bottom of the heart.
The golden glow of the setting sun plated her in a halo. Her singing voice rode the sea breeze, drifting across the vast expanse between sea and sky, carrying a soul-stirring, pure power.
"And I sing with the sky where the silence rings true..."
The guests gradually quieted down, immersed in this beautiful music and imagery.
The faces of the Convent priests were somewhat unnatural. This eulogy to "freedom" and "authenticity" undoubtedly poked at some of their sore spots, but on such an occasion, they could only force themselves to maintain a smile.
"In a world made of wonder and mourning blue..."
Rover had been listening attentively the entire time.
He watched the red-haired poet singing her heart out in the afterglow of the setting sun, as if seeing the untamed soul burning within her.
Her courage and talent were displayed to the fullest at this moment.
"Every step is a note in a song I don't know!"
"But I carry its rhythm wherever I go..."
As the song ended, applause rang out like thunder—sincere and enthusiastic.
Xiakong's face flushed slightly. She bowed somewhat bashfully in thanks, but her eyes searched for Rover once again.
At that moment, Rover walked straight over and said to her sincerely, "It was beautiful. Your song holds the true soul of Laguna."
Xiakong's eyes instantly turned red. Too excited to speak, she merely nodded vigorously.
Coletta also stepped forward, gave her a hug, and whispered in her ear, "See? What did I tell you? You are the brightest star."
This scene fell clearly into Rover's eyes. He looked at Coletta, the appreciation in his eyes deepening a few degrees.
Night fell, and the banquet began with an excellent atmosphere.
Cantarella conversed with Francis, but her gaze occasionally swept over Coletta—who was chatting and laughing softly with Xiakong, appearing relaxed and at ease—and Rover beside them, who occasionally interjected with a witty remark, making the two girls giggle.
She elegantly swirled her wine glass and smiled at Francis: "Mr. Francis, the pearl of your family is truly... radiant tonight. I must say, this light is almost too dazzling."
Francis chuckled, his words carrying deep meaning: "Young people are always full of surprises. As for you, Family Head Cantarella, it seems this gentle sea breeze hasn't been able to help you relax?"
"Always calculating the direction of the distant tides... aren't you missing the scenery right in front of you?"
Cantarella's smile remained unchanged, but her eyes darkened.
She looked at the trio chatting so happily and suddenly felt that the "Kiss of the Night Rose" in her glass, which she usually favored deeply, seemed to have lost a bit of its flavor.
The next morning, sunlight poured through the massive glass windows of the Opal's dining room.
Rover was having breakfast with Coletta and Cantarella. The atmosphere was subtly different from before.
Cantarella still ate elegantly, but she seemed to have retracted much of her sharpness today. She didn't proactively use words to tease him or mock Coletta as usual. Instead, she occasionally discussed the local customs he had seen in various places in a peaceful tone.
Coletta seemed to understand implicitly as well. She no longer kept her nerves taut, constantly ready to counterattack. She participated in the conversation properly, the topics mostly revolving around her own maritime experiences and Laguna's future commercial planning.
Both sides seemed to have changed their strategies, maintaining a rare, fleeting, and fragile harmony—at least on the surface.
Rover was naturally happy to see this.
Although it was occasionally quite satisfying to watch two outstanding women go toe-to-toe for his sake, it would inevitably become tedious in the long run and might even damage their cooperative relationship. The current tranquility was much more comfortable.
After the meal, Rover tactfully declined Coletta's proposal to discuss the afternoon activities together and went to the deck alone for a stroll, enjoying the sea breeze and sunlight to aid his digestion.
Abby, who had just finished breakfast, had long since disappeared, flying off who-knows-where to forage for more food.
Just as he was walking down the corridor in the guest room area, a slightly clumsy figure caught his attention.
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