American Hunting: Starting with Solitary Life in the Wilderness

Chapter 354 An Interesting Misunderstanding, or Is It Really a Misunderstanding?

"Oh, you mean that old relic?" Kayla, who was packing, didn't even turn her head, her tone somewhat dismissive.

"We just received it yesterday. A collector went bankrupt and entrusted it to us for consignment. What, you've got your eye on it?"

"How much does it cost?" Raven's voice was filled with awe and fascination.

Kayla stopped what she was doing, turned around, and announced an astronomical figure: "Fifty thousand US dollars."

This price was like a bucket of ice water, instantly extinguishing all the flames of fantasy in Raven's eyes.

She stared blankly at the board for a few seconds before letting out a long breath, a bitter smile mixed with helplessness and relief appearing on her face.

Kayla, seeing her like that, walked over and nudged her gently with her elbow, her tone both comforting and business-like: "Hey, wake up, Raven."

"It's just a piece of old wood from decades ago, a piece of junk that's not cost-effective at all."

"You can only look at it, not use it. Even if you buy it, you wouldn't dare let it get wet with a single drop of seawater. What's the difference between it and a painting hanging on the wall?"

"These kinds of things are sold to Middle Eastern oil tycoons who are not short of money, or to Russian tycoons who want to hang some 'artwork' in their homes."

“Let them buy it and brag to their friends at parties about having the soul of Eddie Icahn. That’s not something real party people like us do.”

She paused, as if she had thought of something, and her tone softened, carrying a hint of apology and intimacy.

"I know you like it. If it were a little cheaper, I would definitely get it for you as a gift. Unfortunately... this thing is ridiculously expensive."

A hint of warmth flashed across Raven's face, but she immediately shook her head, her face regaining the cool and confident demeanor typical of a cool girl.

"Come on, Kayla," she laughed and patted Kayla on the shoulder, trying to comfort her instead.

“You’re right, it’s just an exhibit. What I need is a comrade-in-arms who can brave a few waves with me, not a god that I need to carefully worship.”

She turned around and looked at the legendary surfboard again, but this time, her eyes no longer held the desire to possess it, but only the respect for a pioneer.

"Eddie's spirit is in the sea, on the crest of the wave, not locked in a piece of wood worth $50,000. I'm already very satisfied to be able to see it with my own eyes."

"Alright, let's stop talking about these vague and unrealistic things." She looked at Lin Yu'an, and resumed her energetic coach persona.

"Our genius captain is waiting to settle the bill so he can begin his culinary adventure!"

These words were full of clarity and open-mindedness. She knew clearly what she wanted and what she could not have, and she was able to accept and let go of it with equanimity.

This kind of carefree attitude is far more charming than those little girls who throw tantrums because they can't get what they want.

Lin Yu'an stood aside, taking in all of this.

He saw the gleam in Raven's eyes when she heard the name "Eddie Icahn." He also saw the undisguised longing and disappointment in her eyes after hearing the price.

"Let's settle the deal we just picked out." Lin Yu'an's voice drew everyone's attention back to the small business deal worth over twenty thousand US dollars.

"Alright!" Kayla immediately regained her enthusiasm as a professional salesperson and began scanning the expensive equipment one by one at the checkout counter.

Regulators, computer displays, BCDs, pushers... with each scan, the total price jumps rapidly upwards.

Raven helped put the scanned items back into bags. There were so many items that they quickly piled up into a small mountain next to the counter.

“There’s too much stuff,” Lin Yu’an said to Raven, looking at the mountain of equipment, his tone as natural as if he were assigning a small task.

"Raven, could you please bring a large shopping cart from the door? Otherwise, we won't be able to carry it all."

“No problem.” Raven nodded without thinking much and turned to walk towards the store entrance.

Just as Raven's figure disappeared at the end of the shelf, Lin Yu'an silently pushed the black bank card in front of Kayla.

He looked at Kayla and said quickly in a calm but completely unquestionable tone, "The ones from before, plus another fifty thousand."

Kayla's hand, which was scanning, suddenly stopped. She looked up at Lin Yu'an in disbelief: "What did you say?"

Lin Yu'an glanced at the legendary surfboard on the wall. "Spend another 50,000 US dollars, and I'll buy that old piece of wood."

Kayla was stunned. She opened her mouth, feeling like her brain couldn't process what she was seeing.

Lin Yu'an didn't give her much time to react, and continued, "Swipe the card, don't make a fuss. After we leave, please deliver it to Blue Water Sailing Academy."

As Kayla looked at the man before her, even her heart, which was used to grand occasions, couldn't help but pound wildly.

"Are you... serious?" She lowered her voice instinctively, leaned forward slightly, and looked at him with curiosity and inquiry in her eyes.

"Are you really going to give her such an expensive gift? That's fifty thousand US dollars, not five hundred dollars. You...you really have your eye on our Raven?"

"I just don't understand. Besides being beautiful, having a hot body, a good personality, and a good family background, what else is there about her that you'd be interested in?"

Lin Yu'an was both amused and exasperated. These words, which were ostensibly praising Ruiwen but actually criticizing her, were practically exaggerating her abilities, and even asked him what he saw in her.

He met Kayla's scrutinizing gaze, his face remaining completely expressionless, and slowly shook his head.

"You're overthinking it. It's just a thank-you gift from a student to their coach between friends."

"A thank-you gift?" Kayla almost burst out laughing. A thank-you gift worth fifty thousand US dollars? You're kidding me!

But looking into Lin Yu'an's deep and calm eyes, she felt that when he said those words, he seemed... to be serious.

He didn't seem to think it was a big deal.

Kayla looked at him, and finally a thoughtful smile appeared on her face. She didn't ask any more questions, but simply nodded meaningfully.

"Okay." She picked up the black card, quickly entered a long string of numbers into the card reader, and then turned the machine towards Lin Yu'an. "Friend, enter your PIN."

Lin Yu'an entered the password without changing his expression. With a soft "beep" and a long receipt printed out, the transaction, which totaled over 70,000 US dollars, was officially completed.

Not long after, Raven returned from the store, pushing a huge shopping cart and humming a little tune.

"All done?" She saw a pile of packed equipment on the ground, completely unaware of anything unusual.

“Okay, let’s go, we still have a lot to buy.” Lin Yu’an naturally took the shopping cart from her and started to help her move the pile of expensive “toys” one by one to the pickup truck outside.

Kayla leaned against the doorway, arms crossed, watching the navy blue Raptor pickup truck disappear into the traffic.

She looked back at the "sacred relic" on the wall that was about to be sent away, and a relieved smile, like that of an aunt, appeared on her face.

“Silly niece,” she murmured to herself, “it seems you really have won the lottery this time.”

The aunt-like smile on her face didn't last more than a few seconds before it was replaced by an excitement that she couldn't contain her gossip.

She took out her phone and skillfully dialed a number.

"Hey, Mom! Mom! Mommy Mom! My dear, beautiful, and greatest mom in the world!" Her voice was full of a little girl's boasting and excitement, so sweet it was almost cloying.

A strong, elegant elderly woman's voice came from the other end of the phone: "Behave yourself, my sweetheart. Whose car did you scratch this time? Or are you trying to get an advance on next month's allowance?"

“Neither!” Kayla said gleefully, her tone mysterious. “Mom, guess who I ran into today? Your precious granddaughter, Raven!”

"Oh? She's an even bigger headache than you. What's wrong with her?" The old lady on the other end of the phone, Elizabeth Montgomery, clearly had mixed feelings of love and exasperation towards her granddaughter.

Kayla drawled, keeping everyone in suspense, "She brought a man with her!"

"What?!" The voice on the other end of the phone rose an octave instantly, filled with vigilance.

"Great! Which company is it? What's its name? What do they do? It's not one of those idiots who only know how to drive sports cars and have empty heads, is it?"

“No!” Kayla’s excitement reached its peak. She lowered her voice, as if sharing a state secret, “He’s an Asian, tall and handsome, and very polite! Most importantly…”

She cleared her throat and said in an extremely exaggerated tone, "I just, slightly, 'accidentally' recommended some of the 'better' things in our store to him."

"As a result, that guy spent nearly $80,000 worth of equipment on Raven without even blinking an eye!"

There was silence on the other end of the phone; Elizabeth was clearly processing the information.

“And,” Kayla continued, adding fuel to the fire, “I bet the way Raven looked at him, there was definitely something going on!”

“It seems I need to ask Mike what’s going on,” Elizabeth said, her voice filled with keen interest.

"Sweetheart, you did a great job. Now come home right away and help me prepare for tonight's celebration dinner. Remember to buy some candles."

“Okay, Mom!” Kayla agreed immediately.

"I'm calling your stubborn brother right now. I want to see if he, as a father, cares about his daughter's marriage at all!"

After saying that, the call was abruptly ended. Kayla looked at her phone, a triumphant smile spreading across her face.

Mike, far away at the dock, glanced at the caller ID—"Mom"—and his expression instantly turned somewhat helpless, even showing a hint of...headache.

He walked to the side and answered the phone.

“Hey, Mom…yes, we’ll be there on time tonight. What? How did you know?”

Captain Mike, who was known for his absolute authority at sea, was now on the phone like a child who had done something wrong, constantly explaining himself.

“No, Mom, he’s not Raven’s boyfriend, he’s just my student…yes, a Chinese student…” “What? Eighty thousand dollars? No, I swear it’s not what you think! What nonsense did that girl Kayla tell you?!”

His voice grew weaker and weaker, clearly showing that he was being overwhelmed by the powerful aura on the other end of the phone.

"Dinner? Tonight? No way, didn't we agree that it would just be our family celebrating?"

"No. I don't need you. Okay, okay, I understand, Mom. I'll ask for his opinion."

After hanging up the phone, Mike let out a long sigh, a very complicated expression on his face.

Meanwhile, Raven, after restarting the car, said, "Alright, Captain, shouldn't we go carry out our logistical resupply mission now?"

"Almost there." Lin Yu'an opened his iPad and brought up the extremely professional supplies list PowerPoint presentation.

"Our procurement plan will be carried out in phases, just like our voyage plan. We still need to go to three places next."

Raven glanced at the screen, a look of interest on her face.

"Our first stop was Whole Foods Market, where we purchased fresh organic vegetables, fruits, and high-quality meats, as well as local Florida leafy greens."

"The second stop was Costco, where we bought enough bottled water, canned goods, pasta, rice, and frozen food for the next twenty days in one go."

“The last stop,” he said with a mysterious smile, “is to complete our ‘secret mission’ and procure special equipment that can boost team morale.”

After hearing the clear and well-organized plan, Raven couldn't help but whistle.

"Lin, this doesn't sound like shopping at a supermarket; it sounds more like a meticulously planned military logistics operation! I love it!"

Over the next few hours, the two pushed two huge shopping carts and, like true comrades-in-arms, began a sweeping shopping spree.

At Whole Foods Market, Raven demonstrated her value as a local expert.

She skillfully avoids areas catering exclusively to tourists, leading Lin Yu-an to the best local sources.

“Don’t buy pre-packaged steaks,” she said, pointing to the butcher counter. “Go there and have them cut to order. Tell him you want two-inch steaks, perfect for grilling.”

"You should buy this kind of orange, the 'Honey Orange,' which is a specialty of Florida and is very sweet."

Lin Yu-an would then use his knowledge to select the most suitable leafy green vegetables for the sea, which made Rui-wen nod in approval.

The two worked together so well that it didn't seem like their first collaboration.

At the second stop, Costco, the two worked like a highly efficient team, meticulously following the checklist to load boxes of bottled water, pasta, canned tuna, and nut bars into the shopping cart one by one.

As the pickup truck bed was piled high with goods, Raven wiped the sweat from her brow and looked at the last stop on the list.

"Alright, routine resupply complete. Now, take me to carry out your secret mission, Captain."

Navigating with Lin Yu'an, Raven drove her huge pickup truck through a maze of turns until she arrived at a community filled with oriental charm, where she stopped in front of a large Asian supermarket.

As Lin Yu'an skillfully navigated the shelves filled with various sauces, frozen meats, and fresh vegetables, Ruiwen felt as if she had entered a new world.

This was her first time visiting an Asian supermarket. Curious, she picked up a bottle of Lao Gan Ma chili sauce and looked at the various spices and dried goods on the next shelf, her blue eyes filled with wonder.

"So, what mysterious thing is our great captain planning to buy?" she finally couldn't help but ask.

Lin Yu'an smiled and put a packet of tomato-flavored hot pot base and a packet of mushroom soup base into the shopping cart. "This is it."

He picked up a packet of spicy beef tallow hot pot base, "Let's start with the beginner level. I need to make sure my crew can handle spicy food."

“I’m not some spineless coward who can’t handle spicy food,” Raven retorted from the side.

"I'll let you try it next time you have the chance." Lin Yu'an smiled, walked to the sauce section, picked up a bottle of sesame paste, "And this is the essence."

It was already afternoon when the two of them filled the huge cargo bed of the Raptor with bags of groceries and a small induction cooker.

Back on the North Star, Mike had already completed all the ship inspections and was leaning against the ship's side with his arms crossed, like a parent waiting for their child to come home.

"Did you two go and empty the entire supermarket? Why are you only just getting back?"

He glanced at his watch and deliberately spoke in a complaining tone, but when he saw the supplies that were almost overflowing, his eyes were still full of satisfaction.

"Dad, look what good stuff Lin brought!" Raven's face still held the excitement of her "adventure" at the Asian supermarket.

She presented the hot pot base, induction cooker, and various ingredients one by one on the salon's dining table, as if showing off a treasure.

Captain Mike studied these novel things for a long time, his face full of confusion.

I picked up the packet of tomato seasoning, looked at the Chinese text over and over, and then took a sniff; a rich, sweet and sour aroma wafted up.

He looked at Lin Yu'an, "So... these are the ingredients for Hot Pot?"

“Yes,” Lin Yu’an explained succinctly, “the fastest way to replenish calories and energy during long voyages. And it tastes good.”

"It's more than just good!" Raven excitedly described it to her father, having already pestered Lin Yu'an for every single detail in the car.

“Dad, imagine this! At night, we anchor in the Bahamas, and it’s pitch black all around, with only stars and the moon.”

"Then we went up on the deck, lit the pot, and put all this fresh meat and vegetables in to cook...it was amazing!"

She looked at Lin Yu'an, her blue eyes filled with undisguised excitement: "Lin, I'm serious, eating hot pot under the stars? You're a genius!"

This heartwarming culinary project, planned by Lin Yu-an and narrated by Raven, successfully brought an expectant smile to Captain Mike's face.

The atmosphere among the three became more harmonious and intimate than ever before because of this little food adventure, like a real team, or even... like a family.

Mike cleared his throat somewhat awkwardly: "Uh... Lin, there's a last-minute... change in plans."

He mentally prepared his words, wanting to fulfill his mother's orders while also genuinely hoping that this married man wouldn't have any more contact with his beloved daughter outside of work.

“Well,” he tried to make his tone sound like a regular business invitation, “there’s a family dinner tonight, would you like to join us if you’re not busy?”

This unexpected invitation left both Lin Yu'an and Ruiwen stunned.

Looking at the father and daughter, Lin Yu'an thought for a moment that this was also a good opportunity to deepen his relationship with them.

Under Mike's expectant gaze, Lin Yu'an smiled and replied, "Of course, it's my honor. But I need to go back to the hotel to change into something suitable first."

Mike could only watch helplessly as Lin Yu'an smiled and agreed, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

His facial muscles twitched slightly, but he still forced a smile: "Great! No problem! I'll write down an address for you."

After receiving the address note, Lin Yu-an said goodbye to Rui-wen and her father and prepared to leave.

See you tonight, Raven.

"See you tonight."

Watching Lin Yu'an turn and leave, disembarking from the ship, Raven finally couldn't hold back anymore.

She walked up to her father and asked in a low voice, "Dad, didn't I tell you not to let his birthday distract him? We're going out to sea tomorrow."

“I know, sweetheart, we agreed that only family would celebrate for you, but it was your grandma who invited him.” Mike rubbed his temples, glancing helplessly at Raven, as if to say: Do you think I wanted this?

"What exactly happened?! How did Grandma suddenly find out about him?"

Captain Mike looked at his daughter with a helpless expression on his face.

"Who else could it be? Your troublemaking aunt, Kayla. She insists that Lin is your boyfriend and that your grandmother wants to meet him."

This answer made Raven want to rush back to the surf shop immediately and seal Kayla's gossipy mouth with board wax.

But to Mike's surprise, she didn't jump up to refute as usual, but fell into an unusual silence.

She simply lowered her head, staring at the teak grain of the deck, as if studying some profound nautical chart.

This silence, in Mike's eyes, was more unsettling than any heated argument.

He stepped forward, his tone becoming serious and earnest, trying to break the unsettling silence.

“I’ve seen his performance in ‘Living Alone in the Wilderness.’ Lin is an outstanding young man; he is strong, calm, and extremely charismatic.”

"Oh, by the way, after winning the championship, his wife also appeared in the photos. She's a very beautiful lady, and they seem to be very much in love."

He stared intently at Raven's profile, trying to find a response in her expression. He hoped to hear her say, "Dad, you're overthinking it," or "I know, we're just friends."

However, Raven did not respond.

She remained silent, her long eyelashes drooping down, obscuring her ever-shining blue eyes, making it impossible to discern her current emotions.

The sea breeze ruffled her golden hair and brushed against her tightly pursed lips.

Mike's heart sank; he was even a little scared! Because something might be quietly spiraling out of control.

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(Happy Saturday, brothers!)
(End of this chapter)