American Hunting: Starting with Solitary Life in the Wilderness

Chapter 312 Madison Garden

The huge walk-in closet was already a warm and busy scene.

Arya and Emily, like two of the most attentive assistants, were preparing Lin Yu'an's luggage for his trip to New York.

"The weather in New York at the end of January... I checked, it's not as cold as here, but it's very windy, you must bring this thickest cashmere sweater."

Emily carefully folded a dark gray Loro Piana turtleneck cashmere sweater and put it into her suitcase.

“And this,” Aria said, picking up a classic Burberry check scarf and wrapping it around Lin Yu’an’s neck without a word, then solemnly adjusting it for him.

"Alright, alright, I'm not going to walk the runway," he said with a smile.

But Aria and Emily seemed not to hear, and Lin Yu'an could only let them do as they pleased, feeling both amused and exasperated.

The real trouble comes from two even smaller guys.

Ethan and Olivia seemed to sense the atmosphere surrounding their father's impending departure.

The two little ones, who had just learned to walk and were still a bit unsteady on their feet, were now following Lin Yu'an around like two little shadows.

Ethan hugged Lin Yu'an's leg, tilting his face up to resemble Lin's, and mumbled, trying hard to imitate the adults' pronunciation: "da da".

Olivia, meanwhile, persistently stuffed the teddy bear that Grandma Abigail had given her into Lin Yu'an's suitcase, muttering "nuru" under her breath.

Lin Yu'an's heart was instantly melted by these two little ones.

He bent down, picked up his two children, and kissed each of them on their chubby little faces.

"Daddy will be back soon with the best candy in New York. Okay?"

Just as he was about to put the children down and continue packing, Ethan, who had been trying his best to imitate his pronunciation with his little mouth, came up.

Suddenly, a word was shouted out in a clear and loud voice.

"Dada!"

These two syllables are clear and standard, full of the unique, pure, and innocent baby voice of a child.

In that instant, the entire walk-in closet seemed to have been muted.

Lin Yu'an's body stiffened.

He slowly lowered his head, looking at his son in his arms, who was looking up at him with a smug expression, and his mind went blank.

He felt as if his heart had been squeezed tightly by an invisible yet gentle and powerful force!
This was the first time his son had truly uttered the title that carried such immense responsibility and honor for him!
An indescribable surge of immense joy and ultimate happiness instantly coursed through his heart and spread throughout his entire body!
He held the little one tightly in his arms and burst into laughter.

But what shocked him even more was what came next.

Seemingly to prevent her brother from getting all the attention, Olivia, who was being held on the other side by her father, watched as her brother received all of their father's attention.

She also pouted her little mouth and, in the same clear but softer and cuter voice, called out another word.

"Mommy!"

She was calling out to Arya and Emily, who were standing to the side, speechless with emotion at the unexpected scene.

That "Mommy" instantly and completely shattered the two mothers' psychological defenses.

"Oh my God..."

Arya and Emily could no longer contain themselves. They rushed forward and each took a treasure from Lin Yu'an's arms, so excited that they were speechless.

He kept kissing their little faces, pressing his cheeks tightly against their soft hair.

Tears of joy streamed uncontrollably down Arya's cheeks. The moment she had been waiting for had arrived so unexpectedly and surprisingly.

The dressing room was filled with the giggles of babies and the sobs of mothers.

"Did you hear that, Emily?" Arya cried, laughing and crying as she hugged Olivia. "She called me! She called me Mommy!"

“I heard it!” Emily hugged Ethan, her face streaked with the same tears, but her smile was radiant. “Ethan too! He called me Daddy! Oh, my little genius!”

They were like two girls who had received the best gift in the world, sharing this unparalleled joy with each other.

Lin Yu'an stood aside, looking at the women he loved and the two little ones in their arms who had given him a new meaning in life. His heart was filled with unprecedented satisfaction and peace.

After a long while, he slowly stepped forward, stretched out his arms, and tightly embraced the four most important people in his life.

"Alright, alright," he said gently, wiping away the tears from Arya and Emily's faces with his fingertips. "This is such a wonderful surprise, why are you crying?"

Arya hugged Olivia, snuggled against him, and said in a sweet, nasal voice.

"I'm so happy! You have no idea, we've been teaching them every day for almost two months, and these two little guys just won't say a word!"

Emily also raised her tear-streaked face and looked at Lin Yu'an, her eyes sparkling with happiness.

Perhaps touched by the children's first experience, she stroked her still flat stomach.

Her face radiated a maternal glow and tenderness that she herself was unaware of.

This extremely subtle movement was immediately noticed by the equally observant Arya.

A knowing and tender look flashed in Arya's eyes. She gently placed her hand over Emily's and whispered with a smile:

"Don't worry, darling. Soon we'll hear the little one in your belly calling you that too."

These words, full of sisterly warmth, made Emily nod subconsciously.

Lin Yu'an stretched out his arms and tightly embraced the four most important people in his life.

A wry smile, tinged with a mixture of helplessness and happiness, appeared on his face. "Alright, my darlings, if I don't leave soon, I'll miss my flight."

Sean O'Connor, the security chief outside, had already warmed up a black Cadillac Escalade ESV.

He personally served as the driver to ensure Lin Yu-an's absolute safety and privacy during the trip.

That day, Lin Yu-an rode in a car driven by Sean to Jackson Hole Airport, the largest airport in Wyoming, and from there transferred to first class to go to his final destination—New York.

After several hours of flight, when Lin Yu-an arrived in New York, the international metropolis was already lit up.

Without a moment's rest, he headed straight to his destination—Madison Square Garden.

A brand new rehearsal awaits him.
The official performance began one day later at Madison Square Garden in New York.

The stadium, hailed as the world's most famous stage, was already packed to capacity.

Nearly 20,000 fans from all over the world gathered here, their glow sticks forming a purple sea.

On stage, Justin Bieber had just finished a high-energy dance track, and the atmosphere in the entire venue had reached its first climax.

However, in the bustling backstage area, the atmosphere was completely different in a heavily guarded VIP lounge.

"Lin, are you sure you want to do this?"

Justin Bieber's manager, Scooter Braun, was frowning as he looked at the elegantly dressed Eastern man before him, his tone filled with confusion and a hint of worry.

“Scooter, we already agreed on this.” Lin Yu’an’s voice was calm and steady.

He was facing a huge floor-length mirror, adjusting the wide sleeves of his deep red Ming Dynasty-style robe adorned with a qilin emblem.

The mirror reflects a figure that seems out of place in this modern backstage space filled with the textures of metal and glass.

“I know we agreed!” Scout paced around the room, somewhat irritated. “I thought you just wanted to wear… well, a jacket or shirt with Chinese elements.”

"But this..."

He pointed to the elaborate and solemn dress Lin Yu'an was wearing, which was almost like a museum artifact, and didn't know how to describe it.

“This is a bit too…retro, Lin. The audience here is here to see Justin’s pop music concert, not a history and culture exhibition.”

"If you sing an English pop song while wearing this outfit, it will give the audience a sense of temporal and spatial dislocation."

Lin Yu'an turned around, looked at this top agent who wielded immense influence in the North American music scene, and gave a faint smile.

“Scooter, you forgot, this moment is very special to me.”

His gaze passed through the window of the lounge and looked towards the distant east, as if he could see that land he had longed for.

"At this moment as I step onto the stage, in my hometown of China, it is already the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year."

"The sound of firecrackers there may have just subsided, and every household is visiting relatives and friends, exchanging New Year's greetings. The whole country is immersed in the joy of the New Year."

He gently stroked the ornate cloud pattern woven with gold thread on his robe.

"And I want to bring this festive blessing from the East to this stage and share it with my friends in New York."

"So, Scout, this outfit isn't vintage; it's just for the occasion."

"Don't forget, today is the Chinese New Year. On such a joyous day, wearing our nation's most solemn attire is just right for the occasion."

"Oh, damn it! I almost forgot about this!"

“Lin, thank goodness you reminded me. I need to go and remind Justin right away about the word ‘New Year’ so we don’t forget this part later.” “Scooter, there’s one more thing, and it’s the most important thing.”

"What?" Scout turned around, somewhat puzzled.

Lin Yu'an's gaze became more serious and sharp than ever before.

"I need you to confirm what the New Year's greetings are written on Justin's script."

Scout paused for a moment, then instinctively replied, "Shouldn't it be Happy Lunar New Year?"

"No." Lin Yu'an's answer was firm and decisive, leaving no room for negotiation.

He looked at Scout, who looked puzzled, and said solemnly, word by word, "Scout, today, I, a Chinese man, am standing on a stage in New York, wearing traditional Chinese clothing."

"To celebrate the most important festival of our Chinese nation for thousands of years, what I want to hear is the purest and most direct 'Happy Chinese New Year'."

"Lunar New Year is a vague term that attempts to erase cultural roots. Chinese New Year, on the other hand, is about respecting facts and history."

These words were filled with unquestionable confidence and stance.

Scout looked at the young man in front of him for a long time, then nodded and said, "I understand. I will personally oversee the director and the teleprompter."

“I assure you, Lin, tonight, all that will come out of Justin’s mouth and on all the subtitles will be Chinese New Year.”

On stage, Justin Bieber ended his ballad segment amidst deafening cheers.

He picked up the microphone, a mysterious smile on his face, and said to the nearly 20,000 audience members, "Thank you everyone! The next song is very special to me."

"Because I will be welcoming one of my most respected friends, a true legend, to share this stage with me."

"He is not a singer, but he taught us what courage and protection are through his experiences."

"He has just returned from a frozen hell. Now, please give my brother, Lin Yu'an, a warm round of applause!"

As Justin began his introduction, the lights in the entire venue suddenly dimmed.

Only a single, solitary, pure white spotlight shone from behind the stage.

In that beam of light, a tall figure slowly rose from the elevator platform.

When Lin Yu-an's figure first appeared in its entirety on the stage of Madison Square Garden, the entire venue fell into an extremely eerie silence that lasted for three seconds.

All the cheers came to an abrupt halt at that moment.

Nearly 20,000 pairs of eyes were filled with disbelief and shock as they stared intently at the figure in the center of the stage.

It was a king they had never seen before, a king who seemed to have stepped out of a distant, mysterious Eastern epic.

He wasn't wearing modern clothes, but rather a magnificent and solemn deep red ancient robe that they couldn't describe in words.

He wore an elegant black crown, which made him appear exceptionally tall and dignified.

He didn't wave or smile at the audience like other celebrities.

He simply stood there quietly, his gaze calmly sweeping over the sea of ​​purple fluorescent light below the stage.

That composure, that demeanor, that kingly aura that reigns supreme, instantly captivated the entire venue.

Meanwhile, in the YouTube live stream room where millions of viewers around the world gathered, the barrage of comments exploded instantly!

[My God... what are those clothes? They're so cool! Like the outfits in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon!]

Who is he? Is he a prince from some Asian country? He has such a powerful aura!

[This is Lin?! He has even more presence than he does on TV! This outfit is a million times more stylish than any luxury brand suit!]

However, amidst the praise, some discordant voices began to emerge, especially in the comment sections of the live streams in South Korea.

Wait, is this our Hanbok? The round-necked robe and the rank badge are typical features of our Goryeo Dynasty! Is this Lin Korean?

[That's right! It must be Korean! Only our oppa could be so perfect!]

He looks very handsome, but I must point out that he is Chinese, and he is wearing traditional Korean clothing!

[As expected of the Republic of Korea! Our traditional clothing is so beautiful!]

These remarks instantly ignited the fury of Chinese female netizens, who are known for their sharp wit and ability to engage in online arguments! A cyber war over cultural ownership had already begun before Lin Yu'an even opened her mouth!
[Hey, you bunch of Koreans upstairs, if you don't want your eyes, you can donate them to someone in need; if you don't want your mouths, you can use them to make kimchi! This is a standard Ming Dynasty round-necked robe with a qilin insignia!]

[Something that even the King of Goryeo had to kneel and kowtow to, and now it's yours?]

[Hilarious! Saying this is Hanbok? I suggest you check your own Annals of the Joseon Dynasty and see what your king wore when he visited the Ming Dynasty.]

[The person upstairs is right, but they probably won't see it; their country has already deleted that part of history. Hahaha.]

[Where is the science popularization team? Don't waste your breath on them! Show them the pictures! Throw the unearthed artifacts, portraits, and records from the "Veritable Records of the Ming Dynasty" regarding the bestowal of clothing by princes and dukes right in their faces! Teach them a lesson with high-definition, uncensored, irrefutable evidence!]

Sisters, don't lower your standards by arguing with an illiterate person. Let's just watch the show quietly. I believe Lin Shen will definitely take action himself! Since he's wearing Hanfu on this stage, he's absolutely prepared for a good slap!

[Exactly! Let them gloat for a while, then I'll show them what a cultural superpower's overwhelming power is like! I can't wait to see them break down!]

[Selling sunflower seeds, cola, and small stools in the front row! Get ready for a live broadcast of the massive breakdown by netizens from the cosmic realm!]

After a brief silence came cheers and screams that were more intense than ever before, like a volcanic eruption!
Lin Yu'an stepped forward and gave Justin Bieber a tight hug. "Thank you, Justin."

"No, I should be thanking you for being my concert guest, Lin. This stage belongs to you now!"

Justin completely relinquished the center stage to him.

Lin Yu'an walked to the microphone stand, and the entire venue fell silent again.

He looked at the young and expectant faces below the stage and slowly began to speak. His voice, transmitted clearly to everyone's ears through the top-notch sound system.

Good evening, New York. I'm Lin Yu-an.

"Before coming here, I spent more than fifty days in a place where there was no human habitation."

"There I saw the most extreme loneliness, and I also saw the most fragile life."

"Today I want to dedicate this song to all those beautiful things that we once had but are afraid of losing."

After he finished speaking, he nodded slightly to the band backstage.

A steady, heartbeat-like prelude of arpeggios on an acoustic guitar slowly begins.

There are no intense drumbeats, no elaborate instrumentation, only the purest notes, full of storytelling.

Lin Yu'an closed his eyes, and when he spoke again, his voice contained no hint of showing off, only a magnetic and sincere delivery.

"For a while there, it was rough."

(There was a time when life was extremely difficult.)
"But lately, I've been doin' better."

(But lately, I've been doing much better.)
His singing instantly drew everyone into the emotions he created.

“I thank God every day, for the girl He sent my way.”

(I thank God every day for the girl He sent to me.)
The smiling faces of Arya and Emily appeared in his mind.

"But I know the things He gives me, He can take away."

(But I know that what he has given me, he can also take away at any time.)
The song's emotions begin to build slowly and gradually.

When the chorus came, all the emotions he had been holding back erupted like a volcano!

"So I pray I enjoy it, this side of the soil!"

(So ​​I pray that I can enjoy all of this to the fullest while I am still alive!)

"'Cause the beautiful things that I've got, please don't ever let me lose!"

(Please don't let me lose these beautiful things I have!)

It was a heart-wrenching cry, full of struggle and pleading!

He was no longer a performer on a stage; he was just an ordinary person making the most humble prayers to God, to fate, and to all unknown beings!

At that very moment, the enormous LED main screen at the back of the stage, which resembled a city skyline, quietly lit up.

The scene doesn't feature glamorous stage effects, but rather a desolate Labrador coastline covered in ice and snow.

Immediately afterwards, a small, fluffy white figure stumbled into that vast white world.

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(The monthly passes for next month will be distributed after 00:00! Updates will be at 22:00 sharp. There will also be a bonus chapter for monthly passes, which is about Lin Yu'an and Ailiya's university days.)
[Note, note, you must vote with your monthly pass after the extra chapter is updated at 00:00 to unlock and see it!!!]

[The relevant chapters are below chapter 269.]

(End of this chapter)