Chapter 29: Proposal

The success of "Luminance" at Paris Fashion Week was like the ripples of a boulder dropped into a tranquil lake. Su Lingwan's name frequently appeared in major fashion media and business sections both domestically and internationally, and she was hailed as a talented designer who successfully brought Eastern aesthetics to the international stage. Her "Ink Rhythm" collection quickly sold out upon its official release, with demand exceeding supply.

However, Su Lingwan didn't rest on her laurels. Almost as soon as her "Ink Rhythm" series garnered significant attention, she began conceiving and creating her next collection, which she named "Pearl."

It goes without saying that the inspiration comes from herself, from the yellow diamond named "South Sea Pearl" given to her by Huo Linshen, and from the relationship between them, which is like a pearl that has been polished and becomes more warm and dazzling.

This time, Huo Linshen was noticeably more involved. Not bossing her around, but rather engaging in a more immersive way. He would quietly listen as she expounded on her design concepts, occasionally offering precise suggestions based on the wearer's or market's perspectives. He would accompany her to visit reclusive craftspeople, expressing his respect in his own way and clearing communication barriers for her. He would even stay with her in the studio late at night, silently organizing scattered design materials while she focused on her drawings, or simply working on his own files, his silent companionship dispelling the loneliness of the night.

After experiencing the fiery heat of passionate love, their relationship entered a deeper, long-lasting stage of tacit understanding, like two originally independent streams that, after twists and turns, finally merged and blended with each other, becoming inseparable.

The creative process for the "Pearl" series was even smoother than that for the "Ink Rhythm" series, seemingly flowing naturally. Su Lingwan boldly combines the warm luster and rounded forms of oriental pearls with modern geometric lines and asymmetrical designs, preserving the pearl's classic elegance while imbuing it with an unprecedented sense of fashion and power. The entire series, as its name suggests, aims to evoke a time-honored radiance that emanates from within—soft yet undeniable.

The venue for the press conference was the Hong Kong Arts Centre. This time, it was no longer an expedition to Paris to conquer foreign eyes, but a return home to showcase her mature and unique aesthetic language to her hometown and the world.

The launch event was an unprecedented spectacle. Not only were there top figures from the fashion and jewelry worlds, but also Hong Kong celebrities and business tycoons, the attendance even surpassed the previous annual banquet held by the Fok family. Everyone wanted to witness what surprises the Su family's daughter, soon to marry into the Fok family and known for her dazzling talent, would bring.

Backstage, Su Lingwan wore a moon-white silk tulle gown of her own design, embroidered with silver thread and faintly glimpsed mother-of-pearl patterns. It perfectly complemented the "Pearl" collection she would be showcasing today. She was putting the finishing touches on her makeup, feeling a bit more relaxed and expectant than she had been in Paris.

Selina walked over quickly, her face filled with uncontrollable excitement. "Ling Wan, the front desk is packed! Chairman Huo and Mr. Huo are here, and... wow, so many faces I usually only see in the financial news are here!"

Su Lingwan smiled at the mirror and stroked the pair of "Pearl" series preview earrings on her earlobes. The tiny South Sea white pearls, dotted with tiny diamonds, formed a perfect circle around the moon. "Got it. Let's get started as planned."

She took a deep breath, her gaze fixed on the "South Sea Pearl" ring on her ring finger in the mirror. The yellow diamond shone warmly and firmly under the light, as if giving her strength.

The lights dimmed and the music began. It was still a modern arrangement imbued with oriental charm, but with a touch more grandeur and atmosphere than in Paris.

Models walked out one after another, wearing pieces from the "Pearl" series.

There's a structured necklace combining baroque-shaped pearls with straight lines of platinum, breaking the inherent softness of pearls. A ring features a top-grade Akoya pearl as its centerpiece, surrounded by pavé diamonds to create an abstract wave pattern, showcasing luxury in its simplicity. And there are long earrings featuring pearls of varying sizes strung into asymmetrical tassels interwoven with metal chains, swaying gracefully as one walks, adding a touch of agility and grace.

Each piece perfectly embodies the essence of "Pearl"—not a dazzling edge, but a gentle, powerful radiance that emerges naturally through time and refinement. Elegant, independent, and powerful, they are a reflection of Su Lingwan herself.

The audience applauded and exclaimed in amazement, and the flashbulbs lit up the show like daylight.

Su Lingwan stood in front of the monitor backstage, watching her painstakingly crafted work blaze brightly on the catwalk and the stunned expressions of the audience below. A sense of quiet satisfaction filled her heart. Her gaze involuntarily sought that specific spot.

Huo Linshen sat front row, center, next to his father, Huo Zhenting. Huo Zhenting gazed at the catwalk with a rare, gentle admiration. Huo Linshen, on the other hand, wasn't looking at the catwalk. His gaze, piercing the crowd and the lights, landed precisely on the backstage monitors, as if he were staring directly at Su Lingwan, standing in front of the screen.

The look in his eyes was no longer the stunning one he had seen in Paris, but a deep one filled with infinite pride, love and... a kind of solemn expectation that Su Lingwan could not fully interpret at the moment.

Su Lingwan's heart moved slightly.

The atmosphere reached a crescendo when the closing model, dressed in a vibrant red velvet gown, wore the collection's most significant piece: a necklace featuring a large, extremely rare conch pearl, framed by dazzling white diamonds and shaped like a phoenix's feathers. The pink conch pearl, with its distinctive flame pattern, resembled the tears of a phoenix reborn from the flames, a dazzling and precious sight.

The music reaches its climax, and then all the models return.

Amidst thunderous applause, Su Lingwan calmly walked onto the T-stage and bowed.

The applause continued for a long time. She smiled and was about to say some words of thanks as usual and then invite the team to the stage.

At this moment, the lights in the show suddenly dimmed, leaving only a spotlight that hit the center of the T-stage and Su Lingwan.

She was slightly stunned. This was not in the process.

There was also a commotion of confusion from the audience.

Then, the spotlight moved slightly, illuminating the other end of the T-stage.

Huo Linshen had left his seat and walked onto the catwalk without her noticing. He was still wearing his crisp dark grey suit, his posture erect. Under the spotlight, he walked towards her step by step, calmly and firmly, like a god descending from the sky.

Su Lingwan's heart skipped a beat the moment she saw him approaching her, then began to beat wildly at an uncontrollable rate. She seemed to have a premonition of something, her breathing becoming rapid, and her fingertips feeling slightly cold, then faintly hot.

The whole audience was silent. Everyone held their breath, their eyes closely following the man walking towards the center of the T-stage.

Huo Linshen walked in front of Su Lingwan and stopped. The chasing light enveloped the two of them, as if they were the only ones left in the world.

He stared at her deeply, his deep eyes surging with emotions as deep and hot as the ocean, tension, anticipation, love, and a hint of unquestionable determination.

He took out a velvet ring box from the inside pocket of his suit.

It was not the box that contained the "Nanyang Pearl" ring before, but a brand new, smaller and more exquisite royal blue velvet box.

Su Lingwan's breathing completely stopped. She looked at the box, her mind went blank, and she could only stare at him blankly.

Under her gaze, Huo Linshen slowly knelt on one knee.

This action, performed by a man who has always been superior and accustomed to controlling everything, was performed with a shocking piety and solemnity.

"Wow!" The audience instantly erupted in exclamations of disbelief and even more intense flashes of light! Everyone was stunned. No one had expected to witness such a scene at this highly anticipated press conference!

Huo Linshen raised his head, his gaze fixed on Su Lingwan's eyes which were slightly widened in shock, and he opened the ring box in her hand.

Inside, a diamond ring lay quietly.

The center diamond wasn't a traditional round white diamond, but the Fancy Vivid "South Sea Pearl" yellow diamond she was so familiar with! It had been redesigned and re-set! The original simple vine setting had been replaced with a more intricate and exquisite platinum hollow pattern. A closer look revealed a fusion of Chinese cloud patterns and Western curling grass. Like stars surrounding the moon, it held the warm, bright yellow diamond in its center, showcasing its unparalleled color and fire. Two teardrop-shaped colorless diamonds were ingeniously set on either side of the yellow diamond, like guardian stars.

This ring is unique and priceless, and more importantly, it carries all the shared memories and emotions between them.

Huo Linshen looked into her tearful eyes. His voice, through the microphone on the scene, was clearly transmitted to every corner of the show. It was low, firm, and full of unquestionable affection:

"Su Lingwan."

He called her name, each word ringing loudly.

"A year ago, I signed an agreement to keep you by my side. It was the most correct and selfish decision I have ever made."

There was an uproar in the audience, and then it became silent.

"You said there was no heartbeat in the agreement." He continued, his eyes burning, "but now, here,"

He clenched his free hand into a fist and gently placed it against his left chest over his heart, his movements as solemn as if he were taking an oath.

"Every day, every moment, beats for you."

Su Lingwan couldn't hold back her tears anymore and burst out.

"You asked me if I have a heart." Huo Linshen's voice was slightly hoarse, but it was even more touching. "Now, I'll dig it out and put it here."

He raised the ring box in his hand, allowing the "Pearl of the South Sea" to reflect an extremely bright light under the spotlight.

"With my past, present, and all my future."

"I'll give it to you."

He took a deep breath, looked at her tear-stained face, and asked the question he had practiced in his mind thousands of times:

"Su Lingwan, will you marry me?"

"From now on, you will take my surname and become my wife. Let me spend every day of my life proving that this contract in the name of love will never be violated."

“…”

Time seemed to have frozen.

All the sounds disappeared, and in Su Lingwan's world, there was only the man kneeling on one knee in front of her, who treated her like a treasure, and the ring in his hand that symbolized all their love and commitment.

She looked at the undisguised nervousness, anticipation and deep love in his eyes, and saw him, such a proud man, lower his noble head for her in front of the whole world.

All hesitation and reserve vanished at this moment.

She nodded vigorously, tears streaming down her face like pearls falling from a string, but with the brightest smile on her face, her voice choked but incredibly clear as she answered:

"I do!"

"Huo Linshen, I am willing to marry you!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Huo Linshen's lips, which had been tense all this time, finally lifted up into a relieved, extremely handsome and gentle smile. That smile, like sunlight piercing through dark clouds, instantly illuminated his stern face and also illuminated Su Lingwan's entire world.

He took out the unique ring and gently and solemnly put it on the ring finger of her left hand, placing it side by side with the previous "Nanyang Pearl" ring, complementing each other.

Size, perfect fit.

The moment he put on the ring, Huo Linshen stood up and hugged Su Lingwan, who was crying with joy, tightly in his arms. In front of the whole world, he lowered his head and kissed her deeply.

This kiss is filled with the cherishment of regaining what was lost, the ecstasy of things being settled, and the infinite longing and promise for the future.

The audience erupted in thunderous, prolonged applause, cheers, and blessings! Flashbulbs enveloped the two people hugging and kissing in an eternal halo.

Huo Zhenting looked at his son and future daughter-in-law hugging each other on the stage, with a relieved smile in his eyes, and nodded slightly.

Shen Qinglan sat in the crowd, looking at the man she once admired. Now, his eyes only had the woman in his arms. She smiled with relief and gave him a sincere applause.

Amidst the noise and blessings, Huo Linshen slightly loosened his lips from Su Lingwan, but his forehead was still against hers, their breaths blending together, intimacy was perfect.

He looked at her eyes, which had become brighter after being washed by tears, and at the ring on her ring finger that symbolized belonging. His deep voice was filled with unprecedented satisfaction and determination:

"Mrs. Huo, please give me your guidance for the rest of my life."

Su Lingwan looked at him, smiling with tears in her eyes, and nodded vigorously.

"Mr. Huo, same here."

The pearl was finally held in the palm of the hand, and the night sky of Hong Kong Island was forever bright because of this perfect love.