Chapter 644 - 369: The Feeling of "Power

Chapter 644: Chapter 369: The Feeling of "Power

From that perspective, it was no longer just a hotel performing its basic function. It was more akin to a luxurious and exclusive social club.

The party for Lin Chu was arranged by Citibank, so he hadn’t had to worry about much. He had only confirmed the guest list, and they handled all the rest.

This was one of the perks of letting a big shot foot the bill. In any case, all the procedures were already in place.

While signing the documents, Lin Chu happened to glance at the budget. The party cost a total of six point two million US dollars to host.

Of course, the bank was footing the bill, booking it under entertainment expenses.

Of that six million, about three million was allocated for purchasing an exquisite parting gift for each guest.

As it was a private affair, there was no need for public bidding. After an internal decision, the contract for these parting gifts was awarded to the not-yet-officially-open LC Retail.

’It hasn’t even fucking opened for business yet!’

’And the orders were already rolling in!’

This... left Lin Chu feeling a bit conflicted.

It wasn’t about the money. It was only six million, after all.

He had spent plenty of his own money before, but this was the first time it felt like he was taking advantage of someone else’s.

The contract.

For the time being, it wasn’t as if LC Retail was short on orders.

But they were tactful. He hadn’t even had to say a word, and they had already taken the initiative to make it happen.

It was a perfect example of that old adage: ’I don’t have to take it, but you have to offer it.’

Honestly, the feeling left Lin Chu feeling slightly ill at ease.

But on second thought, he just smiled.

’Hmm.’

’I must just not be used to it yet. I haven’t experienced this kind of "power" before.’

’Perhaps after a few more times, it will all feel more natural. I’ll get the hang of it.’

...

The high-society party exuded a traditional atmosphere. At least on the surface, everyone was impeccably dressed, all smiles and pleasant conversation.

Li Jingxian was the one primarily responsible for introducing him around today.

Liszt hadn’t come, apparently having entrusted the entire affair to him.

Lin Chu held no grudge against Li Jingxian, nor did he give him much thought. He was just occasionally curious. A man like him, so outstanding and well-rounded—capable in the boardroom and behind the scenes—how could he be content serving an old man for so many years without showing the slightest hint of ambition?

After all, when it came to proximity and personal relationships, he was the closest to Liszt, and naturally the most trusted.

A flurry of pleasantries followed.

There wasn’t a commoner in sight.

This doctor, that CEO, this senator... all sorts of people came in an endless stream.

Money is the universal equivalent.

And a financial platform is the universal networking hub.

Of course, Lin Chu was well aware that among the people who came today, some were Citibank’s social connections, and some were undoubtedly Liszt’s personal contacts...

He just had no way of telling who was who, or who they represented. And it seemed there was no real need to.

They would reveal themselves when the time was right.

The only thing Lin Chu found strange was his appointment as a Citibank director. Was there truly no resistance to it from within the club?

Although the appointment itself was another test set by Liszt—a test of his ability to maneuver with power and connections, and his resistance to honeyed traps—even so, there should have been at least a few ripples of opposition.

"I have a question. Who held the director position for the club before me?"

Lin Chu asked nonchalantly, the thought having just occurred to him.

Li Jingxian smiled thinly. "He’s been transferred elsewhere. Today is your big day, let’s not talk about such things."

With that perfunctory reply, he quickly turned his attention back to greeting and introducing new arrivals.

’Hm?’

Lin Chu felt a flicker of doubt, but new guests were arriving, so he didn’t press the issue and went on with his greetings.

Greeting guest after guest, he felt a bit like a groom at his own wedding.

Lin Chu felt that even the grand opening of the LC Group headquarters hadn’t been such a major affair.

Ultimately, it was because he was on a different platform now.

It had little to do with the absolute amount of capital involved.

To take the simplest example, if he went somewhere in his home country or abroad to discuss a project and introduced himself as the head of LC Group, odds are nobody would give him the time of day. But if he said he was a vice president at Citibank, he would be treated as a guest of honor no matter where he went.

Still, one could never have too many titles.

Each had its own advantages.

As for this matter, the influential figure from back home whom he had met in Dubai had also been incredibly supportive after Lin Chu explained the situation to him.

Whether from a public or private standpoint, this new status would bring more opportunities and choices to his life.

The more choices one had, the greater one’s freedom, and the more one could accomplish.

"Chu, congratulations, congratulations."

A young man in a white robe walked in, beaming. He gave Lin Chu a firm hug, his expression one of excited elation. It was Rashid.

Flying from Dubai to New York was no great feat. On a momentous day like Lin Chu’s inauguration into his new role, of course he had to be there.

"What’s with the formality? Just have fun. Enjoy the party, and we’ll talk later."

Lin Chu patted his shoulder and said with a warm smile.

Following behind him were several other men in white robes, of varying ages. They were his brothers—some of whom Lin Chu recognized, some he didn’t. He greeted each of them, his enthusiasm a notch higher than before.

It was only right.

Even now, Dubai was still one of his core bases of support.

Lin Chu was still very bullish on the prospects of the "low-altitude aircraft" industry. It had the potential to be the next big trend in consumer tech for the coming decade or two.

And anyone who could catch a trend like that was guaranteed to take off.

On this side of the Pacific, there were actually some excellent startups working in the same field.

Previously, investing in or acquiring them would have been difficult. But now, with this glittering new title, all such obstacles had been swept away.

His general strategy could be summed up in one phrase: wave the big stick of capital and go on a global shopping spree!

’Anything I can use, I’ll bring into the fold!’

"I’ve brought you a gift from my father."

Rashid casually handed him a golden, diamond-encrusted box that looked like a state gift. Lin Chu took it, opened it, and saw a solid gold sculpture of a falcon with its wings spread in flight.

His eyes flickered. He recognized it as a medal.

The medal for an Honorary Citizen of Dubai.

For him now, something like this was merely icing on the cake, but it was the thought that counted.

Before, when the dust hadn’t yet settled, everyone had been watching from the sidelines, or at most, engaging in minor, tentative partnerships.

That was understandable, of course.

But now...

As his status rose, so did the tide for everything else. The returns he could expect to reap—whether in the form of relationship investments or cold, hard cash—would naturally rise to the next level.

"Thank you. I’ll put this in my study later. If I get the chance, though, I’d love to raise a real falcon."

"’A yellow hound on a leash to my left, a grey goshawk on my fist to my right... an ancient romance of ours,’" Lin Chu said with a casual laugh, accepting the medal and making a new request.

For Rashid, a small request like this was nothing. When it came to falconry, he was a true expert.

He smiled, nodded in agreement, and after a few more pleasantries, Rashid and his brothers merged into the crowd.

He kept glancing back in their direction, however, taking a few short video clips to send to his sister, Misha, who couldn’t attend public events and was likely waiting with bated breath.

She hadn’t come; she was still in Dubai.

Ever since joining the low-altitude aircraft research team, she had poured all her energy into the work, with a dedication so pure it was almost foolish.

She had originally planned to come this time, but Lin Chu had apparently told her not to. She had cried in secret at home but didn’t dare disobey him, so she could only ask her brother to send her lots of updates from the event.

Sometimes Rashid found himself thinking that a man who had reached Lin Chu’s level truly wanted for nothing.

Career, physique, emotional fortitude, even willpower and intellect—in every aspect, he was undeniably a powerhouse.

He had no weaknesses.

The crucial thing was, it seemed he was still constantly ’evolving’, and the platforms he operated on were becoming more and more high-level.

From his home country to Dubai was the first step toward globalization.

From Dubai to New York... where would he go from here?

...

...