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Chapter 535: The Charity Ball (1)
Chapter 535: The Charity Ball (1)
On the day of the charity ball, Lu Jiaxin took a nap in the afternoon, then prepared for her styling. She had designed two evening gowns for herself: a black halter neck gown and a long cheongsam with a butterfly and peony print as a backup. For the black dress, she chose antique jewelry purchased by Nie Zhan, while for the cheongsam, she opted for jade accessories.
After her hair and makeup were done, Lu Jiaxin went upstairs to change into her evening gown. As she descended the stairs, Miao Na couldn't help but exclaim, "Boss, you look stunning!"
Not only was her face beautiful, but her figure was also to die for. Sigh, although Mr. Nie was great, she still felt sorry for Boss. With such good looks and youth, she could have dated more people. It was a shame that she had settled down with Nie Zhan so early on.
Yuan Yijun, ever the killjoy, remarked, "I still think Boss looks better in a power suit."
This was his honest opinion. Lu Jiaxin exuded a smart and capable aura in her power suits, and that kind of spirit was rare.
Miao Na shot him a withering glare, deeming him an uncultured boor who couldn't appreciate beauty.
Nie Zhan, gazing at Lu Jiaxin, smiled and said, "You look breathtaking."
Lu Jiaxin, seeing him in a dashing gray suit, replied with a cheerful smile, "You look very handsome too, Ah Zhan. We might just be the most dazzling couple at the ball tonight."
Miao Na, always ready to flatter, chimed in, "Boss, it's not just a possibility, it's a certainty. There's no one in all of Hong Kong who can compare to your beauty and Nie Boss's good looks."
What a sweet tongue she had! Lu Jiaxin felt reluctant to ever let her go. However, Miao Na still insisted on leaving once Xiao Xiao returned, despite Lu Jiaxin's attempts to change her mind.
The charity ball was set to begin at 5:30 pm, with the auction scheduled for 7:30 pm. After a light snack of shrimp dumplings, Lu Jiaxin had her makeup done and then set off for the ball with Nie Zhan in his Phantom. Although dinner would be provided there, it was always a good idea to eat something beforehand and then just have a small meal later.
Before leaving, she gave Zong Shimeng a call, and they arrived just before Zong Shimeng, who was right on their heels. Upon seeing Lu Jiaxin's dress, Zong Shimeng smiled and said, "Your dress is gorgeous! If you have time, please design a few for me as well, so I can wear them to future banquets."
Tonight, Zong Shimeng wore a champagne-colored gown, but its effect was diminished by her fuller figure. Ah, the sacrifices women made for their families and children were indeed great.
"Sure," Lu Jiaxin replied.
As the two chatted, they entered the grand hall, and someone called out to Lu Jiaxin, "Lu Jiaxin, you're here for the auction too!"
Lu Jiaxin looked up and was surprised to see her university classmate, Li Huini. She smiled and said, "Yes, I received an invitation for the charity ball, and it's only right to do my part for a good cause."
Although she hadn't participated in many group activities at school, she still knew most of her classmates. Li Huini was also from a wealthy family, but unlike the typical arrogant rich girl, she was intelligent, generous, and well-liked by their classmates.
Li Huini had heard about Lu Jiaxin's substantial donations to the mainland, but since her company wasn't publicly listed and she donated as an individual, it hadn't caused any controversy.
After greeting Zong Shimeng, Li Huini smiled and asked, "Jiaxin, there are quite a few exquisite items up for auction tonight. Anything that has caught your eye?"
Zong Shimeng, realizing they were university classmates, politely excused herself to chat with some acquaintances.
Lu Jiaxin smiled and replied, "I've donated a jade Ruyi scepter."
She had browsed through the auction catalog but didn't find anything that piqued her interest. Having access to the best of the best, her standards had naturally risen.
Most of the auction items were donated by people like her, so they weren't likely to be rare or extraordinary. Of course, since it was a charity auction, she would still purchase a few items later.
Li Huini was surprised. "You donated the jade scepter? My mother loves it, and she told me I must bid for it."
After chatting for a while, Li Huini introduced Lu Jiaxin to several friends, both male and female, who were all heirs and heiresses. Among them was a tall and handsome man with a witty sense of humor, especially with his enchanting peach blossom eyes that could easily captivate anyone. However, Lu Jiaxin noticed that this group did not include Lu Jiaxin.
Lu Jiaxin did not like the way the man was looking at her, and she was not interested in their topics of conversation. Using the excuse of needing to use the restroom, she walked away.
The man with peach blossom eyes expressed his regret. "That Miss Lu sure is aloof."
Li Huini frowned and warned him, "Don't you dare try anything funny. Miss Lu is not like those young ladies you usually deal with, easily charmed by your sweet words."
He might have a handsome face and a silver tongue, but Lu Jiaxin was not the type to fall for such tricks. She was a level-headed woman, as evidenced by her choice of Nie Zhan as her partner. Handsome, wealthy, and devoted, Nie Zhan was also helpful in her business endeavors. Ah, if only she could find a boyfriend like him. It was a pity she hadn't come across anyone suitable.
The man with peach blossom eyes shook his head. "I can't be bothered with a woman like that."
He had clearly seen the disdain in Lu Jiaxin's eyes earlier, and he wasn't about to pursue her any further.
Upon spotting Lu Jiaxin, Nie Zhan approached with a smile. "Why didn't you chat with your classmate for a while longer?"
Lu Jiaxin had only maintained close contact with one university classmate, Cui Zhihui, who was currently studying law at Harvard. It was a rare occasion to see her conversing with a university classmate, so he hoped she would take the opportunity to reconnect.
Lu Jiaxin explained, "There's a guy next to her who keeps looking at me with a self-important, lovestruck gaze. It's disgusting."
"Who is it?" Nie Zhan asked, his tone turning sharp. How dare someone try to woo his partner!
Seeing that she had upset him, Lu Jiaxin smiled and reassured him, "He's just a clown, not worth your attention."
The auction began promptly at 7:30 pm. As all the items were donations, the selection was quite varied, ranging from the jade scepter and custom-made watches to teapots, jade wares, jewelry, and calligraphy by renowned artists.
Lu Jiaxin set her sights on a diamond brooch. The brooch had a unique design and craftsmanship, and she successfully bid for it at a price of 200,000 Hong Kong dollars. In reality, even a price of 100,000 would have been expensive for this brooch. However, as it was a charity auction, everyone tacitly agreed to drive up the prices for the sake of raising more funds.
The jade scepter was put up for auction after the brooch, with an opening bid of 500,000 Hong Kong dollars. Lu Jiaxin was taken aback by the high starting price.
Zong Shimeng found this amusing. "The jade scepter you donated used to belong to an empress of the Qing Dynasty. It's made of high-quality jade, carries a auspicious meaning ('may all your wishes come true'), and is an antique. It's only natural that the starting bid is high. I've been meaning to ask you, why did you decide to donate such a valuable item?"
Lu Jiaxin was candid in her response. "I have access to even better items. When it comes to charity, the more funds we can raise, the better."
Recalling news reports from her past life, she lowered her voice and asked, "I've heard that sometimes, the donations end up in the pockets of certain individuals. I hope the East China Three Charities isn't like that?"
She was referring to incidents involving the Red Cross, which had lost the public's trust due to numerous scandals. People's hard-earned money should not be lining the pockets of corrupt officials.
Understanding her concern, Zong Shimeng reassured her, "Rest assured, the allocation of these funds will be made public at the end of the year. Those people wouldn't dare misappropriate the donations."
(End of Chapter)
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