"And this courtyard isn't entirely ours either," Lin Xi explained, "only the main house to the north belongs to us. The east and west wings, as well as the gatehouse, are all rented out."
"...Rented out, but it's still your property, isn't it?" I chuckled.
"It's really not," Lin Xi said seriously, "The property deed is with Sha Biya. We only have the right to reside here."
The main gate wasn't locked. We pushed it open and entered. I assumed that in this kind of neighborhood, security wasn't a major concern. Earlier, when we entered the alley, I had seen guards, but they likely let us pass without questioning because Lin Xi was driving.
Upon entering the courtyard, the lights were off. However, two large red lanterns hung from a persimmon tree, creating a scene reminiscent of a horror movie. The lights in the east and west wings were on, while the north-facing room was half-lit. The ground was paved with flagstones. Both sisters were wearing high heels today, and their steps echoed with a crisp, 'tap-tap-tap' sound, loud enough to disturb sleeping neighbors.
We arrived at the door of the lit room. Lin Xi pushed the door open and stepped inside, "Dad, look who's here."
Lin Chi quickly helped me tidy my suit and tie. She spat on her palm and smoothed my hair.
If she weren't an exceptionally beautiful woman, I would have objected to her doing that. But with a beautiful woman, it's different. Even her saliva smells fragrant.
Yes, I admit to such double standards.
After finishing the arrangements, I followed Lin Xi into the room. My goodness, the moment I stepped inside, I was almost blinded by the room's decor.
I consider myself someone with some experience, with a basic understanding of elaborate decorations and style. But seeing the old man's taste, I realized what true luxury and grandeur meant.
Every visible surface in the room was adorned with huanghuali wood, genuine huanghuali wood, including but not limited to the beams, purlins, window lattices, sofas, tables, chairs, and the bed. The walls were also covered with huanghuali wood, leaving no dead corners. But this was just the backdrop. On the north side of the room was a hollow display cabinet, also made of huanghuali wood. It contained not many items, arranged in four rows and three columns, a total of twelve pieces. There were porcelain pieces, bronze artifacts, and jade carvings. These twelve treasures, though appearing ordinary, were all purple-tier treasures, as revealed by my qi-sensing technique (I wanted to gauge the old man's strength, and as expected, he was a mid-stage purple-tier master).
A purple-tier master, surrounded by purple-tier treasures and the inherent purple qi of the huanghuali wood itself. In my qi-sensing vision, the person, artifacts, and objects resonated harmoniously, instantly revealing the ultimate state of interior design – harmony!
To discuss the decoration alone without considering the owner is vulgar. Good decoration should complement the owner's temperament. Liu Yuxi's "An Ode to My Humble Abode" was merely a pretense; with his talent, temperament, and extensive career experience (equivalent to being the head of various coastal regions before becoming a deputy minister), even the Daming Palace could barely match his style. It is only someone of his stature writing such a piece that would be passed down through the ages. For an ordinary nobody to do so would be a laughable display.
Seated on a huanghuali sofa was a plump, kind-faced old man, dressed in a bright gray Tang suit. His hair was meticulously combed back, not entirely white, but a mixture of black and silver. He appeared to be around fifty to sixty years old in terms of his hair, but his overall demeanor, despite his vigorous spirit, suggested he was over eighty, a truly elderly man.
Therefore, it could be deduced that the Lin sisters were not his eldest daughters, but rather late-born children, and twins at that, whom he must have doted on immensely.
The "young man" beside him, appearing to be around fifty years old, was likely his son, the elder brother of the Lin sisters.
This man looked somewhat familiar; I felt I had seen him on television before. The "young man" helped the elder rise to greet us. Seeing how he struggled to get up due to his extreme obesity, I disregarded formalities and hurried over. "Oh my, esteemed elder, please don't trouble yourself. There's no need to stand. Your kindness towards this junior is deeply appreciated!"
My words, in their social circle, were likely considered uncouth and too blunt. But the sentiment was sincere. The old man blinked slightly, smiled, and sat back down. He nodded to the fifty-year-old man beside him, then turned to him and said, "Jize, learn from this young man. He's so straightforward! Unlike you in the business world, always talking nonsense with a serious face."