Entertainment mogul: Starting his business with the internet

Chapter 218 Mutual Price Gouging
Half an hour passed quickly, and big-name celebrities entered the venue one after another, raising the atmosphere to a fever pitch.

After a stylish and dynamic fashion show, the charity gala officially began.

Renowned host Lu Yu was invited to the stage to host the first major segment of the evening: the 2008 Bazaar Top Ten Charity Stars Awards Ceremony.

On the large electronic screen in the center of the stage, a series of meticulously produced promotional videos began to play, followed by the powerful announcement of familiar names.

"Zhang Ziyi, Li Lianjie... Qiao Zhengyu, Liu Yifei, Huang Xiaoming. Please welcome them to the stage with the warmest applause."

Subsequently, ten celebrities, excluding Jet Li, took to the stage one after another.

Fan Bingbing was originally walking in front of the crowd, but when she entered the stage, she deliberately slowed down and walked almost side by side with Li Bingbing behind her.

When the celebrities stood in a row on stage, they subtly moved closer to Li Bingbing.

Li Bingbing wore a light yellow dress, with her long, wavy hair tied to one side, exuding a gentle and elegant charm.

Noticing Fan Bingbing's subtle actions, he felt a little surprised. Why was his old rival acting so strangely today, relying on her for something?

Amidst the doubts, the host, Lu Yu, enthusiastically invited a deputy director from the Civil Affairs Bureau to the stage to present awards to the top ten charity stars.

Lu Yu stood on one side of the stage with a microphone in hand, making witty remarks and constantly enlivening the atmosphere: "Brother Chenglong said something very good: if 600 million people help 600 million people, there will be no poor people in China."

Your kindness and support for charitable causes serve as a model for everyone. Please prepare your acceptance speeches; everyone should prepare one.

After the awards ceremony, on stage from right to left, Zhao Zhetian was the first to give his acceptance speech, followed by Zhang Ziyi and Qiao Zhengyu.

The things the big stars said were all pretty much the same platitudes.

Soon it was Liu Yifei's turn to speak, and Lu Yu stood beside her with the microphone.

The "Fairy Sister" shone brightly on stage today in a gold halter-neck off-shoulder evening gown, a slight smile on her face as she spoke softly into the microphone:

"This is my first time participating in this event. I'm relatively inexperienced, and I'm very grateful to Bazaar Charity for their encouragement..."

Below the stage, Liu Shishi quietly gazed at the radiant Liu Yifei, tilted her head slightly, and asked softly, "Sister K, what are the selection criteria for these top ten celebrities?"

Cai Yinong has some knowledge of some well-known events in the industry, and patiently explained to Sister Yi: "It is selected by combining online votes and expert reviews."

Liu Shishi seemed thoughtful, then pressed on, "So that means the top ten charitable celebrities aren't the ones who donated the most?"

Cai Yinong gave a meaningful smile: "That's natural. The amount of the donation is only one aspect. Fame, influence in the industry, and appeal to charitable causes are all factors to be considered."

Of course, interpersonal relationships also play a role. Ultimately, the fashion group wants to increase brand awareness and influence by hosting such galas, so the ten celebrities must be at least of a high caliber within the industry.

After a long pause, Liu Shishi stared at Liu Yifei, with whom she had a minor online argument, and suddenly uttered:
"I also want to be one of the top ten charity stars next year. My status is not important; what matters is contributing to charity."

Hearing what the eldest sister said, Sun Li couldn't help but chuckle. The little girl was clearly competitive and wanted to find a plausible reason.

Looking up at the dazzling Liu Yifei, I thought to myself: The one on stage is indeed having a smooth career and is already ahead of all other actresses her age.

If things continue like this, she might overshadow her peers. I wonder if Shishi will be able to compete with her in the future.

On stage, Liu Yifei behaved gracefully, quickly finished her speech, and took a slight step back, allowing the host to hand the microphone to Zhou Xun next to her.

After the awards ceremony for the top ten charity stars concluded, the Bazaar Charity Night moved into its most exciting segment: the charity auction.

The lights focused, and the first item up for auction, the Zhaoyi Cuiwu jade necklace, was placed on the stage by a waitress.

The host, Ke Lan, stepped forward and began to introduce the origin, materials, and craftsmanship of this precious item in detail. Her partner, Wu Dawei, was humorous and witty, which helped to liven up the atmosphere of the entire audience.

Bidding was fierce, with everyone bidding back and forth. In the end, the first treasure was won by Zhang Lan, the CEO of South Beauty, who beat all the other bidders and won the bid with a high price of 110 million yuan.

Suddenly, the stage lights blazed on, and Fashion Group President Liu Jiang, superstar Li Lianjie, and Zhou Xun presented awards to the winners.

Zhang Lan accepted the trophy with great confidence and charm. During her acceptance speech, she cleverly promoted her own company in just a few words, winning rounds of applause from the audience.

With a capable demeanor and clear tone, Ke Lan continued, "Thank you, Ms. Zhang Lan! The next item is a Tiffany crystal necklace. The starting bid is 8 yuan."

Liu Yifei, who was in the audience, got excited and was the first to raise her paddle: "10!"

Wu Dawei made a funny sound: "Wow! Yifei bought it for 10 yuan right away. It seems she really likes this necklace."

Li Xiang, who was at the next table, also liked the crystal necklace and didn't back down with a bid: "15!"

Lu Yu, who was also a host, joined in the fun and shouted, "18!"

Wu Dawei feigned surprise and teased, "Hey, you guys are at the same table!"

People in the audience kept raising the price, and when Liu Yifei shouted out 45, no one was competing with her anymore.

On the one hand, the price far exceeds the value of the item itself. On the other hand, when someone shows a determined attitude, no one will deliberately cause trouble. People in the circle see each other all the time, so why make enemies if you can help others?

Clutching a small hammer, Kolan shouted excitedly and energetically, "45 for the first time, 45 for the second time, anyone else bidding?"

Looking at the crystal necklace that was similar in style to the one Mr. Song had given her last year, Liu Shishi suddenly, as if possessed, raised her bidding paddle: "48!"

A crisp, abrupt sound echoed through the party venue. After a moment's thought, the host, Ke Lan, remembered the guests at table 18 and replied with a smile, "Oh, Liu Shishi from table 18 has bid 48!"

The eyes of people at the neighboring tables immediately fell on Liu Shishi, and Lu Yi and Sun Honglei at the same table also looked at the quiet girl in front of them with surprise.

Under the intense gaze of everyone, the eldest sister felt slightly nervous, and a blush rose on her fair face. She quickly took a deep breath to calm herself down.

Liu Yifei was initially wondering who was competing with her, but upon hearing the name "Liu Shishi," she suddenly recalled the unpleasantness they had had a few months ago over an endorsement deal.

He instinctively assumed the other party was deliberately trying to antagonize him. Without the slightest hesitation, he shouted, "50!"

"Yifei, keep raising the price!"

"Is Shishi still going to follow?"

Liu Shishi bit her lip, hesitated slightly, and said, "52!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than Liu Yifei chimed in: "55!"

Cai Yi-nong coughed lightly, signaling to the top female contestant to stop. At this point, bidding twice was enough, and there was no need to continue arguing.

At this point, she either had to stop or keep going, but she didn't think the top female contestant genuinely wanted to bid on the item.

Seemingly understanding K-sister's meaning, Liu Shishi ultimately remained silent. "55 for the third time!" Ke Lan's small hammer slammed down heavily. "Congratulations to Yifei for winning this crystal necklace."

Liu Yifei was displeased, feeling that Liu Shishi had ruined things and caused her to spend an extra 10 yuan. Although this amount of money was nothing to her, she was still upset and distressed.

When the host asked her to come on stage, she quickly composed herself and forced a smile.

Louis Vuitton trunks, Hermès lizard skin handbags, Gucci Chinese red bicycles... one after another, these rare items were auctioned off, making the atmosphere at the charity gala increasingly intense.

The crowd below the stage clinked glasses and chatted, busy making connections. Occasionally, someone would seize a break in the auction to call out a bid, joining in the fun and showing support.

Hu Ge and his tablemates Huang Sanshi, Lu Yi, and others drank a few glasses of wine in a good mood, their faces slightly flushed.

Glancing at table number 2 directly in front of the stage, she had a sudden inspiration and suggested, "Shishi, let's go toast President Song."

The eldest sister craned her neck to look ahead and saw her husband, Mr. Song, leaning back lazily, gazing absently at the stage. She nodded slightly in agreement.

When Hu Ge saw that Liu Shishi had agreed, she was overjoyed and hurriedly filled her wine glass with champagne. Then she politely said to the seniors at the table, "Teacher Huang, Teacher Lu, Teacher Sun, please excuse me for a moment."

Amidst the slightly curious gazes of the others, Tangren Media's top male and female stars walked together towards table number 2.

"President Song, let me toast you."

Song Ci was idly watching the stage when his foreign friend, Boudouang, would occasionally lean over and whisper a few words to him, which Song Ci patiently translated for him.

Upon hearing the familiar voice, I instinctively looked in the direction of the sound and saw Hu Ge and Miss Liu approaching together.

Liu Shishi moved gracefully, holding a wine cup, to Song Ci's side. Her eyes held a hint of reproach as she asked softly, "Why did you take off your coat again?"

Seeing that Song Ci had taken off his coat and hung it on the back of the chair, just like last year, she couldn't help but recall the incident last year when Fan Bingbing almost caused a scandal by helping him hang up his suit.

Seeing this scene again, I couldn't help but think to myself, Mr. Song is really so casual and unrestrained in this kind of occasion, he doesn't treat himself as an outsider at all.

Song Ci gave a wry smile and replied helplessly, "I'm unbearably hot."

He was already sensitive to heat, and he broke out in a sweat as soon as he entered the venue, feeling sticky and uncomfortable. That's when he took off his jacket to cool himself down.

Seeing that Song Ci was covered in sweat, Liu Shishi knew that he was not used to heat, so she said softly, "Then let me help you roll up your sleeves."

After saying that, she casually placed the wine glass on the table, and with her fair and slender hands, she carefully rolled up the sleeves of Song Ci's black shirt, her movements gentle and skillful.

Song Ci didn't mind at all, obediently extending her arm and cooperating perfectly.

Seeing this, Hu Ge couldn't help but roll her eyes, inwardly complaining that she felt like an unwanted third wheel.

They were supposed to be here to offer a toast, but these two are acting all lovey-dovey and oblivious to everyone else. Is that appropriate?

It's fortunate that the scene was noisy and everyone's attention was focused on the stage, otherwise, your intimate actions would have been no different from an official announcement in public.

After finishing her work, Liu Shishi had a drink with Hu Ge and Song Ci before returning to her seat.

After the two left, Tan Zhi, president of Focus Media, looked at them with amusement and joked, "Chairman Song and this lady have a very close relationship."

Song Ci made no attempt to hide anything, and frankly laughed, "Shishi is my girlfriend! Please excuse my rudeness."

Yintai's CEO, Shen Guojun, was slightly surprised, not expecting Song Ci to so openly reveal their relationship. However, he reacted quickly and praised, "CEO Song and Miss Liu are truly a perfect match, a match made in heaven!"

Besides Zhang Chaoyang, who was presenting the award on stage, Liu Jiang and Guo Sheng also spoke up, praising Liu Shishi's ethereal beauty without reservation.

With everyone carrying the sedan chair, Song Ci was in high spirits. He raised his wine glass, full of youthful vigor, and said confidently, "Thank you all for your praise, brothers. I'd like to toast you all."

Everyone raised their glasses and responded with smiles, "Chairman Song, you're too kind." "Let's have a toast, brothers."

The clinking of glasses and the cheerful laughter filled the small space once again, and the group quickly became acquainted.

As soon as Liu Shishi sat down again and turned around, she noticed that Huang Sanshi was staring at her.

Feeling quite uncomfortable under his probing and thoughtful gaze, I couldn't help but ask, "Teacher Huang, what's wrong?"

"It's nothing!" Huang Sanshi was slightly taken aback, and quickly lowered his head to pour wine to cover up his rudeness.

Because of his seat angle, he watched the whole process of Liu Shishi and Hu Ge toasting at table number two. He noticed that Liu Shishi and the young chairman of Tengda Group seemed to be very close, and he was wondering about their relationship.

Sun Li understood her husband's thoughts and whispered in his ear, "Shishi and that guy are a couple."

Huang Sanshi's eyes widened upon hearing this, extremely shocked by the gossip his wife had just shared.

He stared intently at his wife until Sun Li nodded solemnly again, only then was he convinced that what she said was true and not a joke.

In an instant, a flurry of thoughts flashed through his mind. That person was a super big shot; he had never had the chance to get in touch with him before. Now that he had a connection, he absolutely couldn't miss this opportunity.

Huang Sanshi's increasingly prosperous face revealed a thoughtful expression as his mind raced, calculating how to establish a connection with Song Ci through Liu Shishi.

The auction was in full swing on stage, and Ke Lan, who had been hosting for a long time, was now thirsty. She paused briefly, cleared her throat, and rallied her spirits:

"The next item is a Montblanc fountain pen. This pen is made of 18k white gold and set with sparkling diamonds. The design is extremely exquisite... Starting bid: 5 yuan."

Liu Shishi was casually chatting with Sister K when she heard that the auction item was a Montblanc fountain pen. She immediately became interested. Collecting various brand-name fountain pens was Song Ci's hobby, and she could bid for it and give it to him.

Eager to export, he quoted: "8!"

Before the host could even confirm, an urgent voice suddenly rang out: "10!"

Without a second thought, Liu Shishi blurted out, "12!"

"15!" The same voice followed immediately, bidding against the offer, showing no sign of stopping short of the final bid.

"18!" Liu Shishi quickly raised her paddle to bid, while slightly turning her body to meet the gaze of the person competing with her not far away through the gaps in the people at the table.

After recognizing who it was, a look of astonishment flashed in his eyes.

"20." After raising her paddle again, Liu Yifei raised her eyebrows slightly and smiled at Liu Shishi. Her smile contained both provocation and a hint of confidence.

The eldest sister's eyes sharpened, her inner struggle ignited instantly, and she was unwilling to back down.

Clutching the number plate tightly, he felt he had to get this Montblanc pen today, not only for Mr. Song's hobby, but also to prove himself.

(End of this chapter)