After the host announced the winner of the charity lucky bag, he enthusiastically invited Yan Jinyue onto the stage.
"Next, please welcome Chairman Yan Jinyue of the Tomorrow Charitable Foundation to give his address."
Ji Hanxing instinctively looked up toward the stage and met Yan Jinyue's eyes. The next second, Ji Hanxing averted his
gaze.
"Distinguished guests, welcome to the Tomorrow Charitable Foundation's charity auction gala..."
Ji Hanxing had still been staring at the tabletop, but gradually, Yan Jinyue's words drew him in. He raised his head and looked over. Holding a microphone, Yan Jinyue addressed all the guests without a script.
The gala's orange-yellow lighting shone on him, making his figure look even more upright and handsome. He simply stood there, composed and unhurried, speaking confidently as he introduced the charity auction to everyone present.
Ji Hanxing gazed in a daze at the confident, steady Yan Jinyue in the center of the stage, unable to help marveling inwardly: This was what a successful entrepreneur looked like-spirited, able to draw everyone's attention and inspire their trust.
There seemed to be something magical about Yan Jinyue that kept drawing Ji Hanxing's gaze. He did not want to look away at all.
[Host, there is no need to be envious. Follow the domineering CEO training curriculum arranged by this system, and you can do it too-even better.]
Envious?
Ji Hanxing was envious. In his former life, he had had no choice; simply struggling to stay alive had exhausted every ounce of his strength. Every day, he had run his stall looking dusty and bedraggled, rushing around to cover life's daily necessities, working hard to get by. In truth, he did not resent his former life. He had still faced it with optimism and a positive attitude.
But being so dazzling, confident, and poised, becoming the focus of everyone's attention-that was something he had never experienced.
Ji Hanxing slowly lowered his head. The crystal glass on the dining table reflected his face under the refracted gala lights. In its refracting facets, Ji Hanxing saw his past, his present, and even... his future.
It was as though something deep in his heart had broken through the soil, sending up a tiny new sprout toward the light.
"What are you thinking about?"
Yan Jinyue's voice suddenly rang out. Ji Hanxing abruptly came back to his senses and looked in surprise at Yan Jinyue, who was sitting beside him. He looked toward the stage again. The group photo session for today's guests and members of the charity organization had already begun; these photos were also material for later publicity.
"Why did you come down?"
Seeing Yan Jinyue stand beside him, Ji Hanxing felt a faint sense of foreboding. He glanced around, and sure enough, everyone in the room was looking their way.
Many had already begun whispering to one another, discussing and speculating about Ji Hanxing's identity. The others at their table were looking at him with shining eyes. Some even wanted to approach Yan Jinyue for a conversation, but seeing that Yan Jinyue kept looking at Ji Hanxing, they feared interrupting him and having their efforts backfire.
Ji Hanxing blinked and nervously pinched his cuff. "As the organizer's representative, shouldn't you be up there taking photos? What are you doing over here with me?"
Yan Jinyue smiled faintly and made an inviting gesture. "Inviting you to go up and take a photo with me."
Ji Hanxing stared intently at Yan Jinyue. What on earth was he up to?
Yan Jinyue maintained his inviting gesture. Out of the corner of his eye, Ji Hanxing saw everyone else staring his way. Great. His dream of standing in the spotlight had come true the instant he had wished for it.
It felt like needles digging into his back. There was nothing wonderful about it!
The new sprout that had broken through the soil in Ji Hanxing's heart shrank back down, even shifting some soil around to bury itself deeper.
Now, all he wanted was to hide in a cold, gloomy corner, go mad, scream, twist, and crawl through the shadows.
Ji Hanxing forced himself to stand and looked at Yan Jinyue with a smile that did not reach his eyes. "How kind of you to invite me personally, President Yan."
"You are the honored guest I invited today."
Ji Hanxing now only wanted to get the photos over with. He reached out and grabbed Yan Jinyue's arm, urging him quietly, "Then let's hurry over. There must be lots of people who want a photo with you."
Ahhh, why did you have to call me over! So many people can take a photo with you. One fewer won't make any difference.
Yan Jinyue looked at the hand tugging on his arm. Ji Hanxing followed his gaze and immediately let go, even instinctively patting out the wrinkles.
"After you."
Under the scrutiny of so many people, the two of them went up onto the stage together. There were already quite a few people standing there, all waiting for Yan Jinyue.
As Ji Hanxing passed the edge of the crowd, he was about to stop. He wanted to stand in that corner.
This corner is good. No one will notice me. I want to stand here!
Yan Jinyue turned his head to look at Ji Hanxing beside him and reached out to pull him over. "Come with me."
His grip was firm, allowing no refusal.
Ji Hanxing could only follow Yan Jinyue to the very center. The others standing beside them nodded in greeting, all smiling kindly.
"Everyone, look at the camera!"
Ji Hanxing looked at the dense crowd below, all staring at him. He looked ahead somewhat stiffly as the flashes opposite him kept firing. His vision had begun to blur, and his mind was blank.
"Relax."
"It'll be over soon."
A broad palm gently patted Ji Hanxing's back, and a steady, resonant voice sounded beside his ear.
Ji Hanxing took a deep breath and lifted the corners of his mouth slightly.
"All done."
Those words were like a switch. The shoulders Ji Hanxing had just struggled to hold straight instantly slumped. Moving his somewhat stiff legs, he followed the crowd down to make way for a new group.
Only after Ji Hanxing stepped off the stage did he discover that Yan Jinyue had actually come down with him.
"Why did you come down with me? Those people afterward are still waiting to take a photo with you."
Yan Jinyue said, "The people afterward can take photos with the others from the Tomorrow Charitable Foundation."
Ji Hanxing understood. Those people did not have enough standing.
"So, should I thank you for inviting me just now, President Yan? After all, chances to take a photo with you don't come along often."
"Thank you for thinking so highly of me."
Ji Hanxing's tone was somewhat sarcastic.
Yan Jinyue lowered his brows and eyes. "Are you blaming me?"
Ji Hanxing wanted to nod, but this kind of opportunity to be seen was something other people could not get even if they wanted it. Just look at the gazes the people nearby were directing at him-they were envious.
He gave a derisive laugh. "If I nodded, you'd probably think I didn't know what was good for me, President Yan-getting a favor and still acting coy."
Yan Jinyue looked steadily at Ji Hanxing. "I wouldn't."
"What I did just now really was wrong. I did it without discussing it with you. That was my fault."
"I apologize."
Yan Jinyue's sincere apology left Ji Hanxing even more confused. "Why did you want me to go up for a photo?"
"You are the honored guest I invited."
Yan Jinyue gazed deeply at Ji Hanxing. He knew Ji Hanxing did not want to stand out in front of others like this. Yan Jinyue was already very happy that Ji Hanxing had come to the gala. He had even changed Ji Hanxing's seat, guessing that he might not want to sit so close to the front.
In fact, while Yan Jinyue had been giving his address onstage, he had kept watching Ji Hanxing. Ji Hanxing, sitting in the darkness of the corner, seemed very strange.
They were clearly so close, yet Yan Jinyue felt as though they were very far apart-so far that Ji Hanxing seemed liable to disappear the next second.
So he had gone down to find Ji Hanxing and invited him to stand beneath the lights with him, feeling Ji Hanxing's real presence.