Chapter - 5938

Tawana Sweet's concert in Tokyo drew a significant crowd, not only of prominent Japanese elites but also many celebrated Japanese celebrities, showcasing her widespread fame.

Claire and Loreen quickly recognized several of the stars mingling at the event, identifying them as notable singers and actors.

Charlie, observing the two of them effortlessly naming these celebrities, felt a bit uninterested.

He had never been one to idolize stars, showing little interest in these Japanese celebrities or in Tawana Sweet, who was about to perform. As for the Japanese elite in attendance, he was even less concerned. He didn’t care to ingratiate himself with the powerful or build connections with the wealthy. To him, these esteemed Japanese figures seemed trivial; after all, even the Rothschilds had to regard his disposition, rendering these local tycoons insignificant in his eyes.

Interestingly, despite the crowd mostly comprising Japanese attendees, they spoke English as a matter of course. Even those with thick Japanese accents utilized English, seldom using their native tongue, which surprised Charlie somewhat.

However, he quickly understood the rationale behind it. The Japanese have historically held a deep admiration for the West, particularly the United States. Since the Meiji Restoration, adopting Western attire, cuisine, and language has been a hallmark of the elite. Thus, it was unsurprising they spoke English on such an occasion.

Sasaki Yukiko guided the trio around the venue. Whenever they encountered familiar faces, she greeted them warmly and introduced Charlie and the others.

Charlie noticed a subtle detail: Sasaki Yukiko seemed hesitant to introduce them to a group that appeared to be the event's main attendees. There were over a dozen people positioned and conversing in a central area, yet she hesitated several times and ultimately chose not to approach them.

Charlie surmised that Yukiko might not have the standing to greet those prominent individuals herself. Attempting to do so alone would likely be awkward, and bringing along unfamiliar faces could heighten the discomfort.

Just then, a young woman in an elegant evening gown spotted Sasaki Yukiko and approached with a smile, saying, "Sachiko, you’re flitting about like a headless chicken. Are you passing out business cards everywhere?"

Upon hearing this, Sachiko faced the woman and replied somewhat stiffly, "Miki, I'm just introducing my friends to some familiar guests."

"Your friends?" Miki said, glancing at Charlie and then at Claire and Loreen. "They’re not Japanese, are they?"

While the appearances of Japanese, Chinese, and Koreans can be similar, discerning women can easily spot the distinctions. The fashion choices of men and women from each country exhibit unique characteristics. Upon closer inspection of Claire and Loreen, with their professional attire and makeup, it was clear they didn't fit the Japanese style. As for Charlie, he did not wear makeup and hadn't groomed his eyebrows; to Japanese women, he certainly didn’t seem local, regardless of attractiveness. Local men generally maintained meticulously styled hair and eyebrows.

Not wanting to engage deeply with Miki, Sasaki Yukiko simply stated, "Yes, these friends of mine are all from China."

Miki turned her gaze to Charlie and asked curiously, "What’s this gentleman's name and what does he do?"

Charlie replied nonchalantly, "My surname is Wade, Charlie Wade. I’m currently unemployed; I can’t say I have a prestigious job."

Miki looked surprised at Charlie's response, then glanced at Claire, who was holding his hand. Despite their modest attire and lack of flashy jewelry, their presence indicated they were not simply ordinary individuals. Miki initially suspected Charlie had significant connections in China but was thrown off by his admission of being unemployed.

With a smile, she said, "Mr. Wade is quite modest. For this event, Sachiko and I only received three invitations from our family, who expect us to invite influential individuals. Since Sachiko chose to invite you, I assume you must come from an impressive background. How could Mr. Wade truly be unemployed?"

Charlie felt a bit taken aback by Miki's frankness. Such comments were usually kept private. Why would she speak so openly?

Yet, uninterested in overanalyzing, he replied, "I genuinely am unemployed. Occasionally, I offer Feng Shui consultations for a commission. If Miss Miki has any related requirements, I’d be happy to help."

Realizing Charlie wasn’t being humble, Miki frowned slightly, smirking playfully, "I've heard of Feng Shui; it seems like a feudal superstition from China. Japan has similar masters, but most lack credibility. The Japanese elite generally don’t trust these imported beliefs."

She then turned to Claire, "May I ask where this lady is making her contribution?"

Claire answered, "I’ve started my own design studio."

Miki inquired, "A design studio? In China?"

"Yes," Claire confirmed. "It’s in Aurous Hill."

Miki initially thought Claire might be a notable designer in China but was surprised to find she was running a studio in Aurous Hill, merely a second-tier city. She wouldn’t even consider a prominent design studio in Tokyo, let alone one launched by an unknown female designer in Aurous Hill.

With a smile, she said, "At today’s gathering, a distinguished designer affiliated with the Mitsui family is present. I intended to introduce you to her but reconsidered, as the disparity in your statuses is too great. Let's skip it, so you don’t feel uncomfortable." She then directed a somewhat mocking look toward Sasaki Yukiko and added, "Yukiko, you squandered these three invitations on friends who stand out poorly. Have you thought about how to explain this to your grandfather?"

"There’s nothing to explain," Sasaki Yukiko responded nonchalantly. "My grandfather gave me those three invitations, allowing me the freedom to invite whom I choose."

She then stated, "Moreover, you have no right to judge my friends!"

Miki scolded angrily, "You fool! Grandpa gave you those spots to invite noteworthy individuals who could aid in the family's future! Not for you to bring along some insignificant friends to gawk around! Do you understand that Tawana is very selective about her social circle? If she learns that trivial people have infiltrated the event the Mitsui family organized for her, how will that reflect on our family?"

Loreen's expression turned slightly angry; she hadn't anticipated that Miki would dismiss the three of them, particularly Charlie and Claire, whom she had called over. They were called to meet the stars, but instead, they faced this outrageous woman’s insults before even getting that opportunity.

Claire, who often found it challenging to get upset, felt simply embarrassed by the situation. By her nature, she thought it best to swiftly distance themselves from this aggressive woman.

As for Charlie, having encountered many people who reveled in belittling others over the past two years, he wasn’t inclined to react to Miki’s sarcasm.

From Miki's apparent rivalry with Sasaki Yukiko and the hints in her words, Charlie deduced that Miki and Yukiko must be cousins, both under the same family patriarch, with some competition lingering between them. Miki was clearly trying to undermine Yukiko in this public setting.

Yukiko seemed at a loss for words, not wanting to escalate with Miki nor embarrass her friends Loreen, Charlie, and Claire. She quickly suggested, "Let’s grab a drink over there! Please follow me!"

As Yukiko attempted to deflect the conversation, Miki mocked, "What? Are you running away because of my remarks? Just so you know, Sachiko, I’ll tell Grandpa about this when I return. You better pray that these insignificant friends you invited don’t upset Tawana; if so, you’ll be a disgrace to our Sasaki family as the eldest granddaughter!"

With that, Miki turned away before Yukiko could respond and strode towards the core group of attendees.

Yukiko quickly apologized to the three, saying, "I’m so sorry, Loreen, Mr. Wade, and Mrs. Wade! Miki is my cousin; she tends to be dominant and often offends people with her remarks. Please, don’t take it personally!"

Both Claire and Loreen reassured her it was fine, yet Charlie's focus remained on Miki as she approached the outer edge of the prominent group, her earlier arrogance fading, replaced by a polite smile. After bowing to multiple people in succession, she found her place within the crowd, listening intently to their conversations without contributing.

It was then Charlie recognized a familiar face in this gathering of strangers.

He pointed toward the woman in the crowd and asked Claire, "Wife, do you know who that person is?"

Claire followed his finger and suddenly gasped, "Oh my God, it’s Kelly!"

Kelly, as Claire referred to her, was none other than Kelly West, one of the most acclaimed female designers globally.

Claire had initially gained the opportunity to attend a masterclass at the Rhode Island School of Design because Kelly West had endorsed her.

Kelly treated Claire well, not due to their exceptional compatibility, but primarily because of Michaela’s influence.

Currently, Michaela was a powerhouse within her own right, leading the Joules family. Though the Joules family wasn't as powerful as the Evans family or the Rothschilds, they still surpassed the strength of the Ito family and could hold their own against the broader Mitsui clan.

It’s noteworthy that the Mitsui family operates akin to a large federal government structure. Although they officially govern overarching affairs, individual states wield considerable power. Even though the leading family controls the Mitsui Group, the entities beneath them have independence.

However, Michaela's situation is different. The entire Joules family answers to her. Even though other members carry the Joules surname, the assets they manage legally belong to Michaela. Should anyone dissent, she could easily expel them.

At this moment, Claire didn’t expect to encounter Kelly West at the event. The realization dawned on her as she recalled Miki’s previous comment, and she sighed, "So the top designer Miki mentioned is Kelly..."

Charlie smiled and replied, "Let’s go say hello to an old friend!"

Claire quickly protested, "No, husband, there are too many people. I doubt Kelly is free right now. I’ll wait until she’s alone before I say hi."

Charlie shook his head and declared, "What could hold Kelly’s attention more than your presence? Even if Michaela were here, she’d still be in your shadow today!"