novelraw Chapter 748: Ms. Sloane
Chapter 748: Ms. Sloane
Eastern Time, 15:00.
The black Lincoln Navigator glided smoothly through the congested streets, isolating the hustle and bustle of Manhattan outside.
"Okay, I've already told Ziming. We'll meet at the main entrance."
Shen Yuyan put down her phone, leaning back slightly, using the opportunity to adjust her posture to subtly showcase her meticulously wrapped, graceful figure.
To match the dress code for the cocktail party, she had deliberately chosen a form-fitting dress.
The deep V-neck perfectly revealed her collarbones and snowy, smooth skin. At the slit of the skirt, her slender legs, clad in stockings, were faintly visible, hinting at a sophisticated sensuality that was utterly captivating.
Tang Song let out a soft "Hmm," his hands crossed lightly in front of him, his gaze lowered as if deep in thought.
Shen Yuyan couldn't help but let her eyes drift to his profile again, a faint blush warming her cheeks.
This wasn't her first time seeing Tang Song in formal attire, but today's ensemble was especially outstanding.
A three-piece suit in a deep-sea indigo blue, its texture was exceptional.His cool, pale skin seemed even more warm and jade-like against this deep-toned backdrop, yet it exuded an icy aloofness that kept people at a distance.
Especially the obsidian tie pin at his collar, shimmering with a faint light as it caught the illumination, adding an aura of ascetic restraint to him.
Shen Yuyan's legs instinctively pressed together, rubbing lightly against each other.
Her heart pounded like a startled deer.
That potent mix of infatuation, affection, and an instinctive desire to submit to and yearn for a powerful figure surged wildly through her veins.
She loved this feeling too much, and savored every second alone with him.
"By the way, Tang Song, I heard the predecessor of this Frick Collection was..."
Shen Yuyan began recounting the anecdotes about this mansion she had prepared in advance.
However, to her slight frustration, Tang Song's responses were somewhat perfunctory, as if his mind was elsewhere.
In truth, from the moment they met half an hour ago, she had keenly sensed something off about him.
How to describe that feeling? It was like the calm before a storm.
"Did you run into something?" Shen Yuyan ventured to ask. "You seem a bit down today."
Tang Song turned his head slightly, looking at her concerned expression. "I did run into a little something."
"What is it? Is there anything I can do to help?"
Tang Song looked out the window at the increasingly distinct outline of the building approaching, his tone meaningful.
"I'm thinking about what manner I should adopt to attend this cocktail party later."
"Manner?" Shen Yuyan was taken aback for a moment, then chuckled lightly. "If you're worried Ziming might feel awkward knowing your true identity, we can keep it under wraps for now. Anyway, he has many colleagues with him right now, it's crowded and eyes are everywhere, no need to make it too grand. We can chat with him slowly later when it's just the three of us in private."
She was particularly eager to create a warm, nostalgic picture of a reunion between old classmates, and in the process, provide Tang Song with unique emotional value.
She had prepared thoroughly.
Seeing the campus belle's look of "I'm so considerate," Tang Song couldn't help but let out a light laugh, his taut nerves relaxing slightly.
"Hmm, that's a good suggestion."
He didn't explain further.
If it were yesterday, he truly would have been in the mindset of attending a small alumni gathering.
Thinking of drinking and reminiscing with his former roommate and the campus belle in a foreign land.
But with Secretary Jin's arrival, everything had changed.
Even with his current mindset and composure, he still felt an indescribable excitement and trepidation.
This didn't mean he was nervous;
it was just that it had been so long.
Those memories of their interactions from 2016 to 2020.
Though vivid in every detail, he had been in a "dream state" back then. All their exchanges were rational, lacking genuine emotional warmth.
Moreover, compared to Su Yu, Ouyang, Wu Kezhi, and others, Secretary Jin had truly and genuinely accompanied him for so many years.
They had created everything together.
She was a "2D wife" in the truest sense, stepping out of the game into reality.
He was apprehensive about how she viewed the current him.
He was even more conflicted about how to embrace her in a real way.
Just then, Liu Jiayi's clear and calm voice came from the front passenger seat. "President Tang, Assistant Shen, we've arrived at The Frick Collection."
The vehicle gradually decelerated, coming to a steady stop in front of the grand Neoclassical-style building.
Outside the window, luxury cars were gathered in abundance.
As there was no internal parking, valets were busy shuttling back and forth at the entrance, guiding well-dressed guests toward the black wrought-iron gate.
Tang Song raised his wrist, glancing at the Patek Philippe.
15:05.
"Let's get out."
He adjusted his cuffs and pushed the door open, stepping out.
Shen Yuyan followed closely behind.
Navigating through the crowd, Tang Song's gaze soon settled on a figure standing at the base of the steps.
Lu Ziming, dressed in a sharply pressed suit, was looking around in the chilly wind.
Despite his well-considered attire, compared to the composed Wall Street elites around him, he unconsciously exuded a sense of awkwardness and marginalization.
Soon, their eyes met.
Lu Ziming was momentarily stunned, then quickly strode over, his voice rising several pitches. "Old Song?! Yuyan!"
"Ziming." "Ziming, long time no see."
"Holy crap! Old Song!"
As Lu Ziming got closer, he looked Tang Song up and down, couldn't help but reach out and give his arm a hearty pat, his eyes filled with shock and unconcealed envy.
"This outfit of yours! This aura! I thought you were some chaebol's young master here to inspect work! This is way too slick!"
Tang Song chuckled lightly, patting his shoulder in return, his tone familiar and relaxed. "It's just alright, mainly just a bit more handsome than you."
"Get outta here! Getting full of yourself, huh?" Lu Ziming laughed and scolded, then turned his gaze to Shen Yuyan. "And Yuyan, you look absolutely stunning today! Damn, with the two of you standing here, this level of looks, this presence, I thought we were shooting a Hollywood movie!"
Looking at the once unattainable goddess, and then at this familiar yet strangely different old friend before him.
Lu Ziming felt a surge of complex emotions in his heart, but he was also completely at peace.
No wonder Campus Belle Shen was chasing Tang Song so fervently.
The current Tang Song had become even more outstanding compared to before.
Not just in appearance, but in a captivating aura that seemed to emanate from his very bones.
Even in Wall Street, a place teeming with elites who look down on everyone, his current demeanor would undoubtedly attract a lot of attention and goodwill.
For instance, at this very moment, he noticed.
Some of the male and female guests passing by subconsciously let their gazes linger on Tang Song, filled with curiosity and appreciation.
"Thanks for the compliment." Shen Yuyan blinked playfully, then asked with concern, "But what about you? You look a bit haggard? You have dark circles."
Tang Song also chimed in, "I heard from Yuyan you're having some work trouble?"
"Ah, don't even mention it." At the mention of work, Lu Ziming's shoulders instantly slumped, and he smiled wryly. "To be precise, we're being targeted by CFIUS. To put it bluntly, they're bullying us Huaxia capital venturing overseas for opportunities. Not only is the review process dragging on, but they're also finding all sorts of faults, leaving us hanging."
Shen Yuyan comforted him, "Bain Consulting had you attend this cocktail party precisely to find opportunities, right? Maybe you'll run into someone who can solve the problem."
In her heart, she knew Tang Song might be able to help Lu Ziming.
But as a smart woman, she knew her boundaries.
Matters involving political resources and personal favors had to be decided by Tang Song himself. She couldn't overstep her bounds, nor could she casually disclose such things.
Hearing this, Lu Ziming's expression turned awkward, and he said self-deprecatingly, "You guessed it right;
there really are big shots here who could solve the problem. Unfortunately, I can't reach them."
"Who?" Shen Yuyan asked curiously.
Lu Ziming took a deep breath, lowered his voice, and his expression became serious and reverent. "Elizabeth Sloane of the Sloane-Huntington Group."
"Ms. Sloane?!" Shen Yuyan covered her mouth with a low gasp, a flash of keen interest in her eyes. "Her?! How could she appear at this cocktail party?"
She had previously researched the other party's profile in detail and naturally knew the weight of this "Queen of Lobbyists."
Logically, a purely commercial bank cocktail party like this would hardly be able to attract someone of her stature.
Lu Ziming twitched the corner of his eye, glanced around, and leaned closer to the two, whispering,
"Let me tell you, this cocktail party is completely different from what we imagined. The level is terrifyingly high! We took a turn inside earlier and were almost scared to death. Our team's VP is still shaky on his feet."
"That exaggerated? Who's there?"
Shen Yuyan instantly perked up;
she had a natural enthusiasm for the composition of such top-tier social arenas.
"Dennis Coleman, the CFO of Goldman Sachs, is drinking inside. I also saw Brian Li, the Greater China partner at Blackstone Group. Besides them, there's a New York State Senator, several senior partners from top-tier law firms..."
Shen Yuyan listened, her beautiful eyes sparkling with excitement, her heart pounding fiercely.
These top Wall Street power players, who usually only existed in news reports, were all gathered here?
However, in a foreign land, amidst such a top-tier social arena.
Even she, the Chief Ecosystem Officer of Xuanji Optical World, wouldn't count for much here.
Thinking this, she subtly glanced sideways at Tang Song beside her.
He still wore that same calm expression, seemingly unperturbed by these names.
Right.
Chairman of [Rongliu Capital], Global CEO of [Xuanji Optical World]...
These two identities alone could still secure him a place even on Wall Street.
But if... if his identity as the second-largest individual shareholder of [Smile Holdings] were revealed.
That would absolutely cause an earthquake.
This wasn't just about assets;
it was a symbol of power.
For example, the CFO of Goldman Sachs might have assets of only a few billion dollars, but his influence in the financial circle was immense.
And Tang Song, he possessed capital sufficient to command the respect of such power holders.
Lu Ziming stopped his own exclamations, shrugged self-deprecatingly. "So, our company really is nothing here. Let's just stay on the periphery, eat and drink, and definitely not wander around to avoid trouble. Come on, let's go!"
He finished speaking, pulled out a gilt-edged invitation from his pocket.
Leading the two, he walked towards the entrance.
Security personnel carefully verified the invitation, confirming it was a first-tier institutional access level, and immediately respectfully let them pass.
Following the sparse stream of people, the three walked through the black wrought-iron gate that shut out the noise.
At the same time.
A crisp system notification suddenly sounded in Tang Song's ears.
"Ding! Character Interaction Mission [Smiling Shareholders' Meeting] is now active."
"Ding! [Secretary Jin] communication permissions unlocked."
"Beep!" A system interface unfolded before his eyes.
In the center of the [Character Center] interface, a golden card was glowing, as if pulsating with life.
Looking at that familiar, stunningly beautiful character art, Tang Song's gaze briefly wavered.
"Secretary Jin..."
He murmured, a violent surge of emotion welling up in his heart.
It was a longing that transcended virtual and real, time and space.
Entering [Outfit Center], selecting [Outfit - Mist Gentleman], immediately equip.
"—" An intangible aura instantly enveloped his entire body.
The complex emotions in his eyes instantly receded, transforming into a deep, unfathomable calm and mystery.
Shen Yuyan, who had been watching Tang Song closely, immediately noticed his subtle change.
Before she could say anything.
Tang Song had already lifted his head and stepped into the art gallery corridor connecting the courtyard and the side hall.
This was a corridor filled with a sense of historical weight.
The walls were covered in deep crimson velvet wallpaper, hung with gilded frames showcasing genuine Renaissance masterpieces.
The characteristic ochre and ultramarine tones of those oil paintings, under the soft spotlights, wove together a luxurious and solemn artistic labyrinth.
Tang Song, walking within it, was mysterious and elegant.
As if walking in the morning mist, making people want to probe deeper yet not dare to approach lightly.
Shen Yuyan bit her lip and followed closely by his side.
Lu Ziming followed behind, looking at the familiar yet unfamiliar back ahead of him. The jokes he had intended to say got stuck in his throat, and he ended up just adjusting his tie.
Strange, why does Old Song seem so... imposing.
Yet, following behind him felt inexplicably more secure.
......
The Frick Collection · Garden Court.
The courtyard was already bustling with activity.
Under the massive glass dome, the air flowed with expensive perfumes and hushed conversations.
Every guest here was impeccably dressed, their every gesture exuding confidence and ease.
As soon as Lu Ziming walked in, his shoulders subconsciously hunched slightly.
That intangible, rigid sense of class oppression made him feel breathless, as if every cubic meter of air here had a price tag.
Shen Yuyan, however, had bright, shining eyes.
She slightly lifted her chin, greedily breathing in the air that belonged to the top echelon, her gaze quickly scanning the crowd.
"I see some familiar faces, and... P&
G executives?"
Lu Ziming followed her line of sight and explained in a low voice, "Yeah, and Heni, the former President of P&
G Greater China you mentioned before."
"The level is indeed high." Shen Yuyan nodded, a flash of excitement in her eyes as she continued searching. "But, I don't seem to see that Ms. Sloane."
"A big shot of that level, and with a sensitive identity, definitely wouldn't be mingling randomly in the courtyard." Lu Ziming lowered his voice further. "She's probably in one of those independent private exhibition halls on the sides, having confidential talks with the real heavyweights."
"True." Shen Yuyan mused thoughtfully.
For someone like Elizabeth Sloane, every minute had an expensive price tag.
Her appearance at this semi-public commercial cocktail party was definitely not just for a glass of champagne.
There must be some extremely important, even potentially Washington-political-direction-influencing, deep-seated exchange of interests hidden within.
"Come on, let's go say hello to my company folks first." Lu Ziming said somewhat helplessly. "After all, I invited you, and we're all compatriots, gotta be polite. Once I finish dealing with the company side, we'll find a quiet corner and drink alone."
"Okay." "Sure, no problem."
The three arrived at a corner on the periphery of the courtyard but didn't see the Tiancheng Capital group.
Lu Ziming was a bit puzzled. Scanning the surroundings, he finally spotted familiar figures in a corner of a side hall connected to the courtyard.
It was an exhibition hall displaying Rococo-style famous paintings.
VP Zhang Zhe and a few colleagues were huddled together, holding wine glasses, looking awkward.
Forming a starkly isolated zone compared to the chatting and laughing white elites.
There were definitely Asians, even Huaxia people, at the cocktail party.
But most of those were elites working at Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan, or top law firms. They had long since integrated into this circle, even acting more arrogant than some white people.
And small institutions like Tiancheng Capital, which were "newcomers," naturally sat at the very bottom of the pecking order.
That was reality.
Lu Ziming sighed, took two glasses of wine, and handed them to Tang Song and Shen Yuyan.
"They're over there. Let's go, Old Song, Yuyan."
......
Seeing Lu Ziming walk into the exhibition hall.
Everyone's gaze, however, subconsciously fell on Tang Song.
It couldn't be helped;
he was just too eye-catching.
In this corner filled with anxiety and awkwardness, Tang Song was like a radiant presence.
His posture was upright, his expression composed.
And Shen Yuyan standing beside him was also exceptionally outstanding.
Her elegant attire paired with exquisite makeup gave off an aura of high-level workplace aesthetics.
With these two standing there, they instantly raised the average looks and style of the entire Tiancheng Capital group by a whole notch.
"General Manager Zhang," Lu Ziming stepped forward to introduce, "these two are my university classmates. This is Tang Song, this is Shen Yuyan. They happen to be in New York on business too."
He then turned to Tang Song. "This is our company's VP, General Manager Zhang Zhe."
"Hello." "Hello, General Manager Zhang."
Since they were compatriots and all worked in Yancheng.
They exchanged a few pleasantries and clinked glasses.
With Lu Ziming mediating, the atmosphere quickly became familiar and relaxed.
Everyone formed a circle and started drinking and chatting.
With outsiders present, the colleagues' nerves actually relaxed a bit, not as tense.
Laughter and conversation began.
Shen Yuyan remained standing beside Tang Song, thoughtfully getting him drinks, handing him napkins. Her gaze hardly left him, that meticulous care and subconscious deference practically overflowing.
Making Lu Ziming beside them feel a pang of sour envy.
Heavens! Earth!
Is this still the aloof Shen Yuyan?!
The former goddess campus belle had transformed into my good buddy's... devoted follower?!
Damn it! What kind of magic potion did Old Song feed her?!
After half a glass of wine, as the atmosphere relaxed.
The topic inevitably slid towards venting.
"Ah, to be honest. These Wall Street elites really have eyes on the top of their heads. Especially at this kind of bank cocktail party, it's a typical WASP circle, very exclusive."
Lu Ziming chimed in, "Yeah. When I went over to hand out my business card, I felt like I was just a waiter or invisible in their eyes."
"Can't be helped, this is their turf."
Zhang Zhe cleared his throat, cutting off the chatter, and raised his glass. "Alright, alright, since we're here, let's make the best of it. The wine here is all premium, drink more."
Just as everyone raised their glasses.
Shen Yuyan, who had been keeping an ear on the situation outside, suddenly heard a commotion, seemingly accompanied by a familiar term.
Her heart gave a violent thump.
Turning, she looked through the exhibition hall's oval arched doorway towards the direction of the corridor entrance outside.
A group of people was walking over.
In the middle was a white male around sixty years old, wearing a well-tailored vintage tweed suit, exuding an elegant and authoritative air.
Behind him followed executives from the host organization and some guests with familiar faces.
"Tang Jin?!" a Tiancheng Capital employee exclaimed in a low voice.
Everyone turned to look.
"That should be someone from the Tangjin Family Office. I heard people discussing it."
"Who is he? A Tang Jin executive?"
Vice President Zhang Zhe gripped his glass tightly, whispering, "It's Adrian Phelps!"
"That name sounds familiar?"
Zhang Zhe took a deep breath, his tone filled with awe. "Tenured professor at Columbia Business School, former advisor to the Federal Reserve's Monetary Policy Committee! It's said he's now a core member of Tang Jin's Investment Committee, managing at least twenty billion dollars in liquidity allocation!"
"Hiss—"
Everyone drew in a sharp breath.
A big shot of this level was usually only seen on the front page of financial news;
today they were seeing him in person!
Shen Yuyan's throat felt a bit dry.
She instinctively turned her head to look at Tang Song beside her.
However, to her surprise, she didn't see the slightest emotional fluctuation on his face.
Those deep eyes remained calm as water, showing neither the delight of seeing an "acquaintance" nor the excitement of seeing an "idol." It was as if the person walking in wasn't some financial titan, but an ordinary guest.
Before the murmurs could die down.
Another commotion arose at the entrance.
The crowd parted again, and more intense whispers came, mixed with that uniquely pronounced word—"Tang Jin."
This time, the person entering was a woman with a stern, cold demeanor.
She had typical Eastern European features, high cheekbones, a cold gaze, and wore a minimalist gray business suit.
"Who's that?"
"Also from Tang Jin?"
"That's Elena Rostova. An authority in computational neuroscience. It's said she's now the head of the Frontier Tech Fund under the [Tangjin Family Office]. The other one I don't know, seems to be from Tang Jin as well."
"I heard people nearby discussing, said his name is Simon Vance, the Chief Partner in North America for [Quan Jing Law Firm], a guest professor at Yale Law School, a heavyweight in international trust law and tax planning. Apparently, he's also a member of Tang Jin Family Office's advisory committee."
Watching those usually aloof Wall Street elites now gathering around them like stars surrounding the moon.
The Tiancheng Capital group in the corner felt their emotions surge with excitement.
After all, [Tang Jin] was a top-tier family office originating from Huaxia, flowing with Eastern blood.
In this social arena dominated by white people, seeing an institution with their own background wield such influence, even if it had nothing to do with them personally, inevitably stirred a sense of shared pride in their hearts.
Moreover, the current [Tang Jin] had long transcended the category of ordinary "wealth management."
It was no longer a private treasury serving a few individuals, but a vast, intricate, and immensely powerful capital empire.
It attracted the world's top LPs (Limited Partners) and also attracted top-tier talents like Adrian and Elena, who held absolute authority in their respective fields.
These people and resources constituted its backbone, contributing intellect and power.
Here, it stood as an equal to J.P. Morgan, deeply intertwined with Miss Kate Bank.
Zhang Zhe and the others felt their hearts surge, several times wanting to approach, yet shrinking back under the pressure of that intangible aura.
Shen Yuyan took a sip of champagne and looked at the still-unmoved Tang Song beside her.
He was just watching quietly, his deep eyes showing no envy, no excitement, not even a ripple of "seeing an acquaintance."
Shen Yuyan felt a wave of confusion.
According to her speculation, given Tang Song's identity as a shareholder of [Smile Holdings] and his special relationship with Anne Kate, he absolutely had the qualifications to access or even join the [Tangjin Family Office].
And once in that circle, how could he not know core figures of Adrian and Elena's caliber?
Was her guess wrong?
The commotion gradually subsided as the big shots were ushered into a certain exhibition hall.
Soon, a piece of news spread through the cocktail party venue as if it had grown wings.
[The Tangjin Family Office is reassessing its risk exposure to the North American market and plans to initiate a global asset restructuring plan.]
Everyone suddenly understood.
No wonder it was so grand. So the Tangjin Family Office was using Miss Kate Bank's channels to send a major strategic signal to Wall Street.
"The level of this cocktail party is just too high?"
"Thought we were here for a free meal, ended up at a state banquet... Bain Consulting really thinks too highly of us Tiancheng Capital this time."
"That consulting fee now seems like such a small amount."
"General Manager Zhang, do you think the board will recognize our efforts knowing about this?"
"That... they probably will."
Lu Ziming withdrew his gaze, turned, and clinked glasses with Tang Song, suddenly lowering his voice with a hint of mischief.
"Old Song, haven't you noticed? Quite a few women around are checking you out."
He gestured with his eyes towards a spot not far away.
"That blonde beauty holding the martini has glanced over here at least five times. Tsk tsk, I think you could try expanding your network. Your current appearance is like walking pheromones."
The corner of Tang Song's mouth curved into a faint smile, his tone casual. "In that case, shouldn't I be the one getting approached?"
"......"
Lu Ziming was choked for a moment, then gave a thumbs-up.
"You're the man! Full marks for that show-off!"
"But seriously, I heard that Ms. Sloane's personal style is quite... open. Since you're so confident, if that lady really takes a liking to you later, you'll have to sacrifice your charms for your brother. After all, whether our company's project lives or dies depends on her word."
Shen Yuyan, having collected her thoughts, said with annoyance, "Hey, Lu Ziming, don't you see me standing here?"
Lu Ziming said sheepishly, "Just joking, don't take it seriously, haha."
"Be careful Ms. Sloane finds out and throws you into the Hudson River to feed the fish."
"Alright, alright, my bad, I'll go reflect."
Lu Ziming raised his hands in surrender, slinking back to his colleagues to continue their hushed discussions about the newly arrived big shots.
Shen Yuyan pursed her lips, moved closer to Tang Song, and, emboldened by the wine, asked in a low voice, "Do you know anyone here? Or someone you want to see?"
Tang Song nodded slightly. "Yes."
Shen Yuyan's eyes lit up, seizing the opportunity to suggest, "Then... could we go say hello together later? Let me broaden my horizons too."
Tang Song turned and looked at her quietly.
The outfit effect triggered. The surrounding cacophony of conversations and clinking glasses seemed to recede like a tide, the whole world becoming quiet.
His eyes seemed shrouded in an elusive mist, yet they also held a clarity that saw through everything.
Shen Yuyan's heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively held her breath.
After a moment, Tang Song spoke slowly. "Actually, if you have any questions, you can ask me directly."
He raised his hand, gently brushing aside the stray hairs by her ear.
"Yuyan, sometimes, you overthink things."
After saying this, Tang Song withdrew his gaze, looking past the courtyard towards the depths of the corridor.
The core executives from the New York headquarters had arrived.
Then Secretary Jin should be arriving soon too.
Shen Yuyan stood frozen in place, his words still echoing in her ears.
She realized Tang Song had detected her probing.
Actually, it couldn't really be called probing;
it was just her habit, using this roundabout way to gather information.
Her curiosity about Tang Song's secrets and her fascination with him personally drove her to constantly use her skilled methods to investigate and piece together the truth.
Because he had never voluntarily told Xu Qing or herself about his background, she subconsciously assumed Tang Song was deliberately hiding it, being guarded.
But—
What if she or Qingqing, like ordinary friends or lovers, just straightforwardly and openly asked him.
Would he... simply not hide it at all?
Once this thought took root, it grew wildly.
Shen Yuyan's breathing became rapid, her chest rising and falling slightly.
Looking at Tang Song's calm profile, a strong impulse surged in her heart.
She had just opened her mouth, about to say something.
"Ahem... Old Song, Yuyan."
Lu Ziming suddenly walked over again, interrupting her unspoken words.
He lowered his voice somewhat awkwardly. "Should we maybe switch to a different exhibition hall? It's gotten more crowded here, too packed, a bit... hard to move."
He gestured behind him.
Shen Yuyan looked up and only then noticed that, without her realizing, this originally relatively quiet exhibition hall had filled with quite a few people.
Moreover, everyone's gazes and steps seemed to be converging towards a single center.
The focal point of the crowd was a tall, handsome white man with blond hair and blue eyes.
He wore a boldly cut light gray double-breasted suit, holding a champagne glass, surrounded by a crowd of people like stars around the moon, chatting and laughing animatedly.
Around him were two or three layers of people, including fashionably dressed socialites and suited Wall Street elites.
Cocktail parties were inherently fluid, especially in a place like The Frick Collection where the scenery changed with every step.
Clearly, a big shot had wandered here, bringing his own magnetic field and drawing people around him.
Noticing Shen Yuyan and Tang Song's gazes, Lu Ziming explained in a low voice,
"That's Julian Ashford. The youngest Managing Director (MD) at The Carlyle Group, also rumored to be from an old-money family. He just led a $12 billion merger deal last week, currently riding a huge wave of popularity."
"Isn't this a great opportunity?" Shen Yuyan pointed over there. "Don't you plan to take this chance to go network?"
Lu Ziming smiled awkwardly, not yet speaking.
A colleague beside him pushed up his glasses and whispered, "General Manager Zhang already tried earlier, attempted to blend in a bit, exchange business cards. But the other person didn't even take it, just turned his body away. So awkward..."
Shen Yuyan instantly understood, turning to look at Tang Song, her eyes questioning.
"I'm fine with either." Tang Song nodded slightly, his expression calm.
"Then let's change places, go outside for some fresh air." Lu Ziming picked up his glass, gesturing for his colleagues to turn and leave.
They had only taken a few steps.
"Whoosh—"
A sudden commotion came from the arched entrance connecting to the central Garden Court.
The crowd that had been fawning over Julian seemed forcibly parted by an invisible hand.
Those self-important Wall Street elites stopped their conversations, expressions turning reverent, even with a hint of panic, consciously stepping aside to both sides, instantly clearing a wide path.
A chilling, formidable aura flooded into this Rococo art-filled exhibition hall.
Immediately after, a sharp, striking figure broke into everyone's line of sight.
Signature sharply tailored black business attire, lips red as fire, walking with an extremely fast pace.
Four or five stern-looking attendants followed closely behind her, one quickly stepping forward to maintain an appropriate social distance between her and the crowd.
Elizabeth Sloane.
Her appearance instantly became the focal point of the entire hall.
Shen Yuyan's eyes brightened.
This was Ms. Sloane!
That legendary woman who single-handedly stirred up storms, making countless politicians tremble in fear!
In person, she had even more presence than in news reports.
Not far away, Julian Ashford's eyes lit up. He adjusted his tie, holding his champagne, and walked up to meet her, a charming smile spreading across his face.
"Ms. Sloane! What a coincidence, you also appreciate the paintings here? I'm from Carlyle..."
However, Ms. Sloane's gaze didn't linger on him for even half a second.
She passed right by.
Leaving his hand, extended mid-air, hanging in an extremely awkward position.
The surroundings instantly fell silent.
Everyone's eyes closely followed Sloane's figure, watching her walk through the crowd, not glancing sideways, heading straight forward.
The Tiancheng Capital group felt their hearts pound violently.
Because they discovered.
This fearsome "Queen of Lobbyists" was walking straight towards their inconspicuous corner.
Each step closer carried a suffocating pressure.
They instinctively moved aside to avoid colliding with this formidable presence.
Shen Yuyan also instinctively stepped aside, but then noticed that Tang Song beside her hadn't moved at all.
His gaze was calm and deep as he looked at Ms. Sloane.
Shen Yuyan was stunned for a moment, her heartbeat suddenly beginning to race wildly.
An incredible, yet almost obvious, guess rose to the surface of her mind.
"Old Song!" Lu Ziming exclaimed in a low voice, about to pull Tang Song's arm.
But he found that the Ms. Sloane, known for her cold and ruthless methods, suddenly stopped three steps away from Tang Song.
Raised her hand and snapped her fingers with flair.
An assistant behind her immediately stepped forward, holding a delicate black briefcase with both hands.
Right in front of everyone, Ms. Sloane opened it with a "click," revealing a bottle of top-tier champagne resting inside.
She took a step forward, looking at this man who was even more outstanding and mysterious than she remembered.
A trace of fervent amusement bloomed in her ice-blue eyes.
"Mr. Tang, you've finally arrived." She slightly turned her body, showcasing the bottle in the case. "This is... the champagne I prepared for you. Satisfied?"
"Salon 2002." Tang Song lowered his eyes to glance at the label, a hint of appreciative curve appearing at the corner of his mouth. "Single vineyard, single grape variety, single vintage. Salon's philosophy is to strip away all complexity until only the purest essence remains. Ms. Sloane, your grasp of 'timing' and 'purity' is a level higher than I originally expected."
The light in Ms. Sloane's eyes grew brighter. "Because I understand very well that you dislike superfluity."
As the two conversed, the previously frozen air around them seemed to begin flowing again.
Waves of stunned, probing, astonished, even wary gazes, like spotlights, converged squarely on Tang Song.
Already noticeable for his appearance and aura, he was now fully exposed under everyone's scrutiny.
In the corner, the few Tiancheng Capital employees stood with dazed expressions, their wine glasses almost crushed in their hands.
Lu Ziming's mouth hung slightly open, his mind a complete blank.
Wh-what is happening?
Am I dreaming?
Shen Yuyan, standing beside Tang Song, felt her heartbeat so loud it almost deafened her.
A powerful sense of dizziness assaulted her nerves.
Sure enough... he really...
She had a premonition that she was about to touch the secret she had always longed to know.
Yet, Tang Song, at the center of the storm, still showed little emotional change.
He didn't take the Salon 2002, only extended his slender fingers to gently stroke the cool surface of the bottle.
No ostentation, no restlessness.
At this moment, amidst the gilded, decadent atmosphere of the exhibition hall, he resembled a noble young master who had stepped out of an Eastern mural.
Elegant, profound, like still waters running deep.
Yet carrying a top-tier pressure that made people dare not look directly at him.