Seeing Ye Chuqi puff out her cheeks and sulk, Red Beard's smile widened. "Maybe your brother just doesn't like me? Only he knows why. It might not be my place to say."
Ye Chuqi narrowed her eyes at Red Beard. "Captain, I get the feeling you're hiding something."
Red Beard's fingers curled slightly around the railing. "Everyone has secrets. You do too, don't you?" He quickly changed the subject. "Whatever your brother does, he does it for your sake. That's all you need to believe."
"Oh?" Ye Chuqi drew out the word. "Captain, are you saying my brother went after you because you've gotten too close to me?"
Red Beard stroked his beard and smiled. "You wouldn't be wrong to see it that way."
My brother can't be that petty, can he? Ye Chuqi thought. The last person Ye Qinglan had been this hostile toward was the Third Prince, whom they had met in the Imperial Capital. But the Third Prince was her fiancé in name, and both she and Ye Qinglan had reservations about the engagement. They had good reason not to like him.
What threat does Red Beard pose that would make Ye Qinglan single him out? Because he has so much beard?
In the end, Ye Qinglan decided to switch ships again. He had the money to indulge himself.
Their current ship was battered, and repairs would take too long. Ye Qinglan didn't want to waste time waiting. They could switch ships, leave this one on the island for repairs, and continue their journey. It should be ready by the time they returned.
Clearing out the cargo would still take some time, though. Even a merchant fleet under Jun Ruofeng would need several cargo ships to take it all.
They needed more crew as well. The