Chapter 811 - 365: Riven’s Inner World

Chapter 811: Chapter 365: Riven’s Inner World

Bahamas Time, 5:30 in the evening

"Looks like you had a good afternoon." Mike stood up, extinguished his cigar on the railing, and said calmly, with no trace of emotion.

Crown Princess Mette’s face was beaming with genuine joy, so real that it made her look several years younger.

"Of course! I didn’t know that my daughter is not only an outstanding captain but also a top shopping guide."

"She took me to a craft shop south of Bay Street run by an old lady, and the straw bags there were just works of art. We also ate conch salad at the foot of Queen’s Steps."

She released Riven’s arm and first handed a beautifully packaged gift bag to Mike, with the logo of a top local liquor store in Nassau printed on it.

"Here’s for you, an eighteen-year-old Glenfiddich. I know you still like this flavor, spicy and stubborn, like an old reef soaked by seawater for decades."

Her metaphor not only accurately described the characteristics of the whiskey but also cleverly teased Mike’s personality, with a familiarity that only old acquaintances share.

Mike accepted the whiskey without a thank you, only murmuring in return: "You always like to resolve issues with some glossy and impractical things."

Despite saying this, he still carefully placed the expensive bottle of whiskey to the side.

Then, Mette turned to Lin Yu’an, extended her hand with an impeccable elegant smile.

"Captain Lin, we meet again. Let me introduce myself, Mette Liv. Riven’s mom."

Her self-introduction did not include any royal titles, so Lin Yu’an didn’t emphasize them either.

"Hello, Mette." Lin Yu’an politely returned the handshake.

She let go of his hand and handed another bag with the LaMer logo, "This is for you, thank you for taking care of Riven."

"I heard from Riven, not only did you protect her in the storm, but also let her see what genius looks like."

"You’re too kind. We’re a team, helping each other is expected."

"Lin, I have to thank you," Mette said with a hint of a smile, "This afternoon, I finally got to see my daughter laugh, argue, and blush. Rather than being a silent captain."

"Mom... stop saying that."

Mette ignored Riven’s shyness and smiled while continuing to ask: "Riven says you are from China?"

Her topic shifted naturally, filled with a sense of exploration.

"I’ve been to Shanghai and Beijing, attended several official events. Very modern, full of vitality, like a precision machine running at high speed. But I always feel that’s not all of China."

"I’ve heard Haakon (the Crown Prince’s name) mention that he describes China as a giant that slept for a century and is now awakening at an unimaginable speed."

This is a grand and slightly probing question, far from ordinary chit-chat.

Lin Yu’an calmly met Mette’s gaze and replied, "It’s very descriptive, but, if I use my own understanding, I prefer to liken it to a life undergoing ’morphological transformation.’

"Morphological transformation?" This answer evidently piqued Mette’s interest.

"Yes," Lin Yu’an continued to explain in a straightforward yet vivid language.

"What you see in Shanghai and Beijing is its hardest and brightest exoskeleton—skyscrapers, high-speed rail, a mobile payment network that covers everything."

"We completed the road of industrialization and urbanization that Western countries took over a hundred years in just thirty years. That indeed is a ’giant’ speed and power."

"But," he shifted his tone, starting to reveal the other side beneath the hard shell, "Underneath this hard shell, something softer is regrowing in a whole new way."

He provided a concrete example: "For instance, a friend of mine in a small city called Jingdezhen, several hundred kilometers away from Shanghai."

"It was once the thousand-year-old porcelain capital, crafting the finest porcelain for royal families worldwide. In the industrial age, it once declined."

"But now, thousands of young artists and designers from around the world are flocking there. They don’t live in high-rises but in those old workshops with ancient styles preserved."

"By day they use the oldest dragon kilns to fire ceramics, and by night they sell their creations via live streams to buyers in New York, London, and Tokyo."

He glanced at Mette and concluded: "Ancient crafts are merging with the most modern commerce models. This is what I mean by ’morphological transformation.’"

"It’s not merely ’awakening,’ but a marvelous fusion of ancient genes and future technology."

"Such stories happen every day in thousands of towns like Jingdezhen in China."

These words, using a concrete and vivid story full of details, showcased the complexity and charm of modern China beautifully.

Crown Princess Mette was captivated, the China she visited was filled with official agendas and grand narratives.

Whereas Lin Yu’an painted a picture for her of a folk China, she had never encountered before, filled with vibrant individuals and creativity.

Her eyes revealed curiosity and longing, "Jingdezhen... I’ve noted that name."

"It seems, to truly understand China, one can’t just see its ’exoskeleton,’ but must touch those warm new shoots regrowing beneath."

Her topic jumped back to the present, this time her tone appeared more close and filled with anticipation.