278: Know when to quit while you're ahead

To save time, Yang Qi and Bai Xue only picked out the good fish when removing them from the nets. Fish worth only a few tens of yuan per jin were directly thrown into the fish box to be used as bait later.

Only valuable species like East Star Grouper, Pufferfish, Sesame Grouper, and Wrasse—amounting to about 130-plus fish—were allowed into the live fish hold.

If they could operate a few more rounds with such resources, Yang Qi was confident the hold would soon be full.

However, he also knew conditions wouldn't allow it; they could only make a quick haul and leave.

"Shanshan, come help Xiaoxue; I'll drive the setting sail. Let's get out of here," Yang Qi said loudly when the last Pufferfish was pulled onto the surface of the sea.

"Okay, I'll help Xiaoxue," Yao Shanshan replied loudly.

Yang Qi immediately went to the cockpit to start the setting sail. Fifteen minutes later, the "setting sail" had crossed the reef and appeared outside the atoll.

The "setting sail" continued non-stop past Beiwei Shoal, heading southwest.

After leaving Beiwei Shoal and driving for another two hours, the trio knew they were safe, so the two women began preparing dinner.

They had been so busy fishing and pulling in fish that they had forgotten their hunger and thirst. Now they truly felt their stomachs rumbling.

"Shanshan, first bring my husband a red bull. I'll cook."

"Okay, I'll be back to help you in a bit," Yao Shanshan nodded and said. After speaking, she took two red bulls and walked towards the cockpit.

"Yang Qi, have a red bull first."

"Thank you," Yang Qi said, taking the red bull.

Inside the cockpit, both of them simultaneously opened their red bulls and started drinking.

For a while, neither of them spoke, simply looking out at the boundless deep blue sea through the front windshield.

"Shanshan, you must have worked hard these past two days! It's your first time out at sea, and it's been so intense. Can you adapt?" Yang Qi asked.

"I think I'm doing okay. It's tiring, but it's very fulfilling."

"I want to thank you and Xiaoxue for letting me experience a different kind of life," Yao Shanshan replied.

"No need to thank me. What's there to thank? Didn't you help out too?" Yang Qi said with a smile.

"Didn't you give me a commission? Hehe," Yao Shanshan also laughed.

"All right, I'm going to help Xiaoxue cook."

With that, she walked out of the cockpit.

When Yao Shanshan came to call him for dinner, Yang Qi stopped the setting sail and went to the deck, where he found several large dishes laid out on the table.

There was Wrasse head with chopped chili, Sesame Grouper fish soup, pan-fried fish fillets, and Wrasse slices stir-fried with garlic. There was also the steamed East Star Grouper that Yang Qi insisted on having.

The three sat down and began to enjoy the feast. Indeed, there was a reason for the price; the East Star Grouper fish meat melted in their mouths, leaving a lingering fragrance.

Bai Xue and Yao Shanshan praised it repeatedly, unable to stop eating.

"Thanks to you two big bosses, I couldn't afford this seafood feast on my own," Yao Shanshan said while eating.

"Hey, this is nothing! Why are you thanking us already? In the future, we'll travel the world to eat, enjoying even more exquisite seafood. Sister, you must keep up and not fall behind, okay?" Bai Xue said dismissively.

"Okay, wherever you go in the future, I'll follow. I'll keep pace with you and eat my way around the world with you," Yao Shanshan said with a smile.

"Yes, when the new setting sail is ready, we'll travel the world eating seafood," Yang Qi also began to look forward to it.

Yao Shanshan listened and asked curiously, "How come you two have a new setting sail?"

"Hmm, it's currently under construction and will be delivered in two and a half years," Bai Xue replied.

"You two are truly amazing!" Yao Shanshan exclaimed in admiration.

Bai Xue saw Yang Qi stand up to get drinks. She whispered softly into Yao Shanshan's ear, "Sister, you're amazing too, you're a dairy cow!"

"Ahhh! You stinky girl, are you looking for a beating?"

"Ah! I was wrong, I was wrong, I won't say it again!"

Amidst their playful banter, Yang Qi brought a large bottle of Vitamin C, and the three continued to enjoy dinner.

During dinner, the three decided to take turns driving the setting sail, hoping to reach the Xisha Islands earlier. The first shift would be driven by Yao Shanshan.

During yesterday's journey, Yang Qi had already let Yao Shanshan test drive for a while and found that she had no problems at all.

Now, seeing Yao Shanshan walk into the cockpit, he didn't intervene.

Yang Qi accompanied Bai Xue to clean up, then went to the rest cabin to shower. As he was showering, the door was pushed open, and in came a naked Bai Xue.

"Hubby, I'll scrub your back."

"Or maybe I'll scrub yours!" Yang Qi pulled Bai Xue into his arms, and his hands began to wander... Yang Qi picked up his phone, checked the time, set an alarm, and then embraced Bai Xue, falling into a deep sleep.

When the alarm rang again, Yang Qi immediately turned off the alarm sound, got up, and got dressed.

He took a bottle of drink and went to the cockpit, saying to Yao Shanshan, "Shanshan, you go rest, I'll take over!"

"Okay, then I'll go," Yao Shanshan nodded and said to Yang Qi.

Upon arriving at the rest cabin, Yao Shanshan took a shower. Because she was too tired, she jumped into bed without thinking.

Her hands touched Bai Xue, who was only wearing underwear, and felt her soft body. Only then did she remember that Yang Qi had just slept in this bed.

This was a bit awkward. What should she do?

Just as she was hesitating, the sleeping Bai Xue turned over and hugged her tightly.

Yao Shanshan didn't dare to move now, afraid of waking Bai Xue: "Forget it! Let it be!"

Smelling the faint male pheromone in the bed made Yao Shanshan's heart race.

"Is this what a man smells like? It doesn't seem unpleasant!"

Yao Shanshan slowly fell asleep amidst her wandering thoughts.

Yang Qi drove the setting sail while drinking his beverage.

It wasn't until 4:30 AM that Bai Xue and Yao Shanshan walked out of the rest cabin hand in hand. They told Yang Qi they were going to the flybridge to watch the sunrise.

Yang Qi thought for a moment, then simply moored the setting sail facing east, so they could better enjoy the sunrise.

He himself went to cook. He had seen enough sunrises at sea to be sick of them; it didn't matter if he watched or not.

When Bai Xue and the other woman came down from the flybridge, they cheered at the sight of the bountiful breakfast.

Nothing made them happier than having a table full of delicious food waiting for them after just enjoying a beautiful view.

After the three finished breakfast, Bai Xue took over the setting sail to continue forward. Yang Qi and Yao Shanshan each went to do their own things.

Yang Qi went to the live fish hold to check for any dead or dying fish. He scooped them all out and put them into the freezer.

By the time he finished, he saw Yao Shanshan had washed all three of their clothes that had been changed since yesterday. She was currently drying them on the flybridge.

Looking at the colorful assortment of underwear, fluttering like flags in the wind, Yang Qi didn't know if he should look or not.

But he did see his own boxer briefs among them.

This felt a bit embarrassing, having a girl wash his underwear. Ever since he got together with Bai Xue, he had never washed his own clothes.

He would just put them in the bathroom after changing, and Bai Xue would make time to wash them; it had become a habit.