Chapter 116
After everyone was seated, the charity gala officially began.
Various collections were brought to the center of the stage for auction, including calligraphy, paintings, antiques, and artworks. Some were donated by guests present, some were the latest works by celebrities, and some were contributed by other charitable organizations.
Who wouldn't want to do good deeds in a way that allows them to leave their name and gain public attention? The audience was constantly raising their paddles, and almost every item was auctioned off at a high price.
The emotions may be fake, but the money is real, and the contributions to society are substantial. This is the fundamental reason why the Sabah Charity Night has been able to persist for more than ten years. News of each event is featured on the national news program, making it a charity gala recognized and praised even by the central government.
Chen Zhiyi purchased a sculpture model made by students from the Central Academy of Fine Arts. It was considered the least valuable item in the auction, but he still bought it for a high price of 300,000 yuan.
It can't be called a bidding war; it's considered that he bought it. He was the only one who raised his paddle, and that one paddle sealed the deal.
Even when he was at the same time, he couldn't help but ask his boss, "Were you possessed by an evil spirit at that moment?" Even with the reputation of the Central Academy of Fine Arts, this thing is worth at most 30,000 yuan, and you actually offered 300,000 yuan? Is the company that profitable?
Chen Zhiyi smiled without saying a word. What he photographed was not a model, but the missing family affection.
The model depicts a family of three eating hot pot at the doorway on a winter night. This is a scene of family affection that Lin Ting has missed since her tenth birthday, a pain she can never let go of in her life.
By freezing the moment into a model and making it permanent, the memory may remain at its happiest moment.
Time passed, and the last item was auctioned off.
The host teased, "I'm personally very much looking forward to the last item. I glanced at it backstage during the process, and it was stunning, yet also deeply moving. Now, please welcome the donor, Mr. Chen Zhiyi, to the stage to unveil the auction."
Chen Zhiyi stood up, straightened his clothes, and strode towards the stage.
The collection was also placed in the center of the stage. Chen Zhiyi did not delay and went up to unveil the red cloth covering it. The true appearance was revealed. It was an embroidery piece, which depicted a photo that went viral on the Internet and moved the whole of China during the epidemic. It was a photo from a hospital in Seoul, a key area of the epidemic, showing medical staff pushing a patient in a hospital bed to watch the sunset.
Chen Zhiyi picked up the microphone, her voice gentle and clear, "I think everyone has seen this photo. It warmed the world during the worst of the pandemic. A nurse was pushing an elderly person who had been hospitalized for a month to get a CT scan. The sunset was beautiful that day, and the nurse stopped so the elderly person could see the long-awaited sunset. In the afterglow of the setting sun, life is infinitely precious. As the sun sets, two figures look in the same direction. Life is worthwhile; it's so good to have you. So we must believe in the resilience of life, the power of love, and the strength of our nation. Whether we are living in peace or facing hardship, there will always be people carrying the burden for us. Even the most difficult days will pass, and we will eventually usher in a prosperous and flourishing world." At the end, Chen Zhiyi turned the embroidery over, revealing a scene of a hundred flowers blooming on the reverse side.
Instantly, a gasp of surprise rippled through the audience.
"So this is double-sided embroidery?" the host asked.
Chen Zhiyi: "Yes, it's double-sided Suzhou embroidery. This piece comes from Lizhen, a famous embroidery town, and was created by several Suzhou embroidery masters over two months."
Host: "You announced your relationship a while ago, and you also mentioned it when you walked the red carpet. It was your partner who prepared the surprise. I wonder if it was this embroidery?"
“Yes, she was born and raised in Lizhen. This embroidery was completed by her and a Suzhou embroidery master she found.” After saying this, Chen Zhiyi turned to the host, smiling, his voice gentle yet serious. “I hope that introducing her doesn’t just involve mentioning my other half, which completely overshadows her brilliance. Her life’s value goes far beyond that. She is not only a well-known self-media personality with millions of followers, but also a Suzhou embroidery master with exquisite craftsmanship, a clothing designer who insists on originality, and an idealist dedicated to making China’s high-end customization stand in the world. Of course, I hope that everyone can remember her name – Lin Ting, the person I love and admire.”
“This embroidery is actually very meaningful to both of us. We reunited during the pandemic lockdown and were stuck in the same house. Because of what happened in the past, she had a lot of prejudice against me at that time and hated seeing me. But because of the lockdown, she had to be in the same space as me. To put it bluntly, I was secretly pleased at the time and even thought that the pandemic came at the perfect time.”
This remark was met with a burst of laughter from the audience.
"Later, we both signed up to be community volunteers, working on the front lines, distributing supplies, disinfecting, taking temperatures, contacting hospitals when we found infected people, and so on. At first, we weren't afraid, but it gradually got worse. Every day we could hear ambulances coming and going, and everything we saw was white. That white was like the white ribbons in TV dramas, wrapping around our necks, almost suffocating us. We were almost desperate, and we both felt like we couldn't take it anymore. Just when we were on the verge of collapse, one snowy night, we saw the residents of the community running to their balconies, waving national flags, and shouting 'Go China! China wins!' The scene was inspiring and exciting. It made our frozen hearts beat again, gave us hope, and gave us strength. At that moment, we knew that no matter how difficult it was, we would get through it. Sure enough, the next day, after the snow, the sky was clear. All the coldness had melted away the night before, and we could still see the beautiful sunrise and sunset."
"Later, I unfortunately contracted the virus myself. Tragically, it was during the peak of the infection, and hospital beds were severely insufficient. I could only recover at home. When my condition reached its most dangerous point, I felt like my life was over. She stayed by my side, taking care of me and encouraging me. The person I cared about most was right beside me; how could I leave her alone? So, I pulled through. After recovering, we returned to the front lines of the battle. They asked me to share my experience, and I simply said, 'Love makes people invincible.'"
At that moment, thunderous applause erupted from the audience, and many people had tears in their eyes. In this war without gunfire, we have lost a lot, but we have also gained a lot. Fortunately, we have people we love, people who love us, and a country that loves us. In any war, we are not fighting alone, but a group of people forging ahead together.
The comments section was filled with exclamations of "Ah!"
"Ahhh, the brother's love for his sister-in-law is overflowing even through the screen."
"No wonder he was so devoted to his sister-in-law; they had been through thick and thin together."
"I almost cried listening to this reflection on the pandemic. Yes, in the face of life and death, the concern and calls of loved ones are more effective than any magic pill."
"Same here, I am deeply moved, love can create miracles."
"Has no one noticed how amazing my sister-in-law is? She's beautiful and talented; she designs and makes clothes, and she's a craftswoman. This double-sided Suzhou embroidery is truly stunning; it's almost identical to the photos."
"The Xiuhe dress I wore for my wedding was custom-made at my sister-in-law's shop. I was amazed when I saw the design drawings, but I didn't expect the actual dress to be even more irresistible. The dragons and phoenixes embroidered on it are so lifelike. My sister-in-law's embroidery skills are superb!"
"It seems like my brother is really lucky to be dating me."
"My brother makes a living based on his looks, but my sister-in-law is the one who truly makes a living based on her skills."
“If one day my brother is as beautiful as a flower at home and my sister-in-law is out earning money to support the family, I wouldn’t be surprised at all.”
"Of course, I wouldn't be surprised if my sister-in-law's popularity surpasses my brother's someday. After all, she rode on his coattails and gained a lot of attention and traffic tonight, talking about her all the time."
"Just mentioning my sister-in-law makes me feel like my brother's tail is practically wagging in the air."
"The first sister-in-law in the entertainment industry who is both virtuous and talented, and who can appear on stage and on camera."
"..."
Ultimately, the embroidery was auctioned off for the highest price of the day.
After the party ended, Qin Fei called Chen Zhiyi back again. She had something more important to discuss with him privately in person.
"I heard you're also vying for the Palace Museum's IP rights? How about we collaborate and win this project together?"
Chen Zhiyi was surprised. "You're overthinking it. This is a national-level project. If you want to win it, you'll have to rely on your own efforts."
Qin Fei chuckled, "Your own efforts? Your family background can save you a lot of trouble."
Chen Zhiyi hates it when people talk about his family background, as if his efforts are insignificant in comparison. "I am not you. I have always been upright and honest and do not violate any rules. For Xiao Erduo, winning the bid is icing on the cake, and not winning will not cause any loss."
Qin Fei scoffed. She disliked Chen Zhiyi's unworldly demeanor. If he were more sensible, she would have won him over long ago. On the contrary, this was also the reason she fell in love with him at first sight. He was clean and pure, and she both loved and hated him.
"Is that so? You and I both have business acumen now. You know very well how much profit and fame the unprecedented Palace Museum IP can bring. If you really didn't care, why would you be vying to win the bid? Little Ears is developing rapidly, with businesses flourishing in various sectors, but you have to admit that it also has undeniable shortcomings. Its promotional channels are definitely not as extensive as those of established companies. In addition, you haven't ventured into the fields of animation or special effects. To make the Palace Museum IP work well, anthropomorphic animation is unavoidable. Do you think anyone in the industry can compare with Jiali in this area?"
That's for sure. Jiali started out making animation, and now many well-known anime and animations are produced by Jiali. If it weren't for the fact that animation can still make some money, Jiali would have gone out of business long ago.
But so what? Chen Zhiyi didn't care, and even found her ridiculous. "Let me give you a piece of advice: if your purpose in taking on this project is to make money, then give up on that idea. The Forbidden City is a cultural treasure left to us by our ancestors, a witness to history, a symbol of China, and a sacred and inviolable place in everyone's heart. The fundamental purpose of creating this major IP for the Forbidden City is to obtain more funds to repair it, to ensure that the Forbidden City can remain eternal in the long river of history, and to ensure that every cultural relic inside can be properly preserved and shine brightly all year round, not a way to gain money and fame as you put it."
After saying that, Chen Zhiyi turned and left, not wanting to waste any more words.
Qin Fei knew she was in an awkward position, but Jia Li's current situation was precarious, and she desperately needed to win this project to turn the tide.
"Chen Zhiyi, during the years you were with Jiali, the company never mistreated you. The company deserves a lot of credit for your current position. Now, Jiali is facing a cash flow crisis, and the film and television dramas it has invested in are either losing money or cannot be broadcast. It is almost in a dead end and urgently needs a chance to turn things around. We took on this project not just to make money, but also to boost morale and make everyone believe in Jiali's strength again."
“I am very grateful to Jiali for her guidance. I said before the party started that I could invest and take a stake. This is the only way for me to repay my former employer. You should consider it.”
Chen Zhiyi left without looking back.
Although Qin Fei is now the vice president of Jiali, it's just a nice-sounding title. She's still just an employee. If Chen Zhiyi were to invest and join the board of directors, he would have decision-making power. How could someone as arrogant and conceited as her tolerate someone who used to work under her thumb becoming the master who oppresses her?
Her desire for control and possession would never allow this to happen.
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