Rebirth: Starting with Capturing the Goddess Mentor

Chapter 222 Advertising Bidding Conference [Chapter 220 has been released]

Outside the window, neon lights flowed like a river, and the light strips woven from car headlights meandered along the elevated highway, crushing the hustle and bustle of the city into flowing stars.

Inside the window, the dim, warm light shone on the small studio apartment, occasionally accompanied by a soft, sobbing sound that startled the delicate leaves of the pothos on the windowsill.

The city's dazzling lights illuminated Chen Yan's sharply defined face as he looked down at Xi Yingying lying on the ground.

Xi Yingying seemed to notice Chen Yan's gaze as well, and she looked up at him with a charming smile.

Soon, Chen Yan found everything to be utterly boring.

But... I have to say, the older sister is really nice.

The older sister has more life experience, knows more, is more capable, and understands better what men want.

Before Chen Yan could say anything, she swallowed it herself.

That night, Chen Yan slept soundly, as did Xi Yingying.

………………

In the blink of an eye, four days have passed.

On August 8th, Chen Yan drove his S400 to the Longemont Hotel in Shanghai.

After tossing the car keys to the valet, Chen Yan walked straight toward the hotel entrance.

He wore a formal suit today, a well-tailored dark blue suit with two single-breasted buttons that accentuated his tall and straight figure, giving him a more mature and sophisticated look.

He raised his hand and tugged at his navy blue silk tie. The hot air from the air conditioner's outdoor unit brushed past his ear, while his calves, beneath his suit trousers, felt a slight chill from the cool air constantly emanating from the banquet hall.

The revolving door swallowed the last cicada's chirp, and the cold light of the crystal chandelier instantly enveloped him, his confident stride reflected on the marble floor.

As Chen Yan strolled to the entrance of the 101 Banquet Hall, he unexpectedly ran into an acquaintance.

She was his high school classmate, and also the most beautiful girl in their class—Han Jingyao.

Han Jingyao, dressed in a red, high-slit cheongsam, stood at the entrance. Judging from her posture, she should be a hostess for this bidding event.

But she didn't recognize Chen Yan immediately.

Of course, you can't blame her. Who would have thought that she was just working part-time as a hostess, while inside was the bidding site for an upcoming reality show, and almost all the companies bidding were well-known domestic brands.

In this situation, would you run into your old classmates?
Stop making trouble, okay?
So, without even looking at Chen Yan's face, she mechanically said, "Hello sir, do you have an invitation?"

However, after waiting for a while, the man in front of her did not answer her question.

Han Jingyao frowned slightly, raised her eyelashes, and met the smile that appeared in Chen Yan's eyes.

The summer sun slanted in through the carved glass of the banquet hall, gilding the lapel of his suit with a layer of gold, and familiar features suddenly overlapped in his memory.

Unconsciously, her fingertips tightened around the invitation registration book in her hand, and the buttons on her red cheongsam hurt her palms. Only then did she realize that the person in front of her was her high school classmate.

"Chen Chenyan?"

Her voice trembled involuntarily, and a suspicious blush rose on her cheeks beneath her carefully applied makeup.

The boy who always sat in the back row of the classroom in her memory seemed like a different person now. His upright posture and calm aura almost made her afraid to look him in the eye.

She remembered that the last time she saw him was at a class reunion on the third day of the Lunar New Year. At that time, he was still the same as in high school, sitting in the crowd without standing out, and he didn't even participate in the toasting among classmates.

But after the dinner, the radiant woman who came to pick him up amazed the entire Class 5 of Senior Three.

That evening, everyone in the class group was talking about Chen Yan and his "girlfriend." Although everyone outwardly expressed envy and blessings, privately they all thought he was bragging.

That girl has a face that could launch a thousand ships, why would she be interested in a poor college student like you? Chen Yan must be trying to show off in front of his old classmates, that's why he deliberately said that girl was his girlfriend.

Unexpectedly, just a few months later, Chen Yan's story of raising 5000 million yuan for his startup while still in school was featured on Tencent News and even Zhejiang TV.

It was only then that the students of Class 5 in high school woke up from their dream and realized that their old classmate had been completely transformed and had broken away from the circle of ordinary college students.

Han Jingyao only realized later that perhaps at the class reunion at the beginning of the year, he did not refrain from toasting his classmates because he lacked emotional intelligence, but because there was simply no one in the entire class worthy of his toast!

After regaining her composure, Han Jingyao asked, "Chen Yan, what brings you here?"

Chen Yan chuckled softly and reached into his wallet to take out a rectangular invitation. "I'm here to attend the bidding conference."

Han Jingyao accepted the invitation to the bidding conference, her heart racing once again.

No way, could it be that the boy who liked me back then is now standing shoulder to shoulder with those business giants?

For some reason, her thoughts suddenly drifted back to an afternoon on the eve of the college entrance examination.

At that time, the overhead fan was whirring loudly, and everyone in the class was working hard to prepare for the college entrance examination.

While doing practice problems, she accidentally dropped her textbook on the floor. Chen Yan, who was sitting behind her, immediately picked it up and put it back on the table. He then thoughtfully asked her:
"Han Jingyao, are you thirsty? Would you like me to get you a glass of water?"

She also clearly remembered that when she smiled and said "no need," a hint of disappointment appeared on the boy's face.

Han Jingyao could sense that Chen Yan liked her at the time, but all she could think about was the college entrance examination and getting into a top university. Besides, Chen Yan didn't have any other outstanding qualities except for being handsome, and his grades were only in the middle to lower range of the class.

At that time, it was naturally impossible for her to choose to be with Chen Yan!
Looking at the gold-embossed invitation in her hand, Han Jingyao suddenly felt her throat tighten. The gold lettering reflected a shimmering light in the sunlight, making her eyes slightly hot.

Damn it, what is this woman doing?! It takes her so long to look at an invitation?
If it weren't for the fact that they were old classmates, Chen Yan would have cursed them out.

"Um, is it ready yet?"

Hearing Chen Yan's urging, Han Jingyao finally snapped out of her daze, quickly wrote Chen Yan's name in the register, and then put on a smile: "That's fine."

Chen Yan nodded knowingly, then turned and walked inside without a trace of lingering affection.

Han Jingyao watched his tall figure disappear into the banquet hall. The light from the crystal chandelier fell on his shoulders, and in a daze, she saw that afternoon again, when the boy walked from the other end of the corridor with his textbooks in his arms. The sunlight stretched his shadow long, all the way to her desk.

…………

Stepping into the hotel banquet hall, the dazzling crystal chandelier illuminates the entire space as bright as day, and the huge LED screen plays exciting clips from "Running Man" on a loop. The rousing background music and the sounds of conversation create a lively atmosphere.

The host stood on the stage, adjusting the equipment.

The venue was set up with neat tables and chairs, and representatives from various companies sat in their respective chairs. Some of them who knew each other would chat for a few minutes.

Chen Yan walked to the last row and sat down at a table with a sign that read "[Boss Direct Recruitment] / [Daily Part-Time Jobs]".

The closer you are to the front row of tables, the higher the brand awareness.

For example, on the first row of tables are nationally renowned brands such as Shanghai Volkswagen Lamando, Nongfu Spring, Baishui Mountain, Mengniu, and Yili Anmuxi.

The row where Chen Yan was located was occupied by some relatively unknown small companies.

Holy crap, is this some kind of commercial discrimination?!
Chen Yan couldn't help but spit inwardly.

…………

(Happy May Day holiday to my handsome and dashing godfathers! Please give me double monthly votes~ Thank you! There will be more tonight~)

(End of this chapter)