Chapter 097: It's a Supercar

All of Li Lekang’s eloquent remarks in the Forbes interview were carefully compiled and published in a special feature on the website, giving the public a new perspective on this genius magician. Since his debut, apart from his magic performances, Li Lekang had rarely given interviews or participated in media events, resulting in a somewhat vague impression of him beyond his dazzling tricks. Forbes finally satisfied everyone’s curiosity.

They dedicated substantial space to faithfully present Li Lekang’s interview, and perhaps understanding the secret to driving web traffic, they even posted video clips of his interview on their official site. Chasing after clicks is nothing to be ashamed of! After all, many Americans were already enchanted by this wizard-like man from the East—each of his performances and every impossible moment had become the talk of the town.

With such popularity, who would miss the chance to capitalize on it? Since Li Lekang wasn’t appearing on television talk shows, Forbes cleverly took an alternative route to spotlight him. When Li Lekang learned about this afterward, he made no complaint—the attention was, after all, to his benefit!

Through this window, audiences from a wider range of age groups began to discover him. Previously, his fans were mainly from the younger generation—tech-savvy, fashion-forward, and mostly under thirty. Now, more people over thirty were taking notice, even though maturity often dampens interest in magic and similar performances. Yet Li Lekang managed to rekindle the passion of the elite with his magic, and once they started watching, they couldn’t stop—they were hooked!

His performances had an addictive quality: you might be unimpressed by mere rumors, but once you saw him with your own eyes, you’d realize his brilliance. Experience his show in person, and there’s a high chance you’d become a loyal fan. Partly this was due to the content itself, and partly because he seemed to possess an aura that drew in belief.

His followers, those who truly believed in him, had now reached half a million! The gradual accumulation of numbers had brought about a qualitative change. Each day, his fans contributed six to seven hundred thousand transaction points, with a current total of twenty-three million. Though it was still a long way off from the hundred million needed for his next level, that day was steadily approaching.

On social media, his numbers were even more staggering. His YouTube subscribers had hit thirty million, and on TikTok—a haven for the younger crowd—he had forty million more! Across all platforms, including those in China, his total online followers had now exceeded one hundred million. No matter the context, these numbers made him a standout figure.

At the end of the Forbes interview, they even predicted his income for this year: no less than sixty million dollars, with a strong chance of surpassing David Copperfield to claim the top spot! This level of income would place him in the top ten among film and sports stars, and this was only his first year since debuting—his earning speed rivaled that of a minting press!

Undoubtedly, he had fueled Forbes’ buzz even further. So young, already mastering the secret to printing money, earning as much from a single show as a hit movie’s opening day box office… So many miracles were happening to this young man! His life in New York was anything but peaceful now; he wouldn’t dream of stepping outside without at least a handful of bodyguards, otherwise he’d be besieged by paparazzi and fans, unable to take a step in peace.

So most of the time, he stayed indoors. New York wasn’t like Los Angeles: Manhattan’s population density was just too high for outdoor activities. He found himself missing the freedom of the California coast. Yet, with two scheduled Broadway performances, Li Lekang couldn’t leave just yet.

Seeing his restlessness, Judy reached out to arrange a few activities for him. “It’s peak Fashion Week now. Manhattan is crawling with supermodels, celebrities, and fashion influencers—there are so many events to attend! Don’t spend all your time gaming; go out and make some new friends, handsome boy.”

“Why are you using such an old-fashioned term like ‘handsome boy’ on me?” Li Lekang asked, puzzled.

“Go change!” Judy laughed, giving him a gentle push toward the wardrobe.

As a celebrity, he naturally had no shortage of clothes. Many were high-end custom pieces from sponsors eager to see him wear their designs in public. Judy strongly recommended that he attend this year’s New York Fashion Charity Ball—walk the red carpet, pose with celebrities, and donate a bit to build his charitable image.

When he heard that many of the hottest supermodels would be there, Li Lekang happily changed into something new. Men’s outfits were far simpler than women’s, who had endless variations in evening gowns. Of course, there were also some who liked to break the mold—some men would turn up in high heels and dresses—but that was beyond the scope of normal discussion.

Li Lekang put on a dark blue suit with a white bow tie, an ensemble suitable for either a charity gala or the Oscars. Sponsored by Zegna, it was a labor of love by the designer, though Li Lekang felt it was just all right. The world of fashion was not his domain, but he had no problem joining in the fun.

As a star, it was a breeze for him to get an invitation from the organizers. That was the obvious perk of fame: his name was a VIP pass, his face a ticket to any exclusive event.

Though Li Lekang arrived late, there was no way an event could afford to snub someone who had taken America by storm. As the day arrived, fashion’s elite gathered at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. From the afternoon onward, celebrities began to make their appearances.

Li Lekang’s slot was later in the evening, as the most important figures appeared last. The earlier arrivals were there to warm up the event. Only after them did the real stars make their entrance along the avenue of lights.

The stairs were crowded with photographers—the flash bulbs blazed and the shutters clicked like machine guns, as gorgeously dressed stars struck a variety of glamorous poses.

The turnout of celebrities was impressive. Some outfits defied convention: either so shiny they looked like walking chrome furniture, or so dark their faces were barely visible. Some people’s styles had left the realm of humanity altogether—think cyberpunk with mechanical accents, or a woman shouldering a sparkling broadsword. What spectacle was she trying to create?

Li Lekang still remembered the time Lady Gaga showed up in a dress made of meat, shocking everyone, though, as it turned out, the buzz was incredible—people everywhere were talking about it.

Fashionistas really did go to great lengths to stand out! Of course, there were also those who played it safe, dazzling in crystal-studded couture, showing off their long, graceful figures… Li Lekang admired them for a moment before asking Judy at his side, “Who’s she?”

“You don’t know?” Judy replied in surprise. “Kendall Jenner, a top supermodel, former Victoria’s Secret runway star—she has two hundred million followers on Instagram.”

“Oh… no wonder she looked familiar!”

She was the “Odom’s sister-in-law” from back in the day! Though a member of the Kardashian clan, Kendall Jenner was something of an outlier—no jaw-dropping curves, but the classic physique of a Victoria’s Secret model, perfectly in line with public taste.

Nearly six feet tall, with long legs, a rounded figure, and a delicate face women would envy, she’d been the world’s highest-paid model for two years running—clearly a force to be reckoned with.

Putting aside all the rumors about her character and social skills, from a driver’s perspective, Li Lekang thought she was the perfect car—an absolute supercar!