Chapter Twelve
Half an hour later, an inconspicuous electric car drove into the hotel's open-air parking lot. As soon as they got out of the car, the parking lot security guard came up to them and said, "Sir, you can't park here."
"Why?"
"These two rows of parking spaces are reserved for our guests tonight." The security guard had a heavy accent and looked honest and simple. Perhaps because he had been standing outdoors for a long time, his cheeks were red from the cold.
Seeing that Peng Kun showed no intention of moving the car, the security guard couldn't help but feel uneasy. Although he was just a nobody, he had worked at a five-star hotel and had seen a lot of people. Based on his experience, the boss attending the banquet would never drive such a cheap electric car, wear such plain clothes, and bring such a low-key female companion. However, the man in front of him had a firm gaze, a straight back, and an aura that seemed to be two meters and eighty centimeters tall, making him someone not to be underestimated.
He looked Peng Kun up and down again, assuming he was probably some boss's designated driver, and asked, "Are you here to pick someone up?"
Peng Kun didn't want to waste time with him, so he simply pulled out the invitation and handed it to him. The security guard glanced at it before realizing he was the guest invited to the banquet. He was momentarily flustered and repeatedly bowed and apologized, "Ah, I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry..."
As the two left the parking lot, Zuo Xutong couldn't help but ask Peng Kun, "You're not short of money, so why do you always..." Actually, she wanted to say "playing dumb to fool others," but before those words could escape her lips, she used her remaining rationality to think it over and felt that the metaphor wasn't quite right. Therefore, she chose a more tactful way of expressing it, "Always so unkempt?"
"What's wrong?" Peng Kun lowered his eyes, looked at his own clothes, and then looked at her, making Zuo Xutong feel uneasy. "They say the pot calling the kettle black, but you're the pot calling the kettle black, aren't you? You still have the nerve to talk about me? Look at yourself, you're dressed even worse than me."
Zuo Xutong had just recalled the security guard's startled expression. She had only meant to kindly remind him, fearing he might embarrass her again, but instead she was met with merciless mockery. She rolled her eyes at him, thinking to herself, "I'm just broke, how can our situations be the same?"
The reason why Peng Kun dressed simply is quite simple: the garment and textile industry is the second largest polluting industry after petrochemicals. It consumes nearly 100 million tons of non-renewable resources and emits billions of tons of greenhouse gases every year. A large amount of industrial wastewater flows into rivers and oceans, and also pollutes the soil and groundwater.
Of course, he wouldn't explain these things to others, because a considerable number of people in this world adopt a laissez-faire attitude towards things they can't control, especially when such things involve the well-being of all mankind. They will justify their rejection, choosing to turn a blind eye and a deaf ear as long as it doesn't affect them immediately. They might even scoff at those around them who try to change the status quo, believing that the latter lack the self-awareness to recognize reality and a down-to-earth attitude towards life. In their view, caring about rising sea levels is not as practical and meaningful as caring about rising pork prices.
So whenever Peng Kun faces similar questions, he always answers calmly like this: "Judging people by their appearance is their own problem, and I don't need to feel guilty. As for why I am unkempt, a quote from Hemingway might explain it: 'A person who begins to live a more serious life will also become more plain in appearance. Human beings actually have very few real needs.'"
After hearing what he said, Zuo Xutong had no way to refute him and could only silently follow him forward.
Upon arriving at the banquet hall entrance, Peng Kun presented his invitation. The receptionist, noticing their incongruous attire, felt uneasy but remained composed, gesturing for them to enter with a smile and saying, "Please come in, gentlemen."
As Zuo Xutong stepped into the hall, she was greeted by a sea of dark suits and floor-length gowns. Every man at the banquet was impeccably dressed in a suit and gleaming high-end leather shoes. If it weren't for the differences in height and facial features, she would have almost thought she had stumbled into a cloning factory. The women, on the other hand, wore a variety of gorgeous gowns, adorned with dazzling jewels, each carrying a delicate handbag in one hand and a glass of red wine in the other. The entire banquet hall was brightly lit and resplendent, even the plates on the tables shimmered.
Zuo Xutong then realized how out of place her attire was with the surroundings. She looked like a beggar who had mistakenly wandered into a palace, unsure of where to begin. The men and women in the banquet hall stared at her as if she were a monster, their eyes filled with disdain and confusion.
The air conditioning in the lobby was strong, so the women, dressed in revealing clothing, didn't feel particularly cold. In contrast, Zuo Xutong seemed to be in a completely different season. She instinctively gripped the "flour bag" on her shoulder, following closely behind Peng Kun, warily observing her surroundings like a rabbit caught in a flock of sheep, every movement cautious and each step fraught with danger. Peng Kun, however, seemed completely unconcerned. He strolled leisurely through the crowd, casually greeting every acquaintance he knew.
Seeing his composed demeanor, Zuo Xutong suddenly realized that even if she wore a wolf's skin, she was still a sheep, while he, even if he wore a sheep's skin, was still a wolf. What matters in life is one's breadth of mind and magnanimity. Truly strong people don't care about others' opinions. Those who desperately try to please others by packaging themselves may maintain outward dignity, but they lose inner peace.
After this internal struggle, Zuo Xutong seemed to have a sudden realization. In an instant, all the judgmental faces around her vanished. She felt as if she were walking in a radiant void, where no one could affect her emotions or damage her self-esteem. Yes! Her purpose in coming here was simply to have a good meal. Once she walked out of this door, she might never see these people again in her entire life, so why worry about it? With this thought, her expression became much more relaxed, and her heart became peaceful and serene.
Just then, a middle-aged man walked towards them. Zuo Xutong felt that he looked very familiar. Upon closer inspection, wasn't that Guo Fei? Although the two had only met once, Guo Fei was too distinctive in appearance, especially his wildly swollen beer belly, which looked like it was about to explode.
To avoid talking to him, Zuo Xutong wisely withdrew and walked to the buffet table a few meters away, perfectly missing her encounter with Guo Fei.
Although Guo Fei hadn't been in the new energy field for long, his social skills and interpersonal abilities allowed him to quickly become acquainted with many industry leaders. He walked over and exchanged a few pleasantries with Peng Kun, then pointed to two people raising their glasses and talking about six or seven meters away in the ten o'clock direction: "See them?"
Peng Kun immediately recognized one of them as Luan Mingfeng, the major shareholder of Chaoma New Energy. However, he was a little unsure about the other, a short, thin man: "Lu..."
Guo Fei nodded and smiled, "That's right. Lu Qian, an investor in Sancang Fund, is looking for suitable investment projects. Investors with such keen insight not only consider industry prospects and market potential, but also value whether a company has real core technology."
Peng Kun smiled and asked casually, "I heard that Chaoma's R&D team is going to collaborate with Tian Yuying's lab at USTC to jointly develop low-cost manufacturing technology for membrane electrodes?"
"You're quite well-informed. The city is about to build four hydrogen refueling stations and plans to gradually replace all the buses in Longjin City with hydrogen fuel cell-powered vehicles within a few years. With policy support, your fuel cells will definitely have no shortage of market demand in the future," Guo Fei said enviously. New energy companies like Polar Blue Sky and Chaoma are increasing their R&D efforts in hydrogen fuel cells, while his company lacks independent R&D capabilities and doesn't even have a decent lithium battery product.
“Yes, with the energy and market issues resolved and funding secured, Chaoma is only missing the technological impetus. If their research succeeds, it will significantly reduce the production cost of fuel cells.” Peng Kun had previously considered establishing a similar R&D team, but the company lacked technical experts in this area. Unexpectedly, Chaoma, a latecomer, beat them to it.
"It seems that Chao Ma wants to attract investment from Sancang. Chairman Gao of Sancang Fund is a well-known conservative who won't cast his net unless he sees a big fish. With the Luan Group's financial strength, why would Luan Mingfeng want to bite into this tough nut?" Guo Fei scratched his head in confusion. Then, thinking of Luan Mingfeng, he seemed to suddenly remember something and asked in a muffled voice, "By the way, that girl next to you just now looked familiar. I feel like I've seen her somewhere before."
“You’ve mistaken her for someone else. She’s only been with our company for a short time and didn’t work in Longjin City before.” Peng Kun was surprised to himself after saying that. As the chairman and general manager of the company, he actually knew so much about the situation of a low-level employee.
Guo Fei was still not satisfied after listening, and he kept his head down and racked his brains. But every time he seemed to have just grasped a little clue, the clue would suddenly break. He thought for two or three minutes but still couldn't remember. That feeling of being anxious made him very uncomfortable. He had never been so serious about the company's products.
At this moment, Zuo Xutong was standing in the dessert area with a plate in hand. The several-meter-long counter was filled with all kinds of cakes and desserts, making her mouth water. Having mentally prepared herself earlier, she completely treated this place as her own kitchen, unabashedly selecting her favorite desserts. Soon, she filled a plate to the brim and then stood in front of the counter eating as if no one else was there.
A moment later, two young women dressed in evening gowns walked over. They had originally intended to come and pick up some desserts to eat, but they stopped in their tracks the moment they saw Zuo Xutong. Her extremely dowdy outfit shocked them, and her unrestrained eating habits made them want to stay away.
“My God, how dare the gatekeeper let just anyone in?” said one of the women in a champagne-colored fishtail dress.
"I've heard of people sneaking into wedding banquets like this when no one's looking. The bride thinks she's a relative of the groom, and the groom thinks she's a relative of the bride, only to find out in the end that nobody knows them," another woman analyzed confidently. Despite her exquisite makeup and striking beauty, probably no one would notice her face; everyone's attention was definitely drawn to her from the neck down. Her attire was incredibly daring: a nude pink mini-skirt that accentuated her perfect, curvaceous figure, her dark hair styled in a bun, revealing her almost completely bare back. The upper part of the dress was made of transparent lace and tulle, adorned with luxurious rhinestones and pearls at the chest, while the lower part barely covered her hips, with very little fabric covering her body. The dress's color was like foundation, blending perfectly with her skin tone, making it appear as if she were naked from a distance—a sight that would make anyone's blood boil. Even red carpet stars wouldn't dare wear something like that.
"Shameless! And she's a woman! Look at what she's wearing, daring to come to a place like this to freeload." The woman in the pencil skirt continued to point and mock Zuo Xutong, ridiculing her "shameless" attire. It seems that in a communal society, the shameless one is always the one who stands out. If everyone were to walk naked on the street now, the only one wearing clothes would be the shameless one, because people don't pursue truth; conformity is truth.
"Oh well, never mind, I've lost my appetite. Let's go check out the drinks section." The fishtail skirt said, pulling the resentful bodycon skirt along.
They weren't speaking quietly, and Zuo Xutong vaguely heard a few words, but she found herself not angry at all. That's how people are; if you don't take those who criticize you seriously, their words can't hurt you.
She was engrossed in eating the mousse cake on her plate. It tasted wonderful; sweets can stimulate the body to release dopamine, making people feel happy and relaxed.
Just as she was immersed in this sweet pleasure, a familiar voice rang in her ears: "Tongtong, what are you doing here?"
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