Chapter 649 - Private Invitation

"BOSS." Demi knocked on the door and walked in.

Hu Ze, who was still chattering away, immediately blushed when he saw her, standing to the side, pretending to be a sculpture while sneakily stealing glances. As he stole glances, he muttered in his heart, why is this foreign woman so beautiful? Blonde hair, blue eyes, those long legs, and that slim waist...

Oh my god! She's even more beautiful than the big stars I've seen in movies! Is Hollywood really a place filled with beauties? Otherwise, how could even a secretary be this attractive?

Demi sensed his gaze, but she had long been accustomed to being looked at. She didn't take it to heart.

"Do you need anything?" Laila knew she wouldn't come over to disturb them without a reason.

"Well, Mr. Jackie Chan just called and said he heard you're here and would like to host a welcome banquet. Do you have time?"

Laila was momentarily stunned, then looked at Roy. She had forgotten that this was Jackie Chan's base, and she should have informed him of her visit. However, if they accepted the invitation, their sightseeing plans might have to be postponed or canceled.

Roy shrugged. "I don't mind."

He wasn't unreasonable. When it came to serious matters, he knew how to handle them. Perhaps this was a path one had to take when dating a strong and successful woman.

"Go ahead and accept for me." After some thought, Laila agreed. She felt she owed Jackie Chan this much, especially since she had admired his movies in her past life.

After receiving a positive response, Jackie Chan eagerly called Laila. He provided her with the details and emphasized that it was just a casual gathering among friends and family, no need to be too formal—just relax and enjoy.

Laila, of course, wouldn't refuse his kindness, and she genuinely preferred informal social gatherings. So, when the time for the banquet arrived, she and Roy went to the venue, a very private members-only club.

Jackie Chan and Shu Qi were waiting outside. As soon as they saw the car approaching, they smiled and walked over to greet them.

"Laila, welcome."

Laila was somewhat surprised by their enthusiasm but took a second to pull herself out of her memories from her past life. Considering her identity and relationship with the two, being welcomed by them outside seemed quite appropriate. However, she still felt happy because of her past experiences.

"Thank you. I'm very happy to receive your invitation."

After exchanging a few pleasantries, they all turned and went inside the venue. Numerous people were already standing inside, and Laila was surprised to see many familiar faces from TV and movies.

Seeing her surprise, Jackie Chan felt a bit embarrassed and explained, "Everyone wanted to have a chat with you, so they all came."

Originally, it was supposed to be a small private gathering, with only Shu Qi and a few close friends invited to accompany them. However, once news of Laila's presence spread, countless phone calls flooded Jackie Chan. In an interpersonal society like Hong Kong, where everyone has a few friends, it is challenging to turn them down. So, the list of attendees grew longer, turning the intimate gathering into a larger event.

Jackie Chan felt a bit awkward about this unexpected turn of events. He had assured Laila the night before that it would be a small, casual gathering. Little did he expect it to turn from one table into four overnight. If he hadn't firmly refused, the entire club might have been filled with people wanting to join.

Laila looked at his guilty expression and understood the troubles he had encountered. However, since she was already here, and there were no pesky paparazzi around, she found it delightful to have close contact with the stars she could only admire from a distance in her past life.

"It's lively with more people. I rarely come to Hong Kong, so meeting everyone is a wonderful thing." She smiled, trying to comfort Jackie Chan. Of course, she said it was lively, but she didn't necessarily enjoy the commotion. It was fine for one time; otherwise, people might think she enjoyed such gatherings and invite her to more in the future, which she couldn't tolerate.

Hong Kong had many outstanding actors, and she didn't rule out the possibility of seeking out actors she liked in the future. Thus, it was better to minimize potential troubles.

Jackie Chan knew she was saving face for him and felt even more appreciative of her.

As Laila and Roy followed Jackie Chan into the venue, everyone inside stood up to welcome them.

"Thank you, thank you, everyone." Laila greeted them with a smile.

She knew most of the people present, but Roy didn't. He had Jackie Chan introduce him to everyone.

Those present were undoubtedly individuals with some status; otherwise, they wouldn't have contacted Jackie Chan discreetly to attend this private banquet.

With Jackie Chan's introductions, Laila learned that, in addition to well-known actors, there were also influential figures from other fields, such as famous lyricists and even some successful businessmen.

The relationship between businessmen and the entertainment industry was quite close. To navigate the entertainment world successfully, having strong backing was crucial. Wealthy individuals could naturally stand tall, while those without money had to rely on others' goodwill and might not even have the opportunity to see others' faces.

Laila herself could be considered a businesswoman, but she dealt in films, not commodities. Moreover, she had the formidable Moran Group standing behind her, giving her the right to be respected wherever she went.

To her surprise, Leslie Cheung was also present. This wasn't strange, given his status and the recent buzz about him; it was only natural for him to be here. But for Laila, any chance to see her brother was a pleasant surprise.

Roy also noticed, and his smiling face suddenly drooped. Was this fate? How could he run into him wherever he went?

Laila found it amusing and secretly pulled his arm, then went up to greet him. "Meeting again here, I feel like Mr. Leslie and I are truly destined."

Everyone present knew about the recent news about the two of them, so they all perked up their ears to eavesdrop on their conversation.

Leslie Cheung smiled slightly at her and raised the teacup in his hand.