King of the Wilderness

Chapter 798: Chapter 360: Squall Line! (Part 5)

Captain Mike, dressed in pajamas, holding a glass of whiskey, was leaning in the shadows of the cabin door. He had clearly been awake for a while but had not come up to intervene.

”Excellent teamwork.”

Mike downed the whiskey in his glass in one go, slowly stepped onto the deck, and his voice carried a hint of hoarseness but more of heartfelt admiration.

”Lin, your idea of using lift to reduce friction, to be honest, even I couldn’t think of that in such a situation. You’re using airplane piloting logic to sail a yacht.”

He then turned his gaze to Riven, who had just opened the cabin door and was about to change clothes.

”And you, Riven, my dear.” His tone became incredibly proud and gratified.

”Your decisions were decisive and accurate, from judging the squall line to deciding on the compression sails, every command was impeccable.”

”My daughter, you’ve... grown up, you’re already a captain who can stand on her own.”

It was the first time Mike used such a solemn tone to acknowledge his daughter’s growth.

Riven stood at the cabin door, stunned. She hadn’t expected her father had been watching all along; a warm flow welled up in her heart, her eyes feeling slightly heated.

”I was just... doing what I had to do.” Her voice was somewhat hoarse.

”No,” Mike shook his head and revealed a relaxed smile, ”you did far better than ’what had to be done’.”

”Lin, Riven, this is an excellent lesson. At sea, the weather is unpredictable; never trust just the meteorological charts, use experience to avoid risks.”

”I was below just now, ready to come up and take over at any time. But your performance made me realize, this ship is very safe in your hands.”

He glanced at the time on his watch, it was nearing three in the morning.

”Alright, it’s about time.” He stretched lazily and said to Riven, ”Your shift is over, go change into some dry clothes and get a good night’s sleep. I’ll take the dawn shift next as the old man.”

Then, he turned to Lin Yu’an, patted his shoulder, and said in a half-joking, half-serious tone:

”As for you, Mr. Captain, go get some rest too. Don’t think I don’t know you were below reading a book; youthful energy is good, but long-distance sailing is a marathon, not a sprint. Now, that’s an order.”

After saying this, he walked to the helm, naturally taking control of the vessel, leaving the starry sky that had just endured storms to himself.

On the deck, only Lin Yu’an and Riven were left, ready to return to the cabin. Mike’s unexpected recognition and command made the atmosphere between them somewhat delicate.

Riven looked at her father’s broad and reliable back, then glanced at Lin Yu’an, who was equally wet beside her, and a faint, unnatural blush appeared on her face.

She cleared her throat, forcibly breaking the silence: ”Ahem... then... good night.”

With that, she turned and slipped into her cabin.

Lin Yu’an also smiled, said ”Good night, Captain” to Mike, and then returned to his cabin.

However, five minutes later, as Riven changed into dry pajamas and was about to lie down, there were two gentle taps on the cabin door.

Lin Yu’an stood outside the door, holding two steaming cups of herbal tea, which exuded a faint scent.

”Drink something warm before bed,” he said softly, handing her one of the cups, ”This is chamomile mint tea, it helps relax the nerves.”

”...Thank you.” Riven took the warm teacup, the subtle sweetness of the chamomile and the mint’s fresh aroma completely relaxed her nerves, taut from the storm.

The two said no more, just quietly drank tea across the cabin door, in the narrow passage.

Without the sea breeze and starry sky on the deck, the atmosphere inside the warm and slightly cramped cabin instead carried a touch of indescribable intimacy.

Everything that happened tonight, and this last cup of hot tea in the deep of night, like invisible threads, quietly connected their two souls together.