Rent a Yacht Yourself

Once the custom yacht had been settled, Su Bai’s life didn’t change right away.

Mr. Zhang had already begun contacting the shipyard and design team. The hull dimensions, propulsion system, interior layout, and smart equipment all needed to be finalized gradually, which would take time.

A luxury custom yacht worth hundreds of millions of yuan was not something you bought as simply as a car.

From design and construction to launching and delivery, even the fastest schedule would take about a year.

Su Bai wasn’t in any hurry. The money had already been spent, and by the time the yacht was finished, he would be able to take a whole group of people out to sea and have the time of their lives.

But he had no intention of waiting a year for this weekend’s yacht party.

On Friday night, just after Su Bai returned from work, he saw a string of messages from Xue Tao in their dorm group chat.

“Meeting at nine tomorrow morning. Don’t be late!”

“There’s only limited room on the yacht, so if you didn’t sign up, don’t try to squeeze in at the last minute.”

“This is a gathering of Jiangcheng’s rich-kid circle. Watch your image, everyone. Don’t embarrass me.”

A photo followed.

It showed a white yacht moored at a riverside marina. The vessel wasn’t particularly large, but the deck was packed with tables, chairs, and sun umbrellas. Several young people stood at the bow taking pictures. The atmosphere did look lively.

Wang Haoran was the first to reply.

“Brother Tao, can we play video games on the yacht?”

Xue Tao quickly sent back a question mark.

“What would you play games on a yacht for?”

“Then what am I supposed to do there?”

“Take in the river views, drink, meet people, socialize!”

Wang Haoran was silent for a long while before replying:

“I still think the dorm’s air-conditioning suits me better.”

Chu Mingzhe also appeared in the chat.

“I heard a few local rich kids are coming this time. Brother Tao, can you introduce me to them?”

“Absolutely.” Xue Tao immediately grew smug. “My girlfriend’s friends are part of that circle. Once we get there tomorrow, I’ll set you guys up.”

Su Bai sat on the sofa, scrolling through his phone. After looking at the messages for a while, he casually asked:

“How big is the yacht you rented?”

“I’m not sure exactly. Anyway, it’s pretty big,” Xue Tao replied. “It costs over a hundred thousand yuan for the day, and there’ll be drinks and staff on board. It’ll definitely look impressive.”

“Over a hundred thousand?”

Su Bai raised an eyebrow.

“Yeah.” Xue Tao sent a voice message, his tone dripping with boastfulness. “The main point of gatherings like this is to see who has the most friends and who knows the most impressive people. Brother Bai, you should come tomorrow. I’ll save you a spot.”

“Never mind.”

“Come on.” Xue Tao hurriedly continued. “You’d definitely be the most impressive person there. Just stand on the deck, and everyone will treat you like the big shot.”

Su Bai smiled.

“I’m not interested in your party.”

“Why not? It’s a yacht party. Do you know how many people want to go but can’t?”

“There’ll be too many people.”

“That’s what makes it lively.”

“I don’t like noise.”

Xue Tao was momentarily at a loss.

Wang Haoran added from the sidelines, “Brother Bai mainly thinks your yacht is too small.”

“Shut up!” Xue Tao immediately fired back. “A yacht that costs over a hundred thousand a day is small? Do you know how many people want to get on one but can’t?”

Su Bai didn’t say anything else in the group chat.

To be honest, Xue Tao’s party really didn’t appeal to him.

A bunch of people who barely knew each other crammed onto a single boat, drinking, taking pictures, and bragging. Every now and then, they would even argue over who got to stand at the bow and steal the spotlight.

That kind of excitement was fine as a once-in-a-while experience.

But Su Bai had no interest in setting aside an entire day just to attend it.

Besides, Mr. Zhang had already sent him some yacht information before.

There were plenty of boats available for rent around Jiangcheng, including several high-end yachts that cost hundreds of thousands of yuan per day. Aside from having more space, their condition and service were on an entirely different level.

If he was going to have fun, he might as well do it comfortably.

After giving it some thought, Su Bai picked up his phone and sent Mr. Zhang a message.

“Mr. Zhang, I’d like to rent a yacht this weekend.”

The reply came almost instantly.

“President Su, are you planning to attend the party this weekend?”

“No. I’m renting one for myself.”

“For yourself?”

“Yeah. I’m taking a few friends out for the day.”

Mr. Zhang immediately understood what Su Bai meant.

He had dealt with plenty of young clients before. Most people rented yachts mainly to attend someone else’s party. As long as the boat looked good in photos, the deck was wide enough, and the sound system was loud enough, the job was considered done.

Su Bai was clearly different.

He had already ordered a custom yacht worth hundreds of millions. Renting a boat now seemed more like a way to get an early taste of the experience.

“President Su, what requirements do you have for the yacht?”

“Something in good condition, not too old. It should be spacious and clean, preferably with a lounge area and a kitchen. We’re mainly going out to enjoy ourselves, so I don’t want to waste time dealing with equipment malfunctions.”

“Understood.”

Mr. Zhang replied quickly.

“Approximately how many people?”

“Six to eight.”

“Do you need overnight accommodations?”

“No. We’ll be back the same day.”

“Then I’ll shortlist a few suitable options for you.”

Mr. Zhang didn’t send pictures right away. Instead, he asked several more detailed questions.

“President Su, do you care more about speed or stability?”

“Stability.”

“Do you plan to go sea fishing?”

“Yes. Ideally, there should be enough room at the stern to work.”

“Do you need any water-sports equipment? For example, a jet ski, paddleboards, or snorkeling gear.”

“Include them if they’re available.”

“What about catering? Will you prepare everything yourselves, or would you like us to arrange a chef and ingredients?”

“We’ll prepare the ingredients ourselves. No chef needed. As long as the kitchen is in working order, that’s fine.”

After reading the messages, Mr. Zhang already had a clear idea of what Su Bai wanted.

Su Bai wasn’t simply looking to cruise around for a while.

He genuinely intended to use the yacht as a mobile private club.

It needed to support fishing, cooking, and relaxation, along with water-sports equipment. Most importantly, the yacht had to be in excellent condition.

Under normal circumstances, a request like this would require at least a week of advance planning.

Fortunately, Mr. Zhang did have several yachts under long-term management. Their owners rarely used them, but the vessels were consistently well maintained.

He sent over several pictures.

The first was a sports yacht measuring just over fifty feet. It had an attractive exterior, high speed, and ample space at the bow.

The second was a flybridge yacht of around seventy feet. It had three cabins, a small swim platform at the stern, and a more complete range of entertainment facilities.

The third was a luxury yacht measuring more than eighty feet. Its hull was deep blue, the deck was spacious, and the interior featured modern décor. The aft deck also had a dedicated area for sea fishing.

Su Bai looked through the pictures one by one.

Mr. Zhang followed up with an explanation:

“The first one is the fastest, but the interior space is relatively compact. It’s suitable for young people who want to spend a day out at sea. The second is also in good condition, but it’s older than the other two, and the entertainment equipment would need to be added temporarily. The third is in the best condition. It underwent a full overhaul last year, and both the engines and stabilization system have been inspected. The owner rarely uses it as well.”

“How much for the third one?”

“The standard rental price is 280,000 yuan per day, including the captain, crew, and basic services. If you decide to take it, I can give you a discounted rate of 250,000. Water-sports equipment and fuel would be charged separately.”

Su Bai zoomed in on the photo of the third yacht.

The hull had sleek lines, and its color was understated. The foredeck could accommodate lounge chairs, while the flybridge had a sunshade and sofas. There was also enough space at the stern for a barbecue grill and fishing gear.

Most importantly, in the photos Mr. Zhang had sent, both the deck and the cabin were spotless, with no sign that the yacht had been sitting unused for long.

“The yacht is definitely in excellent condition.”

“The owner takes very good care of it, too, and generally has it serviced every month. As long as you let us know a day in advance, we can give the entire yacht a thorough cleaning. We can also prepare whatever alcoholic drinks, beverages, and fruit you’d like.”

Su Bai asked, “Can it be used tomorrow?”

There was a pause of several seconds on Mr. Zhang’s end.

“Tomorrow?”

“Yes.”

“President Su, tomorrow is Saturday. Making arrangements at such short notice will be a little tight.”

“Is there a problem?”

“The yacht itself is available, but we’ll need to coordinate the crew, cleaning, and equipment,” Mr. Zhang replied promptly. “I’ll confirm everything right now and get back to you within half an hour at the latest.”

“All right.”