Chapter 27: Stunning Paris Fashion Week
In late autumn in Paris, the air is filled with the scent of dried plane tree leaves and the rich aroma of fine perfume. The city feels like a vast, never-ending runway, and today, the fashion world's attention is focused on a venue on the banks of the Seine, renovated from an old library. It's here that the first show of the relaunched "Luminance" brand, marking its debut on the official Paris Fashion Week schedule, will take place.
Backstage, a scene of chaotic yet orderly events unfolds. Models, makeup artists, hairstylists, and styling assistants rush about, commands in a cacophony of languages interwoven. The air is thick with the scent of hairspray, setting spray, and a tense atmosphere.
Su Lingwan stood in the center of the backstage, wearing a sharp black trouser suit, her long hair meticulously tied back, and a pair of simple diamond studs of her own design adorning her earlobes. She held a process board in her hand, her sharp and calm eyes scanning each incoming model, examining every detail of their makeup, accessories, and outfits.
At this moment, she was no longer the blushing, coquettish little woman in Huo Linshen's arms, but a designer and brand creative director in control of the overall situation, with a full aura. Occasionally, when a staff member ran over to ask for instructions when encountering a problem, she would always quickly give clear and precise instructions, with a steady tone and an unquestionable authority.
Selina walked over quickly and whispered, "Lingwan, the show will start in ten minutes. The front row guests are almost all seated."
Su Lingwan nodded, took a deep breath, and forced herself to calm down. She walked to the gap in the curtain and quietly looked out.
The interior design of the show venue echoed the theme of "New Chinese Elegance and Luxury." With a simple, elegant off-white color scheme, the venue was free of overly elaborate decorations. The lighting was meticulously designed to create a play of light and shadow, reminiscent of Chinese window lattices. The background music was a soothing, ethereal modern guzheng composition, interspersed with the subtle sound of flowing water, creating a tranquil and sophisticated atmosphere.
The front row seats were filled with the world's top buyers, fashion magazine editors, renowned critics, and celebrities from all walks of life. And from a position with an excellent view, she spotted a familiar figure.
Huo Linshen.
He wore a perfectly tailored dark gray suit, no tie, his shirt casually open, and slouched lazily in his chair, seeming somewhat out of place among the guests sitting at attention or chatting among themselves. He seemed unconcerned with his surroundings, his gaze calmly gazing at the empty runway, his stern profile appearing even more sharply defined in the dim light.
But Su Lingwan knew that he had come, taking time out of his busy schedule to cross the ocean just to witness this moment of hers.
A warm current and immense power instantly filled her limbs. She withdrew her gaze, turned around, and gestured to the team waiting for instructions, signaling them to prepare for action.
The lights in the show slowly dimmed, leaving only the runway, a moonlit passage. The background music became clearer, carrying a touch of Eastern Zen and a modern rhythm.
The first model walked out to the beat of the music.
In an instant, the entire show seemed to be muted.
The model wore a moon-white silk jacquard gown, embroidered with a faint landscape pattern in matching silk thread, the lines flowing like ink. Around her neck was the signature piece from the new "Luminance" collection, "Ink Rhythm"—a necklace featuring black agate as the primary stone and irregular diamonds. The calming black agate and the brilliance of the diamonds formed a striking contrast, like a galaxy flowing through the night sky, imbuing it with both Eastern restraint and modern tension and power.
Immediately afterwards, the second and third models walked out one after another.
The "Ink Rhythm" collection, as its name suggests, seamlessly blends the white space, exaggeration, and vibrant energy of Chinese ink painting with the precise cutting and structuralism of modern jewelry. There are earrings featuring jade cabochons as the centerpiece, adorned with a dense tapestry of diamonds, resembling a cascading raindrop; brooches inspired by the shape of ancient jade bi discs, reinterpreted with titanium and sapphires; and bracelets imbued with an architectural aesthetic, combining bamboo elements with flexible chains.
Each piece is more than just a piece of jewelry; it is more like a piece of wearable art. They break the dullness and clutter of traditional high-end jewelry, telling oriental stories in a lighter and more poetic language, while possessing an international aesthetic expression.
Murmurs gradually rose from the audience, followed by an uncontrollable exclamation of amazement. Flashbulbs began to flash like a storm, nearly drowning out the lights on the runway. Many commentators and buyers in the front row couldn't help but lean forward, carefully examining the exquisite details on the models.
Su Lingwan stood in front of the monitor backstage, staring intently at the live footage and the models' movements on the screen. Her heart was pounding in her chest, and her palms were slightly sweaty from nervousness, but her eyes were unusually bright and determined.
She knew she had succeeded.
Not only the design of the pieces, but also the layout of the show, the music, the selection of models, and the hair and makeup coordination, every aspect accurately conveyed her philosophy. This show was a complete and persuasive artistic presentation.
Her eyes involuntarily turned to the specific camera position on the monitor again - where Huo Linshen was.
He still sat in that languid pose, but Su Lingwan keenly sensed the change in him. He no longer stared forward, but instead focused on the dazzling displays of jewels and jewelry on the catwalk. Those eyes, always so deep and inscrutable, now shone with a clear, glimmering light. No longer the usual coldness or calculation, they held an undisguised... astonishment, and a deep, almost overflowing pride.
The atmosphere in the venue reached its climax when the finale model walked out wearing a dark green velvet dress and the most important piece in the entire series - a necklace with a giant South Sea gold bead as the main stone and an abstract dragon pattern outlined with black diamonds and gold around it.
The warm and lustrous gold bead exudes a restrained luster like moonlight under the light, forming an extreme contrast and harmony with the sharp and shining black diamonds around it, seamlessly combining the oriental elegance with modern fashion.
The music reaches its climax and then stops abruptly.
All the models walked back to the catwalk one by one, and Su Lingwan walked onto the catwalk calmly amid thunderous applause and countless flashing spotlights.
She stood in the center of the light and bowed slightly. With a calm and confident smile on her face, her eyes swept across the audience, finally meeting Huo Linshen's in mid-air.
He looked at her, watching her stand at the pinnacle of her own world, radiant and radiant. He slowly raised his hand and applauded her. His movements were not quick, but they were filled with a solemn, heartfelt approval.
At that moment, Su Lingwan felt that all the hardships and pressures were best rewarded by his silent gaze and applause.
The backstage after the show was instantly flooded with congratulatory crowds. Reporters, buyers, and fashion celebrities flocked to her, surrounding her with questions, compliments, and business cards.
“Miss Su, your design is so shocking!”
"Could you tell me where the inspiration for the 'Ink Rhythm' series specifically came from..."
"We at Vogue would like to do an exclusive interview with you..."
"I'm a buyer for Net-a-Porter, and we're very interested in your entire collection..."
Su Lingwan was surrounded by people and responded appropriately, maintaining an elegant and professional smile. However, she kept an eye on the entrance.
After an unknown amount of time, the crowded crowd seemed to be separated by an invisible force.
Huo Linshen walked steadily through the noisy crowd and headed straight towards her. His tall figure and powerful aura made the noisy sounds around him unconsciously quiet down a bit.
He walked up to her, ignoring all the curious, inquiring and envious looks around him, and just looked at her deeply, as if she was the only one left in the world.
The surroundings suddenly became quiet, and everyone watched this scene with bated breath.
Huo Linshen stretched out his hand, not to shake hands, but to gently brush away a strand of hair that had fallen from her forehead due to her busy schedule. His action was natural and intimate as if he had done it a thousand times.
Then, under the focus of countless cameras, he lowered his head and placed a gentle yet solemn kiss on her smooth forehead.
This kiss was not filled with any eroticism, but was filled with immense cherishment, pride, and a silent declaration.
"Congratulations, my designer." He whispered, his voice was not loud, but it was clearly heard by her and everyone around them.
Su Lingwan looked up at him, her eyes warmed slightly at the undisguised pride and love in his eyes, which shone like the stars. She curled the corners of her lips into an incomparably bright and happy smile.
"Thank you for coming."
The surrounding flashbulbs flashed wildly again, recording this scene that was like a movie scene - a talented new female designer and her business tycoon fiancé, looking into each other's eyes affectionately at the peak of their careers.
At this moment, Su Lingwan's name, along with her "Luminance" and "Ink Rhythm" series, truly amazed the whole of Paris.
And she knows that her success is inseparable from the man behind her who always protects her, supports her and is proud of her in his own way.
The night in Paris becomes particularly charming because of the realization of dreams and the perfection of love.
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