Chapter 6009

Charlie watched from the audience as Tawanna and the dance team began their performance on stage. Despite the chilly weather, Tawanna's outfit was daringly thin. Charlie couldn't quite identify the style, but it reminded him of the attire worn by female gymnasts at the Olympics. Most of her legs were exposed to the cold air. Although her legs were long, they were not slender; rather, they were notably muscular, exhibiting strength. Charlie's heart involuntarily sighed. He considered how Western women's clothing styles tended to be more audacious and how they seemed more resilient to the cold. As he was lost in thought, Mr. Riley appeared suddenly and greeted him with a smile, "Mr. Wade, what brings you here so early?" Charlie grinned back, saying, "Uncle Riley, just call me by my name; there's no need for formality." Mr. Riley replied earnestly, "I was tempted to call you Master, but I didn't want to cause you any discomfort." Chuckling, Charlie said, "Uncle Riley, how is our preparation for the event going? Today’s audience admission is a major test." Mr. Riley nodded. "We opened six gates today, with a total of eighteen ticket-checking channels. People need to present their original ID or passport, and we've installed facial recognition systems, so we shouldn't face any issues." Upon hearing about the facial recognition, Charlie remarked, "I forgot to involve our AI; it could have been a big help, right?" Mr. Riley responded, "Our domestic facial recognition is quite effective. Previously, many celebrity concerts caught fugitives thanks to this system. We've set it up today too. It’s nearly impossible to gain entry by spoofing unless two people bear a remarkable resemblance. In such cases, we'll admit them since no rule is without loopholes." "Exactly," Charlie agreed, smiling. "As long as we handle the first few shows well, fewer and fewer people will attempt to spoof later on." While they were talking, Charlie inquired of Mr. Riley, "Where's Matilda?" Mr. Riley replied, "She’s at the company. She has a lot of work lately, coordinating with multiple suppliers and contractors. Legal matters are her top priority." Charlie nodded in understanding. Just then, Tawanna and her dancers completed a scene and spotted Charlie from the stage. She communicated through her intercom, "Everyone, take a twenty-minute break, and we'll resume shortly." In this team, she was undoubtedly the focal point. As soon as she announced the break, all the dancers and staff clapped in unison before settling into their downtime. Tawanna leaped down from the over one-meter high T-shaped stage, heedless of her attire, and strode toward Charlie. Seeing Tawanna approach, Mr. Riley said to Charlie, "I’ll go discuss the details with our team." With that, he turned and left quickly. Tawanna arrived at Charlie, her face lit up with a smile. "When did you arrive, Mr. Wade?" Charlie replied, "I just got here." Noticing her still wearing such light clothing, he asked, "Aren't you cold in that outfit?" Tawanna laughed and said, "I'm used to it. I usually move around a lot on stage, so wearing too much feels uncomfortable." Charlie nodded and asked, "Have all the people you invited arrived?" Tawanna shook her head. "Honestly, I’m not sure. It seems they all reached out to Mr. Rothschild later." "Alright," said Charlie. "I'll check in with him." He then called Steve while Tawanna was with him. Once Steve answered, Charlie asked directly, "Steve, have the guests I asked you to invite arrived?" "Mr. Wade, yes," Steve replied. "There are twelve guests total; eight have arrived, and the last four are expected before dark." Charlie noted, "The celebration banquet starts at 11 PM at Heaven Springs. Please head there early to take care of our distinguished guests."

"Will do, no problem." Turning back to Tawanna, Charlie instructed, "After your performance tonight, you can head straight to Heaven Springs. Steve will be waiting for you there." Determined, Tawanna asked nervously, "Will you be there tonight, Mr. Wade?" Charlie confirmed, "I will, but I need to drop my wife off first, so I’ll arrive a bit later. When you get there, you and Steve can invite the guests to dinner. Until I arrive, there's no need for discussions or chats—save that for after I’m there." Tawanna looked relieved and said, "Okay, Mr. Wade." Meanwhile, Trev, who was resting backstage, noticed the dancers returning from their performance. He pulled one aside and asked, "Are you done with the show?" The dancer replied, "Ms. Sweet said we should take a twenty-minute break." Curious, Trev inquired, "Why isn't she back yet?" The dancer explained, "She's chatting with someone unfamiliar." "Someone unfamiliar..." Trev felt a pang of jealousy as he walked towards the stage, and upon seeing Tawanna engaged in conversation with Charlie, he felt a twinge of bitterness. He quickly composed himself and approached the two. Charlie noticed him and greeted him with a smile. Trev returned the courtesy, saying, "Mr. Wade, you came early." Charlie nodded. "Have you decided when you’ll return to the United States?" Trev answered, "I spoke with the coach. The latest I'll stay is tomorrow night so I can finish the show with Tawanna." Charlie extended a hand with a smile, saying, "Then I welcome your quick return to China." "Thank you, Mr. Wade! I'll make it happen as soon as possible!" Charlie’s words eased Trev's jealousy slightly. It was clear to him that Charlie hoped for a happy conclusion between him and Tawanna, which provided some measure of comfort. After all, Charlie held a significant status that Tawanna could never ignore. What Trev desired was Tawanna’s affection, and as for whom she was truly thinking about, he promised himself not to dwell on it. … By five o'clock in the afternoon, Aurous Hill’s traffic was already in turmoil. Hundreds of thousands of people gathered at the Olympic Center. Both ticketed and non-ticketed guests crowded the square, leaving little room to move. Claire, who arrived by subway, had squeezed through multiple trains before finally making her way to the venue. Charlie stepped out to greet her and escorted her backstage through the staff's private entrance. At that moment, Tawanna was already in the process of applying her makeup. Charlie led Claire directly to Tawanna's dressing room. Upon seeing Claire, Tawanna, who was busy with her makeup, cheerfully waved and exclaimed, "Mrs. Wade, you’re finally here!" Claire, feeling a bit shy, cautiously asked, "Ms. Sweet, we’re not causing you any trouble, are we?" Tawanna smiled warmly and replied, "Not at all! I was just asking Mr. Wade why you hadn’t arrived yet. Come on, Mrs. Wade! Would you like to take a few photos together as a keepsake?" Tawanna understood what her fans cherished and how to create joy for them. Setting aside her celebrity status to mingle with fans as friends, and even inviting them to come closer, was what truly delighted the fans. Claire had two favorite female singers—Stefanie and Tawanna. Therefore, seeing Tawanna's warm and inviting side thrilled her, and she quickly said, "No rush on the photos; you go ahead." Tawanna instructed her makeup artist to pause and picked up her phone. "Come on, Mrs. Wade! I have several beautiful filters we can use for a few selfies together. Let’s add each other on WeChat so I can send you the photos later!"