bdsm-fiction Chapter 152 The Low-Key Versailles
Chapter 152 The Low-Key Versailles
Chapter 155: The Understated Versailles
Lin Yan knew that Alexander, as the head of the Americas, usually oversaw everything from New York. His personal flight to Minneapolis this time was definitely not just for picking him up at the airport and delivering his ticket. But since he hadn't reported it to Lin Yan, it meant that the matter was under his control and Lin Yan didn't need to worry about it at the moment.
So, after Alexander finished his report, Lin Yan said to him, "Go do what you need to do. You don't need to follow me. Just let Ethan follow me."
A knowing glint flashed in Alexander's eyes—"I knew I couldn't hide it from the young master"—and he bowed slightly respectfully. "Yes, young master. If you need anything, please contact me through Yin." With that, he turned to Ethan, and the two exchanged a quick, knowing glance. Alexander then turned and got into another waiting car, quickly leaving the airport.
Ethan quickly arranged the luggage, guided Lin Yan and the others to the most spacious luxury car in the middle, and sat in the passenger seat himself. The entire convoy then drove away from the airport, heading towards downtown Minneapolis.
The distance from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport to the Hyatt Hotel in downtown Minneapolis is about 20 kilometers. The convoy drove for about 25 minutes before smoothly stopping in front of the hotel's grand entrance.
As soon as the car came to a stop, Ethan got out first and swiftly and gracefully opened the door for Lin Yan. At the same time, the uniformed doormen at the hotel entrance also quickly and efficiently stepped forward to open the car doors for Lin Gang and Li Wenbin and Zheng Jiaming in the following vehicles.
Ethan pulled a ten-dollar bill from his wallet in the inner pocket of his coat and handed it naturally to the head doorman, saying in a calm voice, "Take good care of your luggage and provide the best service."
The doorman took the bill, which was far more than the usual tip amount, and his face instantly lit up with a delighted smile. He straightened his back involuntarily and said repeatedly, "Thank you, sir! Please rest assured that we will provide you and your friend with the most attentive service!" He immediately waved to his companion, who quickly began unloading the luggage and even ran into the lobby to push the luggage cart, showing remarkable attentiveness.
Lin Yan, accompanied by Li Wenbin and Zheng Jiaming, led the way into the hotel lobby. Having stayed in countless top-tier hotels before and after his transmigration, he was already immune to the standard luxury decor of the Hyatt. He merely glanced casually at the high ceilings, the gleaming marble floors, and the dazzling crystal chandeliers before heading straight to the luxurious sofa in the lounge area and sitting down with an air of nonchalance.
In contrast, Li Wenbin and Zheng Jiaming couldn't help but take a few more glances. Although Hong Kong was already bustling, this was the first time they had personally stayed in such a large and grand modern international chain luxury hotel. Li Wenbin couldn't help but whisper to Zheng Jiaming, "Jiaming, look at this lobby, it's magnificent! It's even taller than the Peninsula Hotel's lobby!"
Although Zheng Jiaming didn't say it as directly as Li Wenbin, his eyes revealed appreciation and a sense of broadening his horizons. He nodded slightly in agreement, feeling that he had indeed gained some knowledge.
Ethan didn't stop. He gestured for Lin Gang to accompany Lin Yan, while he took everyone's passports and identification documents and went directly to the front desk to check in. With his abilities and the pre-arranged reservations, the process was naturally efficient and error-free.
Soon, Ethan returned with several exquisite keys. "Young Master, Young Master Li, Young Master Zheng, the rooms are ready on the top floor. Your luggage will be delivered directly to your rooms."
The group took the elevator directly to the top floor. The suite's luxury was self-evident; the spacious living room, comfortable bedroom, and panoramic city views through the floor-to-ceiling windows drew further praise from Li Wenbin.
Lin Yan said to his two friends, "You must be tired after a long flight. Go back to your rooms and rest for a bit. We'll meet up again in a few hours, and Ethan will take us for a stroll around the city. The main event is the ball game tomorrow afternoon."
After making the arrangements, everyone temporarily separated to rest and recharge for the upcoming city tour.
Ethan had booked the historic Murray's Steakhouse. At six o'clock in the evening, the convoy pulled up in front of the restaurant, where uniformed doormen greeted them. Stepping inside, the dark wood paneling, soft amber lighting, and tables covered with snow-white tablecloths created a classic yet understatedly luxurious atmosphere. The air was filled with the subtle aromas of mature steaks, spices, and cigars, accompanied by the clinking of silver cutlery against porcelain plates and hushed conversations.
Ethan gave his name to the head waiter, who immediately and respectfully led them to a reserved, quiet booth. He whispered to Lin Yan, "Young master, their 'Silver Coin Steak' is the most famous dish; it's said to be so tender it can be cut with a butter knife. Also worth trying are their premium ribs and the seafood platter served before the meal."
Lin Yan nodded slightly and said to Li Wenbin and Zheng Jiaming, who were curiously looking around, "When you get to America, your first proper meal should always be the most authentic steak."
Li Wenbin and Zheng Jiaming thoroughly enjoyed their dinner at Murray's Steakhouse. The rich juices and unique flavor of the top-quality steak truly allowed them to experience authentic American dining culture.
Li Wenbin put down his knife and fork with satisfaction, took a sip of water, and said to Lin Yan with a hint of appreciation, "Yan, the steak here is delicious, the cooking time and sauce are impeccable. But I don't know if it's just my preconceived notions, but I feel... compared to your sister Yuling's cooking, it seems to lack something I can't quite put my finger on. However, the quality of the beef itself is truly excellent!" He paused, then added, "Speaking of which, the beef your Lin family sells at the 'Anju Grain and Oil' supermarket in Hong Kong is also particularly delicious, but the texture is completely different from this."
Upon hearing this, Lin Yan exchanged a smile with Ethan, who was standing to the side and behind him. He picked up a napkin to wipe his mouth and explained, "Wenbin, you have quite the tongue. It's mainly due to the different breeds of cattle and cooking methods. We Chinese usually use yellow beef in our daily cooking, which has a firmer texture and emphasizes flavor absorption and chewiness, making it suitable for stir-frying or stewing. Westerners, especially when eating this kind of steak, use specialized beef cattle, such as Angus and Wagyu, which have richer and more evenly distributed intramuscular fat—the so-called marbling. This kind of beef is more tender, and the fat melts after high-temperature grilling, which is why it tastes so tender and juicy. Both have their own merits."
At this point, Lin Yan revealed a mysterious smile, lowering his voice as if sharing a secret: "Actually, I'm not afraid to tell you, the beef used in this restaurant is sourced from my family's agricultural company in the United States—'Golden Harvest.' How could the quality of beef from our own source be anything but good?"
Upon hearing this, Lin Yan himself suddenly realized that the "Golden Harvest" company, controlled by the cultivators of the Americas Group, had likely already established a de facto monopoly in the high-end food market in North America by leveraging the superior ingredients produced through the space. This unintentional remark had precisely exposed the tip of the iceberg of its business empire.
Upon hearing this, Li Wenbin and Zheng Jiaming exchanged a shocked glance.
Li Wenbin, being a carefree and easygoing person, had always assumed Lin Yan came from a wealthy family and was a good friend, never delving into the details. Zheng Jiaming, however, was more perceptive. He had long been curious about Lin Yan's background, but out of respect for his friend, he had never inquired about it while in Hong Kong. He had initially assumed Lin Yan was like them, a wealthy young man whose family had some business empire in Hong Kong, perhaps even more successful. Seeing even someone like Fok Ying-tung treating Lin Yan with considerable courtesy further confirmed this assumption.
But Lin Yan's casual remark just now, and what he had witnessed over the past few days—besides Lin Gang and Wang Yuling, all of Lin Yan's entourage, drivers, and even the distinguished and capable Ethan before him, were all white, and their respect for Lin Yan was genuine—completely overturned his understanding. They had grown up in wealthy circles and knew all too well that in 1959 America, mere wealth could not possibly make so many white elites so willingly and systematically serve a young Chinese man. The power, influence, and infiltration behind this were self-evident.
Lin Yan has always maintained a very low profile, even living a somewhat reclusive life in Hong Kong. He dislikes socializing and rarely interacts with women, except for the two of them, suggesting they share similar temperaments. It's likely that Lin Yan genuinely dislikes trouble.
Unable to contain his intense curiosity, Li Wenbin mustered his courage and asked, half-jokingly and half-seriously, "Ah Yan, what...what exactly does your family do? We all know that your Lin Group is booming in Hong Kong. But...does it also have such a large-scale industry in the high-end grain and oil market in the United States? Enough to directly supply these top-tier restaurants?"
Lin Yan was momentarily stunned by the question, thinking to himself, "How am I supposed to answer this? Should I just tell you that my family has a stake in every lucrative industry in the world, from gold mines in Africa and oil wells in the Middle East to banks in Switzerland? That's too much like Versailles, and it feels shameful to flaunt wealth..."
He hesitated for a moment, then decided to choose something relatively easy to say and handle it vaguely.
"Ahem," Lin Yanqing cleared his throat, adopting a disdainful look like a spoiled rich kid, and waved his hand. "Oh, it's really nothing. It's just that my family owns some farms and ranches in the US and Canada, doing grain and oil import and export, and some dock and freight business. We've got quite a few operations. Our relationship with the local government... is pretty good, which makes doing business easier." He deliberately concluded in a nonchalant tone, "Anyway, I'm not interested in any of this, and I can't be bothered with it. I just want to eat, drink, have fun, and live a carefree life. How wonderful is that?"
Seeing Lin Yan's obvious reluctance to discuss the matter and his attempt to evade the issue, Li Wenbin and Zheng Jiaming exchanged a knowing look. They knew Lin Yan wasn't truly as idle as he appeared; it was merely a facade to avoid delving deeper into the topic. As friends, they respected this discretion.
Sitting to the side, Ethan and Lin Gang listened to their young master describe the vast commercial empire, powerful enough to influence the world's economic landscape, with such disdain. While their faces remained respectful, they couldn't help but feel a sense of utter speechlessness: "Young Master, you make it sound so easy. A simple 'live and wait to die'—we, the people below, are practically running our legs off just to keep this massive system running..."
Although the conversation in the restaurant did not completely unveil Lin Yan's mysterious veil, it thoroughly confirmed in the minds of Li Wenbin and Zheng Jiaming the unfathomable and astonishing strength behind their friend that spanned East and West.