met free Chapter 179 Heading to the Snowfield
Chapter 179 Heading to the Snowfield
Chapter 182: Heading to the Snowfield
The engagement party the night before last was a lively affair for the young people, which lasted until very late. During a break, Lin Yan quietly asked Tang Liuqian, "Brother Liuqian, is the skiing thing confirmed? Wenbin, Jiaming, and I are planning to buy plane tickets and leave tomorrow."
Tang Liuqian smiled and nodded: "No problem. My parents like peace and quiet and don't like to go out much. Xi'en and I have already discussed it and decided to take this opportunity to go and have some fun with you."
Back at the villa, Lin Yan contacted Alexander Winster through his spiritual sense and asked him to arrange a reliable convoy to pick them up at San Francisco Airport the next day and take them directly to the ski resort in South Lake Tahoe.
The next morning, Wang Yuling had already efficiently packed Lin Yan's luggage. Lin Yan skillfully and quietly sent Xiao Qi, who was still taking a nap, into his spatial dimension, and then went downstairs with Li Wenbin and Zheng Jiaming to have breakfast. Just after they finished eating, Tang Liuqian and Yang Xi'en arrived on time with their suitcases.
The group arrived at the airport smoothly in a luxury motorcade arranged by Charles. At the boarding gate, Charles distributed the pre-prepared tickets to Lin Yan and six others (Lin Yan, Li Wenbin, Zheng Jiaming, Tang Liuqian, Yang Xi'en, and Lin Yi and Lin Gang who were traveling with them).
"Young Master, this flight is a Pan Am Boeing 707 jet, and the flight time is approximately six hours. As per your request, all tickets are first class," Charles reported respectfully.
Lin Yan nodded, and finally instructed, "When we get there, book seven rooms for us at the best hotel in South Lake Tahoe."
"Yes, young master, everything has been arranged."
Boarding this jet airliner, a symbol of the most advanced aviation technology at the time, the spacious seats and meticulous service in first class were nothing new to Li Wenbin and Zheng Jiaming, who had experienced it before. But for Tang Liuqian and Yang Xi'en, who were flying for the first time, it was full of novelty and excitement. The two curiously looked around the cabin environment, feeling the modernity that was so different from propeller planes.
However, sitting in the comfortable, spacious seat, Lin Yan didn't show any excitement. Instead, he frowned slightly and muttered to Lin Yi beside him, "Six hours... is still too slow. And there are so many rules." Remembering the inconvenience of not being able to bring Xiao Qi with him, his tone tinged with impatience, "Lin Yi, do you think airlines can sell jets separately these days? Or order one directly from the manufacturer? Go ask around. It's really driving me crazy that I can't bring Xiao Qi on every flight."
Although his voice wasn't loud, Tang Liuqian, Yang Xi'en, Li Wenbin, and Zheng Jiaming, who were sitting nearby, heard it clearly.
The group's eyes widened immediately, as if they had heard something unbelievable.
Tang Liuqian couldn't help but turn to the side, lower his voice, and ask incredulously, "Xiao Yan...you...you're not serious, are you? Buy...buy a jet plane?"
Lin Yan turned his head, his face full of nonchalance, even showing a hint of disdain for the inconvenience of the current mode of transportation: "Isn't it inconvenient? If we had our own plane, we could leave whenever we wanted, bring whatever we wanted, and not be subject to these restrictions. I can't even bring Xiao Qi this time!"
Li Wenbin and Zheng Jiaming opened their mouths, wanting to say something, but found that any words seemed pale and powerless in the face of Lin Yan's "simple and unadorned" and "logically consistent" troubles. Tang Liuqian and Yang Xi'en also looked at each other in silence, seeing the same shock and... a trace of numbness in each other's eyes.
Well, discussing conventional knowledge about transportation with this guy is just self-deprecation. The group was so shocked by Lin Yan's nonchalant display of "unbelievable wealth" and his ahead-of-his-time ideas that they decided to shut up, fasten their seatbelts, and prepare to enjoy what he considered a "less than satisfactory" flight.
The plane began to accelerate on the runway, the powerful thrust pushing everyone back into their seats. The scenery outside the window rushed past, followed by a slight feeling of weightlessness. The silver wings sliced through the clouds, carrying this group of young people with different thoughts, towards San Francisco.
The lunch served in Pan Am's first class was quite lavish. The exquisite dishes, diverse choices, and attentive service won unanimous praise from Li Wenbin, Zheng Jiaming, Tang Liuqian, and Yang Xi'en, adding a lot of enjoyment to the long flight. Only Lin Yan, Lin Yi, and Lin Gang, the "Lin family," reacted indifferently, seemingly already used to it, and even somewhat picky, saying it wasn't as good as Yu Ling's.
It was past 3 p.m. when the plane landed smoothly at San Francisco International Airport. The West Coast sun was still bright, but there was a slight chill in the air. The group collected their checked luggage and walked out of the crowded arrivals hall.
Just outside the gate, a convoy of four black luxury sedans was seen parked quietly in the designated area. Leading the way was a sleek and imposing Cadillac.
Upon seeing Lin Yan and his group emerge, the Cadillac's doors immediately opened, and two middle-aged white men, dressed in well-tailored dark coats and exuding a capable air, quickly stepped forward. They approached Lin Yan, bowed slightly, their attitude respectful yet measured, and spoke in fluent English:
"Young master, the vehicle has been arranged. Please get in."
As soon as he finished speaking, the drivers of the three cars behind him quickly got out of their vehicles, deftly took the luggage from everyone's hands, and neatly put it into their trunks.
Lin Yan nodded slightly, said nothing more, and walked straight to the Cadillac. Lin Yi naturally opened the car door for him. Li Wenbin, Zheng Jiaming, Tang Liuqian, and Yang Xi'en were then guided to the back of the car.
Once everyone was on board, the convoy started immediately without any delay, leaving the bustling airport and merging into the busy afternoon traffic of San Francisco. Their destination was clear—to cross the Sierra Nevada Mountains and head straight for South Lake Tahoe, a resort paradise located on the border of California and Nevada, renowned for its pristine lakes and top-notch ski resorts.
Outside the car window, the city scenery gradually receded behind, and the road began to wind its way into the mountains. As the altitude increased, the air grew increasingly crisp and cold, and the snow-capped peaks in the distance shimmered brilliantly in the sunlight. A long-awaited winter adventure had officially begun. Inside the car, the young people excitedly discussed their upcoming skiing plans.
The convoy left the San Francisco Bay Area and headed east along Interstate 80. Initially, the scenery outside the window was typical of a California winter: warm sunshine and patches of hardy green dotting the valleys. But as the vehicle continued northeast towards the Sierra Nevada Mountains, the view began to subtly change.
When the convoy made a brief stop in Sacramento to refuel the vehicles and allow the passengers to rest, the air had become noticeably cooler. After resuming their journey, they turned onto the historic U.S. Route 50, the western section of what is known as "America's loneliest highway," which was now leading them deep into the heart of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
The road began to wind its way up the mountain, and the vegetation on both sides was gradually replaced by dense coniferous forests. Towering pines and firs, covered with thick snow, stood silently on both sides of the road like guards clad in white armor. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the trees, casting dappled shadows on the snow-covered forest clearings, and the air was as crisp and clear as a spring.
"Wow! Look over there! It's all snow!" Li Wenbin's face was almost pressed against the car window as he excitedly pointed to a snow-covered hillside in the distance. Although Zheng Jiaming appeared more composed, his eyes also shone with curiosity and anticipation. For them, who grew up in Hong Kong where snow was almost never seen, such a magnificent snow scene was extremely impactful.
However, as the altitude increased, the temperature plummeted. The car heating systems of the late 1950s proved inadequate against the frigid Sierra Nevada. Even with the driver turning the heater on full blast, a chill could still be felt seeping into the cabin, especially near the windows, where thin frost had even formed.
Tang Liuqian keenly noticed Yang Xi'en rubbing her hands together slightly. He immediately took off his cashmere coat and draped it over her shoulders without a word, holding her hands in his own palms and gently breathing on them to warm them. "Xi'en, are you still cold? Leaning against me might warm you up," he said gently, his voice tender and his actions considerate. Yang Xi'en blushed, nestled close to him, and gently shook her head, her eyes filled with sweetness.
Sitting in the front car and witnessing this scene through his divine sense, Lin Yan's lips curled up almost imperceptibly. He signaled the convoy to pull over, and Lin Yan took out several soft, warm cashmere blankets from his spatial storage. He personally carried the blankets to the back car and handed one to Tang Liuqian and Yang Xi'en, and also gave one to each of Li Wenbin and Zheng Jiaming. "It's cold in the mountains. These blankets are made from our own wool, so they're quite warm. Wear them, so you don't get cold."
Wrapped in the exceptionally soft blanket, Li Wenbin sighed comfortably, "Ayan, you're so thoughtful! This blanket is so comfortable!" Zheng Jiaming also thanked him gratefully. Tang Liuqian and Yang Xi'en expressed their gratitude repeatedly; the blanket had arrived just in time, bringing real warmth.
The convoy continued its journey along the winding mountain road, the outside world a pristine white wonderland. As dusk settled, the headlights illuminated the swirling snowflakes ahead, making it feel like traveling through a dreamlike ice tunnel. After a long journey of nearly five hours, around 8 p.m., the convoy finally broke through the dark forest, and a breathtaking view unfolded before them—the brightly lit city of South Lake Tahoe came into view, like a jewel nestled amidst snow-capped mountains.
The convoy came to a smooth stop in front of the booked hotel. It was a luxurious wooden and stone resort hotel built along the lake, appearing especially warm and comfortable under the night lights. The young people, weary from their journey, had finally arrived at their destination for this winter sports trip and couldn't wait to embrace Lake Tahoe.