America's No. 1 financial conglomerate

Chapter 329 Wealth and Honors Not for Returning Home

In April, Los Angeles is filled with the sweltering heat of early summer, accompanied by the humid sea breeze blowing from the Pacific Ocean, which slowly sweeps through every street of the city.

The outline of the Hollywood Hills was slightly blurred in the heat, and the parasols on Santa Monica Beach looked like colorful mushrooms unfolding, but this languid atmosphere didn't reach the Bovard Auditorium at the University of Southern California at all.

The place was packed like a sardine can, except instead of seafood, it was filled with a group of college students in hoodies, their eyes brimming with excitement and restlessness.

In the corridor backstage of the auditorium, warm yellow light shone on the dark blue carpet, making the portraits of past principals hanging on the walls appear even softer.

Ernst was adjusting his tie in front of a full-length mirror. His movements were slow and deliberate, his fingers gently tugging at the end of the tie. Every movement exuded a calm and composed demeanor that had been honed over the years.

His navy blue suit was impeccably tailored, perfectly outlining his broad shoulders and narrow waist. A silver-gray mechanical watch peeked out from the cuff, its hands moving steadily across the dial.

The watch case has some minor wear on the edge; it was a gift from Garlins when he attended his graduation ceremony.

Who would have thought that this man, who now stands in front of the mirror exuding an elite aura, was once a troublesome teenager who gave teachers headaches and was avoided by his classmates?

This seemingly reckless young man has now transformed into a prominent leader among America's younger generation. He has not only founded several companies whose market value has skyrocketed, but he has also been invited by his alma mater, the University of Southern California, to give a speech to graduating students on entering the workforce, representing the university's distinguished alumni.

Ernst raised an eyebrow at himself in the mirror, a faint smile playing on his lips. There were still fifteen minutes left before he stepped onto the podium at his alma mater.

"You're quite handsome, but to be honest, your charm doesn't need these external things to enhance it anymore." A clear female voice came from behind, with a hint of playfulness.

Ernst turned around and saw Linda, the student council president, walking towards him.

Her hair was tied in a high ponytail with a purple ribbon tied to it. The ribbon swayed as she walked, making it almost blinding.

However, what truly captivates the eye, even more than the dazzling ribbon, is her stunning figure.

Her chest was surprisingly full, and even wearing a crisp white shirt couldn't hide her breasts, which were just as impressive as those of a ball flower.

Linda walked up to Ernst and naturally reached out to straighten his slightly crooked collar.

Her fingers were slender, and her movements were gentle; she looked exactly like a virtuous wife and loving mother seeing her husband off at the door.

Ernst looked at her, his eyes meeting hers, and his smile deepened.

He suddenly reached out and lightly patted Linda's shapely buttocks, his tone tinged with a hint of mockery, "Really? Then what makes it stand out? Did my performance last night completely conquer you?"

Linda's cheeks instantly flushed red, like a ripe apple.

If USC students saw their goddess looking like this, they'd probably be utterly shocked.

This woman, who was in charge of liaising with Ernst and was hailed as the campus goddess by USC students, was not only beautiful but also had top-notch academic performance. Moreover, she had never been in a relationship since starting university, making her a true academic goddess in everyone's eyes.

But who would have thought that this academic goddess would obediently let down her guard and engage in a deep conversation with him in the most primal and intimate way just by having Ernst beckon her with his finger?

"Stop fooling around, this is backstage. If someone sees us, we're in big trouble." Linda playfully pushed Ernst, her voice low and slightly flustered, but her eyes showed little resistance.

Ernst didn't care about any of that, and instead went even further, giving him a light pinch.

The blow wasn't very forceful, but it caused Linda to let out a soft gasp, and her cheeks flushed even more.

"Isn't this exactly the result you wanted?" Ernst leaned close to her ear, his voice low and knowing.

This is an ambitious and tactful woman who knows how to use her advantages and how to quickly rise to the top.

There is no woman in this world who will never sleep with a man. The difference is that a smart woman can use this bed to gain a stepping stone to advancement and rise to prominence.

Foolish women, in the end, all they get are a few banknotes and become playthings in the eyes of others.

Linda said it was her first time, and Ernst couldn't say for sure if it was true, but one thing he was sure of was that it felt really tight.

However, what he sensed more clearly than that was the woman's ambition.

At least in front of USC President Levins, the longing in Linda's eyes and the care she showed in every gesture went beyond the norm. Even a blind person could see that their relationship was not innocent.

This has already paid off her efforts, and Levins' attitude towards her will definitely change. Whether it's school activity resources or internship opportunities, she will be given priority.

Regardless of whether Ernst will give her a higher starting point than other students in the future, she will certainly receive adequate care during her time at USC.

Faced with Ernst's teasing, Linda didn't respond, but cleverly changed the subject: "The students can't wait! The news of your upcoming lecture at USC has been all over the place these past few days!"

"There are also many of your loyal fans who have specially made a lot of merchandise to support you. I just saw someone holding a huge poster with you on it."

Ernst's influence at USC is now, to put it bluntly, greater than that of President Levins.

The companies they founded have all achieved remarkable success, with Google experiencing rapid growth and its valuation soaring, poised to become the world's most valuable company.

He himself has been described by the media as the biggest threat to Bill Gates' position as the richest man in the world.

In terms of actual assets, Ernst has already surpassed Bill Gates to become the world's richest man on the surface. However, he has hidden too many shares and owns several companies that are not publicly listed, making his finances completely opaque.

The two chatted casually, and time flew by. Before they knew it, it was 10:30.

Just then, the host's enthusiastic voice suddenly rang out in the auditorium, "Next, let's give a warm round of applause to welcome our distinguished alumnus of USC, and a legendary figure in the American business world today, Ernst Garfield!"

As soon as the host finished speaking, applause erupted in the auditorium as if a switch had been flipped, the sound so loud it was deafening, accompanied by cheers that it almost lifted the roof off the auditorium.

Some students stood up excitedly, waving their support signs.

Some clapped enthusiastically, not caring that their palms turned red from clapping.

Several girls even screamed with excitement, the volume of which nearly deafened those nearby.

Ernst took a deep breath and slowly exhaled, suppressing the barely perceptible tension in his heart.

He reached out and pushed open the heavy wooden door leading to the auditorium.

As soon as the door opened, thousands of eyes instantly focused on him, their gazes filled with admiration, curiosity, anticipation, and a touch of excitement at the spectacle.

Ernst walked forward at a leisurely pace, like a seasoned star.

His steps were steady, and he wore a perfectly timed smile, occasionally waving to the students on either side.

When he walked to the front row and saw an elderly man sitting there, he deliberately slowed down and bowed his head to acknowledge him.

This is none other than USC President Levins, who has provided Ernst with considerable assistance over the years.

When the MGM board of directors experienced a rebellion and needed to stabilize, he accepted the invitation without hesitation to become a director of MGM, using his position to support the company.

Earlier, when media reports indicated that Ernst and Robert Iger had been forced to resign, the old man publicly denounced them, accusing Will Homan and others of being cancerous to MGM.

This is the president of USC, whose influence in Hollywood is considerable. His words have given Ernst a dominant position in public opinion.

So Ernst reciprocated by taking good care of USC students through his companies.

Whether it's internship opportunities or formal job openings, USC students are given priority consideration. Now, USC, like Stanford University, has become the school that recruits the most employees for its affiliated companies.

As he walked to the edge of the podium, his fingertips lightly traced the USC school emblem embroidered on his chest, as if reminiscing about the four years of university life that had been his companion.

He raised his head, looking at the densely packed students below the stage, his voice gentle yet powerful: "Four years ago, I was sitting in the same place you are in now. At that time, I never imagined that four years later I would be standing here, meeting you all as a speaker."

"When President Levins invited me to give a speech at USC, I agreed without hesitation. But the moment I hung up the phone, I regretted it. What could I, a notorious playboy from my school days, possibly talk about? Was I supposed to teach you high achievers how to pick up girls?"

A burst of laughter erupted from the audience, loud and clear, instantly shattering the previous serious atmosphere.

Many students seized the opportunity to stir up trouble. One boy stood up from the crowd, stood on tiptoe, and shouted at the top of his lungs, "We don't need to be taught how to pick up girls, but can you teach us how to get Hollywood actresses into bed?"

Ernst was amused by the scene. He pointed his finger and gently pointed in the direction of the boy who had shouted, his tone slightly teasing, "As a student of USC, if you can't spend a romantic night with a Hollywood actress by graduation, then I can only say that you've wasted your college years."

Hollywood actress?

For USC students, dealing with Hollywood actresses is really not a difficult thing.

Every year, hundreds of actresses and countless male professionals come from USC to Hollywood.

Whether on campus or after entering the entertainment industry, it's perfectly normal to flirt with female celebrities; the only difference is whether they are famous or not.

Ernst glanced at Levins, who was sitting in the first row, and noticed that the principal's expression was not very pleasant. He clearly did not want him to continue talking about such romantic topics.

He couldn't help but chuckle, then quickly changed the subject. "Well, I noticed Principal Levins doesn't look too happy. It seems he doesn't want me to talk to you about Hollywood today."

He pulled the microphone from the microphone stand on the podium, held it in his hand, and his tone became more serious. "In that case, let me share some of the experiences I gained through entrepreneurship. I hope these experiences will be helpful to you as you are about to enter the workforce."

As Ernst's tone became serious, the auditorium fell silent instantly.

The earlier commotion and laughter seemed to have never happened. Even the students who were just making a fuss sat up straight, their eyes fixed intently on the podium, afraid of missing a single word.

Meanwhile, many people in the first row below the stage showed expressions of interest.

Those sitting there were all powerful figures at USC, as well as many outstanding alumni who had returned from all over the country.

They made a special trip back to school because they heard that Ernst would be returning to give a speech.

After all, Ernst is known as America's fastest-rising super tycoon and a representative of wealth myth. Everyone wants to hear what kind of inspiration this young man who has achieved so much can bring them.

>