Some things, when mentioned casually in conversation, are taken as a joke, yet others might take them quite seriously.

This time was just such an occasion. After indulging in a grand feast, the members of the Wealth Society quickly forgot about the matter. After all, buying an aircraft carrier was too outlandish; though none of them lacked funds, this was not how one spent money. No one had truly believed it.

However, what they failed to anticipate was that Wang Xiaolong of Jiangzhou—Wang Zhuo, the master of the Prosperous Dynasty—who had been the center of attention that day, actually took the idea to heart. While others dared not covet the status of a British princess, he genuinely had no shortage of money. If he desired it, he dared to seize it!

In truth, everyone had underestimated Wang Zhuo’s capabilities. In their estimation, even if Wang Zhuo had established his own faction, separate from being a representative of the Qin faction’s interests, his net worth was at most a little over ten billion. Being so young, it was improbable he truly held a significant stake in major ventures like Prosperous Dynasty and Dynasty Limitless; there must be hidden shares, phantom equity.

What they didn't know was that Wang Zhuo was indeed independent of the Qin family. Although he appeared labeled as part of the Qin faction, when he chose to be defiant, he wouldn't even bother paying heed to the Qin school’s ledger. As for his assets, a mixture of actual and façade, outsiders couldn't see clearly. But what belonged to him, not a single cent had been given away!

Furthermore, with the unveiling of the "Life Ark," amidst widespread external skepticism, the Wealth Society members had severely undervalued this asset, which was precisely the cash cow Wang Zhuo was cultivating most intensively. In the near future, Dynasty Limitless, now envied by countless people and lauded as a business paradigm, would be nothing more than a drop in the ocean compared to the Life Ark!

A decommissioned aircraft carrier, needing conversion to civilian use, with reduced engine propulsion to conserve energy—and with all military instruments stripped out, needing power only for lighting and air conditioning—the cost of maintaining such a vessel was entirely different from maintaining a warship. It might intimidate others, but it wouldn't frighten Wang Zhuo.

Admittedly, building a brand-new civilian ship of the same specifications would be lighter, faster, and cheaper, offering greater comfort in use. But the Royal Princess was like a vintage luxury car. No matter how poor its speed, how "unique" its appearance, or how high its energy consumption, it could not mask its transcendent status and identity!

The British Ministry of Defence had a dedicated website for disposing of surplus military equipment, and this time, the headline slot was occupied by the decommissioned aircraft carrier, the Royal Princess. It was built and commissioned after the Invincible, Illustrious, and Ark Royal, belonging to the Invincible-class carriers. The hull deck spanned two hundred and twenty meters, the beam was thirty-eight meters wide, and the draught was five point eight meters deep.

The ship weighed ten thousand tons of metal, 95% of which was steel—a true behemoth. Wang Zhuo’s women were ecstatic; the reason was that this ship’s deck area surpassed that of the Titanic, and its potential owner was their man, Captain Wang Zhuo!

When women get romantic, what does reason matter?

[Note: The Titanic was 269 meters long and 28 meters wide, exceeding the length of the Invincible-class carrier, but it was too narrow, resulting in a smaller actual deck area. Moreover, aircraft carriers have minimal internal fittings, providing vast space, unlike cruise ships cluttered with luxurious cabins and massive smokestacks.]

Placing an order on the website required specific procedures, with viewings scheduled for a Saturday and Sunday at the end of February, followed by an auction in mid-March.

The end of February was about a month and a half away, plenty of time. Wang Zhuo began scouting major military websites, hoping to find a few civilian experts to join him in this venture.

His idea was simple: if he ultimately decided against buying it, or failed to secure it, it would simply become a themed tour, allowing some military enthusiasts a chance to share in the excitement.

Before even acquiring the British Princess ship, Guan Yingying had already flown to Hawaii to arrange for beach rentals. The efficiency with which this elder sister handled matters genuinely stunned Wang Zhuo for a moment.

With her departure, Wang Zhuo could no longer enjoy the "double delight" when staying overnight at the Upper East Side elite residences. However, Qi Fei’s thoughtfulness and tenderness made up for this regret.

One evening, the moon was bright and the stars sparse. The pure moonlight streamed through the thin gauze curtains covering the floor-to-ceiling windows, bathing the room in serenity.

Having just concluded a period of tender intimacy, Qi Fei, wrapped in a thin blanket, leaned into Wang Zhuo’s warm embrace.

For some unknown reason, she sighed softly and spoke languidly, "Lately, I don't know why, but when I’m with you, I always feel like something is missing."

"Missing what?" Wang Zhuo’s large hand moved comfortably over her smooth hips.

"Do you think there might be something wrong with me?" Qi Fei asked with a touch of melancholy. "Why haven't I been able to conceive? Should I go see a doctor?"

"There’s no need," Wang Zhuo smiled faintly. He knew Qi Fei’s physical condition better than she or any doctor; she was perfectly fine; it was simply a matter of fate not having arrived yet.

Qi Fei pouted slightly, "But I keep feeling like something isn't right..."

"Of course something isn't right," Wang Zhuo teased with a knowing smile. "I know the reason. Want me to tell you?"

Qi Fei blinked her bright eyes and nodded.

"Look, think about how we used to do things," Wang Zhuo chuckled wickedly. "Since we decided on having a baby, you haven't made my essence facial mask anymore, have you? And certainly no oral consumption, right? If the belly isn't full, of course, you’ll feel something is missing!"

"You little hooligan..." Qi Fei playfully pinched his arm, half-laughing, half-crying. It didn't hurt; it felt soft and rather comforting.

"I have an idea," Wang Zhuo said with a gentle smile. "Let’s ease up on the jewelry business for Prosperous Dynasty. Don't spend too much effort on it from now on."

"Why?" Qi Fei asked, puzzled.

Wang Zhuo stroked her slightly damp hair, as if petting a docile kitten. "For you and our future child. I know you don't want to be a full-time mother; you still love the jade industry. That’s fine; no matter how wealthy we become, we will never abandon these businesses. Consider them your hobby."

Qi Fei was silent for a moment, then suddenly chuckled softly. "Before I started working, I thought if I could engage in an industry I loved, that would be the happiest thing in life. Then, this wish came true. I then thought, well, if I could work in a beloved field while also making money and getting rich, that would be even better. That wish also quickly came true with your help. Now, you're helping me fulfill my third wish: being able to pursue my designs freely, without worrying about commercial factors or whether it makes money."

"From now on, none of our precious pieces will ever be sold; we’ll keep them all for our collection," Wang Zhuo said with mock pride. "In a few decades, when you're an old lady, won't it be imposing to be known in the circles as the Queen of Jade?"

Qi Fei smiled faintly. "And you? What will you be like then? Will you have a nickname?"

"I'll have a nickname too: the husband of the Queen of Jade," Wang Zhuo grinned, shifting his body slightly, and whispered, "Come here, baby, wrap yourself around your husband."

It was the end of the month, another weekend, and the air was filled with the atmosphere of the approaching New Year.

Fine snowflakes drifted down from the sky; as soon as they touched the ground, they quickly melted into tiny, glistening beads of water, moistening the dry earth before evaporating into the arid air.

Qin Xue finally entered the hospital for surgery. After Wang Zhuo’s mysterious diagnosis that day, he had initially intended to dismiss it. However, Wang Zhuo’s critique of him as "stubbornly self-opinionated" struck a chord. Coupled with persuasion from his daughter, Qin Siqing, he underwent a comprehensive health check.

The tumor, the size of a peanut kernel, was hidden between the two kidneys and would ordinarily have been difficult to detect. However, the medical examinations for a national leader of Qin Xue's stature were certainly treated differently than those for common citizens. Furthermore, Qin Xue had mentioned experiencing abdominal pain. These factors combined meant that after one X-ray failed to confirm anything, a second examination finally revealed the small tumor.

This time, Qin Xue was completely convinced. Wang Zhuo wasn't a divine doctor, but he had repeatedly made astonishing diagnoses of easily overlooked ailments. One instance might be coincidence, but multiple times suggested real capability!

What troubled him was the doctor's assessment: it was a benign tumor. Removing it required surgery and recuperation, leading to a halt in his work; but not removing it meant it might grow, develop, and turn malignant.

Such a tiny thing, shaped like a cashew nut, had troubled Qin Xue for days. In fact, it was the exact dilemma Wang Zhuo had faced when discovering the tumor; Wang Zhuo had actually hesitated for quite a while that day, unsure whether to tell him.

However, Wang Zhuo had learned the technique of 'pushing'—throwing the problem back to Qin Xue and washing his hands of it. Qin Xue, however, had to make the decision himself. After consulting with his wife, they reported the situation to Zhongnanhai. Upon receiving instructions, he checked into the hospital.

The fame of "Divine Doctor Wang" thus entered the ears of the great leaders for the second time. They were no longer unfamiliar with this young man. Dynasty Limitless was already a commercial miracle, and the "Angel" who cured the Mad Mosquito Disease stood high above that miracle. Though the leaders were busy with state affairs, they had certainly heard of this genius who repeatedly commanded attention, and great attention at that.

Qin Xue’s hospitalization was communicated to Wang Zhuo by Qin Siqing in a phone call. Besides that, she brought an unexpected message: "My father said, concerning the Yang family son-in-law, handle that aspect with caution."

Wang Zhuo blinked, asking in surprise, "Your words make no sense. When did I ever intend to deal with Liu Jieming?"

"I knew it," Qin Siqing giggled. "My father overestimated your informational reach. I was right about you."

Seeing her talking to herself, Wang Zhuo urged her, trying to suppress his exasperation, "Just tell me what's going on, Young Miss!"

Qin Siqing then explained, "Let me put it simply. You know, after the leadership reshuffle last year, there were some adjustments in the core circle. The Yang family got pushed a bit further from that core circle. Now that things have settled down..."

"Then I understand," Wang Zhuo grasped the point immediately. "Their backing isn't as strong, so the Yang family naturally sinks. Your father means to tell me that the time to act has come, right?"

"My father didn't say that!" Qin Siqing huffed. "He's just stating his position, telling you that you can do what you want to do."

"An eye for an eye, settling old scores, right?" Wang Zhuo said with a dark chuckle. "But I feel like your father has some intentions regarding the Yang family, or perhaps some people above are planning a move and using me as a pawn?"

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