LRAB Chapter 343 The Two Sides of Heaven
Chapter 343 The Two Sides of Heaven
Chapter 342 The Two Sides of Heaven
The taxi smoothly stopped in front of a modern luxury hotel next to the seaside boulevard.
Lin Yu'an didn't linger at the front desk for long and quickly checked in.
His room was on a high floor of the hotel, with a spacious terrace overlooking the vast ocean.
Push open the French windows, and the sea breeze rushes in, carrying just the right amount of humidity and temperature.
Downstairs is the hotel's exquisite swimming pool and private beach, and further away is a "white forest" composed of densely packed masts.
A huge yacht marina, with countless white sailboats and luxury yachts moored in the harbor, gleaming in the sunlight, resembles a city-state from the Age of Exploration.
Without taking a break, he took out his phone and dialed the number of a local sailing school that Scout had already arranged for him.
This driving school enjoys a prestigious reputation in Fort Lauderdale and throughout South Florida, known for its rigorous instruction and experienced captains.
"Bluewater Sailing Academy, this is Captain Mike. How can I help you?" A steady, loud voice with a slight Florida accent came from the other end of the phone.
"Hello, Captain Mike," Lin Yu'an said in fluent English, "My name is Lin Yu'an, and I'm a student that Mr. Scout Braun booked for me."
"Aha! Lin! We've been waiting for you!" Captain Mike's voice immediately became enthusiastic. "Scooter said you're a guy who learns things like a monster."
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"Welcome to Fort Lauderdale. Have you arrived at the hotel?"
"Yes, I just arrived."
"Great, get some rest after your long flight. See you at the school pier at eight o'clock tomorrow morning."
"I'll send you the address and berth number later. Are you ready for the best learning journey of your life?"
"Of course," Lin Yu'an said calmly and firmly.
After hanging up the phone, Lin Yu'an admired the boundless blue sky outside the window for a while. Then he took out a sophisticated gimbal and a mobile phone for live streaming from his luggage.
This is part of a new plan he agreed upon with Scout, after the original domestic challenge project was shelved for some reason, which affected the partner platforms TikTok and Tencent.
However, when Scout presented Lin Yu-an's even more outrageous "A Round-the-World Voyage from Zero" plan, TikTok's response was unexpectedly positive.
"Live streaming? You're willing to start live streaming during the learning phase?" The head of the Douyin project team could hardly believe his ears; the surprise came too suddenly!
"Teacher Lin, that's great! You should have started live streaming a long time ago. Even just sitting there chatting would have been enough to support half of our outdoor streaming community!"
They almost instantly crafted a brand-new S-level live streaming contract for Lin Yu'an, promising top-tier traffic recommendations on the homepage.
For the platform, Lin Yu'an, who has already achieved legendary status, is certainly a guarantee of top-tier traffic, but he is somewhat distant from ordinary viewers.
The story of how a master is made, with its unique sense of companionship, growth, and uncertainty, is fatally attractive to the audience.
This means stronger fan loyalty, more authentic interaction, and a super IP that can continuously generate buzz.
!
TikTok's response speed was astonishing; in less than 24 hours, a brand-new S-level live streaming contract was sent to Scout's email address.
The contract not only offered generous terms, but the platform also promised to mobilize resources to provide comprehensive pre-launch promotion and publicity for Lin Yu-an's "Sailing Diary" series of live streams.
At this moment, what Lin Yu'an needs to do is to light this fuse.
I logged into my social media accounts on Douyin and TikTok. Both accounts had been inactive for quite some time since their last update.
But his private messages and comment section are filled with messages from fans all over the world every day, asking about his recent situation in various languages.
Scout's team has already transformed Lin Yu-an into a global outdoor adventure star, with his TikTok following even larger than that of Douyin in China.
He edited two short texts with almost identical content in both Chinese and English:
"Above the mountain peak lies a vast expanse of stars and seas. A new journey begins, see you in our live stream tomorrow night at 8 PM (Beijing time)."
The accompanying photo is the same one he casually took with his phone on the terrace at that moment—a photo of the yacht marina bathed in the golden sunset.
It's 8 PM Beijing time, which is exactly 8 AM Florida time.
This timing allows most domestic fans to watch during prime time in the evening, while also allowing North American fans to witness his new journey at the start of the day.
The two posts were like two deep-sea bombs dropped into a calm lake on the global internet.
Fans both at home and abroad who had already set up a special follow received notifications within seconds, and the message spread exponentially across different social networks.
The domestic fan community instantly exploded:
"Holy crap! Lin Shen updated! Finally, some news!"
"The big one is coming! The big one is really coming!"
"Tonight! Great! Perfect timing! I can watch it when I get home after evening study! I've set my alarm!"
"The stars and the sea? What does that mean? Is the new project related to the ocean?"
"Live streaming? So suddenly? Is Brother Lin finally going to go down the path of live-streaming e-commerce?"
On TikTok overseas, the comment section was filled with exclamations of amazement in various languages:
"—There's still December?! Please, please tell me our beloved fluffy white overlord is alright!"
"Tomorrow morning at eight o'clock? Okay, set the alarm for 7:50! I can't be late!"
"The new trip is cool, Lin, but we're demanding you pay the polar bear tax! We need new video in December!"
"I hope I'm with McCormick in December and have a great time. But we absolutely have to see that furry girl on your livestream!"
Countless speculations and discussions have filled this yet-to-be-started global live stream with suspense and anticipation.
After releasing the trailer, Lin Yu'an put down his phone. He had a whole day to adjust to the time difference and get into the right mindset.
He changed into a light linen shirt, beach shorts, and a pair of comfortable boat shoes, put on sunglasses, and stepped out of the air-conditioned hotel lobby.
A wave of humid air, carrying the fragrance of tropical plants, enveloped him instantly. He strolled leisurely south along the A1A coastal road to a beach.
Walking barefoot on the fine, white sand, feeling the gentle waves lapping over his feet, the scene before him caused him a moment of disorientation, followed by a strange sense of nostalgia.
He clearly remembered that in his previous life in 2025, Sydney's Bondi Beach was no longer a paradise for surfers and sun lovers, but more like a giant open-air refugee camp.
The beach was crowded with large family groups, with dozens of tents and plastic mats of various colors lined up one after another, leaving almost no gaps and forming de facto private territories.
The air was thick with the nauseating smell of curry and spices, mixed with the greasiness of food, completely drowning out the fresh, salty sea breeze that should have been refreshing.
Along the coastline after the tide recedes, discarded plastic bags, feces, disposable plates, and leftover chicken bones are everywhere, attracting flocks of seagulls to frantically snatch the food.
On Toronto Island in Canada, however, it's an auditory hell.
Bollywood music blared from dozens of cheap portable speakers, creating a noise war devoid of any aesthetic appeal.
What made the locals even more uncomfortable was the groups of men who walked directly into the lake wearing only ordinary jeans or underwear and shamelessly washed their faces and bodies with the lake water.
They would brazenly scrutinize every woman in a bikini from head to toe with their undisguised gaze, filling the entire environment with an unsettling sense of offense.
Those public spaces that once belonged to everyone seem to have been completely overturned by a more aggressive community culture. It's not a cultural difference, but a disregard for public order.
Fort Lauderdale, on the other hand, still maintains a classic beach order.
Every person and every group here tacitly maintains an appropriate social distance.
The only sounds in the air were the waves, the cries of seagulls, and the cheerful conversations and laughter of people mingling together.
On the beach, muscular young men, carrying surfboards, rushed out to sea, chasing the rolling white waves.
What's even more eye-catching are the groups of girls gathered in twos and threes. They seem to be the most vibrant scenery on this beach, walking sculptures of hormones.
Their skin, whether a healthy wheat color or a carefully tanned honey color, shone with a charming, moist glow under the protection of sunscreen. Fine white sand particles clung to it, refracting golden light in the sunlight.
As they move, the light flows gently along the contours of their shoulder blades and the muscle lines of their long, slender legs, outlining a near-perfect blend of strength and beauty.
The bikini fabric on her body was pitifully small, a simple tie-up swimsuit, with thin knots barely covering the key parts, and the straps crossed in a provocative geometric shape at the back, making one worry that it might break with every stretch.
The high-cut swim trunks generously expose the long thighs and full hip curves to the air, visually stretching the legs to the extreme.
When a girl bends down to pick up a seashell, the spine of her back reveals a beautiful groove that extends downwards and disappears into the depths of her waist, stretched to its limit by her swim trunks.
Another girl lay on a bath towel, lazily turning over from her side to her stomach. This simple movement revealed the defined abs on her waist and the rounded curves where her hips and legs met, creating a picture full of tension.
Their movements were graceful and natural, full of unintentional sexiness. A girl stood up, raised her hands above her head, and gathered her wet long hair into a ponytail. This movement made her already flat stomach taut, and her breasts became more prominent.
The other woman applied sunscreen to her back with the help of her companion. When she arched her back slightly, the shape of her shoulder blades was clearly visible, like a pair of wings about to unfold.
They confidently and generously displayed everything they were proud of. Their laughter was crisp and loud, and their eyes showed no shyness as they openly welcomed all admiring glances.
This scene, woven from sunshine, sweat, youth, and confidence, is a vibrant visual feast!
[P.S.: I tried my best, bro. I even tried bikinis of all three races, censored and uncensored, but all were rejected by the reviewers, and I got a warning.]
Lin Yu'an found a shady spot under a palm tree and sat down against the trunk. He wasn't deliberately spying, but rather appreciating a vibrant scene called life.
Coming from the cold, harsh wilderness of Alaska to this vibrant, hormone-filled paradise, the stark contrast gave him a sense of being in another world.
He spent more than half an hour on the beach before continuing his city exploration.
Drawn by the rich aroma of coffee and roasting, he turned into a side street.
On the street corner, there is a unique little shop called "Ann's Florist & Coffee Bar".
This shop is half flower shop and half cafe, with the entrance filled with blooming orchids, bird of paradise and hibiscus flowers, creating a colorful scene.
Lin Yu'an went inside and ordered an iced Americano and a slice of local lime pie.
"Good choice, young man," a smiling middle-aged woman wearing a floral headscarf said in a friendly southern accent behind the bar. "This is a recipe passed down from my grandmother, guaranteed to be the most authentic taste you can find in Fort Lauderdale."
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"That sounds great," Lin Yu-an replied with a smile. "I'm looking forward to it."
"Is this your first time visiting our city?" she asked, glancing curiously at Lin Yu'an as she deftly operated the coffee machine. "You don't look like an ordinary tourist."
"Yes, this is my first time here," Lin Yu'an said frankly. "I plan to stay here for a while and learn some new things."
"Then you've come to the right place," the woman said, pushing coffee and pie toward him. "Fort Lauderdale may not have much, but it's full of fun."
"Later you can take a ride in one of our water taxis; it's much more pleasant than smelling car exhaust on the street. Let it take you for a stroll on Las Oras Boulevard; you'll love it."
"Thank you for your suggestion, that's exactly what I was thinking." Lin Yu'an picked up the plate and found a seat by the window.
The pie has a refreshing sweet and sour taste with a rich citrus aroma, which perfectly neutralizes the heat of Florida and truly lives up to its reputation.
After saying goodbye to the enthusiastic coffee shop owner, Lin Yu-an accepted her advice.
Instead of going back to the main road to hail a taxi, he followed the directions on his phone's map, walked through a path lined with hibiscus flowers, and arrived at an inconspicuous dock beside an inland waterway.
There is a yellow sign with an anchor symbol on the pier that reads "Water Taxi Stop".
Soon a yellow, open-topped boat slowly approached the shore. This boat was much larger than an ordinary taxi, and the tourists sat comfortably in the seats around it, enjoying the cool breeze from the river.
Lin Yu'an bought a day pass, which meant he could hop on and off at any stop. He found a great spot at the bow of the ship with a wide view.
As soon as the ship leaves the dock, an experience completely different from that on land begins.
The sounds of car engines and horns were gone, replaced by the splashing of boats cutting through the water and the sound of the wind rushing past your ears.
The scenery on both sides of the river was presented to him from an unprecedented perspective.
The ship's guide was a retired captain with a deep bronze tan and wearing a Panama hat.
He clearly knew every inch of this body of water like the back of his hand. Holding a microphone, he began his talk show in a humorous and slightly exaggerated tone.
"Sirs, welcome to the real Fort Lauderdale!"
He pointed to the left bank, "See that ship? A 150-foot Phidias, worth about—well, about a price that all of us combined couldn't afford!"
"Its owner is an old shark from Wall Street who only comes here for two weeks a year. The ship's sole purpose is to tell the neighbors, 'Look, I'm richer than you!'"
The tourists on the boat let out a good-natured laugh.
"Now look to your right," the tour guide's voice rang out again, tinged with mystery. "We call this canal Billionaire Street."
"The total value of the ships docked here might exceed the GDP of some small-time beggars. Tom Cruise filmed here once, in that Spanish-style red-tiled roof building—"
Lin Yu'an's gaze swept over the extremely luxurious mansions and yachts, but his heart was not greatly stirred.
In the wilderness, he had seen snow-capped mountains even more magnificent than this, and the glaciers of Kangmoli.
These wonders, built by human wealth, are certainly amazing, but what truly moved him was a different kind of scene.
Under the shadow of a priceless mega-yacht, he saw ripples appearing on the water's surface.
Immediately afterwards, a huge gray nostril slowly rose to the surface of the water, exhaling a moist breath.
"Oh ho! Look! Our old friend is here to say hello!" the tour guide exclaimed excitedly.
It was a huge manatee, seemingly oblivious to the steel behemoths around it. It simply rolled over in the water docilely and clumsily, then slowly sank down.
Its appearance instantly added a touch of natural gentleness and wild charm to this waterway that was filled with the aura of money.
The tourists on the boat took out their phones to take pictures and exclaimed with delight.
The water taxi stopped at a station called Las Oras.
This is Fort Lauderdale's most famous shopping and art district, where the surrounding architecture has become more refined and elegant. Many uniquely decorated restaurants have sprung up along the riverbanks, where people sit outdoors, enjoying lunch while watching the boats pass by.
Lin Yu-an disembarked here, ready to explore this renowned Buddhist trail.
Gang Gong's brief journey on the water deepened his understanding of the city.
It is not just a city floating above wealth; Kang is a unique paradise that perfectly blends life with nature, civilization, and luxury.
Lin Yu-an walked into a fish shop called "Tark's of LasOlas".
This shop is like a small maritime museum, with everything from professional deep-sea trolling limbs to a variety of gleaming lures and state-of-the-art fish detectors.
The shop owner was an old man with a white beard and a slender build. He was wearing reading glasses and intently oiling a huge fishing reel.
Seeing Lin Yu'an's gaze linger on a row of heavy equipment used for trolling marlin, he looked up and grinned.
"I can tell from your eyes that you're not just some guy who wants to fish for small fish at the dock." The old man's voice was a little hoarse, as if it had been polished by the sea breeze.
"I hope I'll have the opportunity to use them in the future." Lin Yu'an's eyes revealed his appreciation for these powerful pieces of equipment.
"Hopefully we won't catch any Buddhas," the old man put down his work and walked over with interest. "Ready to head out to sea?"
"Yes," Lin Yu'an nodded, "the prime minister said I'm preparing to travel around the world. This equipment is one of my future goals."
The old man's eyes lit up instantly. He re-examined the young man from a foreign country, and his eyes showed a newfound respect.
"Travel around the world? Ha! There aren't many young people saying that these days."
"Those Buddhist bastards just want to take their party yachts, haul a boatload of bikini-clad girls out for a few glasses of champagne, and then brag about conquering the ocean. Bullshit! That's called taking a bath in a vat!"
He pointed to a giant blue marlin specimen on the wall, and the old man's eyes became distant, filled with a sense of pride, as if he had returned to that afternoon when he fought with the giant creature.
"See it? A 320-pound blue marlin, right off the coast of Gonghama. I spent a full five hours with it, and my arm almost broke."
He said in a somewhat crude tone, "Young man, when you watch the fishing line being pulled out like a bullet, feeling that brute force coming from the seabed—"
"You and this sea monster are connected by a thin thread, outwitting and outfighting each other for hours, until finally, you use all your strength to drag it onto the ship's side—"
"That feeling—I guarantee it's more fucking exciting than all the beautiful women you've ever slept with in your life combined!"
Lin Yu'an was amused by the old man's crude yet incredibly infectious narration, but at the same time, he could completely understand the passion contained in the old man's words.
"I can imagine it," he said solemnly.
"Come back to me when you have your boat and are ready to sail out to sea," the old man patted him on the shoulder, as if making a tough promise to pass on his legacy.
"I guarantee I'll provide you with the best equipment, so you can take on any fish you want."
"It's a deal." Lin Yu'an held his calloused hand tightly together.
As he left the fishing shop, he felt that his dream of sailing had gained another solid piece: his father, whose presence carried the salty sea breeze.
An afternoon passed quietly as I strolled around and observed the friendly conversations between the people and strangers.
He didn't visit any famous tourist attractions, but instead, like a sponge, absorbed the city's cultural atmosphere.
In the late afternoon, Lin Yu-an decided to have dinner at a local steakhouse that had a high rating on the map.
I hailed a ride-sharing car, and the vehicle drove through a quiet residential area before merging onto the city's main thoroughfare, the Federal Expressway.
As night deepened, the scenery outside the car window began to change.
The low-rise buildings that looked so strange during the day now seemed to be awakened by the neon lights, exuding a cheap and direct hormonal aura.
The giant Buddha's GG tag features a hot woman with a provocative slogan—"The Cheetah"
Gentlemen'sClub", "SolidGold", "Scarlett'sCabaret" -...
These names shimmered with a warm, ambiguous pink and violet light against the deep blue night sky.
The building itself has few windows, making it appear mysterious and closed off. Only the occasional people moving around at the entrance to the giant parking lot hint at the noise inside.
Along both sides of the road, the windows of adult product stores shone with glaring red lights, and their signs displayed "XXX" and "Adult".
The words "Superstore" were displayed.
Several inexpensive motels displayed "Available" signs, their lights appearing somewhat old and dim.
At a traffic light intersection, the car stopped. Lin Yu'an saw one or two scantily clad, heavily made-up women standing by the bus stop.
Their eyes scanned the passing vehicles, a stark contrast to the healthy, radiant bikini-clad girls on the beach during the day.
One of the women's eyes met Lin Yu'an's, and she gave him a professional smile without any hesitation.
The driver was a slightly overweight Black man in his forties. He noticed Lin Yu'an's gaze and glanced at him in the rearview mirror.
Then, in a nonchalant tone, he said, "Welcome to the other side of heaven, buddy."
Lin Yu'an withdrew his gaze and calmly asked, "The other side?"
"Yeah, man," the driver started talking, clearly happy to educate the outsider.
"During the day we have sunshine, beaches and billionaires' yachts, that's the A-side of paradise for tourists and the rich."
"At night, this place becomes the other side of paradise, a place for ordinary people with cash in their pockets who want to have some fun."
He gestured with his finger towards the flashing neon lights outside the window: "See those clubs? The Cheetah, Solid Gold—they've been around for decades."
"Go inside, the lights are dim, the music is loud, the drinks are expensive, but the girls' figures are absolutely top-notch."
"For twenty dollars, you can buy a dance. A beautiful girl will sit on your lap and dance for the entire length of a song. You can look, you can smell, but you can't touch her—that's the rule."
The light turned green, and the car slowly moved forward. The driver lowered his voice, his tone becoming increasingly mysterious.
"Of course, there are always people who don't follow the rules, or who want more. Then you'll have to go to the VIP room. The price is different there, a few hundred dollars, and the experience is different too."
"As for the specific kind of fun—that depends on how thick your wallet is and how much the girl likes you."
He glanced at the street corner he had just passed: "As for those on the roadside—well, let's just say they're nothing special."
"For a hundred dollars, maybe even a little ecstasy, you can experience the fastest, most emotionless Florida-style passion at the motel next door."
"But I don't recommend it, man. It's dangerous. The police love all sorts of trouble in those places."
The driver's tone was devoid of any moral judgment, as natural as if he were introducing a local specialty dish.
"This is Florida, a place where anything can happen. If you have money, you can buy almost any kind of happiness, whether it's legal or on the fringes of legality."
Lin Yu'an didn't continue the conversation, but simply looked calmly out the window.
The city's philosophy, in contrast to the sun-drenched beaches and exquisite art of Las Oras, creates a striking sense of juxtaposition, yet together they constitute the complete and authentic face of the city.
This warm land is far more complex than he imagined.
A few milliseconds later, the vehicle turned off the main road, leaving the flashing neon lights behind, and the warm lights and well-dressed guests reappeared in front of the restaurant.
It was as if everything that Ganggong had just done was a bizarre and fantastical dream.
The fare had been automatically paid via a mobile app, but before getting out of the car, Lin Yu'an took out a twenty-dollar bill from his wallet and handed it to the driver.
The driver paused for a moment, looking at him with some confusion: "Hey, buddy, the fare and tip have already been paid online."
"I know," Lin Yu'an said calmly. "This is your tour guide fee; your explanation was excellent."
The driver was stunned again, then burst into a deep, hearty laugh.
He took the twenty-dollar bill but didn't immediately put it in his pocket. Instead, he twirled it between his fingers for a moment, and his eyes showed a newfound respect and approval for Lin Yu'an.
"You're pretty savvy, buddy," he grinned, revealing a set of white teeth. "Your twenty dollars bought you more than just the usual gossip and entertainment you all know about."
His tone became more serious, and he leaned forward slightly, as if he wanted to share a secret.
"I can tell you're not the type to cause trouble, but sometimes trouble just comes knocking on your door."
"Dude, as a reward for this twenty dollars, never go alone into those neighborhoods north of Sunset Ford Drive and west of Highway 95, especially at night."
He drew a rough outline in the air with his finger: "That's not Heaven B, that's Hell's rehearsal ground."
"There are no glittering clubs there, only dark alleys and guys hungrier than you. The police don't like going there, and tourists shouldn't go. You get what I mean?"
These words were much more serious than when he introduced the red-light district before, carrying the sincere admonition of someone who had been there.
Lin Yu'an nodded: "I've got it."
"Very good." The driver seemed satisfied with his reaction. He pulled a slightly worn business card from the sun visor and handed it to him.
The business card is simple, with only the name Marcus, a phone number, and a line of small print: (24/7 car service - reliable &
Safety).
Marcus said, "This is my number. I drive all the time, but I don't just drive for hire."
"If you're going somewhere, or need to do something, and don't want to leave a record on the app, or need to—"
A driver who knows the local stuff—call me anytime.
"For the sake of these twenty dollars, I guarantee you a fair price, and I'll make sure you avoid all unnecessary complications."
This goes beyond the scope of an ordinary ride-hailing driver abandoning their vehicle; it resembles a local guide or problem solver acting arbitrarily.
Lin Yu'an took the business card, glanced at it, and put it in his pocket. "Thanks, Marcus."
"You're welcome," Marcus leaned back in his chair, resuming his languid posture. "Now, enjoy your steak. Remember what I said."
"You too, I wish you a prosperous business tonight." Lin Yu'an said, then got out of the car.
That little business card and its twenty-dollar warning might be more valuable than the scenery seen all afternoon.
In this unfamiliar city of Zheli, full of both opportunities and dangers, having a local connection like Marcus who knows the rules is never a bad thing.
After enjoying a perfect dinner, the journey back to the hotel felt like a rewind of that trip to Ganggong.
The flashing neon lights and the tranquil mansions, the images of Paradise A and Paradise B, flashed alternately in his mind, eventually returning to silence.
Back at the hotel, standing on the terrace, looking at the interplay of light and shadow in the distant city lights, I felt an unprecedented sense of tranquility.
Whether it's Paradise A or Paradise B, it's all just a superficial appearance of this city.
What he is about to conquer is the more real and vast blue world beyond all these appearances.