Chen Ling's Gift
It was a young figure with a handsome face, wearing a Theatrical Robe, accompanied by a young boy carrying a bag, looking like an entertainer attending the banquet.
"Hello, may I ask who..."
"Thespian of the Jinghong Theater, Lin Yan." Chen Ling paused for a moment. "This is my invitation card."
Jinghong Theater? Lin Yan? These two names were extremely unfamiliar to the butler. They weren't those famous stars or Famous Actors in the Red Dust Main City. He first took the invitation card and carefully identified it, then took out a list from behind him and checked it carefully.
"Lin Yan... Oh, a person signed by the Huang Consortium."
Being able to become the butler of the Beidou Consortium, he had already read countless people. Judging from the situation on the list, this was most likely a newcomer the Huang Consortium had just signed not long ago. Having no seniority and no fame, strictly speaking, he wasn't qualified to attend this banquet at all. Most likely, the Huang Consortium was operating in secret, wanting to heavily promote this Lin Yan at the birthday banquet.
The butler's attitude instantly became somewhat cold, but Chen Ling had an invitation card in hand, so he still followed the procedure:
"Hmm, alright... I'll also register the gift you brought, and then you can go in."
As the car window rolled down, Li Ruohong poked his head out of the car and smiled:
"Uncle Tan, open the gate for me."
"So it is Young Master Ruohong." The butler raised his brows, a kind smile surfacing on his face. "Young Master, you should park the car outside. There are many people inside now, it's not very convenient to drive in..."
"Uncle Tan, I've already told my Maternal Uncle about this."
Li Ruohong raised his hand, pointed to the back seat of the car, and said in a low voice, "I brought distinguished guests."
The butler froze for a moment, his gaze sweeping over the back seat of the car. Two figures wearing bodyguard Suits with cold expressions were sitting there, casually glancing at him.
Chen Ling, holding the Oiled Paper Umbrella, stood together with the butler. Seeing the two figures in the back seat, his heart stirred slightly.
Last time at the Cabaret, Chen Ling only heard their conversation. He didn't go in, nor did he see the faces of those two Wuji Domain spies. Now it seemed, these two were younger than Chen Ling had imagined.
The butler seemed to remember something, nodded slightly, and directly waved for the security guards on both sides to step aside, making way for Li Ruohong to drive into the manor.
"Oh, and this." Li Ruohong stuck his head into the car. A moment later, he took out an exquisitely packaged gift bag and handed it to the butler,
"The birthday gift I prepared for my Maternal Uncle."
"Young Master Ruohong, you're too polite. We're family, there's no need for gifts." The butler smiled helplessly.
"The proper etiquette must definitely be observed. I specially picked this for my Maternal Uncle, it should be quite fitting... Remember to mark it prominently for me."
"Don't worry, Young Master Ruohong, the Chairman will definitely see it."
The butler took the gift bag, saying with a face full of smiles.
Li Ruohong's peripheral vision suddenly caught sight of Chen Ling and Kong Baosheng by the door, a flash of surprise passing through his eyes.
"Why are you here?"
"I also received an invitation card and came to congratulate Chairman Mu on his birthday."
"You? A Thespian opening a broken Theater House is also worthy of coming to congratulate my Maternal Uncle on his birthday?"
Li Ruohong looked at the butler with a strange expression. The latter immediately tasted a hint of something wrong from his words and hesitantly explained, "Young Master, this is a newly signed entertainer under the Huang Consortium, and indeed has an invitation card issued by us... However, I'm not too clear on specifically who issued it, nor the screening process."
Hearing this, Li Ruohong instantly understood the reason behind it and couldn't help but sneer:
"I was wondering how you had the guts to go against me, turns out you have the Huang Consortium backing you? However, it seems they don't value you very much either... Just looking at your impoverished appearance, what can you possibly bring to congratulate my Maternal Uncle on his birthday?"
Hearing this, Chen Ling smiled slightly and said:
"Don't worry, the gift I prepared won't be worse than yours."
Li Ruohong shot him a disdainful look and seemed to be preparing to say something more, but the "bodyguards" in the back seat were getting a little impatient waiting. After a light cough, Li Ruohong closed his mouth and glared fiercely at Chen Ling:
"Let's wait and see."
As his voice fell, Li Ruohong stepped on the gas pedal, and the vehicle slowly drove into the manor amidst a roar.
Only after Li Ruohong left did the smile on the butler's face gradually retract. He put the gift bag onto the pile of gifts behind him, and even specially took a label, wrote the three words "Li Ruohong," and stuck it on the seal to easily distinguish it from other gifts.
He looked up and glanced at Chen Ling, asking plainly: "Where were we just now... Oh, where is your gift?"
Chen Ling glanced not far away at the well-packaged gift bag with the three large words "Li Ruohong" stuck on it. He silently reached his hand into his own gift box, and with a light touch, Scarlet Trick activated, and the initially heavy bag in his hand instantly became much lighter.
He placed the gift box directly on the table, unhurriedly opening it in front of everyone, and spoke with a smile:
"A pair of Batalun men's leather shoes, Black Knight series, size 43."
Seeing these shoes, the butler was visibly startled. Behind Chen Ling, Kong Baosheng widened his eyes even more, his small mouth unconsciously opening into an O-shape.
Leather shoes of this brand were absolute high luxury in the Red Dust Domain, not something that could be bought just by having money. Even Kong Baosheng had heard of its grand name. He didn't expect his boss to always be saying he had no money, only to show such strength when making a move!
"Hmm... good." The butler couldn't help but take a few more glances at Chen Ling, looking down to record the information. "You may go in."
"Thank you."
[Audience Expectation Value +3]
Chen Ling smiled politely and walked straight into the manor. Kong Baosheng, who had snapped back to reality, also immediately followed behind.
There was still some time before the birthday banquet officially began, but the manor was already filled with reception dining tables and chairs. Looking around, it was either successful middle-aged people from the political and business circles, or stars with bursting popularity in the outside world. With a single glance, Chen Ling saw quite a few familiar faces.
Everyone was holding wine glasses on the soft lawn, talking and laughing cheerfully. In the distance, there was even a dedicated band playing. Complemented by the Beidou Consortium's already exquisite and elegant manor environment, it was absolutely considered the top-tier banquet venue in the Red Dust Domain.
The only fly in the ointment was that a misty drizzle was still falling from the sky. However, Mu Chunsheng seemed to feel this was more romantic and didn't have people move the venue back indoors. Instead, everyone was given a transparent plastic umbrella. The soft sound of raindrops hitting the umbrellas intertwined with the melodious sound of the cello, giving a sense of being intoxicated by the mortal world.
Chen Ling's entry didn't attract the attention of most people, because at this time, a black car was slowly driving past the periphery of the venue, heading straight for the depths of the Beidou Consortium. So far, everyone's vehicles were parked outside. This only car that drove into the manor was hard for people not to notice.
The chief held a transparent umbrella, standing at the edge of the venue, almost brushing past that black car. His gaze followed the taillights as they gradually moved further away.
After a long while, he silently pressed the button on the Walkie-talkie in his clothes:
"...I've seen the appearances of those two people."