Shen Peichuan leaned back on his chair and held his head with one hand. I should have pushed her away at once, why was I stunned?
He felt as if he had taken advantage of a young girl despite her being the one who initiated the kiss. Nevertheless, he was the adult in the room and wasn’t a youngster anymore. Why wasn’t I able to react then?
Just when he was struggling with himself, his phone rang. It was Su Zhan who called to ask if he wanted to go Country Y.
Shen Peichuan was surprised. What are we going there for?
Su Zhan didn’t explain and only asked if he was interested.
After hesitating for a while, he figured staying would only cause his imagination to run wild. Hence, he agreed, “Ok, I’ll go.”
“Be at the airport before three. Or else, we won’t wait for you.” Su Zhan ended the call the moment he was done.
Inside the car, he held the invitation card in his hands and continued to scrutinize the person on its cover. On the back of the card was information on the time and address. The exhibition wasn’t held domestically. In fact, it was part of the international fashion exhibition being held in Country Y, which was famous for its design and fashion industry. However, there was only one theme this time.
He tapped his fingers on his lips. “I really don’t understand what are you going there for…”
At that moment, something clicked in his mind. Lin Xinyan is also a fashion designer. So, is he going there to look for her?
He turned toward Zong Jinghao and asked, “Do you think we will find Xinyan there?”
Zong Jinghao furrowed his eyebrows as he obviously didn’t want to talk about that topic. Hence, he closed his eyes and pretended to be asleep instead.
He wasn’t sure if they would be able to find her there. In fact, she might not choose to even be there. If she were willing to expose herself, the invitation card would also have her on it instead of Qin Ya alone.
He wasn’t sure of his decision as there were still some lingering fears of facing her. However, he was also looking forward to it at the same time. Hence, he was stuck in a dilemma.
Meanwhile, Su Zhan was sensitive enough to not push the issue so he sat quietly and waited for Shen Peichuan to arrive.
While waiting, he brought up the invitation card and continued to stare at its cover. He wasn’t sure what was it that somehow captivated him.
Finally, when he felt that staring at a lady in a picture was a form of disloyalty to Qin Ya, he chucked the invitation card aside.
Soon, Shen Peichuan arrived. Their flight would arrive there in the morning and they would have the day to rest. After that, the exhibition would begin at night.
Meanwhile, Su Zhan could understand why Zong Jinghao was silent the whole time. But why is Shen Peichuan equally sullen?
He looked as if he had lost his soul and was no longer as energetic. Su Zhan felt as if he was going on a trip with two terminally ill men.
When they arrived, they kept a low profile as they were here on personal matters. In the evening, they took a cab from the hotel to the exhibition venue. The hall where the exhibition was held was huge and surrounded by skyscrapers. As night fell, the busy city’s atmosphere did not dampen at all. In fact, the city felt livelier than ever lit with the glistening lights.
At the entrance, there was a huge signboard. On it were the same words that were written on the invitation card followed by a translation beneath it.
As the invitation card was sent out to different countries, they were customized in different languages. With Mrs. William’s help, Lin Xinyan managed to send out many invitations. There were also many who came due to her fame. As this was Lin Xinyan’s first fashion exhibition, Mrs. William was the guest of honor as she was the one who uncovered Lin Xinyan’s talent. Breaking from her usual attire, she wore a Cheongsam which was exquisitely embroidered with both eastern and western motifs. Matched with a plain colored shawl, it made her look exceptionally elegant and dignified.
As all the lights were switched on, they flooded the hall as if it was daylight. Many members of the international media were calibrating their cameras while waiting for the event to begin. As the event was well-publicized, the hall was filled with attendees from different industries. There were those who worked in bridal houses, owners of photo studios, and anyone whose work related to fashion one way or another.
The hall was packed and all one could see was a sea of people. All the organizing staff wore special uniforms which made them easy to identify. Near the T-shaped stage, there was a long table covered in white silk. On it, were bottles of expensive wine and an array of hors d’oeuvres.
There were seats on both sides of the stage for the guests to sit during the fashion show.
Amidst the chatter of the crowd, a loud bang was suddenly heard. The T-shaped stage lit up and the host ascended the stage wearing a black suit. Beside him was the female host. She was wearing a long red Cheongsam that extended to her ankles. It was matched with four inched heels that made her look tall and exceptionally elegant.
With one in black and the other in red, it made for a contrasting visual effect as the spotlight followed wherever they went. The male host raised his mic and began to give the welcome speech. As the main theme of the event was Country Z’s style, the host spoke in Country Z’s language. Separately, there was an interpreter beside him who would translate everything he said.
“On this star-studded night, I would like to welcome all of you ladies and gentlemen to tonight’s event and also to thank you for gracing the occasion.”
When he finished, the female host continued where he left off with a vibrant voice. “As we gather during this wonderful season, I would like to thank all of you for coming and participating in this international fashion exhibition.”
After the pleasantries were completed, the atmosphere was further elevated with excitement. The male host added, “Ladies and gentlemen, please have a seat. At eight-thirty, the Cloud Corporation’s first and foremost exhibition will begin.”
The female host continued, “After much anticipation, we finally welcome a brand new collection of works from Cloud Corporation.”
Once the two hosts descended from the stage, the guests started to take their seats. Su Zhan and his companions sat in the last row by the right corner. Suddenly, the lights dimmed.
As darkness encapsulated the hall, an old Chinese classical piece called River in the Mountains played slowly in the background. The crowd quietened down while they allowed themselves to relish in the music. When the song was about to end, the lights on both sides of the stage lit up suddenly and gently crisscrossed at the center.
The event started with two models from Country Z strut down the stage. Both were wearing Chinese-styled wedding gowns with one in pink while the other was in red. Their elegant swagger accentuated their feminine charm and modesty at the same time. When they stopped right in front of the stage, the host explained, “Country Z has a history of five thousand years with a rich cultural legacy. Tonight, Cloud Corporation will present to you a whole new perspective on these traditional wedding gowns.”
in the past, traditional wedding gowns had always been loosely cut. But this time, Lin Xinyan employed western-style tapering techniques in her designs. With that, she created a whole new look that accentuated the bride’s perfect figure. At the same time, it had a modern and luxurious touch while highlighting the cultural traditions of Country Z. As a result, these wedding gowns looked modern and fashionable as opposed to their usual conventional design.
Her designs were simply impressive.
Western-style wedding gowns were more pure and solemn where the focus was on the design of the gown. As for Chinese wedding gowns, the focus was on the embroideries on top of the gowns and the meaning behind each embroidery, which carried different meanings. The dragon and phoenix represented wealth and auspiciousness while a pair of mandarin ducks represented fidelity.
Hand-embroidered gowns offer deeper colors and tactile sensations. The delicate yet glistening threads and lifelike designs exude a sense of luxury. Despite being highly time-intensive, they maintain their unique charm with the passage of time while serving to preserve the cultural heritage.
Finally, it was time for the finale.
The design of the gown remained steeped in tradition despite some minor details modifications. A gold-rimmed lotus flower was embroidered to the chest, weaved using a unique and exquisite technique. As for the cuffs, they were also embroidered using in the same fashion but in red festive colors. The color symbolized the gentility of the culture while the cuffs accentuated one’s femininity. The gown came with a cloak that swayed as the model strutted down in catwalk, creating a magnificent sight.
