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Chapter 976: Chapter 857: Welcome (Please Subscribe!)
VIP entrance.
It’s called a VIP channel.
In reality, it’s just an opening next to the staff channel, not a dedicated passage. Security guards are individually checking the guests’ tickets with smiles on their faces to avoid complaints about work attitude.
Besides the security guards.
Assistant Chen also took on the role of ’greeter’ at the entrance.
This is different from abroad. Overseas, only security would be at the entrance unless a very important guest was expected. But in Huaxia, it’s common for the organizers to greet guests at the entrance to express gratitude.
"Director Liu, welcome..."
"General Manager Zhao, long time no see, thank you for coming, this way please..."
"Ay, Brother Qin is here, and this must be your elegant wife..."
"..."
If someone was fat, they were praised for being prosperous. If they brought a child, the child was praised for being smart. If they brought a female companion, the companion was complimented—if she was beautiful, she was praised for her looks; if average, for her elegance.
Assistant Chen had long developed a talent for flattery.
And at the entrance.
Besides the designated ’greeters’.
There were also people waiting to go in together, or acquaintances catching up, because once inside, they might not be seated together. With plenty of time before the event and their seats secured, it was a good opportunity to chat.
Among the crowd.
A stunning figure stood there.
Her face was lightly made up for the performance, her black hair cascading over her shoulders down to her waist, wearing a light blue long dress that revealed her snowy white shoulders as she looked around for someone outside the venue.
Her unique charm.
Caused many who fancied themselves as young talents to approach and offer their business cards, hoping to get acquainted. However, after a short exchange, they would realize the woman beside her was not an assistant, but her mother.
"So you’re the auntie, hello! I didn’t expect you to be so youthful. I thought you were Miss Wang’s sister. If possible, I’d like to invite you both to dinner sometime, I hope you’ll grant me the honor."
Upon learning this, a young talent quickly improvised what he thought was the most appropriate response.
"Let’s talk about it another time," Wang Yan casually replied.
"..."
The man did not linger any further.
And headed inside.
Because this place really wasn’t suitable for flirting—too easy to run into people they knew, and with her mother by her side, it was even less of a place to try.
After dealing with another scion of a mining family, Wang Yan’s face was a mixture of helplessness. They were just waiting for someone, and in just over ten minutes, five or six people had approached to strike up a conversation.
Annoyance upon annoyance.
Yet she couldn’t just coldly turn people away.
Since no one had done anything inappropriate and all were politely spoken.
And it seemed like her mother was enjoying the attention.
Watching the young man walk away, her mother gleefully commented, "Yanzi, that one just now was not bad; handsome, wealthy, good manners and speech, and pleasant to listen to, quite impressive."
"Are you planning to find a son-in-law here?" Wang Yan rolled her eyes.
Since their last collaboration at the Annual Meeting, she had gotten to know Wang Fei. Wang Fei felt she was very talented and wanted to give her a push, which is why she was taking advantage of the concert to make an appearance.
But Wang Yan knew better.
It was all because of Tang Qing. There were plenty of talented singers, and in the Entertainment circle, peers were rivals. Where was the room for friendship? Supporting new talent was based on exchanges.
The ways of the Entertainment circle.
Wang Yan had heard plenty.
And saw it all very clearly.
"How could that be possible, you’re still in University. You can’t be fooled by these smelly boys, smooth talkers all of them, thinking nothing decent in their heads. I’ve been through it all; none of them are worthy of my Yanzi," Shi Lan shook her head.
These people came from complicated backgrounds.
Who knew what they were really like?
They didn’t lack money, nor were they an ordinary family.
In terms of selecting a son-in-law, she wasn’t worried her daughter couldn’t find a good match. Moreover, she had just started her second year of University. She had to keep a close eye on her own little Yanzi, making sure no bad boys scoop her away.
Otherwise, she wouldn’t be able to face the family.
In her mind, she didn’t ask for a rich son-in-law, just one that would treat her daughter well. And if he happened to be wealthy, all the better. Compatible views could reduce life conflicts.
"Then why are you so happy!" Wang Yan was speechless.
"Because they say such nice things, I feel I could stand here another hour and hear many sweet words, I’m profiting, haha... Look, here comes another one," Shi Lan chuckled, watching yet another potential suitor approaching.
Wang Yan: "..."
With a mother like that.
She really ’struck it rich’.
Two minutes later.
After another round of ’compliments’, Shi Lan was even more joyous.
As one left.
"Miss Wang, hello."
A middle-aged man approached, smiling as he greeted Wang Yan.
Following him was his family, including two teenage children. Shi Lan didn’t recognize them immediately, but Wang Yan recognized the visitor and beamed, saying, "President Pu, I didn’t expect to see you here."
The man was none other than Pu Chaodong.
As the president of Comet Group, a rising giant in the entertainment industry, it was common for celebrities to give them complimentary tickets when holding concerts in Shanghai. The higher the status, the better the seat of the complimentary tickets.
Of course, Pu Chaodong received VIP level complimentary tickets.
Only not as good as Tang Qing’s seat.
As soon as he saw Wang Yan, he immediately remembered her.
He had seen her at the Annual Meeting, performing a duet with Wang Fei. Initially, he thought Wang Yan was Wang Fei’s relative, sharing the same last name. But later he learned that she was a classmate of his company’s Director and heard they were desk mates with a very good relationship.
Of course, he had to give Wang Yan special regard.
Seeing Wang Yan.
He definitely had to come up and say hello.
"Yeah, the organizers gave our company some complimentary tickets, so I’m taking my family here during the holiday to enjoy the show. Are you waiting for someone?" Pu Chaodong nodded and smiled humbly.
"Yes, I’m waiting for Tang Qing and the others. They should be arriving soon." Wang Yan nodded.
"What? Boss Tang is coming too?" Pu Chaodong expressed his surprise. He really had no idea that Tang Qing was coming to the concert. That made sense, though. After all, who is Tang Qing? The big boss of the company, he doesn’t need to report his whereabouts to me.
Seeing Wang Yan nod,
He immediately said, "Then I’ll wait here as well." With Tang Qing coming, he didn’t dare to go in first. After thinking it through, Pu Chaodong turned to his wife and said, "You guys go ahead and check your tickets to find seats, I’ll wait here for our chairman."
Pu Chaodong’s wife initially thought her husband came to say hello just because he saw a beautiful girl.
She was quite unhappy about it.
But when she heard the person they were waiting for was the chairman of Comet Group, she realized she had misunderstood. Feeling a bit nervous, she quickly said, "Okay, then we’ll go ahead in."
After saying that, she greeted Wang Yan and her daughter, took her children, and went in to get their seats.
"Daughter, who is that man?" Shi Lan leaned in and whispered to her daughter. She didn’t have such a good memory, and besides, compared to the last annual meeting, Pu Chaodong had changed his outfit and hairstyle.
"A subordinate of Tang Qing, the president of Comet Group." Wang Yan whispered back as Pu Chaodong was greeting a familiar company CEO and wasn’t likely to overhear them.
Upon hearing this,
Shi Lan suddenly understood.
On the other side, after exchanging pleasantries for a few moments, Pu Chaodong hurriedly sent the man on his way, as he had already spotted Tang Qing. Wang Yan saw him even earlier and immediately pulled her mother to quickly approach Tang Qing.
She tried her best to control the excitement in her heart and make her expression look normal.
At that time, Tang Qing also noticed Pu Chaodong.
Qin Shiqi rushed over first, excitedly holding Wang Yan’s hand and said, "Wang Yan sis, you look so pretty today. When you go on stage later, is there any chance to send flowers? I want to send you some and get on TV at the same time, hehe."
The two had gone shopping together during Chinese New Year, had each other’s contact information, and often chatted in the Penguin group, so they were already good friends.
"That, I don’t think so." Wang Yan shook her head. Sending flowers was part of the performance routine, usually arranged beforehand, typically involving fans or fan clubs, as well as the organizers.
She hadn’t received any notification about it.
"Oh, alright then." Qin Shiqi was a little disappointed.
Tang Qing approached at this time.
Without hesitation, he launched a ’spiritual attack’.
"You getting on TV? You’d just embarrass yourself."
"You’re the one who’d embarrass yourself."
"I don’t plan to go up there. I just want to be a quiet... pretty boy."
"Brother, where is your sense of shame?"
"Sorry, forgot to bring it with me when I left the house."
"..."
The siblings continued to banter.
The group of women greeted each other. Their shopping trip before the new year had made them well-acquainted, and they often arranged to go shopping and visit each other’s houses on weekends after the new year had started, becoming very close.
After greeting Pu Chaodong,
Everyone entered the gymnasium.
Wang Yan personally led them to their seats. Since everyone was quite busy before the performance, it wasn’t suitable to take them backstage for a visit. That would be reserved for after the show.
The VIP area was in the front row, right in the middle, close to the stage and the celebrities, offering a great viewing experience. Upon arriving, Tang Qing also got to understand what ’circle’ meant. Other than implying ’birds of a feather flock together,’ it also signified that it was ’small.’
Take a couple of turns.
They are all familiar faces.
There’s a big group that knows Pu Chaodong, and those who recognize Tang Qing. They all greet each other, and even Tang Kai runs into an old acquaintance---Ma Zhe. Seeing Tang Kai brought back memories, and Ma Zhe immediately came over.
"Boss Tang, long time no see, oh, Little Tang, you’re here too, hello hello. Look at you guys, coming here and not saying a word. I would have taken good care of you." Recognizing Tang Qing, Ma Zhe also remembered him.
That handsome face had left a deep impression on him, but he didn’t know Tang Qing’s full name, only that he was Tang Kai’s nephew, and he knew nothing else about Tang Qing.
"General Manager Ma, we’ve just arrived and didn’t want to disturb you," Tang Kai said with a smile. He too remembered who this person was. Tang Qing had traveled to Thailand to attend a friend’s wedding right after his university graduation trip, and Ma Zhe was introduced by the friend then.
Ma Zhe was introduced by a friend.
Back then, Ma Zhe was known to work in real estate in the Shanghai Stock Market. There had been a few phone calls since then, and during holidays, he would receive text messages or calls from Ma Zhe, aiming for the fruit wine, of course.
Otherwise.
Two people with no business or personal life intersections.
Who would be so enthusiastic?
"Boss Tang, did you come here for business or travel?" Ma Zhe asked curiously.
"Travel, we’re heading back tomorrow afternoon."
"So soon? Then let me be the host for lunch tomorrow."
"Forget it, we still need to pack and there are a lot of company matters to deal with. We’ll have to go back, maybe next time." Tang Kai now had an extremely strong aversion to eating out.
"That’s true, Director Tang has a lot on his plate, definitely busier than me, haha, alright, next time you go to Thailand, I’ll host," Ma Zhe said, not offended because he wasn’t in a position to be. The fact that Tang Kai, a hidden business titan, was talking to him made him very happy.
"Heh, I shall respectfully comply then."
"..."
They chatted for a bit.
Ma Zhe, seeing Pu Chaodong being so popular even though he didn’t know him, still hurried over to hand out his business card. He wasn’t here for the celebrity concert to see the stars but to expand his network.
That’s why sometimes the seats in the VIP area at celebrity concerts are sold at astronomical prices.
Not ruling out some people being foolish and rich, chasing stars to maintain face.
But a considerable part also have other intentions.
After dealing with Ma Zhe, Tang Kai finally had some peace and quiet. Tang Qing, being younger, only exchanged greetings with a few people he knew, but it wasn’t so easy for Pu Chaodong.
Quite a few city leaders were also in the crowd.
Once a stranger.
Twice familiar.
Seeing them and not greeting them wasn’t an option, and after greeting one, he would introduce you to another, spreading out like a pyramid. Very soon, Pu Chaodong almost had to get to know everyone in the VIP area all over again.
In his mind, he didn’t know how many times he cursed inwardly.
But on his face, he still had to ’smile’.
In response to this.
Tang Qing could only offer a sympathetic look.
...
PS: I want to recommend a book by a friend "Infinite Adventures in Film and TV". I’ve known the author for a long time but still can’t determine their gender. Maybe you all can help me with that.
