Chapter 134: Far Too Arrogant

The Fulihua Hotel is located not far from Zhongshan Square; it takes less than three to five minutes to reach Renmin Road. Today, the area outside the hotel was bustling with activity. A red carpet had been laid from the hotel entrance all the way to the curb, giving it the genuine flair of a film festival.

The parking lot outside had been cleared, yet it remained crowded with high-end luxury cars waiting to drop off their passengers. The line stretched long, and there was no shortage of media reporters. Both sides of the red carpet were lined with them, their camera flashes turning the night as bright as day. Many local residents also gathered around to watch the spectacle.

Chu Dong was near the back of the motorcade, his vehicle inching forward along with the others. He used this time to continuously reassure Xiao Rou, telling her to relax and shed her nervousness.

"Don't be afraid. They are just regular people, and none of them are as beautiful as you. There’s no need to greet anyone first. If someone praises you or says hello, just give them a shallow smile. Yes, like that. Keep your wine glass in hand; if someone toasts you, just take a small sip. Remember, you don't need to look up to anyone here..." Chu Dong’s demeanor was natural; he didn't take any of this seriously. He was only here today to find some amusement at Wang Dongliang’s expense.

Finally, it was Chu Dong’s turn to pull up to the start of the red carpet. He told Xiao Rou to stay put, parked the car, walked around to the other side, and opened the door, extending his hand.

Xiao Rou placed one hand over her chest and the other in Chu Dong’s, stepping out of the car.

The temperature outside was low, a stark contrast to the heated interior of Chu Dong's car. It was quite chilly, but Xiao Rou remained composed, walking slowly toward the hotel entrance in step with Chu Dong.

"Wow..." First came a stir, then the shutters began to fire in a continuous barrage, the flashing lights so bright they were nearly blinding. Xiao Rou’s small hand gripped Chu Dong’s arm with a hint of tension as she followed him, feeling a bit dazed.

Chu Dong’s car was taken away by the hotel’s valet, replaced by a Porsche behind his newly repainted Audi. Coincidentally, the moment the door opened, Wang Dongliang stepped out with a glamorous woman. To his surprise, however, the reporters who had been lining the red carpet were already chasing after the person ahead of them. Not a single camera was pointed at him. The top of the "Top Ten Youth" list, lauded by the local media, had been given the cold shoulder—it was simply unbelievable. Did they not know who the guest of honor was today? Wang Dongliang gritted his teeth, leading the B-list actress down the red carpet with a sullen, ashen face.

Chu Dong did not take Xiao Rou straight to the second floor. After checking in, they were surrounded by reporters in the lobby. Many clamored for them to look more intimate, fearing they might miss a single shot.

Chu Dong was tall, and Wang Dongliang noticed at a glance that the reporters were swarming him instead. His expression darkened further, and he practically dragged the posing starlet toward the multi-function hall on the second floor.

Once he had finally dismissed the reporters, Chu Dong nudged his arm and winked at Xiao Rou. "See? It’s simple. You did great. Keep it up."

Xiao Rou offered a gentle, shallow smile just as Chu Dong had instructed and followed him up the white marble stairs. A flurry of camera flashes went off behind them.

The second floor was already crowded. The long meeting tables had been removed, leaving only five round tables in the hall, covered in glasses filled with champagne and red wine. A long table facing the entrance was set up for the buffet.

The room was decorated with balloons, and the stage held only a podium with a large banner that read: "Dalian Red Cross 15th Charity Banquet and Auction." On either side stood two young women in traditional cheongsams, wearing professional smiles. Above, a projector focused on a white screen on the stage.

The room was filled with business elites and socialites, chatting with glasses in hand. They gathered in small groups, their pleasantries thick with the scent of profit and money.

Chu Dong and Xiao Rou’s arrival caused a stir. Countless men stared at the stunning Xiao Rou; her soft, radiant smile, her poised demeanor, her bright eyes, and her graceful figure captured every gaze. Even the women forgot to be jealous, left only with a sense of awe.

Chu Dong was satisfied with the effect; it was even better than he had anticipated. He patted the small hand resting on his arm—covered in a white lace glove—and gave Xiao Rou an encouraging look. He picked up a glass of champagne and handed it to her.

Xiao Rou smiled, accepted it gently, and nodded to those watching her. Chu Dong, ignoring everyone else, found a relatively quiet spot for the two of them to sit and chat, acting as if no one else in the room existed.

Wang Dongliang, meanwhile, was playing the socialite, clinking glasses and exchanging pleasantries, busy to the point that sweat was forming on his shiny forehead. The actress by his side was just as busy, greeting CEOs and chairmen, showing a real talent for networking—though she seemed to have forgotten that Wang Dongliang was her date. Both of them were the type to "bloom" wherever they met someone.

Soon, most of the guests had arrived. The host took the stage, and the banquet began.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I am delighted to have the opportunity to host this charity banquet. I hope we can spend a wonderful evening with all the kind donors here." The host had a charismatic voice, and everyone’s attention quickly shifted to him.

"Whether it is the eyes of children in impoverished mountain areas longing for school, or the suffering of people in disaster zones, we have always kept them in our hearts. Because of our care, many have been able to live happy lives and walk onto a path of prosperity. Today, the Dalian Red Cross 15th Charity Banquet and Auction begins once more. Let us wish this event a smooth and complete success. And now, let us welcome our Deputy Mayor, Meng Qingsheng, who has come to join us, with a round of warm applause."

Thunderous applause followed. Regardless of who is speaking, the first person is usually someone important; you give them face, and they will give you face in return. Chu Dong also clapped, having heard that this Deputy Mayor had a good reputation as a man who actually got things done.

"Comrades, good evening. Actually, I felt quite awkward coming here today, because when the Wenchuan earthquake happened, I donated a large sum—nearly half of my life's savings. I don't regret it, but I feel a bit bad that I cannot donate much today. Under the leadership of the Party and the people, our country... (ten thousand words omitted here.) I wish you all a pleasant evening." After his speech, Deputy Mayor Meng donated one thousand yuan and left the venue.

The microphone was returned to the host. "Even with his busy schedule, Deputy Mayor Meng took the time to attend our banquet. Let us thank him with applause as he departs. Next, please welcome the organizer of this event, Mr. Wang Dongliang, to speak."

Chu Dong watched the Deputy Mayor leave and was not surprised by the host's announcement. He drank quite a bit during this time, enjoying himself while silently cursing Wang Dongliang for wasting such fine wine on a banquet.

"Once upon a time, in our childhood, we all had dreams—dreams of world peace, a world without disasters or poverty. As we grew up, we realized that many things were beyond our control, and so we retreated. But what I want to say today is: if you start now, doing small things bit by bit, I believe our world will change, and those around us will change. Do not think your one-yuan donation is insignificant, because even a bottle of water in a disaster zone contains your compassion..." Whoever wrote his speech certainly knew how to stir up emotions.

The passionate speech concluded, and Wang Dongliang received a round of applause. He left the stage looking very pleased, even casting a provocative glance at Chu Dong. Sweeping away the embarrassment of being ignored earlier, he was now beaming.

Next came the speech by the President of the Red Cross. Chu Dong sneered at Wang Dongliang’s move to steal the spotlight; his performative nature was getting impatient.

After the Red Cross President finished speaking, the auction began.

"We have prepared fifteen auction items for today, including some rare treasures: a set of Hetian jade, a piece of top-grade jadeite raw stone, a rare eight-carat green diamond, and the most mysterious item of all—whose true form remains unknown to this day. Today is destined to be an unforgettable night!" The host sounded as excited as if he had taken a stimulant.

The first item was a large ivory relief carving. Its material was rare, but that wasn't the main point; the key was its age. It depicted a royal hunting scene from the Han Dynasty and held immense value for collection and research. The starting price was set at five hundred thousand.

Chu Dong didn't even bother to look up, continuing to chat quietly with Xiao Rou; he had no interest in the item. Wang Dongliang, however, was very active. His speech at the opening seemed to have given him great confidence. He bid frequently, eventually winning the item for 1.6 million. He then grandly donated it back for re-auction, earning another round of applause and cheers.

Wang Dongliang felt uneasy—not because of his health, but because of a psychological itch. Seeing Chu Dong at the venue, he had been determined to compete with him. The rumors he had spread beforehand were aimed at Chu Dong, but now, seeing him show no reaction while he himself looked triumphant, he felt like a clown. The more relaxed and at ease Chu Dong appeared, the more Wang Dongliang felt like he was sitting on pins and needles.

The ivory relief eventually sold for 1.2 million. The second donation item was a piece of jewelry, nothing extraordinary. The only notable feature was that it was a pair of Mandarin duck earrings, one a dragon and the other a phoenix, their eyes inlaid with tiny diamonds. The craftsmanship was exquisite, the design beautiful, and the starting price was only one hundred thousand.

"Two hundred thousand." Wang Dongliang doubled the price immediately; he wanted to grab everyone's attention.

Of course, there were those who didn't buy into his game. As soon as Wang Dongliang finished speaking, a woman in her forties offered two hundred and ten thousand; she clearly liked the jewelry.

"Three hundred thousand." With his wealth, Wang Dongliang didn't even bother with small increments, adding one hundred thousand each time. Seeing the auctioneer still trying to entice others to bid, and seeing Chu Dong still ignoring him, Wang Dongliang lost his patience. "Everyone, please be more enthusiastic. Let's see if I can win this. This isn't just about charity; I want to gift this piece to the most beautiful lady in the room, and I hope she likes it." As he spoke, he pointed toward Xiao Rou, who was still sitting beside Chu Dong, looking at the stage with a smile.

His arrogance was becoming a bit too much.