Courtyard Houses: From Bronze Compasses to Global Reach

Chapter 124: Dawn, Tennis Balls, and the Baby Divine Beast

After resting for two days in his villa on Manhattan's Upper East Side, Lin Yan felt a bit sluggish. The sun was shining brightly outside, and he thought of the tennis courts he'd seen during his last walk; they seemed like a good pastime.

"Little Seven," he patted the head of the little white dog at his feet, "Do you want to watch your brother play ball?"

"Is it the same ball as last time?!" Little Seven wagged its tail excitedly and circled around Lin Yan.

"No, it's a different kind of ball. Will you help your brother retrieve it later?"

"Okay," Lin Yan smiled sinisterly. Xiao Qi was simply a "natural ball-catching genius."

Lin Yan smiled, then said to Lin Er, who was standing to the side, "Go and get ready, we're going to the tennis courts in Central Park for some exercise." He paused, then suddenly remembered something, "Oh right, we don't think we bought any sports equipment."

Lin Er bowed and said, "Young Master, the last purchase did not include sports equipment."

"It's alright," Lin Yan waved his hand, "Let's go buy it now. Charles, get the car ready. Let's go to the best department store nearby."

"Yes, sir." Charles responded and left.

Soon, the Lincoln Continental, carrying Lin Yan, Lin Er, and Xiao Qi, arrived at Macy's, a famous department store in New York. This one of the world's largest department stores was bustling with activity and filled with a dazzling array of goods.

A friendly saleswoman approached them. Upon learning that Lin Yan needed top-of-the-line tennis equipment, her eyes lit up, and she respectfully led them to the sporting goods section, directly to the Wilson counter. In 1959, Wilson was already one of the leading tennis equipment brands in the United States.

The senior sales associate at the counter was a very capable-looking middle-aged man named Robert. He greeted us with a warm smile: "Good afternoon, gentlemen! I'm Robert. Are you looking for tennis equipment today?"

Lin Yan nodded: "We need the whole package, for two people."

Robert's eyes lit up immediately—this was a big client! "Of course! Gentlemen, please take a look this way. Our most popular professional racket this year is definitely the Jack Kramer Autograph model!" He picked up a wooden racket and expertly introduced it: "Look at the frame; it's made of laminated wood, mainly beech and catalpa, very sturdy yet with excellent flexibility. Most importantly, it has great balance, a head-light design, so your wrist won't get tired at all when you swing it, and the control is superb. Many top players in clubs use this model. Feel the grip; it's wrapped in calfskin, sweat-absorbent and non-slip, with a superb feel."

Lin Yan took the racket, swung it casually, and nodded: "Not bad. I'll take three." He then pointed to Lin Er, "Give him three too."

Robert suppressed his joy and quickly jotted it down: "No problem! Absolutely a wise choice, sir. Does the racket need stringing? We recommend using the highest quality natural gut strings, threaded with an 18x20 string bed. The tension can be adjusted to your preference; it provides the best control and feel!"

"Sure, as long as the weight is just right," Lin Yan said nonchalantly.

"Okay! And the tennis balls?" Robert picked up a classic yellow tin can. "We recommend the Wilson Championship Extra Duty tennis balls. You can tell from the sound of opening the can," he demonstrated, "that it's packed with air pressure! The balls inside are made of high-quality wool and nylon felt, which is especially durable and perfect for hard courts like Central Park, offering excellent bounce. There are three balls in a can; how many do you need?"

"Let's take five cans first," Lin Yan said.

"No problem!" Robert raised his voice by half an octave. "What about clothing and shoes? We have some brand new pure white knit cotton polo shirts here, breathable and sweat-wicking, with our Wilson logo on the left chest, very classic. The shorts are made of twill cotton, loose and comfortable, very easy to move in." He picked up a set to show it off, "The colors are white, light gray, and cream, all classic colors for playing tennis."

Lin Yan touched the fabric: "Hmm, polo shirts and shorts, five sets each for me and him. Mine should be mostly white, and his can be a darker color, like gray or navy blue."

"Yes, sir! What are the sizes?" Robert asked quickly. Lin Yan gave Lin Er's and Lin Yan's sizes.

"Finally, the shoes," Robert said, picking up a pair of white high-top canvas tennis shoes. "These are our main models. They have a white canvas upper, a reinforced rubber toe, and are very lightweight and flexible. The tread pattern on the sole provides excellent grip. Although they don't offer the same support as some dress shoes, they are very comfortable to play on hard courts."

"Okay, same, white, five pairs per person, size is..." Lin Yan announced the size again.

Robert quickly calculated the price, his smile growing wider: "Sir, let me give you the total: six Jack Kramer rackets, five cans of Wilson Championship tennis balls, ten sets of polo shirts and shorts, ten pairs of tennis shoes, plus six rackets for gut stringing service, all added up to... $500." This was undoubtedly a huge expense at the time, equivalent to several months' worth of expenses for an average family.

After listening, Lin Yan simply nodded slightly to Lin Er.

Lin Er immediately stepped forward, took out his thick wallet from his pocket, and readily paid the money. Robert took the cash with both hands, checked it, and confirmed that it was correct.

As they left Macy's, Robert watched them exit and said warmly, "Have a pleasant game of golf in Central Park, gentlemen!"

Back in the car, Lin Yan said to Lin Er, "Now we're all equipped. Tomorrow morning, Central Park tennis courts."

He's already looking forward to the feeling of swinging his racket in the sunlight.

The following morning, the dawn light filtered through the thin mist, gilding the trees in Central Park with a golden edge. Lin Yan changed into a brand-new white Wilson tennis outfit, his upright posture exuding even more vitality. Lin Er also changed into sportswear, his expression composed. Xiao Qi excitedly followed at their feet, its snow-white, fluffy body like a rolling snowball, its tail wagging merrily.

They walked through the quiet streets of the Upper East Side and stepped into Central Park again in the early morning. The air was crisp and fragrant with the scent of grass, and joggers and dog walkers created vivid silhouettes in the park.

Following the signs, they quickly found the tennis courts on the west side of the park. A dozen or so standard outdoor hard courts were neatly arranged, their deep red surfaces and green wire mesh fences standing out vividly in the morning light. Most of the courts were still empty, with only a few scattered "thwack, thwack" sounds echoing from them.

They easily found an open space. After pushing open the wire mesh gate and doing some simple stretching and warm-up, the duel began.

Lin Yan chose to serve first. He stood behind the baseline, gently tapped the ball twice, his movements relaxed. Then, he tossed the ball, bent his knees, turned his body, pushed off the ground, and swung his racket—the movements were as fluid as a dance, yet contained explosive power!

"Bang!"

A deep, penetrating bang exploded, far exceeding the sound of an ordinary hit! The yellow tennis ball seemed to evaporate instantly, and the next moment it was like a golden lightning bolt, accurately hitting the outer corner of the opposite service court. After landing, it bounced almost straight up, its speed breathtaking!

"ACE, 15-0," Lin Yan calmly announced the score.

Lin Er didn't even move. The speed and angle of that shot were already at a professional top level.

The people around the court were drawn to the amazing serve and turned their heads to look.

The match continued. Lin Er's serve was equally powerful and accurate. But Lin Yan seemed to anticipate the trajectory, taking a quick step and landing a backhand smash that sent the ball flying back along the sideline at an even faster speed.

"Bang!"

"Snapped!"

"Bang!"

An offensive exchange ensued. The sounds of their shots were heavy and resounding, each swing carrying astonishing power. The tennis ball transformed into a blurry golden phantom between them, whistling back and forth at speeds far beyond the comprehension of amateurs.

Lin Yan's movements were as light as the wind, covering the entire court. His forehand attacks were like cannonballs, his backhand slices as soft as feathers, and his net shots were incredibly precise, carrying strong spin. Lin Er, on the other hand, was like a silent mountain, his defense impenetrable, his returns deep and heavy, with very few errors.

They weren't even sweating, and their breathing was steady, as if they were playing a light game.

The first game ended quickly, with Lin Yan winning 6-3 thanks to her powerful serves and sharp attacks.

After a short break, the second game begins.

This time, Lin Yan reduced his pure power bursts and began to control the ball more skillfully. He frequently used topspin to keep Lin Er on the baseline, occasionally adding a drop shot, forcing the tall Lin Er to sprint to the net in a sorry state.

Another ball, Lin Yan seized the opportunity and hit a beautiful passing shot. The tennis ball accurately passed by Lin Er, who was trying to move to the net, and hit the inside of the baseline.

"Great shot!" A few spectators who had unknowingly gathered on the sidelines couldn't help but cheer.

Lin Er also changed his strategy, starting to attack Lin Yan's backhand more often and attempting to volley at the net. The two engaged in a wonderful net battle, with fast-paced volleys and lobs drawing gasps from the onlookers.

This game became even more intense, eventually going to a tiebreak. The score went back and forth, and Lin Yan finally won the game 7-6 (7-5) with a bold serve and net shot, followed by a clean backhand volley.

After two rounds, a group of twenty or thirty spectators, drawn by the exciting match, had gathered around, and applause and exclamations of admiration filled the air.

"My God, this is like the Wimbledon final!"

"Who are those two young men from the East? I've never heard of them before!"

"Their stamina is terrifying! They played two games and seemed completely unaffected!"

Lin Yan smiled and shook his head, saying to Lin Er, "Alright, you're sweating, let's stop fighting."

He walked to the sidelines, symbolically wiped himself with a towel, then squatted down and said to the excitedly wagging little Qi, "Little Qi, after watching your brother play for so long, do you want to play ball too?"

"Woof woof woof!" Xiao Qi immediately stood up, its two front paws pawing at Lin Yan's knees, its black grape-like eyes full of longing.

Lin Yan picked up a brand-new tennis ball, weighed it in his hand, and ignored the curious stares around him. He stepped back to the baseline and said to Xiao Qi, "Get ready, big brother's serving you!"

As he spoke, he tossed the tennis ball high into the air, then used half the force he had before to send it in the opposite direction from Xiao Qi's position, controlling the force just enough to make the ball bounce a certain height.

Just when everyone thought the owner was just teasing the pet, a jaw-dropping scene unfolded!

The small white figure darted out like lightning! It was so fast that it left only a blurry white line on the grass! Xiaoqi accurately predicted the landing point, and the instant the tennis ball bounced, it leaped up—it didn't bite with its mouth, but like a real feline, it nimbly raised one front paw and pounced precisely on the tennis ball!

With a soft "thud," the tennis ball was firmly pressed onto the grass by its little paws!

"Wow—!" The entire audience erupted in cheers and laughter in surprise!

"Oh my god! It pounced! It actually used its paws to pounce on the ball!"

"Too fast! So cute!"

"What breed of dog is this? It's so smart!"

Little Qi seemed to understand the praise. It loosened its paws, rubbed its fluffy little head proudly against the ball, then picked up the tennis ball and trotted back to Lin Yan's feet. It put the ball down, wagged its tail even more enthusiastically, tilted its little head back, and whispered, "Brother, wasn't I amazing! Let's do it again!"

Lin Yan was amused by it and rubbed its little head: "Amazing! Our Xiao Qi is the best!" He picked up the ball again and this time threw it in another direction.

Little Seven transformed into a white lightning bolt once more, sprinting, stopping abruptly, leaping, and diving for the ball! Its movements were incredibly fluid, each time precisely catching or intercepting the ball, thoroughly enjoying itself. The contrast between its fluffy, round body and its agile, swift movements instantly captivated all the onlookers. The sounds of camera shutters clicking, laughter, and exclamations of amazement filled the air.

Lin Yan was also having a great time, constantly changing his direction and force, playing with Xiao Qi for several minutes. Finally, after Xiao Qi swooped in, he happily rolled around on the grass several times while holding the tennis ball, his snow-white fur getting covered in a few blades of grass, which made everyone laugh.

After playing enough, Lin Yan picked up the still-wanting Xiao Qi and said to Lin Er, "Let's go."

Amidst a sea of ​​kind, almost celebrity-like stares, they left the tennis court. People were still buzzing about the incredible match and the amazing, adorable little white dog.

"You're really happy today, aren't you, Xiao Qi?" Lin Yan scratched Xiao Qi's chin in his arms.

"Mmm~" Xiao Qi let out a satisfied hum and licked his fingers.

The morning light was perfect, casting long shadows. A high-quality workout and a fun-filled game made Lin Yan feel exceptionally relaxed.