Chapter 98: Big Shot?
Chapter 98: Big Shot?
The second venue had a large stage at the very front.
Dazzling lights flickered, screens displayed moving images, and upbeat music slowly built up the atmosphere for the evening.
In front of the stage, numerous tables were densely arranged.
Crystal-clear glass cups reflected starlike glimmers under the lighting.
Many elegantly dressed waitresses moved among the tables, guiding guests to their seats.
After Chen Mo and Xiaoyu entered the venue, a waitress led them to their assigned seats.
As soon as they sat down, they attracted the attention of others.
Xiaoyu’s aura was too striking, even better than some popular female celebrities.
The table was filled with company CEOs and a few women.
Several of them looked at Xiaoyu with envy and jealousy.
Some of these women had come representing their companies, dressed beautifully in hopes of catching the eye of wealthy CEOs at the banquet, dreaming of marrying into a rich family and soaring high like a phoenix.
But the moment Xiaoyu sat down, all the attention that had been on them shifted to her.
Compared to Xiaoyu, they seemed like country bumpkins, completely out of her league.
“Which company are you two from?” asked a heavily made-up woman sitting across from Xiaoyu.
“Legion Ant Company,” Xiaoyu replied politely with a nod.
“Legion Ant Company? Why would someone from Legion Ant Company sit here? Are you impersonating them?” said a sharp-looking man at the table.
“How do you mean?” Chen Mo asked with a smile.
“Legion Ant Company is considered a rising domestic enterprise with a market value exceeding one hundred billion. I heard they invited the president of Legion Ant Company to this Charity Night.
Given Zhao Min’s status in the domestic business world, her seat should have been arranged at one of the best tables, alongside the presidents and directors of major companies. If Zhao Min didn’t come and sent you instead, your seats must have been swapped,” the man explained.
“Is there really such a custom?” Chen Mo looked at Xiaoyu beside him.
“At large-scale events, seating is carefully designed and arranged. For example, in the celebrity section, top-tier stars sit in the best front-row areas, followed by other A-listers. Lower-tier celebrities can only sit in the corners. The business section is probably the same,” Xiaoyu nodded.
Having attended some banquets with Zhao Min, she was familiar with such matters—the order of arrival and seating for guests were highly particular.
A good seat signified high status; it was an unspoken matter of face.
“It seems our status here is pretty low-tier,” Chen Mo glanced around the venue, chuckled softly, and picked up a piece of fruit from the platter, placing it in front of Xiaoyu.
“Should I go talk to someone about it?”
“No need. It doesn’t matter where we sit. This is Charity Night; there’s no need to care about these things,” Chen Mo said.
Seeing that Chen Mo didn’t mind, Xiaoyu didn’t say more and simply sat quietly beside him.
Before long, a stir arose at their table as Yao Yi appeared amid the hushed discussions of the crowd, approaching Chen Mo’s table.
“Little brother Chen Mo, I’ve been looking all over for you,” Yao Yi said with a wry smile. “I even asked the waiters specifically and found out you were here. Why are you sitting so far back?”
Those who recognized Yao Yi quietly spread his identity among themselves.
The fact that the top official of Binhai City had come personally drew many eyes to Chen Mo, as people wondered about his identity.
The address “little brother Chen Mo” made those who heard it gasp in shock.
Yao Yi was known for his sternness in Binhai City, often called the Iron-faced Sir.
For him to address a young man so familiarly was definitely not something an ordinary person could receive.
This young man must be highly regarded by Yao Yi.
The others at Chen Mo’s table were stunned, hardly daring to breathe.
Since when could representatives of Legion Ant Company chat so casually with the top official?
“No status, no position—we just got assigned here,” Chen Mo shrugged.
Seeing his reaction, Yao Yi laughed heartily and then plopped down in the seat next to Chen Mo.
“Then I’ll sit here too, if you don’t mind?”
“Ten thousand welcomes,” Chen Mo grinned.
“These kinds of banquets are terribly boring. I was just looking for someone to chat with. Everyone else just flatters me; it’s dull.”
“It is boring, but I have my girlfriend with me,” Chen Mo smiled. “Secretary Yao, did you know it would be like this and still came?”
“I came to do some good. But I can’t donate much—I’m here to drive up the prices. You businesspeople are the real stars tonight.”
“Secretary Yao, so you’ve got your eyes on me tonight?” Chen Mo said ruefully.
“Exactly.”
Yao Yi laughed brightly, while others watched in astonishment.
The top official of Binhai City laughing so freely was unprecedented.
Countless people speculated about Chen Mo and Xiaoyu’s identities.
They knew Xiaoyu was Zhao Min’s assistant but had no idea about Chen Mo.
“Secretary Yao.”
Another stir moved through the crowd, and those who saw the speaker gaped in surprise.
Dong Zhu, the most influential female business leader in the country, last year’s Forbes-selected Huaxia Female Business Leader of the Year, known as the Pearl of the East, and the current Chairperson and President of Gree Group, had actually appeared here.
Dong Zhu was already one of the most influential figures in the domestic business world. Her arrival caused a commotion among many.
“Even Dong Zhu is here. I really envy the people sitting at that table.”
“Am I seeing things?”
“I wish I were at that table.”
Onlookers had countless thoughts, wishing they could be the ones sitting at that table, chatting with Dong Zhu and Yao Yi.
“Secretary Yao, you came here to find this young man, right? Can you introduce him to me?” Dong Zhu examined Chen Mo and Xiaoyu, giving a slight nod.
In terms of presence, these two young people were exceptionally outstanding.
“Ms. Dong, let me introduce them,” Yao Yi smiled faintly at the eavesdroppers around and whispered into Dong Zhu’s ear, “He is the Chairman of Legion Ant Company, Chen Mo.”
Even Dong Zhu, who had seen her share of the world, gasped quietly at this introduction.
In just half a year, Legion Ant Company had leaped to become the most famous rising enterprise domestically. Its growth momentum was unimaginable to outsiders. Conservative estimates placed the company’s market value at over 150 billion—a true legend.
Zhao Min had already surpassed her to become the new Huaxia Female Business Leader, and she was quite young.
But for Yao Yi to say that this young man, who appeared to be in his twenties, was the Chairman of Legion Ant Company—the true master behind the company—sounded almost frightening.
He was far too young.
“Hello, CEO Chen. Dong Zhu from Gree Group,” Dong Zhu proactively extended her hand to shake Chen Mo’s.
This gesture struck those nearby as unbelievable. Dong Zhu was actively engaging with a young man, and her tone was respectful, treating him as an equal.
“Hello, Chairperson Dong. You’ve always been someone I admire. Shall we sit and talk?” Chen Mo responded courteously.
“Of course,” Dong Zhu sat in an empty seat at the table, looking around. “CEO Chen, why are you sitting in this corner?”
“Probably no one recognizes him. I only met young brother Chen Mo once by chance,” Yao Yi chuckled.
Dong Zhu nodded. She had met Zhao Min a few times. Zhao Min was now the public face of Legion Ant Company. But she had never met Chairman Chen Mo; if not for Yao Yi’s introduction, she wouldn’t have known the Chairman of Legion Ant Company was such an incredibly young man.
“Then how about coming with Secretary Yao and me to my table? I can introduce you to a few friends, and it’ll be easier to talk over there.”
They all looked at Chen Mo, waiting for his response.
“Sure,” Chen Mo smiled and nodded.
Chen Mo and Xiaoyu followed Yao Yi and Dong Zhu as they confidently walked away, leaving everyone around with a huge question mark in their minds.
Who was this young man? Was he some big shot?