Chapter Twenty: The Super Wedding (4)

Those present were all people of wealth and influence; none were ordinary. Since everyone here was cultured—gentlemen and ladies alike—naturally, they carried themselves with grace and composure. As a result, the scene required no special order to maintain decorum; everything remained perfectly stable.

The airship landed first, followed in orderly succession by the twelve helicopters. Chief Steward Lin Jian was the first to disembark. He glanced around—though there was no cause for concern regarding safety, he habitually surveyed the surroundings. Only after the security detail exited the aircraft did he invite Xiao Tianci and Tian Ni to step down.

The bride and groom made their entrance. As soon as they appeared, thunderous applause erupted. Tian Ni held Xiao Tianci’s arm, and together they nodded to the assembled guests. Today, Xiao Tianci and Tian Ni were the center of attention, needing no introduction. For the most part, these guests were not strangers to them, though in the past, it had always been they who knew the guests, while the guests did not know them.

There were presidents, CEOs of Fortune 500 companies, and the like present. Yet when faced with such people, Xiao Tianci remained calm and unassuming; no one could tell that he had once been merely an executive director of a modest domestic subsidiary within a conglomerate valued at less than ten billion yuan.

Tian Ni, though accustomed to grand occasions since childhood, had never encountered a scene like this. There was little difference between her and Xiao Tianci now. But since Xiao Tianci was the groom, all she had to do was smile serenely, nod, greet guests in English, and graciously accept congratulations or compliments with a polite “thank you.”

Yet inwardly, she was deeply shaken. Any one of these guests, if they were to host a gathering, would likely be out of her reach; even if she were invited, the mere presence of any of these people would make them the star of the event. Such is the reality of this society—a social magnetism that is both precise and unyielding. Despite the crowd, the central figure and the orbiting satellites are instantly clear. But today, all these people had become supporting characters—the supporting cast to herself and… him.

From time to time, Tian Ni glanced at Xiao Tianci. He wore a genuine smile, not the polished façade of professionalism, but a smile from the heart. The two of them greeted those who came their way, but with so many guests, it was impossible to speak to each one individually. After making a brief circuit, they ascended the stage at the front.

As they stepped onto the stage together, the hall fell silent, all eyes turning toward them.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” Xiao Tianci began, “we are delighted and honored to have you here for our wedding. I wish to extend my sincerest gratitude to you all.”

His words were simple yet eloquent, clear and dignified. Only then did Xu Guowei, who had been somewhat anxious, finally relax. He and Chief Steward Lin Jian stood to one side, exchanging glances; Lin Jian looked as impassive as a machine, his gaze fixed intently on the stage.

Once the applause subsided, Xiao Tianci continued, “In truth, I invited you not only to attend my wedding, but also so that we might all become better acquainted.”

He spoke in Mandarin, but each guest had an earpiece providing simultaneous translation into their own language. At such moments, words came easily, and Xiao Tianci had never been one for prepared speeches. Yet, as he alluded to everyone meeting one another, he hesitated for just a moment. In terms of wealth, now that he had inherited the entirety of the Xiao family’s estate, few could compare—only a handful of great families or even nations could rival him.

He made a subtle gesture, and Lin Jian immediately had two glasses of wine brought up. Taking one each, Xiao Tianci raised his glass with great elegance. “Thank you all for witnessing our wedding. Let us share this toast together.”

He spoke only briefly, saying all that needed to be said without superfluous remarks. Amid another round of applause, the couple left the stage.

“Sir, Madam, it’s time to cut the cake,” Xu Guowei said respectfully, stepping forward.

Both Xiao Tianci and Tian Ni looked toward the towering cake not far off, so grand it made one dizzy just to gaze upon it from a distance. Xiao Tianci glanced at Tian Ni, noticing the undisguisable joy and excitement in her eyes as she looked at the cake.

“All right, let’s go…time to cut the cake,” Xiao Tianci declared, waving his hand as he prepared to lead Tian Ni and the others toward it.

Just then, a group of people approached, blocking their path. Xiao Tianci paused, observing. Judging by the earlier proceedings, everyone here followed their own code of conduct. Despite his special status, many among the guests wished to interact with him, yet none would approach unless he neared them first. Otherwise, if everyone crowded around, Xiao Tianci would never be able to take a step. The shrewd among them knew that the busiest person at the center of attention was not one to engage at such a time; better to wait for another opportunity, or to network with other useful contacts instead. Thus, everyone observed decorum and found their own way.

Of course, there were exceptions. Whether Xiao Tianci and Tian Ni were chatting with guests or giving their speeches, one person kept weaving through the crowd, trailed by a rather self-conscious staff member. Most of these people were regulars in the newspapers and on television.

This person was not overbearing—merely enthusiastic, friendly, eager to chat, and delighted to pose for photographs with others.

The people who now approached were also familiar to Xiao Tianci. In fact, more people likely knew this man than knew the name of their own country’s president—he was the perennial number-one on the world’s rich list for over a decade. Xiao Tianci had once held him in high esteem, but after learning that he was merely a minor shareholder in Meihua Corporation—a figurehead put forward by others—his opinion had declined considerably. It wasn’t about money, but rather his long-standing posture of being the world’s wealthiest.

As the second-largest shareholder in Meihua, he was understandably eager to befriend Xiao Tianci. He approached, all smiles, to shake hands. Though Xiao Tianci’s feelings toward him had cooled, he betrayed nothing on his face.

The others accompanying him were also familiar—other Meihua shareholders and top executives. There were so many distinguished guests here today, it was difficult to say who was closest to whom. Xiao Tianci was not well acquainted with any of them, so his approach was guerrilla-like—he had only briefly greeted the Meihua group earlier, intending to speak with them in detail after the ceremony. But since they had made a special effort to approach him now, it was only polite to reciprocate their warmth.