Cao Baiming and Wu Xue, having just received the money, went on a major spending spree without a second thought.
After arriving in the island nation, they spent a couple of days sightseeing before heading to a reportedly popular yacht base. While primarily focused on rentals and sales, the yachts here were indeed of higher quality than what they had seen elsewhere.
Following the route on the navigation, Cao Baiming drove his newly purchased sports car at full speed, heading straight for the location.
Even before getting out of the car, the navigation indicated that the destination had been reached. However, looking around, they only saw low houses, gray buildings, and quiet streets.
The distant sound of the sea suggested they were indeed close to the ocean. As they continued forward, the population thinned out, and they could see some container-like buildings ahead.
A thin layer of mist seemed to hover over the area, carrying an unpleasant, unidentifiable odor.
“Where exactly are we? This smell is unbelievable…” Wu Xue said, covering her nose.
Cao Baiming scanned their surroundings. Apart from houses, there were only more houses, with only glimpses of the sea visible through the gaps between them.
“Since it’s for renting yachts, we should be heading towards the sea,” he mused. “Let’s find a way there first.”
Following a small path ahead, they soon spotted the beach and the sea. A striking white building stood prominently on the other side of the water, catching their eyes immediately.
As expected, this building was indeed the yacht rental center they were looking for.
The yachts produced by this establishment were all of their patented private designs. They didn’t engage in extensive advertising, relying solely on word-of-mouth to build their reputation.
The place was sparsely populated. A few men dressed in formal attire noticed them approaching from a distance and immediately came forward.
Both Cao Baiming and Wu Xue were dressed very casually today, as they hadn’t planned on attending any banquets.
Wu Xue, in particular, was wearing her favorite clean student outfit, while Cao Baiming donned loose casual wear, even wearing slippers.
The man surveyed Cao Baiming and Wu Xue from head to toe, his pace gradually slowing. Based on their appearance, they didn't look like wealthy individuals.
Companies like this would typically conduct a general assessment of their guests. If they encountered someone who clearly couldn't afford their services, they wouldn't put in much effort.
However, Cao Baiming and Wu Xue remained unfazed. Why? Because they were celebrities. With hundreds of millions of fans in Tang Country, they should at least be recognized elsewhere. Anyone with even a basic understanding of sports would know him, and even those who didn't would have likely seen his face. He had been on the front pages of major news publications just last month!
Yet, it gradually became apparent that the man didn't recognize him at all, and he certainly didn't know Wu Xue. Seeing Cao Baiming's slippers, the man's demeanor shifted to one of suspicion. While Wu Xue's beauty might have initially warranted politeness, he now directly confronted them.
“Who are you people? What are you doing here? This area is ours, so leave if you have no business here!”
This statement immediately annoyed Cao Baiming.
“Who the hell do you think you are? Is this sand yours too?”
Not only did the man not recognize him, but he also spoke so rudely, clearly asking for a beating.
The man became enraged at Cao Baiming's words. Another man beside him, dressed in the same uniform, tried to hold him back, suggesting he had a rather bad temper.
Wu Xue quickly intervened, “We’re here to look at yachts!”
Cao Baiming, however, had no desire to talk further. He immediately stepped forward and gave the man a beating.
Although the man wanted to fight back, his mind went blank the moment Cao Baiming's fist came towards him! This guy was not human!
Cao Baiming's physical attributes, enhanced by his athletic prowess, weren't just effective on the field; they carried over into his everyday life. Just as the man attempted to kick, he was sent flying back a meter and then subsequently kicked far away. Within seconds, he was utterly defenseless. Cao Baiming, ignoring him, grabbed Wu Xue's hand and walked forward. The other man could only stare, unwilling to intervene.
Upon entering the white building, they discovered that the interior was quite well-appointed, resembling a large shopping mall. Besides a few staff members, one person stood out. He exuded an aura of luxury and carried himself with confidence. This must be the boss, Cao Baiming thought.
As Cao Baiming prepared to enter, two people blocked his way.
“Sir, do you have a membership card?”
The man not only stopped Cao Baiming but also lewdly placed his hand on Wu Xue’s chest, seemingly making contact.
“I don’t have a membership card. Can I pay with money?” Cao Baiming said impatiently.
At this moment, the boss noticed the commotion at the entrance. To his surprise, he recognized Cao Baiming's face at a glance.
“Cao Baiming?? Let him in!”
With the boss's explicit command, the security guards reluctantly stepped aside.
“I apologize, I sincerely apologize! These are my hired security personnel. Their etiquette is not great, but they are very capable fighters. It’s because this area has a lot of unsavory elements, and troublemakers show up from time to time…”
After listening to the boss's explanation for a full two minutes, Cao Baiming decided not to pursue the matter further, focusing on his original purpose: selecting a good yacht.
Under the boss's personal arrangement, the staff led them to the area where the yachts were docked.
“These are them, categorized into three levels: basic, intermediate, and advanced. Their prices and quality differ accordingly. Which type would you most like to rent?”
“Advanced, or if you have top-tier, that would be fine too,” Cao Baiming replied.
Hearing this, the boss realized that Cao Baiming had brought ample funds. After all, what international superstar would be short of money? He must have been mistaken earlier.
“Certainly, certainly, please come this way!”
Accompanied by the staff and the boss himself, they inspected several yachts. Although their exteriors looked similar, their interior decorations varied, and even their layouts were quite different.