Chapter 226: The Asian Gatsby (2)
“You don’t mind fireworks, do you?”
At the mention of fireworks, Lau’s eyes widened.
After the MET Gala ends, countless after-parties are held all over New York.
However, only a few parties attract media attention.
Unless a top star hosts the event, most parties go unnoticed.
But the party hosted by the “Asian Gatsby” was an exception.
The mysterious allure evoked by the name "Gatsby."
A stunning visual spectacle, as if pulled straight from a movie scene.
And with Dacaprio captured at the center of it all, there was no shortage of buzzworthy elements.
The media went wild. <“The Great Gatsby” Was Real? Reality Gatsby Spotted at the MET Gala>
<“Asian Gatsby” vs. “Gatsby”: When Reality Surpasses Fiction>
<Dacaprio’s Acting Secret—Was He Inspired by a Real-Life Gatsby?>
Numerous articles compared the party scene to the movie, and the public was thrilled.
The resemblance to the film was insane.
Breaking: Turns out Gatsby wasn’t a movie—it was a documentary.
—So Dacaprio was method acting after all.
—It wasn’t acting, it was reenacting.
If things went according to my script, this interest in "Gatsby" would naturally shift toward interest in Lau.
However, there was a small obstacle.
<Many believe I was inspired by a certain individual, but that’s not true.>
It was Dacaprio himself who drew a clear line.
<Of course, Lau is an incredible person, but his personality is completely different from Gatsby’s. He’s someone who loves to give. I based my performance solely on the original character from the novel.>
He made this statement less than half a day after the article was published.
With a response this quick…
'Lau must have stepped in.'
Even in his past life, he was a man who left no trace on MDB or any official record.
He would certainly want to avoid unnecessary attention.
So it wouldn’t be strange if he asked Dacaprio for a favor.
'Still, it's probably too late to stop the rumors.'
The public’s curiosity had already been ignited.
The flames should have spread from here—but there was one more problem.
—So, where’s the Asian Gatsby?
—You mean that round guy?
—This is the difference between a movie and a documentary...
Those who had imagined a glamorous Gatsby like in the film couldn’t hide their disappointment upon seeing Lau.
To be fair, it made sense.
Lau’s round, dumpling-like appearance, lacking any visible charisma, didn’t really match the grand title of “Asian Gatsby.”
But, well.
That was something I could fix.
In an unusual move, I agreed to an interview with a tabloid and testified about Gatsby.
“That day was a once-in-a-lifetime party. He really was a Gatsby... an extraordinary man.”
“Hm, is that so?”
“Yes, I’ve met many people, but only three have ever left me thinking, ‘This one’s no pushover.’ The White Shark, Ackman, and Lau.”
I continued the interview, placing Lau on the same level as Wall Street titans.
The reporter’s eyes were full of skepticism, but hey, I said it, didn’t I?
“You shouldn’t be fooled by his appearance. He might look unassuming, but there’s something special about him. Something that sets him apart from ordinary people... My instincts were warning me. I can see why so many top stars are drawn to him.”
Of course, most people still weren’t convinced.
—Orca pays attention to this guy?
—Sure, you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but…
—If even Dacaprio was charmed, there must be something to it.
—Wait, top stars gather around him? Like who?
But.
Separate from that, quite a few people showed interest in the “network of top stars” I mentioned.
Some of them began seriously tracking Lau’s movements.
Past Dacaprio film premieres, after-parties, private events.
In various photos, a round-faced Asian man was spotted smiling brightly.
In other pictures too, Lau was often seen with his arm around a famous star, and by checking that star’s social media, another superstar would appear with Lau at a different party, forming a chain of connections.
And as people followed that thread, unexpected results began to emerge.
—He’s close with James Fox too?
—Wow, Alicia’s there too. This guy’s network is insane;;
—This is basically an unofficial Hollywood VIP lineup.
People became intrigued and began searching for new clues like a treasure hunt, then shared their findings on social media.
The more his network was revealed, the more interest in Lau grew.
Soon, even those who had met him in person began to share testimonies.
I once received a necklace from Gatsby himself. We sat at the same table in a casino, and he just handed it to me and left... Didn’t even ask for my contact info. Never saw him again.
—I also saw a round Asian guy handing out Rolexes at a casino. Could that have been...?
—I actually went to a Gatsby party. He rented out an entire club in Saint-Tropez and sprayed gold-coated champagne. It was insane.
—A friend of a friend said an Asian guy held a masquerade in Venice and gave out masks studded with real diamonds. Could that have been him too...?
What had once been dismissed as random stories about a nameless Asian millionaire had now become legendary tales of the Asian Gatsby.
And that only fueled even greater public interest.
—At this point, he’s basically a jewel-dispensing ATM. Just being near him, you might get something.
—Please share the Asian Gatsby’s whereabouts. I’m serious.
—He’s more Gatsby than Gatsby himself.
Then, another fascinating story popped up.
A luxury car dealer in London made this statement:
—He bought seven ultra-luxury cars in one day. Two Bugattis, a Rolls-Royce, a Lambo, a Ferrari, a Bentley... all paid in cash, in full.
A man who paid millions in cash.
That doesn’t happen often.
—Paying in cash? He’s not your average guy...
—Even Aaron Stark couldn’t pull that off. Who the hell is this guy?
—List of people who buy cars with stacks of cash: 1. Mafia, 2...
—This is literally just like a movie.
And just as speculation about his true identity was heating up...
Old acquaintances began to come forward this time.
—I went to high school with Lau — I heard he’s some kind of billionaire, maybe a noble or even royalty from Malaysia.
—No, that’s not true...…I’m Malaysian, and Lau’s family isn’t royal. His father runs a real estate business — it’s just a mid-sized company...
—I heard he’s close with Arab royalty?
In my previous life, there were never this many varied testimonies about Lau.
Back then, not many people were interested in a typical finance scandal coming out of America.
But the “Asian Gatsby” under this new Hollywood framing was different.
Many more witnesses stepped up, and their statements only fueled the public’s imagination.
—He’s tight with a prime minister’s family. There’s a PM’s son at our college and Lau visited a few times.
—Isn’t he a “fixer” for Saudi royalty? That’d explain why he carries stacks of cash…
—Maybe he’s some kind of secret diplomat… Isn’t this Lau in the photo next to the PM at the White House?
—He’s really Gatsby... What the hell does he do? Doesn’t anyone know?
***
Meanwhile, Lau was in a state of extreme anxiety.
He never imagined that one damn party would become such a huge deal.
He’d hosted countless more extravagant events over the years, and not once had it caused a problem.
But this time, how did it come to this...
—Didn’t I tell you to lay low!?
A furious voice blasted through the phone — the Prime Minister.
In Malaysia, the MDB investigation was still ongoing, but it hadn’t yet reached Lau.
He was like a ghost, someone who didn’t officially exist on any paperwork.
That’s why the PM had instructed him to leave Malaysia and keep a low profile, just in case...
And now here was Lau, who should’ve been hiding in silence, drawing global attention with the flamboyant title of “Asian Gatsby.”
—Don’t worry. It’s just silly gossip. It'll blow over soon.
That’s what he had confidently claimed.
But now he was asking himself—
‘Why won’t this die down…?’
As time passed, the legend of the Asian Gatsby only continued to grow.
“Shut it down now! I don’t care what it costs — fix it!”
He yelled at his assistant.
But all he got was an awkward look in return.
“Well, even if we try to stop it…”
This wasn’t something that could be solved by silencing one or two mouths.
How were they supposed to track down and shut up every internet user digging into “Hollywood’s Asian Gatsby”?
And it was practically impossible to find every anonymous tipster who had either attended one of Lau’s many parties or witnessed them firsthand.
‘If this keeps going…?’
What had protected Lau until now was his “anonymity,” built on careful discretion.
He’d lived a life of luxury and lavish parties, but to most people, he’d been nothing more than a vague image of a “wealthy Asian billionaire.”
But now...
It wasn’t an exaggeration to say he felt utterly exposed.
‘This is... dangerous.’
Until now, some people had simply remembered him as “some rich Asian businessman,” but now that image was becoming tied to a specific, identifiable person.
And at last, the moment he had feared most finally arrived.
<Exclusive: Was the Real Owner of Malaysia’s Sovereign Wealth Fund the Asian Gatsby?>
Through a Singaporean news outlet, a whistleblower exposed Lau’s identity.
There had been occasional claims in the past that “someone named Lau” existed, but with no evidence beyond the name, it hadn’t done much damage.
But attach the label “Asian Gatsby,” and the story changed.
Of course, there was still no concrete proof.
Just one whistleblower’s statement.
But the public’s imagination was already moving in one clear direction.
— Is that for real?
—What’s a sovereign wealth fund?
—So all of Gatsby’s extravagance was paid for with fund money?
—No way...
Then, ominous news arrived.
“Kumar has been dismissed.”
Lau’s key connection in the Middle East, who had helped him embezzle funds, was suddenly removed.
And that wasn’t all.
“Deutsche Bank is demanding repayment on the $1 billion loan.”
As rumors of Lau’s link to MDB spread, banks began to move — and if he was forced to repay all the borrowed money...
‘Bankruptcy.’
It would be the end.
‘Do I need to run...?’
He seriously considered disappearing, but there was only one reason Lau didn’t bolt.
<Is the Sonora Lithium Mine Finally Moving Forward?>
That headline appeared.
The long-stalled mine — halted for years over environmental concerns — was finally making progress.
It was none other than the mine Gonzalez had promised to develop.
‘It’s still speculative, but…’
Gonzalez was the third son of a Mexican mining tycoon.
There had to be some real development happening.
‘If I just invest in this...!’
Everything could be solved.
It would instantly inflate MDB’s value and patch the gaping holes in the fund.
He might even be able to justify all his past spending as “secret investments.”
The problem was — Gonzalez had been out of contact since the MET Gala.
His assistant kept repeating the same answer: “He’s on a business trip.”
Then—
“He’s finally back!”
News came that Gonzalez had returned to New York.
Lau rushed straight to his office.
“Why the hell have you been out of contact?!”
“Ah, long time no see.”
Gonzalez was completely unbothered.
He leaned back in his chair, casually propping both feet on the desk.
“I’ve been busy.”
And Lau figured that much was true.