Chapter 201

The reporters exchanged glances, their recording devices still held at the ready.

Their questions grew increasingly pointed, each one wrapped in a veneer of politeness.

"Mrs. Valdemar, at such a young age, are you truly capable of shouldering the responsibilities of Valdemar Holdings?"

"Rumor has it you never graduated from university. Will the board of directors respect your authority?"

Sophia Laurent stood under the glaring lights, a faint smile playing on her lips.

"The company I founded during my time at Kyoto University has already gone public," she paused, "Managing Valdemar Holdings won't be difficult for me."

The room fell so silent you could hear a pin drop.

The live stream's chat exploded.

"Liar! Who believes this nonsense?"

"Started a business at eighteen? Yeah, right!"

"Must be some small company her family set up to make her look good!"

A reporter discreetly turned on his recording device.

A bespectacled male journalist suddenly rose to his feet.

"Mrs. Valdemar, would you mind disclosing the name of this company you founded?"

Behind his glasses, his eyes gleamed with calculation.

It was a trap.

Answering—or refusing to—would both give them ammunition.

Sophia adjusted her cuff with a graceful motion.

"Pearl Entertainment," she said clearly. "I'm the majority shareholder and CEO."

The venue plunged into stunned silence.

Even the live chat froze for several seconds.

"Pearl... as in the billion-dollar Pearl Entertainment?"

"Founded five years ago... the timeline matches..."

"Oh my god, she's the real mastermind behind it?"

The reporters gaped at each other, their pens forgotten mid-sentence.

The questioning journalist's face drained of color.