Chapter 174
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As the melodious sound of the piano gradually began, the party commenced.
The guests outside the lawn started to disperse, pairing up and heading towards the opulent reception hall of Wood Mansion. Attendants in uniform were stationed strategically, one every five steps, with posts every ten steps, courteously ushering the guests inside.
Trained in standardized procedures, the attendants welcomed guests with synchronized movements, almost as if they were clones. Even their smiles were meticulously crafted to reveal exactly eight teeth.
The male guests, each accompanied by elegantly dressed female partners, slowly walked into the flower-adorned classical hall.
Seeing that it was time to enter the party, Tang Yu stood up from the lawn and casually brushed the dust off his pants. He squatted next to V, preparing to help her put on her untamed black crystal high heels. As soon as Tang Yu's fingers touched V's calf, she quickly recoiled as if shocked.
V tightly clutched her skirt, drawing her knees up and looking at Tang Yu with a wary expression, "What are you doing?"
Earlier, they had left the noisy crowd to find a secluded, quiet corner where they sat and chatted. V had taken off her troublesome heels to walk barefoot on the lawn, feeling there was no need to put on airs in front of Tang Yu. He already knew what she was like.
Even though she had put on a black dress and stepped into a high-end estate, it didn't change her essence as someone from the streets, who thrived there. V was used to living freely, and if she hadn't owed Tang Yu money and built up a significant debt, she wouldn't have come to this place at all.
To be honest, she appreciated Tang Yu's help. Though she wasn't fond of his excessive demands, she generally agreed to them in the end.
V could play along with Tang Yu at the dance party, but that didn't mean she was willing to enter the next battleground. Tang Yu's touch on her ankle broke her relaxed state of mind. After all, being around people like Jenkins could inevitably taint someone's thoughts.
Tang Yu looked at V's wary face and chuckled, "The party has started. Are you planning to go in barefoot?"
With the party about to begin, he guessed that V would fumble not only in walking but also in putting on the shoes. The most distinctive feature of the black crystal heels was the lace ribbon that required a special knot. Without it, the appearance and uniqueness would significantly diminish.
The complicated tying process was something V would surely forget, so Tang Yu intended to help her with the shoes. Ignoring Tang Yu's good intentions, V picked up the high heels and turned her back on him to try and figure them out herself.
Tang Yu shook his head helplessly, standing aside to wait. After a while, V admitted defeat. The once beautiful, elegant black crystal heels looked neither graceful nor stylish on her feet. More importantly, V, who already had trouble walking, couldn't even stand properly.
Reluctantly, she awkwardly asked Tang Yu for help with the ribbon. Tang Yu squatted down, untangled the messy ribbons, and retied them beautifully and securely.
As he tied the delicate silk ribbons around her heel, V watched Tang Yu, who looked serious and composed, and felt an unusual sensation. This was not the Tang Yu she knew. Initially, V thought Tang Yu must be crazy, with too much money and time, coming up with ways to mess with her. Now, however, she began to think that maybe Tang Yu wasn't so bad after all.
That night, Tang Yu not only declined opportunities to join high-level networking conversations but also stayed with her on the lawn, chatting aimlessly. V knew the importance of the party to the night city's elite and understood Tang Yu's significant standing among them.
This gathering was crucial for everyone present, with men hoping to forge connections and advance their positions, and women aiming to align with powerful allies. Fancy cars and watches were just decorations for the men, and even the women served merely as tools in their power play.
V sensed that Tang Yu was different from them, perhaps not even the same kind of person. She couldn't precisely describe the feeling but knew it stemmed from Tang Yu's unique aura and attitude. He had a touch of mischief yet was gentle, somewhat domineering yet respectful of her feelings and thoughts.
In his eyes, she didn't see greed or ambition for power; only a carefree, nonchalant attitude towards life. After finishing the ribbons, Tang Yu found V staring at him, dazed.
He joked, "What's wrong? Falling for me?"
V's thoughts vanished, and feeling embarrassed and annoyed, she raised her fist, ready to give him a good knock.
But Tang Yu quickly grabbed her iron fist and said, "The party has started, you definitely don't want to be the last pair with me. Let's make a grand entrance."
V suddenly didn't want to punch Tang Yu anymore. She just wanted to quietly slip into the party and wait for it to end so she could go home. She swiftly lifted her dress and sped up, following behind Tang Yu towards the banquet hall.
The two quickly slipped into the hall, blending into the party atmosphere. As the lights brightened, the sound of violins filled the air. The opulent ballroom gleamed with shifting lights, and the stage's holographic projections radiated a neon glow, showcasing advanced technology.
Holographic dancers moved gracefully, colorful signs flashed, elegant songs from wooden instruments echoed, and chandelier lamps adorned with numerous crystals sparkled above. The blend of technology and classical beauty was so evident in this hall.
They chose a less crowded buffet station and each picked some snacks, observing the ambiance with interest. V tossed a peeled fruit into her mouth, tasting its odd flavor, unsure of its origin. Fruits were rare in Night City, and she was still not used to the taste of natural fruit, having grown accustomed to synthetic foods.
The guests mingled, drinking and chatting, their attention not on them, making it easy for V and Tang Yu to eat without being noticed. Occasionally, a waiter would approach, politely asking if they needed premium liquor. V specifically asked if they had Beebum Monkey, but got a negative reply.
While they were eating, the lights on the stage suddenly dimmed, and the hall's noise gradually faded. A rain-like matrix of blue light converged from all directions onto the stage, forming a blue figure—a holographic host officially appeared.
Tang Yu looked at the blue figure on the stage. The figure resembled an elegant lady with wavy long hair and a tall, curvy figure. Her eyes sparkled like bright blue diamonds—strange and mesmerizing. This familiar appearance reminded Tang Yu of his old friend, Alt Cunningham. However, this hologram had nothing to do with Alt; it was merely an AI used for hosting events.
The blue holographic host hovered mid-air, like a spirit drifting in the hall, enthusiastically giving the opening speech. It grandly introduced the charity event's theme and informed the distinguished guests about the charitable plan—Backstop Safety Net—promoted by Night Corp to ensure human security in Night City.
The plan mainly targeted the poor groups, low-income, and no-income people in Night City, offering them assistance. Night Corp would provide free training and necessary cybernetic modifications to help them regain a foothold in society until they secured a job to sustain themselves.
This charity plan had multiple benefits, significantly improving Night City's public security, reducing the risk of poverty due to illness, and adding valuable human resources, benefiting both the city and major corporations. The societal elites present applauded and praised Night Corp's grand vision upon hearing the host's introduction.
Night Corp highlighted many successful examples to demonstrate the plan's efficacy. Many homeless individuals had received Night Corp's aid, got trained, and were employed in construction, operating industrial machinery. Even some of the event's waitstaff were beneficiaries of this charity plan, perfectly trained for high-end event services.
The meticulous content and clear examples left V stunned. She held a fruit near her mouth, forgetting to eat for a moment. "Does the company really have such a conscience?" V wondered aloud, hearing the host's lofty and grandiose speech, with impressive video displays depicting a bright future for Night City.
Tang Yu didn't even lift an eyebrow, focused on selecting exotic fresh fruits, with a cup of warm tea beside him. "You believe the company's words? The real purpose behind this charity plan could be entirely different from what they say."
V knew that no company was genuinely good, but she didn't understand why such a powerful company would go to such lengths for seemingly thankless tasks. She questioned, "If they wanted people for cybernetic experiments, they could just get gangs to do the dirty work, more efficient and less costly, without worrying about reputation issues. It would be more worthwhile."
Tang Yu popped a piece of fruit into his mouth and bluntly said, "That just shows you haven't guessed their real purpose yet. The deeper it's hidden, the bigger their ambition."
"Night Corp's strength doesn't lie in cybernetic modifications or the engineering projects everyone thinks of." Tang Yu poked V's forehead with a finger, speaking in a low voice, "It's here."
The mind? V was puzzled. She didn't know much about the internal workings of big corporations. "In any case, no matter how good the company makes things sound or how well they perform, never trust them," Tang Yu advised while chewing.
V then turned her head, gazing at Tang Yu, murmuring, "So can I trust you?"