The Sea Queen of 1985

Chapter 83: Chapter 83: Looking at the Attractive Her with a Man’s Gaze

”Hahaha!” Liang Xiaoyu couldn’t stop laughing. She made a show of covering her mouth as she chuckled. ”Oh my, Mr. Ye, work is important, but you can’t neglect your personal life either!”

This was the first time Ye Feng had talked with a woman in her thirties for so long without feeling annoyed. He smiled. ”Sister-in-law Xiao Yu is right. It’s time I gave it some thought.”

After speaking, Ye Feng’s gaze swept over the second-floor window again.

Han Xiaorui already had clear, delicate features. She had only applied a little of her daughter’s baby cream and wasn’t wearing any other makeup.

It was hot, and makeup would smudge easily.

No makeup, but lipstick was a must. A light red shade made her lips look full and luscious.

Han Xiaorui emerged, an off-white leather purse slung over her shoulder. ”Sister-in-law Xiao Yu, still chatting? It’s already ten past seven. Aren’t you going to the hospital with Xiao Jing?”

”I’m going, I’m going.” When Liang Xiaoyu saw how Han Xiaorui was dressed, she laughed even more freely. ”Oh, my dear Xiao Rui, you should always wear beautiful clothes like this!”

Han Xiaorui gave a charming smile. She could guess what Sister-in-law Xiao Yu was thinking. ”You look beautiful too, Sister-in-law Xiao Yu. We should hurry. I’m on a tight schedule as well.”

After locking the door, Han Xiaorui walked over to Song Sixth’s van. ”Sixth Uncle Song, thank you for this.”

”Of course, of course!” Song Sixth didn’t even dare to look at Han Xiaorui for too long. ’She’s even more beautiful than the big movie stars from Hong Kong on TV!’

Han Xiaorui caressed her two daughters’ faces. ”Listen to your auntie. Mommy will be back at noon to make you something delicious.”

”Okay.” Pingping and An’an nodded and waved their little hands. ”Bye-bye, Mommy.”

After watching Song Sixth’s van drive away, Han Xiaorui turned around to see Ye Feng standing by the passenger side, holding the door open with one hand. ”Comrade Xiao Han, please get in.”

”Thank you, Mr. Ye.” Han Xiaorui chuckled softly. When she smiled, her beautiful eyes curved like crescent moons.

Her Hong Kong-style dress accentuated her waist, its hem swaying as she walked over with light steps.

Ye Feng raised an eyebrow, a smile in his eyes.

His pounding heart and his feigned composure all betrayed his unusual feelings.

He was certain that the way he was looking at Han Xiaorui right now wasn’t as a work contact, but as a man gazing upon a captivating woman.

Once Han Xiaorui was seated, Ye Feng got in from the other side and started the Jeep.

It was quiet in the car. As Ye Feng drove, he occasionally glanced at Han Xiaorui in the rearview mirror. ”Comrade Xiao Han, you look very beautiful today.”

”Thank you. You look very handsome today too, Mr. Ye!” Han Xiaorui smiled. The awkward small talk only made the atmosphere more awkward.

”I’m just so-so. I used to be more handsome,” Ye Feng said humbly, though his words didn’t quite ring true.

Han Xiaorui, ever the show-off, was more flamboyant. ”Well, I’m different. I used to be so-so, but now I’m beautiful, and I’ll be even more beautiful in the future.”

Ye Feng laughed, the corners of his mouth turning up, crinkling the corners of his eyes. ”Yes, even more beautiful in the future.”

’A woman should be this strong. A failed marriage is nothing.’

’Out with the old, in with the new!’

’And haven’t I arrived?’

Han Xiaorui didn’t want to continue the awkward small talk, so she changed the subject. ”Mr. Ye, will I be getting a certificate of commendation today?”

”Of course. You’ll even get to wear a big red flower!” Ye Feng replied. ”Also, there’s an additional cash bonus.”

Han Xiaorui felt a little embarrassed at the mention of the big red flower, but when she heard there was also a cash bonus, she decided the flower wasn’t so bad after all. ”How much?”

”It might not be a lot, but its significance is huge,” Ye Feng said with a smile. ”That’s the tangible benefit. As for the hidden benefits, I mentioned some of them to you last night. As it happens, my comrade-in-arms will be there. He works at the Shencheng Shipyard. Weren’t you looking to buy a large fishing boat?”

Han Xiaorui was taken aback. ”I was curious about that last night. How did you know I want to buy a big sea vessel?”

Ye Feng chuckled, his eyes on the road ahead. ”Because I saw you out on the ocean. You were like a queen of the sea. Truly someone Mazu herself insists on feeding.”

”Your small boat always brings in such a large catch, and you only operate in coastal, shallow waters. You must long for more distant, deeper oceans, and for that, you need a bigger boat. Are you satisfied with that explanation?”

Han Xiaorui listened carefully, half-convinced. ”That’s the surface reason. Tell me the truth!”

”Alright,” Ye Feng conceded softly. ”I’ve been investigating you.”

”Investigating me? I’m so patriotic, why would you investigate me?” Han Xiaorui was dumbfounded, wondering what tricks Ye Feng had up his sleeve.

Ye Feng explained, ”It’s not really an investigation, more like I wanted to understand your every move. A lot of things about you just don’t add up.”

Han Xiaorui felt nervous inside, but she kept her expression calm. ”So, did you find anything out?”

”No,” Ye Feng answered truthfully. ”In the end, I could only conclude that Mazu is protecting you. Besides, I also want to protect you. I’ve discovered there’s a spy in our ranks, but they’ve gone silent recently. I’m worried they might try to get to you, so I’ve been paying extra attention.”

Realization dawned on Han Xiaorui when she heard this. ”Now that makes more sense. Am I in danger? Will someone try to assassinate me?”

She felt her life was just too good right now—delicious food, beautiful scenery, and a handsome man!

’Pah, pah, pah! As if a handsome man is anything special!’

Han Xiaorui suddenly felt she was being overly dramatic, but it didn’t matter. However she was, it was her most natural state, and she calmly accepted every part of herself.

”Comrade Xiao Han, don’t overthink it!” Ye Feng chuckled. ”Even if there is a spy, they would only pass on some information. They wouldn’t dare to make a move.”

Han Xiaorui shook her head. ”No way. What if they do make a move? I’d be in great danger. I’m going to buy a knife to keep in my bag!”

Ye Feng thought for a moment. ”A knife is too conspicuous; it’s not suitable. I’ll prepare a self-defense weapon for you.”

”It’s a deal then!” Han Xiaorui grinned. ”I’m willing to pay whatever it costs.”

”No need. I’ll give it to you as a gift,” Ye Feng said with a soft laugh. ”After all, I’ve been decorated several times because of you. Consider it a thank you.”

”Thanks a lot.” Han Xiaorui didn’t stand on ceremony with him. ”I heard from Uncle Yang that our country only has large ships, but no ocean-going vessels yet.”

Ye Feng shook his head. Because of Han Xiaorui, he had specifically looked up some information. ”Actually, we do have them now. This March, the Hua Country National Fisheries Corporation organized and established the first ocean-going fishing fleet in Hua Country’s history. This fleet consists of thirteen trawlers and 223 crew members.”

”The first ocean-going fleet departed from Fujian. After enduring the over 50-degree Celsius heat of the Red Sea and the threat of sea mines in the Suez Bay, they finally reached the waters of West Africa on April 29th after a 54-day voyage.”

”Our Hua Country has finally stepped into the deep sea to harvest the ocean’s fishery resources. However, we still have a long way to go compared to developed countries. But I believe that our Hua Country will definitely be able to develop and catch up.”

As Han Xiaorui listened to Ye Feng talk about the ocean-going vessels, her heart thrummed with excitement at the mention of the deep sea and distant oceans.

’A queen of the sea should be able to go anywhere in the ocean.’

Han Xiaorui’s beautiful eyes sparkled. ”How much does an ocean-going vessel cost?”