80: Chapter 80 Participating in the Celebration

One week later, at the LeEco celebration venue.

Chen Mo couldn't be bothered walking any red carpet, and no official Tianxing Live crew came to film.

General Manager Jia, who's 'returning to China next week', was quite shrewd. He privately invited several top Tianxing Live streamers to broadcast and pulled in a bunch of media reporters, all just to build hype.

Once the news was released:

Chairman Chen of Tianxing Technology is personally attending the LeEco celebration!

In less than five minutes, LeEco's stock directly hit the limit-up.

LeEco's current market value is over 30 billion, and just because Chen Mo was coming, it surged by over 3 billion in a single day.

Everyone present understood clearly:

Today's whole scene was entirely because of Chen Mo.

The celebration began. Chen Mo sat in the central seat of honor, with Yang Mi, Dilraba Dilmurat, and Guli Nazha seated next to him.

At the next table were the three major directors Zhang Yimou, Feng Xiaogang, and Chen Kaige. Next to them were top stars like Deng Chao, Hu Ge, and Huang Xiaoming.

A whole bunch of popular young actresses were all there in the back.

Not a single entertainment company boss dared show their face.

General Manager Jia, 'returning to China next week', was openly poaching, pulling all their cash cows over to LeEco Pictures.

But with LeEco's high market value and solid backing, who among them dared offend him?

They could only swallow their anger.

As several major streamers pointed their cameras at the head table, the live chat rooms instantly started scrolling, the bullet comments dense and numerous:

"Holy crap! It's really Chairman Chen himself!"

"Old Jia's got some skills, actually managing to invite Chairman Chen!"

"LeEco's stock is gonna go crazy, right?"

"Quick question, who's higher ranking, Chairman Chen or General Manager Jia?"

"The person above is a total newbie. Old Jia isn't even fit to carry Chairman Chen's shoes!"

"Even JACK Ma got hammered into the ground by Chairman Chen, what's Old Jia?"

"I heard Old Jia is just a front man, there's a big shot behind him?"

"What good is a big shot? JACK Ma, Liu Heixin—which one didn't have connections? When they ran into Chairman Chen, didn't they still fall silent?"

"Exactly, Black Heart Think is half-dead now!"

"With Chairman Chen in the country, he really can walk sideways!"

"Look at Yang Mi, Dilraba Dilmurat, and Guli Nazha, all sitting next to Chairman Chen!"

"That relationship goes without saying! Those who get it, get it!"

"Chairman Chen is living the dream too, got both career and beauties!"

"The key is he's not even married, so whatever he does is fair game!"

"I want to learn from Chairman Chen too, from now on I swear eternal enmity with gambling and drugs!"

"Brother, you didn't mention the 'yellow' (pornography) at all!"

"Heaven above as my witness, I swear eternal enmity with gambling and drugs!"

On stage, Old Jia gave a passionate speech, spittle flying.

Below the stage, Old Jia's wife, Gan Weiwei, turned her head sideways, smiling at Yang Mi, her eyes carrying a hint of superiority.

"Mi Mi, how are you considering the LeEco Pictures share purchase General Manager Jia talked to you about?"

(Note: LeEco Pictures' first round of financing was in August 2013, with an investment valuation of 1.35 billion. Here, it's postponed for plot reasons.)

Yang Mi rolled her eyes internally but pretended to have a sudden realization on her face:

"Oh, Sister Weiwei, you mean the share purchase? That little bit of money, still needs consideration? With our relationship, I'll definitely support you."

Gan Weiwei's face stiffened.

She had originally wanted to flaunt her status as the boss's wife to one-up Yang Mi.

But Yang Mi's single sentence framed it as "little bit of money," clearly indicating she wasn't short on cash.

She felt sour inside;

Yang Mi lived in a two-hundred-million-plus duplex at Tomson Riviera, directly gifted by Chen Mo and registered under her name.

Apart from the title of boss's wife, she didn't have much real power in her hands.

"That's good then,"

Gan Weiwei said with a forced smile.

"Once LeEco Pictures takes off, your standing in the entertainment industry will be even more secure."

"I'll take your kind words!"

Yang Mi said with a smile.

Beside them, Dilraba Dilmurat and Guli Nazha exchanged a glance and secretly laughed.

Others might not know, but they were the clearest:

As long as Chen Mo was around, resources were simply inexhaustible.

Having debuted for only a year or two, their net worths were already in the hundreds of millions, with top-tier houses and cars. They could film if they wanted, rest if they didn't—no one dared say a word.

Seeing this scene in the live streams, bullet comments flew:

"Dilraba Dilmurat's smile just killed me!"

"Xiaoxue is just too pure!"

"Just how many houses does Chen Mo have? How many cars? How many girlfriends?"

"I suggest directly registering a 'Chen Clan Residential District'!"

"If it were me, I'd follow Chairman Chen too, cutting a hundred years of struggle!"

"Could even be two hundred years less struggle!"

"The key is Chairman Chen is still young, handsome, rich, and capable!"

"Hey, you upstairs, wake up! It's not even bedtime yet, stop dreaming!"

On stage, after Old Jia finished his speech, he looked eagerly at Chen Mo and gestured with an outstretched hand:

"Everyone! Today, our most distinguished guest: Chairman Chen of Tianxing Technology! Let's give the warmest applause and invite Chairman Chen to say a few words!"

The entire venue erupted in thunderous applause that lasted over a full minute.

Gan Weiwei also clapped frantically, her face full of shared glory.

But after a moment, everyone was stunned.

Chen Mo remained seated in his original spot, a faint smile on his face, completely motionless.

He didn't stand up, didn't wave his hand, didn't offer polite refusals, didn't even utter a word of demurral.

The direct disregard was already a public refusal.

The atmosphere on-site suddenly froze, awkward enough to dig out a three-bedroom apartment.

Old Jia stood with his hand outstretched, his smile frozen on his face, dilemma ( dilemma - caught in a dilemma, unable to advance or retreat).

Gan Weiwei's face flushed white then red, utterly mortified.

The live streams went crazy laughing:

"Hahahaha! Iconic moment!"

"Old Jia is so awkward he could dig a hole with his toes!"

"Chairman Chen: You think you deserve that?"

"Asking Chairman Chen to speak? Are you worthy?"

"Chen Mo showing up is already giving face!"

"Old Jia still wants to ride on Chairman Chen's aura? Dream on!"

"This slap was loud and crisp!"

"See the hierarchy clearly now? In front of Chairman Chen, Old Jia is just a little brother!"

"Chairman Chen's aura is absolutely unmatched!"

Chen Mo understood clearly in his heart.

His presence today was purely to back up Yang Mi and the other two, so no one would bully them.

But Old Jia, on the other hand, used his name to pull up the stock price and elevate his own status, and now even wanted to tie him to LeEco's ship.

Did they really think he was just a tool for PR appearances?

If he didn't show some attitude, they'd really think he, Chen Mo, was some Hello Kitty.