LRAB Chapter 194 7 years old
Chapter 194 7 years old
When Lin Yan emerged from the spatial dimension and returned to the first-floor restaurant, everyone had just finished breakfast and was chatting over coffee or black tea, the atmosphere much more relaxed than before. His face, radiant with the glow of enlightenment and an inner peace, quietly took his seat.
At this moment, Wang Yuling came out of the kitchen carrying an exquisite porcelain bowl, a gentle smile on her face, and gently placed it in front of Lin Yan: "Young Master, you still need to eat something proper in the morning. According to the custom in our hometown, on your birthday you have to eat a bowl of longevity noodles, one strand to the end, smooth sailing. This is a broth I made with an old hen, with a few drops of sesame oil and some chopped green onions. Please try it."
In the bowl lies a clear chicken broth, with a single, long, white noodle resting quietly in the soup, and a few bright green scallions floating on top, releasing an enticing aroma. There are no luxurious ingredients, yet it is filled with the taste of "home" and beautiful symbolism.
Lin Yan looked at the bowl of noodles, a slight stirring in his heart. Having just experienced a baptism of his Dao heart and a bloody purge, this simple yet heartfelt bowl of longevity noodles felt like a warm current, soothing the softest part of his soul. He picked up his chopsticks, solemnly lifted one end of the noodles, and smiled, "Thank you, Sister Yuling, it smells delicious."
He slowly and steadily slurped the noodles into his mouth, one after another, his movements elegant and earnest. Li Wenbin watched from the side, swallowing hard, and exclaimed, "Sister Yuling, it's my birthday tomorrow, can you make me a bowl too?" This made everyone laugh, and Zheng Jiaming teased him, "You'd better celebrate your birthday tomorrow."
After finishing the noodles, Lin Yan felt warm both in his stomach and heart. He looked at his friends and suggested, "The weather is so nice today, let's not stay cooped up at home. Let's go out for a walk, consider it celebrating my birthday, and I'll show you around Los Angeles."
The proposal was met with an immediate response.
Instead of choosing a luxury car fleet, Charles drove two spacious Cadillac sedans, with Lin Yi in the passenger seat, carrying several young people as they merged into the traffic of Los Angeles.
Their first stop was Griffith Observatory. Standing in front of this Los Angeles landmark, one could overlook the entire city. Under the sunlight, the vast Los Angeles Basin stretched out before them, the Hollywood sign clearly visible, and the Pacific Ocean shimmered in the distance. Tang Liuqian carefully pointed out the sights in various directions to Yang Xi'en, while Li Wenbin and Zheng Jiaming were fascinated by the science models depicting the early days of the space race on display inside the observatory, debating whether the Soviet Union or the United States would land on the moon first. Lin Yan smiled beside them, thinking of his friend Williams, feeling the people of this era's yearning and enthusiasm for space, and enjoying the carefree ease among friends.
At noon, instead of going to a fancy restaurant, Lin Yan led them to the Grand Central Market in downtown Los Angeles. This indoor market, built in 1917, was bustling with activity, its stalls selling food from all over the world. The air was filled with the rich aromas of spices, coffee, and grilled meat. Like any ordinary young person, they lingered at the various stalls, sharing a Mexican taco, sampling a piece of kosher bread, and sipping a glass of freshly squeezed juice, feeling the diverse cultural pulse of this immigrant city. Li Wenbin, curious about everything, almost ate his fill.
In the afternoon, they drove slowly along Sunset Boulevard, watching the record stores, cafes, and neon signs that were beginning to appear on both sides, feeling the vibrant energy of pop culture brewing here. They also went to Santa Monica Beach. Although the seawater was a bit chilly in December and not suitable for swimming, walking on the famous boardwalk, feeling the Pacific sea breeze, and watching teenagers skateboarding and leisurely seagulls was still quite pleasant.
As evening fell, the setting sun painted the sky orange-red. Instead of returning to Beverly Hills, they went to a charming jazz club in Hollywood. The club was dimly lit, and on stage, a trumpeter played languid blues, while the saxophone played a plaintive tune. They found a booth, ordered some drinks and snacks, and immersed themselves in the retro and captivating musical atmosphere. Even Yang Xi'en, who had just experienced a terrifying ordeal, regained a relaxed smile in the music and tranquil atmosphere.
It was late when Charles drove them back to Laurel Estate. In the living room, Charles and Wang Yuling had quietly prepared a not-so-large but very exquisite birthday cake with seventeen candles on it.
"Happy birthday, young master!" Everyone gathered around, laughing and singing him a birthday song.
Lin Yan looked at the flickering candlelight, at the sincere smiles of his friends, and at the space filled with warmth and kindness, and felt a sense of peace. He took a deep breath and blew out all the candles.
"What did you wish for?" Li Wenbin asked curiously.
Lin Yan smiled but did not answer. His wish was simple yet grand: May all the paths I walk be free and unfettered; may all those around me find peace and tranquility.
Next came the gift-giving segment. Li Wenbin presented a limited-edition electric guitar model that he had someone bring from New York, knowing that although Lin Yan didn't play much, he would definitely find it interesting; Zheng Jiaming presented a Parker gold pen, symbolizing success in his career; Tang Liuqian and Yang Xi'en presented a beautiful Chinese tea set, to thank him for saving their lives, and also to symbolize a gentleman's friendship.
The gifts weren't expensive, but they all contained the goodwill of his friends. Lin Yan thanked them one by one and accepted them with gratitude.
This birthday celebration was devoid of any grand gestures or extravagant displays; it was simply filled with sunshine, friends, delicious food, music, and warm wishes. But for Lin Yan, who had just weathered a storm and taken a crucial step on his journey, this ordinary yet sincere warmth was precisely what he needed and cherished most at that moment.
The first day of my seventeenth year ended in warmth and tranquility. The road ahead is long, but at least for now, the dust has settled and the sun shines brightly.
The warm afterglow of Lin Yan's seventeenth birthday had not yet completely faded when the moment of parting arrived.
The morning sun shone brightly at Laurel Manor, but the hustle and bustle of yesterday seemed to have faded. Li Wenbin and Zheng Jiaming's luggage had already been carefully loaded into the car by Charles's men. Both men wore obvious expressions of reluctance.
"Ah Yan, can't we stay a few more days? Christmas is just around the corner." Li Wenbin clung to the car door, making a final struggle.
Although Zheng Jiaming didn't speak, his eyes conveyed the same meaning.
Lin Yan patted Li Wenbin on the shoulder and laughed, "Alright, stop acting like it's a life-or-death situation. Immigration is the important thing. The sooner it's done, the sooner we can set up operations in Europe. Christmas comes every year. Once we've established ourselves in France, we won't have to worry about not having a chance to celebrate together."
The little dog in his arms seemed to sense the atmosphere of parting and let out a "woof" at Li Wenbin and Zheng Jiaming, as if saying goodbye.
Tang Liuqian and Yang Xi'en were also there to see them off. After a few days of rest, Yang Xi'en looked much better. She said softly, "Wenbin, Jiaming, have a safe journey. Please give our regards to your uncle and aunt when you arrive in Hong Kong."
In the end, Lin Yan and Tang Liuqian took a car and drove Li Wenbin and Zheng Jiaming to Los Angeles International Airport.
In the bustling terminal, nearing the boarding gate, Li Wenbin's eyes finally welled up with tears. He hugged Lin Yan tightly, his voice choked with emotion: "Yan, in all my years, I've never had a period of time as... as wonderful, as exhilarating, as being with you! Thank you for teaching me so many... things I never even imagined before." He was naturally referring to those cruel "lessons" about humanity and the true nature of the world.
Zheng Jiaming stepped forward and gave Lin Yan a solemn hug, his tone steady yet full of affection: "Ayan, take care. We'll be waiting for you to come back to Hong Kong for the New Year!"
Lin Yan was also touched. He hugged the two of them back, his tone relaxed yet firm: "I know, you two grown men shouldn't dawdle. Go back and get things done, see you in Europe!"
Watching the two figures disappear around the corner of the boarding gate, Lin Yan and Tang Liuqian turned around and silently walked out of the airport terminal. Xiao Qi nestled quietly in Lin Yan's arms, its dark eyes gazing at its owner, seemingly keeping him company.
Back in the car, the vehicle drove away from the bustling airport. Tang Liuqian looked at the scenery rushing past the window and said, "Xiao Yan, Xi En and I booked our tickets for tomorrow. We should head back to New York. There are still some things to take care of there, and we need to start preparing for many of the engagement arrangements." He paused, then looked at Lin Yan, "What about you? What are your plans? Stay in Los Angeles, or…?"
Upon hearing this, Lin Yan leaned back in the comfortable back seat, his fingers unconsciously stroking Xiao Qi's soft fur, a rare look of confusion appearing in his eyes.
Yeah, what's next?
The Brown family's troubles were completely resolved, the ski trip to Lake Tahoe was over, and the birthday celebrations were finished... For the time being, there didn't seem to be any clear goals. Cultivation couldn't be rushed, especially after experiencing a sudden enlightenment and significant improvement; it required time to settle. As for the business plans, Lin Yi and Alexander were proceeding methodically, so it didn't seem he needed to constantly oversee them.
"People really shouldn't reach their goals too quickly," Lin Yan suddenly chuckled, with a hint of self-deprecation, "otherwise they'll easily become confused about their gains."
He looked down at Xiao Qi, who was purring comfortably in his arms, and made a decision: "There's really nothing particularly fun to do in Los Angeles. I'll go back to New York with you guys."
The vehicle headed towards Beverly Hills, preparing for the next migration. For Lin Yan, the end of one journey always meant the beginning of another. With friends by his side, Xiao Qi in his arms, and the unknown road ahead, this in itself was a kind of carefree existence.