OFR – Chapter 186 How can life always remain the same as when we first met (Part 2)!

The Bugatti Veyron roared with its signature growl as it sped away.

Standing not far away, Zhang Yanyun remained frozen in place, unable to snap out of her daze.

She had thought she had already placed this young man on a pedestal, believing she had overestimated his excellence. Yet, time and time again, reality proved her wrong—his brilliance always exceeded her expectations.

“Maybe… I made a mistake just now?”

A complicated mix of emotions surged within Zhang Yanyun as she pondered.

However, that luxurious supercar did not linger; it quickly vanished from her sight.

After leaving the Royal Clubhouse, Mu Bai drove straight back to his villa in Xuanwu Zhongshan.

Zhang Yanyun’s words earlier had displeased him slightly, but considering that she had only spoken out of concern for Mu Xiaoxiao, he chose not to say anything.

As for the charity auction invitation?

To be honest, he didn’t need it.

Mu Bai had already learned that the upcoming charity auction was hosted by none other than the Nalan family—the same one Nalan Yun had invited him to attend just a few days ago.

As a black card VIP of the Nalan family, he naturally didn’t require an invitation to enter.

The auction was scheduled to begin at six in the evening.

After giving it some thought, Mu Bai decided he would attend.

For one, he had promised Mu Xiaoxiao. For another, as a black card VIP of the Nalan family, it was only appropriate to show his support at their event.

With that in mind, he glanced at his watch and saw that there were still several hours left before the auction.

Not in a rush, Mu Bai picked up the stack of résumés on his desk—those of the five candidates applying to be his personal assistant.

Since he had some free time, he decided to finalize his choice.

Mu Bai flipped through the detailed résumés:

[Li Xiaoqing’s Résumé]: Graduated from Fudan University with a degree in Finance. Excellent academic record, good personal conduct, single, 23 years old. Previously interned for a year at a postal bank. Colleagues rated her performance as satisfactory. Resigned due to financial difficulties, seeking a high-paying job…

Contact Information: WeChat: 56****, QQ: 5698****, Phone: 136******.

[Xu Xiaoyun’s Résumé]: Graduated from Nanjing University, majoring in comic design with a minor in finance. Good academic record, personal conduct not evaluated, single, 28 years old. Three years of work experience at an animation company, resigned due to personal reasons. A native of Nanjing…

Contact Information: WeChat: 98*****, Phone: 168******.

…

As he skimmed through the résumés, Mu Bai noticed that they likely weren’t written by the applicants themselves. After all, it was uncommon for job seekers to write about themselves in such an objective tone.

It was likely that these résumés had been compiled by the manager of the underground “Dragon Hunting” agency.

“Not bad. Very detailed,” Mu Bai murmured in approval.

As he continued sorting through the candidates, time ticked by.

Before he knew it, it was already 5 PM, and night had fallen.

After finalizing his choice, Mu Bai looked up at the darkening sky, then checked his phone for the time. He stood up and prepared to head to the Nalan venue.

The deep winter night had arrived early. By 5:30 PM, darkness had already enveloped the entire city of Nanjing.

At that moment, a luxurious venue in the city center was brightly lit.

Inside, guests had begun arriving one after another.

This was the prestigious charity gala hosted by the Nalan family.

Since the Nalan family was a powerful force in the southern region, many wealthy elites and influential figures had come to attend.

After all, this was not only an opportunity to showcase philanthropy and enhance one’s public image but also a chance to expand one’s network.

The expansive Nalan venue was divided into two seating sections:

The main seats were reserved for members of the Nalan family, as well as VIP and black card guests. This group was composed of the event’s most prominent and wealthy attendees.

Among them was Dongfang Jing, a mogul in the entertainment industry who controlled the multi-billion-dollar Huayi Media Company. Also present were Liang Yunfeng, the vice chairman of Baiyun Catering Group, and Li Shaofeng, the eldest son of Li Trading Group, which had influence throughout the southern region.

These individuals were not just influential in Nanjing or Jianghai Province—they were well-known across the entire southern region.

As a result, the first row of the main section had only seven seats—one for Nalan Yun and the remaining six for black card VIPs.

Meanwhile, the guest section was occupied by invited dignitaries, high-ranking officials, and wealthy businessmen.

Although only a few people had arrived at the main section, the guest section was already nearly full.

After all, everyone wanted to seize the opportunity to connect with elite figures.

Many guests were already engaged in polite conversations, forming small discussion groups. Among them sat Mu Xiaoxiao and Zhang Yanyun in the front row.

However, a hint of gloominess lingered on Mu Xiaoxiao’s stunning face.

“Xiaoxiao, Mu Bai said he would come to the charity auction on his own. Please don’t be upset. I did say a few things to him, but I was only looking out for you,” Zhang Yanyun sighed.

She knew Mu Xiaoxiao would be angry, but she hadn’t expected her to ignore her for the past three hours. This left Zhang Yanyun at a loss for what to do.

After a few minutes of silence, seeing that Mu Xiaoxiao still refused to speak, Zhang Yanyun turned to the young man sitting beside her, casting him a pleading look.

Yes, in the end, she had given the invitation meant for Mu Bai to Li Kaiyun, a top-tier celebrity arranged by their company—this very young man sitting next to her, who appeared to be around twenty-two or twenty-three years old.

He was strikingly handsome, and with a touch of makeup, he exuded a delicate, scholarly charm that made him irresistibly appealing to female fans.

A true rising star in the entertainment industry, Li Kaiyun was even more popular than Mu Xiaoxiao.

In terms of earning potential, the two were practically on par.

Seeing Zhang Yanyun’s silent plea, Li Kaiyun gave a slight nod. A warm smile appeared on his face as he turned to Mu Xiaoxiao.

“Xiaoxiao, do you dislike being around me? If so, I’ll leave after the charity gala. But please don’t be mad at Auntie Yanyun—if you must blame someone, blame me instead.”

In the fiercely competitive entertainment industry, one couldn’t reach the top without both looks and intelligence.

Li Kaiyun admired Mu Xiaoxiao’s breathtaking beauty, but he also knew that love couldn’t be forced.

However, he was confident in himself.

Given enough time, he was certain Mu Xiaoxiao would eventually fall for him.

After all, how many young men could match his achievements?

In terms of wealth, he could effortlessly earn tens of millions annually. If he pushed himself a little harder, even breaking a hundred million wasn’t impossible.

In terms of looks, his ten million-plus female fans on Weibo were proof enough of his charm.

In terms of connections, he had built strong relationships with many top-tier celebrities and even influential business tycoons.

He firmly believed that among his peers, he stood at the very pinnacle of excellence!

At this moment, Li Kaiyun gently comforted Mu Xiaoxiao.

After a few words, Mu Xiaoxiao finally broke her silence.

She lifted her flawless face and gave Li Kaiyun a brief glance before turning to Zhang Yanyun.

“Auntie Yanyun, I know you mean well, so I’ve always listened to you. But please, never say anything that would hurt Mu Bai again. I will truly be angry.”

“Alright, I promise I won’t,” Zhang Yanyun quickly responded.

However, just as Mu Xiaoxiao lowered her head to check her phone, Zhang Yanyun caught a glimpse of a familiar figure out of the corner of her eye.

She turned her head, and when she finally got a clear look at the person’s face, her eyes widened in shock.

“Xiaoxiao, look—Mu Bai!”