Chapter 1260 - Birthday Party Starts
Although René Alejandro had expressed that he didn"t want to turn his birthday party into a big media spectacle complete with a red-carpet event, he still didn"t stop Wei Lan from inviting various influential members of the media. For example, she invited some authoritative editors and journalists of renowned magazines, newspapers and other media outlets.
These people were attending as guests tonight and not officially doing their jobs but n.o.body among them was stupid. All of them understood that their invitations came with the expectation that they would have to write something about the event and feature it.
With all the socializing and charitable activities that Wei Lan had been doing as a new Spanish vizcondesa ever since her return to the country, it was obvious to members of high society and the media how much she wanted fame.
Many still looked down on her clout-chasing behaviour but only very few openly showed their derision at her anymore. After all, even if someone didn"t care about her foreign husband"s real aristocratic t.i.tle, Wei Lan was still now the true mother-in-law of CEO Jin Liwei.
Her daughter, Iris Long, might be difficult to become close with because of her extremely high-level security detail after becoming the Young Madam Jin, but Wei Lan was a different story. Wei Lan loved being in every high society functions and interacting with powerful, wealthy people. The vizcondesa was so much easier to find and befriend than her daughter, Iris Long.
On paper, tonight"s event was the birthday of Wei Lan"s Spanish step-son and fundraising auction for the Iris of Hope foundation, but the smart ones understood that it was just another way for Wei Lan to increase her visibility and charitable reputation.
There might not be an actual red-carpet event but everyone knew that tonight"s function would be highly-publicized after seeing the influential editors and journalists among the guests.
Wei Lan was, of course, thrilled at the prospect of becoming more famous as a kind-hearted step-mom to her step-son, and of course, as a generous and hard-working amba.s.sador for her daughter"s charitable foundation.
As for René Alejandro, his only thought was of doing his part in accomplis.h.i.+ng his mission for the organization. He needed to succeed in integrating into the domestic high society and forging favourable connections with the high echelons of this country. Tonight"s event was definitely an integral step in his mission. He couldn"t f.u.c.k it up no matter what.
Wei Lan and René Alejandro along with Randy continued greeting the guests and directing the staff to receive the donated items for the charitable auction. [Read official chapters on W e b n o v e l (dot) com. Please stop supporting piracy. Also follow author on Instagram: @arriacross]
Some of the guests were already previously acquainted with René Alejandro after Wei Lan kept on bringing him along to various social events.
"Yo, René!" Yu Mo greeted the Spaniard. "Happy Birthday, dude!"
"Mo, my brother! I am so happy that you can come tonight." René Alejandro beamed, both his dimples on full display and causing several ladies on sight to almost swoon.
Yu Mo handed him a present while handing a staff member an item he would be donating for the auction.
"Ah, thank you," René Alejandro said. "But there is no need to give me a present, no? You coming is already enough for me, my friend. And thank you for your donation. Your charitable spirit will surely help many less fortunate ones."
The new friends chatted for a little bit before the flirty Randy personally led Yu Mo inside.
"It"s gooooood that Yu Mo came," Wei Lan said in a low voice. "We invited dear Liwei"s other broooooooooothers but none of them are comiiiiiiing except for Yu Mo! I"m soooooo upset for you, my dear!"
Just as she finished speaking, three packages arrived. They were sent by Lin Yehan, w.a.n.g Yingjie and Jin Chonglin respectively. There were also letters included stating their apologies for being unable to come tonight. The packages contained their chosen items to be donated for the auction.
"Ah, as expected of dear Liwei"s brooooooooothers! They"re soooooooo generous! René, my dear, you have to thaaaaaaank them later for their generosity! Ooooooh, we"re going to raise sooooo much money for Iris of Hooooooope! Ah, the pooooor people will be sooooooooo happy!"
It was as if Wei Lan wasn"t secretly complaining to René Alejandro about Jin Liwei"s brothers just now before she was praising them for everyone to hear. René Alejandro didn"t call her out and just continued charming the guests with his dimpled smile.
Although he was smiling on the outside, he was thinking of other ways to make full use of Yu Mo. The Systema instructor was the only one among Jin Liwei"s brothers who genuinely befriended him.
Lin Yehan was too suspicious of outsiders and protective of his loved ones despite his outward gentleness. w.a.n.g Yingjie was too sharp and observant. René Alejandro"s intuition told him that the surgeon wasn"t an easy target to deceive. Jin Chonglin was also like Yu Mo, easier to befriend than the others, but the man was a superstar. It wasn"t easy to make appointment with the busy celebrity to hang out.
As for Lu Zihao, René Alejandro didn"t want to waste his time befriending the man. They were hostile towards each other, no doubt about it.
Although René Alejandro"s instincts were blaring and driving him to compete with the man, he didn"t want to be open enemies with Lu Zihao because it would destroy his mission. Lu Zihao was an important person to his main targets, namely Jin Liwei and Lu Jianhong. He needed to leave a good impression on the two and avoid shooting his own foot by being enemies with Lu Zihao.
Back at the party, the pair that everyone was waiting for finally arrived.
When Jin Liwei"s figure stepped out of a luxury vehicle, it seemed as if all the other guests stopped what they were doing to stare at him. They watched him as he turned around and extended a hand inside vehicle before a silk-gloved hand held him followed by the figure of a beautiful and elegant young woman.
Iris Long was wearing a large, puffy but cla.s.sically stylish long wrap around her long dress. Jin Liwei quickly escorted her to the mansion to avoid the cold.
There were other guests who were lining up before them but all of them gave the couple a wide berth to let them in first.
Jin Liwei wasn"t polite at all and accepted their intentions. He didn"t want his pregnant wife to be exposed to the cold outside for too long. Iris gave the other guests polite smiles of thanks.
"Xiuuuulaaaaaaaan and Liwei my deaaaaaar~" Wei Lan greeted them with great enthusiasm. Her voice was loud enough for even guests already inside to hear. "You"re finally heeeeere!"
As one of René Alejandro"s main targets, he wouldn"t waste this precious opportunity to talk to Jin Liwei. He called a staff to greet the rest of the guests while he and Wei Lan personally escorted the husband and wife inside.
While René Alejandro was chatting with Jin Liwei, Wei Lan pulled her daughter aside to judge Iris" outfit.
"My gosh, Xiulaaaaaan! What are those biiiiiiig flower things in your front? They"re hiiideeeeouuus! You should"ve caaaaalled Mother and I could"ve helped you choooooooose a better designer to make a couture dress for yoooooouuuuu!"