On a weekend in mid-September 2024, the sky over San Francisco exhibits a rare clarity. As the plane carrying the Yankees players lands on time at San Francisco International Airport, the entire Bay Area is bathed in the golden glow of the afternoon, with the iconic Golden Gate Bridge standing silently in the distance, like a silent witness.
Inside the cabin, teammates continue to playfully mess around, with Machado clamoring for the local Aaron Judge to treat them to a good meal, a suggestion that draws the support of many teammates.
Under normal circumstances, Lin Guanglai would certainly join the group at this time and fiercely extort Judge once; but at this historical juncture, even the always composed him doesn't have the mood for such things.
Sitting by the window, Lin Guanglai's attention is entirely drawn to the enormous stadium clearly visible outside the cabin window:
