Chapter 166: NBA Dinner

The All-Star Game ended with a roar. In the end, Russell Westbrook, the backup point guard for the Western Conference, was named the MVP of this year's game, scoring 41 points, grabbing 5 rebounds, 1 assist, and 3 steals. His 41-point performance was the second-highest single-game score in All-Star Game history, only behind Zhang Dadi's 42 points. Yet, it was still an impressive feat.

When Russell Westbrook raised the trophy symbolizing the MVP of the NBA All-Star Game, the New York All-Star Game officially came to a close. For most ordinary people, this meant it was time to head home and sleep.

But for the celebrities who participated in the All-Star Game, there was a special banquet to attend.

Of course, it wasn't just any social event. Those who were invited to attend were either rich or influential, with many players eager to mingle with the elite in hopes of finding opportunities to profit.

Jiang Hai had the chance to attend this exclusive dinner, thanks in large part to Moses Adams' connections. But, in addition to these connections, Jiang Hai also needed to demonstrate his "worth." To attend, he was required to donate one million US dollars to the NBA's charity, which could be considered a stepping stone.

The one million dollars was also tax-deductible, and the deductions occurred at a one-to-one rate, so Jiang Hai didn't mind making the donation. After all, that amount would have to be paid in taxes anyway in April, whether he liked it or not. Now, there was the added benefit of attending the banquet. So, after making the donation, Jiang Hai stepped into the venue.

However, once inside, Jiang Hai started to regret his decision. The people attending the banquet were all impeccably dressed, many wearing suits and leather shoes. In stark contrast, he was in outdoor clothes, which felt embarrassing.

He couldn't help but notice that even the waiters were more formally dressed than he was. What was supposed to be a dinner turned out to be a buffet banquet. Most people were chatting with a glass of wine in hand, just like what you'd see on TV, but there was nothing substantial to eat at the cold buffet.

"Uh, I guess I look a little out of place in this outfit, don't I?" Jiang Hai murmured to Moses Adams, who stood beside him.

"Boss, I told you earlier to wear something more formal, but you didn't want to listen! It's up to you now, hehe. I'm going to meet some clients over there," Moses said with a smile, patting Jiang Hai on the shoulder.

By now, it was too late to buy a suit. The All-Star Game had started at 8 PM and lasted nearly three hours, so by the time they arrived at the banquet, it was already well past eleven o'clock. No 24-hour store would have a suit fitting for this caliber of event.

Instead of settling for a mediocre suit, Moses decided it was better for Jiang Hai to stand out in his current attire. It would make him more noticeable and memorable.

Moses had indeed warned him to dress formally for such occasions, but Jiang Hai wasn't one for strict attire. He hated formal clothes, feeling restricted even when moving his arms, so he never cared much about them. However, now that he was at the banquet, he couldn't help but feel a bit self-conscious.

He could feel the gazes of everyone around him as they occasionally glanced at him. In this room full of suits and elegant dresses, he stood out like a sore thumb. If it weren't for the fact that he'd been seen by tens of thousands of people a few days ago, Jiang Hai might have fled the room under the scrutiny. But even now, he couldn't shake the feeling of discomfort.

With a glass of wine in hand, he walked over to the long buffet table to pick some food.

Though it was called a "dinner," most people kept their distance from the food. It was clear that they weren't there to eat. Jiang Hai, though, wasn't too bothered by it. The one million dollars he donated could offset his taxes, and he was at least getting a free meal. He wasn't particularly interested in networking, as he already had the strength and resources to make his own way.

"Salmon, cod... Is this redfish? Damn, why is everything raw? Can I only eat some fruit?" Jiang Hai mumbled, picking up a banana as he surveyed the array of delicacies on the table.

The buffet consisted mainly of cold food. The "cold" didn't refer to food that had been allowed to cool, but rather dishes that were cold from the start—like sushi, salads, and the like. This was the typical spread.

Jiang Hai had a problem, though—he didn't eat raw food. So, he found himself in a bit of a dilemma.

"Hello," a soft, pleasant voice suddenly broke his concentration. Jiang Hai looked up to find a woman standing before him. She was about 1.7 meters tall, likely due to the 6 or 7-centimeter heels she wore. Without the heels, she probably stood around 1.65 meters. Her long black hair and bronze skin marked her as an American woman, though she wasn't of purely Caucasian descent. Her face was slightly wide, but her narrow jawline gave her an intriguing, beautiful look. She was dressed in a black half-lace dress, holding a glass of wine, and smiling as she addressed him.

"Oh, hello," Jiang Hai replied after taking another bite of his banana. He didn't recognize her.

"Why are you eating alone? Are you hungry?" the woman asked, her smile widening as she spoke.

"I don't really know anyone here. And in this outfit, I'm not sure what to say to anyone. Anyway, the money I donated is tax-deductible, so I might as well eat and go back to sleep," Jiang Hai shrugged helplessly.

"You're quite the character. If Mr. Silva knew that, he might just return your one million dollars," the woman giggled, covering her mouth. She was referring to Adam Silva, the current NBA president, also known as Xiao Hua.

"If he could return it, I'd probably think about it," Jiang Hai chuckled in response.

"Let me introduce myself. I've been talking to you for a while, but I don't think you recognize me. My name is Selena Gomez." At this point, she extended her hand to Jiang Hai. When she mentioned her name, he still seemed blank, and she laughed at herself. As a rising star in American entertainment, she found it a bit disheartening that her popularity was so limited.

"Oh, sorry, I don't always recognize people well. I just got here, and honestly, most Americans look pretty similar to me—except for the different skin colors. It's like how you might feel about Asians," Jiang Hai offered a somewhat embarrassed excuse, shaking her hand briefly before letting go. He wasn't one to act like a love-struck fool around a woman.

"I actually came here to thank you. The Justin Bieber you dealt with was my ex-boyfriend, and he really is a bad guy," Selena said casually, leaning against the table as she spoke to Jiang Hai. At this point, Jiang Hai understood.

He didn't follow celebrity gossip much, but if he had, he would've known about the rocky relationship between Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez. The two had dated from 2011 to 2013, and after their breakup, Justin was known for publicly airing their relationship issues and trying to tear down Selena.

"Yeah, he deserved what he got. He's definitely a scumbag," Jiang Hai nodded, agreeing with her.

"By the way, what kind of business do you run?" Selena asked, eager to change the topic and learn more about this mysterious man.

"I have a manor in Boston where I raise cattle, horses, fish, and grow grapes for wine production," Jiang Hai replied, smiling.

Selena seemed surprised. She had assumed he was the director of some company, but Jiang Hai's appearance made him seem more like the typical "otaku" type—someone from Silicon Valley, with the distinct aura of a tech enthusiast.

"Come on, you can't just leave after dinner. Let me introduce you to someone," Selena said, laughing as she led Jiang Hai through the crowd. (To be continued.)