What is a man's dream?
To command the world while awake, and to lie on a beauty's lap when drunk.
Of course, it's just a dream. What boy didn't fantasize about being an emperor while watching TV as a kid? But in today's world, it's impossible to wield that kind of power while drunk. After all, there's only one person who calls the shots in the entire country, and out of 1.3 billion people, it's clear most of us weren't born for that life—or that kind of brain.
Still, lying drunk on a beauty's lap is something within reach. Unfortunately, that's not something most ordinary men can manage either.
Because these days, beautiful women are "valuable." And no, I don't mean those working in certain industries. I mean real women—graceful, gentle, slim, frugal, family-oriented. The kind of woman who, if she's not already acting in a TV show, probably has a crowd of suitors.
So, to rest your head in her lap while drunk? Not easy. Not unless you're someone special. People like Xu Wei and his group didn't even dare think about it.
Jiang Hai used to feel the same way—until now. Now, he wouldn't lower himself to that kind of fantasy.
Back in his room, Jiang Hai checked the photos his friends had posted, left a comment, and went to sleep.
Even though he'd slept for hours on the plane, it hadn't been comfortable. Nothing beats your own bed.
Although he'd grown used to softer beds over the last half-month, this cool white jade bed was still a bit stiff. Still, not too bad.
That night passed uneventfully. The next morning, Jiang Hai got up, yawned, cleaned himself up, and stepped outside. To his surprise, Fu Yuan and the others had been waiting outside for quite a while.
They were in Jiang Hai's private parking lot, snapping pictures with his collection of luxury cars. Rolls-Royce, War Shield, 750 series—cars that would draw crowds back in China. Now they could take all the pictures they wanted, even sit inside for selfies. A rare treat.
"Already up?" Jiang Hai rubbed his eyes and mumbled as he walked out.
Just then, Bernice came out of the gym, towel in hand, wiping away sweat. The weather in Winthrop was cooling down, not quite as cold as Bingcheng, but aside from jogging, most workouts were better done indoors.
"They're your friends? They got up way earlier than you," Bernice said, smiling as she glanced outside. "Came to the gym around six, then went out to take pictures."
Jiang Hai looked her over. She was still in her usual tight-fitting workout gear. Her toned figure stood out, and it wasn't hard to guess why Fu Yuan and the others had decided to explore the grounds instead of staying indoors.
"Maybe wear something more… appropriate when guests are around," Jiang Hai muttered, a bit displeased.
"What? Jealous?" Bernice teased, a sly grin on her face.
"Jealous? No. I'm just worried someone might take advantage of you," he said, rolling his eyes and nudging her back inside. Jealous? Maybe. Maybe not. Who knew?
Pushing the thought aside, Jiang Hai went downstairs and headed out.
"You're finally up! We could barely sleep—too excited about today!" Xu Wei was the first to greet him, beaming. It was their first time heading out to sea.
Huang Yunfei and his wife had never been either. Last time Fu Yuan visited, he'd only gone out in Jiang Hai's open fishing boat. But today was different—today they were getting on a proper yacht. Excitement buzzed in the air.
"Alright, alright, settle down. Let's eat first. Then we'll head out," Jiang Hai said, smiling. He led everyone to a simple breakfast.
After living here for a year, Jiang Hai had adapted to the local fare. It wasn't as savory as Chinese street food—no tofu pudding or fried dough sticks—but it was decent.
A hearty bowl of cheddar soup, toasted bread slices, milk, and some fried ham and eggs. It hit the spot.
After breakfast, Jiang Hai and his guests hopped on two off-road motorcycles and made their way toward the coast.
Driving along the riverside, the view was nothing short of breathtaking—rolling grasslands stretching into the distance, dotted with Robbins-Garcia's herds of cattle and sheep. It was the kind of scenery that instantly lifted your mood.
"Jiang Hai, I didn't expect it to be so beautiful here!" Huang Yunfei said with awe.
"If this place were mine, I'd give up being a mayor to live here—wait, no, I really would!" Xu Wei added, catching himself mid-sentence.
Jiang Hai chuckled. Mayor? He wouldn't trade this for the world. This life, this land—this was what he'd always wanted.
As the trees thinned and the coastline came into view, pheasants and rabbits darted across the path, birds flew low overhead. The harmony of nature and modern life here—it was something to savor.
But Jiang Hai didn't give them much time to soak in the poetic atmosphere. Soon, the motorcycles arrived at the dock.
"Boss, you're back!" Edward Anderson and a few others came out of the small dock office, grinning as they recognized Jiang Hai and his friends.
"These are my friends from China. We're heading out to sea today—help us get everything ready," Jiang Hai said.
Edward nodded, and soon Tommy Charles, Enol Ceci, and Andrew Christian joined in the preparations. With Maren Rupert and Bell Lester out on patrol, the others began inspecting the yacht: checking the radio, GPS, fuel, water, instruments—and stocking up on food.
Seeing everyone busy, Xu Wei and the others quickly jumped in to help. Jiang Hai chatted with Edward about what had happened during his absence.
Edward reported a surge in seafood sales on November 11th—exactly as Jiang Hai had hoped. But there was also some less pleasant news: someone had taken an interest in Winthrop.
Not to be mayor or anything like that—just someone looking to build a factory here. Edward didn't know what kind, but Jiang Hai frowned at the idea.
To him, factories meant pollution—air, water, land. With tourism here developing well, there was no need to sacrifice the environment for short-term gain. Unless he'd lost his mind, Jiang Hai wouldn't allow it. He was sure Mayor Wallis felt the same way.
Soon, the yacht was ready. After a few more words with Edward, Jiang Hai boarded, started the engine, and set off.
As the boat left the port, Xu Wei, Fu Yuan, Huang Yunfei, and Lv Jiao erupted into excited cheers.
They'd never been on a yacht before. They'd taken plenty of pictures beforehand, but now that they were actually out to sea, they couldn't stop snapping photos—immediately posting them to their social feeds.
Lv Jiao, who had seemed so quiet the day before, was practically glowing with excitement. No woman could resist the allure of such luxury.
Jiang Hai, after setting the course, walked out of the cabin. Seeing everyone so hyped up, he chuckled and headed to the kitchen, returning with a box of chilled beer.
"Now this is the life! You can't enjoy a view like this without a cold beer!" Fu Yuan grinned, grabbing a bottle and popping the cap with a lighter.
But Jiang Hai stopped him.
This wasn't just any beer—it was a light foreign brew, smooth and refreshing, but not without kick. For full flavor, it was best served ice-cold, with a squeeze of lemon juice.
Last time Fu Yuan had visited, he'd tried this beer, but Jiang Hai hadn't known how to drink it properly back then. He'd picked up the trick in the Caribbean.
As Jiang Hai sliced a lemon and squeezed the juice into the bottle, Fu Yuan gave it a doubtful shake, then took a sip.
People from Bingcheng loved their beer—and Fu Yuan and his friends were no exception. The moment the beer hit his tongue, his eyes lit up.
"Damn, this is good!" he exclaimed, staring at the foreign label.
"Of course," Jiang Hai laughed. "You think I'd drink just anything?"
(To be continued...)