Chapter 126 - 123: World Dream’s Centennial Celebration

Chapter 126: Chapter 123: World Dream’s Centennial Celebration

「Three days later. South Sea.」

The World Dream Group’s celebration was being held at the South Sea Exhibition Center.

The South Sea Exhibition Center was considered an iconic landmark in South Sea City.

It was South Sea’s most prestigious conference venue, often used to host major international summits.

From early morning, the area outside the exhibition plaza was packed with people.

Female influencers were performing energetic dances amidst the surging crowd.

Tabloid reporters who couldn’t get in were picking out spots to take photos.

A blogger in an eccentric outfit, the kind of extrovert who thrives in social situations, was loudly describing the day’s grand event:

"This is insane, my brothers! Do you know who’s coming today?

The famous singer Lou Xiaozhou is performing! The Hong Kong superstar Zhou Tianbo is hosting!

Even the opening dance is by South Korea’s hottest girl group, ’Z’!

Damn, half of the entertainment industry is here to celebrate with World Dream!"

...

World Dream had certainly gone all out with the pomp and circumstance this time.

Officials from South Sea, business magnates from the Great Xia Kingdom, underground forces, and international merchants had all come to congratulate World Dream.

Those popular starlets who seemed so high and mighty to the common folk were here like ordinary singers and dancers, adding a bit of flavor to the grand affair.

...

Jiang Chaosheng approached from the distant bus stop.

He didn’t have his own car.

Jiang Chaosheng felt that driving and taking the bus both had their pros and cons.

The downside of driving was having to hold the steering wheel. The upside was saving time.

The downside of taking the bus was the longer travel time. The upside was not having to hold the steering wheel.

If the Vengeful Ghost Vintage Car wasn’t so conspicuous, he would’ve liked to drive it here.

Jiang Chaosheng looked at the Sheriffs maintaining order outside the plaza and felt a pang of regret.

’It’s too loud and chaotic.’

’I shouldn’t have come.’

He had originally wanted to join in on the excitement; Antique Shop Zero was just too quiet.

But it seemed he wasn’t suited for joining the excitement, only for creating it.

Of course, if he wasn’t trying to make a change, he definitely wouldn’t have come to this uncomfortable place just because of Xia Li’s pitiful tone.

"Where’s the entrance again?"

Jiang Chaosheng looked left and right and found the entrance.

It was a red carpet that stretched from the main gate of the plaza all the way to the South Sea Exhibition Center.

Many men and women in evening gowns and expensive suits were walking down the red carpet toward the exhibition center.

Some female celebrities even paused on the red carpet to strike elegant poses for the reporters’ cameras.

A few tycoons often seen on financial news channels, escorted by their female companions, smiled and waved at the cameras.

More extravagantly, a number of limited-edition luxury cars were driving on the red carpet. Upon reaching the main entrance, a valet would run out to open the door for the VIP inside.

When Jiang Chaosheng reached the plaza entrance, he immediately attracted a great deal of attention.

Their gazes were filled with envy and admiration.

The people who couldn’t get in all mistook Jiang Chaosheng for one of the important figures who were qualified to attend the ceremony.

Jiang Chaosheng wasn’t afraid of being seen.

Every time he went out, he wore the Ring of the Forgetter. No one would be able to remember what he looked like; they would even forget his existence.

A security guard said respectfully,

"Sir, please show me your invitation."

Jiang Chaosheng froze for a moment.

’An invitation?’

’I didn’t ask Xia Li for one.’

’To think the first time I try to do something sentimental, it ends up this awkward.’

Seeing that Jiang Chaosheng still hadn’t produced an invitation, the security guard’s eyes grew wary.

Plenty of people tried to get in without an invitation.

There were minor influencers trying to ride the hype, sneaking in wearing extremely revealing and daring outfits just to walk the red carpet once.

There were also those who, shamelessly betting it all, tried to bluff their way past security with sheer audacity and courage, hoping to discuss a partnership with some big shot inside.

’Could this young man in the stylish suit in front of me also be one of those people trying to sneak in without an invitation?’

The guard felt a headache coming on.

’You people are all richer than I am. Why do you have to make things difficult for a guy on a fixed salary?’

The guard said, neither servile nor overbearing,

"Sir, you can’t enter without an invitation."

Just then, a young man’s voice rang out:

"He’s with me."

The guard looked at the speaker, his expression one of surprise.

"Young Master Zhu?"

The newcomer had dyed red hair and was dressed in an exaggerated hip-hop style outfit.

Zhu Chuanwu, a notorious rich wastrel from South Sea.

His father, Zhu Feng, was the head of South Sea’s largest underground force.

Bai Litang, who had died a miserable death a few months ago, had worked for his father.

With this background, Zhu Chuanwu was outrageously arrogant in South Sea, and notoriously lecherous.

Everyone in their circle knew that he had completely ruined the once-popular singer, Bai Shasha.

Beside Zhu Chuanwu stood a glamorous beauty in a cheongsam.

The beauty gave Jiang Chaosheng a playful wink.

Jiang Chaosheng gave a slight nod.

Xu Wei. His old neighbor.

The guard hesitated for a moment, then said,

"Since he’s with Young Master Zhu, go on in."

He could tell that Jiang Chaosheng wasn’t with Zhu Chuanwu at all; Zhu Chuanwu was just trying to make his female companion smile by offering to bring Jiang Chaosheng in.

’Besides, a guy who can’t even produce an invitation isn’t likely to cause any trouble inside.’

’And if Jiang Chaosheng really did cause a scene, I could just push the blame onto Zhu Chuanwu.’

’Zhu Chuanwu’s father, Zhu Feng, might seem like the local tyrant of South Sea, but in reality, he can’t afford to offend a single shareholder of the World Dream Group.’

Jiang Chaosheng followed behind Zhu Chuanwu and Xu Wei, walking toward the South Sea Exhibition Center.

Xu Wei grinned at Jiang Chaosheng and said,

"Hehe, aren’t you going to thank me properly?"

Jiang Chaosheng nodded.

"Thank you."

In the past, Xu Wei would have certainly been disappointed in Jiang Chaosheng.

After all, the high-quality "backup" suitor by her side could produce an invitation, while Jiang Chaosheng could not.

This meant Jiang Chaosheng wasn’t as uniquely rich and powerful as she had imagined.

However, she had been willing to ask her male companion to help get Jiang Chaosheng out of his predicament.

There was a reason for this.

Xu Wei had thought for a long time and finally remembered who Jiang Chaosheng was.

She did indeed have a deep connection with him; they had known each other a long time ago, but it had been so long.

Back at the orphanage, Jiang Chaosheng was only five, and she was just four.

If it weren’t for Jiang Chaosheng, she wouldn’t have come to worship money so much, nor would she be as wealthy as she was today.

’How should I reveal that I remember him?’ Xu Wei wondered.

Zhu Chuanwu spoke up.

"Little bro, who are you trying to find by sneaking in here?

For Xu Wei’s sake, maybe I can make an introduction for you."

Zhu Chuanwu had seen the way Xu Wei looked at Jiang Chaosheng.

It was so tender, as if she were gazing at her ’white moonlight.’

She had never looked at him that way.

Zhu Chuanwu really liked Xu Wei, mainly because she was a challenge.

Xu Wei was a famous social butterfly in South Sea’s upper-crust circles.

Strangely enough, this social butterfly was a virgin.

Xu Wei was very good at getting people to open up. Once, while they were drinking, Xu Wei had said to Zhu Chuanwu,

"I’ve never slept with a man. It keeps my value higher."

Zhu Chuanwu wanted to be the man who bought Xu Wei’s first night.

So, seeing Xu Wei being so nice to Jiang Chaosheng made him jealous, and his words were laced with contempt.

He wanted to show Xu Wei the domineering aura of a truly powerful man.

Xu Wei detected the condescension toward Jiang Chaosheng in Zhu Chuanwu’s words and frowned imperceptibly.

She also subconsciously pulled away from Zhu Chuanwu slightly.

Xu Wei looked at Jiang Chaosheng apologetically.

In her memory, Jiang Chaosheng was a very proud person. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have said what he did back when he was just a little boy at the orphanage.

’But so what if he’s proud?’

’In the face of reality, being born into the right family is still more important.’

Just then, the sound of high heels running on the red carpet rang out.

Xu Wei was surprised.

’At such a high-end, formal event, whose companion is so graceless as to run on the red carpet in high heels?’

Xu Wei and Zhu Chuanwu both looked up, their pupils contracting in utter disbelief!

They saw a stunning, aloof woman in a high-end, custom-tailored pinstripe suit running toward them, her face full of delighted surprise.

Xia Li! The Female President of the World Dream Group!

Zhu Chuanwu was overwhelmed by the unexpected favor and quickly stepped forward.

"Pres-President Xia!"

Xu Wei stared at Zhu Chuanwu in astonishment.

’Is he really that impressive?’

’Even Xia Li would run over to greet him in high heels, in front of everyone?’

To their surprise, Xia Li completely ignored Zhu Chuanwu and Xu Wei. She stopped in front of Jiang Chaosheng, looking as flustered as a young girl.

"S-Sir, what are you doing here?"