Courtyard Houses: From Bronze Compasses to Global Reach

Chapter 285 Happy 18th Birthday

The living room wasn't large, but it was clean and tidy. Old Mr. Burke sat in his usual slightly worn armchair, his back straight, trying to maintain the dignity of the head of the household, but his slightly forward-leaning posture and clenched fists betrayed his inner tension.

"Lin... classmate," he cleared his throat, choosing a formal form of address, "first of all, thank you for inviting Tom to Paris; it's a rare opportunity for him. Although our Burke family isn't wealthy, we've always taught our children not to accept too much favor from others without reason." His words were direct, carrying the simplicity and stubbornness of the working class.

Lin Yan sat upright, with a humble smile befitting a junior: "Mr. Burke, you can just call me Lin. I completely understand your concerns."

He glanced at Tom, who was standing beside him, his palms sweating with nervousness, and then turned to old Burke in a sincere tone: "But, Uncle, I think you should have a little more faith in Tom's character."

This statement made the old Burke pause for a moment.

Lin Yan continued unhurriedly, "Since I've known Tom, he's never asked me for anything except for the Chinese food my family's chef makes." He made a small joke to ease the tense atmosphere.

"On the contrary," Lin Yan's tone became more serious, "I remember once when I was in a bad mood because of some personal matters, Tom used the pocket money he had saved from working at a gas station during the summer vacation to drag me to Times Square for an afternoon, spending all his savings, saying that this would cheer me up. So, please don't worry at all that Tom will become a greedy and insatiable person because of my family's wealth. The fact that he can do this shows that your family education has been very successful; he understands that the true meaning of friendship is mutual care, not one-sided demands."

Old Burke's clenched fist loosened slightly without him realizing it. He glanced at his son, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

Lin Yan seized the opportunity to steer the conversation to a deeper level: "As for this trip to Paris, I do have my reasons. Mr. Burke, Tom is now in 12th grade and will soon face the crucial choice of going to university or entering the workforce. I believe that at this age, it would be very helpful for him to go out and see the world and meet outstanding people from different industries to find his true interests and future direction."

He leaned forward slightly, his gaze earnest: "This isn't just a vacation. My brand launch will involve meeting designers, marketing experts, and media professionals. I hope Tom, Mike, and Daniel can experience firsthand the process of creating a project from scratch, and see how the real world works beyond the books. This might help them plan their future more clearly."

After Lin Yan finished speaking, a brief silence fell over the living room. Mrs. Burke came over with the coffee and gently touched her husband's arm.

Old Burke took a deep breath, and when he looked at Lin Yan again, most of the wariness and doubt in his eyes had disappeared, replaced by a solemnity after being persuaded, as well as gratitude.

"Son," his voice was much gentler than before, "you're right. It was me... my old mind just couldn't quite grasp it." He finally showed his first genuine smile of the evening, though it was somewhat stiff. "Tom is lucky to have a friend like you. This time... I'll have to trouble you to take good care of him."

Tom, sitting beside his father, finally felt relieved upon hearing his father's words, and was so excited he almost jumped off the sofa. He knew they had won the "Battle of Paris."

December 13, villa on New York's Upper East Side

In the evening, Lin Yan returned home from school, and a warm smile appeared on his lips the moment he opened the door.

The interior of the villa had been meticulously decorated by Charles and Wang Yuling. Exquisite red paper-cut window decorations, featuring auspicious bats and peaches, adorned the clean glass windows. Several elegant Chinese silk lanterns hung in the porch and a corner of the living room, emitting a soft, festive glow that blended seamlessly with the villa's original Western-style decor, creating a unique and warm holiday atmosphere. Today was his 18th birthday.

"Happy birthday, young master!" Charles and Wang Yuling greeted him with smiles.

To his even greater surprise, Lin Yi and Lin Er had also rushed over from Hong Kong and were standing in the living room. Upon seeing him, they both bowed and said, "Young Master, Happy Birthday!"

They brought generous gifts from three elders: Tang Bingyuan, Li Yaozu, and Zheng Yizhi. These gifts consisted mostly of elegant antiques and top-quality tonics with profound meanings. The words on the gift list were filled with the elders' expectations and care.

In addition, congratulatory telegrams from Li Wenbin, Zheng Jiaming, and Tang Liuqian from Paris had already been sent, filled with familiarity and blessings among the partners.

As evening fell, Tom, Mike, and Daniel arrived as invited. The three boys, dressed in their most formal attire, were taken aback by the familiar yet unfamiliar luxurious and warm scene upon entering, appearing somewhat reserved until they saw Lin Yan's warm smile, at which point they relaxed.

Instead of a formal Western-style long table, a large round table was used for the dinner, which was more conducive to creating a sense of closeness. The table was laden with Chinese delicacies carefully prepared by Wang Yuling, and cutlery was thoughtfully provided for the three American teenagers.

The gift-giving ceremony brought the dinner to a heartwarming climax.

Tom, a little embarrassed, pulled out a carefully wrapped, long, flat box containing a well-preserved autographed trading card of early Yankees legend Mickey Manto. "Lin, I know you don't need anything, but… you said you liked the Yankees. This is something I saved up my allowance for a long time and begged my cousin for ages to get. Hope you like it!"

Mike's gift, however, was entirely personal—a thick, seemingly old, hardcover edition of "World Classic Rock and Roll Scores and Band Histories." "Hey Lin! This book records the essence of rock and roll! I folded the corners of my favorite parts; once you learn to play them, you have to play them for us!"

Finally, it was Daniel's turn. He adjusted his glasses and handed over the most "plain"-looking manila envelope, inside which was a hand-drawn and bound booklet titled "A Simple Guide to Aerospace Knowledge and Model Making," richly illustrated and written in neat, meticulous handwriting. "Lin," he said earnestly, "based on your learning ability model, I believe this material will most efficiently help you get started. It also contains my calculations of the optimal material ratios and optimized steps required to make a high-precision aircraft model."

The three gifts were completely different, yet they all embodied the effort of his friends, who understood his preferences, and were even slightly "above" their means. Lin Yan's heart was filled with a deep sense of warmth.

He accepted each gift with great care, sincerely thanking each of them and saying that it was one of the best gifts he had ever received.

The dinner proceeded in a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere. Tom and Mike raved about the Chinese food, while Daniel showed great interest in the construction of the lanterns. Lin Yi and Lin Er also relaxed, watching the group of young people joking around with a smile.

Amidst the cheers of his friends and the approving glances of the housekeepers, Lin Yan blew out the cake candles.

Loyalty across the ocean, the love of elders, the support of partners, and these three pure and sincere friendships. On this New York night enveloped in Chinese warmth, he spent an ordinary yet incredibly precious 18th birthday. The feeling of home was so tangible and warm.