Chapter 640: with translation of chapter title

"Wait!"

Xu Jijun, lost in thought, suddenly raised his gun and pointed it at Lin Dongfan, making a new demand: "We need to keep three people; this time you can only take twenty."

Upon hearing this, the twenty-three crew members who were about to disembark froze in place, all at once.

Lin Dongfan's brows furrowed: "You're going back on your word again?"

"This ship's tonnage rivals that of a warship; getting underway needs at least four people." Xu Jijun rubbed his gun barrel against his suddenly itchy face, then said: "Chen Xiaoyu can't manage it alone—we need three more."

The deck fell dead silent instantly.

The sea wind whipped the wave sounds, as if mocking this absurd negotiation.

"You fuck—" Lin Dongfan swallowed the curse on his lips, his fist clenching until it turned white. He stared at Xu Jijun for three seconds, then suddenly laughed: "Fine, you call the shots!"

At this moment, Chen Dingchao stepped forward: "I'm willing to stay." His voice was low, his eyes on Chen Xiaoyu, and he said firmly: "Xiaoyu, earlier I was blind and mistook the Xu surname for a good person, bringing him aboard. Don't be afraid—I'll stay and share your hardship; if we die, we die together."

Chen Xiaoyu was probably moved.

Her eyes reddened, tears glistening as she said, "Uncle, hear me out: this is no longer the era of a sputtering little boat with a motor; it's the age of ocean liners—you really can't handle it. I'm begging you, get off the ship. It's better to go keep my grandfather company chatting and drinking tea than to stay aboard and drag me down."

!!!

The sea wind hit his face, as if an arrow had puffed and pierced Chen Dingchao's heart.

This middle-aged man, who had drifted at sea for decades, felt his facial muscles twitching painfully; he couldn't speak for a moment, thinking, "Has Xiaoyu really gotten full of herself? She's utterly disrespectful of her elders."

Xu Jijun, however, seemed to appreciate Chen Dingchao's brainless way of life.

He declared on the spot: "You, stay." Then, pointing his gun barrel at two nearby young men, he added: "You two stay as well."

One was named Chen Shaolong, the other Chen Shaohu; they were brothers from the fishing village.

As everyone knows, Chen Shaolong has always liked the pretty Chen Xiaoyu, but could only admire her from afar, silently—he was her die‑hard fan.

Being named to stay, Chen Shaolong wasn't panicked; in fact, he felt a bit relieved.

By contrast, his one‑year‑younger brother Chen Shaohu was so nervous his legs trembled, only managing to stand firm after Chen Shaolong secretly pinched him.

Chen Shaolong forcibly pulled his brother Chen Shaohu forward a step.

Xu Jijun nodded satisfactorily: "Good, I appreciate someone who knows how to read the times." Then he turned to Lin Dongfan: "Now you can take the rest of the people and get lost."

Lin Dongfan gave Chen Xiaoyu a deep look, his eyes as complex as a sea trench.

Worry was certainly present.

But Lin Dongfan said nothing, turned and urged the other released crew members to disembark. The gangway immediately erupted with chaotic footsteps, like a frantic escape.

Lin Dongfan walked last.

After boarding the ferry, someone panickedly urged the driver to set off. Only after reaching shore did these freed crew members finally let out Along sigh, feeling the happiness of having survived the ordeal.

The commander on shore—Comrade Yu Huacheng—grasped his night‑vision binoculars and took a look at the distant ship.

He anxiously asked Lin Dongfan: "Comrade Lin Dongfan, is Huang Duoduo really reliable?"

"Whether we believe it or not, we have to believe it." Lin Dongfan loosened his slightly tight tie, tipped his head back to gulp half a bottle of mineral water, then sighed: "We might as well treat a dead horse as a living one."

Liu Minghui also wore a worried expression: "What if he defects?"

"Defect?" Lin Dongfan pondered briefly, then laughed: "People die for wealth, birds die for food. Frankly, I don't believe a thirty‑million‑dollar benefit could fail to sway him."

At sea, Elegant Maiden No. 1 remained where it was, not having set sail.

At this very moment.

Xu Jijun had already brought Chen Xiaoyu and the others to the helm.

Chen Xiaoyu sat before the main control console.

Chen Dingchao stood to the side, responsible for tuning the radar, occasionally stealing glances with the corner of his eye at Xu Jijun's position. Good grief, he was actually scheming in his heart to find a chance to tackle Xu Jijun, seize his gun, and turn the tables.

Huang Duoduo held his gun upright at the doorway, like five door gods, except his barrel kept unconsciously drooping downward.

"Head southeast, full speed ahead."

Xu Jijun issued an order to Chen Xiaoyu and the others, while keeping his gun barrel trained on her back.

Chen Xiaoyu sullenly retorted: "I've got a time‑bomb strapped to me, yet you're still uneasy, pointing a gun at me here! How guilty are you? You spineless dog of a man—how could you possibly pull off piracy in the Gulf of Aden with this ability?"

!!!

Xu Jijun's brows furrowed at being talked back to.

Finding no interest in sparring with a sharp‑tongued woman, he turned and gave Huang Duoduo and Wu Changsheng an order: "You two keep watch here."

"Boss, rest assured, I've got this." Huang Duoduo remained the same loyal, simple‑minded fool as before.

Xu Jijun didn't say anything more, turned and went to the resting cabin to attend to the mobility‑impaired Han Jinling.

On the way, Xu Jijun called Lin Dongfan again.

Over the phone he threatened Lin Dongfan: "I don't want to see a coast‑guard ship tailing me; please be more professional, consider the safety of the hostages aboard, and withdraw voluntarily."

"Got it, Grandpa Xu, we're already pulling back."

Lin Dongfan's reply was curt, aimed simply at stabilizing the enemy's mood.

But Xu Jijun still felt uneasy.

After the ship set sail, Xu Jijun went to the stern and observed with his night‑vision binoculars for a while. Once he confirmed no coast‑guard vessel was following, he finally returned to the resting cabin to console the woman.

The atmosphere in the helm remained somewhat tense.

Wu Changsheng, who had previously been kicked hard by Lin Dongfan, now adopted a posture of taking charge, shouting warnings at Chen Xiaoyu and the others not to play tricks.

Seeing Chen Dingchao constantly glancing left and right, appearing absent‑minded,

Wu Changsheng strode over and kicked him, shouting angrily: "Hit your mother! Where are you looking? Navigate properly! If you stray from the set course, I'll chop you up and feed you to the fish!"

"I wasn't even looking at you."

Chen Dingchao muttered timidly, his rebellious spirit still weak; he feared Huang Duoduo beside him might open fire, so he dared not retaliate.

Wu Changsheng then shifted his gaze to Chen Xiaoyu.

He looked Chen Xiaoyu up and down at her slender figure; as he stared, a lewd smile spread across his mouth. He stepped forward two feet and reached out to pinch her buttocks.

"What the hell? Get your dirty hands off!" Chen Xiaoyu jerked her elbow, full of fiery spirit.

Although Wu Changsheng retracted his hand, his interest didn't wane; he propped his right elbow on the control panel and, like a rascal, admired Chen Xiaoyu's profile: "Such an advanced ship should have an auto‑cruise function, right?"

Chen Xiaoyu acted as if she hadn't heard, holding fast to the captain's post.

Wu Changsheng smirked lewdly again and said: "Lin Dongfan hit me earlier; I need some compensation—you get my meaning? Switch the ship to auto‑cruise mode and come with me to study human origins."

"Get lost!"

Chen Xiaoyu stared straight ahead at the sea, her voice icy to the extreme.

Wu Changsheng suddenly stepped forward and grabbed Chen Xiaoyu's right hand: "What the hell are you pretending to be a chaste and heroic woman for? I used to be a provincial department head—sleeping with you is me looking up to you! Don't be shameless."