The luxury yacht lingered in sight for a moment before quickly speeding away. At first glance, Irene suspected the ubiquitous paparazzi, but it soon sailed off, dispelling her concern.

On the golden beach, the sound of the tide remained, the sea washing over the sand and shell fragments with a soft rustle. Irene smoothed her golden hair, blown messy by the sea breeze, and sat gazing at the ocean, her mind blissfully empty.

Perhaps only in this way could she temporarily forget all her troubles and think of nothing. Beyond the sun quietly shifting its angle of illumination, there was no other sense of time here.

After an unknown length of time, Irene seemed to hear the sound of footsteps on the sand, coming from her left. Was it Mom foraging by the tide?

Or her sister searching for pretty stones? She casually twisted her chin, which rested on her knees, and looked to the left.

Then, she froze completely. It was a tall young man, his skin possessing a healthy, sun-kissed hue, his height exceeding the Asian average, his build balanced and strong, a look of calm composure smiling on his face.

He strolled leisurely along the beach, dressed in classic tourist attire for Hawaii, and when he saw her notice him, he even waved. Wang Zhuo?

How had he found this place?! Irene’s eyes widened in astonishment.

In mere seconds, Wang Zhuo was before her, hands on his hips, standing on the lower stretch of sand, smiling without speaking. “How did you find me here?” Irene had a thousand words she wanted to say, but unconsciously asked only this unimportant question.

“If you want to be found, I can find you,” Wang Zhuo said with a smile. “So, here I am.” Irene opened her mouth, momentarily speechless.

“How have you been?” Wang Zhuo asked, simultaneously shifting his weight to sit down opposite her. Irene was perched on a slight rise in the sand, at a higher elevation.

By sitting lower down, Wang Zhuo’s figure was perfectly shielded from view by Irene. If one were looking from the seaside villa, they wouldn't see that someone else was now with her.

“Terrible,” Irene managed a strained smile. “I’ve been too ashamed to show my face, which is why I hid in this remote little place.

Even my family has been dragged into this mess.” Wang Zhuo nodded slightly, taking in the sight of the blonde girl again, recalling every small moment they had shared. Seeing the worry clouding her brow filled him with tenderness.

“What are your plans now?” “Absolutely no clue,” Irene shrugged with a bitter smile. “Maybe I’ll just keep hiding until everyone forgets about me, and then I’ll go back.” Wang Zhuo smiled faintly and shook his head.

Irene prompted, “Tell me about yourself?” “Me? I’m doing fine,” Wang Zhuo grinned.

“Several adult novelty companies have released lifelike dolls modeled after me. I dare not go into public showers or restrooms now for fear of being recognized.

Paparazzi from all over the world are swarming my turf, collecting news about me, and some old videos of mine on the YouTube site have been dug up, racking up billions of views combined.” “What kind of videos?” Irene asked, surprised. Wang Zhuo chuckled.

“Surveillance footage from fights I got into with other people.” “Oh…” Irene pouted. “It sounds like you’re doing okay, but I’m a disaster.

Still, I feel terrible that I dragged you into this; I’m truly sorry.” “Don’t talk about dragging people into things,” Wang Zhuo calmly shook his head. “I don’t regret it.

If I had known everything that would happen afterward beforehand, I would have done the same thing.” Irene looked confused. “Really?

Why?” Wang Zhuo shrugged carelessly. “Because you are worth the price.” Naturally, when trying to cheer up a girl, one chooses pleasing words.

Wang Zhuo’s hypothetical scenario was just that—a hypothetical. Since the events had already occurred, there was no way to redo them, so whatever he said held its own logic; he just needed to say what Irene wanted to hear.

Sweet talk costs nothing, but sometimes it is far more effective than lavish displays of affection. Indeed, Irene was instantly moved, her voice trembling with emotion.

“Do you like me?” Wang Zhuo rolled his eyes, giving her a look that clearly implied, Are you kidding me? “Who wouldn’t like an excellent girl like you?

If it weren't so, I wouldn't have rushed all the way from China overnight just to see you.” Irene’s heart immediately filled with emotion and love. These past days, she had been anxious and suspicious, feeling like that one night she had merely been an object of Wang Zhuo’s temporary flirtation, and that after the photo leak, they would part ways and become strangers.

Now, Wang Zhuo’s resolute declaration in person greatly encouraged her. “How did you get here?” Irene asked.

“Remember my Arab friend, Maimun? You met him on the Royal Princess,” Wang Zhuo explained with a smile.

“I flew from China to Osaka, Japan, then borrowed his private jet and flew directly to Happiness Island, which is two hours by sea from here. I took his yacht to reach you.” Irene immediately recalled the yacht she had seen earlier and asked with surprise, “His plane—is it an A380?” Wang Zhuo nodded.

“That’s right. It’s very comfortable to fly in.

He welcomes you to visit the aircraft anytime.” Irene was no naive young girl; she understood the significance of borrowing an A380 to cross the Pacific, and she gasped in amazement. “I never realized your friendship with him was so deep…” Wang Zhuo chuckled, briefly recounting the favor Maimun owed him.

Irene had never discussed such thrilling, forbidden topics with a man before, and soon her cheeks flushed, revealing the shy demeanor of a young woman. They chatted easily, like old friends catching up, and no one disturbed them; this stretch of blue sea and sky was their exclusive territory.

“Have you envisioned your future?” Wang Zhuo asked. “Of course, I have, but it’s impossible to realize now,” Irene replied with a trace of melancholy, her voice carrying undeniable disappointment.

Wang Zhuo smiled and asked, “Oscar winner? Or the highest-paid actress in Hollywood?” Irene pouted, clearly implying both.

Wang Zhuo nodded in understanding, then calmly asked, “Then why don’t you guess what future I envision for myself?” Irene blinked her bright, azure eyes. “Becoming the richest man in the world?” “If we don't count those with hidden wealth, I already am,” Wang Zhuo waved his hand with a smile.

“Zuckerberg and Gates, they can’t compare to me.” Admiration shone in Irene’s eyes. “You have higher ambitions?” Wang Zhuo raised his eyebrows, rummaged in his pocket, and pulled out an egg-sized globe keychain.

“If this globe represents the Earth,” Wang Zhuo placed the small sphere in his palm and slowly closed his fingers around it, “then this is my goal.” To control the entire world? Irene looked at Wang Zhuo, confused, not grasping what that signified.

Wang Zhuo smiled, opening his hand again, allowing the globe to roll back and forth in his palm, and explained, “In ancient times, military men conquered the world by force. In modern times, bankers conquer the world with currency.

Me? I want to grasp the greatest wealth in this world through a gentler path.” “With your medical skills?” Irene’s eyes widened in astonishment, her own worries completely forgotten.

Wang Zhuo nodded slowly. “The weight-loss drug is just my first step.

All my previous research achievements were just warm-ups. Helping Maimun resolve his troubles will be the second step toward achieving my life goal.

Do you believe I can do it?” Irene pondered for a moment, then nodded vigorously. If these words had come from anyone else, she would have dismissed them as empty boasting.

But coming from Wang Zhuo, she couldn't help but believe him. She had come to know this man deeply; if he wanted to, he could become the youngest Nobel laureate in Medicine at any time.

So, what was there he couldn't achieve?! “Perhaps your personal ideals are indeed hard to realize, but we still have mine,” Wang Zhuo gazed into Irene’s blue eyes and said sincerely, “Are you willing to join me and help achieve my ideals?” What moves a girl most is not a bouquet of flowers, an expensive gift, or a solemn promise, but a declaration like this: a shared quest to conquer the world!

Irene’s inner world instantly melted away. Wang Zhuo’s invitation meant ushering her life into an entirely new and unknown realm.

What was an Oscar? What was being Hollywood's top star?

This man’s goal was to put the entire world under his heel! Wang Zhuo’s proclamation might seem childish or ridiculous, but it precisely appealed to a girl of Irene’s age, and he had already demonstrated the capability to back up his bold claims.

Imagine if Lü Bu, astride Red Hare, approached Diao Chan and said, ‘Come, I’ll take you to conquer the world’—what choice would Diao Chan make? Go, or stay?

As Wang Zhuo extended the small globe toward Irene, the girl’s heart surging, she reached out both hands to accept it, clutching it tightly in her palm! “Quickly, leave a note for your family before they notice, and come with me,” Wang Zhuo said, magically producing paper and a pen and handing them to Irene.

“Is this really appropriate?” Irene felt a wave of excitement mixed with hesitation, wondering if this was the legendary elopement. “It’s just a quick trip out, we’ll be back soon,” Wang Zhuo whispered.

“I have a private beach on an island not far from here; I’ve never even visited it.” A private beach wasn't rare, but the kind of private moment for just the two of them was exactly what Irene longed for now. She hesitated no longer, swiftly scribbled a few lines on the paper, found a small pebble to hold it down, and followed Wang Zhuo stealthily to the far end of the beach.

Rounding a cluster of rocks, beneath a coconut tree ahead, a small inflatable raft was tied. Dozens of meters out on the sea, the silver-white luxury yacht they had seen earlier floated quietly.

Irene, thrilled and excited, cast aside all worries, boarded the raft, and paddled toward the blue sea with the man she loved.