Courtyard Houses: From Bronze Compasses to Global Reach

Chapter 165 The Best Gift and Tang Liu's Visit

Chapter 168: The Best Gift and Tang Liuqian's Visit

Lin Yan returned home under the moonlight. The villa was brightly lit, and Li Wenbin and Zheng Jiaming were chatting on the sofa. When they saw him return, they immediately invited him over.

"Ah Yan, you're finally back! Come and sit down." Li Wenbin patted the seat next to him.

Lin Yan smiled and walked over to sit down. Xiao Qi jumped onto the sofa on her own and found a comfortable spot next to him, curling up into a ball.

Li Wenbin leaned closer, a hint of mystery and anticipation on his face, and asked, "Ayan, next month is your birthday. Tell me, what kind of gift do you want? I'll buy it for you!" He patted his chest and said generously, "I'll give you all the pocket money I have left this year!"

Looking at his earnest expression, Lin Yan felt a warm current wash over him. He knew that Wenbin and Jiaming were four years older than him, but they hadn't officially joined the family business yet, and all their expenses were still covered by pocket money from their families. This money could certainly allow them to live comfortably in Hong Kong, but in America, especially in New York, it wasn't necessarily much. Yet Wenbin's intentions were incredibly pure, like a child wanting to share all the candy with his best friend, which was precisely why Lin Yan particularly enjoyed associating with him. Jiaming, on the other hand, was much more reserved and composed, with a more meticulous mind; he was a gentle and refined gentleman, but his concern was equally sincere.

Lin Yan was touched, but he deliberately smiled teasingly and said, "A gift? Wenbin, do I look like someone who's lacking something?" He shrugged and looked around the luxurious yet stylish living room. "The fact that you all traveled halfway around the world to come and celebrate my birthday with me is the best and most precious gift I could receive. This sentiment is more valuable than anything else."

Upon hearing this, Li Wenbin was initially taken aback, a slight hint of disappointment flashing across his face as if he hadn't been able to help. But then he realized Lin Yan was right; he truly seemed to lack nothing. Moreover, Lin Yan's words implied that he valued their friendship more than any material possession. Thinking this, his initial disappointment vanished instantly, and he quickly cheered up, nodding vigorously: "You're right! Friendship is priceless!"

Seeing that he had regained his energy, Lin Yan smiled and changed the subject: "By the way, I have something to tell you. Today at my elders' house, I made a new friend. You may already know his name."

"Who is it?" Li Wenbin's curiosity was piqued.

"His name is Tang Liuqian," Lin Yan said. "You may not know him personally, but you've definitely heard of his father."

"Tang Liuqian?" Li Wenbin was still pondering when Zheng Jiaming, who was next to him, had already realized what was going on.

"Tang Liuqian..." Zheng Jiaming pondered for a moment, a hint of understanding flashing in his eyes, and continued, "Is he the young master of Uncle Tang Bingyuan's family? My father took me to visit him at his residence in Repulse Bay a few years ago." He turned to Li Wenbin, who was still somewhat bewildered, and explained, "He is the famous 'Textile King' of Hong Kong, Uncle Tang Bingyuan."

"Oh—! So it's Uncle Tang's family!" Li Wenbin suddenly realized, slapping his thigh hard. "That's a real big shot! Ah Yan, your social circle is getting more and more impressive!"

The living room was filled with a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere. Good friends reunited, and new friends were made. This New York night felt especially warm.

The next morning at ten o'clock, Lin Yan and Zheng Jiaming returned from playing tennis with Xiao Qi in Central Park. Both of them had a light sheen of sweat on their foreheads from the exercise and radiated sunshine and energy. Li Wenbin, still half-asleep, came downstairs and, seeing their energetic appearance, immediately complained, "Hey, you two went to play tennis without inviting me! That's so unfair!"

Zheng Jiaming wiped his sweat with a towel and said with a helpless smile, "Forget it, Wenbin. This morning, Xiaoqi was scratching at your door, shouting until her throat was hoarse, but you still didn't wake up. We can't keep waiting for you."

Lin Yan added with a smile, "That's right, Xiao Qi is more diligent than you." The little guy let out a timely "woof," as if to express his agreement.

Knowing he was in the wrong, Li Wenbin awkwardly touched his nose. Lin Yan and Zheng Jiaming then went back to their rooms to shower and change.

Lin Yan had just finished showering and changed into comfortable casual clothes, his hair still slightly damp, when he heard Charles knock lightly on the door and come in to announce, "Young Master, a young gentleman named Tang Liuqian and a Ms. Yang have come to visit. They say they are your friends."

"Quickly invite them in and take them directly to the living room," Lin Yan instructed, and then went downstairs.

Charles responded and left. A moment later, he led Tang Liuqian and Yang Xi'en into the living room.

Tang Liuqian and Yang Xi'en entered the living room, their eyes quickly and subtly scanning the surroundings. Despite their distinguished backgrounds and extensive knowledge, the grandeur of Lin Yan's residence still stirred something within them.

Unlike many mansions that flaunt wealth, this place exudes no ostentation. Understated luxury permeates every detail: beneath your feet lies a top-quality Persian carpet, soft to the touch, with intricate patterns yet subdued colors; against the wall sits a set of modern sofas with minimalist lines, yet the leather and craftsmanship immediately reveal their designer origins; hanging on the wall is not a gold-framed oil painting, but a Chinese ink painting with a profound and evocative atmosphere, creating a wonderful harmony with the overall modern feel of the space; outside the huge floor-to-ceiling windows lies a meticulously maintained, lush private courtyard, sunlight streaming through the clean glass, making the entire space feel bright, tranquil, and vibrant. A subtle, elegant fragrance permeates the air, not a strong perfume, but more like the natural aroma of some precious wood or spice.

Everything here isn't a display of wealth, but rather a natural expression of an extreme pursuit of quality of life, ingrained in one's very being. It requires profound cultural background and impeccable taste to create. Tang Liuqian and Yang Xi'en exchanged a knowing glance, both seeing a hint of surprise and admiration in each other's eyes.

"Brother Liu Qian, Sister Xi En, welcome, welcome!" Lin Yan greeted them with a smile. "This is Zheng Jiaming, and this is Li Wenbin. They are both good friends from Hong Kong."

Tang Liuqian immediately composed himself and put on a warm smile.

Zheng Jiaming extended his hand to Tang Liuqian first, his demeanor composed and his words appropriate: "Brother Liuqian, hello, I am Zheng Jiaming. My father, Zheng Yizhi, mainly operates shipping trade between Southeast Asia and Hong Kong. His company, 'Jiesheng Shipping,' has several regular routes to Southeast Asia. A couple of years ago, I had the honor of having my father take me to visit Uncle Tang at his residence. Uncle Tang's refined and elegant demeanor left a deep impression on me."

Li Wenbin warmly extended his hand, his smile beaming: "Brother Liuqian, Sister Xi'en, hello! My name is Li Wenbin, and my father is Li Yaozu. Our family is in the real estate and construction business; 'Longsheng Real Estate' is my father's company. Hong Kong is now overcrowded with limited land, and there's never enough housing. My father often says, 'Only with a stable home can one have a peaceful life.' Welcome to Ah Yan's home; please don't be shy!"

Tang Liuqian shook hands with both men, and upon hearing their fathers' names and their businesses, a warm smile spread across his face: "So you are the sons of Mr. Zheng and Mr. Li! My apologies for not recognizing you sooner. Uncle Yi's fleet is renowned, and my father often mentions Uncle Yaozu's achievements in the real estate industry. It's such a coincidence that I'd meet two family friends here in New York with Xiaoyan!"

Yang Xi'en smiled and nodded to Li Wenbin and Zheng Jiaming.

Through Lin Yan's introduction, several young people from similar backgrounds quickly found common ground in a foreign land, making the atmosphere in the living room even more lively and natural. Yang Xi'en greeted them generously, then her gaze was drawn to Xiao Qi, who ran over, and she bent down to gently stroke it.

After a brief introduction, everyone took their seats in the comfortable and spacious living room. Charles promptly served the guests carefully brewed tea. The sunlight was perfect, streaming through the windows and filling half the living room. New and old friends gathered together in a relaxed and harmonious atmosphere.

The group was chatting happily in the living room on the first floor, occasionally bursting into laughter; the atmosphere was very harmonious. Then, Wang Yuling quietly arrived at the living room door and respectfully inquired, "Young Master, excuse me, do you and your guests have any particular dishes you'd like to have for lunch today?"

Lin Yan then realized how quickly time had flown by, and it was already close to lunchtime. He looked at Tang Liuqian and Yang Xi'en and asked, "Brother Liuqian, Sister Xi'en, do you two have any dietary restrictions? Or is there any cuisine you'd particularly like to try?"

Tang Liuqian smiled and answered on behalf of the two of them: "Xiao Yan, you're too kind. Neither of us has any dietary restrictions; we eat everything. Just do as the host says, and you can arrange things accordingly. There's no need to go to any special trouble."

No sooner had he finished speaking than Li Wenbin, sitting beside him, couldn't help but excitedly "promote" the food: "Brother Liuqian, Sister Xi'en, you wouldn't believe it! Sister Yuling's cooking is absolutely amazing! We can't find such delicious and authentic Chinese food even in Hong Kong!" He got more and more excited as he spoke, "And most importantly, the ingredients at Ah Yan's house are absolutely—" He gave a thumbs up, his tone confident, "I dare say they're the best ingredients in the world! I guarantee you'll never forget them after eating them, and you'll want to come back again!"

Zheng Jiaming, who was listening nearby, felt that Li Wenbin's words were a bit too direct and exaggerated, and worried that it might cause inconvenience to Lin Yan, so he gently nudged him and whispered a reminder: "Wenbin, that's enough."

Li Wenbin then realized that he had probably said too much, and looked at Lin Yan somewhat embarrassedly, afraid that he had caused him trouble.

Lin Yan observed all of this, gave Li Wenbin a reassuring look, and said in a relaxed tone, "It's alright, Wenbin is just telling the truth, there's nothing wrong with saying it. Yuling's cooking skills and our family's ingredients are indeed worth praising." His words affirmed Li Wenbin, but also carried a sense of natural ease, as if this were just a very ordinary matter.

Upon hearing this, Tang Liuqian and Yang Xi'en exchanged another knowing glance. Li Wenbin's straightforward praise, coupled with Lin Yan's calm yet confident demeanor, solidified their belief that "Xiao Yan's family background is definitely not simple." The power behind such a confident claim of possessing "the best ingredients in the world" likely far exceeded their imagination.

Lin Yan then turned to Wang Yuling, who was waiting for instructions, and said, "Yuling, then prepare a table of your signature dishes as is customary at home, so that my friends can all taste your cooking."

"Yes, young master." Wang Yuling bowed slightly and quietly withdrew to prepare the sumptuous lunch in the kitchen.