"That won't do. We agreed that we would go back. As for you, once you've finished the travel project, we will consider whether to come or not."
Hearing Jiang Hai's words, Feng Yunchen and Ai Lanxi were slightly moved, but Feng Yunchen quickly rejected his suggestion with a smile.
To be honest, at first, Feng Yunchen had never considered falling in love with Jiang Hai—or with his lifestyle.
After all, in her view, men were unreliable. She had come to Jiang Hai more for survival than anything else.
But after spending so much time with him, she realized that Jiang Hai was truly a good man.
Although she couldn't call it love, she genuinely liked him. She liked this man, his attitude, his sensibility, his way of life, and—most importantly—his wealth. In her eyes, Jiang Hai seemed like the perfect lover.
However, the deeply ingrained belief that men were ultimately unreliable kept her from fully surrendering to her emotions.
As for Ai Xiaoxi, she was never meant to stay. She had responsibilities back home, a family to care for. If she had been willing to be someone's lover, she wouldn't have taken this job in the first place.
Right now, she was with Jiang Hai partly because of work, partly because she wanted to be. She treated it as a beautiful dream—one that would end when she returned to China.
Seeing the determination in the two women's eyes, Jiang Hai knew he couldn't change their minds. With nothing left to say, he simply nodded with a smile. For a while, the only sound in the car was the rustling of clothes as they dressed.
Just as the atmosphere grew slightly awkward, Jiang Hai's phone rang.
Glancing at the caller ID, he saw that it was Edward Anderson. Without hesitation, he picked up.
"Hello, Edward. Is the boat ready? I was planning to dig up some seafood later," Jiang Hai said.
"The boat's been ready for a while, boss, but your seafood plans might have to wait. Your yacht has arrived."
Hearing this, Jiang Hai was momentarily stunned. Feng Yunchen and Ai Xiaoxi, sitting beside him, were equally surprised. The three of them had completely forgotten about the yacht.
They say that soft living is the grave of ambition. While Jiang Hai was no hero, he had indeed let this slip his mind over the past few days.
Now, hearing the news, he turned to look at Feng Yunchen and Ai Xiaoxi.
The two women were just as caught off guard. When they first arrived, Jiang Hai had mentioned owning a yacht, but with their busy days of filming and living together, they had forgotten all about it. Now, the mention of the yacht reignited their excitement.
"Do you want to go see it?" Jiang Hai asked with a grin, noticing the excitement in their eyes.
"Of course!" Feng Yunchen answered immediately, while Ai Xiaoxi looked at him expectantly.
Jiang Hai had no objections. Once they finished dressing, he jumped into the driver's seat, stepped on the accelerator, and sped toward the dock.
Even before reaching the dock, Jiang Hai could see his yacht in the distance.
The yacht alone was worth over ten billion yuan. By the time Jiang Hai's car arrived at the dock, the boat had nearly reached shore.
The dock's fishermen couldn't help but gape at the sleek and stunning vessel.
Though not as large as Jiang Hai's fishing boat, the yacht exuded an undeniable sense of luxury. Side by side, it was clear that the yacht belonged to an entirely different league.
"Boss, your boat is incredible," Edward remarked, even he, a seasoned sailor, unable to hide his admiration. Jiang Hai simply smiled in response.
"Can we go on board?" Ai Xiaoxi tugged at Jiang Hai's sleeve, her voice filled with anticipation. It was her first time seeing a yacht, and such a grand one at that.
"Of course! We'll check it out now and take it out to sea tomorrow," Jiang Hai said with a laugh.
Hearing his easy agreement, Ai Xiaoxi beamed. If only Jiang Hai were truly her boyfriend, how wonderful would that be?
As they chatted, the yacht slowly docked. A group of crew members disembarked—those who had delivered the yacht. They looked exhausted after their long journey.
Jiang Hai wasted no time. He and Edward went aboard first to inspect the vessel. After confirming that everything—navigation instruments, appliances, and the hull—was in perfect condition, Jiang Hai signed the paperwork and handed the crew a generous tip of $1,000.
The four crew members were stunned by his generosity. After a week of grueling travel, the unexpected bonus instantly lifted their spirits.
Jiang Hai then arranged for Maren Rupert to transport them by helicopter to a hotel in town for the night, covering their accommodations. After that, their journey was their own responsibility—whether they traveled to Boston and flew home or made other plans, it was no longer Jiang Hai's concern.
Now, Jiang Hai, Ai Xiaoxi, and Feng Yunchen had the yacht to themselves.
For the two women, it was an entirely new experience. Their excitement was palpable as they explored every inch of the luxurious vessel, touching everything with childlike curiosity.
Seeing their enthusiasm, Jiang Hai knew they wouldn't be leaving anytime soon. So, he decided to take advantage of the time and headed into the ocean with Dasha and his wife to collect seafood.
By the time he returned, he had gathered a hefty haul of abalone. Though the two women were starving, they still didn't want to leave the yacht. If not for the promise of a seafood feast, they might have insisted on sleeping on the boat.
However, Jiang Hai wouldn't allow that. The yacht had just arrived and needed thorough cleaning and disinfection. He left that task to Edward while he took the girls home.
Abalone was a rarity in this part of the world. It was primarily found in the Pacific, Indian, and Atlantic Oceans, but Americans and Europeans didn't have much of a tradition of eating it.
On Jiang Hai's property, abalone was even rarer than lobster—at least, it had been before. But since his arrival, he had taken a particular interest in cultivating them.
Instead of purchasing stock, he infused large abalones with his unique spiritual energy, which significantly boosted their growth. He had nearly forgotten about it, but with the arrival of spring, he noticed a sudden surge in their numbers along the coral reef.
The abalones in his waters were premium varieties from Australia and island nations, capable of growing exceptionally large. Those enhanced by Jiang Hai's energy had now reached an astonishing size of nearly one catty.
However, these particular abalones were off-limits—he viewed them as breeding stock. Instead, he gathered smaller ones, each still weighing at least six taels—true two-head abalones, a rare delicacy.
That night, Jiang Hai harvested twenty of them.
While he indulged in the feast, it was clear that Feng Yunchen and Ai Xiaoxi had something else on their minds. They were far more excited about the yacht trip than the meal.
That night, they were too restless to sleep. Instead, they found other ways to entertain themselves—by engaging Jiang Hai in a battle of endurance.
Jiang Hai couldn't even remember when he finally fell asleep. He only recalled a fitful dream that left him feeling somewhat drained the next morning.
Fortunately, his physical strength ensured he was still in high spirits.
Though the yacht required minimal handling, he felt it was safer to bring along someone with boating experience. Neither Feng Yunchen nor Ai Xiaoxi had any knowledge of sailing, so it would be troublesome if something went wrong.
That's when he thought of Afra.
To be honest, after that night, Jiang Hai had been a little wary of her. But when considering who to take, she was the first person who came to mind.
When he called, Afra eagerly accepted the invitation.
With everyone assembled, Jiang Hai gave the order, and the four of them set sail for the open sea.
(To be continued.)