hollywood billionaire

Chapter 554 A Wonderful and Fulfilling Day

Han Yi did not exaggerate.

When he and Xu Yiru finally left Argossi, they had purchased an astonishing twenty-one items.

Besides the five books I found on the first floor and the signed document from John Adams, there was also the original poster for the 1968 Beatles animated musical film "Yellow Submarine," a sketch portrait of Abraham Lincoln from 1865, a 1917 U.S. Army recruitment advertisement for World War I, Alexander Hamilton's extremely rare "Reynolds Manual," Ernest Hemingway's autographed first edition of "A Farewell to Arms," ​​Isaac Newton's "Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy" published by Symonds Press in London in 1803, and a map of Crete drawn by the famous 15th-century cartographer Giovanni Orlandi in 1602... It was a wide variety of items, encompassing everything imaginable.

Among them, Han Yi's favorite was Winston Churchill's *The Second World War*, a first edition published by Kassel Press in London in 1948. The book consists of six volumes; four volumes have brown spots on the edges, and the red paint on the top of the fifth volume is severely faded. The lower edge of the title page of volume two is also worn, with slight tears at the edges. Logically, a book in such good condition shouldn't have fetched a high price of $11000.

However, the first page of the first volume contains Churchill's inscription from 1950.

This inscription clearly indicates that this is a personal complimentary copy, not a standard first edition sold in bookstores.

Looking at the inscription "Winston S. Churchill's inscription, 1950" on the first page in cursive script, Han Yi felt a surge of exhilaration, as if he were personally stepping into history. He had read many history books related to World War II, but he had never opened a memoir written by one of the main leaders of the Allied powers.

Han Yi decided that this book, "Memoirs of the Second World War," would be the work he would immerse himself in reading on his flight to London tomorrow.

Of course, I was reading the digital version downloaded from Amazon, not these six volumes of old books that were almost falling apart.

He had other plans for these six old books.

He decided that after the renovation of Passaraqua was completed, he would send them to the shores of Lake Como and place them in the Churchill drawing room he had carefully prepared for the hotel, for visiting guests to admire.

The legendary figures of history had formed a strange connection with the estate he had purchased, and this feeling of gradually moving towards the heart of human civilization stirred Han Yi's heart. He was certain that what he was experiencing at this moment in Argossi was a sense of accomplishment and honor that no amount of designer jewelry or luxury clothing could provide.

On the other hand, Xiaoru's favorite collection is also related to a historical figure.

This historical figure was active not during World War II, but during the Cold War.

She and her husband were the most influential couple in the world during the 1960s, almost unparalleled.

Jacqueline Kennedy.

The two met in Argossi with a letter personally signed by the First Lady of the United States in 1962.

More precisely, this is a historically significant letter signed by the First Lady. The two-page letter, written on official White House letterhead, provides CBS News reporter Charles Collingwood with a carefully revised draft of her narration for the award-winning television documentary, "Following Mrs. John F. Kennedy on a Visit to the White House," which was scheduled to air on February 14, 1962.

This groundbreaking documentary recorded Jacqueline Kennedy's tour of the White House with Charles Collingwood. Through this broadcast, the American public witnessed for the first time Jacqueline's assistance in directing the $2 million White House restoration project. Even more remarkably, Jacqueline personally participated in the negotiations for broadcasting rights, ultimately securing a rare and unprecedented arrangement where CBS, NBC, and ABC jointly invested in and broadcast the program on a daily basis.

The program attracted a total of 8000 million viewers and was broadcast simultaneously in more than 50 countries worldwide. According to the Museum of Broadcasting and Television, "Following Mrs. John F. Kennedy on a Tour of the White House" was also the first primetime documentary specifically aimed at female audiences.

All of this is proof of Jacqueline's exceptional organizational, negotiation, and public relations talents as a presidential partner. Even stripped of the "First Lady" aura, this petite yet resilient woman is a remarkable public figure.

This is why, even though her husband's term lasted only two years, Jacqueline Kennedy consistently ranked high on various media outlets' lists of "the greatest First Ladies." Her historical reputation is second only to Eleanor Roosevelt, who co-chaired the White House with her husband for 12 years and won World War II; Abigail Adams, John Adams' most important political advisor and an advocate for abolitionism and women's rights; and Dolly Madison, who refused to evacuate Washington during the British occupation in 1814, showing greater courage than her husband who fled, and ultimately preserving many historical artifacts for the White House.

In fact, Jacqueline Kennedy was named America’s most admired woman in Gallup’s annual polls for five consecutive years from 1962 to 1966, even though the last four years were actually Lyndon Johnson’s term.

Xu Yiru cherished the letter. Her fingertips, hidden beneath her gloves, gently traced the faded pages, as if she could feel the warmth left by Jacqueline as she wrote furiously in the White House study.

She carefully examined the elegant and flowing handwriting on the letter. The meticulous revisions regarding wallpaper selection, donor lists, and artwork display all demonstrated a woman's rigor and wisdom at a critical historical moment.

This is no longer just a letter.

It became a mirror reflecting one's inner self.

Her gaze unconsciously shifted to Han Yi, who was confirming packaging details with the shop assistant. Gazing at his focused profile, Xu Yiru realized once again with unwavering clarity that this man she had chosen might one day truly stand at the pinnacle of some field, just like John F. Kennedy, changing the rules of an industry, or even multiple industries.

This realization had once made Xiaoru feel uneasy or insignificant, but at this moment, in the face of Jacqueline Kennedy's letter, it unexpectedly aroused an unprecedented desire.

She didn't have to be a disregarded embellishment under Han Yi's dazzling spotlight. She too had the opportunity, like Jacqueline, to be a powerful supporter when her partner needed her, and to carve out her own niche in her chosen field. The entertainment industry, art collecting, cultural dissemination—this era offered countless stages to showcase talent. Jacqueline rewrote media rules in 1962 with a television program; why couldn't Xu Yiru leave her own mark on this era?

The thought, like a seed, fell into her heart and quietly took root. Xiaoru gently put down the picture frame containing the letter, her movements solemn and appreciative.

For her, Jacqueline's letter had transformed from a historical artifact to a silent game of chess across time and space.

Engage with outstanding women of the past, and make a pact with your future self.

She knew the road ahead wouldn't be easy, and she was also aware that her inner turmoil wouldn't completely dissipate with just a letter. How to conduct herself, how to define her relationship with Han Yi, how to walk alongside him... these questions still required time, experience, and even pain and hardship to slowly answer.

But compared to Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, who was forced to leave the White House half a century ago and wandered alone for thirty-two years, carrying the heavy burden of history throughout her life, the younger Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis at least had more freedom of choice and a broader stage.

With this in mind, Xu Yiru naturally walked to the counter and took over the follow-up communication matters.

She skillfully confirmed the details of cargo transportation and commercial insurance with Deborah, her tone gentle and her manner clear, as if handling such matters was already her daily routine.

Having acquired so many items, the two naturally wouldn't carry them back themselves, even though the bookstore wasn't far from One57. Argossi arranged a delivery service for them; before 8 p.m. that evening, three staff members would deliver the twenty-one items to the apartment reception, and then the concierge would transport them to the lobby of Unit #79 to complete the handover.

As for Ms. Deborah, who had just boasted that she could remember everything, she obediently took out her notebook when Han Yi announced the sixth item to her. She followed behind the two of them, along with a dumbfounded Tony, introducing the origin and details of each item while recording the details of the items selected by Han Yi and Xu Yiru.

During this time, Deborah also secretly instructed Tony to return to the counter and call Albert downstairs, asking him to inquire with the store manager whether it was really possible to sell so many collectibles at once.

The answer is undoubtedly yes. After all, if it were something Argossi didn't want to sell, it wouldn't have been priced and displayed in the top-floor showcase.

Moreover, the total price of the twenty-one items that Han Yi and Xu Yiru selected today was $133450. Compared to the average person's spending on books, that's undoubtedly an astronomical sum; after all, very few people in the world could spend millions of RMB in a single bookstore visit. However, from the perspective of collecting antiques, this expenditure isn't so astonishing.

Not to mention the other collections Han Yi acquired at Christie's and Sotheby's, there are countless treasures with even higher price tags in Argosy's Brooklyn warehouse.

Take, for example, the book "Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy" that Han Yi purchased. Argossi listed the price of this book at $12000, while another book by Isaac Newton, "Optics, or On the Reflection, Refraction, Bending and Color of Light," can sell for a full $10.

reason?

The copy Han Yi bought was a reprint from the early 19th century, while the copy of "Optics" in Argosy's collection was the first edition published in 1704 by Smith & Wolfe Press.

In other words, when this book was published, Newton was still alive and was being fiercely criticized by much of the European academic community, especially Robert Hooke, for his innovative theories.

These rare ancient books, which are hard to find elsewhere, are Argossi's prized possessions that he would not easily sell.

Of course, after a full year of living the life of a billionaire and being bombarded with reward cashback, Han Yi had already passed the stage of looking at price tags when buying things.

Today, he is neither elated by the $1.5 million Klimt nor saddened by the $13.34 rare books. The rewards and cashback are endless; whether he buys $1 million or $1, he gets a cashback, so there's no need to worry about the amount of any single purchase. Even with small individual spending, given the power of time, his wealth will eventually balloon to a level unimaginable to most.

Han Yi now pays more attention to the positive significance of the things he buys for himself, the people around him, and even the world, and is more able to appreciate the multiple pleasures that consumption brings.

This improvement is faithfully reflected in the cashback multiplier he received.

“大通账户：MC94H11Y11 LLC.于05/17/2016 11:43:22 PST向账户(6102)存入$400350.00，该笔存款超过你警告设置中$2500的限额。”

"Jet Free Risk Control Information: Was the $400350.00 deposited just now your transaction? Reply 1 to confirm, or reply 2 to call the Jet service hotline. Reply STOP to unsubscribe."

A purchase of $133450 resulted in a cashback of $400350.

Triple reward.

It seems that for a reading enthusiast and history buff, the satisfaction of owning a signed copy of "The Second World War Memoirs" by the Prime Minister is indeed much stronger than simply buying a Patek Philippe watch.

Next, such rare items will become Han Yi's main focus.

"Yi Yi." Having received no response from her boyfriend after their previous casual conversation, Xiao Ru looked up at Han Yi across the table, his gaze fixed on his phone screen with a strange smile playing on his lips. Her expression turned somewhat wary. "Who are you chatting with?"

This direct questioning was unusual for Xu Yiru, who was usually reserved and tactful, and would intentionally leave room for Han Yi to maneuver. However, their relationship had indeed made a substantial breakthrough, both spiritually and physically.

She felt that as a girlfriend, while she wouldn't go so far as to snatch the phone and check up on her boyfriend, asking him such a question when he was clearly distracted shouldn't be considered excessive.

As a dating novice who has never experienced love, Xiaoru is trying to adapt to her new intimate relationship, new way of getting along, and new private life with Han Yi.

“I wasn’t chatting.” Han Yi naturally understood why Xu Yiru had asked that question. To prevent her from accumulating more doubt and anxiety, and ultimately doing something like sneaking through his phone while he was asleep—a move that would immediately trigger a nuclear-level catastrophe—Han Yi had to prove his trustworthiness in every moment of temporary innocence. He held the phone frame with one hand to prove he hadn’t secretly swiped the screen, then flipped the phone over to show Xu Yiru the text message from JPMorgan Chase, “I was looking at the deduction record just now.”

"No need to show me, I'm just asking." Although she said that, Xiaoru's previously tense eyes relaxed considerably, and smile lines reappeared.

Xu Yiru, who is always tactful, did not focus on the text message content, but a quick glance was enough to confirm that what he said was true.

"If you're not in a particular hurry, let's wait a bit and see... otherwise the noodles will get cold."

It was 2:07 PM when they left Argosy Bookstore. The lunch rush had passed, and many restaurants had already closed, not reopening until sunset. After a brief discussion, the two, starving, hailed a yellow taxi, told the driver to go to East 46th Street, and arrived at Ippudo Fifth Avenue store at number 24 on that street ten minutes later.

What the two really wanted to eat was Ichiran Ramen, but in 2016, the ramen chain had just opened its first North American location in Bushwick, Brooklyn. Although it was also within the New York metropolitan area, it was at least a half-hour drive from their location in the heart of Manhattan. For Han Yi and Xu Yiru, who were going to MoMA later, there was really no need to travel that long distance and then wait in a long line with enthusiastic New Yorkers.

Therefore, Ippudo became a middle-of-the-road choice that wouldn't go wrong. The food was served quickly, the taste was decent, and it was just five blocks south of the Museum of Modern Art. After eating, they could leisurely walk to the Museum of Modern Art to continue their date.

After enjoying their ramen, Han Yi and Xu Yiru joined the afternoon crowd at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). Although Han Yi personally preferred the Metropolitan Museum of Art's profound and classical atmosphere, he thoroughly enjoyed his time at MoMA—because Xiaoru beside him clearly showed a strong interest in the innovative and vibrant modern art there.

For the next two hours, they were completely immersed in their own world. They wandered side-by-side through the exhibition halls, silently contemplating Mondrian's precise geometric compositions, exchanging knowing glances beneath Dali's distorted clock, and feeling the pulse of life amidst Matisse's bold and wild blocks of color. There were few words exchanged; they simply felt each other's presence amidst the tranquil pavilions and bustling crowds, their occasional whispers melting into the soft light.

Time slipped away quietly as they strolled through the art world, until the Manhattan skyline outside the window was bathed in a warm golden hue by the setting sun. They lingered long before Van Gogh's "Starry Night," their souls seemingly rising and falling with the swirling nebulae and tranquil village on the canvas, before finally joining the flowing crowds. Xu Yiru took Han Yi's hand and whispered, "There's one more place we can't miss."

She led him through the tail end of the crowd to MoMA’s famous giant floor-to-ceiling window.

At this moment, nearing 5:30 PM closing time, this place has almost become a forgotten haven, with tourists sparsely scattered, leaving only a few silhouettes. The glass wall that reaches all the way to the sky acts like an invisible barrier, clearly and poetically separating the pure white interior from the hustle and bustle of Manhattan outside.

The Abby Aldridge Rockefeller Sculpture Garden outside the window, with its simple lines and tranquil pool, blends perfectly with the modern buildings behind it, like a meticulously composed and breathing three-dimensional painting, presented flawlessly before their eyes.

The distant skyscrapers outline Manhattan's iconic skyline, while the nearby streets are bustling with traffic. All of this creates a wonderful symbiotic relationship with the tranquil art gallery inside the window.

One is the ultimate in movement, the other is the ultimate in stillness.

One is the warmth of everyday life, the other is a spiritual home.

The setting sun, with an almost generous gesture, cast its rich golden rays obliquely through the transparent glass, showering Xiaoru's face and hair without reservation. Her skin seemed to become the finest canvas, rendered with a warm, supple texture by the light. The gentle warmth made her squint slightly, contentedly immersing herself in this tranquility so rare on Manhattan Island.

They stood side by side in silence, watching the city slowly sink into twilight outside the window. After what seemed like an eternity, Xiaoru suddenly turned around, reached out and gently hugged Han Yi, burying her face in his shoulder, her voice tinged with an unmistakable somberness and guilt:

"Yi Yi, I'm sorry."

Han Yi was slightly taken aback, and instinctively wrapped his arm around her, asking softly, "What's wrong? Why are you apologizing?"

“I…” Xiaoru’s voice lowered even further, “I could have stayed in New York a few more days, spent more time with you, but… I couldn’t bear to leave Mom alone in Taipei, so I wanted to go back sooner and spend more time with her. You know, ever since that incident, she’s been living alone in Taipei. She misses me but can’t see me, she can only call me on video every night. Grandma’s health isn’t good, and besides work, she has to take care of her, so…”

Upon hearing this, Han Yi tightened his arms around her, gently rubbing his chin against the top of her head. His voice was gentle yet firm: "Silly girl, what's there to apologize for? No matter what, family comes first. Being filial to your mother is a matter of course. I not only support you, but I also feel sorry for you. Otherwise, why would I have arranged for a private jet to send you home? Wasn't it so that you wouldn't have to endure such a bumpy and tiring journey, and could get some rest?"

He paused here, his tone becoming even more resolute.

"We have a lifetime ahead of us. So there's no need to worry or rush things."

Hearing the word "a lifetime," Xiaoru's heart felt a gentle, bittersweet sensation, as if something had struck it. She lifted her face from his embrace and looked into his ever-smiling eyes.

At this moment, the setting sun, radiating its last brilliant rays, shone unreservedly into her eyes, making Xu Yiru's already clear pupils even more dazzling and bright, as if they were filled with crushed starlight, or as if they had melted the entire warm sky.

In that flickering light, there was emotion, attachment, a deep feeling of being touched by the promise just made, and a trace of hope for the future—still somewhat bewildered, yet already irrepressible.

"Thank you, Yi Yi baby. I have seen and remembered all the kindness you have shown me."

"You stay here... wait for me patiently, I promise I will fly back to your side as soon as possible."

"Three weeks won't be long, it'll be over in the blink of an eye... Close your eyes, open them again, repeat this twenty-one times, and you'll see me again."

"Very soon..."

Xu Yiru leaned on Han Yi's shoulder and murmured softly, repeating similar words over and over again. It seemed that she was comforting the latter, but in fact she was trying to comfort herself.

The closing announcement played softly at that moment, bringing a perfect end to the two's day spent alone in Manhattan.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the Museum of Modern Art in New York will be closing in fifteen minutes. Please proceed to the exit on the first floor. Thank you for your visit, and we look forward to seeing you again."

"I hope you had a wonderful and fulfilling day here."

(End of this chapter)