Dust and Rainbow
After half a year of painstaking work, Shen Zhiwei's new wedding dress collection, "Dance of Dust and Light," was finally unveiled on an early summer evening in a show venue in Beijing that had been transformed from an old art museum.
The runway was cleverly designed. Instead of the usual mirrors or cold metal, the sides of the catwalk were decorated with staggered replicas of sandstone slabs, on which digitally processed images of murals taken from the Hanyu archaeological project were projected. The flowing ribbons of flying apsaras, the devout silhouettes of donors, and ancient and mysterious patterns appeared and disappeared in the flowing light and shadow, intertwining with the ethereal music with a Western Region flavor that resonated throughout the space, instantly transporting the guests into a time tunnel spanning a thousand years.
Under the spotlight, models filed out in the "Dance of Dust and Light" collection. This was no longer the traditional, pure white wedding dress, but rather a fusion of unprecedented exploration by Zhiwei. In terms of fabrics, she boldly chose silk chiffon and organza with subtle textures, mimicking the feel of murals weathered by wind and sand. In terms of color, in addition to classic white, there were also shades of light gold reminiscent of sand, ochre reminiscent of rock pigments, and a deep blue like the night sky.
What's most amazing are the design details: on the skirt of one wedding dress, the continuous scrolling grass pattern from the mural is reproduced by hand embroidery, as if stirring up a thousand years of dust as you walk; the veil of another dress is made in the shape of the flying apsaras draped in the ancient mural, light and graceful; and another dress directly presents the outline of the incomplete Buddha statue from the mural as a three-dimensional silhouette on the back, full of the beauty of modern deconstructivism.
The entire collection retains the romantic essence of wedding dresses while infusing them with the grandeur and mystery of ancient civilizations, creating a breathtakingly beautiful and thought-provoking experience. Suppressed gasps and exclamations of admiration frequently emanated from the audience.
In an inconspicuous corner of the show venue, Han Yu sat quietly. He had just finished the first phase of excavation work in the Gobi Desert and returned to Beijing, still carrying the dry scent of the desert. He changed into one of the few formal suits he owned, washed away the dust, and revealed his original refined and scholarly air, which made Zhiwei, who caught a glimpse of him on the monitor backstage, immediately brighten up.
The grand show concluded successfully, with thunderous applause filling the venue. Surrounded by the crowd, Zhiwei went on stage to express her gratitude, her face showing both satisfaction and exhaustion from the perfect presentation of her creation. During the subsequent media interview, she didn't just talk about design and inspiration as usual; instead, her gaze searched through the crowd, finally settling on Han Yu.
She smiled and waved to him, inviting the slightly flustered Han Yu to her side amidst the curious gazes of the media. "Ladies and gentlemen," she said clearly, with undeniable admiration, "please allow me to introduce you to a very important friend, Dr. Han Yu, an archaeologist rooted in the western Gobi Desert. The core inspiration for my 'Dance of Dust and Light' series comes from the ancient murals that he and his team are protecting, which are on the verge of being buried by the wind and sand."
The spotlight instantly focused on Han Yu. He was somewhat uncomfortable in this setting, but under Zhiwei's encouraging gaze, he still briefly and clearly introduced the significance and current progress of their project, and mentioned the exhibition plan that was being prepared, hoping to let more people understand that forgotten civilization and inspire their passion for protecting history.
Zhiwei nodded frequently, adding comments as needed, expressing her admiration for Han Yu's work and her full support for the exhibition. She skillfully linked fashion with cultural heritage preservation, elevating the press conference beyond a simple commercial display to the level of cultural inheritance.
Meanwhile, in the VIP area not far away, two other men were also watching this scene. Yu Bin, dressed simply and with a calm demeanor, admired the woman on stage who transformed ancient civilization into ethereal beauty, his eyes filled with pure admiration. Qin Yang, who had rushed over from a film set out of town, was dressed in the latest fashion, still handsome, but with a hint of complexity in his expression. He saw in Han Yu a quiet strength rooted in the earth that he lacked, and he also saw in Yu Bin a transcendent artistic temperament.
Their eyes met briefly in the air, each clearly recognizing the other's excellence and uniqueness, and knowing full well that their gathering was all because of the radiant woman on stage. She was like a magnet, attracting leaders from different fields, and she herself remained the undisputed, sole focus and soul of this gathering. She belonged to no one; she was simply herself—Shen Zhiwei.
At 6:30 a.m., Su Hang, half-asleep, reached for his phone on the bedside table amidst a barrage of ringing. His business partner, Da Liu's voice blasted through the receiver like a cannonball: "Su Hang! Wake up! Don't sleep! The roadshow is at 9:30. It takes at least an hour to get there from here, even without traffic. Don't you dare be late!"
Su Hang buried his face in the pillow and mumbled a complaint: "I know, I know... it's just a roadshow, why so early..."
"As for it!" Big Liu roared even louder, "Let me tell you, today's occasion is different! You better get yourself together, put on that Armani suit you've been saving at the bottom of your drawer, fix your hair, don't go to see anyone with a mess of hair!"
Su Hang was finally jolted awake by the noise, and said angrily, still fuming from being woken up, "I'm going to sell a project, not to sell myself! Is it really necessary?"
There was a second of silence on the other end of the phone, followed by Liu's almost clenched teeth voice: "Sell yourself? Su Hang, let me tell you, selling yourself to this guy today is a hundred times harder than getting your Series A funding! If I had that opportunity, I would have done it myself, why would I give you this 'honor'?!"
These words were like a bucket of ice water, instantly extinguishing Su Hang's morning grumpiness, but instead arousing his curiosity and a hint of resentment. "Who is it? Acting so high and mighty?"
“Shen Zhiwei, Miss Shen.” Da Liu lowered his voice, as if the name itself carried a sacred aura. “She’s one of the behind-the-scenes bosses of Longjing Capital. Although she doesn’t participate in specific investment decisions, and only recommends a few projects each year out of interest, or invests a small amount of money herself. But do you know what? The success rate of the projects she’s handled is frighteningly high! It’s practically a green light all the way for Boss Liang! I went through all sorts of connections to get this half-hour meeting opportunity! You better be on your best behavior, kid. If you mess this up, I’m not letting you off the hook!”
Su Hang was fully awake. In a certain circle in Beijing, the name Shen Zhiwei represented the possibility of turning lead into gold, and even more so, an unapproachable mystery.
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