Huayu 2021: Isn’t he in the technology field?

Chapter 231 The Rural Stage, the Spirit of Competition Rises

"Ladies and Gentlemen! Welcome to the 2021 Bazaar Charity Night!"

The host, Hua Shao, sang loudly through the speakers, filling the entire banquet hall and instantly silencing the murmurs of conversation.

He strode confidently to the center of the stage, his signature rapid-fire delivery immediately capturing the attention of the entire audience.

"Tonight, we gather because of love and for good deeds! The stars are shining brightly, and love is converging! First of all, let us give a warm round of applause to every philanthropist and artist present here. Thank you for lighting up the light of hope with your actions!"

A burst of enthusiastic applause erupted at the opportune moment, spreading like a tidal wave.

The many eyes that were originally focused on Jiang Qing, including those of Dilraba and Yang Zi, had to turn to the stage.

A fleeting hint of annoyance crossed Dilraba's face, but it vanished in an instant. She quickly composed herself and gave Jiang Qing a charming yet slightly regretful smile.

"President Jiang, I'll ask you for advice when I have time later."

She deliberately emphasized the word "ask for advice," and her eyes swept meaningfully over Yang Zi beside her.

Yang Zi then simply mouthed "Let's talk later" to Jiang Qing and said it in a straightforward manner.

"President Jiang, let's take another photo together later!"

After saying that, he gave Dilraba an incredibly "friendly" smile before turning to walk to his seat at the next table.

Jiang Qing nodded slightly in response to the two, thinking that she could finally have some peace and quiet.

He wouldn't mind having something happen between himself and the sexy actress Dilraba in private, but he'd rather avoid a situation like the one just now; it's too troublesome.

He leaned back in his chair, took a sip of the lemonade on the table, and then his gaze began to truly sweep around the venue of this charity gala, which was touted as being of the highest standard.

Upon seeing this, he subconsciously raised an eyebrow.

The overwhelming promotional images online create a subtle contrast with reality.

The enormous crystal chandelier still shone brightly, casting its light on... the long tabletop covered with bright red velvet.

The bright red cloth, which was both festive and rustic, neatly covered each table, and the tassels hanging down the edges looked particularly straight.

The tableware and stemmed glasses on the table were standard, but given the background color, it inexplicably gave people the feeling of... well, like being at a particularly grand rural wedding banquet.

The space was far less spacious than I had imagined.

The round tables were placed very close together, making the passageways for guests somewhat narrow.

What is particularly striking is that behind many of the artists' seats, their assistants or managers can only stand quietly, squeezed into the narrow gap between the chair back and the wall, holding the artists' coats, handbags, or cell phones that are always ready to be used, their posture as respectful as servants standing behind their masters in the old days.

This scene alone creates a silent contrast with Hua Shao's passionate "charity" performance on stage.

Jiang Qing's mind quickly flashed through several photos of the interior of previous Bazaar Charity Nights that she had seen online before: the spaciousness, the exquisite tablecloths and decorations, and the relatively relaxed social distance between the artists.

The scene before him made him realize for the first time that the phrase "film and television winter" was not just an empty phrase.

Consequently, the earlier reports that the live broadcast segment of this gala was canceled now seem to have a more reasonable explanation.

This scene is indeed somewhat embarrassing.

He shook his head inwardly; the organizers were far too stingy.

It's almost unbearable to look at.

Just as Jiang Qing was secretly complaining, the owners of the last two empty seats at the main table where he was finally returned.

A fragrant breeze, accompanied by the soft clatter of high heels, drew near.

Yang Mi wore a black velvet gown with a retro feel, featuring a deep V-neck adorned with fine sequins and an irregularly layered skirt that swayed gracefully as she walked.

She wore a radiant smile befitting a social queen, and her signature fox-like eyes were both alluring and confident.

Beside her was Yang Ying, whose expression was somewhat indifferent. She wore a simple white halter dress, with exquisite makeup, bright red lips, and long curly hair cascading over her shoulders, exuding sexiness and allure.

"Sorry, I was busy with some things and I'm late."

Yang Mi's voice was uniquely sweet and soft, and before she even sat down, her gaze had already precisely locked onto the new face, Jiang Qing.

The light that flashed in her eyes was like a hunter discovering a highly valuable prey.

Yang Ying simply nodded slightly to the others at the table, especially Huang Xiaoming, before sitting down quietly, deliberately avoiding looking in a certain direction.

Jiang Qing noticed that when Yang Ying sat down, Huang Xiaoming leaned slightly towards her and asked her something in a low voice. Yang Ying just shook her head slightly, her gaze drifting towards the stage, appearing somewhat absent-minded.

Jiang Qing instantly understood. Chen Weiting was also invited. Yang Ying had probably deliberately avoided the awkwardness of being in the same frame as him, which was why she arrived late.

Chen Weiting's other ex-girlfriend, Ah Sa, also seemed to be at the scene. He saw the Weibo trending topic pop-up on his way there.

The most interesting thing is that Chen Weiting and Yang Mi's new drama "Novoland: Pearl Eclipse" just premiered on Tencent Video on the 10th, and Yang Mi was most likely working with Chen Weiting to promote the new drama.

Looking at it this way, the busiest man tonight is undoubtedly Chen Weiting.

"This must be President Jiang! I've heard so much about you!"

At this moment, after Yang Mi sat down, her upper body immediately leaned slightly towards Jiang Qing, and her smile bloomed like a rose, full of enthusiasm yet not lacking in propriety.

"I often see news about President Jiang online, and today I finally met him in person. He truly deserves to be called the number one handsome man in the tech industry!"

Her praise was straightforward yet carried a touch of familiar charm, as if the two were not meeting for the first time.

"You flatter me, Teacher Yang."

Jiang Qing politely extended his hand to shake hers with a smile.

"My family really enjoys watching Teacher Yang's plays."

He skillfully avoided her comments about his appearance and steered the conversation toward her proud career.

Yang Mi was clearly pleased, and her smile deepened.

"Oh, it's my honor!"

She naturally withdrew her hand, but her gaze remained fixed on Jiang Qing's face, filled with undisguised admiration and curiosity.

"Is Mr. Jiang here on behalf of Wuwen Technology? I really didn't expect you to come in person."

"Philanthropy transcends all fields, and I guess I'm somewhat of an insider now?"

Jiang Qing smiled and asked her in return.

"We have always been concerned about the direction of technology for good."

"Mr. Jiang is right. It was I who didn't think it through," Yang Mi replied with a tilted head and a sweet smile.

At this moment, Huang Xiaoming naturally took over the conversation, patting Yang Ying's hand beside him.

"President Jiang, this is my wife, Yang Ying."

"Hello, Mr. Jiang."

Yang Ying then turned her head and gave Jiang Qing a sweet smile that carried a sense of distance.

She nodded without saying much, her attention seemingly focused more on Hua Shao's explanation of the program on stage.

"Hello, Teacher Yang."

Jiang Qing returned a polite smile, without making any unnecessary small talk.

Just as Yang Mi was trying to get closer to Jiang Qing by having a deeper conversation, a petite actress from the next table walked over with a wine glass.

She was wearing an elegant light pink dress; it was Zhao Liying.

"President Jiang, it's been a long time."

She spoke softly and raised her glass to Jiang Qing.

"Hello, Teacher Zhao, it's been quite a while."

Jiang Qing also picked up her wine glass, her attitude noticeably more familiar and natural than when she was facing Yang Mi earlier.

"I didn't expect to run into you here again."

This closeness stemmed from their brief time together at the Chinese restaurant, and also from that always chattering girl.

Zhao Liying's smile grew even brighter.

"Yes, what a coincidence. I saw President Jiang over there just now, but I didn't dare to come over and bother him directly."

She paused, then spoke with a hint of teasing.

"If my daughter Xiaoye knew that I ran into President Jiang today, she would be incredibly envious. When she talked to me on the phone a couple of days ago, she was saying that she would come to visit you on set after she finished filming there, but she was afraid that you, being such a busy person, would not have time to pay attention to her."

The moment the name "Ono" was mentioned, the gentle yet aloof politeness that Jiang Qing had displayed in dealing with the world of fame and fortune vanished, replaced by a gentle smile, and even the curve of her lips became more genuine.

The image of that charming and adorable girl flashed through his mind, recalling how she would always greet him with a cheerful wave, saying "Jiang Qing, hello hello ya."

"If she were to visit the set, there would be no possibility that she wouldn't be available."

Jiang Qing smiled and shook her head.

"I'm afraid she might bite if she gets angry."

Zhao Liying keenly noticed Jiang Qing's subtle changes, and her smile deepened.

"President Jiang has always been indulgent towards her."

She skillfully steered the conversation back to Jiang Qing.

"But she did say it's a shame she didn't get to see your blonde hair in person."

The two spoke at a moderate volume, yet their conversation was clearly heard by the attentive students at the same table.

Yang Mi's bright and enthusiastic smile faltered slightly. Her eyes darted quickly between Jiang Qing and Zhao Liying before returning to normal, but a knowing and reassessing glint flashed deep in her eyes.

Huang Xiaoming glanced thoughtfully at Jiang Qing, then exchanged a knowing look with Yang Ying beside him.

Even Yang Ying, who had seemed somewhat detached, couldn't help but take another look at Jiang Qing.

Previously, images of Jiang Qing and Zhang Ruonan walking the red carpet together were trending on social media. Now, Zhao Liying is mentioning Zhou Ye so naturally, with an intimacy in her words that is clearly different from Jiang Qing's reaction...

The answer is almost obvious.

This young tech upstart and rising actor seems to have a more than empty love life.

Zhou Ye clearly holds a special place in his heart.

Yang Mi picked up her wine glass and took a sip. The curiosity she had just developed about Jiang Qing, a man with excellent looks, abilities, and background, as well as that unspeakable little thought, had not been completely extinguished. Instead, it took root and sprouted, making her even more itchy and restless.

These high-quality stocks that are already in a relationship and appear to be stable present a greater challenge, but at the same time, it also means that if some kind of "friendship" or cooperation can be established, the value behind them is more solid.

Looking at Jiang Qing's well-defined profile and composed demeanor, she became more and more attracted to him.

This kind of man represents not only remarkable wealth and status, but also the key to accessing a wider social circle.

Hua Shao on stage had finished his opening remarks and began introducing tonight's charity auction. The stage lights dimmed, and the spotlight shone on the first item up for auction on the display stand—a limited-edition piece of jewelry donated by an international luxury brand.

Zhao Liying took her leave at the opportune moment and returned to the next table with a low profile.

Jiang Qing shifted her gaze from Zhao Liying to the stage, her expression returning to its usual calm, as if the genuine smile from just moments before had never appeared.

Although Zhang Ruonan, who was sitting at a table on the edge of the room, couldn't hear the conversation at the main table, she kept an eye on this direction.

She clearly saw Zhao Liying walk towards Jiang Qing, and saw the gentle smile that flashed in Jiang Qing's eyes as she listened to the other person speak. That smile was completely different from the politeness and courtesy she had received before.

She lowered her head, silently forked a piece of cold dessert from the plate and put it in her mouth, but couldn't taste anything on her tongue.

The stage lights were dazzling, the auctioneer's voice was passionate, and applause and whispers rose and fell around her, but all of this seemed to be separated from her by an invisible membrane.

That central area surrounded by top stars and capital, the person who could make him show a genuine smile, was ultimately too far away from a small-time actress like her.

That brief, Cinderella-like moment on the red carpet was ultimately just an insignificant interlude in the real world of fame and fortune.

Perhaps in Jiang Qing's eyes, it really was just a casual act done without much thought.

It was just my own wild imagination that led me to misinterpret it into many different meanings.

Someone like him, who remains unmoved even when surrounded by top-tier celebrities like Dilraba and Yang Zi, would certainly not look at her differently.

She gently put down her fork, picked up her juice glass, and turned her gaze back to the stage, trying to appear focused and engaged.

only……

My gaze involuntarily turned to that figure, and I felt an indescribable sense of resentment.

I hadn't dared to think too much about it at first, but now a competitive spirit inexplicably arose within me.

It seems like it's worth a try!
(End of this chapter)