"Hey, you haven't said whether you want us or not." After playing around for a while, the girl named Kevin Carter walked over to Jiang Hai, looking at him with a slight frown. Her face was a little sweaty from the playful banter, and though her skin was dark, Jiang Hai could only assume she was blushing, though he couldn't see it clearly.
"You? You guys? Didn't you just say that yourself?" Jiang Hai was momentarily stunned, then replied to her.
"I thought about it. If there's such a nice yacht to ride, it wouldn't be right not to take them with me, so I decided to bring them along. But they don't want any money. Even if it's just for a ride, I'll provide food. I'm the only one making money. What do you think? If you miss this opportunity, you won't get another one," Kevin Carter said seriously, as if Jiang Hai was getting a great deal. Jiang Hai smiled at her playful tone. These girls were really something.
"Hey, beautiful, you're not attracted to our boss, are you? He's young, rich, and handsome—tsk, tsk," Bell-Lester teased, his eyes gliding over her.
"Attracted to him? How is that even possible?" Kevin shot Bell a disdainful look, clearly not impressed.
"Well, since you're not attracted to our boss, you must be interested in me if you want to get on our ship so badly," Bell said, wiping his hair dramatically, clearly enjoying himself.
"Then I still prefer him," Kevin responded without hesitation, turning her head away.
"Haha, thanks," Jiang Hai chuckled, pleased to see Bell getting a dose of his own medicine.
"Hey, you're not interested in me or our boss, so why should we even bother with you?" Bell slapped the table in mock frustration.
"What? Being a guide requires unspoken rules? Maybe once your American identity is known, there'll be plenty of women who want to accompany you for your money, but we don't care about your pocket money. If you really want us to accompany you, it's not impossible. Just take us to the U.S., and we'll go with you!" Kevin's eyes suddenly lit up with the possibility of going to the U.S. However, Jiang Hai chuckled to himself—he wasn't interested in women with clearly marked price tags.
"Forget it, I don't plan to take you to the U.S. just yet. But if you want to be a guide, we can discuss it. Tell me your price," Jiang Hai said, lightly tapping the table to get her attention.
Upon hearing this, other guests in the restaurant couldn't help but sigh. They all knew that being a guide for these Americans was a good gig. Not only did you get to ride on a big boat, but you also ate well. And most importantly, these Americans were generous, especially this young guy. Anyone who could afford such a nice yacht had to be loaded. However, the girls had already snatched up the business.
"I just said that even if the three of them were going out for fun, I'd only charge... one hundred—no, fifty dollars," Kevin said seriously, making eye contact with Jiang Hai.
Jiang Hai rubbed his chin thoughtfully. Fifty dollars? Not cheap, but not outrageous either.
"I'm fine with fifty dollars, but there's a catch. I don't know if you're bluffing me. If we go out tomorrow and catch a lot of fish, not only will I pay you fifty, but I'll make it one hundred. But if we're not satisfied..." Jiang Hai trailed off, letting the implication hang in the air.
"Then I don't want the fifty dollars either," Kevin replied with a dismissive wave of her hand, unfazed. After all, even if she didn't make any money, she'd still get to go on the boat—so it was a pretty sweet deal.
Jiang Hai didn't bother to argue with the girl. He simply smiled and nodded in agreement.
"I'll come to your boat at six in the morning tomorrow. Don't oversleep, or we won't catch any big fish," Kevin said with a grin, giving a quick wink to the other three girls at her table before tossing a few dollars on the table to cover her meal. Then, she hurried off.
Jiang Hai smiled at the scene. He was just helping someone out.
"Boss, do you like them?" Bell smirked, noticing Jiang Hai's smile.
"I like you," Jiang Hai shot back with a middle finger, and continued to wait. Not long after, half of the cooked fish was served.
As the waiter had explained earlier, most of the food here is prepared in four ways—stewed, roasted, boiled, and fried. This half fish was substantial, so it was cooked in all four methods.
Although the presentation was a little strange, the taste was acceptable, aside from the slight fishy odor.
Puerto Rican cuisine blends South American and American flavors—Americans prefer sweet and sour dishes, while South Americans favor sweet and spicy. As a result, these fish dishes were all a mix of sour, sweet, and spicy flavors. Though unusual, the dishes had their own unique appeal. After eating, they packed up the remaining fish to take back to the ship for Azarina and the others.
Afterward, they didn't head back to the ship immediately. Instead, they went for a walk around town, as there were still things they needed to buy.
The head of the fuel guard had said they could refuel at the dock, but they still needed to prepare other essentials, such as fresh water, local fruits, cocoa, and beer.
Sailing on the sea can be quite boring, and the consumption of these items is substantial since there's really not much to do. With no internet or Wi-Fi available, Jiang Hai did have satellite TV, but it could only show regular programming. In moments of downtime, having a drink on the boat was a great way to pass the time, so Jiang Hai and his friends often found themselves consuming a lot of alcohol.
During their time in Puerto Rico, they spent quite a bit of money.
After buying what they needed, they arrived at the only bar in town. As soon as they entered, they were greeted by a cacophony of noise—not from music, but from the boisterous crowd.
Unlike the curiosity they'd received in the restaurant, people in the bar paid them little attention, continuing their loud conversations. The bar was small and crowded with sweaty individuals, some bragging, others flirting with the girls nearby. The smell of nicotine and sweat filled the air. Among the men were several young women, who didn't seem bothered by the odors and seemed to enjoy the attention. If they liked someone, they might even stay with them overnight.
Jiang Hai wasn't particularly interested in the scene but noticed that the bar was well-stocked, so he made his way to the counter.
"What can I get you?" the bartender asked with a thick accent, rolling his tongue as he mixed drinks.
"Two of your best wines," Jiang Hai replied, smiling as he placed a fifty-dollar bill next to the glass. He had seen the sign behind the bartender stating that the best wine cost twelve dollars a glass, so the extra amount was for a tip. The bartender smiled broadly and started mixing the drinks.
"Boss, the girls here are hot!" Bell-Lester, who had been scanning the room, sat next to Jiang Hai with an excited grin. Bell was a self-proclaimed nightclub prince and had a high recognition factor.
"Doesn't matter how hot they are, just don't get into trouble," Jiang Hai warned, noticing that Bell had no intention of returning to the ship that night. However, with Bell's skills, Jiang Hai wasn't too concerned.
"Don't worry, boss," Bell replied, his face lighting up at Jiang Hai's approval. By now, the bartender had mixed two glasses of wine and placed them on the bar. Bell grabbed one and quickly made his way toward a group of girls.
"Hey, ladies, are you playing Landlord?" Bell called out, his voice full of enthusiasm.
Jiang Hai had taught Darlene and the others how to play Landlord, and somehow, the game had spread among his friends at the manor. But it was clear that Puerto Rico hadn't caught on to it yet.
"Wow, I'm really interested in what you're playing. Can you teach me?" One of the girls responded. Bell, feigning embarrassment, pretended to be shy, though he was clearly enjoying the attention.
The girls, charmed by the American "handsome" guy, eagerly pulled him in, intrigued by the game Bell was pretending to teach them.