28 28
◎28◎
Lin Ruoyin pushed open the glass door and walked into the Galeries Lafayette headquarters building. The air was filled with a mixture of high-end fragrance and old-fashioned luxury. The marble floor was so shiny that it reflected the dazzling crystal chandelier on the ceiling.
The sound of her high heels clicking on the ground was crisp and rhythmic, like her heartbeat at that moment—rapid, yet striving to maintain its rhythm.
The elevator arrived at the executive floor. As soon as she stepped out of the elevator car, she saw a familiar figure coming out of an office at the other end of the corridor.
Xu Jia.
Time seemed to freeze for a second.
Xu Jia also saw her.
His steps faltered slightly, a fleeting hint of surprise crossing his eyes, quickly replaced by his usual calm. Zhou Hui, standing beside him, paused his conversation at the opportune moment, his gaze cautiously sweeping between Lin Ruoyin and Xu Jia before he nodded slightly in greeting: "Director Lin."
Xu Jia looked at her. She was wearing a well-tailored white suit, her long hair was neatly tied back, and there was an undeniable weariness between her brows from the long flight, but her back was still straight, and her eyes were clear and sharp.
Xu Jia instantly understood her purpose, but he never expected it to be her. All that running around and busying himself... it was her again.
His gaze lingered on her weary eyes for a moment, a barely restrained pang of heartache rising in his eyes, a pang he himself didn't even realize. But the next second, he met her gaze, and the coldness in it sent a shiver down his spine.
Xu Jia looked at the frozen lake in her eyes and suddenly realized that, in her eyes, her running around and standing here was all thanks to him.
...
Xu Jia narrowed his eyes: "If Director Lin goes in now, he probably won't hear a pleasant result."
Lin Ruoyin smiled faintly, as if in a polite reply: "Thank you for the reminder, Mr. Xu."
She stopped looking at him, turned and walked past him, heading straight for the walnut door at the end of the corridor marked "Vice President's Office." In the instant they brushed past each other, she caught a whiff of his very faint, cool fragrance, mixed with a hint of the dampness of a Parisian winter air.
Xu Jia stood still, without turning around. Only when he heard a polite knock and the sound of the door opening behind him did he step towards the elevator. Zhou Hui pressed the button, and the elevator doors slowly opened.
"Mr. Xu, shall we go back to the hotel next?" Zhou Hui inquired about the itinerary to make arrangements.
"There's a nice coffee shop downstairs, let's sit for a while."
A knowing glint flashed in Zhou Hui's eyes: "Alright."
The vice president's office was spacious and bright, with a floor-to-ceiling window offering views of the typical grey Parisian sky and Haussmann-style rooftops. A well-dressed French man in his fifties—Pierre Durand, Senior Vice President of Global Sourcing and Brand Partnerships at Galeries Lafayette—was rising from behind his desk, his smile carrying just the right amount of apology.
“Lin, it’s a pleasure to see you, even under these circumstances.” Durand gestured for her to sit down, and his secretary brought over two cups of coffee.
“Pierre, I also hope we can meet in a more pleasant setting.” Lin Ruoyin put down her bag, didn’t touch her coffee, and got straight to the point. “I saw your strategic cooperation announcement with Mohe Technology. I would like to know what this means for our existing cooperation with the Lu family.”
Durand sighed and placed his hands on the table. "Lin, we've been partners for many years, and I've always admired the Lu family's craftsmanship and your designs. So please believe me, this decision wasn't made lightly."
He swiped the tablet in front of him, bringing up a brief report. "Inkcore offers more than just a digital art experience space. They bring in entirely new customers—young, high-net-worth individuals with a strong interest in the fusion of technology and art. Frankly, this is a customer segment that Lu's Group currently lacks. Furthermore, the cooperation terms offered by President Xu..." He paused, "including the revenue-sharing model, joint marketing investment, and exclusive digital art content supply for the next three years, are all very attractive. The board of directors will find it hard to refuse."
Lin Ruoyin listened quietly, her fingertips unconsciously stroking the leather edge of her handbag.
"As for Lu's counter," Durand continued, his tone more cautious, "we need to make room for the digital space at Mohe. It will be located in the core area beneath the historic dome hall, originally planned as an expansion of Lu's VIP salon. So... unfortunately, the area of Lu's counter at the flagship store may need to be reduced by about fifty percent. However, we will reserve a well-located counter for you on another floor; it may be small, but it will have good visibility."
Fifty percent.
Lin Ruoyin felt her throat go dry. The Lu's boutique at Galeries Lafayette's flagship store was not only a sales point, but also a symbolic window into the brand's image in the European market. Reducing the area by half meant a significant compression of the display space, and the area for experiencing high-end bespoke services would disappear. This was not merely a commercial loss, but a clear downgrade of the brand's status.
“Pierre,” she said, trying to keep her voice steady, “the Lurès family has collaborated with Karl Lagerfeld for over twenty years. We have weathered market ups and downs together and created countless classic moments. The Lurès family represents not just jewelry, but also an aesthetic system and craftsmanship that has been passed down for centuries. I believe that Karl Lagerfeld’s guests still agree with this.”
Durand nodded: “Of course I agree, Lin. But the market is changing, and so are consumers. We must look to the future.” He leaned forward slightly, with a friendly frankness, “Excuse my bluntness, Lin, the Lu family’s brand image is a bit outdated. It needs fresh stories, it needs a way to communicate with the new generation. And Mohe just happens to provide that possibility.”
Lin Ruoyin understood his underlying meaning. In the eyes of Durand and many other observers, Mohe represented the future, innovation, and vitality; while the Lu family was gradually being categorized as "traditional," "profound," or even "outdated." Xu Jia's personal charisma further enhanced Mohe's dazzling aura.
“I understand that you need to balance tradition and innovation.” Lin Ruoyin took a document out of her bag and pushed it in front of Durand. “This is Lu’s brand revitalization plan for the next three years, as well as a special project for the European market. We plan to introduce more contemporary art collaborations, hold high-end craft salons, and launch a limited-edition series that blends Eastern aesthetics with French style. We really need a space and platform that can fully showcase these new features.”
Durand took the document, quickly flipping through it, his eyes revealing admiration, but even more so regret. “A brilliant idea, Lin. If it were six months ago, I would have been very excited to discuss the details with you. But now…” He closed the document and gently pushed it back, “The board has approved the comprehensive cooperation plan with Mohe. The contract has been signed. The adjustment of the Lu's counter area is a pre-determined clause. I’m sorry.”
The last hope slipped through our fingers like fine sand.
Lin Ruoyin remained silent for a few seconds. Outside the window, a gray pigeon fluttered its wings, landed on the windowsill, tilted its head to look inside, and then flew away.
“Well then,” she continued, “I would like to receive your formal written notification as soon as possible regarding the specific timeline for the adjustments, the transition plan, and confirmation of the new counter location and size. Lu’s legal and operations teams need time to prepare.”
Durand visibly relaxed, seemingly worried that she might become emotional and argue. "Of course, of course. The relevant documents will be issued this week. We will also assign a dedicated person to liaise with the Lu family to ensure a smooth transition."
The negotiations are over.
There was no miracle.
Lin Ruoyin stood up gracefully and extended her hand: "Thank you for your time, Pierre."
Durand shook her hand firmly. "Lin, I still look forward to working with you. Perhaps... there will be other forms in the future."
Lin Ruoyin smiled, picked up her bag, and walked out of the office.
She pressed the elevator button, and the metal door reflected her slightly pale face, which she was trying her best to control.
The elevator arrived on the first floor. The doors opened, and the lobby was bustling with people speaking various languages. Lin Ruoyin took a deep breath, straightened her back, and walked out. She needed fresh air to process the series of defeats that followed.
Instead of calling a taxi, she wrapped her coat tighter and wandered aimlessly along the street, eventually arriving at the banks of the Seine.
The water was a somber, leaden gray, almost blending into the sky. The wind picked up, swirling up withered leaves and dust, and the silhouette of the Eiffel Tower in the distance was blurred beneath the low-hanging clouds.
She stopped by the stone railing on the riverbank, her gaze unfocused as she looked toward the opposite bank.
Lu's specialty store is doomed. What's terrifying is that this may only be the beginning. Xu Jia will use all his resources to gradually push Lu's into a corner where there is no way out.
Lin Ruoyin recalled many scenes.
Lu Hongxuan lay on the hospital bed with a pale face.
The faces of the old directors in the conference room were filled with anger and despair.
Colleagues in the design department who stayed up all night drawing diagrams.
The master craftsmen in the factory who had worked for the Lu family for decades.
...
The rain started to fall.
At first, it was a fine drizzle, but it quickly became heavy, splashing tiny droplets on the river's surface. The Parisian winter rain was icy cold, and it soon soaked her hair and coat. She didn't move, just watched the rain blur the scenery on the opposite bank, letting the chill seep into her body little by little.
A black sedan slowly drove by and stopped on the roadside a short distance away. The car door opened, and a long-handled black umbrella emerged first, followed by a man wearing a dark gray overcoat.
The umbrella tilted to the side, shielding her from the rain.
Lin Ruoyin turned her head and saw Xu Jia standing beside her with an umbrella.
"It's raining," Xu Jia's voice rang out amidst the pattering rain. "Why don't you leave?"
Lin Ruoyin looked at Xu Jia, whose expression was not as aloof as usual, but instead carried a complex emotion that resembled heartache.
Lin Ruoyin paused slightly; this brief illusion gave her a strange sense of courage.
So Lin Ruoyin looked into Xu Jia's eyes and said, "If I were to open the umbrella to shield you from the rain now, and the rain gets heavier and the wind gets stronger, the umbrella might be damaged to the point of collapse. Would you immediately leave me behind?"
Xu Jia remained silent for a long time, so long that the rain soaked almost half of his shoulder. Then, he tugged at the corners of his mouth, a smile that appeared somewhat cold and indifferent in the rain.
"You're truly kind and loyal to the person who held an umbrella for you." His voice was low, carrying a hint of suppressed emotion. "Or is it because rich people find it easier to gain genuine affection from others?"
Lin Ruoyin frowned.
"The Lu family business is linked to the livelihoods of thousands of employees. The upstream and downstream relationships are countless; an unimaginable number of people depend on the Lu family for their livelihood. I would like to ask Mr. Xu, could you please be lenient?"
The rain pattered against the umbrella like a dense drumbeat.
Xu Jia looked at her. Her lips were pale from the cold, but she kept them tightly pressed together, maintaining her last shred of dignity and perseverance as she pleaded for the Lu family.
The initial, pointed conversation clearly expressed that Lu had an unwavering affection for her.
Loyalty and friendship?
What kind of affection?
Was it born from the daily routine of marriage?
“Lin Ruoyin,” Xu Jia gritted his teeth, his voice suddenly turning cold. He frowned as he looked at her, his gaze more piercing than the winter rain, “You know that I destroyed the Lu family, and Lu Yan doesn’t care. It’s only a matter of time.”
He took a step closer, tilting the umbrella so that rainwater almost splashed onto her face.
"You know the outcome perfectly well, so why are you working so hard?" He stared intently into her eyes. "Didn't you marry Lu Yan for money?"
Lin Ruoyin paused, then her voice held a hint of helplessness: "I was telling you about the employees and families of the Lu family..."
"I'm talking to you about the Lu family!" Xu Jia interrupted her abruptly, his voice sharp due to suppressed emotions.
Lin Ruoyin could see it. The shell of meticulous calculation and cold rationality that had enveloped Xu Jia standing before her was peeling away, revealing primal emotions beneath: anger, disappointment, and perhaps even deeper pain. Emotion was overwhelming reason, and this made Lin Ruoyin feel a sense of danger.
She didn't want to talk anymore. You can't get any business results from talking to someone who's driven by emotions.
"I'm leaving now." She turned around, wanting to leave the space shrouded in his presence and the cold rain.
But his wrist was suddenly grabbed.
The force was considerable.
"Where to?" he asked, his voice low, as if squeezed from the depths of his throat.
Lin Ruoyin frowned and tried to pull her hand away: "Xu Jia, you are clearly not in a state where you can talk to me calmly right now."
“Look,” his voice suddenly took on an almost shrill self-mockery, “you want to leave me, so easily.”
Lin Ruoyin felt a tightness in her chest.
Rain soaked his hair, a few strands of black hair clinging to his forehead. Water droplets slid down his high, straight nose, brushing past his tightly pursed lips. What made her heart tremble the most were his usually deep and calm eyes, now slightly red at the corners, churning with broken emotions.
Like a wild beast trapped in thorns, proud yet pathetic.
In that instant, countless complex thoughts and sorrows surged into Lin Ruoyin's heart. She seemed to want to say something, and her lips moved slightly.
But Xu Jia didn't give her a chance.
He abruptly released her wrist, and then, almost violently, shoved the long-handled black umbrella into her cold hand.
"Take it."
He uttered only those two words, then turned and strode into the vast rain.
The tall figure was quickly blurred and swallowed up by the dense rain, disappearing into the black sedan.
Lin Ruoyin stood alone in the same spot, holding the umbrella handle that still retained the warmth of his palm.
Rainwater trickled down the edge of the umbrella, forming small puddles at her feet. The wrist he had just held still lingered with a dull ache and a burning sensation. And his last look, his reddened eyes, were like a brand, unexpectedly searing into her heart.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
