Zhidao Investment is the largest private equity fund in Jiangnan City and the most profitable venture capital firm.
Its return on investment is, without a doubt, far ahead of its peers in Jiangnan City.
Besides his role as an investment banking consultant, Pan Wenzhou also boasts work experience with UBS Group, stacking his "overseas returnee" credentials to the brim.
It's only natural for him to carry an air of superiority.
He assumed everyone at the banquet would hold some admiration for him, but then he ran into Hai TangXi.
Hai TangXi's father, Hai Lin, is a prominent figure in the local financial circle. It's likely that even the partners at Zhidao Investment are his friends.
Showing off his superiority in front of her was nothing short of humiliating himself.
What's more, Hai TangXi herself is an exceptionally accomplished woman who never considered relying on marriage to change her life or achieve her goals.
Whether they're social elites or ordinary people, in her eyes, they're just men.
Quoting Jack Ma's "overseas returnee theory" shut Pan Wenzhou up completely.
Anyone with half a brain could tell Hai TangXi was mocking him.
She was calling him a country bumpkin.
To be honest, Pan Wenzhou couldn't save face, but arguing with a woman in such a setting would be even more embarrassing.
He gritted his teeth and swallowed his pride.
"OK! Miss, maybe you're right," Pan Wenzhou said, spreading his hands.
His expression wasn't exactly pleasant.
"When have women ever been wrong?"
Jiang Beicheng walked over with a smile, chiming in with a single sentence.
That line made Hai TangXi laugh.
It was a double entendre.
On the surface, it seemed to imply women were unreasonably stubborn, but in this context, it was perfectly fitting—it was praising her sharp judgment. Pan Wenzhou was indeed a country bumpkin.
Pan Wenzhou was hit hard by the "country bumpkin" label again.
His face was full of embarrassment.
Thankfully, a few fake socialites who had snuck into the event came over, giving him a dignified excuse to leave.
"Mr. Pan, where were we just now?"
"Young Master Pan, I think your insights on red wine are truly unique…"
Pan Wenzhou raised his glass toward Jiang Beicheng with a smile and left with the fake socialites.
Hai TangXi and Jiang Beicheng exchanged a knowing smile and moved to their seats.
"Don't you want to know what he and I were talking about just now?" Hai TangXi asked. "What if I was actually in the wrong? Wouldn't it be awkward for you to step in and defend me?"
Jiang Beicheng replied, "Does right or wrong matter?
Let the law and morality sort out right from wrong.
But your safety? That's something I have to ensure."
Hai TangXi playfully pushed Jiang Beicheng's head, laughing brightly. "You're smooth."
"Thank you for the compliment, Sister Xi," Jiang Beicheng said, raising his glass to clink with hers.
…
All the banquet guests had arrived.
Robert, the general manager of the Regent Hotel, took the stage to deliver a speech, expressing heartfelt gratitude to the distinguished members of the InterContinental Group.
After his speech, a band performed a few songs.
Then a dance troupe performed classic Broadway numbers.
Savoring fine food and wine while enjoying timeless songs and dances was a true indulgence.
After the performance, Robert returned to the stage and warmly invited Zhou Zhuolin, the president of InterContinental Group's Greater China region, to give a speech.
The audience erupted in enthusiastic applause.
It was rare to see this group executive in person, and his presence at Jiangcheng's mid-year appreciation banquet demonstrated the hotel's sincerity and commitment.
Zhou Zhuolin passionately "confessed" his gratitude to all the distinguished guests, using the warm term "family" to convey the hotel's care and affection.
The president's speech was masterful.
It perfectly conveyed gratitude to the customers while promoting the hotel's corporate culture.
After his speech, he invited a member representative to speak.
When Hai TangXi heard the name "Pan Wenzhou," she smiled again. This "overseas returnee" was probably about to take the stage to show off his superiority again.
"I thought you'd be the star on stage tonight," Hai TangXi said to Jiang Beicheng.
"They invited me, but I declined," he replied.
"With your personality, you'd pass up such a great chance to show off?" Hai TangXi didn't believe him.
Jiang Beicheng laughed. "I'm not exactly good at flattery."
On stage, Pan Wenzhou had already bowed and was preparing to perform.
"Respected President Zhou Zhuolin, distinguished guests, good evening…"
He paused deliberately, waiting for applause.
"It's a great honor to gather with all of you and enjoy this wonderful evening.
The InterContinental Hotel Group is a British brand. I studied and worked in the UK for some time, and I had the privilege of meeting and discussing hotel management with the group's global CEO, Mr. Murray…"
Hai TangXi looked at the stage. "Here we go."
Jiang Beicheng glanced back. "Eating without a show would be boring, wouldn't it?"
"You're really funny," Hai TangXi said with a laugh.
Pan Wenzhou noticed Jiang Beicheng and Hai TangXi's smiles and felt they were talking about him again. With even more confidence, he continued, "Although I work in investment banking, I've also made some achievements in corporate management.
The corporate culture and management system of the InterContinental Hotel Group are among the most advanced in the world…"
His flattery made the brand and its partners feel very comfortable.
Zhou Zhuolin's smile was visible, and he kept clapping.
Most of the audience followed Zhou Zhuolin's lead and applauded.
Pan Wenzhou's sense of superiority reached its peak.
He confidently raised his glass to the crowd. "To shared success!"
As he stepped off the stage, he deliberately adjusted the buttons on his shirt.
His gaze fell on Jiang Beicheng and Hai TangXi, and he nodded with a smile before sitting down.
Hai TangXi asked, "What's that smile supposed to mean?"
Jiang Beicheng mimicked, "Showing off! 'Look how great I am.'"
"Hahaha!" Hai TangXi couldn't hold it in and burst out laughing, leaning on Jiang Beicheng's shoulder.
On stage, Zhou Zhuolin invited Luca, the market general manager of Italy's Ragna Winery, a partner for the appreciation banquet, to take the stage.
"To express our gratitude to all our distinguished guests, we've partnered with Italy's Ragna Winery to prepare a gift for each of you as a token of our appreciation."
Zhou Zhuolin opened a red wine gift box to display.
It was Barolo dry red wine from Ragna Winery.
Ragna Winery is a world-renowned top-tier winery, famous for its Barolo and Barbaresco dry red wines.
Barbaresco dry red is especially revered by wine enthusiasts and collectors.
Why can they produce such exceptional dry red wines?
The two-bottle red wine gift box given to each guest was 2013 Barolo dry red.
Ragna Winery has low production and an exceptionally long aging process, with wines typically hitting the market after a decade.
These two bottles of 2013 Barolo, made from 50-year-old Nebbiolo vines, have a market value in the mid-thousands.
Not expensive, but not cheap either.
The audience erupted in enthusiastic applause.
Zhou Zhuolin continued, "Mr. Luca has also prepared a special gift for the InterContinental Hotel Group's most distinguished client."
Luca personally opened a gift box containing a 2001 Barbaresco dry red wine, made from 60-year-old Nebbiolo vines.
Only 1,000 bottles of this wine were produced that year, with a single bottle priced at 8,700 RMB at the time.
Now, aside from Ragna Winery, this wine is nowhere to be found on the market.
Its rarity speaks for itself to the wine enthusiasts in the room.
InterContinental had truly gone all out this time.
This was a wine worthy of an auction.
Almost everyone's eyes turned to Pan Wenzhou.
Pan Wenzhou smiled politely.
He, too, believed this grand gift was meant for him, as he had spoken as the member representative tonight.
His speech had earned President Zhou Zhuolin's approval and applause.
Plus, he was a loyal customer of the InterContinental Hotel Group.
As he waited for Luca to present the wine to him, Zhou Zhuolin suddenly turned to Jiang Beicheng and asked, "Mr. Jiang, would you mind coming up to the stage?"