Chapter 225: The Asian Gatsby (1)
“Someone named John Lau.”
“John Lau?”
The host tilted their head in confusion.
Of course—it’d be their first time hearing the name.
Lau isn’t famous yet.
‘First, let’s build the character.’
The reason Lau failed to attract public attention in my past life was due to the dry and uninspiring image of “sovereign wealth fund embezzler.”
So this time, I gave him a new, glamorous persona.
One that could captivate the public and make them obsessed.
And that was— I looked straight into the camera and continued.
“Yes, he’s also known as the ‘Asian Gatsby.’”
“The Asian Gatsby?”
The host’s eyes widened at Ha Si-heon’s words.
“You don’t mean that Gatsby from “The Great Gatsby”...?”
The ill-fated billionaire in Fitzgerald’s novel.
A mysterious man who threw the most lavish parties in New York, yet whose origins and wealth were shrouded in secrecy.
That was Gatsby.
And now, someone like that existed in real life?
“I’ve only heard rumors myself. They say he mainly operates out of Hollywood, but he’s coming to New York this time. So I thought maybe I’d stop by Boom Boom Cove again...”
At that moment, the host’s eyes sparkled.
Usually, the location of the MET Gala’s afterparty is a closely guarded secret known only to the invited.
Being invited to the afterparty itself was a mark of status, so there was no reason to brag about it.
But shockingly, that information had just slipped from Ha Si-heon’s lips.
Still, there was no time to dwell on this valuable tidbit.
A staff member wearing an earpiece approached and signaled with their eyes — a cue to wrap it up quickly because the next star was arriving.
“Well then, I hope tonight’s party turns out to be the party of a lifetime!”
After sending off Ha Si-heon, the camera immediately shifted to the next star.
From now until 8 PM was prime time for the stars of the Gala.
Hollywood A-listers, music industry superstars, and leading figures from the fashion world were lining up to enter.
As the host rushed through the endless procession of stars, the mention of the “Asian Gatsby” by Ha Si-heon was gradually forgotten.
But—
After 8 PM, things changed.
As the entrance of celebrities wrapped up, the crowd outside began to disperse.
Reporters also hurried off to prepare tomorrow’s stories.
Now, only the gossip reporters and paparazzi remained.
They began scoping out their next destination.
“Where are you heading?”
“I hear the Michael Kors party will draw the biggest crowd this year.”
“Up & Down will probably be packed too...”
On the surface, it seemed like they were sharing information, but there was a strange tension in the air.
Afterparties following the Gala were battlegrounds for celebrity reporters and paparazzi.
Where each star would appear, what fashion they would showcase, and who they would mingle with — everything was potential headline material.
In this market, the most crucial factor was exclusivity.
A photo that only one person got, not one everyone had, could sell for a fortune.
However, this year’s afterparties were expected to concentrate around just two locations.
That meant exclusive shots would be hard to come by.
Then, a few people suddenly remembered what Ha Si-heon had mentioned.
The “Asian Gatsby.”
“He said he usually operates in Hollywood, didn’t he?”
They quietly stepped away and started making calls.
They mobilized every connection they had in Hollywood to investigate the identity of the Asian Gatsby.
And then—
“John Lau? He’s tight with Dacaprio. He funded “The Wolves of Wall Street”.”
“They say...”
“In Vegas, everyone knows him. He throws around five million dollars every time he visits.”
“What does he do? I heard he’s Malaysian royalty... also runs businesses in Singapore and the Middle East.”
Every story that came in was fascinating.
A mysterious tycoon with ties to Hollywood stars — John Lau.
He truly fit the role of the Asian Gatsby.
And wherever he showed up, big-name celebrities were likely to follow.
“Boom Boom Cove, was it?”
On top of that, the location had already been revealed.
Boom Boom Cove was a VIP-exclusive lounge, but parts of it were accessible to the public.
With a strong zoom lens, they could definitely catch something.
“Should we go to a trendy hotspot with predictable results, or gamble on a chance at an exclusive shot...?”
The decision didn’t take long.
Some paparazzi grabbed their gear and quietly slipped away.
Meanwhile, at the MET Gala venue where cocktail hour had just begun.
John Lau had already arrived and was mingling with the crowd.
Just then—
As cocktail hour kicked off, Gonzalez appeared and muttered with surprise.
“You actually came?”
His tone had a mocking edge, as if to say, “I never thought you’d make it, but somehow you got in?”
It was hard to misunderstand, especially given what he said next.
“Oh, this is my assistant, Lanton.”
The reason he bothered to introduce his “assistant” was clear.
In short: “I don’t know who you came here pretending to work for, but whatever.”
Just being present at the MET Gala wasn’t enough to prove John Lau’s “influence.”
Though he was seething inside, John Lau didn’t let it show.
The truth was, he hadn’t received a direct invitation from the organizers.
He had bought his seat through sponsorship money and was sitting at a sponsor’s table.
“Well then, see you at the afterparty.”
Gonzalez left, his eyes saying, “Let’s see if you’re the real deal then.”
John Lau clenched his fist.
...He had to succeed.
He needed to throw the most dazzling, glamorous afterparty imaginable.
Not only to secure MDB’s investment, but also because his pride was on the line.
<The cars are dispatched, right? What’s the guest status?>
Lau constantly texted his assistant, checking every detail of the preparations.
To invite his “key connections” to tonight’s party, he’d gone to great lengths.
For those overseas, he arranged private jets, booked luxury hotels, and sent limousines to ensure their attendance.
But even those connections alone weren’t enough.
To properly show off his influence, he needed Hollywood figures as well.
So he worked the room, personally inviting stars he knew to the party.
"You're not wearing the watch I gave you today?”
He’d casually bring up a past gift like that and then say,
“As I mentioned before, I'm hosting an afterparty tonight... you should at least make an appearance, even if it’s late.”
It was a subtle way of urging them to attend.
The most important connection here, of course, was top star Dacaprio.
“If you come, you’ll meet several investors who could help your foundation.”
Dacaprio was deeply concerned about environmental issues and had even established his own foundation for environmental protection.
Moreover, he was currently raising funds to produce an environmental documentary.
Hearing that it could help his cause, Dacaprio finally nodded.
“Then I’ll drop by for a bit, even if it’s late.”
With that, Lau succeeded in securing at least one A-list celebrity for sure.
Everything that followed meant nothing to Lau.
The exhibitions, the performances, the dinner.
None of it registered.
His mind was focused solely on the afterparty.
As time passed and midnight approached, Lau quickly headed to the party venue for a final check.
His party was designed around the theme of the MET Gala.
This year’s theme: “China Through the Looking Glass.”
In line with the concept, Lau infused his afterparty with Chinese-style elements.
At the lounge entrance stood a massive gate modeled after the Forbidden City, and the guards were dressed in Qing Dynasty costumes.
All the finger foods were served in jade dishes, and the bar offered exotic menu items like “Tang Dynasty Martini.”
Terracotta warriors were placed throughout, and red lanterns were hung everywhere — it was enough to make you wonder whether you were in New York or a secret 1920s Shanghai club.
To make the venue feel less empty, he invited about a hundred models through a modeling agency.
But the real purpose of this event was business.
So, a separate space for VIPs was prepared.
In a quiet corner, a poker table was set up to allow for calm business discussions.
Even among all the elite afterparties of the Gala, this one was on a whole different level of opulence.
“Pretty impressive.”
Guests arriving one by one couldn't help but express their admiration.
Before long, Gonzalez showed up as well.
As Lau looked at him with subtle anticipation and anxiety,
Gonzalez’s verdict was...
“Not bad.”
With that, Gonzalez began mingling, meeting each of the invited guests.
He mainly asked questions about Lau.
This was only natural.
After all, Gonzalez had said he wanted to verify Lau’s “influence” through this party.
But what surprised Lau was what came next.
‘Unexpected.’
He’d thought Gonzalez was just a reckless playboy, but the man was actually doing real business.
Still, Lau felt relieved that the connections he had cultivated weren’t going to waste.
The financial magnates, Arab royalty, Bruneian royalty, Hollywood insiders...
All of them confirmed their ties with Lau.
But just as he felt everything was going smoothly,
Gonzalez suddenly received a call, stepped outside, and returned with two unfamiliar faces.
A tall Asian man, and a striking white woman.
“Let me introduce you. This is my former boss, Ha Si-heon of Pareto Innovation. And this is an old colleague, Rachel Moseley.”
‘T-That man...!’
Lau was well aware of the orca’s reputation.
The man who exposed the scams of Theranos and Valeant.
But why had he come here?
***
As soon as he recognized me, Lau’s expression stiffened with tension.
“Was it a mistake to invite him? I just heard there was a party and brought him along.”
“Oh, no. It’s not that at all.”
Lau forced a smile at Gonzalez’s words, but his face remained taut with unease.
‘As expected... This is what happens when I show up personally.’
Such was the downside of fame.
Just my presence made people nervous.
Still, I had a clear reason for coming here.
The first was to check the execution.
I had already teased the public with the idea of the “Asian Gatsby.”
I’d even leaked the party location, so there were probably cameras already lying in wait.
But then—
“It’s more subdued than I expected.”
“Subdued?”
Yeah, this wasn’t the kind of scene I’d envisioned.
Up close, everything was refined and luxurious, but that kind of value doesn’t translate well on camera.
What I wanted was clear.
‘It has to echo the movie.’
The moment the name “Gatsby” comes up, people expect certain imagery.
Like the iconic visuals from the film released a few years ago.
Fireworks exploding, champagne raining from the sky, and a frenzied party scene.
But this party was way too orderly.
It lacked the extravagant chaos of Gatsby’s cinematic flair.
Well, it wasn’t a huge problem.
‘I’ll just spice it up.’
“Feels more like one of Gonzalez’s weekend parties, don’t you think? I came expecting a MET Gala afterparty...”
Then I turned to Lau and asked, “If it’s alright with you, may I lend a hand with the party?”
I immediately called Nicole and told her to send them to the venue.
Lau looked tense again, so I reassured him.
“Don’t worry. Just a little something to liven things up.”
Soon, the acrobat team arrived.
I had specifically booked performers that mirrored the major party scenes from the movie, placing them where they could be seen clearly.
In another corner of the venue, we set up a Great Wall Tower.
For visual impact, I brought special glow-in-the-dark glasses.
Meanwhile, Gonzalez didn’t sit idle either.
“Well, I guess I’ll add a little something too.”
With a relaxed smile, he pulled out his phone, made a quick call, and turned back.
“You don’t mind fireworks, do you?”
At the mention of fireworks, Lau’s eyes widened.