Chapter 3498: Adding Flowers to Brocade

Bernard Arnault and the President are old acquaintances.

After all, even if Arnault were to fall from the position of the world's richest person, he would still be the richest person in all of France and all of Europe, so in this little corner of Europe, his influence is no less than anyone's.

In the past, the President's summons might not have truly interested Bernard Arnault, but today, after all, is a glorious and honorable day, so he is also very excited, shaking hands with the President and humbly saying: "Mr. President, you flatter me; I merely did what I ought to do."

The President shook his head, feeling deeply moved, and said: "Today, all French people are proud of you, and later I will also represent France in awarding you the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour."

The Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour is France's highest honour; in peacetime, it is generally only awarded to those who have won the highest honour for their country, such as world champions in major sporting events.

For a businessman like Bernard Arnault, being awarded such a high-standard honour is very rare, and he himself has not received it in all these past years.

Actually, to the French government, a medal is not worth much money, but they strictly limit its quantity precisely to ensure its value; once this thing becomes common, its value will greatly diminish, and its appeal to those who have not received it will likewise be greatly diminished.

Bernard Arnault is very pleased; upon returning, he was received by the Prime Minister at the airport and granted an audience by the President, and moreover will be awarded the highest honour, with the treatment already maxed out.

Afterwards, the two exchanged a few pleasantries in front of the media cameras before formally entering the awarding ceremony.

The awarding ceremony has a fixed procedure, with many French high-ranking officials and guards present on site to witness, and media reporters also broadcasting live in real time from the side.

Under the gaze of all French people and half the world's populace, the silver-haired Bernard Arnault received that exquisite Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour.

When the President placed that medal on his chest, the entire Élysée Palace erupted in thunderous applause.

This elderly old man, who considers himself a shrewd businessman and is never troubled by these empty fame and gains, today truly realized that it was not that he disliked fame and profit, but merely that he had never before reached such a height.

His eye sockets slightly reddened, as if a passionate patriotic fervour had also arisen in his chest.

Ye Chen, through the livestream, saw Bernard Arnault's excitement and exhilaration, and he also saw from the barrage of comments flying across the screen the French people's admiration for him.

Thus, he suddenly had a brainwave, thinking: Why not just see the Buddha off to the west and give him some more sweetness to taste?

Immediately, he took out his phone and sent a WeChat message to Tawana, who was also on the island.

A few minutes later.

Bernard Arnault, who had just finished receiving the medal from the President, was standing straight, together with the President accepting media filming, when a staff member nearby suddenly walked up to the President's side and excitedly whispered a few words in his ear.

After hearing this, the President's eyes lit up, and he lowered his voice to ask: "Is the news true?!"

"It is true!" the other replied: "I have already verified with Tawana Svet's company; indeed, it is Miss Svet's decision, and if our side also has no problem, Miss Svet can officially announce it at any time on her personal social media platform!"

"How wonderful! Really wonderful!" The President, unable to contain his excitement, immediately said to the media present: "Ladies and gentlemen, we have just received news that the famous singer Miss Tawana Svet, in order to thank Mr. Bernard Arnault, has decided to hold five personal concerts in France after her vacation ends, and all the proceeds from the concerts will be donated to French charitable institutions!"

The on-site reporters immediately let out a gasp of astonishment.

Tawana Svet's concerts have long been the golden key to driving local tourism economies; it can be said that wherever she chooses to hold a concert, that place's tourism industry will receive a significant boost.

Money is not even the main point; the national and municipal popularity spikes instantly, and the long-tail effect afterward is the greater source of benefit.

Moreover, this time Tawana is not coming for a commercial performance; she is coming for a charitable performance, with all proceeds donated to domestic charitable causes, and the box office revenue from five concerts will be at least one hundred million euros!

Besides all the monetary benefits, France's prestige will also receive a major boost, because Tawana Svet, such a big star, voluntarily coming over to do a charitable performance—this sort of thing has never even happened in the United States.

The reporters were greatly surprised, all turning their cameras toward the elderly Bernard Arnault, because everyone knows that Tawana wants to hold five charitable concerts in France precisely to repay Bernard Arnault's life-saving kindness.

Bernard Arnault was also dazed.

His first thought was: This is unreasonable, it was Ye Chen who saved Tawana, not me; Tawana surely knows this in her heart.

But thinking of Ye Chen, he instantly understood: This must be Ye Chen's instruction to Tawana to do this.

He, who has never seen any great wind or waves, at this moment actually felt his eye sockets turn red with emotion.

He felt that even his own life was saved by Ye Chen, and yet Ye Chen gave him this great merit, and now he even lets Tawana come to add flowers to his brocade.

He could not help but think to himself: "This... this is still that Ye Chen who held the plastic Heirloom Jade Seal, the ink-painted Mona Lisa, and extorted several hundred million US dollars from me? Previously I thought he was the most hateful person in this world; why... why do I now feel that his humanity shines so brilliantly radiant? Having brushed off his clothes after the deed, hiding his merit and fame—this must be him, right?"

Some media used telephoto lenses to keenly capture Bernard Arnault's eye corners, from which two streams of turbid tears flowed.

Media reporters unaware of the truth thought this old man was moved by Tawana Svet's act of repaying kindness, and in their hearts they sketched out a touching story outline.

The benevolent and wealthy former world's richest man Bernard Arnault saved all the tourists on White Horse Island, and the grateful international superstar Tawana Svet immediately returned the favour, deciding to come to France to hold five charitable concerts.

Is this not the typical example of global unity and mutual love among all peoples?

In an instant, cameras clicked away nonstop at Bernard Arnault.

One after another moving press releases had already taken shape in the bellies of these news media people.

At this moment, the enthusiasm of French and all European fans of Tawana was instantly ignited, and they cheered aloud before the screen!

People have always loved Tawana; now, because of this series of events, they also came to love this silver-haired little old man.

For a time, Bernard Arnault's popularity in France, Europe, and even the whole world surged violently, reaching a peak that other rich people could not even look up to.

……

When Bernard Arnault left the Élysée Palace, the major media had already published their news reports online.

Bernard Arnault's wife excitedly told him: "I have read every single article, without exception all positive reports; all media are praising you, and the wording and diction are very thoughtful, not sparing praise for you, with extremely high evaluations!"

"Is that so?" Bernard Arnault, his heart racing with excitement, asked her: "Have you seen the public's comments online? What is their attitude?"

His wife blurted out: "They are almost 100% praising and supporting you; many even clearly said that if all the world's rich people could be as responsible and conscientious as you, they would not resent the rich; such comments have received many likes and echoes, and many who previously disliked the rich now look at you with new eyes."

"My goodness!" Bernard Arnault sighed: "If this continues, will there come a day when I can also try to enter politics?"

His wife scoffed: "You're already how old, still thinking about entering politics? Besides, this kind of thing probably holds no attraction for you anyway?"

Bernard Arnault waved his hand, solemnly saying: "You don't understand; before there was no attraction, now there is, and I have suddenly found that feeling, that feeling which money cannot bring."

His wife held his hand, earnestly saying: "Bernard, we are both quite old; from now on, we should better spend our time enjoying life, isn't that right?"

Bernard Arnault unnaturally smiled and said casually: "You're right, but don't worry, I only plan to reduce the energy I devote to making money a little, then go do some things I now want to do; as for life, there will be no impact, so rest assured;"

"Besides, even if we want to enjoy life, we cannot possibly shut down all work; after a lifetime of busyness, suddenly completely letting go would also be hard to adapt to."

Only then did his wife put her mind at ease, gently nodding and telling him: "You must remember, at our age, we still need to put our bodies first."

She did not know that at this moment Bernard Arnault was inwardly sighing: "You're right, we are both quite old, but you don't know—I have taken a Rejuvenation Pill, and I am only five hundred billion experience points away from the next one."

"In this life, I have already earned enough money, enjoyed enough luxurious living, and moreover this vast luxury empire continues to create wealth for me; with my current good reputation, it will surely help me earn even more money in the future, so I naturally want to experience something different!"

"Now, Mr. Ye has already laid such a solid foundation for me that I am almost effortlessly lifted by him onto the high platform; such a stage cannot be piled up with money! If I do not seize this good opportunity, I would not only be unworthy of myself, but also unworthy of Mr. Ye's cultivation! Moreover, my future life is still long; at least I still have thirty or forty years to live!"