King of the Wilderness

Lin Yu’an gently reassured, ”I know, this does seem really crazy. But this time is different from the last; I’m no longer struggling to survive for money, but rather...”

He paused, trying to find the most accurate word to describe his inner feelings.

”It’s a yearning to compete with true masters, Aliya, you know, I love this feeling of confronting the limits of nature.”

Aliya quieted down, looking at Lin Yu’an’s face on the screen.

His gaze was calm, but deep within his eyes burned a flame she knew all too well, a desire for challenges that belonged to the strong.

She knew that this was the true him. A man who could navigate the cruel wilderness with ease, yet also paint a future for her in the warmth of home.

It was him, full of contradictions yet immensely real, whom she had fallen in love with.

After a long time, Aliya gently sighed, and the worry in her eyes gradually gave way to understanding and tenderness.

”I understand.”

She didn’t mention the dangers again, nor did she try to dissuade him, but instead spoke from a different perspective, softly saying, ”Dear, actually... we don’t need to venture for money anymore.”

She turned the camera toward her computer screen, displaying an interface of a stock trading software.

A green, upward-rising K-line chart dominated the entire screen, beside a conspicuous stock code — NVDA.

With a hint of amusement in her voice, Aliya said, ”The stocks I bought following your advice have now skyrocketed!”

”The value of the stocks we hold is already enough for us to live comfortably for the rest of our lives, and even establish a generous trust fund for the kids.”

”We aren’t short on money anymore, dear.” She turned the camera back on herself once more, looking at him with utmost seriousness.

”So, I support your decision, not for the half a million US Dollars, but because I know this is what you want; this is the way you feel ’alive.’”

A great warmth surged in Lin Yu’an’s heart.

This is his Aliya, forever able to see through to the deepest parts of his mind and provide unwavering support.

”But.” Aliya’s tone became incredibly solemn.

”You must promise me one thing.”

”Tell me.”

”If you sense any real danger, or feel like you can’t keep going, you must press that rescue button and immediately exit that damned show!”

Her voice carried an undeniable command.

”There’s nothing more important than your safety; home is here, I and the kids will always be waiting for you to return. Do you hear me?”

”I promise you.”

Lin Yu’an nodded heavily, this promise more resolute than it had ever been.

Once she received his assurance, Aliya completely relaxed.

She put on a gentle smile again, playfully blinking her eyes, ”Alright, my champion. Since you’re off to conquer the new wilderness, I must seize my time too.”

”I need to contact the designer right away, order the renovation materials we need, and soft furnishings, etc.”

”Then I’m eagerly waiting, my queen, Your Majesty.” Lin Yu’an also broke into a smile.

A conversation that might have sparked a dispute transformed into mutual support and anticipation for the future, thanks to their deep understanding and trust.

Ending the call with Aliya, Lin Yu’an walked to the window, looking out at the forest already cloaked in twilight.

He knew that no matter how far he traveled or to what harsh places he challenged himself, there would always be a light glowing for him, an awaited love at home.

This bond wasn’t a chain to restrain him, but the most solid anchor that allowed him to fly higher and further!

After ending the video call with Aliya, looking at the exquisite interior design maps Aliya helped refine, Lin Yu’an was filled with infinite motivation.

His gaze fell on the first item on the plan list, the soul of the entire living room, a huge stone fireplace stretching from the floor to the second-floor ceiling.

In his vision, it had to possess a unique texture and bear the imprint of this land.

He wanted to use stones carrying the traces of glaciers and time, to personally build a warm yet sturdy heart for his home.

A month ago, he ordered a set of ”zero clearance” high-performance fireplace system from Canada’s top fireplace manufacturer.

This system includes a cast iron fireplace core weighing 300 kilograms, and an A level double-layer stainless steel insulated chimney pipe, pieced together section by section. A few days ago, he received an email predicting delivery in seven days.

Time to carry out the stone sourcing plan happened to be perfect.

An ideal location instantly came to his mind, a deposition slope formed by a landslide that he and Stan had found earlier.

The mountain is mainly gneiss, weathered and eroded over the years, forming a natural stone yard at the foot of the mountain.

He clearly remembered the gneiss there, with alternating black and white patterns like an ink painting, it’s extremely hard, very suitable for the outer cladding of the fireplace.

But to carry out heavy transports to places like that, professional heavy-duty pickups and trailers are absolutely necessary. Without the slightest hesitation, he drove straight to Old George’s house.

When Old George heard Lin Yu’an’s idea of quarrying gneiss cladding himself, a knowing smile appeared on his face.