“She—”

George looked bewildered, “What did they say?”

Shit!

Everyone downstairs was speaking Chinese, and George, being American, couldn’t understand.

Though he had been in China for a while, he only started learning Chinese recently when he needed to manage a project in Pengcheng. Previously, thinking China was backward and poor, he never considered learning Chinese!

George’s current level only allowed him to understand simple daily conversations.

When Chen Xiliang made that long speech, even native Chinese speakers needed time to process it, let alone an American beginner like him!

No one answered George’s question, and Wang Mingming’s agent Le Feng couldn’t help but shudder.

Le Feng caught a familiar scent in all this, from Zhang Xiao’s sudden appearance to the unexpected turn of events—first attracting attention, then inviting criticism and misunderstanding, and finally revealing the “truth” with a plot twist. This was even more sophisticated than TVB’s family drama tactics! Shameless, absolutely shameless—who could have devised such a cunning strategy?

If this person entered Hong Kong’s entertainment industry, agents like himself wouldn’t stand a chance!

“Let the host announce the start, we can’t delay anymore…”

Le Feng felt awkward. He would have preferred to have “escorted” Zhang Xiao away earlier and dealt with the newspapers afterward to prevent gossip—that would have been better than now! But not removing her was his bad idea, and now he was caught between a rock and a hard place.

Was this Zhang Xiao’s idea?

Or was it Luna’s unknown Chen Xiliang?

No, it must have been Xia Xiaolan!

Ji Ya watched Xia Xiaolan from the second floor. Sensing her gaze, Xia Xiaolan looked up.

Xia Xiaolan smiled at Ji Ya, who responded by slamming the window shut.

“Ignore them, let the host begin, and turn up the music!”

The reporters still wouldn’t leave Chen Xiliang and Zhang Xiao alone. Some finally came to their senses, repeatedly confirming whether Chen Xiliang’s “donate 1 yuan per piece sold” was true. This marketing strategy of combining charity with business had never been used in 1985 China.

China’s first fashion show was a major event in the fashion world, deserving its place in history.

But Chen Xiliang’s clothing sales donation scheme was a significant social matter. Everyone talked about how Reform and Opening Up meant “letting some get rich first to help others”—letting some people get wealthy through honest work first, then helping others achieve prosperity. Indeed, some had gotten rich, but how were they helping the poor?

Some started township enterprises with entire villages investing in factories.

Others led fellow villagers to seek opportunities elsewhere as the Zhejiang people gathered at Muxiyuan.

Chen Xiliang’s novel approach was unprecedented, linking business development with donations to help poor students. It was too complex for a single article, and reporters wanted more details.

At this moment, music started blasting from speakers around the T-stage, drowning out both the reporters’ and Chen Xiliang’s voices. The reporters turned around angrily—having their news interrupted was infuriating!

Chen Xiliang remained calm, smilingly handing out small cards with his hotel address and contact information, clearly welcoming further questions.

The reporters were finally placated and slowly returned to their seats.

The music successfully dispersed the attention-grabbers, and the host finally took the stage, officially announcing the start of today’s Elegance fashion show:

“Elegance represents sophistication. Brand founder and chief designer Ms. Ji Ya, after years of studying abroad, has brought the most cutting-edge international fashion to China, vowing to decorate Chinese women’s wardrobes with innovative styles and vibrant colors…”

The words were pretty, but the reporters’ attention remained fixed on the newly seated Zhang Xiao and Chen Xiliang.

Shao Guangrong realized that one could make reporters willingly follow without administrative orders.

He gave Xia Xiaolan a thumbs up:

“Sister-in-law, how did you come up with this? Donating one yuan per piece sold—brilliant!”

Though Shao Guangrong wasn’t as interested in business as Kang Wei, he wasn’t stupid. He knew this approach wouldn’t burden Luna. They could just raise the price by one yuan—if a shirt originally cost wholesalers 20 yuan, now it would be 21… who could criticize Luna?

Zhou Cheng tapped his hand:

“Stop flattering, watch the fashion show carefully, and learn from it.”

Learn from it for what?

Shao Guangrong suddenly realized Luna would probably hold its fashion show in the future.

Shao Guangrong fell silent as Zhou Cheng held Xia Xiaolan’s hand, the couple sharing an unspoken understanding. Today’s events were planned by both of them—having Zhang Xiao reveal her income to invite criticism before announcing the donation was Xia Xiaolan’s idea.

Zhou Cheng suggested including Luna, inspired by Xia Xiaolan’s mention of Qihang Real Estate’s “student aid” concept.

Zhou Cheng meant for Luna and Qihang to create a “joint student aid” program, with Luna testing the waters before Qihang took over. Luna was invested with Zhou Cheng’s money but Xia Xiaolan was the public shareholder, and Qihang was Xia Xiaolan’s wholly-owned company. Luna creating some noise would make Xia Xiaolan’s plans easier to implement!

The most effective approach would have been letting Zhang Xiao suffer criticism for a few days, only telling half the story today, waiting for reporters to publish their articles and society to broadly discuss Zhang Xiao’s advertisement fee, and then clarifying that Zhang Xiao had already donated her fee. Zhang Xiao considered this plan carefully and agreed, but Xia Xiaolan opposed it.

She argued that a later clarification might make some people think Zhang Xiao changed her story under pressure.

This would severely damage Zhang Xiao’s image—even if she became famous, it would be infamous!

Thirty years later, infamy might still be fame, something many artists would desire.

But in 1985, it wouldn’t work. An actor being questioned about their morals was too dangerous… Such risky fame was too dangerous, and Xia Xiaolan couldn’t sacrifice Zhang Xiao just for maximum publicity effect.

Her concern touched Zhang Xiao, who now truly considered Xia Xiaolan a friend.

Xia Xiaolan squeezed Zhou Cheng’s hand back as the host left the stage, music started playing, and Wang Mingming appeared.

Cheers erupted from the crowd.

Earlier when reporters surrounded Zhang Xiao, many people tried to rush in for a closer look at the movie actress, but thankfully today’s security was very effective and kept onlookers out.

Now came the second wave of excitement—Wang Mingming’s song was the one she performed at the Spring Festival Gala, very familiar to the spectators.

Wang Mingming’s stage presence was steady, clearly showing her experience.

However, Xia Xiaolan felt Wang Mingming’s spirits were low, her eyes showing displeasure when glancing at her and Zhou Cheng’s seats.

—Heh, what was there to be unhappy about? She broke the contract herself. If Luna wanted publicity and wanted to promote Zhang Xiao, how was that Xia Xiaolan’s fault? Wang Mingming should be grateful that Zhang Xiao wasn’t a singer, or Xia Xiaolan would have let Zhang Xiao compete for Wang Mingming’s rice bowl!