The Secret Realm of Time, His and Her Life Through the Changes

The charity gala two days later was a star-studded affair, attracting a large number of celebrities and was arguably the largest and most influential event held by the Dongmao platform since its inception.

To create a lively opening atmosphere, the organizers specially arranged a red carpet event.

This Dongmao Midsummer Charity Gala was sponsored by Rushang Group and was held in the Jinyi Ballroom of Yishang International Hotel.

As a rising star in the entertainment industry, Shang Yibo's appearance naturally attracted everyone's attention. He wore a sharp suit, exuding elegance and composure, with a firm and confident stride. His shaved head was particularly eye-catching, prompting many to discuss: "The young man is quite handsome, but whose son is he? Why is he shaved his head? This is too rebellious. Don't his family teach him anything?"

"You don't know this, do you? That's the big star Shang Yibo, the eldest son of the Chu family of Rushang Group."

"That's the illegitimate child who made the news a while ago."

"Shh, keep your voice down, it won't be good if someone hears us. I heard the Chu family treats this child like their own."

"The family seems to have a good relationship."

Fang Xichen walked in the middle, one arm linked with Chu Fanqing, the other with Shang Yibo, the family of three appearing together. Their harmonious and warm presence not only attracted the attention of many guests but also successfully deflected negative public opinion. Reporters from various media outlets, having already learned of the situation, were waiting outside the venue, eager to capture this heartwarming moment. The appearance of Shang Yibo and his family immediately triggered a frenzy of camera flashes.

As several leading companies from major traditional industries decided to join the JD.com e-commerce platform, the organizers specially invited heavyweight companies such as Rushang Group and Hongliang Group to participate in the event. The venue, originally confirmed months ago, had to be adjusted in size and scale due to changes in the guest list.

When the venue was changed at the last minute, the organizer was in a difficult situation. Ru Shang Group took the initiative to offer to use the Jin Yi Banquet Hall of Yi Shang International Hotel and made it clear that they were willing to provide sponsorship.

As the assistant to the chairman of Rushang Group, Zhou Yanruo naturally took on the task of preparing for this charity gala.

After receiving notification that the event venue had been suddenly changed to the Jin Yi Banquet Hall of the Yi Shang Hotel, Zhou Yanruo, despite having only two days left before the banquet, still coordinated resources from various departments to ensure the smooth running of the banquet, thanks to her consistent professionalism and meticulous work attitude.

Unlike typical entertainment industry galas, the celebrities invited to this event were primarily there to enhance the atmosphere of the banquet, rather than as the main figures. Therefore, their agents and assistants were not granted entry.

Zhou Yanruo's role at the event was quite special; she was not only the person in charge of the event's sponsors but also Shang Yibo's agent.

Her attire tonight was understated yet dignified: a taro-colored lace dress that fell just to her knees, and 7-inch heels that elongated her already slender legs, making it easier for her to walk while working. Her shoulder-length straight hair was styled into natural waves, cascading over her shoulders and adding to her elegance.

After the successful conclusion of the red carpet ceremony for the guests, the banquet did not begin immediately. Instead, a relaxed and enjoyable social environment was carefully created for all the guests.

At this moment, Zhou Yanruo walked over gracefully and whispered to Chairman Chu Fanqing and Mrs. Fang Xichen, "Chairman Chu, President Fang, please rest in the lounge for a while. Chairman Hong has arrived and made all the arrangements."

Chu Fanqing turned to Fang Xichen and said, "I'm going to say hello to Chairman Hong. Do you want to come with me?" Fang Xichen gently withdrew her hand from Chu Fanqing's arm and replied calmly, "You have things to discuss, so I won't go."

Chu Fanqing nodded, then turned and walked towards the VIP lounge.

Shang Yibo said to his mother, Fang Xichen, "Mom, I'm going to wander around by myself."

Fang Xichen smiled and nodded: "Go ahead, I also need to say hello to the ladies."

Shang Yibo walked through the small groups of people chatting and headed straight for the side door leading to the kitchen. When he turned his head, he noticed Zhou Yanruo following him and asked in surprise, "Aren't you supposed to be busy? Why are you following me?"

Zhou Yanruo smiled slightly and said softly, "You want to find a quiet place to stay, right?"

She could see right through Shang Yibo's thoughts and raised her eyebrows smugly. "Come with me. I've arranged a lounge behind the dressing room."

"I'm afraid my bald look might scare the guests," Shang Yibo joked with a smile.

"I told you to wear a hat yesterday, but you wouldn't listen. Now you know you regret it, don't you?" Zhou Yanruo glanced at Shang Yibo and lightly scoffed.

"What's wrong?" Shang Yibo asked.

"Why did you change your shirt and bow tie? Isn't this the one Qingnan had the brand send over yesterday?" Zhou Yanruo said suspiciously.

“Hmm, I think this one suits me better,” Shang Yibo explained.

The original outfit provided by Celine was a black shawl collar suit with a white shirt and a dark blue bow tie. It was a winter runway piece, just from the brand's winter presentation.

Now, Shang Yibo is still wearing the same suit, but he has changed his inner shirt to a taro purple one, paired with a dark purple bow tie.

“The brand might object to your styling changes,” Zhou Yanruo warned. “I’ll have Ding Jiajia bring over your original shirt, so you can change into it quickly. There aren’t many photos from the red carpet, but you’ll be on stage with Chairman Chu during the auction later. We should use that one photo for all the press releases; that should be enough to appease the brand.”

“I won’t change it. I think this color suits me best.” Shang Yibo stopped and stood next to Zhou Yanruo. He glanced at her taro-colored dress and then tugged at his shirt sleeve.

"Shang Yibo, it's been a long time."

Hong Yun walked slowly, dressed in a gorgeous champagne-colored gown, the hem swaying gently as if she were twirling on a dance floor. The gown's color was elegant and noble, but it didn't suit her at all. Her short, choppy hair looked like it had been haphazardly styled with hairspray, resembling a spiky mess. A few slightly longer strands of hair on her forehead were dyed green and styled into lightning bolt shapes with hairspray, making her look like a Saiyan. This made her stand out conspicuously in the crowd.

As the daughter of the Hongliang Group, she possessed basic manners and upbringing. Her face habitually wore a polite smile, but her eyes were sharp, revealing a complex emotion that was difficult to detect beneath her harshness.

When Shang Yibo saw Hong Yun, he was taken aback at first, then greeted her with a slightly nervous expression. In his memory, Hong Yun's appearance was always accompanied by some unpleasant memories; she seemed to be a troublemaker, always causing chaos around her whenever she appeared.

Despite feeling somewhat uncomfortable, Shang Yibo tried his best to remain calm, remembering Fang Xichen's instructions, and spoke politely with Hong Yun. Hong Yun also seemed to be intentionally or unintentionally maintaining a superficial harmony; although their conversation was a little stiff, they at least maintained a polite distance on the surface.

"Yibo, your friend is here. You two chat. I'm going to go check over there." Zhou Yanruo said, making an excuse to leave when she saw that Shang Yibo had met his friend.