Chapter 232: A Good Public Image

Amid a chorus of exclamations and admiring gazes, Xu Shaochen stepped forward, holding the microphone.

“Good morning, everyone. I am Xu Shaochen. It is an honor to be here today to speak to you.”

Xu Shaochen took a deep breath and started with an opening remark. Seeing the dense crowd below, he’d be lying if he said he wasn’t nervous.

However, after speaking his opening words, he felt much better and gradually regained his composure.

“Clap, clap, clap…”

A thunderous applause erupted from below, occasionally mixed with excited cheers.

Listening to the thunderous applause, Xu Shaochen suddenly had an epiphany. He found himself starting to enjoy this feeling, being admired and revered by so many people—it was a sort of vanity.

He realized that what he lacked was a public persona, a public image. Investing in himself was also a form of investment.

A public persona is often used by celebrities. For example, they might present a pure and innocent image to the public, no matter how questionable their private life is. The only thing that matters is the image they project.

Xu Shaochen realized that this was what he was missing. He didn’t need to care about the opinions of the second-generation rich or the wealthy elite because he had no reason to.

But he did need to leave a good impression on ordinary people as this would help his future development.

Although most of the world’s resources are controlled by the rich and powerful, ordinary people make up 90 percent of the world’s population.

Xu Shaochen understood what he needed to do—philanthropy. He would engage in charity work under his own name.

This would not only help the poor and unfortunate but also help him establish a good public image.

A good public image and reputation can bring benefits that can’t be measured by money.

Smiling slightly, Xu Shaochen put these thoughts aside for now and began his speech.

“Actually, I have no secret to success. I’m not even interested in money…”

Acting modestly and delivering the speech from a different perspective—this was a trait of young people because he understood what his peers wanted to hear.

Xu Shaochen knew that if he started lecturing the crowd on big principles, many would likely fall asleep.

The speech lasted half an hour, finally ending with a word of thanks.

“Clap, clap, clap…”

Another round of enthusiastic applause rose from the crowd.

“Chairman Xu is awesome! Don’t stop me. I’m definitely joining Chen Yu!”

“Nobody is stopping you. But you often fail your exams, so you might not get hired.”

“Wow, he’s so handsome! I want to bear his children! I don’t want to work; I want to be the Chairman’s wife!”

“You’re disgusting! Chairman Xu doesn’t like men, so get lost.”

After bidding farewell to Liu Xin, Xu Shaochen left the school and had Long Yi drive him to the company. He had to discuss his earlier thoughts with Liu Rushuang.

……………

Yunzhou, Crematorium.

Members of the Zhou Family stood outside dressed in black, with white flowers pinned to their chests. The atmosphere was heavy.

“Mr. Zhou, please accept our condolences.”

The crematorium’s director personally handed an urn to Zhou Tianhua.

Zhou Tianhua’s hands, holding the urn, trembled slightly. His face was expressionless, but his eyes were filled with sorrow and anger.

He hadn’t expected that a little brat from Jiangzhou would first cripple one of his sons and then cause the other to die.

Was the Zhou Family falling apart, or did this brat have absolutely no fear?

“Oh, my son! My poor son! You died so tragically! But don’t worry, mother will avenge you. I will make sure that brat from Jiangzhou and his entire family accompany you in death!”

Zhou Tianhua’s wife rushed over and hugged the urn, crying bitterly. Her eyes showed an intense hatred.

“Rest in peace. That brat is doomed. His parents, his relatives, his woman—I’ll make sure they all accompany you in the afterlife.”

Zhou Tianhua muttered to himself, his eyes gleaming with a cold light, as if it might condense into something tangible.

Zhou Long kept his head down, seemingly overwhelmed with grief, but no one noticed the slight smirk on his lips.

With his third brother crippled and second brother dead, the position of family head in the Zhou Family was undeniably his.

Emotionally, he knew he should be sad, but he simply could not contain the joy in his heart.

“Dad, I want to avenge my brother. Please postpone my wedding!”

When Zhou Long finally looked up, his face showed a sorrowful expression as he spoke with a choked voice, looking at Zhou Tianhua.

He was practically an Oscar-level actor. The way he could switch emotions on a dime—he was overjoyed inside, but tears of grief streaked down his face.

Yep, to be honest, he was so happy he cried.

Zhou Tianhua shook his head resolutely, “No. Your wedding can’t be postponed. You must marry into the Zhong Family immediately. You can avenge your brother after you’re married. Let that brat live a few more days.”

“Dad…” Zhou Long pretended to be anxious, deliberately making this request because he knew Zhou Tianhua would refuse.

Which was more important, avenging a son or the development of the family? For Zhou Tianhua, the latter was undoubtedly more crucial.

After all, he still had two living sons, but the family’s business only had so many opportunities to grow.

“Big Brother, Dad understands you want to avenge Second Brother as soon as possible, but he’s right. It’s better to discuss this after your wedding.” Zhou Yun said indifferently, his eyes carrying a hint of mockery.

The three brothers had been fighting for so long; they knew each other well.

Zhou Yun no longer wished to seek revenge against Xu Shaochen. His injury meant that he could never become the family head. Now, he just wanted to live the rest of his life freely.

During his recovery, Zhou Yun had someone investigate Xu Shaochen’s background in Jiangzhou and concluded that if they continued this vendetta, the Zhou Family would gain nothing.

Moreover, the blame for this mess rested on him. Zhou Hu’s death had impacted him deeply, and he was simply glad to be alive.

Zhou Hu’s death was also self-inflicted. According to Zhou Hu’s subordinates, he had tried to have Xu Shaochen’s mother assassinated. He practically signed his own death warrant.

As for Zhou Yun, why had he managed to survive despite repeatedly provoking Xu Shaochen? Previously, he didn’t understand, but now he did. The reason was that he had never targeted Xu Shaochen’s close ones, especially his mother.

Zhou Long took a deep breath, filled with overwhelming sorrow, and said guiltily, “I acted on impulse. But I just can’t accept this outcome. If I had gone to Jiangzhou, Second Brother would still be alive. This is all my fault as the elder brother!”

But inside, he was secretly relieved that Zhou Hu had been quicker to act. Otherwise, he might have been the one to die.

But Xu Shaochen’s death was inevitable. If Zhou Long did not avenge his brother, he would never gain the support of the family. Plus, as long as Xu Shaochen was alive, Zhou Long would never feel at ease.