Return to the Day When My Pregnant Wife Jumped Off the Building-Chapter 294 You Can Praise Me Now_1

In any country, regardless of the ceremony, the fixed procedure is to start with a speech, rehashing what everyone already knows in various ways, before the official ceremony can commence. fɾēewebnσveℓ.com

As for the process after the start, it, too, had been pre-arranged. It was originally planned that Furukawa Shizuka would hand over the wooden box containing the bronze hairpin to Xiao Ming, who would then pass it to the leader of the national museum.

The implication was that the treasure, after passing through the hands of two nations and three parties, would finally return to where it belonged.

How splendid!

But Xiao Ming just had to be a pain, feeling uneasy without causing some commotion.

As Furukawa Shizuka solemnly approached Xiao Ming with the wooden box, and reporters’ fingers rested on their shutters, waiting for the instant snapshot of them both holding the box, he simply smiled slightly and stepped to the side.

The entire venue erupted, and Furukawa Shizuka stood there bewildered, silently questioning him.

Next, Xiao Ming gestured towards the museum leadership, and everyone finally understood that he intended for Furukawa Shizuka to interact directly with the museum.

This way, the meaning and nature of the gesture were completely altered.

It was common knowledge that the Furukawa Family had no idea of the bronze hairpin’s value, which was why it had ended up at the charity auction in the first place. It was Xiao Ming, with his discerning eye, who had purchased the hairpin and announced his intention to donate it to the museum.

The so-called "joint donation with the Furukawa Family" was merely a courtesy to foster international relations, a typical display of high EQ and knowing the larger picture.

But now, Xiao Ming’s step back, along with Furukawa Shizuka’s direct handover of the bronze hairpin to the museum, carried a deeper meaning that invited contemplation.

Although the ceremony was just a formality, many members of the public were not privy to the details. Once the news broke, it was all too easy for them to assume it was the Furukawa Family that had initiated the return of the cultural relic, with Xiao Ming merely playing the role of an intermediary.

Why would Xiao Ming relinquish such glory?

Was there perhaps more to the story?

The reporters suddenly became excited, rubbing their hands in anticipation.

Despite the minor hiccup, the ceremony’s order wasn’t destroyed, and everything progressed systematically as planned.

Finally, it was time for questions.

Countless hands shot up, resembling a swarm of garden eels surfacing suddenly from the sea floor. The reporters completely forgot about the other leaders, each of them calling out Xiao Ming’s name.

Xiao Ming, with a wry smile, spoke into the microphone, "Have I offended anyone here? Today’s protagonists are the bronze hairpin, the museum, and Miss Furukawa. Please be so kind as not to ask overly personal questions, alright?"

Then, he randomly selected a reporter.

Sure enough, the reporter’s question was exactly why he had stepped back during the exchange.

"First of all, I would like to apologize to all the leaders, experts, and Miss Furukawa. My actions were immature and caused inconvenience, I am sorry," he said, nodding towards the seats occupied by the leaders, and continued. "As for my step back at that moment, it was indeed an impromptu decision, sparked by a sudden realization of something.

That was whether I myself was key to this process and whether I deserved to enjoy the glory.

Certainly, Miss Furukawa’s family was unaware of the bronze hairpin’s value, but it’s undeniable that it was the Furukawa Family who brought it over, intending to auction it to the Han Nation under the auspices of charity.

Think about it—how likely is it for an ordinary hairpin, not deemed expensive, to be preserved for nearly a century?

The Furukawa Family, being a century-old lineage in Fusang, surely had more than just a bronze hairpin in their collection to be brought over to the Han Country.

And yet, it was this unassuming accessory that had been kept by the Furukawa Family until now, brought to the Han Country and ending up as an item in a charity auction, whereby it happened to be recognized by me.

With so many unlikely events stacking together, to put it mystically, it must have been predestined by the unseen forces of fate.

And I, was merely a minor part of it all.

Therefore, I believe the focus of this matter should not be on who handed the bronze hairpin to whom, but rather that the treasures of our Han Country, which had been scattered overseas, have finally come home.

It signifies that the humiliating scars of our past are healing; it signifies that our strength is growing day by day.

We have the ability to protect all of our children wandering abroad, and even more so, the ability to ensure that the children of the future will no longer need to wander.

Even the heavens have taken notice."

As his voice fell, thunderous applause erupted in the hall.

Although his words were somewhat far-fetched, no one could deny that Xiao Ming’s rounding off was very elegant, successfully dispelling everyone’s suspicions of conspiracy and eliciting nodding smiles from the leaders.

A moment later, Xiao Ming raised his hand to quiet the applause and continued, "Just like I said in the interview before.

Whether it is saving someone or donating cultural relics, what I’ve done is merely what a slightly responsible person from the Han Country should do, ordinary and commendable, but not worthy of any praise.

Of course,"

he went on with a shy smile, scratching his head, "as an ordinary person, I do have vanity and a desire for everyone’s praise.

So, taking advantage of this epiphany from the donation, I want to announce something to all of you.

After returning to Longyin, I will immediately propose to the Ruiye Board of Directors to establish a foundation dedicated to recovering cultural relics that have been lost overseas, so that more treasures can come home.

Now, you may praise me.

Thank you!"

A kindly burst of laughter emerged from the audience, followed by resounding applause that lasted a long time.

At the end of the hall, behind rows of cameras, a young man was also clapping.

He wore sunglasses, obscuring his eyes, but his facial features were as sharply chiseled as a Greek sculpture, clearly a standard handsome man.

However, clenching a lollipop between his lips, the wicked and frivolous curve of his mouth exuded a nonchalant attitude that made men want to punch him and women to be enchanted.

"Not bad at all, this kid knows how to seize the moment, making firm and precise moves, practically a marketing genius.

If he decided to become a star, he could even save on hiring an agent and a PR team.

In terms of personal capability, he’s no worse than my own nephews.

Don’t you think? Hua."

A tall woman stood behind the man.

Clad in a petite suit jacket and wide-legged trousers, she radiated a cool nobility, more powerful than that of many so-called businesswomen, which made her name "Hua" seem incongruous.

Yet she seemed unfazed by the man’s address, watching Xiao Ming handling reporters’ questions with ease on stage, and spoke indifferently, "As someone who hasn’t received an elite education, he truly deserves the title of ’genius.’

But also because of his lowly background, his future prospects are sure to be limited, and he won’t go far.

Comparing him with the next generation of the Ye Family flatters him too much, sir."

Hearing this, the man turned his face to look at her, "Do you really think so?"

Even behind the sunglasses, the woman felt an intimidating pressure that made her heart race, she hastily lowered her head, stammering, "I’m sorry, sir, Hua spoke out of turn."

The man snorted coldly, "Even though you were sent to my side by my father, you should be clear about who you belong to and what your status is.

Xiao Ming might be deserving of death, but that is the Ye Family’s grudge against him. As a servant of the Ye Family, you can kill him, but you cannot insult him, and you certainly don’t have the right to look down on him, understand?"