Chapter Eighty-One: Shen Yan

Chapter 81: Shen Yan

Stepping out of the car, Liu Shaoyu carefully examined the building before him, finally understanding what it meant to be understated yet luxurious. Unlike most modern structures, now built from high-strength composite metals, the house—or rather, palace—in front of him was constructed entirely from stone. The roof was adorned with exquisite glazed tiles.

Even without considering the materials, just the architectural style alone was far beyond the reach of ordinary people. Such retro designs came at a hefty price these days.

“Mr. Liu, please come inside,” Ban Xin said, diligently performing his duties. What he loved most was seeing the expression on a guest’s face the first time they stepped into the Shen family manor; that look always filled him with pride.

Nodding, Liu Shaoyu followed Ban Xin into the palace. As soon as he entered and looked up, he saw a massive crystal chandelier suspended from the ceiling, radiating a dazzling brilliance.

Judging by the material, this was no imitation made from composite materials, but genuine crystal. The foyer was spacious, and directly opposite the door hung a large traditional ink painting, elegantly framed in wood. The painting was a grand, expressive landscape.

Though Liu Shaoyu knew little about such art, he could tell the composition was harmonious and the brushwork powerful—undoubtedly a masterpiece.

In the upper right of the painting, wild calligraphy accompanied by a vermilion seal stamped the piece. This style of script was now nearly lost to time, and even the art of traditional painting was preserved and carried forward by only a select few. Most so-called practitioners these days merely idled away their days in art institutes. Liu Shaoyu knew only a little of such matters.

Not lingering, he continued to follow Ban Xin deeper inside. Circumnavigating the painting, he realized it was in fact a large screen.

Beyond the screen lay another expansive room. The décor immediately put Liu Shaoyu at ease, for he too favored this nostalgic style.

Upon closer inspection, the room was actually a pool. Directly behind the screen stood a small wooden bridge.

In the center of the room was a pavilion, with a plaque reading “Linglong Pavilion.”

“How fascinating,” Liu Shaoyu thought with admiration. This style was truly unique—an entire garden transplanted indoors. Only the Shen family could afford such extravagance; the cost of maintenance alone would be staggering for anyone else.

Crossing the bridge, Liu Shaoyu glanced down. The water in the pool was crystal clear, and schools of gold-and-red fish glided leisurely by. The sound of footsteps on the floor did not frighten them in the slightest; it seemed these fish were nothing like their counterparts in the outside world.

“The water here connects to the artificial lake in the garden on both sides, forming a healthy circulation. So, this is living water,” Ban Xin explained, noticing Liu Shaoyu’s curiosity.

No wonder, Liu Shaoyu finally realized. That’s why he could sense the movement of the current; he’d thought it was some kind of circulation system, but it actually connected directly to the artificial lake. Naturally, he wasn’t surprised that the Shen family manor boasted such a lake. Even if there were a sea here, he would have found it perfectly reasonable.

“But what Master enjoys most is saltwater fishing on the beach behind the garden. To incorporate that stretch of coastline, Old Master Shen expended considerable effort,” Ban Xin added, startling Liu Shaoyu.

Goodness… there really is a sea…

“Please come this way, Mr. Liu. The master is currently receiving guests. Kindly wait here for a moment,” Ban Xin guided Liu Shaoyu along the right side of the pavilion.

Standing in the pavilion, Liu Shaoyu could now see that it was actually a central island, with three additional bridges leading off in different directions besides the one he’d entered.

Passing through a door to the right, Liu Shaoyu realized this room was likely a salon or reception area. The walls were lined with wooden display shelves, filled with a dazzling array of antiques.

“I wonder if any of these are real,” Liu Shaoyu mused privately.

“These items were all collected bit by bit by generations of the Shen family. Even the Palace Museum can’t match our collection. Of course, what’s displayed here are mainly modern pieces, mostly porcelain. If you’re interested, I can show you the private collection,” Ban Xin offered.

Liu Shaoyu almost felt as if Ban Xin had installed a detector in his mind. In reality, it was simply professional habit—providing explanations for guests was his job.

“Please have a seat. If you need anything, just call for me,” Ban Xin said, leading Liu Shaoyu to a set of sofas before bowing and taking his leave.

The coffee table in front of him was actually a seamless light-sensitive panel, a common feature in modern architecture. It allowed for various automated operations in the room, depending on one’s access level.

For instance, since leaving the ship, Liu Shaoyu hadn’t had a drop to drink. He hadn’t dared ask for anything in the car, and now, unsure how long he’d be waiting, decided to use the panel to get himself a drink first.

Large residences like this typically had numerous such panels, each responsible for different tasks and requiring different levels of permission. As part of the guest group, Liu Shaoyu could freely choose from an extensive beverage menu.

He glanced at the list—it truly was impressive, rivaling the stock of any bar. But Liu Shaoyu hadn’t come to drink; he selected a cup of Tieguanyin tea. Soon, a small compartment opened in the wall behind the sofa, and a tray bearing his tea floated smoothly onto the table.

Once again, technology enhanced the beauty of daily life.

Liu Shaoyu gently blew on the tea leaves, dispersing the steam. Waiting felt interminable, and boredom crept in. He was just about to get up in search of a restroom when the door directly opposite the sofa swung open...

“Mr. Liu, please come in,” said a young woman with the air of a secretary.

Well, might as well go in first. Liu Shaoyu suppressed his urge to use the bathroom and entered the room, inwardly berating himself for drinking that tea in the first place.

Stepping through the door, his view opened up once more. This was a circular room. From the entrance, the walls curved away on both sides, lined with bookcases over five meters high, filled with every kind of book. Directly opposite the entrance was a broad desk, before which extended a 180-degree holographic screen.

Behind the luminous screen sat a middle-aged man—or at least, he appeared so. His true age was impossible to guess.

At the very least, Liu Shaoyu sensed that the man was not as young as he looked. If he was correct, this must be the person he was meant to meet today: the head of the Shen family, chairman of Universal Galactic Technologies, and grandfather of Shen Qingyi.

Shen Yan.

“Chairman, Liu Shaoyu has arrived,” the secretary announced as Liu Shaoyu stood before the desk. The secretary took her place beside Shen Yan, who seemed so absorbed in his work he hadn’t noticed their arrival. It was only after the secretary whispered to him that he looked up.

“Oh, Shaoyu, you’re here. Please, sit,” Shen Yan said, finally raising his eyes to see Liu Shaoyu. As he’d expected, the young man was striking in appearance.

As the patriarch of the Shen family, Shen Yan had met countless people and trusted his first impressions. Now, it seemed, he was quite pleased with his initial assessment of Liu Shaoyu.

“Do you know why I called you here today?”

A Note to Readers:

My apologies—I thought I’d scheduled this release, but discovered late at night that I hadn’t. Sorry for the delay.