Entertainment mogul: Starting his business with the internet

Chapter 438 Humiliation
As the wedding ceremony was about to begin, Li Jiacheng, who had not originally planned to stay long, changed his mind and was invited to sit at the main table next to Li Zhaoji.

When the two met, they inevitably had a long chat.

Over the course of decades, the two have been both rivals and friends, once joining forces to fight against British capital and also clashing over land in Central.

At this age, every day is a bonus, and past grudges have long since faded away.

When the auspicious hour arrived, wedding emcee Zeng Zhiwei took the stage, officially kicking off this "wedding of the century."

After some opening remarks, a celebrity performed a song to warm up the atmosphere, which gradually became more lively.

At 8 p.m., Guo Jingjing, wearing a light blue strapless dress, walked hand in hand with Huo Qigang into the venue amidst applause from more than 1800 guests.

The weddings of the most prestigious and wealthy families are characterized by rigorous and complex procedures.

From the meaningful names of the dishes to the exquisite glass gifts, every step is ingenious and shows great attention to detail.

On stage, Huo Zhengting delivered a speech on behalf of the family, and his statement, "Guo Jingjing's marriage is a blessing for the Huo family," sparked much discussion among the audience.

Li Zhaoji turned slightly to Li Jiacheng and sighed, "The Huo family has really gone to great lengths to get closer to that side."

Li Jiacheng adjusted his black-rimmed glasses and replied softly, "After Brother Huo's passing, the Huo family's political influence has diminished considerably. Political resources are the foundation of the Huo family's existence, so naturally we cannot give them up."

Marrying this "Diving Queen" would not only enhance the Huo family's public image but also significantly increase the political capital available to his eldest son for a political career.

Both business tycoons are shrewd individuals, and they immediately grasped the core of this marriage between a Hong Kong tycoon and a mainland sports star.

Liu Shishi gazed at the stage, occasionally bowing her head in deep thought. As the eldest daughter-in-law of the Song family and the wife of the wealthiest man, she bore a mission and responsibility, and was constantly growing.

She pondered the future of her family. However, the situation in Hong Kong was complex, and she couldn't discern the truth from the fog. She had no choice but to suppress her doubts for the time being and plan to consult her husband after the banquet.

At the wedding venue, crystal chandeliers cast starlight-like rays, and the air was filled with the aroma of delicious food and the rich fragrance of various expensive perfumes, creating an atmosphere of extravagance.

Amidst the elegant attire and dazzling jewelry, Hong Kong's social elites conversed in hushed tones, maximizing the extravagance of this high-society banquet.

Xu Ziqi, dressed in an expensive dark blue silk haute couture gown, held a glass of champagne with a blank expression. Her gaze occasionally drifted through the crowd to her father-in-law, Li Zhaoji, as she remained vigilant in case anything happened that required her intervention.

. . .

The next second, a full glass of thick, top-quality red wine was poured out with perfect precision, splashing hard onto Xu Ziqi's unsuspecting silk chest.

The expensive silk was instantly soaked through with the scarlet liquid. The deep red stain seeped and flowed through the clean garment, a shocking sight.

The sudden turn of events abruptly stopped the whispers between the students at the same desk, and the surroundings fell silent instantly.

"Ah!" Xu Ziqi screamed in disbelief.

Countless gazes suddenly focused on her, their shock, astonishment, curiosity, and barely concealed schadenfreude all landing on the mess on her chest, revealing her utterly wretched state.

Xu Ziqi's mind went blank, he froze on the spot, his face instantly drained of color, then quickly flushed red with extreme shame and anger.

The immense inertia even caused her to stagger and nearly fall, making her look even more disheveled.

He Lian nimbly stood up, unharmed, and looked completely innocent: "Sister Xu, I've already apologized to you, how could you hit me? It's just a dress, I'll compensate you."

Xu Ziqi's face was ashen, and he could almost imagine that his current disheveled appearance would become the most talked-about topic and laughing stock in Hong Kong's high society tomorrow.

The gazes cast by the surrounding celebrities, a mixture of astonishment, disdain, and schadenfreude, were like countless cold mirrors, magnifying her humiliation infinitely.

But she knew that the other party had done this on purpose, and she could only swallow this bitter pill.

His clenched fists and slightly trembling body revealed the overwhelming rage and profound humiliation that almost consumed his love for her.

He Lian waved to the waiter beside her and called out loudly, "Bring me a blanket."

Li Jiacheng was furious that his wife had been publicly humiliated, but he couldn't vent his anger because of the presence of others. He even felt a strange sense of annoyance, thinking that Xu Zi was really making a fool of himself.

A waiter quickly brought a blanket and wrapped it around Xu Ziqi's shoulders.

Li Jiacheng coldly ordered, "Go downstairs and change your clothes right away. It's too undignified."

Xu Ziqi bit his lip tightly, remained silent, and hurriedly left with the waiter with his head down.

After his wife left, Li Jiacheng's gaze suddenly sharpened, and he demanded in a stern voice, "You clearly did that on purpose just now, why did you do it?"

Li Zhaoji was taken aback by what he heard, not understanding why Liu Shishi would say such a thing.

Seeing his bewildered expression, Mr. Dong, the former superior officer standing nearby, sighed softly and leaned closer to whisper the story of the entanglement that had occurred when he left the table.

Li Zhaoji suddenly realized what had happened and, after understanding the whole story, couldn't help but curse, "Ignorant and stupid woman!"

While it was certainly Xu Ziqi's fault, given his age and status, he simply couldn't bring himself to apologize to Liu Shishi.

"Indeed, when wealthy families choose a wife, virtue and character are of utmost importance." Li Jiacheng sighed from the side, his resolve growing stronger. He was determined not to let that Miss Liang enter the family, or the Changhe Li family would never have peace.

As night fell, the Huo family's grand wedding finally came to an end.

In the Li family's bedroom, a sharp "smack!" broke the silence as Li Jiacheng slapped Xu Ziqi hard across the face.

Xu Ziqi was completely stunned by the blow and it took her a long time to come to her senses. She immediately pounced on her husband and started fighting with him, acting like a madwoman.

He roared and cursed, "Li Jiacheng! Are you even a man? How dare you hit your wife!"

Li Jiacheng's expression was cold as he shoved her away, his tone icy: "This slap is to teach you a lesson! You caused me to get a severe scolding from Father!"

Tears streamed down her face uncontrollably as Xu Ziqi hysterically accused him: "Since I married you, have I ever had a moment of freedom?"

Want to grab a bite at a roadside stall? You need to apply three hours in advance. Even evening gatherings require layers of approval. Even private social interactions have been almost completely stripped away.

Even so, I accept it. My eldest brother had three sons in one go, and in order to help you consolidate your position in the family, I got pregnant before my body was fully recovered.

I've done so much for you, and this is how you treat me? You're keeping a flight attendant as a mistress and have been photographed by paparazzi multiple times having secret meetings with young models.

I still need to maintain my "magnanimous wife" persona and publicly declare my belief in you. Search your conscience; have you done right by me?

Li Jiacheng was hit where it hurt and became furious: "It was just a charade, what's there to be so fussy about? Besides, I forced you to have the child."
"Aren't you just doing this for the money, to please Dad? If you don't want to have any more children, you can stop now. Don't complain to me."

These heartless words were like a lock, instantly strangling Xu Ziqi's lifeline. His face ashen, he collapsed onto the bed, his "two sons and two daughters" birth target still unfulfilled.

If one were to give up having the child at this point, all the previous forbearance and sacrifices would be in vain.

"Whether you have the child or not is up to you!" Li Jiacheng sneered. "There are plenty of women out there who want to have my child. I'll sleep in the study tonight."

Tears streamed down Xu Ziqi's face as he stared at the ceiling, his heart filled with desolation.

Her cage was studded with diamonds, but it was still just a cage. The so-called glamorous "billion-dollar daughter-in-law" was nothing more than a few limited privileges within this magnificent cage.

At the same time, inside the Four Seasons Hotel.

After washing up, Liu Shishi leaned lazily against the headboard and was having a WeChat video call with Song Ci.

"A Hong Kong lavish wedding, it seems like nothing special. But the Huo family's attitude towards Guo Jingjing surprised me quite a bit; they seem to value her very much."

"It's natural."

Liu Shishi smiled and teased, "Song Yiyi's little class is about to begin! Come on, I'm all ears!"

“In essence, it’s the Huo family that wants to transform their business.” Song Ci smiled and explained, “Most of Hong Kong’s wealthy families started out in real estate, and in the early days of reform and opening up, they did contribute significantly to the economic development of the mainland.”

But more than 30 years have passed, and the country has become increasingly powerful. The role and influence of these real estate developers are no longer what they used to be.

Guo Jingjing's "championship halo" can greatly enhance the Huo family's image and social reputation, which is undoubtedly a powerful boost to Huo Qigang's political career. Ultimately, the Huo family wants to transform from "wealth" to "nobility."

Liu Shishi seemed to be deep in thought, and some of her previous vague confusion suddenly cleared up. She asked softly, "Yiyi, what about our family? What is our status? How do we compare to the wealthy families in Hong Kong?"

Song Ci's voice remained gentle, yet carried immense weight: "I am on the path of internet technology and cutting-edge manufacturing, which is incomparable to Hong Kong real estate developers!"

This path can reshape the global industrial landscape and is a broad road for great power competition.

Today, our nation is gradually transforming into a global rule-maker; there is no room for neutrality on this path, and the journey is long and arduous.

In the video, Liu Shishi's eyes were like water, reflecting the figure on the other side of the screen, and her tone was firm: "I understand! The road to becoming a technology leader may be full of difficulties, but I will always be with you."

(End of this chapter)