blogombal Chapter 123 "Light of the Century: Legendary Gem Collection"
Chapter 123 "Light of the Century: Legendary Gem Collection"
After enjoying the breakfast that Wang Yuling had carefully prepared, Lin Yan was in a good mood. He went upstairs and changed into a new outfit: a light blue short-sleeved polo shirt, a pair of off-white khaki pants, and a pair of clean white canvas shoes. He looked fresh and full of youthful energy, and you could hardly tell that he was the tycoon who had caused a storm on Saks Fifth Avenue yesterday.
He brought the little guy out of his spatial dimension. Little Seven was still in its fluffy, snow-white, adorable puppy form, curiously observing its new surroundings. Lin Yan hugged it, rubbed its little head, and said with a smile, "Little Seven, we've arrived in a new place. Staying in the room all the time is so boring, so today your brother will take you out for a stroll and help you get familiar with New York."
"Brother, shall we go out and play?" Xiao Qi rolled around excitedly in his arms, stuck out her pink little tongue and licked his fingers, her tail wagging like a little propeller.
Lin Yan took only a simple leather wallet, stuffed some cash inside, and instructed Lin Er, "I'm taking Xiao Qi out for a walk. We don't need a car, and you don't need to come along."
Lin Er hesitated for a moment: "Young Master, your safety..."
"Who can threaten my safety in New York City?" Lin Yan smiled, but his eyes held an undeniable authority. "Don't worry."
He carried Xiaoqi and leisurely walked out of the villa gate.
The closest and most famous green space to the Upper East Side is Central Park. Lin Yan carried Xiao Qi and strolled there leisurely; it was only a few minutes' walk.
Central Park was vibrant with life in the early morning. Sunlight filtered through the dense foliage, casting dappled shadows, and the air was filled with the fresh scent of grass and dew. Joggers ran along the paths, gentlemen in suits read newspapers on their way to their offices, nannies chatted as they pushed strollers, and children laughed and played on the grass.
Seeing such a large expanse of green, Xiaoqi was so excited that it barked and struggled to get down. Lin Yan put it down, and it immediately rolled and ran happily on the grass like a little snowball, chasing butterflies. Occasionally, it would bark sweetly in the direction of the squirrels, which made passersby smile and couldn't help but take a few more glances at this extremely cute little dog and its exceptionally handsome owner.
Lin Yan followed leisurely behind, his hands in his pockets. He strolled along the lake, watching people row boats, walked past the Bethesda Terrace, admiring the exquisite sculptures and street performers; he also took Xiao Qi for a walk around the perimeter of the zoo.
Xiao Qi was full of curiosity about everything in the park. Every now and then, she would run back to Lin Yan's feet to rub against him, and then run off to explore again. In his previous life, he also liked to come here for a walk in his spare time. "This place has undergone 12 major and minor renovations from the 1950s to 2025, but you can still vaguely see the shadow of 2025 now," Lin Yan murmured to himself.
At a hot dog and ice cream cart, Lin Yan bought Xiao Qi a small cup of water and a vanilla cone for himself. He sat on a bench, watching the peaceful and prosperous scene before him, while Xiao Qi obediently lay at his feet, licking the water. This ordinary yet heartwarming contentment made him feel very relaxed.
After spending more than an hour in the park, Lin Yan, carrying a slightly tired Xiao Qi, began to stroll towards Fifth Avenue and Madison Avenue. He seemingly casually browsed the shop windows, but in reality, his divine sense subtly shifted, capturing the flow of information around him.
At a newsstand, he bought a copy of The New York Times and flipped to the art and auction section. At the same time, his consciousness also "heard" the conversation of several well-dressed gentlemen outside a café:
"...I heard there are some nice pieces of Oriental porcelain at the Parker-Burnett auction tonight..."
"...Yes, but the main focus is next week's Sotheby's sale, which features a collection of drawings by European classical masters..."
"...Christie seems to be focusing more on estate auctions lately..."
Through these fragmented pieces of information, Lin Yan quickly gained a general understanding of the current auction landscape in New York. In 1959, Parker Burnett was one of the most important auction houses in North America, while Sotheby's and Christie's, although based in Britain, had already established important branches in New York and were synonymous with top-tier art auctions.
He immediately had an idea.
It was nearing noon, and the sun was getting quite strong. Lin Yan, carrying the yawning Xiao Qi, sat down outside a decent-looking coffee shop on Madison Avenue. He ordered an iced coffee and a small saucer of milk for Xiao Qi.
After resting enough, Lin Yan carried the sleeping Xiao Qi and slowly walked back to the villa in the Upper East Side.
Charles was already waiting at the door: "Welcome back, young master. Lunch is ready."
"Okay." Lin Yan nodded, handed Xiao Qi over to Wang Yuling to take care of, and instructed, "Have Alexander come to see me."
Back in his study, Lin Yan gave direct instructions to Alexander Winters, who had just entered: "My tourist visa has a limited duration. I dislike the tedious visa interview process and don't want to leave unnecessary records. Find a way to resolve the long-term residency status issue for me and Lin Er as quickly as possible, using the safest and most legal method."
"Yes, Master." Winters was not surprised and immediately bowed in response. "We will process it quickly through channels such as investment immigration or special talent introduction. Please rest assured, a plan will be available soon."
Lin Yan waved his hand with satisfaction. His identity had never been an issue. He simply disliked unnecessary trouble.
In the afternoon, Lin Yan's Lincoln Continental silently pulled up in front of the solemn entrance of Parker Burnett Auction House. He was dressed casually as usual, but behind him followed Lin Er, who was impeccably dressed, creating a peculiar combination. Lin Er carried a seemingly ordinary yet unusually heavy aluminum suitcase.
Stepping inside the auction house, the thick wool carpet absorbed the sound of footsteps, and the air was filled with the scent of old wood, leather, and a faint smell of cigars. Classical oil paintings hung on the walls, creating a private and solemn atmosphere, a world apart from the hustle and bustle of Fifth Avenue outside.
A middle-aged manager approached, his tone polite but with a hint of scrutiny: "Good afternoon, gentlemen. How may I help you?"
Lin Yan nodded slightly, and Lin Er stepped forward and said in fluent English, "My master has some collectibles that he wishes to entrust to your firm for auction."
"Of course, Parker-Burnett is happy to serve collectors worldwide," the manager smiled. "What kind of collectibles are you looking for? Paintings, calligraphy, antique furniture, or...?"
"Jewelry," Lin Yan replied calmly, his voice not loud, but it made the manager pause slightly. He looked Lin Yan over carefully; this young man from the East didn't seem like a traditional jewelry collector.
"Okay, please follow me to the VIP appraisal room." The manager's attitude became noticeably more serious.
In a quiet, soundproof appraisal room, soft spotlights illuminated the large, velvet-lined appraisal table in the center. Oliver Winston, the auction house's chief jewelry appraiser, an elderly man with silver hair and small glasses, was already waiting there.
Lin Yan gestured to Lin Er. Lin Er placed the suitcase on the table, unlocked the complicated combination lock, and lifted the lid. Instantly, the room seemed to be illuminated by a dazzling light—not real light, but a visual impact brought about by the extremely concentrated brilliance of the gems lying quietly on the black velvet.
Even with his vast experience, Mr. Winston's hand, which was holding the scope, trembled violently, and he gasped. The manager was speechless for a moment, his eyes fixed on the box.
Inside the box, on a black velvet shelf, were arranged more than thirty pieces of jewelry and diamonds. They varied in shape and size, but without exception, they all radiated a breathtaking brilliance. Apart from the most eye-catching dozen or so giant diamonds, dozens of smaller diamonds and gemstones of various colors, though still stunning in color and fire, were piled around them, like stars surrounding the moon, making the top-tier treasures in the center even more extraordinary.
These "small" items, any one of which could easily become a treasure in a wealthy merchant's safe, are now piled together like a bunch of colorful candies.
Mr. Winston's voice was somewhat hoarse: "Sir...this...these..."
Lin Yan casually pointed to the pile, "These are all. You can decide what to do with them."
Mr. Winston suppressed the turmoil in his heart, put on gloves, picked up his tools, and began to examine each item carefully. His expression gradually changed from shock to fascination and utter focus, and he occasionally murmured unconsciously, "God... this purity... this color... perfect... incredible..."
He first picked up the largest yellow diamond, twirling it under the light. Under the magnifying glass, it was virtually flawless, its color rich and even. "This...this is practically a fragment of the sun..."
Next was the pigeon blood ruby, its intense fluorescence making it appear as if it were burning inside under the light. "The finest 'pigeon blood' ruby from Mogok, Myanmar...this size...a once-in-a-century find!"
Then there was the sapphire. Mr. Winston gazed at it for a long time, seemingly lost in its azure hue. "Kashmir...this must be the legendary 'Velvet' sapphire from the highest grade of the Kashmir mines..."
The deep green of that emerald took his breath away. "Colombian Muzo... such a clear crystal, so few inclusions, a miracle..."
When he saw the blue diamond, he almost stopped breathing. "Deep blue... the legendary color of Golconda..."
He even picked up a tourmaline that shimmered with electric light. "This...this is Paraiba? This neon blue-green...I've never seen such a large and high-quality one!"
The soft beauty of the pink diamond, the clear and sharp star lines of the two star gemstones under the light source, and that enormous, pure and flawless D-color white diamond... each one brought him a new wave of impact.
The inspection lasted a long time. Finally, Mr. Winston let out a long sigh, as if he had completed an extremely arduous task. He looked at Lin Yan with unprecedented awe in his eyes.
"Sir," he said with utmost seriousness, "the quality and value of these treasures you have brought far surpasses anything I have ever seen in my professional career. Any one of them would be a significant item in auction history. Especially these ten..." He pointed to the ten largest gems, which he had placed separately on a velvet cushion at the very front, "they are priceless gems. For the sake of auction success, we usually give such top-tier treasures a special name for promotional purposes and catalogue documentation. Do you have a preferred name in mind?"
Lin Yan raised an eyebrow, seemingly finding this step unnecessary, and casually said, "Name? It doesn't matter. Just come up with whatever you think of, as long as it sounds nice and pleasant to the ear. I can't think of anything." He had no interest in it and just wanted to get through the process as quickly as possible.
Mr. Winston seemed to have anticipated this, as secretive collectors like him often disliked showing their faces. He immediately said respectfully, "If you would allow, my team and I can try to name them, and the final design will be presented to you for your review."
"Okay." Lin Yan nodded.
The next steps were led by Lin Er, who discussed specific details such as the consignment agreement, insurance, and commission with the auction house. Mr. Winston excitedly suggested holding a special auction entitled "Light of the Century: A Collection of Legendary Gems" for this collection of treasures, especially the ten top gems.
"Mr. Lin, this special auction is sure to be a global sensation! We have plenty of time to invite top collectors from all over the world!" the manager added excitedly.
Lin Yan agreed, neither agreeing nor disagreeing, to set the auction date for six weeks later.
After completing all the formalities and leaving behind the invaluable briefcase, Lin Yan and Lin Er left with the auction house executives practically bowing in farewell.