In her simplistic sense of right and wrong, "black stockings + short skirt = bad woman"; a good woman wouldn’t expose herself in front of men, and there must be a purpose behind the exposure.
Last time I saw such a flirtatious woman was in Mister Lando’s office.
Wayne was on the side, munching on melon seeds, feeling very nice, calling Mona a pike to liven up the scene with her vitality.
Everyone rolls together, no roll, no future!
Time whirled around to October 14th.
Today was the day Austin invited Wayne to attend a business gathering, starting at three in the afternoon and ending at eight in the evening, located at the Central District Business Exhibition Hall in Lundan.
By noon, Philark was busy prepping Wayne, meticulously dressing him up and reiterating social etiquette.
The thought was simple, to show Austin that the new master he picked was no worse than the original!
Wayne had immense patience for Philark, and even though he was fed up with listening, he kept smiling and let himself be fussed over.
"Sir, are you sure you don’t want to bring a female companion?"
Philark frowned: "Any of the three ladies you’re acquainted with could be your companion. If you’re too shy to ask them for fear of rejection, what about Miss Mona? She surely won’t refuse."
As expected of a professional butler, he was spot-on in reading people and saw through Mona’s compliance with Wayne right away.
This relationship wasn’t that of lovers, friends, or employer and employee, but rather a hierarchically complex relationship far beyond the regular master and butler or servant, thus...
Philark saw through it but didn’t spell it out, after all, Wayne was young and it’s normal to have physical needs, understandable.
"No need for a companion, I’ll go by myself."
Wayne glanced at his watch. After listening to Philark babble for over two hours, it was time to depart.
"By the way, Philark, remember to wait for me in the parking lot. I won’t stay at the gathering too long."
Wayne wasn’t keen on so-called business gatherings and suspected Austin was setting a trap. He hadn’t intended to attend, but he couldn’t refuse his teacher’s dignity. After much thought, he decided to treat it as a dinner to subsidize his living expenses.
Increasing income and cutting expenses, saving money is making money.
Sir, your thoughts are too naive!
Philark smiled without speaking, he probably guessed something, knowing that Wayne would only come home very late tonight.
Central District, Financial City.
Business Exhibition Hall.
The Exhibition Hall was located on the busiest street, surrounded by banks, securities trading centers everywhere, and those walking by were the elite of high society.
These elites came with their own networks and had already transcended the concept of ordinary retail investors; they were the sickles in the hands of the nobility used to harvest the crop, just waiting for an opportunity to join the ranks of the Evil Dragon, finding a sickle exclusive to themselves.
Today’s business gathering was undoubtedly the best opportunity.
High-society socialites also set their sights on this business chance, whether investing in currently unknown elites or mingling with nobility, even just showing their face could enhance their own commercial value.
The elites and the nobility won’t lose, the socialites will make a killing, and everyone is a winner.
Philark felt that his master looked too lonely without a female companion and considered contacting a socialite to accompany him.
"You have such connections? Why haven’t you mentioned them before?"
Descending from a black luxury car, Wayne waved the invitation in his hand and said with a smile, "Philark, those women are too out of my league. You wouldn’t want the lady of the Wayne family to be settled on so casually, right?"
"Sir, you misunderstand. They are well-bred ladies, from wealthy backgrounds, educated, cultured, with extraordinary temperament, and contribute to society, not the random kind of women." Philark corrected him.
Wayne then realized, yes, in this era, socialites and goddesses were truly valuable and hadn’t gone down the drain.
"Sir, shall I contact one for you...?"
"Next time, definitely next time!"
Wayne decisively refused, walked up to the entrance with his invitation, and entered the Exhibition Hall in a black suit.
Though the butler was right, as a boy out in the world, especially one as naive and simple-hearted as he was, the priority was to protect oneself.
He had already experienced the charms and pitfalls of female stars; he didn’t want to fall into the same trap twice.
Besides, he didn’t truly lack female company. He just didn’t want to bring one along and bet that blowing a whistle would have Mona promptly appearing.
The Exhibition Hall spanned four levels, with the first floor serving as the service hall, the second floor featuring the merchandise exhibition, the third floor housing the lecture hall and meeting rooms, and the fourth floor temporarily transformed for a highly formal business banquet with a buffet.
Nothing like Wayne imagined, with no large swimming pool or bikini-clad women, and definitely no singing or dancing; high society might be depraved, but it wasn’t entirely brainless, beneficial and health-promoting activities were reserved for private gatherings.
Wayne took a tour around the second-floor exhibition, spotted the stockings he designed in the civilian products section, seeking partners exclusively outside of Windsor Domain.
The Lando Family invested in many industries, from military to civilian life, and although they were involved in many fields, their main focus was still on finance—first harvesting money from investors then funneling it into other industries.
Compared to the abundance of wealth in the financial sector, other industries were significantly less profitable, and Austin had no interest in investing abroad. Whenever a hot product arose, they would collaborate with foreign business partners through bids.
Wayne took a look around the venue and was most interested in the military exhibition hall.
The second-floor Exhibition Hall was vast, and Wayne encountered many socialites along the way, exactly as Philark described—while their looks might vary, their education and cultivation couldn’t be faulted, especially their poise, which they firmly grasped with elegance.
Many elites also took the initiative to chat with Wayne, often confirming his status as an up-and-comer before politely departing after handing him a business card.