ADTCP Ch31part2

Qi Qi chuckled, scratching his head a bit embarrassed: “This is my girlfriend, Sihan. Because of my account’s rebranding, I haven’t made it public… By the way, isn’t there a ball tonight? So I brought her along.”

“Ball?” Tao Zhen was bewildered. “Last time I saw, companions were optional. Can you bring them too?”

“Ah, that was a few days ago. Didn’t you check the group chat’s latest announcement?” Qi Qi pulled out his phone to show him. “A big boss suddenly dropped in. He’s personally coming tonight. To show respect, the organizers added this new segment.”

“Big boss?”

“Yep,” Qi Qi explained kindly, “Gen-Z is owned by the Si family. The Si family is a well-known wealthy family in Nancheng. Their daughter once married into another rich family, the Zhu family, and gave birth to a son, who is the heir of both the Zhu and Si families. This heir has always kept a low profile, almost never appearing publicly, but now he chose to step into Gen-Z to learn about the company. Everyone thinks this signals a change of power, so plenty of people are eager to curry favor with him.”

“Oh, he also has a nickname. Don’t know if you’ve heard it, many people call him ‘Crown Prince.’”

Crown Prince…

Tao Zhen, who had been listening intently, suddenly smacked his forehead. He remembered, he really had heard of him!

After the International Department’s orientation party, wasn’t it the “Crown Prince” who had sent someone to deal with Wu Bin and his gang?!

Later, Tao Zhen learned how miserable Wu Bin’s family became. First their factory and company were exposed for tax evasion and substandard production. Then their capital chain broke, and they couldn’t even afford the International Department’s expensive tuition, let alone withstand public criticism. They had no choice but to take leave from school, one by one.

At the time, Tao Zhen had felt relieved, but also vaguely respectful of the mysterious “Crown Prince.”

Though Wu Bin’s family deserved their downfall, the incident showed how ruthless the Crown Prince could be.

Best not to provoke such a person.

“I know, I’ve heard of him too.” Tao Zhen pursed his lips, nodding. “Thanks, Brother Qi Qi. You and Sister Sihan go ahead. I’ll check if my friend is free to come with me, then join you inside.”

Qi Qi and Sihan smiled and agreed, heading into the banquet hall.

Tao Zhen took out his phone and quickly sent Zhu Wensheng a message.

【Zhen Zhibang: Zhu Wensheng, what are you doing? [cat peeking.jpg]】

With a “ding,” a phone buzzed in someone’s pocket.

But Zhu Wensheng couldn’t check it just yet. Rubbing his brow, he glanced calmly at the portly middle-aged man before him, who was talking endlessly.

He had come to the Gen-Z exhibition after all. If he wanted to continue down the path of fighting, he couldn’t afford to oppose the Si family elders now. And he couldn’t drag down Li Min because of his own matters.

Still, once he stepped inside and was surrounded by the Si family’s senior executives, all exuding the air of seasoned officials, he felt a wave of suffocating pressure.

Seizing a lull in their chatter, Zhu Wensheng lit up his phone.

Strangely, once he saw the sender, all that stifling heaviness instantly eased.

【S: I’m working part-time. What about you?】

In the banquet hall entrance, Tao Zhen held his breath as he waited, until finally, Zhu Wensheng’s reply came.

He quickly opened it, read it through, and frowned.

【Why suddenly doing part-time? If you’re short of money, just tell me, I’ll give it to you.】

【Zhen Zhibang: I’m outside, attending an event today.】

Event?

Zhu Wensheng paused. Just as he was about to ask for details, the senior executives all turned toward him: “Young Master Zhu, shall we head to the exhibition hall?”

He only gave a faint “mm” in reply, lifted his foot, and at the same time quickly sent Tao Zhen a message.

【S: I really do have money. This time was an accident.】

【S: I already promised someone else, so I can’t leave.】

Alright, Zhu Wensheng was indeed very busy, just as Tao Zhen had expected.

After reminding him to be careful while working part-time, Tao Zhen turned off his phone and didn’t bring up the matter of a dance partner again. Anyway, he couldn’t dance, so he might as well just hide during that segment.

Tao Zhen went straight into the exhibition hall to look for Qi Qi.

This exhibition was organized according to categories on the platform, food, beauty, music, dance… every type imaginable. It was practically like a massive offline meet-and-greet for influencers, with countless million-follower creators gathering to mingle.

At first Tao Zhen was both curious and nervous, but soon his naturally outgoing side kicked in and he adapted quickly.

Before long, he had already added a large batch of new WeChat contacts. Some he had asked for from influencers he liked, but most of them were from other creators who eagerly wanted to add him.

Not only that, Qi Qi even introduced him to someone responsible for contracts between Gen Z and influencers. That person had already heard of Tao Zhen, and now that she got to see him in person, she was so stunned that she covered her mouth in amazement, her eyes sparkling:

“Oh my god, you’re Zhenzhibang, right? You’re even more beautiful than in your videos!”

Tao Zhen couldn’t help scratching his cheek, flashing a little tiger tooth as he laughed, then chatted with her carefully about all kinds of details regarding signing on.

The golden-haired boy leaned casually against the edge of a table, holding his dark gray checkered suit jacket in his hand. The fitted vest hugged his slim waist, perfectly outlining his elegant, fluid lines.

Every movement drew attention. He looked like a little prince born with natural nobility.

…In a far corner, a man was staring at him intently, the veins bulging on the hand gripping his champagne glass. His expression had grown darker, the muscles around his mouth tightening and ruining what would otherwise have been a refined, scholarly face.

“Li Jie-ge, what are you looking at?” His female companion returned from the restroom, flicked the water from her fingers, and curiously followed his gaze. “Eh, isn’t that Tao Zhen?”

Li Jie’s head whipped around, his eyes locking on her. “You know him?”

Startled by his overreaction, the girl froze for a second before replying hesitantly, “I-I guess so. He’s a new member of our school’s music club. I met him once before at a group dinner.”

“He’s gotten really popular lately! That test-run video he made for the club got over a million likes, and everything he’s posted since has gone viral too. No wonder he’s here, it looks like he’s going to sign with Gen Z…”

Her words trailed off as she suddenly felt a piercing gaze strike her like a tangible force, making her purse her lips reflexively.

Crap, how could she have forgotten?

Li Jie was the head of the university arts troupe. Before Tao Zhen joined the music club, he had been their most popular influencer, with seventy to eighty thousand followers.

He had always wanted to sign with an MCN company and rise to the top, but he had been rejected repeatedly due to appearance and “hardware” issues. Finally, by leveraging his position as president of the arts troupe, he managed to secure an invitation to Gen Z’s event. But after wandering around for ages, he still hadn’t succeeded in connecting with any influencers or managers.

He was already bitter enough, now, running into Tao Zhen’s flourishing success…

“Li Jie-ge,” the girl laughed awkwardly, “why don’t we just… go somewhere else for a bit?”

Li Jie dragged his gaze back from her, then silently raised his eyes again, locking firmly onto Tao Zhen.

“No,” he ground out through clenched teeth. “He… he knows so many people? Even DoctorSeven? I have to go say hello.”

The girl stiffened, an ominous premonition flashing through her heart.
Before she could stop him, she saw Li Jie pick up his wine glass and stride straight toward Tao Zhen.

At that moment, the golden-haired boy had just finished chatting with the manager. Smiling, eyes curved like crescents, he turned around, only to see a man standing behind him.

He thought it was just another influencer like before, coming over to ask for his WeChat, so he didn’t think much of it. Pulling out his phone, he smiled brightly:
“Hello! You can just call me Tao Zhen!”

“…Hello, Tao Zhen.”

Li Jie forced out a smile, his sidelong glance landing pointedly on the suit draped over Tao Zhen’s arm. “You’re from Nancheng University’s music club, right? I’m the president of the arts troupe.”

Tao Zhen froze, his tone tinged with pleasant surprise. “Really? Hello, President!”

“What a coincidence, I didn’t expect to run into a fellow student here. Are you also planning to sign with Gen Z? Maybe we can check it out together…”

Before his words finished, a commotion suddenly broke out in the distance.
Tao Zhen instinctively turned his head. He saw the grand doors of the banquet hall open to the side. Next to him, Qi Qi lowered his voice:

“That’s the ‘Crown Prince’!”

The middle-aged executives who normally stood at the center of attention were now dressed in suits, forming a circle to open a path for a young man with black hair.

Even from far away, it was obvious, the young man’s figure was exceptional: broad shoulders, narrow waist, long legs. His very presence effortlessly reduced the leaders beside him to greasy, balding nobodies.

Several of the younger influencers couldn’t help it; a few even let out quick, excited squeals.

But Tao Zhen didn’t hear the whispers around him at all. His mind buzzed as he stared blankly in that direction for several seconds, unable to stop himself from stepping forward.

…Was it his imagination?

Why did he feel like that figure looked so much like Zhu Wensheng?