Chapter 143 The dinner begins
Chapter 143 The dinner begins
The afterglow of the setting sun is still there, and the night is about to fall.
Luxury cars were bustling between Upper Albert Road and Lower Albert Road in Mid-Levels, Central. Fu Ziyan looked out the car window and saw a convoy of cars like a dragon, all with a common destination - the Governor's House in Hong Kong.
Subconsciously, Fu Ziyan thought of the other side of the river, and her thoughts flowed like water...
"Titi, it's time to get off the car." Fu Qiyuan put down the documents in his hand and spoke in a gentle voice.
Fu Ziyan collected her thoughts, tilted her head and smiled, "Okay, Dad, I'm ready~"
In the world of Vanity Fair, you can't make a single mistake!
In fact, although the dinner at the Governor's House was formal, she had participated in similar events before, such as the French debutante ball and grand banquets in the British political and business circles. In June this year, she even went to the United States with her father to attend the wedding of the current president's daughter.
She simply couldn't help but think that this land should have belonged to the motherland, even though historically, the newly appointed Governor had indeed diligently developed Hong Kong after taking office and had made considerable achievements in civil administration and the economy. But she felt a little uncomfortable dressing up and smiling so beautifully to celebrate the new Governor's arrival.
No matter how many thoughts she had, it wouldn't stop her from attending the banquet with a proper smile. Fu Ziyan laughed at herself, thinking that she had indeed grown up to be the "hypocritical" person she hated the most when she was a child.
"Our Ti Ti is very beautiful and excellent, just relax."
"Yeah!" Dad is worthy of being a dad. Even if she hides everything in her heart, he can easily guess what she is thinking.
Fu Ziyan smiled, held her father's hand and stepped out of the car. Looking up, she saw the Governor's Mansion with lights as bright as day.
The architectural design of the Governor's House in Hong Kong blends Eastern and Western influences. Its elegant exterior, clad entirely in stucco, reflects both Expressionist and Art Deco styles. Its interior has been renovated to reflect the personal styles of various Governors, including extensive renovations during the Japanese occupation and the addition of the central tower.
Fu Ziyan took a quick look and followed her father and attendants to the banquet hall.
The hall was filled with people. As soon as he entered, someone came to greet Fu Qiyuan and praised Fu Ziyan, who was smiling and holding her father's arm.
Fu Ziyan called people with a smile, socializing with her father just right.
Not only Chinese businessmen, but also British businessmen and British officials.
After following my father around and meeting people, I finally saw Xi Qingqing who came with Xi Sen.
"Mr. Fu, it's been a long time since we last met." It was naturally Xi Sen who spoke first.
Fu Qiyuan nodded, "Mr. Xi." Then he looked down at his daughter and said softly, "Titi, go play with your friends. Come find me later."
Seeing Xi Sen also looking at her with a smile, Fu Ziyan curved her eyebrows and smiled, "Then Qingqing and I will leave first. Goodbye, Dad and Uncle Xi."
Fu Ziyan and Xi Qingqing sat on the small sofa in front of the floor-to-ceiling window. On one side, they chatted politely about clothes, dresses, and their children's marriages, while on the other side, car lights flickered back and forth. There was no real quiet place in the banquet hall.
Not long after sitting down, acquaintances kept coming to say hello, and the first one to come was Yu Minhong.
The woman next to him was also an acquaintance, Miss Huo Yiran, another major shareholder of Xiu Luo.
Fu Ziyan suddenly remembered that Huo Yiran seemed to be about the same age as Cousin Yu, but Sister Yiran seemed to be a year older. Did these two people getting together mean they were planning a marriage?
Even though she was thinking this, she smiled and said, "Cousin, Sister Yiran, do you want to sit with us?"
However, they are unlikely to stay. Such occasions are good opportunities for socializing and discussing cooperation.
Just as Fu Ziyan expected, Yu Minhong politely declined, "Thank you for your kindness, cousin, but we still need to say hello to the others."
Fu Ziyan smiled and nodded, and then she continued to see many familiar faces, Fu Ziyi, Isabella...
Fu Zimu, who always considered himself the eldest grandson, did not come tonight. Fu Ziyan guessed that he was probably afraid that his cousin, who was in love, would make another mistake.
After all, it was Fu Zimu who left the party midway through the project discussion as soon as he heard that He Simian was sick, regardless of the partner they were discussing the project with. Fu Ziyan was not present at the party, but according to the gossip expert Gu An Ning, the partner was so angry that his face turned blue.
When Fu Ziyan heard about it, she kept shouting "666" while confirming the final result of the project.
Bad news: The dominant partner cancels the cooperation
Good news: This project has nothing to do with the Fu family, it is a small furniture company under Fu Zimu’s name.
So, Fu Ziyan laughed even louder! There was no other way. This was the first time she saw a real rich man in love. Fu Ziyan had already listened to Fu Zimu's love affairs as a TV series. It was very stress-relieving!
~
Fu Ziyan and Xi Qingqing didn't stay in their "quiet place" for long before returning to their respective fathers.
The dinner officially began.
A tall champagne tower stood in front of the stage, on which sat the new Governor of Hong Kong, Murray MacLehose, dressed like a British gentleman. He had a low and gentle voice, his eyes were full of expectations, and he was delivering a spirited speech before the dinner started.
Murray MacLehose's speech was very contagious, worthy of a diplomat.
The applause of the audience was thunderous.
Fu Ziyan stood beside her father with a smile on her face, applauding and celebrating with everyone else.
Putting aside his nationality, this Governor of Hong Kong did a lot of practical things for Hong Kong. During his tenure, Hong Kong's economy took off and became one of the "Four Asian Tigers". For the development of Hong Kong, he was a welcome Governor of Hong Kong.
After the opening remarks, it's purely a social scene.
Fu Ziyan also followed behind her father, acting as a little mascot and listening to her father's small conversation with the Governor of Hong Kong.
"I've long heard of Mr. Fu... During my next term, I need your support and assistance to develop Hong Kong's economy." He smiled politely and was friendly. Having just arrived, he needed to win over Hong Kong's top tycoons, especially Fu Qiyuan, who had been investing heavily in the UK over the past two years and had connections with members of parliament from both parties.
Fu Qiyuan smiled and said politely, "Your words are important, Governor. I support your work and developing Hong Kong is my duty."
There were so many guests that MacLehose left after not chatting for long.
Fu Ziyan smiled gently and walked gracefully and confidently with her father in the banquet hall, raising a toast and chatting with his friends and alumni who worked in government departments.
After another round of pleasantries, Fu Ziyan, who was tired of being a mascot, told her father and was about to turn around to look for Xi Qingqing when she saw another acquaintance - Cloris Elena Spencer.
It was that year that she hired the pet shop owner who raised Jiqing.
This was also the second time Fu Ziyan saw her.
Fu Ziyan was too busy to accompany Jiqing on outings. Jiqing's health checkups, beauty salons, and other appointments were all accompanied by a dedicated servant. Fu Ziyan had heard from the servant that the pet shop owner rarely showed up, and she hadn't seen him in the past few years when she took Jiqing to the pet shop.
Just as Fu Ziyan remembers Cloris, Cloris also remembers Fu Ziyan, a customer who once came to the store to buy a cat.
Before Fu Ziyan could say hello, Cloris spoke first, "Selene, long time no see!" She was wearing a black evening gown, looking noble and elegant, with a pair of clear blue eyes that were no longer as gentle as they used to be.
"Cloris," Fu Ziyan's eyes flashed with surprise, "My Jiqing is well taken care of."
There was a tenderness in her eyes, "I knew you would take good care of her."
"Have you returned to China in recent years?" The intimacy on Fu Ziyan's face was natural and there was no trace of acting. Coupled with her sweet smile, it was as if she was meeting an old friend after a long separation.
Ms. Spencer seemed to be infected by Fu Ziyan's mood and explained, "Yes, my family missed me returning home. This trip is not only to accompany my cousin and her family to their new post, but also to sell the pet shop. I'm getting married soon, and the wedding is scheduled for June next year. Can Selene come and give me her blessing?"
It was just a few words, but the information revealed was not simple. Fu Ziyan smiled slightly. She was indeed from the Spencer family.
Then her smile deepened, and she said with a smile, "Of course, I will definitely go to the UK to attend your wedding and witness your happy moment."
Fu Ziyan said, then took her hand affectionately. "Cloris wants to sell the pet shop. Why not consider me?" After a pause, she added, "My Jiqing loves coming to your pet shop to play and get groomed."
Ms. Spencer smiled and glanced at Fu Ziyan. "Selene is a cat lover. It would be great if you are willing to take over."
Fu Ziyan quickly responded with an impatient and playful look, "Then it's settled. We'll discuss the details of the contract another day."
Ms. Spencer had invested a lot of emotion in the pet shop. What Fu Ziyan wanted to buy was not the pet shop, but the favors and connections. Regardless of whether these connections could be used, it was just a small effort and the cost was not high.
Not to mention that this is a pet shop that Fu Ziyan has some interest in. Even if it is a store like a hardware store that is completely useless to her, if Ms. Spencer wants to sell it, she will buy it.
Cloris thought so too.
With Fu Ziyan's family background and financial resources, she definitely has connections. Selling to anyone is selling, so selling a pet shop in exchange for a connection is not a loss. Moreover, Fu Ziyan does have a cat, and she raises it very carefully. Compared with others, Fu Ziyan is indeed a good buyer that she can trust.
The two of them understood each other tacitly and smiled at each other with pure smiles.
Just then a servant came to call her, and Cloris said apologetically, "Sorry, I have to leave for a while."
Fu Ziyan expressed her understanding. After watching Cloris leave, she finally reunited with Xi Qingqing. The two of them sat back in the not-so-quiet "quiet place" they had been to originally.
Isabella followed suit shortly afterwards.
Fu Ziyan looked at her curiously, "Why doesn't Isabella continue to follow your mother?"
"Just like you all, I'm tired." Isabella's face was full of exhaustion, and then she frowned and said angrily, "My feet are sore from standing in these shoes for so long. I'm never wearing them again!"
Speaking of this, Xi Qingqing became interested and couldn't wait to introduce herself. "I, no, my mom should say, discovered a new shoemaker who is very good at making shoes. His shop has only been open for a week. It's in Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon, and the name of the shop is Shi Lu."
Seeing that Fu Ziyan and Isabella were both looking at her intently, Xi Qingqing chuckled and continued, "The boss studied in France, but his family fell on hard times, so he didn't get his diploma. I tried on the finished shoes my mom got last night. The craftsmanship is really good, and his aesthetic level is also very high."
Fu Ziyan became curious and said, "Then I will ask the housekeeper to invite the boss to my house tomorrow to customize two pairs of shoes for me and see the results." It was too troublesome to take a boat to Kowloon, and she was too lazy to make a special trip.
Isabella also responded, "Me too, I want to order two pairs to try."
"They are really good. I also plan to customize a few pairs." Xi Qingqing nodded in agreement.
Fu Ziyan was bored and was fiddling with the diamond gems on her bracelet to pass the time. When she heard Xi Qingqing speak so confidently again, she joked, "If it's really as amazing as you say, then I'll evaluate whether to invest."
"Add me in!" Xi Qingqing reacted very quickly.
Isabella followed suit, "Selene, me too!"
Fu Ziyan arched her eyebrows, her smile as bright as the spring breeze in March. "We haven't even started yet, why are you two so anxious? If I were to invest, I would definitely tell you. Whoever sees it gets a share!"
Isabella was stunned and murmured, "Selene, you are so beautiful!"
Xi Qingqing nodded vigorously, her tone firm, "Those newspapers praising you as Hong Kong's most beautiful woman are absolutely right! They say there's always room for improvement, and your face is a perfect example of how that's not true. Each of your features, individually, is perfect enough for plastic surgery, but when combined, they're even better."
Finally, she concluded with a sigh, "Yan Yan, what on earth do you look like? If I were a boy, I would fall in love with you just for this face!"
Fu Ziyan had been praised in person countless times since she was a child, but she still felt a little embarrassed when Xi Qingqing praised her appearance so seriously and specifically.
What should she say? She certainly hasn't had plastic surgery, but every part of her face has been carefully retouched by an APP.
The advertisement of the reading machine said "Click on any imperfections". Her face was improved by the APP after she took beauty pills, such as the "moon-shaped eyebrows and star-like eyes" on her ninth birthday, the "healthy, white and strong teeth" on her tenth birthday, and the "black hair like a waterfall", "slender legs" and "golden ratio" from eleven to thirteen years old.
Until now, APP no longer gives birthday gifts related to beauty. Fu Ziyan guessed that APP probably thought that she had no other areas that needed improvement.
Therefore, her appearance in this life can never be considered a "face given by her mother", but at most a "face given by an app".
Well, the APP improved her genes, improved her IQ, gifted her assets, and changed her destiny twice. Thinking about it this way, it seems that she is no different from her mother.
They say "rebirth is like rebirth," and she has actually been reborn. Even if paternity testing technology matures in the future, the family who abandoned her at birth will not be able to detect their parentage, because the gene modification agent has also modified her genes.
Fu Ziyan once again said to herself, thank you Chengzhen APP!
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