Invitation

Li Ruobing's President's Office.

Su Rui held a magnetic card, along with an employee file and an Identification Tag.

"The company has been cleaned up. Next, you should start preparing for the new store's opening." Li Ruobing flipped through a folder at the office desk. "There are many things waiting for you to handle."

"No rush." Su Rui smiled. "Do you really think your company is clean now?"

"What do you mean?" Li Ruobing looked up.

"Hu Guangyi is Qin Lan's man. And within your company, he isn't the only one working for Qin Lan." Su Rui raised an eyebrow.

Qin Lan, Li Ruobing's stepmother.

The Li family's mistress, who had always regarded Li Ruobing as an imaginary enemy.

"Her original plan was to use Hu Guangyi to seize power and force you from your position. Once you lost control of the company, the agreement would naturally fail, and Mingzhu Company would fall into her hands as well. Killing two birds with one stone."

"But now that her Chess Piece in the open has been driven out... I believe her next move will be carried out very soon."

Su Rui toyed with the Identification Tag in his hand. From what he knew of Qin Lan, she was a woman who would never stop until she achieved her goal.

"Let her come. I'll take on all of it," Li Ruobing said.

"While I don't doubt your business methods or talent, your foundation and the resources at your disposal are ultimately inferior to hers." Su Rui said, "You're a junior, after all. Your father still holds power in the Li family. If you and Qin Lan were to handle the same matter, whose favor do you think people would give—yours, or Qin Lan's?"

Su Rui spoke bluntly. He had always been able to see the essence of things clearly. The agreement concerning the Li family had been an unequal gamble from the start.

"You mean I should get to know people from a higher social level and make them my resources." Li Ruobing was very smart and understood immediately.

Su Rui smiled.

"There are two tickets to the Wen Feng Gala in your drawer. It's an art appreciation event, and it's tonight. We'll go together." Su Rui lightly tapped the desk with his fingertips. "It's a good opportunity."

Li Ruobing's body stiffened slightly. Then she took two exquisite invitations from the drawer.

"Now, I'm starting to believe that you really are a reborn person... I only received these two invitations the evening before yesterday."

"That's right. And you never intended to attend," Su Rui added.

Li Ruobing narrowed her eyes. She truly had not planned to attend that damned Arts and Culture Summit. The reason was simple: she had no interest in such things.

"I... don't know much about art." Li Ruobing hesitated, pursing her lips helplessly. She had always devoted herself to business and running the company. "Fine, I admit it. This is one of my weaknesses!"

As she pursed her lips, a lock of her long, straight beautiful hair fell down. Li Ruobing looked like a shy young girl.

Su Rui watched Li Ruobing's face with interest.

That expression was simply too rare. The usually forceful Li Ruobing seldom showed such helplessness or surrender.

"The content isn't important." Su Rui smiled. "What matters is that art is also one means of socializing."

It was human nature. Once material conditions and quality of life improved, people liked to pursue art and spiritual fulfillment.

Perhaps not many of those attending the Wen Feng Gala truly understood art appreciation, but there would definitely be plenty of wealthy and powerful people. These big bosses and senior executives also wanted to use this kind of event to meet more people.

That was why so many nouveau riche people, despite barely being able to read, loved setting up studies, practicing calligraphy, or attending concerts.

They might not even understand "do re mi fa sol la ti," yet they still put on an utterly entranced expression.

Because once you reached that social level, that was what you did!

If your net worth was several billion, yet every time you spoke to other entrepreneurs, your mouth was still full of dirty jokes and vulgar curses, would anyone still want to deal with you over time?

They would think you lacked class, that dog meat could never be served at a banquet!

And over time, they would consciously distance themselves from you!

This behavior might seem a little like showing off, but that was the trend. If you couldn't fit in, you could only be excluded.

Born into a wealthy family, Li Ruobing naturally understood the rules of the game. Thus, after Su Rui spoke, she did not insist any further.

"Let's go." Su Rui casually grabbed the car keys from the desk.

"What for?" Li Ruobing frowned.

"To attend the gala, of course. You need a fitting evening gown. You're not planning to wear that outfit, are you?"

Li Ruobing owned more than one car. In the congested traffic of central Tongzhou City, a Pagani was obviously less comfortable than a commercial van.

A silver-gray Rolls-Royce was parked outside an upscale formalwear shop.

Su Rui glanced at the sign above the entrance and raised an eyebrow.

"What is it?" Li Ruobing noticed something unusual about Su Rui.

"Nothing..."

Su Rui smiled and entered with Li Ruobing.

This custom formalwear shop was famous throughout Tongzhou City. It specialized in tailoring all kinds of high-end formalwear for upper-class clients. Its materials and craftsmanship were exceptionally meticulous, and its prices were equally exorbitant.

More importantly, the shop had requirements for a customer's net worth.

Anyone with assets below fifty million would not be received!

This hunger-marketing tactic proved exceptionally effective, and business was unexpectedly booming!

Naturally, Li Ruobing was not among those who would be turned away. Not only was the Li family enormously wealthy and influential, but her own company alone had assets exceeding one billion. Everyone in Tongzhou City knew her.

"Miss Li, welcome. Is there anything I can help you with?"

The shop assistants employed in such a store had all undergone training and were very familiar with Tongzhou City's wealthy families. Seeing Li Ruobing arrive, the shop assistant on duty bowed slightly, with a polite and respectful attitude.

"Do you have any ready-made formalwear? Pick several suitable sets for this gentleman and me to try on." Li Ruobing's tone was calm. She was not the type to act haughty and domineering toward service workers of lower status. "The newest styles."

The shop assistant nodded repeatedly and turned to look at Su Rui, unable to suppress her astonished thoughts.

Li Ruobing was famous in Tongzhou City—cold and proud. No one had ever heard of a man who could accompany her, much less choose formalwear with her.

Could this handsome gentleman with the warm smile be Li Ruobing's boyfriend?

"Please wait a moment." The shop assistant knew it was not the time to gossip. After leading the two to the VIP rest area, she hurried away.

Soon, one set of women's formalwear after another was brought out.

"Miss Li, the men's formalwear will arrive shortly. Please take a look at these first." The shop assistant did not dare be negligent.

"Go try them on first." Su Rui smiled and waved his hand.

"..." Li Ruobing said nothing. She simply nodded and walked toward the fitting room.

The shop assistant eagerly followed behind Li Ruobing with several dresses in her arms.

The flames of gossip burned fiercely within her.

Everyone knew how domineering Li Ruobing was, yet that man spoke to her in a nearly commanding tone. Most importantly, Li Ruobing had actually accepted it without objection!

Just who was this man?

Su Rui crossed his legs and looked over the display cases around him, waiting in boredom.

The sound of leather shoes suddenly came from above the stairwell.

The footsteps stopped.

A young man in an extravagant suit stood there. Though he could be called handsome, his face had an unhealthy pallor, along with a trace of undisguised arrogance.

Looking at Su Rui in the rest area, his eyes held confusion, puzzlement, and deliberate pride.

The corners of his mouth lifted slightly. As if astonished, he said, "Am I seeing things? You're... Su Rui!"

"How did you get into this formalwear shop too?"