Su Bai's Luxury Custom Yacht

“More than one hundred million yuan.”

After Mr. Zhang finished speaking, the private room fell silent for two seconds.

He held his teacup, his gaze fixed on Su Bai’s face. He wanted to see whether the young man would frown, or at least ask how much it would cost exactly.

After all, a yacht was nothing like a car.

No matter how expensive a supercar was, it was still just a car once you took it out for a drive.

But with a yacht, buying it was only the beginning.

The berth, crew, maintenance, insurance, fuel, and routes—all of them required a constant flow of money. Especially for a luxury custom yacht worth more than a hundred million yuan, the annual upkeep alone was an astronomical figure.

Many business owners claimed they didn’t care about money when they first heard the quote, but in the end, they still scaled back to the twenty- or thirty-million-yuan range.

Su Bai merely nodded.

“Then let’s go with a luxury custom build.”

The cup in Mr. Zhang’s hand wobbled slightly.

Sitting beside him, Xia Lin also turned to look at Su Bai.

“Don’t you want to look at a few more options?”

“What for?” Su Bai said with a smile. “If I’m buying one, I might as well go all the way. What would be the point of getting something that can only cruise around the lake for a couple of laps? I’d get bored with it after a few months.”

Mr. Zhang came back to himself and hurriedly set down his teacup.

“President Su, are you certain you want a custom build?”

“Certain.”

“A luxury custom yacht over eighty feet long can take quite a while to complete.” Mr. Zhang’s tone became noticeably more serious. “From design and specifications to construction and delivery, even a fast project will take about a year. If you choose an overseas shipyard, customs procedures and shipping will have to be calculated separately.”

“Time isn’t an issue.”

Su Bai picked up a piece of steamed river fish and spoke unhurriedly.

“I only have one requirement. Don’t make it look like some nouveau riche clubhouse.”

Mr. Zhang paused.

“What exactly do you mean?”

“Give it a stronger sense of technology and keep it clean and understated. No gold everywhere, and no crystal chandeliers piled throughout the boat.” Su Bai leaned back in his chair, lightly tapping his fingers on the tabletop. “The exterior should be distinctive, but not over the top. It needs to be comfortable to live in, and it should still make an impression when I take it out.”

Xia Lin’s lips curved slightly as she listened.

“That does sound like your style.”

Su Bai turned his head toward her.

“What style?”

“You spend a great deal of money, but at least your taste is decent.”

“Is that Teacher Xia’s way of complimenting me?”

“More or less.”

Mr. Zhang listened even more intently from the side.

After working in the industry for so many years, there were two kinds of clients he dreaded most.

The first were people who didn’t have the money but wanted to pretend they did. They would ask about every top-of-the-line option, then refuse to pay the deposit in the end.

The second were wealthy clients with absolutely no ideas of their own. They wanted to cram everything into the design, and the finished yacht ended up looking like a floating entertainment complex.

Su Bai was clearly neither type.

He was young and willing to spend, yet he also had a very clear vision.

Mr. Zhang immediately opened the briefcase he had brought with him. He took out a tablet and several thick yacht catalogs.

“President Su, since you’re looking for a luxury custom build, I recommend starting at a minimum of ninety feet.”

“Is there really that much difference between eighty and ninety feet?”

“The difference is quite significant.” Mr. Zhang turned the tablet toward him. “An eighty-foot yacht is already considered luxurious. It would be more than enough for everyday gatherings, cruising on the lake, and short trips along the coast. But since you want to bring friends, go fishing, throw parties, and have proper accommodations and entertainment facilities, a yacht over ninety feet will give you a much more comfortable amount of space.”

On the screen was a white yacht with sleek, flowing lines.

Its hull was long and slender, the foredeck spacious, with another level above topped by a flybridge.

Mr. Zhang continued his presentation.

“A yacht between ninety and one hundred feet can accommodate three to four cabins. A master suite, guest rooms, crew quarters, a living room, dining room, open kitchen, and audiovisual entertainment area can all be arranged.”

“The upper flybridge can house the helm, a bar, a lounge area, and sunbathing space. The aft deck can be reserved for dining and relaxation, while the foredeck can be designed as an observation area.”

“If you enjoy fishing, we can make the aft deck multifunctional. Under normal circumstances, it can hold tables for parties. When you go fishing, the equipment can be brought out and set up directly.”

Su Bai’s interest grew as he studied the screen.

“There has to be a fishing area.”

“No problem.”

Mr. Zhang immediately made a note.

“When I take people out, we’ll basically be eating, drinking, looking at the ocean, and fishing,” Su Bai said. “There don’t need to be too many cabins, but every one of them has to be comfortable.”

“Understood.” Mr. Zhang nodded. “You care more about spaciousness and the overall experience than cramming in as many rooms as possible.”

“Exactly.”

Xia Lin added from beside him, “And stability.”

Mr. Zhang immediately looked at her.

“Miss Xia is absolutely right. If President Su plans to take ladies out to sea, a good stabilization system is essential. Many people feel uncomfortable the first time they ride on a yacht. Even a slight swell can make them queasy. A high-end yacht can be equipped with a gyroscopic stabilizer and zero-speed stabilization, which can greatly reduce rocking even when the yacht is stationary at sea.”

Su Bai nodded.

“That’s a must.”

“Night-navigation systems, radar, automated docking assistance, full-yacht surveillance, smart lighting, audiovisual systems—we can fit all of those with top-of-the-line equipment as well.”

As he spoke, Mr. Zhang continued scrolling through the materials.

“The most popular feature on high-end custom yachts today is integrated smart control. The air conditioning, curtains, lighting, audio system, entertainment system, and even the ambient lighting on the decks can all be controlled from a central system.”

“We can also create several preset modes.”

“For example, Party Mode could automatically adjust the lights and music. Dining Mode could soften the lighting in the living and dining areas. Night Cruise Mode could automatically adjust the lighting on the decks and inside the cabins.”

At that, Su Bai raised his head.

“That sounds good.”

He had never liked unnecessary hassle when buying things.

At the Donghu Clubhouse, Zhou Jialu took care of the management, so he never had to worry about the trivial details of daily life.

The yacht would be the same.

If it was meant for enjoyment, then once people stepped aboard, they shouldn’t have to worry about anything.

“Install the integrated smart-control system,” Su Bai said. “And include surveillance as well. Cover all the key areas—the decks, stern, wheelhouse, everywhere.”

Mr. Zhang nodded repeatedly.

“Rest assured, President Su. Those are standard features on high-end yachts. If you want to take it a step further, we can also create a dedicated audiovisual entertainment area onboard. A large screen, surround sound, gaming equipment—if the weather is bad or you simply don’t feel like going outside at night, you can still have fun on the yacht.”

“Gaming equipment?”

Su Bai smiled.

“That has to be included.”

Mr. Zhang smiled along with him.

“I knew you’d like that. Quite a few young business owners enjoy having an audiovisual area on their yachts, but for your requirements, we can make it considerably more advanced. A large screen, projector, game consoles, and sound system—all top of the line. When the yacht is moored, the space can even serve as a private entertainment room.”

Xia Lin sipped her tea and listened quietly.

She had noticed that Su Bai had a very obvious habit when buying things.

He wasn’t doing it to prove to other people that he was rich.

He genuinely thought about how he would use whatever he bought, who he would bring along, and how to make the people around him comfortable.

It was the same with the Donghu Clubhouse.

And with the motorhome, private clubhouse, and tennis center he had bought before.

Every one of those things ultimately became a place for everyone to enjoy together.

Mr. Zhang turned to the next page.

“As for the exterior, President Su, what color would you prefer? Classic white, or something darker?”

Su Bai glanced at the renderings.

Pure white was too common, while black seemed too heavy.

After thinking for a moment, he said, “Make the main body silver-gray. Not bright silver—something on the darker side.”

Mr. Zhang’s eyes lit up.

“Gunmetal gray?”

“Something like that.”

“That color would look incredibly classy on a yacht.” Mr. Zhang was clearly energized now. “If we sharpen the lines of the hull a little, then pair them with dark-tinted glass and concealed LED strips, the overall look will have a strong high-tech feel.”

“What about the deck?”

“Don’t use golden wood for the deck,” Su Bai said. “Keep the color subdued. The material needs to be slip-resistant and comfortable underfoot.”

“Understood. A dark-gray slip-resistant deck with matte-metal accents.” Mr. Zhang took notes at lightning speed. “We’ll add concealed lighting to the stern and flybridge. When you take her out at night, the lights won’t be too flashy, but she’ll still be instantly recognizable.”

Xia Lin couldn’t help glancing at Su Bai.

“You really know your stuff?”

“I don’t,” Su Bai said with a smile. “I just know what looks good.”

Mr. Zhang immediately picked up on it.

“That’s what I’d call having a clear aesthetic, President Su. The biggest fear with a custom yacht is having the client leave everything to the designer, only to find that the finished product doesn’t really suit them. Now that you’ve established the overall style, the rest will be much easier.”

“What about the interior?” Xia Lin asked.

Su Bai looked at Mr. Zhang.

“Don’t make it too flashy.”

“You have my word.” Mr. Zhang said, “Modern minimalism is the leading trend among top-end yachts right now. We can use dark wood paneling, light-gray stone, and metal accents for the walls and furniture, with concealed lighting throughout. The overall effect will be clean and refined.”

“Make the salon a little bigger,” Su Bai added. “The sofas need to be comfortable. Don’t sacrifice comfort just to make them look good in photos—no one should end up with a sore back after sitting for half an hour.”

“Exactly,” Xia Lin agreed. “And the bed in the master suite has to be large enough.”

The moment the words left her mouth, she paused.

Mr. Zhang, however, acted as though he hadn’t noticed anything. He immediately flipped to the cabin layout.

“We can make the master suite very spacious. A king-size bed, a private dressing room, a bathroom, and panoramic windows can all be arranged. If you like the high-tech look, we can install electronically controlled switchable glass for the windows. They’ll remain transparent when you want to enjoy the view, and turn opaque at the touch of a button whenever you need privacy.”

Su Bai raised an eyebrow.

“That’s good.”

Xia Lin’s ears turned slightly red, and she lowered her head to take a sip of tea.

Mr. Zhang continued, “The bathroom can also include a smart mirror, a temperature-control system, and a separate whirlpool tub. As for the kitchen, do you prefer Western-style light meals, or will you need a Chinese chef to prepare proper meals?”

“Chinese food.”

Su Bai answered without hesitation.

“Can we have hot pot?”

Mr. Zhang froze for a moment before breaking into a smile.

“Of course. We can do that. Hot pot at sea does place higher demands on ventilation and safety, so it’ll require a specialized design.”

“Then design it.”

Su Bai said it matter-of-factly.

“I’ll be bringing people out with me, and we can’t go without hot pot. Especially Chen Yusheng—she can’t get enough of spicy food.”

A smile appeared in Xia Lin’s eyes when she heard Chen Yusheng’s name.

“You really do remember everything.”

“Of course I remember what my girlfriend likes to eat.”

Mr. Zhang’s thoughts stirred.

Chen Yusheng.

He had never heard that name before, but the fact that Su Bai had specifically mentioned her meant she was clearly an important person.

And judging from Xia Lin’s calm reaction, Mr. Zhang suddenly found himself unable to make sense of the young President Su’s private life.

Still, anyone in business knew that the most important rule was not to ask questions that weren’t his to ask.

Mr. Zhang quickly pushed the thought aside.

“Then I recommend installing a Chinese-style kitchen on the aft deck, specially designed for use at sea. We can fit in a hot-pot setup, induction cooktop, grill, freezer, and refrigerated storage cabinets. If you catch any fish, you’ll be able to clean and prepare it right on board. If you enjoy deep-sea fishing, it’ll make the experience even better.”

Su Bai nodded in satisfaction.

“Sounds good.”

“Also, would you like us to include diving equipment?”

Xia Lin looked up.

“That would be nice.”

She looked at Su Bai, a hint of anticipation in her voice.

“Didn’t you already get your diving certification? In the future, when we’re along the coast or visiting the islands, we can anchor the yacht in a suitable spot and jump straight into the water. It’ll be much more convenient than joining an organized tour every time.”

Su Bai smiled. “Since Teacher Xia says so, then of course we have to include it.”

Mr. Zhang now had a complete picture.

This yacht wasn’t being bought merely to sit in a marina.

Su Bai genuinely intended to turn it into a top-of-the-line private toy.

Fishing, diving, parties, overnight stays, audiovisual entertainment, smart controls—he wanted nearly every luxury feature a high-end yacht could offer.

This order was going to be enormous.

Mr. Zhang set down his tablet, his expression becoming considerably more serious.

“President Su, based on your current requirements, I recommend going straight for a luxury custom yacht of around one hundred feet.”

“The hull would be finished in gunmetal gray, paired with concealed lighting and dark panoramic glass. The interior would follow a modern high-tech style, with an emphasis on smart controls and comfortable spaces. We’d equip her with a gyro-stabilization system, night-navigation systems, whole-boat surveillance, an audiovisual entertainment area, a fishing zone, diving equipment, and a Chinese kitchen.”

“As for the price, a base custom build with top-tier options would come to roughly 150 to 200 million yuan, all in. The exact figure would depend on your choice of shipyard and interior materials.”

When he finished, the private room fell silent once again.

Mr. Zhang was actually a little nervous.

150 to 200 million yuan.

Even in the yacht industry, that was far from a small deal.

Xia Lin looked at Su Bai without making the decision for him.

She knew he would have an answer of his own.

Su Bai picked up his teacup and took a sip.

“Works for me.”

Mr. Zhang’s breath caught.

“President Su, do you mean…”

“Let’s go with something around one hundred feet,” Su Bai said. “The exterior, smart systems, stabilization system, entertainment area, fishing zone, diving equipment, and Chinese kitchen—all of them should be the best available.”

“As for the other details, prepare two proposals first.”

“I’ll review them with Xia Lin before we make the final decision.”

The smile on Mr. Zhang’s face became impossible to contain.

“Excellent, excellent!”

“Rest assured, President Su. I’ll arrange for the design team to start working on the proposals as soon as I get back. Within three days, I’ll personally deliver the renderings and configuration sheets to you.”

“Good.”

Su Bai nodded.

Mr. Zhang immediately stood up and raised his teacup.

“President Su, I’ll raise this cup of tea in place of wine and wish us a successful partnership in advance.”

Su Bai also lifted his cup and clinked it against Mr. Zhang’s.

“To a successful partnership.”

After finishing his tea, Mr. Zhang was still too excited to fully calm down.

He had originally come simply because of Miss Xia, intending to spend some time discussing the young man’s requirements.

Who could have imagined that the young man would open with a luxury custom yacht worth hundreds of millions of yuan?

And from beginning to end, Su Bai had never once asked whether the price could be lowered. He had not put on airs or tried to pressure anyone.

He was decisive, clear about what he wanted, and even more decisive when it came to spending money.

A client like that was the kind Mr. Zhang dreamed of meeting.

More importantly, Xia Lin had sat beside Su Bai the entire time, supplementing his requests, checking the details, and occasionally leaning over to quietly remind him of something.

As she watched Su Bai settle on a gunmetal-gray hull, a distinctly high-tech interior, and a full suite of smart systems, only one thought crossed her mind.

The man really did have excellent taste.