harleyscars Chapter 92 Night Harbor's Glamour
Chapter 92 Night Harbor's Glamour
Having spent over half a month in the spatial realm engaging in "practical training" with demonic beasts, Lin Yan's mind remained constantly on edge. He decided to take a short break to relax. With a thought, he took Xiao Qi back to the Deep Water Bay villa.
To avoid attracting attention, he had Xiao Qi change its form. With a flash of light, the majestic divine beast disappeared, replaced by a fluffy, round, black-eyed "little puppy," with only its pupils occasionally flashing with golden light revealing a hint of its extraordinary nature.
Xiaoqi looked down at her furry little paws. She was a little unaccustomed to staying in the space for too long without transforming, but the excitement of being able to go out and play was quickly replaced by the excitement.
Lin Yan smiled and instructed Lin Gang to prepare the car. The black luxury sedan drove out of Deep Water Bay and merged into the traffic of Hong Kong Island at night. Outside the window, colorful neon lights outlined the contours of Hong Kong's nightlife in 1958.
"Young Master, where to?" Lin Gang asked, skillfully gripping the steering wheel.
"Let's go to Happy Valley and watch the night races," Lin Yan said, leaning back comfortably in the back seat. Hong Kong has a long history of horse racing. Since its introduction by the British in the 1840s, it has gradually evolved from a club activity for colonists into a city-wide event. Happy Valley Racecourse was Hong Kong's first racecourse, and night races have become increasingly popular due to their ability to avoid the daytime heat and their more entertaining atmosphere.
As the car entered the Happy Valley racecourse, the atmosphere instantly became bustling. The racecourse was brightly lit and teeming with people at night, even more so than during the day, exuding a decadent and extravagant atmosphere. At the entrance, crowds thronged, with scalpers whispering and hawking horse racing tickets, while newsstanders waved their still-wet "horse racing guides," shouting, "Latest insider information! Guaranteed win!" Various discussions and shouts mingled together.
The air was thick with the scents of cigars, sweat, cheap perfume, beer, and the restless atmosphere of gambling. There were well-dressed managers of trading companies, elegant ladies in silk cheongsams, sweat-soaked laborers, shrewd speculators, and even gangsters with their henchmen… a diverse mix of people, all their emotions swayed by the massive wooden scoreboard and the distant racetrack.
Lin Gang parked the car, while Lin Yan, carrying Xiao Qi disguised as a puppy, went straight to the members' section. The environment here was relatively better, with soft chairs and coffee tables, and waiters bustling around providing service, but it was still filled with an atmosphere of tension and anticipation. Xiao Qi looked around curiously in his arms, its spiritual sense clearly perceiving the complex emotional waves of fervor, greed, anticipation, and disappointment swirling within the room.
"Brother, the thoughts in their heads... are so noisy," Xiao Qi transmitted her voice, sounding a little disgusted.
"Yes, this is the voice of desire," Lin Yan replied calmly, his gaze sweeping over the scoreboard. The rules were simple: "Single Win" (guess the first place), "Position" (guess the top three), "Winning Streak" (guess the order of the top two), etc., with odds fluctuating according to the amount wagered.
A new round of betting began. People flocked to the betting window, waving banknotes.
"Buy size three! It's in good condition!"
Trust me! Number 7 is an underdog, the odds are high!
"Damn it! I lost terribly last time, I'm going to win it all back this time!"
A burly man in a floral shirt and gold chain, accompanied by two henchmen who looked like thugs, squeezed next to Lin Yan. He shouted at the window, spitting as he spoke, "Buy number five 'Lightning Boy' and win! Five hundred dollars!" Five hundred Hong Kong dollars was a considerable sum at the time, drawing a murmur from those around him. The man proudly raised his head, glancing at Lin Yan, who stood beside him with a calm demeanor, seemingly still playing with a dog, his eyes filled with a hint of smugness and disdain.
Lin Yan ignored him and calmly said to the approaching waiter, "Buy me number eight 'Chasing the Wind,' a one-way win, for ten thousand Hong Kong dollars."
The sound wasn't loud, but it was like a stone thrown into water, instantly silencing the surroundings. Ten thousand Hong Kong dollars! In an era when the average worker's monthly salary was only a couple hundred dollars, this was an absolute fortune! Countless gazes instantly focused on the impossibly young, impeccably dressed, yet carrying a small dog—a handsome young man. There was shock, envy, and, most importantly, naked greed.
The fat on the man in the floral shirt twitched, clearly feeling intimidated and losing face. He snorted and muttered under his breath, "Pah! Let's see how you die! Number Eight? Your condition is appalling!"
Lin Yan seemed not to hear, took the betting ticket, stuffed it into his pocket without even looking at it, and continued to calmly watch the game. Xiao Qi yawned boredly in his arms.
"Ring ring—!"
The gate bell rang! The entire venue erupted in chaos!
The horses charged forward! The neighing, the clatter of hooves, the jockey's shouts, and the deafening cheers of the crowd merged into a massive wave of sound!
"Charge! Number Five!"
"Hold on, Number Three!"
"Number Eight! Is Number Eight sleepwalking?! The worst student ever!"
The man in the floral shirt shouted hoarsely for his number five, veins bulging in his neck. Lin Yan's number eight, "Chasing the Wind," did indeed have a poor start and fell to the back.
The man in the floral shirt glanced at Lin Yan smugly when he had a spare moment.
However, as they entered the final corner, a sudden change occurred! Number eight, "Chasing the Wind," seemed to awaken abruptly, and under the jockey's urging, it began to overtake at an astonishing speed from the outside rail! One, two, three... closing in on the leader, number five!
The entire room erupted in uproar! The man in the floral shirt turned green with rage!
The final sprint! The two horses raced side by side! At the finish line, "Chasing the Wind" crossed the line first with a slight advantage of half a horse's head!
"Number eight! It's number eight! What a huge upset!" the broadcaster excitedly announced.
"Yay!!" The person who bet on the underdog screamed with joy.
"Damn it! Number Five, go eat shit!" Many others cursed, including the man in the floral shirt, who angrily threw the horse tracker to the ground.
The waiter respectfully presented Lin Yan with a large stack of banknotes on a tray, speaking in an extremely humble tone: "Sir, congratulations! This is your prize money." It was more than ten times the original amount, exceeding 130,000 Hong Kong dollars.
Lin Yan remained calm, casually pulled out a large bill and handed it to the waiter as a tip, then casually picked up the thick stack of money and handed it to Lin Gang behind him.
This scene completely enraged the man in the floral shirt next to him, who was blinded by greed after losing all his money. The huge disparity in their fortunes, jealousy, and anger over the financial loss drove him to irrationality. Seeing that Lin Yan was so young, dressed so elegantly, and carrying so much cash, with only a man who looked like a driver or attendant (Lin Gang) by his side, he regarded him as a "fat sheep" that he could easily manipulate.
"Kid! Are you cheating?!" He suddenly stepped in front of Lin Yan, his face full of ferocity. Two henchmen also surrounded him with unfriendly expressions. "How could you be so accurate! There must be something fishy going on! If you know what's good for you, give me half! Otherwise..." He clenched his fist threateningly, his intentions were all too clear.
The surroundings fell silent instantly, and many people quickly stepped back, fearing they might get into trouble. The security guard at the members' section seemed to recognize the man and hesitated to approach.
Lin Yan finally looked at him properly, his eyes calm and unwavering, as if he were looking at an insignificant object. He didn't even bother to speak.
Lin Gang behind him moved. He made no unnecessary movements, simply stepping forward silently to block Lin Yan's path. He didn't release any aura of cultivation, but his murderous eyes swept coldly over the man in the floral shirt and his henchmen, instantly enveloping them with a tangible, battle-hardened, and terrifying killing intent.
The man in the floral shirt and his henchmen were instantly struck dumb, feeling as if they were being stared at by a prehistoric beast, their blood practically freezing. Their street-smart instincts kicked in, frantically calling the police, telling them that this silent man was extremely dangerous, a terrifying presence they absolutely couldn't afford to mess with!
Lin Gang didn't make a move; he just looked at them with the same gaze one would give a dead man.
Lin Yan, carrying Xiao Qi, walked past them without even glancing at them again. Only after his young master left did Lin Gang withdraw his gaze, coldly glancing at the group before picking up the bag of money and following closely behind.
Only after Lin Yan and his group had gone far away did the man in the floral shirt catch his breath, almost collapsing from exhaustion, his back already soaked in cold sweat.
"Boss... are you alright?" the henchman asked in a trembling voice, equally shaken.
"N-nothing...it's nothing..." The man's voice trembled. He glanced fearfully in the direction Lin Yan had disappeared, no longer daring to entertain any further thoughts. "Damn it...where did this monstrous intruder come from...it was terrifying..."
After leaving the noisy horse farm and getting back into the car, Xiao Qi grumbled, "Brother, why didn't you let Lin Gang beat them up earlier?"
Lin Yan rubbed its head, looked at the dazzling night view outside the window, and smiled faintly: "There are people like this everywhere. Just scare them a little. What's the point of crushing a few buzzing flies? It just gets your hands dirty. Come on, I'll take you to try some authentic wonton noodles."
The black sedan smoothly merged into the night, leaving behind the frenzy and greed of Happy Valley.
After putting the sleeping Xiao Qi back into his spatial dimension, Lin Yan instructed Lin Gang to drive to To Lo Chi Road in Wan Chai.
Stepping into the ballroom, the expected extreme luxury didn't materialize; instead, there was an understated elegance and a perfectly balanced atmosphere. The interior wasn't lavishly decorated, but attention to detail was evident. The most striking feature was the circular dance floor, surrounded by brass pillars that shimmered with a warm glow under the slightly hazy lighting, becoming the ballroom's most unique visual focal point. The gleaming wooden floors reflected the soft light from the ceiling lights. The walls were decorated with artwork and mirrors, cleverly expanding the visual space.
The air was filled with a faint scent of tobacco, the delicate fragrance of fine perfume, and the aroma of light tea, blending into a unique yet pleasant aroma. There was no smell of strong liquor (at this time, Du Laozhi did not have a liquor license and only served tea, melon seeds, and snacks), which distinguished the atmosphere from the later noisy nightclubs, making it more elegant and hazy.
A live band played soothing jazz or contemporary music, the volume just loud enough to drown out whispers without interfering with conversation. On the dance floor, several couples danced together, their manners refined, more of a display of charm than a passionate outpouring.
As rumored, the patrons inside were mostly impeccably dressed and wealthy. There were tycoons in bespoke suits and impeccably styled hair; elegant ladies in cheongsams and pearl necklaces; and also some refined intellectuals and seemingly unassuming yet commanding industry professionals. They mostly spoke in hushed tones, their demeanor composed, maintaining a restrained distance and the etiquette of high society. Well-mannered waitresses in plain cheongsams moved silently among the guests, carrying trays of tea and dishes of red and black melon seeds. Occasionally, a "candy girl" with a candy dish around her neck would stroll by, selling chewing gum, chocolate, and other snacks.
Lin Yan sat down in a relatively quiet booth, and a waiter immediately came forward and respectfully handed him the tea menu—yes, the main feature here was the tea menu. He ordered a pot of Longjing tea, and then, through the spatial imprint in his mind, he contacted Lin Er.
Within fifteen minutes, Lin Er appeared at the entrance of the ballroom. He was still wearing a well-tailored suit, exuding an elite air, and quickly located Lin Yan's position before striding over.
"Young Master." Lin Er bowed slightly, then sat down on the sofa opposite Lin Yan at Lin Yan's gesture. He was slightly surprised that the young master had suddenly summoned him to such a place, but he showed no emotion on his face.
"Sit down, take a look around." Lin Yan gestured for him to relax, his gaze still sweeping over the dance hall with interest.
A waiter served Lin Er a cup of tea. Lin Er picked up the teacup, his gaze quickly and professionally assessing everything around him, and said in a low voice, "This is Du Laozhi? It's much quieter than I imagined. The business model is very special; it relies on tea, snacks, and the service fees of the girls to support itself, yet it manages to become a top-notch place."
Lin Yan gently blew away the floating leaves on the tea, took a sip, and found the taste acceptable. "Hmm, what we're selling isn't just alcohol, but style, class, and networking." He paused, his gaze seemingly piercing through the scene before him, a faint trace of reminiscence in his eyes. "Looking at this place reminds me of a place I used to occasionally visit in New York."
"Oh? What is it you mean, young master?" Lin Er asked at the opportune moment.
"Manhattan, Madison Avenue, a place called Core Club," Lin Yan said calmly. "It's different there. Utterly modern, private, and...resourceful. A strict membership referral system; members are mostly top figures in finance, technology, and real estate. The design is minimalist yet expensive, emphasizing privacy. There's no huge open dance floor; instead, there are more private meeting rooms, restaurants, and spas. They don't talk about romance; they only talk about deals, information, and resource integration. The quiet there is a different kind of repression and aloofness."
Lin Er listened carefully. Although the name "Core Club" didn't match any of the existing clubs in Hong Kong or Europe that he knew, he wisely didn't ask any questions and simply assumed it was his young master's knowledge from his "past life." "It sounds like a more direct and efficient 'social arena'."
"You could say that," Lin Yan put down his teacup. "That place is a cold furnace of capital and power, while here..." His gaze swept over Du Laozhi's ballroom again, looking at the reserved smiles, elegant dance steps, and subtle exchanges under the dim lights. "This place is more like a carefully woven dream from the old era, using decorum and etiquette to wrap desire and networking. Each has its own flavor."
Just then, a graceful waitress in a purple cheongsam approached carrying a small dish with several packets of chewing gum in different flavors. "Sir, would you like some chewing gum?" she asked softly, her smile perfectly timed.
Lin Yan waved his hand, and the young lady nodded politely and left.
"It seems there are quite a few 'value-added services' here," Lin Er commented.
"It's just a way to survive," Lin Yan said calmly. "When you can't sell alcohol, you have to find a way to increase revenue. This is also an interesting glimpse into Hong Kong's nightlife in this era."
The two sat quietly for a while, sipping tea, watching the figures swaying on the dance floor, and listening to soft whispers and gentle songs. Lin Yan seemed to be experiencing a unique kind of prosperity and romance of this era, one that would soon fade with time.
For him, who had experienced the cold numbers of Wall Street and the efficient social interactions of elite clubs, this was a novel experience tinged with nostalgia. But whether it was the cold crucible of capital or the warm, romantic dream, it was like observing a miniature social model through a pane of glass.
"Let's go." Lin Yan stood up. "We've experienced the charm of this place enough."
Lin Er immediately stood up and left a tip that far exceeded the cost of the tea.
The three of them walked out of Du Laozhi Ballroom one after the other, leaving the gentle neon lights and hustle and bustle behind. For Lin Yan, this brief immersion was enough.