King of the Wilderness

They gave Max ample space and time without sending any reminders or inquiries. This patience itself is the deepest form of respect.

Until the evening of the fourth day.

The flames in the fireplace were burning brightly, casting a warm glow over the large living room. The two little ones had long since fallen asleep accompanied by their nanny.

Aliya, Lin Yu’an, and Emily were snuggled comfortably on the sofa, enjoying a rare moment of peace in the day.

Just then, Aliya’s phone on the coffee table chimed, breaking the silence.

Aliya’s breath caught involuntarily. She slowly reached out and picked up the phone.

On the screen, there was just one name—MacKenzie.

Aliya lightly tapped the screen with her finger. The content of the message was very brief, only one sentence, but like a key, it instantly opened that door in everyone’s heart.

[I’m waiting for you in Alaska after you return from China. Besides, December and Amber... they will miss you very much.]

Aliya slowly lifted her head, a radiant smile blooming on her face. She turned the phone screen towards Emily and Lin Yu’an beside her.

Emily smiled and held Aliya’s hand tightly.

As for Lin Yu’an, looking at the simple line of text on the screen, he felt as if a huge stone that had been suspended for so long in his heart finally fell with a crash.

Aliya’s voice was filled with the joy of fulfillment and the anticipation of the next goal: "Now, our complete family can truly embark on the journey to China!"

Lin Yu’an nodded vigorously, his gaze passing through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows towards the tranquil and vast kingdom under the starlit sky, his heart clear and bright.

The story in Alaska had concluded with the most perfect ending.

Having resolved the biggest concern, the preparations for the trip to China were immediately prioritized.

A few days later, a Gulfstream G550 private jet took off from the private runway at Giant Stone River Ranch, carrying Lin Yu’an’s family and two nannies, flying towards the east coast of the United States—New York.

The choice of New York was not only because Lin Yu’an had special feelings for the city but also because the Chinese Consulate General in New York is one of the busiest and most efficient institutions for visa and travel document services in All of America.

They decided to complete all the cumbersome document handling in one go here.

The plane landed smoothly at Teterboro Airport, and a waiting car took them to the Mandarin Oriental Hotel at Columbus Circle. From the suite’s large floor-to-ceiling windows, the winter scenery of Central Park lay fully in view.

The next morning, the family began the first stop of their document application journey, applying for U.S. passports for Ethan and Olivia.

They had made an appointment at a passport acceptance facility at a post office in Midtown Manhattan. Faced with the cold professional camera and the serious staff, taking qualifying passport photos of the two children under two became a battle filled with chaos and laughter.

Every time Ethan saw the camera, he grinned, revealing a few tiny teeth that had just grown, completely failing the "neutral expression" requirement; while Olivia was terrified of the flash and buried her head into Emily’s arms every time the shutter clicked.

Finally, with Aliya attracting attention behind the camera with toys, Emily gently steadied the babies’ heads, and Lin Yu’an personally snapping nearly a hundred photos, they finally selected two barely acceptable "serious face" photos.

On the DS-11 application form, Lin Yu’an and Aliya solemnly signed their names as the legal parents. Emily stood by, gently tidying up the slightly impatient little ones’ clothes.

After submitting all the documents, the staff informed them that even with expedited processing, it would take three to five business days to receive the passports.

Taking advantage of this necessary waiting interval, the family enjoyed a rare urban vacation.

Lin Yu’an took them back to explore Central Park. Aliya, as excited as a child, skated with Emily on the icy Wolman Ice Rink, while Lin Yu’an acted as the most attentive audience and photographer, pushing the stroller along the rink.

Emily seized the opportunity to return to her familiar world of art. She spent an entire afternoon alone at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), immersing herself in the serene worlds created by Van Gogh’s "Starry Night" and Monet’s "Water Lily."

When she returned to the hotel contented, she found that Lin Yu’an had already prepared an even bigger surprise for her.

"What is this?" Emily asked, astonished at the large easel and a complete top-quality set of art supplies that had appeared in the room.

"A belated gift." Lin Yu’an embraced her from behind, gently resting his chin on her shoulder, "I know you’ve always dreamed of being a painter. Now, we have a beautiful estate, and it needs a dedicated artist to capture its seasons."

Emily’s eyes filled with tears instantly. She turned around and gave Lin Yu’an a deep kiss.

A few days later, when an express envelope with the emblem of the U.S. State Department arrived at the hotel suite, everyone knew that the first hurdle of the journey to China had finally been crossed. Inside the envelope lay Ethan and Olivia’s first passports.