"Why?"
Carter murmured, then he laughed, as if he had heard something utterly absurd, tears streaming down his face, laughing until he was breathless.
Everyone was confused.
"Are you crazy?"
At one moment, Carter suddenly stopped laughing, looking at Shen Qingqing coldly, his eyes filled with hatred, "I am crazy, and it's because of you!"
Ai Qi couldn't help but say, "What nonsense are you talking about? Pretty sister has never offended you!"
"Is that so?" Carter retorted, his eyes fixed on Shen Qingqing, "You haven't offended me, but you've harmed me more than once, broken my arm, kicked my ribs..."
Shen Qingqing paused, "It seems none of those were my doing."
She glanced at King and Fu Jingshu.
It was clearly those two who had acted, yet why was she the only one filled with their hatred?
Carter gritted his teeth, "You didn't lay a hand, but it all started because of you!"
Shen Qingqing's lips twitched, "I think you're just picking on the softest target. I look easy to bully, so you naturally pour all your hatred onto me."
The other two looked far less approachable, so naturally, he chickened out!
Carter roared in anger, "You're talking nonsense!"
"See? I hit the nail on the head, and you're just embarrassed," Shen Qingqing shook her head, unwilling to look at him any longer. "Someone like you, I don't think you'd dare to poison someone on your own. Speak, who ordered you?"
"Nobody ordered me."
Carter was playing stubborn, like a dead duck refusing to yield.
"Impossible, where did you get the poison?" Shen Qingqing pressed.
"I'm not telling you." Carter sneered maliciously, as if by not telling, he could turn the tables. "The more you want to know, the less I'll tell you."
"If you're so capable, then guess it yourself!"
Shen Qingqing narrowed her eyes and glanced at him. He was still the same, like a stubborn mule. So she turned to look at Mr. Z.
"See, what should we do with this person?"
Mr. Z looked at Carter with great disappointment, "I truly never imagined you would do such a thing... Tell me quickly, who gave you the poison?"
Carter slowly turned his head to look at him.
Various complex emotions flickered in his eyes, ultimately turning into resolute defiance.
"You don't need to ask, I won't say anything."
"You! You're truly incorrigible!" Mr. Z, agitated, couldn't help but cough a few times. The butler beside him quickly poured him a glass of water.
"Sir, you haven't recovered yet, you shouldn't get so agitated."
Mr. Z had no mood for water now, his gaze still fixed on Carter, "If you refuse to speak, I can only send you to the police station for legal processing. You must take responsibility for your actions."
Carter lowered his head, remaining silent.
Mr. Z waved his hand wearily, "Call the police."
While waiting for the police, fearing Carter might resist, Shen Qingqing had someone tie him up and throw him into a corner, then she looked at Mr. Z, who was surrounded by people.
After the incident with the antidote pill on the island, he had completely become the backbone of everyone's support.
They seemed to have completely forgotten Mr. Z's methods and reputation, truly fooled by his appearance and thinking he was a kind and steady man.
"Mr. Z, is it convenient to speak alone?" Shen Qingqing's voice cut through the crowd, reaching Mr. Z's ears clearly.
He smiled and nodded, "Of course."
So, while everyone remained in the living room, Mr. Z and Shen Qingqing went to a clearing in the back garden. Flowers bloomed everywhere, and a refreshing fragrance filled the air.
Shen Qingqing narrowed her eyes slightly and said, "Now, can you give me the item?"
Mr. Z chuckled, "What item?"
"Don't play dumb."
"Alright, the antidote, right." Mr. Z, for reasons unknown, had a flicker of disappointment in his eyes, "But this trip is completely different from what I imagined."
"What do you mean?"
"The trip I imagined should have been planned, with people alive, and consequently, some sacrifices..."
Shen Qingqing sneered, "What, you think too many people survived?"
Mr. Z smiled without speaking.
This pervert! Shen Qingqing cursed inwardly, but her expression remained calm, "What you think is your business. Right now, I just need to get my item, as you promised."
"Of course, I will give it to you." Mr. Z changed the subject, "However, the item is not with me."
Shen Qingqing turned abruptly, her gaze sharp as she stared at him.
Mr. Z spread his hands helplessly, "Don't look at me like that, it's a bit scary."
She remained silent, her gaze unwavering.
Mr. Z sighed, "To be honest, the item is indeed not here with me. Do you think I would bring such a valuable item onto a cruise ship? Carry it on me?"
That made sense.
The antidote was a crucial item for a transaction. Given Z's caution, he would definitely have kept it in a very safe and secure place.
"Stop talking nonsense. Just tell me, when will you give it to me."
"Give it to you, of course, I will. But right now, it seems we still have trouble to resolve."
"What do you mean?"
What trouble?
Mr. Z smiled slightly and turned to look at the living room. The resort's living room had a huge floor-to-ceiling window, through which one could clearly see everyone inside.
The police had arrived and taken away the cursing Carter.
Then everyone seemed a little agitated. Butler Su stepped forward, calmed them down, and said something that made everyone show a degree of reluctance.
Shen Qingqing pondered, "If we really get into trouble, it will be your fault."
Mr. Z raised an eyebrow, "What does it have to do with me?"
"Didn't you administer the poison?"
"Of course not!"
One was aggressive, the other had a calm and wronged expression, his sincerity and innocence as if he were truly framed.
Shen Qingqing sneered, "Whether it's true or not, you know in your heart."
With that, she strode towards the living room.
As she reached the doorway, she suddenly stopped. Without looking back, her clear and cold voice echoed,
"Z, my patience is limited. Once this current trouble is resolved, I hope you will keep your word. Otherwise, I will have to resort to forceful measures."
Mr. Z merely smiled and remained silent, showing no anger or fear, but rather a kind of... indescribable excitement.
Shen Qingqing and Z returned to the living room, where everyone had quieted down. It turned out that someone had proposed to leave earlier, but Butler Su said it wasn't time yet and asked everyone to wait.
Wait for what, and why, he refused to explain.
Everyone was quite bewildered.
Z, however, was calm. "Since Butler Su has said so, everyone should wait a little longer. I've scheduled a doctor to come back in half an hour to conduct a physical examination for everyone. After all, we're back from the island, so a check-up will put everyone at ease."
"Mr. Z is so thoughtful."
"If you hadn't brought it up, we wouldn't have thought of this."
Everyone praised and flattered him.
Mr. Z remained humble and polite, smiling without speaking.
Shen Qingqing, not wanting to listen to their flattery, returned to their room with Fu Jingshu.
The moment they entered, she was swept up into his arms and placed on the soft bed. His gaze swept over her from head to toe.
"Are you injured?"
"No," Shen Qingqing looked at him, her own longing difficult to suppress. She tilted her head up and kissed him.