LRAB Chapter 129 A Stroll in Philadelphia and the Most Stylish Kid
Chapter 129 A Stroll in Philadelphia and the Most Stylish Kid
Chapter 129: A Stroll in Philadelphia with the Most Stylish Kid
The next day, the sun shone brightly, and Philadelphia awoke in the summer glow. Lin Yan changed into a casual outfit, still the handsome young man he always was. His "luggage"—Xiao Qi—excitedly circled around his feet, its snow-white fur shimmering in the sunlight, its large, dark, grape-like eyes curiously surveying the unfamiliar city.
The moment the man and his beast stepped out of the Valac Hotel, they became a moving spectacle. Lin Yan's tall and straight figure, outstanding appearance, and detached and otherworldly temperament were already eye-catching, and with the fluffy, round, and bouncy little white dog at his feet, the rate of people turning their heads to look was almost 100%.
"Oh God, look at that puppy! It's so cute!"
"Is that young Eastern gentleman his master? What a strange combination."
"It looks so happy!"
The ladies passing by were almost unable to resist Xiao Qi's adorable charm, all showing loving smiles. Some even tried to pet her, but Xiao Qi cleverly hid behind Lin Yan, only peeking out with her little head to observe them, adding to her cuteness. Lin Yan simply smiled slightly, enjoying this rare moment of leisure in a very good mood.
As Lin Yan strolled into South Philadelphia, the air began to fill with a rich aroma of roast beef, onions, and cheese. Following the scent and the crowds, he found a sandwich shop that looked quite famous, with a line already forming outside.
Xiao Qi's nose immediately started twitching wildly, its little tail wagged like it had a motor, and it anxiously circled around Lin Yan's legs, making urgent "woof woof" sounds, as if to say, "It smells so good! It smells so good! Brother, buy it quickly!"
Finally, it was their turn in line. Lin Yan said to the owner, "One signature beef and cheese sandwich, please."
The owner skillfully began the process: stir-frying thinly sliced ribeye beef on a hot plate, adding chopped onions, and finally topping it with melted cheese sauce (Cheez Whiz), before stuffing all of this into a long Italian bread roll.
The aroma grew increasingly enticing. Little Qi, held in Lin Yan's arms, became anxious as it watched the vendor only pack one sandwich. Its little head was filled with questions: Why is there only one? Where's mine? Isn't there any for me?
Just as Lin Yan was about to pay, Xiao Qi did something that made everyone burst into laughter. It suddenly peeked out from Lin Yan's arms, its two front paws gripping the cold counter, and let out a soft, pitiful "Awoo~" at the busy, burly shopkeeper inside. Then it climbed onto the counter and, in the limited space, lay down, revealing its soft white belly. Its four little paws kicked wildly in the air, its head tilted to the side, and its large, watery, dark eyes emitted a silent but powerful plea!
That expression seemed to say, "Please, please make one for me too! I'm so pitiful! I really want to eat it!"
The contrast between the two is just too strong! A snow-white, adorable puppy is rolling around and acting cute in front of a burly sandwich shop owner!
The people in line and the customers in the store all made good-natured laughs.
"Haha, boss, it's absolutely irresistible!"
"Let's give it one, for the sake of this adorable little guy!"
The shopkeeper was taken aback for a moment, then burst into laughter, his face beaming with joy. He waved his hand and said generously, "Hey! This little guy knows how to handle things! No problem, this one's on me!" With that, he quickly made a smaller (but still very generous) sandwich.
Lin Yan looked at Xiao Qi, who was still trying her best to "perform" at the counter, and couldn't help but laugh and cry. He quickly said to the boss, "Thank you for your kindness, but you must pay." He insisted on giving the boss the money for both sandwiches.
Holding two steaming, fragrant sandwiches, Lin Yan, carrying Xiao Qi who was smugly licking her lips with her little tongue after her "successful scheme," sat down on a bench by the street. He broke the smaller sandwich into even smaller pieces, blew on them to cool them down, and then fed them to Xiao Qi. Xiao Qi ate with great relish, swaying her head and humming contentedly, cheese sauce smeared all over her beard, making her look both comical and adorable.
After filling his stomach, Lin Yan tucked Xiao Qi into his loose jacket, leaving only its little head sticking out, and walked towards Independence Hall.
Independence Palace is a typical Georgian red-brick building, two stories high, topped with a white clock tower (although the famous Liberty Bell was previously moved to the Independence Bell Center across the street for preservation). Its exterior is simple and solemn, exuding the calm and weight of the 18th century. The tree-lined Independence Mall adds to its solemnity.
Lin Yan followed the flow of visitors inside. The interior was well-preserved; the dark wood floors, doors and windows, and period-appropriate furniture (such as quill pens and candlesticks) were all kept as original as possible. The guide was explaining the historical moments when the Declaration of Independence was born and signed here in 1776 and the U.S. Constitution in 1787.
The atmosphere was solemn, filled with reverence for history. Visitors listened quietly, appreciating the central role this place played in the birth of the United States.
However, the "little history critic" in Lin Yan's arms seemed to have a different opinion.
Xiao Qi only stayed still for a few minutes before starting to fidget restlessly.
"I am bored……"
Its little head turned from side to side, looking at the old tables, chairs and portraits, its dark eyes filled with disdain.
Lin Yan chuckled and gently scratched its chin with his finger, communicating with it through his divine sense: "What? Don't you like it?"
Xiao Qi immediately relayed a series of clear "thoughts" using her divine sense: "This place isn't as beautiful as the Forbidden City! It's not as big as the Forbidden City! It doesn't have those shiny roofs! It doesn't have those beautiful pillars! And it doesn't have that pleasant wood scent (referring to sandalwood and golden nanmu)! The wood here smells so old and worn!"
Lin Yan couldn't help but chuckle. He recalled taking Xiao Qi to the Forbidden City in Beijing before, when the little guy had looked down on it, feeling it was far less magnificent, mysterious, and spiritually rich than the "Starry Tower" in his space. Indeed, beauty and grandeur are relative. After witnessing the imposing scale and exquisite craftsmanship of the Forbidden City, the simple and rustic Independent Palace did indeed seem somewhat "shabby" and "monotonous" in Xiao Qi's eyes.
He had no choice but to speed up his visit, quickly finishing the main exhibition hall before leaving with the young critic who had given him a "bad review." As soon as Xiaoqi came out, she immediately stuck her head out of her jacket and took deep breaths of fresh air, as if she had been "suffocated" inside.
Back at the hotel that evening, after enjoying a delicious and spiritually inspired dinner prepared by Wang Yuling in the space, Lin Yan decided to take Xiao Qi to experience Philadelphia's nightlife.
The hotel's rooftop bar boasts an elegant ambiance with dim, soft lighting, and a small jazz band is playing live. The deep, melodious saxophone, the clear, flowing piano, and the rhythmic bass create a languid and captivating atmosphere.
This was Xiaoqi's first time hearing live jazz, and its little ears immediately perked up as it curiously looked around. As the rhythmic melody flowed, it seemed deeply captivated by this musical form it had never experienced before.
At first, it just stayed obediently in Lin Yan's arms, its little head nodding to the beat. Gradually, it seemed unable to suppress the musical cells in its body, and its whole little bottom began to sway left and right on Lin Yan's lap to the rhythm, twisting and turning, looking adorably clumsy.
Lin Yan found it extremely amusing to watch its blissful expression. He simply picked it up, placed it on the table in front of him, and laughed, "You like it so much? Then play with it yourself."
Having obtained the "stage", Xiao Qi seems to have broken some kind of seal!
Standing on the smooth round table, it actually started "dancing" to the music! Its little paws gently stepped to the beat of the drums, its round body swayed to the rhythm of the bass, and it even did a "stunning" spin during the saxophone solo (although it would occasionally stumble because it got dizzy)!
Its snow-white fur stood out under the dim lights of the bar, and its wholehearted and adorable dance moves instantly attracted the attention of all the guests and waiters in the bar!
"Oh my goodness! Look at that puppy!"
"It's dancing! It's dancing to the music!"
"So cute! It's a natural dancer!"
"Look at its movements! Haha, it's so funny!"
People were drawn to it, their faces lighting up with surprise and delight. Some even took out their cameras or simply pointed at it with glee. Friendly laughter and whispers filled the bar, instantly creating a lively atmosphere. The band members also noticed this special "listener" and played even more enthusiastically, even improvising a more rhythmic melody to accompany it.
Xiaoqi seemed completely immersed in her own world, enjoying the music and the attention of everyone, becoming the undisputed most dazzling person in the bar!
Lin Yan leaned back in his chair, sipping his drink, watching the little figure dancing happily on the table, and the people around him who were also happy because of it. A warm and satisfied smile appeared on his lips.
This trip to Philadelphia was made exceptionally relaxing, fun, and full of unexpected joys because of this little guy.