With no other men left in the hall, the three women began to focus their attention on their cousin, Yan Yun Mountain.

That gaze showed compassion, pity, amusement, schadenfreude — all kinds of emotions played out in their eyes. Although the muscles on their faces didn't pull into smiles, you could tell from their twitching faces how desperately they wanted to laugh at this moment.

After greeting them, cousin Yan Yun Mountain barely said three sentences before he was silenced by a series of baffling remarks. First, Lin Ruyu inexplicably burst into laughter upon his entrance. Then his aunt ordered the removal of the refrigerator, forbidding anyone to drink its beverages. Following that, Lin Tian and the guy named Ye Hao engaged in a mysterious conversation. Lastly, Lin Tian fled embarrassedly with Ye Hao trailing behind.

He hasn't quite wrapped his mind around it yet. What's the tone of these dramatic events? Are they mocking him, hinting at some unfathomable secret excluded from him?

Yan Yun Mountain looked at Lin Ruyu, puzzled, and asked, "Cousin, are you... joking?" Yan Yun Mountain felt instantly foolish for asking; the joke seemed too authentic, too image-less with laughter. Surely, there's a hidden secret here.

The only problem is that he's not privy to that secret, so he intends to extract some useful information from Lin Ruyu.

"Yes! We're joking, haha!" Lin Ruyu couldn't help but laugh as she spoke. Su Qing burst into laughter even before Lin Ruyu did. Although Yan Shuiyue felt it might be unfair to her big brother, she thought, it wasn't something she could control — she only realized the situation after he drank the beverage.

"You folks have fun; I'll make you some breakfast." Yan Shuiyue said, leaving with a smile, genuinely afraid Yan Yun Mountain would corner her for questions. Should she reveal or conceal? Concealing might label her petty; revealing might send him spiraling into madness.

So, decisively leaving was the better choice.

Yan Yun Mountain watched his departing aunt and then turned his puzzled gaze to the laughing Lin Ruyu. Lin Ruyu hugged her belly, seeing his expression, and said, "I can't take it, I need to freshen up. You play, haha!" She said, leaving the hall with her belly in her hands, even staggering a bit on her way upstairs.

It's obvious how much he's enjoying and wanting to laugh right now.

Yan Yun Mountain's face darkened briefly, then turned to Su Qing; Seeing this, Su Qing quickly waved her hands and gingerly said, "I don't know! I laughed because I saw Yuyu laughing." Her words were followed by another chuckle.

Afraid Yan Yun Mountain would follow up with more questions, she quickly said, "I also need a touch-up."

Yan Yun Mountain watched as everyone left in a blink, feeling a bit stunned. Was this the kind of reception a Yan family heir in Yanjing should expect? The Yan family is a top family in the capital, after all. So why did no one seem welcoming?

Lin Tian dressed neatly, then went and lightly knocked on Ye Hao's door. Ye Hao came out and asked, "Lin, need me to accompany you somewhere?"

"Ha ha, not really, just wanted you to join me for a walk along the coast. Haven't properly checked out the coast I've bought and the fifty kilometers of sea territory." Lin Tian laughed heartily, showing none of the previous awkwardness. Ye Hao could only admire the resilience of businessmen; at least being caught urinating in a fridge would make him feel self-conscious.

But Lin Tian talked as if nothing had happened, without embarrassment, leaving Ye Hao to scratch his head and say, "Lin, you're loaded, buying up this fifty kilometers of sea territory and the Celestial Paradise Coast must have cost a fortune, right?"

"Ha ha! If I had to buy it outright, where would I find enough liquidity? It's merely about sharing some equity with others!" Lin Tian didn't think this stretch of sea was worth much, only buying it for leisure. Truly, his assets are so adequate that purchasing fifty kilometers of sea territory was doable.

"Truly impressive, ha ha. I'm wondering if I could buy a bathroom in your mansion," Ye Hao laughed heartily, not feeling inferior due to his lack of money, but rather having confidence that Lin Tian was wealthy yet not pretentious. At least, he could afford it and didn't fear others branding him a show-off.

"Let's head over and take a look." Lin Tian smiled.

So Ye Hao and Lin Tian drove to the edge of the Celestial Paradise Coast to carefully observe the scenery.

Facing the expansive sea territory head-on, although Macao and Zhuhai lay across the ocean, the emptiness here was enough for Ye Hao to stretch his arms and relax.

"See it? There's a highway behind, and up front is a tens-of-thousands of meters shallow beach. If I invest here, in just three years, I'd recoup my costs. Know why I brought you here?" This time Lin Tian smiled, starting the main topic. Ye Hao realized Lin Tian was getting serious and stood upright, saying, "Listening attentively."

"Ha ha! You're smart, acting silly now and then just to cheer my daughter up. For that, I'm thankful, even though it's your job. You've exceeded me as a father in many things! I brought you here today to gift you this plot of land." Lin Tian laughed heartily, disregarding Ye Hao's astonished expression, continuing, "Of course! Giving you this land isn't without condition, there's just one condition."

Ye Hao waved dismissively, directly refusing, "Lin, I appreciate the gesture. As for Ruyu, even if you don't pay me, I'll still unconditionally take care of her; that's my duty."

"Is merely being a bodyguard your aspiration?" Lin Tian asked about Ye Hao's dreams.

"Not at all! I'm a soldier. Though I have aspirations, they aren't as significant as national orders. Even if you give me this land, I'd leave whenever the country needs me to serve." Ye Hao concluded with a salute.

"Ha ha, young man, no one's preventing you from leaving. Your main task is protecting my daughter. And I'm gifting you this land to be developed into Peng City's largest tourist attraction, incorporating islands in this sea territory. Though Guozhong Island, such islands can better ensure tourists' safety. Even in storms, they won't quickly impact Guozhong Island as they arise from the South Sea! Security measures and such needn't be a worry then. Opportunities like these aren't for just anyone! I only ask you to agree to one condition, and it's yours." Lin Tian couldn't have made a bigger overture. Although he showed no reluctance, creating a top tourist attraction in an international city with all shares given to Ye Hao is something unheard of in Huaxia.

Of course! Lin Tian undoubtedly had reasons for such an approach, although his motives are unknown to others.

"Ha ha! Lin, don't be ridiculous, though I'm no saint, I won't take something undeserved. If this is your intent, I doubt we have much more to discuss." Ye Hao gestured to halt the talk.

"You're quite unique, the most peculiar person I've seen." Lin Tian expressed his view of Ye Hao, who, despite having seen people and things throughout his years, found Ye Hao uniquely steadfast.

At least, Ye Hao wouldn't forsake his convictions for land, nor accept it easily.

Such a person is foolish, certainly foolish, yet can capture more people's interest.

"There's nothing special, but having such large land and sea territory, have you measured its depth?" Ye Hao suddenly thought of a question and asked.

"Yes! The deepest area reaches over eight hundred meters—it's the deepest part of Lingding Ocean, conveniently within my sea territory." Lin Tian replied, puzzled about Ye Hao's inquiry as to his intent.

"Ha ha! Indeed a marvelous place." Ye Hao uttered a praised phrase.

Lin Tian, puzzled, asked, "Why say that? Do you have any plans? Or shall we develop it together as uncle and nephew?"

Ye Hao, hearing thus, was tempted, but remembered the high-tech elements from the ring being extraterrestrial. Should he divulge, would Lin Tian be tempted by such technology, even to the point of harming him?

Ye Hao opted to stay silent, unwilling to gamble on Lin Tian preserving composure amidst immense temptation, nor wanted to take that risk, preferring secretive knowledge to remain undivulged to others. Of course, if Lin Tian earned Ye Hao's trust, it'd be a different story altogether.

"Ha ha! Don't be coy, speak your thoughts, or share your plans for this sea territory with me directly. I'll have it shielded for your exclusive use," Lin Tian smiled at Ye Hao's hesitancy. Believe this young man fears he might sequester his possessions?

Ye Hao, hearing so, indeed had an idea needing Lin Tian's help, thus couldn't help but voice his request bashfully, "Lin, may I propose a condition—regarding my salary for protecting Ruyu?"

"Oh? What might your condition be?" Lin Tian expressed curiosity about the former mercenary leader's terms.

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