The female manager dismissed the sales associate and led Linden into a back room.

"Mr. Lin, please come in."

Upon entering, Linden found the room brightly lit, adorned with old-fashioned European-style wooden furniture. In the center of the room, several glass display cases each held a perfectly tailored suit.

"Mr. Lin, since you'll be attending the gala tonight, there's no time for a custom-made suit. These are standard exhibition models. Please tell me which one you like, and I'll get it for you to try on. Your build is excellent, so with a few minor adjustments from the tailor, it will be ready for you to wear."

"Personally, I recommend the one on the left; its style is less formal and a bit more vibrant in its pairing."

Listening to the manager's introduction, Linden turned to the glass case on the left. It was a blue-black suit, and Linden could tell... this suit was a cut above the others in every aspect.

"I'll take that one then, let's try it."

Linden had only worn a suit once in his life, and he trusted professional judgment more than his own when it came to choosing. After trying it on, Linden looked in the mirror. Indeed, clothes make the man... with this top-tier suit on, the effect was truly different.

"This one."

"Excellent, Mr. Lin. Please follow me this way; I'll have the tailor take your measurements and make the adjustments. By the way, would you like me to recommend a tie for you?"

"Yes, you can pick one out."

...

A long while later, Linden emerged from the store carrying a suit bag. He learned for the first time that such high-end suits were typically stored in these special bags. The manager told him that upon returning home, he should remove the suit from the bag and hang it vertically to prevent wrinkles. The bag's purpose was to protect the suit during transport.

"Quite delicate, aren't they?"

Linden carried the suit bag, feeling as if he were carrying a case of gold. He was curious how much this "top-tier" suit actually cost... but there were no prices written on the three glass cases, and the manager simply charged it to Zhao Yingjun's account, so Linden never found out the exact price.

7:00 PM.

Linden took a taxi to the gala venue. It was the most luxurious mansion in all of Shanghai. After the car stopped, a dedicated greeter opened the door, hand shielding the doorframe.

"Sir, please be careful exiting the vehicle."

Linden walked towards the main hall of the mansion. Several guests passing by nodded and smiled at Linden, and he returned their smiles and nods. The entire mansion was decorated in a European style, with elegance and solemnity evident in every brick and tile.

Inside the grand hall, the gala hadn't officially begun. Guests held their drinks, scattered around and chatting, while melodious violin and piano music played from the second floor. This atmosphere... reminded Linden of scenes from Titanic.

Linden quickly found Zhao Yingjun. Today, she wore a dark red evening gown, her hair intricately pinned up in a very formal style. Linden noticed that her earrings had changed from silver in the morning to a crystalline red, perfectly matching the gown. Unlike the usual formal-attire Zhao Yingjun, today's Zhao Yingjun... exuded more feminine charm, the beauty of a high-branch rose.

"Linden, you're here."

Zhao Yingjun noticed Linden, looked him up and down, and nodded. "Good taste, that outfit suits you very well." She walked over, pinched Linden's tie knot, and tightened it. "Linden, a suit is a man's armor, and a tie is his sword. Remember to tie it tighter next time."

"Oh, right..." Linden mumbled in agreement.

Patting Linden's collar, Zhao Yingjun picked up her wine glass again and led Linden further inside. "Tonight's science fundraising gala is organized by Chu Shanhe, the president of the Shanghai Chamber of Commerce."

She pointed to a burly man below the grand staircase in the hall, laughing and chatting with a group of influential figures. "That's Chu Shanhe, the most famous big shot in Shanghai."

"I've heard of him." Linden nodded.

The name Chu Shanhe was practically a household name in Shanghai. He was the most unapproachable, and dared-not-to-be-approached, person in the entire city. Shanghai, as an international metropolis, was intricate both openly and covertly. The position of Chamber of Commerce president, with its immense influence and hard power... was not something an ordinary person could hold securely.

"When I was in college, I often heard legendary stories about Chu Shanhe, though I don't know if they were true or false. There are also rumors that... he's a doting father to his daughter?"

Zhao Yingjun chuckled softly. "That part is true."

"He spoils his daughter a lot?"

"It's not just ordinary spoiling... he holds her so gently, afraid she might fall; keeps her so close, afraid she might melt."

Zhao Yingjun looked around, then shook her head. "Chu Shanhe used to bring his daughter to every banquet, but I haven't seen her today. She's a very beautiful little girl."

"Oh." Linden responded casually. He wasn't interested in gossip; this was a world completely separate from his own.

"Linden, look over there."

Zhao Yingjun pulled Linden, pointing to the other side. There was a man standing alone in the corner of the hall, his appearance completely out of place with the rest of the gala. He wore a very casual shirt, his face had unshaven stubble, and he wore thick, square glasses that were currently fogged up...

"That's Professor Xu, Professor Xu Yun from Shanghai University. Did you know him when you were in school?"

"No," Linden said truthfully. Shanghai University was so large, with so many departments and so many teachers... Linden barely recognized all the teachers in his own department, let alone others.

"Professor Xu Yun is the only scientist in China researching the topic of hibernation pods. He hasn't made any progress in his research for a long time, not even getting the most basic theories sorted out, let alone any substantial breakthroughs."

"Someone in China is actually researching that? That's too sci-fi."

Zhao Yingjun lowered her head and smiled. "Only him."

"Because he's researching something so outlandish, no research institute would take him. His former teachers and students also left him; everyone thought he was crazy."

"For all these years, he's only managed to get an associate professor title by simply staying on; he has no scientific achievements. He's stuck at the university, teaching classes while doing research in his lab."

"However."

Zhao Yingjun stared at the swirling red wine in her glass, continuing, "Perhaps that's just how fate works; when you hit rock bottom, things reverse."

"A while ago, he failed again while researching the hibernation pod's filling liquid, but he unexpectedly discovered a new chemical substance."

"When this substance combines with water molecules, it forms a single-molecule thin film that is breathable but completely impermeable to water molecules, and it's also harmless to the skin."

Zhao Yingjun placed her wine glass on the table, then took a fresh glass of red wine from a passing waiter's tray. "This chemical substance, for Professor Xu's hibernation research, is undoubtedly a failure. But Linden..."

"Do you know what this substance means for us in the skincare product industry?"