RT Chapter 154
by VolareChapter 154: A Big Embarrassment
Amidst the public’s continued anticipation, the Shao family finally announced the wedding date for Shu Lin and Shao Chengxi at the end of May.
The wedding was set for September 26th of the second half of the year.
“Why did you choose this day?” Shu Lin had curiously asked Shao Chengxi.
Shao Chengxi answered every question:
“That was the day you and I first met, the day we legally became a couple. From that day on, you belonged to me, and I belonged to you.”
He chuckled softly, “So, the wedding is also set for this day. I want the whole world to witness our happiness.”
Shu Lin suppressed the corner of his mouth, deliberately putting on a straight face to tease him: “You’re so cheesy…”
The Shao family was temporarily keeping the wedding location a secret.
After the wedding announcement, the Shao family began preparations in full swing, creating quite a lively atmosphere.
Besides this joyous event, Shu Lin had another reason to be happy.
All the procedures for the foundation were finally completed, everything was ready, and the ribbon-cutting ceremony was scheduled for July 28th.
July 28th was Shu Lin’s birthday. On that day, he would be twenty-one years old.
Twenty-one years ago, Shu Lin came into the world on this day.
Similarly, the Shu Lin Pheromone Foundation was also born on this day, dedicated to saving more lives in the future.
A very meaningful day.
The invited guests attending the ribbon-cutting ceremony were the top echelon of the empire.
With the attendance of President Hong Zhengyue, Vice President Wu Xun, and Secretary of State Li Zhengyu, the arrival of other celebrities from political and business circles seemed less distinguished.
Shu Lin had made ample preparations for this ribbon-cutting ceremony, having memorized the speech long ago and rehearsed countless times in private.
Tomorrow was July 28th. The ribbon-cutting ceremony was scheduled for nine in the morning, and the press conference was at eleven.
The evening banquet, scheduled for seven o’clock, was both to celebrate Shu Lin’s birthday and to take the opportunity to thank all sectors of society for their support.
It could be said that this was a landmark event for Shu Lin, as the partner of the Minister of Defense, to officially enter the political arena.
In the afternoon, Shao Chengxi made a point of leaving work early to come home and found Shu Lin rehearsing his speech again.
Silently standing behind Shu Lin, listening to him finish rehearsing, Shao Chengxi walked over, wrapped his arms around him from behind, and kissed his cheek, “Nervous, baby?”
Shu Lin turned around, shook his head, then nodded, burying his face in his chest:
“I’m nervous and not nervous at the same time.”
“Anyway, this is like a final exam. I won’t give up the chance to cram until the last moment.”
Shao Chengxi was amused by him, “Oh… is that so? Then okay, your husband will cram with you tonight.”
As he spoke, he hugged Shu Lin and walked upstairs, “grinding” him all the way.
Shu Lin playfully hit him, “You’re so annoying…”
Shao Chengxi picked him up, exaggeratingly weighed him in his arms, and diverted his attention:
“Baby has been in a good mood lately, eating and sleeping well, you’ve gained weight.”
“Ah? Have I really gained weight?” Shu Lin uneasily pinched his stomach, “…Hmm, it does seem like I have…”
Then he wailed incessantly:
“Oh no, don’t gain weight, it’ll affect how I look on camera tomorrow, I’ll look bad…”
Just because Shao Chengxi casually said “gained weight,” Shu Lin barely ate any dinner, clamoring to lose weight in order to look good on camera.
No matter how Shao Chengxi tried to persuade or coax him, Shu Lin simply wouldn’t eat.
As a result, he woke up hungry in the middle of the night, and he pestered Shao Chengxi to prepare a midnight snack.
He had a lot of twisted logic himself, eating the midnight snack in big bites while saying:
“Honey, starving yourself is actually wrong.”
“I suddenly realized.”
“Think about it, the ribbon-cutting ceremony during the day will be very physically demanding. If I’m not full, how will I have the energy to persevere to the end?”
“What if I faint from hunger?”
“That would be a big embarrassment.”
“Compared to fainting in public and embarrassing myself, being ugly on camera is negligible.”
In the middle of the night, Minister Shao kept peeling shrimp for his little Omega, smiling indulgently:
“Baby makes so much sense. Come on, eat some more.”
He loved seeing Shu Lin eating so heartily like this, eating so deliciously.
And just like that, Shu Lin ushered in his twenty-first birthday.
July 28th, headquarters of the Foundation.
As the morning sun pierced through the clouds, a red carpet had already been laid out for a hundred meters in front of the Foundation headquarters.
A drone array formed a giant “Light of Life” in the air.
Holographic projections materialized Shu Lin’s pheromones into fluttering apricot blossom rain, sprinkling on the shoulders of every guest.
Hong Zhengyue was the last to arrive.
He didn’t really want to come.
Although no one said it explicitly, whenever the topic of pheromone deficiency came up, everyone would think of the sonic pheromone scandal.
His appearance was equivalent to public execution.
But under pressure from Shao Chengxi and other political figures, he had no choice but to come.
The next round of presidential elections was in the spring, and he couldn’t do without the support of major financial groups. He had to bow his head when necessary.
As he stepped out of the car, the camera accurately captured the twitch in the corner of his mouth.
Because some of the public saw him appear and shouted, “Severely punish pheromone criminals.”
It was like a slap in the face.
When it came to the ribbon-cutting, he held the golden scissors with a stern face, forming a stark contrast with the smiling Shu Lin beside him.
As soon as the ribbon-cutting ceremony was over, he was about to leave in a hurry, but he was blocked by reporters:
“Mr. President, why are you in such a hurry to leave?”
Hong Zhengyue bluntly retorted, “Busy with state affairs.”
The livestream was instantly flooded with comments.
“Hilarious, the Secretary of State and Vice President, as well as the heads of various departments, are all sitting down there. What state affairs is he busy with?” (820,000 likes)
“Suggest the Presidential Palace be renamed the ‘Skipping Work Office’.” (Meme gone viral)
“This generation of the masses is not easily fooled.” (Trending topic)
When Shu Lin stood on the podium, the entire venue suddenly fell silent.
He was wearing a classic black suit, with an apricot blossom brooch given by Shao Chengxi pinned to his chest.
As he began to speak, his clear voice resounded throughout the square:
“Some say that pheromones are a gift from heaven, but I believe that they are a medium for conveying warmth…”
His speech was interrupted by applause three times.
When he mentioned “every life deserves to be treated with tenderness,” the representatives of the patients’ eyes filled with tears of gratitude.
Wu Xun whispered to Lin Zhengyang, who was sitting next to him:
“This US-Class Omega is young but not simple. He is more outstanding than we imagined.”
“In the future, he will definitely be a sharp sword for Shao Chengxi’s presidential campaign.”
Lin Zhengyang nodded, “Who says otherwise?”
Despite the fact that Shu Lin was attending such a large event for the first time, look at his stage presence; he wasn’t nervous at all.
He was quite adept.
As expected of a voice actor, his grasp of tone, pitch, and rhythm was excellent.
His speech was pleasant and enjoyable to listen to.
Not to mention his overall image.
A youthful teenager, full of vitality.
Yet he didn’t lose his composure or humility.
Very attractive.
The way he was showing his talents reminded Lin Zhengyang of a very apt poem.
“A tiny lotus had just shown its pointed leaves, a dragonfly already perched upon it.”
Except…
Lin Zhengyang always felt that something about Shu Lin was off.
With doubts in his mind, he took a closer look.
But the more he looked, the more he felt that something was wrong.