Courtyard Houses: From Bronze Compasses to Global Reach

Chapter 443 Saving Beyond

By March 1993, the global landscape, sculpted by the undercurrents of capital, had been quietly reshaped.

In the Americas, Aurora Federal Bank has rapidly integrated several regional banks and trust companies, expanding its business from traditional commercial banking services to high-net-worth family wealth management, cross-border M&A financing, and technology risk lending based on the Lumos ecosystem.

Its steady and mysterious image has earned it a strong reputation on both Wall Street and in Silicon Valley.

The American financial world is well aware that Alexander is behind it all. This tycoon, who has deeply embedded his tentacles into the political and economic fabric of the East and West coasts over the past decades, is unpredictable and feared.

Some restless predators tried to probe the area, but all their attempts were in vain, disappearing without a trace.

No one dared to openly hinder the rise of Star Bank; instead, they observed silently and cooperated cautiously.

In Europe, the Odyssey Trust Bank has taken on a different form.

Based in Luxembourg and Switzerland, and leveraging Albert's intricate network, it focuses on privacy protection, heritage planning, and intergenerational asset transfer, which are highly valued in ancient Europe.

It discreetly absorbs the hidden assets of established aristocrats, emerging oligarchs, and multinational corporations. Its stable business and robust firewalls have quickly made it an indispensable player in the deep waters of European wealth.

However, this rapid yet low-key rise ultimately could not completely escape the scrutiny of certain old-fashioned eyes.

Deep within the City of London, in private clubs in Frankfurt, the Rothschild family's intelligence network caught wind of some activity.

Reports about the unusually complex shareholding structure of the Odyssey Trust and the difficulty in tracing the source of its capital were quietly placed on the desks of the decision-makers of the old family.

A silent sense of vigilance and scrutiny began to permeate across the English Channel.

All of this grand capitalist strategy is temporarily irrelevant to the two children.

Their world was ignited by a completely different light on a weekend in May 1993.

Bukit Jalil Stadium, Kuala Lumpur.

The air was hot and humid, mixed with the anticipation and sweat of tens of thousands of people.

Lin Yan held Xi Xi's hand, who was looking around excitedly, in one hand, and Chen Chen, who was curious but a little reserved, in the other, standing in the surging crowd.

To fulfill a dream he never experienced in his previous life, and to let children experience a pure spiritual burning, he used some connections to get the best front-row seats at this Beyond "Unplugged" concert.

The lights dimmed suddenly and then brightened again.

Simple instruments, unadorned voices, yet they unleash a power that strikes straight to the soul.

When the familiar, heart-stirring guitar intro to "No More Hesitation" began, Lin Yan felt a sudden pang of emotion in his nose.

The young and focused faces on the stage, the indomitable fighting spirit and sincere confusion in their singing, instantly transcended time and space, and his eyes welled up with tears. This was the only star he had ever followed in his past life!

"I ask how high the sky is, my ambition is higher than the sky..." Wong Ka Kui's clear and powerful voice resounded throughout the venue.

Lin Yan closed his eyes and hummed along softly, letting the complex emotions—nostalgia,感慨, and the wonder of dreams coming true in another way—surf his chest.

This is not just a concert; it is a secret tribute to his youth in his past life, and also a new door to perception opened for children.

Xi Xi was completely shocked.

She had heard her father play classical music and learned the gentle nursery rhymes taught by her teacher, but she had never experienced such a direct, surging, and powerful sound and rhythm that could instantly condense and ignite the emotions of thousands of people.

Her eyes were wide open, her mouth slightly agape, and her body swayed involuntarily to the rhythm of the music.

As the entire audience joined in the chorus, she waved her little hands with all her might, adding her still-childish voice to the sea of ​​sound.

Something inside her was ignited and exploded with a "bang".

Amidst the deafening roar and dazzling lights, she suddenly tugged at Lin Yan's sleeve, leaned close to his ear, and shouted at the top of her lungs, but her voice was almost completely swallowed by the music:

"Dad! When I grow up, I want to stand on that stage too! To let so many people hear me sing! I want to be the best singer in the world!"

Those eyes shone with an astonishing brightness, revealing only the unwavering determination of a budding dream.

Lin Yan's heart skipped a beat as he looked down at his daughter's flushed face illuminated by the lamplight.

He hugged her tightly and solemnly whispered in her ear, "Okay! Daddy heard you. Daddy will always stand behind you and be your strongest support."

This is a father's most solemn acceptance and commitment to his daughter's dream.

Chenchen, standing to the side, was also caught up in the atmosphere, her face flushed, and she tapped her feet lightly to the beat of the drums.

The concert ended at its climax, but the excitement hadn't faded. Lin Yan brought his two still-excited children backstage.

Beyond's manager, Chan Kin-tim, had already been notified in Hong Kong of the arrival of this "son of the Lam family," and his attitude was respectful yet nervous.

Wong Ka Kui and his group had just removed some of their makeup and hair, their faces still showing the fatigue and excitement of the performance.

They were a little surprised by the arrival of the two little ones, but they were still very friendly and signed Xi Xi and Chen Chen's posters and T-shirts.

Xi Xi held the autographed item, her eyes sparkling as she looked at her new idol.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Lin Yan led Chen Jiantian aside to a quieter spot and cut straight to the point, his tone calm yet authoritative:

"Mr. Chen, I would like to request the cancellation of the band's upcoming trip to Japan. I will personally fund three additional concerts for Beyond in Guangzhou, Shanghai, and Beijing. All production, promotion, and venue arrangements will be handled to the highest standards, and the fee will be several times the income from your trip to Japan. I will pay the penalty for breach of contract on the Japanese side and will handle it properly to ensure they do not encounter any further problems."

Chen Jiantian was taken aback, forcing a troubled smile:

"Mr. Lin, this... the contract with Japan has already been signed, and the TV program recordings have all been arranged. The market is very important to us... a sudden cancellation might affect the band's reputation and future development..."

Lin Yan leaned slightly forward, lowering his voice even further, yet each word was as clear as an ice bead falling onto a plate:

"Reputation? Development? Mr. Chen, if you insist on going to Japan as originally planned..."

He paused for a moment, his gaze piercing into the other person's eyes.

"I guarantee that the band will have no foothold in Southeast Asia. All performances, releases, and promotional channels will simultaneously encounter unimaginable obstacles. I mean what I say."

Chen Jiantian's pupils suddenly contracted, and a layer of cold sweat instantly seeped out on his back.

He had no doubt that the young man in front of him possessed this kind of energy.

The influence of the Hong Kong Lin family has long transcended commerce, permeating all aspects of life.

The resolute and cold tone in the other person's voice left him with no doubt about the authenticity of the warning.

On one side is the Japanese market with an uncertain future but existing contracts, and potential legal disputes; on the other side is the readily available and lucrative mainland market, and... the catastrophic blow that could completely destroy the Southeast Asian business.

This is not a multiple-choice question at all.

After a suffocating silence, Chen Jiantian's Adam's apple bobbed, the color drained from his face, and he finally nodded slowly and with great difficulty, his voice hoarse:

"I... understand, Mr. Lin. We will... reschedule the trip."

The coldness on Lin Yan's face vanished instantly, replaced by a calm and composed expression. He even patted Chen Jiantian on the shoulder:

"Great, I'll have someone coordinate the details with you. This would be a better choice for the band."

He turned around, took Xi Xi and Chen Chen's hands, and left.

Xi Xi was still excited about meeting her idol and kept chattering away.

Chenchen seemed to vaguely sense that the atmosphere was a little different just now, but she didn't ask any questions.

Stepping out of the bustling venue, the night breeze in Kuala Lumpur carried the humid heat characteristic of the tropics.

Lin Yan felt little satisfaction at his successful threat.

He changed a "small thing," and perhaps in doing so, he changed the course of some people's lives.