"It sure is nice to be rich!"
Su Chen was currently on a helicopter flying to Hong Bridge Airport. Gazing down through the window at the dense cluster of houses below, he remarked with a sigh.
Su Chen had originally thought the Bazaar Charity Night was being held in Shanghai and was looking forward to going home to rest after the event.
But Emma told him... the Bazaar Charity Night was in the Imperial Capital. They would have to take a plane to get there.
Just as Su Chen was wondering if they would make it in time, Emma led him onto a helicopter bound directly for Hong Bridge Airport.
She explained they would transfer to a private jet at Hong Bridge Airport.
Su Chen was floored. He had never even flown first class before, and now he was about to board a private jet.
Today was certainly an eye-opener.
So this was the simple, unpretentious way the rich traveled.
The helicopter soon arrived at Hong Bridge Airport, landing right next to another plane. It was a little different from the large airliners Su Chen was used to seeing.
Hmm... how should I put it? It was like a smaller, sleeker version.
"Mr. Su, this is a Gulfstream G450, a small private jet. It can carry sixteen passengers and is one of the best-selling private jets on the market right now," Emma explained from the side.
"Not bad at all. Did the Group buy this jet?" Su Chen asked, looking around from his seat.
"It's a rental, Mr. Su. Our Group has a partnership with a private jet company, allowing us to charter small jets when needed. After all, this sort of thing is a toy for the wealthy!"
A hint of wistfulness crept into Emma's voice. 'Who wouldn't want to own a private jet?'
"How much does a plane like this cost?" Su Chen asked, his curiosity piqued.
To Emma's ears, however, the question sounded different. She was secretly stunned. 'Is Mr. Su thinking of buying a private jet?'
"Mr. Su, this model, the Gulfstream G450, sells for around 150 million. That includes a dedicated flight crew!"
"150 million?!" Su Chen was stunned by the price. 'If a small jet like this costs over 100 million, a large one must be several hundred million, or even over a billion!'
It seemed the lives of the truly wealthy were still beyond his imagination.
In less than two hours, they arrived at the Imperial Capital airport. This was Su Chen's first time in the Imperial Capital, and he was filled with curiosity about everything.
The private jet experience was truly something else. The moment they landed, they boarded an airport shuttle that took them through an express channel directly to the parking garage.
"A Rolls-Royce?"
After the shock of the private jet, seeing that their ride was a Rolls-Royce, Su Chen was considerably more composed.
You had to admit, a top-tier luxury car was in a class of its own. Compared to his own Aston Martin, the Rolls-Royce was far more comfortable.
"Mr. Su, will you be participating in the red carpet ceremony later?"
"The red carpet?"
Su Chen thought for a moment, then shook his head slightly. "I'll skip the red carpet. I don't like putting myself under so many spotlights."
'The entertainment industry is a murky business,' he thought. 'Something as simple as the appearance order can cause a massive uproar online. Better for me to stay out of it.'
"Very well, Mr. Su. I'll have Secretary Li escort you into the venue first."
Although Emma was deferential to Su Chen, as the head of the Louis Vuitton Group for Greater China, she was the ultimate authority figure to everyone else. Who in the entertainment industry wouldn't treat her with the utmost respect?
If you crossed Emma, a single word from her could essentially banish a celebrity from the fashion world.
And as a heavyweight guest at the charity gala, Emma naturally had to participate in the red carpet ceremony.
The charity gala was being held at the Grand Metropark Hotel. By the time Su Chen's party arrived, the area outside was already a sea of people.
Aside from the major media outlets, there were fans of the various celebrities attending the event, their support banners fluttering all around the hotel.
Instead of riding in with Emma, Su Chen entered the hotel through a back door, successfully reaching the main hall under Secretary Li's guidance.
Quite a few people were already seated inside the venue, but they were all in the back rows. The first few rows remained completely empty.
"Mr. Su, this is your seat," Secretary Li said, pointing to the centermost seat in the very first row.
"Here?" Su Chen asked, his face a mask of astonishment.
'Isn't this the most conspicuous seat in the entire venue? Am I supposed to sit here and be the center of attention?'
"Yes, Mr. Su. This section is reserved exclusively for the Louis Vuitton, Richemont, and Kaiyun groups."
Su Chen understood Secretary Li's implication. He said no more and sat down.
His action made the jaws of the B- and C-list celebrities in the back rows drop, and they immediately began to whisper amongst themselves.
"Holy crap, who is that? He's sitting in the sponsors' exclusive section. Is he insane?"
"I don't know. I've never seen his face in the entertainment industry. Could he be one of the top trust-fund kids from the Imperial Capital?"
"Why would a top trust-fund kid from the Imperial Capital come to an event like this? It's beneath them. If he's really in the wrong seat, the organizers will step in. Just sit back and watch."
Many of the B- and C-list actresses also had ideas of their own, their eyes frequently darting in Su Chen's direction as if trying to memorize his face.
As the red carpet ceremony drew to a close, people began to fill the front rows.
Every celebrity and entertainment industry tycoon who entered glanced at Su Chen sitting in the front row, their eyes filled with curiosity.
'Who on earth was he? What gave him the right to sit in the most important seat?'
Everyone was curious. After all, the organizers hadn't sent anyone to ask Su Chen to move. That fact alone was thought-provoking.
But there's always one bold person who isn't afraid to take the plunge.
"Hey, handsome! I'm Deng Chao, one of the hosts for tonight's event." Deng Chao extended his right hand, feeling a bit nervous. He was genuinely curious about this stranger's identity.
"Brother Chao, hello!" Su Chen actually had a pretty good impression of Deng Chao. He was one of the few celebrities Su Chen found agreeable.
Su Chen smiled and returned the handshake.
"And how should I address you?"
"You can just call me Su Chen. 'Handsome' doesn't really fit, hahaha."
"Nonsense, you're very handsome, Mr. Su!" Deng Chao said politely, even as his mind raced, trying to figure out Su Chen's background.
Just as he was about to try and build more rapport with Su Chen, a group of people approached.
The group consisted of Emma, Hamis, George, and the event organizer herself, Su Mang.
At their arrival, everyone in the first two rows stood up to greet them. Seeing this, Deng Chao hastily took a couple of steps back.
"Mr. Su, my apologies for keeping you waiting," Emma said.
"Mr. Su," Hamis and George greeted as well.
This scene stunned everyone present, especially Deng Chao, who was the closest. He could clearly see the deferential expressions on the faces of these major sponsors.
"Mr. Su, this is Su Mang, the founder of the Bazaar Charity Night."
Su Chen felt a measure of respect for this remarkable woman.
The Bazaar Charity Night was founded in 2003, right when the SARS epidemic was at its peak. On the advice of her good friend, Yingzi, Su Mang had celebrities auction off their unused personal items, with the proceeds donated to those in need.
After more than a decade of growth, the Bazaar Charity Night had become a major event in the entertainment world, attracting widespread attention from all corners of society each year.
Of course, the celebrity gossip was always the main attraction.