THE BLUE ROOM

Ling Li effortlessly kept them afloat, allowing Four Eyes to breathe through his snorkel as she guided him through the water. With Four Eyes holding onto Ling Li's waist and her arm supporting him, they moved smoothly, with Ling Li as the only one wearing fins, giving her the ability to navigate. Ling Li swam purposefully with Four Eyes, eager to catch up with one of the magnificent whale sharks.

Rockie was taken aback by the sight of Ling Li carrying Four Eyes in her arms, trailing behind them. His Madam could have let him do it, but 'why would she personally do this with this man?' Rockie wondered.

Four Eyes were overjoyed to witness the majesty of the whale shark and the diverse marine life beneath the ocean's surface. It was his first experience swimming in the sea, and he found himself immersed in its depths.

'Incredible! I definitely need to learn how to swim,' Four Eyes thought to himself. Despite his friends' previous encouragements, he had always dismissed the idea. Now, however, he was certain that he had been missing out on so much.

After an exhilarating swim with the majestic whale sharks and a mesmerizing encounter with a diverse array of vibrant fish and enchanting corals, the entire group made their way back to their designated boats; they made their journey back to the island.

"Thank you," Four Eyes graciously expressed his gratitude to Ling Li.

Ling Li responded with a nod and a warm smile, unable to shake the feeling of being charmed by Four Eyes. "Why do I find this man so charming? I couldn't even meet his gaze. Dang!" Ling Li scolded herself in frustration.

"We'll meet for lunch in an hour," Ling Li announced to the group.

With that, they all dispersed to freshen up. Ling Li turned to find Four Eyes following behind her.

"Your belongings have been moved to the second floor," Ling Li informed him.

Four Eyes bowed in appreciation, his expression conveying his gratitude, yet he remained silent.

As the group entered the castle, they were taken aback to see Four Eyes following closely behind Ling Li as they climbed the stairs to the second floor.

Pharsa's commanding voice echoed through the grand hall as she announced the unexpected news, "He was given access to the blue room."

Pharsa's words seemed to shock the crowd, frozen in disbelief. For years, they had frequented this place, but the second floor had always been off-limits. And now, the privilege to spend the night in the elusive blue room was never bestowed upon them.

"Move it! Move it!" Pharsa's voice and persistent clapping, urging everyone to move, broke the stunned silence that had enveloped the room.

Meanwhile, El Padre muttered a remark under his breath, expressing his astonishment and perhaps a tinge of frustration. "Dammed luck!"

The Russian President, with a triumphant smile, raised his hand in a victorious gesture, "Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!" As if he had just hit the jackpot on a slot machine, bringing forth a chorus of laughter from the assembled guests.

Following a shared lunch, Ling Li informed the group of her unavoidable absence for the rest of the day, "I will have several video conferences to attend; I won't be able to attend to you for the rest of the day. Please feel free to do anything and just let Mushu and Pharsa know whatever you need."

Ling Li encouraged them to make the most of their time and assured them that Mushu and Pharsa were at their disposal for any assistance.

As the delightful aroma of the traditional Chinese meal wafted through the room, "Ling, I need to leave after this meal. If your son hadn't informed me of your accident, I might not have had the pleasure of seeing you for such a long time. You naughty one," Shinsei sweetly murmured.

"Forgive me, Shinsei. I promise to make an effort to visit you more frequently and bring Pharsa along with me," Ling Li responded apologetically.

"Absolutely, I'll be eagerly awaiting the two of you. You're missed by everyone there," Shinsei calmly replied.

"Madam, I must also take my leave. You're aware of how much I have on my plate," the Chinese President explained.

"Who doesn't know how much you have on your plate? Just take a look at your waist! Everyone can tell!" the Russian President quipped, prompting laughter from everyone once again.

"Your presence here has been deeply appreciated, and the time you've spent means a lot. You should head back now," Ling Li politely expressed.

"Are you thanking me yet again? Oh, my, my eyes are welling up with tears," the Chinese President joked once more.

As the sun began to set over the horizon, amidst the grandeur of the castle, it was like a gathering of world leaders was taking place. The Russian President, with a serious look on his face, uttered the words, "I can leave tomorrow." His statement was met with agreement from the Cuban President, who nodded and said, "Me too."

Elegantly dressed, the Chinese President turned to Madam, offering words of comfort and support. "Keep Madam company for a while," he said, "As I have said, Madam, recover and leave this place. Call if you need anything." With a polite bow, he then left the castle, followed by Shinsei.

Meanwhile, Ling Li gracefully excused herself from the group, stating that she needed to return to work. The two Presidents, El Padre, and El Capitan, decided to indulge in a game of poker, their laughter echoing through the halls.

Not too far away, Rockie, following Madam Li's instructions, approached Four Eyes. "Master, I'm Rockie," he began, "Madam Li has asked me to teach you how to swim. We have an indoor pool in the castle."

Four Eyes, realizing that this may be part of Ling Li's plan for him to swim in the ocean in the future, nodded in understanding and obediently followed Rockie.

Fatty and Chatty jolted with surprise, their eyes widening in confusion. "Where are you heading off to?" Chatty inquired, his voice filled with curiosity as he and Fatty trailed behind Four Eyes.

As always, Four Eyes remained enigmatic, with a penchant for brevity. He only spoke when necessary, leaving his friends in the dark about his intentions.