Chapter 2, Love Like a Whale Shark (Part 1)

Although Chloe said that the boss was trying to act cool, Ye Fei was not that familiar with him yet. Just as she was about to ask Jia Jun what she needed to do, a tall European man approached, greeting Jia Jun warmly and mentioning that he would be leaving the island in a couple of days and was there to settle his bill. Chen Jia Jun took him to the office in the back, leaving Ye Fei standing there in a daze. She looked over and saw Scar and Chloe busy organizing equipment. Chloe was talking rapidly, her gestures exaggerated, and she burst into laughter after just a few sentences. Scar hardly replied, only nodding occasionally, but when he heard something amusing, he would lift his head, focus on Chloe, and smile slightly, making the scar on his face appear less menacing.

"I haven't said what to do yet," he said with a rather serious expression. "Do not do anything that hasn't been instructed, and do not touch anything that you haven't been told to touch, okay?"

"Hey, this is slander." Chen Jiajun had appeared behind the two at some point, "I am also sweeping the floor and wiping the tables. But there are always some people who do not follow the rules, making a mess everywhere." As he spoke, he lowered his head to look at Ye Fei's feet

Ye Fei felt somewhat wronged, raising her head to look at him with indignation, "Do you think I want to?"

Wenka once again responded with a series of "no".

The soft gaze filled with affection was something Ye Fei was once incredibly familiar with. She felt a sense of melancholy in her heart, turned around, and walked around the shop to the backyard. Just as she turned the corner, she nearly collided with a bare-chested middle-aged man. His complexion was dark, he had a scruffy beard, was of medium height, and appeared quite robust, each hand carrying a diving tank. He hurriedly stopped and repeatedly said "sorry." Ye Fei quickly waved her hand, saying, "It's really no problem. My name is Fei, and from today onwards, I will also help out in the shop." Just as she turned the corner, she nearly collided with a bare-chested middle-aged man. His complexion was dark, he had a scruffy beard, was of medium height, and appeared quite robust, each hand carrying a diving tank. He hurriedly stopped and repeatedly said "sorry." Ye Fei quickly waved her hand, saying, "It's really no problem. My name is Fei, and from today onwards, I will also help out in the shop."

Ye Fei proudly lifted her chin, indicating that she had left her flip-flops at the bottom of the steps

"You are the boss, where can I criticize you?" Chloe shrugged and turned to Ye Fei, "This is definitely the best dive shop on the island, you will love it here! It's just that we have three poker faces in our shop. Boss," she gave a thumbs up, pointing to Chen Jiajun behind her, then looked at the bald man who came with her, "My boyfriend, Scar; and Uncle Wenka, our boatman. But you don't need to worry, Uncle Wenka's English is not very good, Scar doesn't like to talk, and the boss, well, he is just trying to look cool."

"Unfortunately, most of the time, this island is quite safe." She extended her hand, "I am Chloe."

Is that all? Ye Fei asked, wondering what the difference was compared to working at a bar

In addition to Scar and Chloe, several other staff members also arrived one after another. A young man seemed to have arrived late and was reprimanded by Scar for a few moments. After 8 o'clock, more students and guests began to arrive, and the store became lively and busy. Some were putting on equipment, while others were discussing diving plans. Everyone was bustling around the store, inquiring about which boat they would be taking, where to store their packages, brewing coffee, and borrowing sunscreen and toothpaste. Ye Fei also wondered why some people were borrowing toothpaste; did they need to brush their teeth after breakfast? As it was said by Jia Jun, she really knew nothing. So, holding a broom, she quietly stood by the column, watching how the staff in the store resolved the customers' issues one by one. After more than half an hour, the divers, equipped with their gear, walked across the wooden bridge on the beach one after another. Two speedboats roared to life, cutting through the azure waves, with white foam splashing behind the boats. After more than half an hour, the divers, equipped with their gear, walked across the wooden bridge on the beach one after another. Two speedboats roared to life, cutting through the azure waves, with white foam splashing behind the boats

Oh, I see. He put down the gas cylinder and wiped his hands on his shorts, saying, "My name is Wenka"

During dinner, thinking about having to work under Chen Jiajun for two weeks, she was unsure how much pressure she would face, and immediately felt her ears ache even more. She sighed, feeling that her future was uncertain

"O, okay," Ye Fei replied through clenched teeth

He revealed that mocking expression again, and Ye Fei suppressed her dissatisfaction, responding in a rough and coarse voice: "I will learn!"

At 7:30, a man and a woman walked side by side. The man was a local, bald, with a scar on the right side of his face that extended from the corner of his eye to his cheekbone, and his expression was stern. He glanced at Ye Fei without greeting her and took out a key to unlock the main door. The woman had a slender figure, her golden long hair loosely tied at the back of her head, and her light green eyes were filled with a smile. She waved enthusiastically and walked over, saying: "Hi, you must be the girl who lost her motorcycle, right?" The woman had a slender figure, her golden long hair loosely tied at the back of her head, and her light green eyes were filled with a smile. She waved enthusiastically and walked over, saying: "Hi, you must be the girl who lost her motorcycle, right?"

Chen Jiajun glanced at her and said, "Well, for now, this is all I can do. Do you understand the rest?"

You are too weak. Chen Jiajun looked her up and down, and said, "If you drop the oxygen tank and it hits your toe, no one will cover your medical expenses. Do you understand?"

Are you sure she is not here for a free meal?" Chen Jiajun glanced at her again, "Moli went for a visarun, she should be back in a couple of days, right?

Chloe walked by holding her equipment. Although she could not understand the Chinese conversation between the two, she could tell from their expressions that Ye Fei had been reprimanded. She stopped in her tracks, exaggeratedly leaned back, and said, "Mr. Serious is just kidding." The final syllable was elongated, and her tone was cheerful.

Ye Fei nodded, feeling quite indignant in her heart

Song Xi replied: "She said in a day or two." She repeated, "Fei is working very hard."

No, no, "Song Xi is mediating the situation, " Fei is working very hard

"I feel the same way," Chloe laughed, "I am very glad that another young lady has come to the store. I have to go teach the art and illustration class every day, and when I am not here, the men never know how to keep the store clean." She exaggeratedly shook her head

Chen Jiajun shot a glare at Chloe, who giggled and hummed a tune as she left. He frowned, shook his head, and pointed to the broom in the corner, saying to Ye Fei: "Sweep once in the morning, and then keep it clean at all times; there are rags by the sink, remember to wipe the tables and chairs clean later."

She wanted to ask the boss if there were any further instructions, but when she turned around, she did not see Chen Jiajun's figure.

"Stingy." Ye Fei murmured softly.

Chen Jiajun's expression turned serious, "Chloe, you are talking too much. The students will be here soon"

She was about to go pick up when a hand suddenly reached out in front of her, pushing the glass on the bar aside. "nospiritsforher (no spirits for her)," Chen Jiajun said淡淡地, taking a can of soda water from the refrigerator and placing it in front of her without further discussion

Ye Fei left home at 7:15. There were not many tourists on the beach, and most shops had not yet opened for business. After walking for a few minutes, she arrived at the dive shop, which was also tightly locked. She walked up the steps, looking around, not forgetting to leave her flip-flops on the beach. Raising her head, she saw the name of the dive shop, scubalibre, a large string of letters painted in red and white stripes. She repeated it twice, scubalibre, scubalibre, feeling that it sounded somewhat familiar. Remembering the drink that Song Xi had recommended to her yesterday, the Cuba Libre, she suddenly realized that the shop's name was a play on the phonetics of cubalibre. She couldn't help but chuckle to herself, thinking that the owner had said he was afraid others would get drunk, yet he himself was no less of a drunkard.

After they left, the shop suddenly became quiet. Papers, pens, and coffee cups were scattered messily across the table, and the chairs were haphazardly arranged on the terrace. The ground was covered with a lot of sand and footprints. Chen Jiajun gestured, and Ye Fei, being quite perceptive, walked over to tidy up the table, arranged the chairs neatly, cleaned the floor, and then took the coffee cups one by one to wash in the sink

Let me give it a try," Ye Fei insisted

"It was you who asked me to come to work here." Ye Fei set down the gas cylinder and met his gaze

He continued, "You are already an illegal worker, do not cause me any more trouble"

My name is Fei. Ye Fei shook hands with her and the content of the spoken practice came out naturally, "Nice to meet you"

Ye Fei felt somewhat embarrassed, "Yes, I was too careless"

I merely spoke the truth," she said with a light laugh, addressing Ye Fei, "Welcome to the dive shop. I will prepare for the outing first and we can chat more when I return

"Give it to Wenka," Chen Jiajun's cold voice echoed. "Have I told you what to do?"

In recent days, she has been dining at Monkeybar, where Songxi buys various curries and fried chicken from a nearby market, packing them in small plastic bags, wrapped together with oil paper and rice. When eating, she mixes in dried fish, cucumber, and onion, which is both affordable and offers authentic local flavors. However, Ye Fei does not eat much; each time she chews, she feels a dull pain at the junction of her right ear and cheek. At night, when she sleeps on her side, she vaguely senses liquid slowly leaking out, worrying that it might be otitis media. Yet, apart from the two hundred dollars she owes, she is nearly penniless. Pulling at her ear seems to show no signs of worsening, so she simply chooses to ignore it.

Wen Ka waved his hand repeatedly, saying a string of "no," and strode away with the gas cylinder in hand

A whiteboard was hanging in the glass door, on which a table was drawn. Ye Fei leaned closer to take a look; it appeared to be the diving schedule for the upcoming days at the dive shop, with many names listed in different colors of marker. She could not understand it, so she stepped back. Next to the platform, there was a wooden rack about half a person high with a row of round holes, presumably for holding the metal tanks used for diving. Ye Fei leaned against the rack, feeling somewhat uneasy.

Ye Fei observed him moving swiftly and decided to imitate his actions, heading to the sunshade in the backyard to lift a diving cylinder. The silver-white cylinder was nearly half her height. She grasped the neck of the cylinder with both hands and pulled upwards, only to realize that it was considerably heavier than she had anticipated. She straightened her back, puffed out her stomach, and braced her arms in front of her, struggling to drag one cylinder forward, stumbling as she walked, her feet painfully pricked by the gravel beneath. After much effort, she finally reached the front of the store, where Wen Ka had already placed two cylinders on the rack. Upon seeing her, he quickly turned around and took the cylinder from her.

He wore an arrogant expression, giving orders with an air of superiority. Ye Fei initially wanted to retort, but considering that she had food and shelter now, and that the other party was not pressuring her to repay the debt immediately, she realized that her status had changed from a customer to an employee indebted to the boss, leaving her with no position to negotiate. Although she felt frustrated and kept spinning the soda can, she ultimately held back and responded sullenly.

Songxi took a glass, filled it with ice, and retrieved a bottle of Havanaclub seven-year rum from the liquor shelf, pouring it full before handing it to Chen Jiajun. He raised his glass and said, "Cheers." Songxi, feeling delighted, took out two more glasses, poured in the rum, and added half a glass of cola to Ye Fei's drink, pushing it in front of her and winking: "Cuba Libre."

Chen Jiajun, drinking alcohol, kept his gaze steady and continued speaking in English: "Last time you lost the motorcycle, and if you get drunk again, you'll lose the store too." His tone was flat, yet he spoke fluently and clearly, without a hint of a local accent

Chen Jiajun furrowed his brows and said, "It's very simple; to fill our stomachs, we must work." He nodded towards Ye Fei and added, "Tomorrow, go help out at the dive shop, at 7:30."

Ye Fei shook his hand and said, "I am here to help you."