Sean Kerr did not reach for the mirror.
The mirror fell onto Sean Kerr, crashed to the floor, and instantly broke in two.
At that moment, the other men and women, half-asleep, all woke up, looking at Rona Muir and Sean Kerr with confused expressions, not knowing what had happened.
Joe Qi sensed the tense atmosphere and immediately pulled Rona Muir and Cecilia Gu away, saying to Sean Kerr, 'Look at how messy you are. Go change your clothes quickly. Don't catch a cold.'
Cecilia Gu let out a sigh. "You two go ahead and talk. I'm stepping out for some air."
Cecilia Gu couldn't help but ask, 'By the way, Joe Qi, when did you come to S City? I remember you attended a big movie ribbon-cutting just a few days ago, didn't you?'
Joe Qi chuckled, 'Yeah, I was just looking for some actors for the film.'
Cecilia Gu shot him a look, 'Is this how you pick actors?'
Joe Qi replied indifferently, 'These people all want to break into showbiz. I don't mind giving a few newcomers a chance, you know.'
Cecilia Gu and Rona Muir both shook their heads wordlessly and left with Joe Qi.
Sean Kerr stood there, looking completely disheveled.
At this point, he gradually calmed down and sobered up. Without another word, he turned and went to change his clothes.
The tension between them faded, and both calmed down.
Without any hesitation, Sean Kerr pushed the woman away.
'Get lost.' Sean Kerr spat coldly, then turned and went back to his cabin, quickly showered off the smell of alcohol, and changed into clean clothes.
When Sean Kerr reappeared before everyone, he seemed to have regained his gentlemanly image.
Joe Qi saw Sean Kerr return and immediately breathed a sigh of relief. 'It's all yours now. I'm going to shower! I can't stand it anymore!'
Sean Kerr nodded, 'I'll send those people away.'
Joe Qi was stunned for a moment, then nodded. 'Good, send them away. Let's rest for a couple of days.'
With that, Joe Qi patted Sean Kerr on the shoulder and turned to leave.
After Joe Qi left, Sean Kerr sat down directly across from Cecilia Gu and Rona Muir, took out a lighter and was about to light a cigarette.
The flame flickered, but he suddenly stopped, remembering that Rona Muir was pregnant. He quickly extinguished the flame and tossed the lighter into the water outside.
Snap—the expensive lighter worth tens of thousands was thrown away just like that.
"So for this showdown, I want you to give it your all. Let me see if I can stand on my own without you, Sean Kerr." Rona's eyes burned with determination. "All these years, so many people have doubted me—they say I only became Vice President of Odyssey Corporation because of you! Now I want to prove myself. If you keep drifting like this, how can I prove anything?"
Without waiting for a response, Cecilia Gu stood up and took Michelle Hirayama, who was about to join the fun, with her.
'Cici, why are you stopping me?' Michelle Hirayama protested. 'I'm supposed to watch my aunt for my uncle!'
'You should just worry about yourself,' Cecilia Gu replied. 'That's between them, let's not get involved.'
'So why are we even here?' Michelle Hirayama asked. 'We can't just be here for fun, right?'
"Deal." Sean Kerr nodded. "Since you're here, why not relax for the day? It's getting late, and heading back now would be risky."
Before Michelle could protest, Cecilia Gu dragged her away.
Now, only Sean Kerr and Rona Muir were left.
The tension between them faded; both had calmed down.
'So, what do you want?' Sean Kerr finally broke the silence. 'Did my mom send you?'
Rona Muir sighed, 'I came on my own.'
Sean Kerr looked at Rona Muir in surprise. 'I thought you didn't care about me anymore...'
Rona Muir's eyes flickered, unable to meet his gaze. She said softly, 'No matter what my status is, I want you to be well. Even if you don't like Molly Mao, even if you don't want to go home, it's fine. I just don't want to see you ruin your health. Sean, even if we go back to where we started, back to when I graduated high school, I still... hope you'll be okay.'
'Be okay?' Sean Kerr gave a bitter smile. 'What does that even mean? Am I supposed to just follow the path others have mapped out for me?'
'Cici, do you really think Sean Kerr has lost his way?' Joe Qi laughed heartily.
'What do you mean?' Cecilia Gu frowned. 'If this isn't losing his way, then what is?'
'Silly child! You call this losing his way?' Joe Qi burst out laughing. 'Let me tell you something—a true family heir doesn't fall that easily!'
Rona Muir laughed too, then said seriously, 'Honestly, I'm really treating Jolene as my competitor in this contest! I don't want to win unfairly. Sean, we've worked together for years—we know each other's strengths and values.'
Sean Kerr nodded in agreement.
'So, for this battle, I want you to go all out. Let me see if I can stand on my own without you, Sean Kerr.' Rona's eyes burned with determination. 'For years, people have doubted my abilities. They say I only became Vice President of Odyssey Corporation because of you! Now I want to prove myself! If you keep slacking off, how can I prove anything?'
No wonder when she called Charles Yin about coming to Summerville, he laughed meaningfully on the other end.
'So, you came here to reignite my fighting spirit so we could have a proper competition?' Sean Kerr smiled lightly.
Rona Muir just smiled without answering.
'Alright, I admit—your way of persuading people really is special.' Sean Kerr loosened a button on his collar, his Adam's apple bobbing. 'Since it's your wish, how could I not help you achieve it? Don't worry, Jolene will enter Newport City with a whole new look, spreading nationwide. I'm looking forward to Jolene's battle with Danni.'
'Deal?' Rona Muir smiled at Sean Kerr.
Cecilia Gu laughed too. 'Well, at least I'm relieved. As long as Sean Kerr hasn't truly lost his way, it's fine.'
Joe Qi shook his head. "That's hard to say. He hasn't truly fallen because he doesn't have the courage. Because Rona Muir hasn't given up on him yet. But the day Rona gives up on him, that's when he'll really lose his way."
Cecilia Gu sat down with Michelle Hirayama in front of Joe Qi.
Joe Qi had showered and changed, and poured drinks for Cecilia Gu and Michelle Hirayama.
Though Joe Qi was in his forties, his charming and debonair image was still impressive.
Thanks to good self-care, he looked barely in his thirties, which made him very attractive to those in the entertainment industry who wanted to climb the ranks.
Cecilia Gu held her wine glass and asked, 'You know why we're here, right?'
Joe Qi chuckled, 'If I didn't, I'd be an idiot! Charles Yin called me and said you were coming, so I already knew.'
Cecilia Gu raised an eyebrow at Joe Qi.
'Cici, do you really think Sean Kerr is depraved?' Joe Qi laughed heartily.
'What do you mean?' Cecilia Gu frowned. 'If this isn't depravity, then what is?'
'Silly child! You call this depravity?' Joe Qi burst out laughing. 'Let me tell you something—a true family heir doesn't fall that easily!'
'What do you mean?' Cecilia Gu felt like she was about to uncover a big secret.
'Sean Kerr has his reasons for acting this way,' Joe Qi analyzed. 'First, he makes it clear this is a political marriage—he and Molly Mao have no emotional foundation. That way, he's prepared for any future changes. Second, his seemingly decadent lifestyle is his way of protesting the Kerr Family's scheme. The one who set him up was his own family, his mother—he can't say or do anything directly, but he can hurt himself. Third, if he didn't act this way, would you and Rona Muir have come?'
After hearing these three points, Cecilia Gu's eyes widened in shock.
No wonder when she called Charles Yin about coming to S City, he laughed meaningfully on the other end.
So that's how it is!
'Sean Kerr's one of us. You've underestimated him.' Joe Qi continued, 'Alright, don't worry. I'm sure they're almost done talking over there. The weather's perfect—time for a feast. It's impossible for you to head back tonight, especially with Rona Muir pregnant. Just stay on the boat tonight. Relax, I've had everything cleaned. There's a boat that's never been used—you can stay there.'
Cecilia Gu finally believed Joe Qi. 'So you two planned this! We were all fooled by you!'
Joe Qi laughed for a long time.
Cecilia Gu laughed too. 'Well, at least I'm relieved. As long as Sean Kerr isn't truly depraved, it's fine.'
Joe Qi shook his head. 'That's hard to say. He hasn't fallen because he doesn't have the courage. Because Rona Muir hasn't given up on him yet. But the day Rona gives up, that's when he'll really fall.'
'For example?' Cecilia Gu asked cautiously.
'For example, me...' Joe Qi's eyes darkened as he gave Cecilia Gu a meaningful look. 'I'll tell you my story another day.'
Cecilia Gu's eyes trembled—she instantly understood what he meant.
He and Vivian Jiang really are...
A doomed relationship.
'Alright, the boat should be ready. Let's go eat.' Joe Qi smiled. 'Eating on the boat while watching the sunset is actually pretty nice.'