At this moment, the leaders of Silk City University of Finance warmly shook hands with Deandre and invited him to the school auditorium.
"Sorry, everyone," Deandre said, waving his hand. "I'm waiting for an important business partner. He'll be here soon."
"He is also one of your outstanding alumni," Deandre added with a smile.
Hearing this, the white-haired principal looked surprised. "President Deandre, may I ask who this alumnus is?"
From the perspective of the principal and other leaders, anyone who could be a business partner of the nation's wealthiest man, President Deandre, must hold a significant position in the business world.
Silk City University of Finance was not well-known among the many prestigious schools in the area; it was just an ordinary second-tier university. The principal and others genuinely had no idea when their school had produced such an outstanding alumnus, someone important enough for the famous President Deandre to wait for in person.
Deandre chuckled and took out his phone. "I'll notify Mr. Berloff to come over. The principal can ask him directly when he arrives."
With that, Deandre dialed Berloff Reed's number. "Mr. Berloff, I'm already at the Silk City University of Finance auditorium. Are you here yet?"
As Deandre spoke, the school leaders around him held their breath, their expressions serious. Anyone who could command such respect from a titan like Deandre must be a significant figure themselves.
Most importantly, this person was an alumnus of their university. When he arrived, the principal and others would undoubtedly give him a warm reception and try their best to win him over. Who knows, this outstanding alumnus might even donate more to the school than Deandre himself.
Meanwhile, just a few yards away from Deandre, Berloff Reed was hiding in the noisy crowd, grinning as he held his phone.
"President Deandre, I'm here at the scene. I'll come over right now!"
As Berloff spoke, he pulled his cousin Rebecca along, ready to cross the barricade and head towards Deandre.
"Hey, what do you think you're doing? Step back immediately!"A school security guard nearby noticed them and angrily pointed at Berloff, shouting at him.
"Uh, sir, President Deandre called me over," Berloff said innocently, waving his phone.
The burly security guard laughed in disbelief and rudely pushed Berloff's shoulder.
"Kid, don't try to pull that on me!"
"Keep messing around, and I'll have you arrested, got it?"
"Now get back!"
Rebecca was terrified and tugged hard on her cousin's arm. "Berloff, are you crazy?Come back right now!"
"If you offend someone as important as President Deandre, you won't even know how you died!"
Caught off guard, Berloff was pushed back behind the barricade by both Rebecca and the security guard.
A few students from the nearby university watched the scene unfold, smirking at Berloff's misfortune.
"Wow, you really have some guts, huh? You actually dared to go see the high and mighty President Deandre?"
"Haha, President Deandre personally called to invite you? That's a good one; I almost believed it!"
"Good thing President Deandre is just a business tycoon. If it were a top government official, you'd have been sniped by now for being so reckless!"
"Buddy, stop daydreaming. Someone like President Deandre isn't someone a pretty boy like you can just meet."
"Look, the security guard is calling for backup. You're definitely in for a rough time today!"
At that moment, the burly security guard, glaring at Berloff Reed, was calling his colleagues on the walkie-talkie, ready to keep a close eye on this potential threat.
Berloff sighed helplessly and spoke into his phone, "President Deandre, it's not that I don't want to come over, but the school security here won't let me through!"
Deandre was shocked, "Mr. Berloff, you're really here? Where exactly are you? I'll come get you myself!"
Berloff waved toward Deandre, "I'm at your nine o'clock, wearing a white shirt and waving. Can you see me?"
Deandre turned and quickly spotted Berloff. He handed his phone to his executive assistant, put on a smile, and strode over to Berloff."Mr. Berloff!"
From several yards away, Deandre extended both hands toward Berloff, who was standing outside the security line.
"Hello, hello! It's a pleasure to finally meet you!"
Under the astonished gazes of the security personnel and the students and teachers present, Deandre warmly shook hands with Berloff, his demeanor even slightly ingratiating.
Hiss...
The scene left everyone present utterly stunned, gasping in disbelief.On one side was Deandre, a tech mogul in his fifties, worth billions, and the richest man in the country. On the other side was Berloff Reed, a young man in his twenties, dressed in a simple white shirt and jeans.
No matter how you looked at it, their statuses were worlds apart, completely unrelated.
Who would have thought that Deandre, this super tycoon, would lower himself to approach Berloff, this young man, for a handshake and greet him as "Mr. Berloff"?
Boom!
The entrance of the auditorium, packed with over a thousand people, erupted in chaos. Everyone was in utter shock.
"President Deandre, nice to meet you!"
Berloff smiled slightly and shook Deandre's hand. "This is my cousin Rebecca. We were just touring the campus and saw your convoy arriving at the auditorium."
Deandre turned to Rebecca and extended his hand. "Miss Rebecca, nice to meet you!"
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Seeing the business tycoon Deandre wanting to shake her hand, Rebecca's heart pounded wildly, her whole body trembling with excitement."Mr... President Deandre, hello!"
Oh my gosh!
"Is this real?"
The globally renowned business leader, President Deandre, actually greeted him first?
This was beyond unbelievable!
Meanwhile, the finance students nearby, who witnessed everything, were about to lose their minds.
Holy moly!
Was the universe playing a cruel joke?Who would have thought that Berloff Reed, this seemingly insignificant guy, actually knew the high-and-mighty President Deandre and was chatting with him so casually!
The finance students who had previously mocked Berloff felt their faces burn with shame, wishing they could bury their heads in the ground.
The school security guard who had just shoved Berloff was now pale as a sheet, trembling with fear.
"I'm done for! I'm so done!"
A young man who could receive such warm treatment from President Deandre must have an incredible background.
Offending such a young big shot was like signing his own death warrant.
"Sir, can I go now?"
At that moment, Berloff smiled at the burly security guard, drawing everyone's attention.
The security guard was on the verge of tears, forcing a fawning smile as he nodded and bowed repeatedly to Berloff.
"Mr. Berloff, this way, please!"
"If I had known your identity, I wouldn't have dared to stop you even if I had a few more lives!""Thank you!"
Berloff Reed smiled broadly, pulling his cousin Rebecca along with Deandre, the big shot, as they headed toward the entrance of the hall.
This scene left many students and teachers at the event exchanging bewildered glances.
What on earth?
Who is this young man?
How could he be chatting and laughing with President Deandre?