Lu Jinchen stepped onto the elevated stage, his tall figure commanding the attention of the entire hall. The soft hum of conversation faded as the lights dimmed slightly, a single spotlight falling on him. He adjusted the mic, his voice deep and smooth as it echoed through the grand ballroom.
"Thank you all for coming tonight," he began, his gaze sweeping across the sea of high-profile guests. "It means a great deal to my family to have you here to celebrate a very special person… someone who has endured more than her fair share of storms and still stands with grace, pride, and elegance."
He paused, a slight smile tugging at his lips. "My mother—Madam Fei Ruyan."
A second spotlight turned on with perfect timing, illuminating the top of the grand staircase. Gasps and applause rippled through the room as Lu Jinchen's mother stood at the top of the stairs, looking elegant and radiant even in her mid-forties.
