Reborn with Consumption System-Chapter 467 - 221: Girl, You Have to Help Me!

Attending a cocktail party is, in fact, a very interesting yet utterly uninteresting affair. The essence of such gatherings is social interaction, and the essence of social interaction is the exchange of value. Consequently, disparities in value can lead to immense differences.

Do people think cocktail parties are a paradise for high-value guests? No, quite the contrary.

High-value guests tend to find them boring. They are forced to passively accept a great deal of inefficient socializing, wasting too much energy amidst sycophantic flattery for very little actual gain—akin to panning for gold in filth—in two words, super annoying.

Therefore, regardless of whether they are in China or abroad, bigwigs at cocktail parties are invariably reserved and aloof. They arrive late, leave early, have their core circles protected by gatekeepers, and depart as soon as their primary business is concluded.

Conversely, guests of lesser perceived value often have a much better time. For them, every conversation is a chance to network upwards, encounter new things, acquire different knowledge, hear interesting gossip, and even spark creative ideas.

Consequently, newcomers often remain extremely enthusiastic about attending all sorts of cocktail parties and banquets for extended periods, constantly searching for their own opportunities.

Unfortunately, genuine VIPs seldom engage, and it is instead the party regulars who delight in preying on such newcomers. In such environments, genuine insights and toxic boasting are two sides of the same coin. Young people lacking worldly wisdom find it difficult to distinguish between them and are easily deceived.

Young Master Wang was coaxed into investing in Dolphin, Binggo, and three film companies that amounted to nothing. If this could happen to him, one can only imagine what might befall even less influential newcomers without guardians to vet their choices.

Compared to Wang Xiaofei, Young Master Wang is smarter and luckier. Wang Xiaofei got entirely caught up in it, while Young Master Wang only lost his first love and a few hundred million yuan in petty cash. Even without that major acrimonious affair, Wang Xiaofei wouldn’t be doing much better; he’s too naïve, too emotional, and too easily preyed upon by experts.

Hmm, hunters, both male and female, are the most common sight at high-end cocktail parties.

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Han Lie observed and contemplated, quickly getting a clear grasp of the overall situation.

Thanks again to Strategic Judgement; it’s a godsend of a skill.

Theoretically, Han Lie was the guest of honor at today’s cocktail party. However, in these early stages, with the event just beginning, he clearly wasn’t the center of attention.

There were four true focal points, or centers of influence.

The first was Second Sister Jin. She was the hub for everyone related to the entertainment industry, embodying the core of allure.

The second was Panzi. He was surrounded by a coterie of local tycoons involved in real estate, retail, traditional industries, and state-owned enterprises, forming a local circle that, while not top-tier, was exceptionally solid. They chatted animatedly about food, drinks, and entertainment in a very down-to-earth manner, their loud talk and laughter marking them as the core of conviviality.

The third center was Liu Minghao. As a senior partner at a Red Circle Firm, he had gathered a diverse group of people from all walks of life. They might not have appeared high-status, but they wielded considerable influence and were adept at both instigating and resolving matters. Full of vigor, with an air of untamed, worldly charisma, he was the core of spirit.

The fourth center was a genuine heavyweight—the Deputy Director of SPD Bank’s Magic Capital branch, brought by the portly Old Huang. The Magic Capital branch boasted over 110 outlets and more than 2,500 employees. Its total domestic and foreign currency deposits exceeded 300 billion yuan, with outstanding loans amounting to 150 billion yuan. This Deputy Director Huang, ranked second in the branch and, at 48 years old, was in his prime with considerable potential for further advancement. The portly Old Huang, beaming with pride and satisfaction, accompanied Deputy Director Huang. They were surrounded by a group of finance and related-sector professionals discussing sophisticated, international topics, currently focused on the European debt crisis. Clearly, this was the financial core of the party.

Beyond these core circles were the evening’s appendages. Broadly speaking, they could be divided into three main categories.

The first type consisted of those without a clear objective—individuals qualified enough to attend but not particularly important: the regular party floaters. They operated on the principle of "taking a shot at everything," hoping to make friends, forge connections, or find targets to prey upon. Success was ideal, but even failure provided entertainment. These individuals flitted around the room, never idle, appearing to have a vast network. In reality, however, their connections were mostly superficial. They were never stingy with promises but rarely followed through with genuine commitment—they wouldn’t act without a clear advantage in sight. The portly Old Huang was, by nature, such a party regular. He was extremely keen on attending various social gatherings, characterized by a petty opportunism—always looking to gain an advantage and feeling aggrieved if he couldn’t. If not for his familial connection to Deputy Director Huang, Panzi would never have associated with someone like him.

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The second type was the younger generation, brought by their elders to broaden their horizons and make connections. Ranging in age from their teens to early thirties, and in status from students and civil servants to startup CEOs, they were a cohort born with silver spoons in their mouths—the fortunate few. They were generally more naïve but also the most enthusiastic. When it came to chatting, making friends, and listening to the bigwigs boast, they were the most engaged. With less overt self-interest, they often reaped the greatest rewards.

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The third type was harder to define precisely but could broadly be categorized as opportunists and "exhibits"—individuals with very specific goals. The models brought by Second Sister Jin were exhibits; their goal was clearly social climbing. The handful of less affluent tycoons interested in Han Lie’s private equity fund were considered opportunists. The few lesser-known minor celebrities and newcomers from Tang Ren and Emperor Entertainment possessed attributes of both; as for their true intentions, only their actions would tell. As for the handful of A-list celebrities present, it was difficult to say. Their allegiances seemed ready to shift at any moment, and Han Lie didn’t rush to a conclusion.

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Cores, appendages, floaters, opportunists, and exhibits.

Cocktail parties were simple, really. Everyone had a clearly defined place, all playing out similar stories, one after another.