"Guess! Guess again!" Miao Hanfu laughed happily. "Won't you be telling me once more about that particularly kind person who paid for everything, won't you?" Gao Ruolan speculated. "Not about Mom at all! It's something wonderful about *you*!" Miao Hanfu gazed fondly at her daughter's refined features. "Me?" Gao Ruolan couldn't believe it, saying, "Mom, please don't be joking—what could I possibly have to celebrate?" "Look at what's arranged in the courtyard," Miao Hanfu suggested. "Oh!" Gao Ruolan immediately ran toward the courtyard and saw a brand-new Jiaan Tai electric bicycle—specifically the long-distance running model, capable of traveling up to 120 kilometers on a single charge. This very model had always been her dream! Now it stood right in her own home. "Mom, how did this bicycle arrive?" Gao Ruolan couldn't hide her joy. She wiped the bicycle over and over again, saying. "Today someone came to deliver something, and I thought he had made a mistake. He said it was for you, that you'd attended a dance event and won first prize! That's the gift!" Miao Hanfu said excitedly. "Oh! Mom, I remember now!" Gao Ruolan gently brushed aside her long hair that had been covering her eyes and said, "Actually, this award wasn't something I earned myself. You know I'm not good at dancing—he taught me, and it was because of him that I won!" "He? Who is he?" Miao Hanfu became instantly enthusiastic and insisted on finding out. Gao Rulan blushed and said, "He's just a classmate!" Miao Hanfu knew her daughter well and didn't press further. Lunch time arrived, and Dad Gao Caisheng came back, dusted all over, wearing a plain, slightly worn work uniform, and with oil stains all over his hands. A family of three is having dinner while watching TV. Gao Ruolan looks deeply preoccupied, which makes Miao Hanyu and Gao Caisheng feel a bit unusual. When they ask about her school life, Gao Ruolan stammers, "It's great! It's great!" At this moment, Gao Caisheng is intently focused on the TV, excitedly clapping his legs, saying, "The luxury cruise 'Coconut Fragrance Princess'—a seaside voyage! Watching the sunrise from the sea! Your school's standards are truly impressive—mostly noble students are signing up. A single ticket costs 10,000 yuan. My current car-washing salary is only 600 yuan per month, and I'm working so hard!" "Don't you dare mention it. If our daughter really wants to go, I'll borrow money no matter what—I'll personally help her raise the full 10,000 yuan!" Miao Hanyu picks up the conversation. "Mom, the exams are just two weeks away. I really don't want to go on that seaside cruise!" Gao Ruolan, aware of the family's financial situation, speaks thoughtfully and respectfully. Miao The day of the luxury cruise ship, the Coconut Princess, has finally arrived. Gao Ruolan, all by herself, locked herself in her room, staring at the stack of assignment books Gao Liang had thrown at her, clenched her teeth, and said, "This is the last time!" Then, picking up her beloved taekwondo DVD, she said, "I'll make a copy and return it to the unlucky one!" While speaking to herself, her phone rang. After a moment's hesitation, she answered—it was Xue Le Tao calling, saying, "Rulan, are you ready? We're about to leave!" "Go ahead! I'm doing my homework—I'm not going!" Gao Ruolan firmly declined. "Not going?" Xue Le Tao's surprised voice came through the phone, saying, "The school just confirmed the sponsorship spot today—how could you have given it up?" "Really? Really!" Gao Ruolan exclaimed, leaping up with excitement, cheering, "Great! Great! I'm coming right now!" "After that, she quickly sorted and folded several of her personal garments. Seeing this, Miao Hanfu and Gao Caisheng asked, "Liu Lan, what's so joyful about you?" Gao Rulan, beaming with happiness, pointed to the news feed showing the luxury cruise ship, the "Coconut Princess," sailing smoothly across the sea. Gao Caisheng immediately understood and exclaimed, "Our Liu Lan is truly lucky!" Miao Hanfu was equally delighted. Gao Rulan hummed a popular song as she boarded her brand-new electric bicycle and set off. "Let's go see the sea! Let's go see the sea!" she excitedly sang. At the Xiu Ying Port Ferry Terminal on the coast of Hanhai City, the "Coconut Princess" luxury cruise ship was moored at a spacious dock. This is a large, modern luxury cruise ship imported from abroad, capable of accommodating passenger cars, tourists, and cargo. It can carry approximately 800 passengers, 130 passenger vehicles, and several tons of non-hazardous cargo. The ship is 140 meters long and about 22 meters wide, equivalent in size to eight basketball courts. It sails at a speed of 20 nautical miles per hour. With five decks and 580 luxurious suites, the vessel features reading lounges with panoramic views, large-screen projectors, a music bar, a karaoke and music-dance hall, and a gaming center. On board, there are fully equipped dining rooms, guest rooms, a supermarket, and observation decks. Simply sipping a cup of coffee through the window, enjoying the endless sea, fresh sunlight, and sea breeze—what a delightful experience! Students from Saint Dorothy Mary Business School gather like waves, flowing toward the luxurious "Coconut Princess" cruise ship. They cheerfully board the vessel, rush to the deck, bask in the clear blue sky and white clouds, breathe in the cool sea breeze, and jump and dance with excitement. High Ruolan arrives at the Xiu Ying Port ferry terminal, only five minutes before departure. She hurries forward in a rush, only to collide with someone ahead, knocking their acoustic guitar to the ground. "Sorry! Sorry!" Gao Ruolan quickly apologized, picking up her violin. "It's all right—just be a little more careful from now on!" The girl was elegant, like a princess, receiving the violin with graceful movements. "Mr. Liang! It's you!" Gao Ruolan recognized her immediately—she was Liang Qin Yun, who had performed at the ten-year anniversary celebration. Liang Qin Yun smiled and said, "We're only a few years apart in age—just call me Qin Yun, then!" Gao Ruolan nodded, took over the larger bag that Liang Qin Yun was holding with her right hand, and happily exclaimed, "Qin Yun, the ship is sounding its horn—we should hurry and get on board!" With that, the two quickened their pace and headed toward the ship. After the "Coconut Princess" luxury cruise ship sounded its horn, it set sail, heading steadily into the deep blue sea. Gao Ruolan, Liang Qin Yun, Xia Le Tao, Zhang Xiaoli, and Chen Yanling gathered together, and all of them were delighted. Under High Ruolan's introduction, everyone started calling one after another "Qin Yun," and Liang Qin Yun also enjoyed being addressed this way. Soon, the five of them became close as sisters. After more than ten hours of sailing, the luxury cruise ship, "Coconut Princess," had entered the deep Pacific. Now, the true clear blue waters and pure skies were unfolding before them. High Ruolan, Liang Qin Yun, Xia Le Tao, Zhang Xiaoli, and Chen Yanling all gathered on the deck, gazing at the sunrise rising gently from the sea surface, waving and clapping their hands in delight: "Wow! What a beautiful sight!" "Look! Those small islands! They're scattered beautifully. What a wonderful place to stay there for a while!" Someone's voice came from the distance. Upon turning, they saw—there the F4 group had appeared! It was Zhao Yuanhang's voice. At that moment, he was intently gazing at those ring-shaped islands in the distance, his heart filled with longing. "You dare to imagine it? Then I'll dare to do it!" "Gao Liang turned to Fan Wei Ze and Zuo Tian Pei and said, 'Why don't we try it?' Both Fan and Zuo nodded. Indeed, the opportunity had arrived. With the waters calm in this area, students on board纷纷 proposed taking small boats to explore the nearby islands. To ensure safety, the captain agreed only to allow them half an hour before returning to the cruise ship. Full of enthusiasm, students quickly took their small boats. The F4 group received one and set off first, heading toward the distant island. Gao Ruolan, Liang Qin Yun, Zhang Xiaoli, and Chen Yanling boarded the same boat. Xia Le Tao, who often felt seasick, stayed behind, observing from the cruise ship's deck. Soon, half an hour passed, and the students returning on the boats began to come back. Gao Liang and Gao Ruolan's group, consisting of four people, were so engrossed in their enjoyment that they had completely forgotten to return. It wasn't until they heard the high-pitched public announcement calling out, 'Return quickly—typhoon is approaching!' that they realized they had missed the deadline. But it was too late—when their two yachts, hesitating and reluctant, were about to return, the typhoon truly arrived, sweeping in with overwhelming force, like waves crashing over the mountains.