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One championship title, Singing China.
Two bestselling albums, 'You Who Sat Next to Me' and 'Ordinary Road'.
Two phenomenon-level television dramas, 'Autumn in My Heart' and 'Full House'.
Lu Chen had debuted only a little over a year ago, yet through his formidable talent and dazzling achievements, he had risen rapidly to fame in the mainland entertainment industry, gaining countless fans. Under normal circumstances, if he walked the streets without sunglasses or a disguise, he would almost certainly be surrounded by onlookers, and he had already experienced being mobbed by passersby multiple times.
But in Hong Kong, very few people truly recognized or were familiar with him.
This group certainly included the paparazzi currently staking out the entrance of the Shangri-La Hotel. Acting purely on professional instinct, they photographed every guest arriving for the evening banquet, hoping to dig up some worthwhile news material.
However, the Lu Chen who had just appeared in their camera lenses was completely unfamiliar to them.
Veteran paparazzi typically carried a mental database containing the appearances and physical traits of Hong Kong celebrities, business elites, and heirs of wealthy families, allowing them to identify targets instantly.
Lu Chen was clearly not in that database.
He looked very young, tall, handsome, and impeccably styled. His appearance was flawless, unquestionably that of a top-tier heartthrob. He certainly didn't look like an ordinary person.
'An overseas-returned heir from a wealthy family?'
'A newly rising young corporate successor?'
Hong Kong paparazzi rarely paid attention to mainland celebrities, because local audiences preferred gossip, scandals, and celebrity feuds involving Hong Kong entertainers. As a result, they inevitably misunderstood Lu Chen's identity.
If he were truly someone from the entertainment industry, someone as outstanding as Lu Chen would be impossible for them not to recognize.
Precisely because of this mystery, the paparazzi present developed a hint of curiosity toward him. After all, anyone qualified to attend Shu Jing's charity gala was certainly no ordinary figure.
The main entrance of the Shangri-La Grand Restaurant had three access routes. The central passage, connected to the red carpet and revolving doors, was reserved for banquet guests. After presenting his invitation to the doorman, Lu Chen entered the resplendent lobby through the revolving doors together with his assistant, Li Zhen.
Two rows of flower stands were neatly arranged along both sides of the corridor leading to the staircase on the second floor. Lu Chen walked up the steps and soon arrived at the banquet venue above.
As he ascended, he suddenly felt slightly uneasy, as though he had overlooked something important.
But he couldn't recall what it was.
Inside the main banquet hall, dozens of dining tables had been arranged. Snow-white tablecloths paired with vibrant flowers and gleaming silverware created an elegant atmosphere. Even before the event officially began, many guests were already seated, while a live band performed on the stage.
Lu Chen quickly noticed a beautiful woman in a purple evening gown standing beneath a massive crystal chandelier, chatting softly and laughing with several well-dressed gentlemen and ladies. She was unmistakably the center of attention in the entire hall.
Shu Jing!
Lu Chen had seen photos of her before, and given how radiant she was in person, he recognized her immediately.
After a brief moment of thought, Lu Chen walked straight toward her.
Shu Jing's perception was keen. The moment he approached, her attention shifted toward him. Her eyes, clear and gentle like autumn waters, fell upon Lu Chen, revealing a trace of confusion.
But very quickly, that confusion turned into delight.
"Excuse me for a moment."
She said this to the people beside her before turning to walk toward Lu Chen.
"Lu Chen!?"
Lu Chen nodded. "Hello, Sister Jing."
Shu Jing was already thirty-seven years old, yet she maintained herself exceptionally well and looked barely in her early thirties. With phoenix-shaped eyes and willow-leaf brows, refined features, and exquisite makeup, she possessed a mature charm that no young girl could replicate.
In terms of pure beauty, she might not surpass Chen Fei'er, but her elegant bearing carried a unique allure. When she smiled, it felt like a gentle spring breeze, naturally drawing people closer to her.
"Just as I thought, it really is you. I was wondering when you'd arrive!"
Shu Jing took the initiative to extend her hand toward Lu Chen.
"To be honest, I've long wanted to see what kind of man Fei'er chose."
Lu Chen shook her hand and smiled. "I'm afraid I might disappoint you."
Shu Jing actually examined him carefully and seriously for a moment before saying,
"On the contrary, you're even more impressive than I imagined. Fei'er has always had excellent taste. It really makes people jealous."
Her half-serious, half-playful tone subtly shortened the distance between them.
"First time in Hong Kong, how does it feel?"
Lu Chen replied, "It's beautiful."
"Sister Jing!"
While they were chatting, a somewhat frivolous voice suddenly cut in from the side.
"Who's this? Haven't seen this face before."
Lu Chen turned his head and saw a young man in a white suit stepping forward. He looked to be in his late twenties, not very tall, with neatly combed hair heavily coated in pomade, shining under the lights.
When the man noticed Lu Chen looking at him, he returned a disdainful glance.
Standing beside the man was a middle-aged gentleman with an elegant demeanor and a polite smile. He nodded courteously to Lu Chen at first, but his attention quickly shifted to Shu Jing.
A faint crease appeared between Shu Jing's brows before quickly smoothing out. She smiled and said,
"Lu Chen, let me introduce you. This is Liang Jiaxing, General Manager of New City Film Corporation and this is General Manager Liang's nephew, Liang Zhihao."
New City Film Corporation?
Lu Chen had never heard of it. It clearly wasn't one of Hong Kong's major film companies, but since Shu Jing had invited them, they must still possess some level of strength.
Liang Jiaxing gave a very favorable first impression, unlike his nephew, whose face practically spelled out shallow and impulsive. Yet paradoxically, that made Lu Chen slightly wary.
People like this were often the best at hiding knives behind smiles. Keeping a proper distance was the safest choice.
Without batting an eye, Lu Chen said, "Hello, General Manager Liang."
He completely ignored Liang Zhihao, causing the latter's face to twist with anger.
Shu Jing then added, "This is Lu Chen. He's just arrived from the Mainland, he's the boyfriend of a good friend of mine."
Liang Jiaxing smiled. "Indeed, quite a remarkable young man."
He shook Lu Chen's hand and casually asked, as if in passing,
"Mr. Lu, are you planning to develop your career in Hong Kong? I could introduce you to some useful friends."
Lu Chen replied with a faint smile, "Thank you, General Manager Liang. If I need help, I'll definitely ask you."
It was essentially a polite but meaningless response.
As the saying goes, unsolicited kindness usually hides ulterior motives. Lu Chen's intuition told him that General Manager Liang harbored certain ambitions toward Shu Jing, while his nephew was merely a tool being used. The young man had probably jumped in because Shu Jing and Lu Chen had been chatting so pleasantly just now.
Do I really look like some kind of gigolo? Lu Chen thought wryly.
Sure enough, the "tool" jumped forward again, loudly demanding,
"You, the one from the Mainland, what auction item did you bring for Sister Jing tonight?"
Lu Chen's brows immediately furrowed.
At last, he realized why he had felt uneasy earlier.
(End of Chapter)